India, SL may sign nuclear agreement

India and Sri Lanka will seek to open a new chapter in ties on Monday with a meeting between PM Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena who has chosen India for his maiden visit abroad as president. In a likely big takeaway from the visit, India and Sri Lanka will sign a civil nuclear cooperation agreement.

Mother calls Police to make her kids study

The Dambulla Police Headquarters Inspector had received strange a telephone call from a woman at around 11 p.m. last night asking him to deploy two Police officers, since her children were not engaging in educational activities.

Rajiva threatens to resign

Professor Rajiva Wijesinghe said today that he had written to President, Maithripala Sirisena saying he would resign his post as State Minister of Higher Education if he were not allowed to take decisions relating to his duties.

Subjects under State Defence Ministry released

The gazette notification detailing the institutions that come under the State Defence Ministry has been issued.  Accordingly, the four institutions that have been allocated to the State Defence Ministry

Czech drowns at Thalalla

A Czech national had drowned, while bathing at the Gandara Thalalla Sea this morning, the Police said.

Will not leave SLFP, supporters-MR

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a letter to SLFP General Secretary Anura PriyadharsanaYapa had assured that despite criticism, insults and sidelining, he would not leave the party or the party supporters in any circumstance.

President leaves for India

Making the first overseas visit as the President of Sri Lanka, President Maithripala Sirisena left for India a short while ago for three-day official visit, the President’s Office said.

Woman arrested scribbling on the Sigiriya frescos

A 27-year-old woman had been arrested for damaging the Sigiriya frescos yesterday, the Police said.

Don't write off Malinga: Murali

Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralitharan insists Lasith Malinga will still be a factor at the World Cup despite the sling-arm fast bowler enduring a nightmare return to action after six months out.Malinga was smashed to all parts of the Hagley Oval on Saturday in Sri Lanka's 98-run loss to New Zealand

Hybrid duty to be taken up on Tuesday

A proposal to reduce import duty on hybrid vehicles is to be discussed at the National Executive Council meeting on Tuesday. 

Video: Susil appointed as national organizer of SLFP

The central committee of Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has decided to appoint MP Susil Premjayantha as the party’s national organizer and MP Anura Priyadharsana Yapa to remain as the General Secretary.

New Zealand wins by 98 in World Cup opener

Brendon McCullum gave the cricket World Cup the explosive opening organisers had hoped for with a blazing innings inspired captaincy to give New Zealand a 98-run victory over Sri Lanka today.

President orders reinstatement of 10 army officers

President Maithripala Sirisena ordered to reinstate 10 military officers including a Major General who were sent on compulsory retirement after the 2010 presidential elections, military spokesman Brigadier Jayanath Jayaweera said.

UN rights chief should decide on SL report delay: US

The US says it is up to the UN human rights commissioner to determine when a UN report on alleged war crimes committed during Sri Lanka's civil conflict is released.

Mangala meets Ban Ki-moon, urges war crimes report delay

Sri Lanka's foreign minister met with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday, and U.N. diplomatic sources said he pressed his government's desire to delay the release of a U.N. report on alleged war crimes during his country's civil war.

SF gets seat if Ketagoda resigns-Elec. Chief

Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya yesterday confirmed that General Sarath Fonseka was person entitled to be appointed as a Member of Parliament in the event national list member Jayantha Ketagoda resigned. 

Prison Hospital not only for VIPs: Prisons Chief

Newly appointed Acting Prisons Commissioner General Rohana Pushpakumara said the fair use of Prisons Hospital facilities would be available for every inmate irrespective of their background and the prison hospital was the privy of VIPs sentenced of remanded for various offences.

Stop Indian trawlers from entering SL: Maithri to ask Modi

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena is expected to ask Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop Indian trawlers from entering Lankan waters when he meets the latter in New Delhi on February 16.

Video: SLFP to decide new office bearers

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Central Committee met at the party headquarters today and decided to amend the party constitution and finalise appointments of new SLFP office bearers at the convention tomorrow (14).

CID records statement from Gotabhaya

The CID has recorded a statement from former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa today about the armouires maintained by Avant-Garde Security Services Limited and also the activities of Rakna Arakshaka Lanka Ltd, Police Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said.

Modi wishes SL cricket team

In a telephone interview with President Maithripala Sirisena this morning, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has wished the Sri Lankan cricket team success like the one gained at the 1996 Cricket World Cup.

NPC resolution a blow to national harmony: JHU

Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) said today the Northern Provincial Council’s approval of a resolution calling for an international investigation into alleged war crimes during the last stages of the war was a huge blow to the country’s unity, harmony and reconciliation.

Schoolgirl dies during assembly

An eight-year-old schoolgirl studying at Bulathgama Maha Vidyalaya in Balangoda is reported to have collapsed during the morning assembly, police said.

Mangala to meet Ban Ki-Moon today

External Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera who is currently on an official visit to the US, is due to meet UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon as well as US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power today in New York.

Drowned couple: girl’s body recovered

Body of the 15-year-old school girl who was alleged to have jumped into the Deduru Oya Reservoir with a boy was found in the reservoir today, the Police said.

Port City has been ‘stopped’: Govt

The government said that the controversial Port City Project–Colombo has been ‘automatically stopped’ as there were many unanswerable questions on the project and many shortcomings in the Environment Impact Assessment Report as well as the feasibility study report.  

Video: US not a threat- Mangala

Sri Lanka’s new foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera says the US is not a threat to Sri Lanka.

Namal says he has only two watches

Following recent social media reports that MP Namal Rajapaksa owned a luxury watch collection, the former President’s son denied owning more than two watches.

Entire P’ment to be Govt. after polls

The entire Parliament will be converted into a government after the next general election and it would not be a government of one party alone, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.

China eager to preserve economic ties with Lanka-Jiarui

China considers it important to preserve and further develop the traditional economic cooperation which it has had with the Sri Lankan government, a top Chinese official said today.