Search for missing AirAsia jet expands

Countries around Asia on Tuesday stepped up the search for an AirAsia plane carrying 162 people that is presumed to have crashed in shallow waters off the Indonesian coast, with Washington also sending a warship to help find the missing jet.

UN chief calls for ‘peaceful and credible’ election in SL

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has conveyed his “strong expectation” that the Government of Sri Lanka will ensure “the peaceful and credible conduct” of its upcoming Presidential election, scheduled for the beginning of the New Year.

MR is an amazing man: Salman Khan

Visiting Bollywood star Salman Khan yesterday said President Mahinda Rajapaksa was an amazing man but his visit was not political. Speaking to the Daily Mirror the Indian actor however said he was not aware about the attack on Sri Lankan movie stars and artistes and added that he was ‘coming from Mumbai’.

Salman Khan a betrayer: Vaiko

Hitting out at Bollywood actor Salman Khan for allegedly campaigning for Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) chief Vaiko today dubbed him as a 'betrayer.'

Salman was not paid: Namal

Refuting allegations that Indian actor Salman Khan was paid to visit the country with a presidential election looming, Tharunyata Hetak Chairman and MP Namal Rajapaksa said no payments were made and that the actor was in the country in connection with his charities.

MDMK protest against broadcasting MR's interview

Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) cadre on Monday staged an agitation in front of the office of a private TV news channel in Chennai, which is scheduled to broadcast an interview of Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Unity Govt. will look into alleged agreement between MR and Emil: JHU

A national unity government under Maithripala Sirisena would look into the reports on incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s alleged agreement with LTTE agent known as Emil Kanthan, prior to the 2005 presidential election, Jathika Hela Urumaya General Secretary Patali Champika Ranawaka said today.

Take action against attackers: CBK writes to IGP

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumarathunga’s lawyers in a letter to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) called on the IGP to take immediate action against those alleged of attacking her vehicle and harassing her in Beruwala on December 26.

Youth found hacked to death in Kelaniya

A 17-year-old youth was found hacked to death at Pattiya Junction in Kelaniya this afternoon, the Police said. They said a dispute between two factions may have resulted in the crime. Peliyagoda Police are investigating. 

Secret report says NMDP not lost: Minister

Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva said a secret report found at the Health Ministry had revealed that the National Medicinal Drugs Policy (NMDP) had not been lost and would be implemented during President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s third term.

Young artistes supporting Maithri attacked

Some young artistes were attacked by political goons while they were conducting a campaign in support of presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena at Kumbukgate in Kurunegala.

Mutuhettigama released on bail

Maverick Deputy Minister Nishantha Muthuhettigama, remanded on charges of having abducted three suspects from police custody, was today produced before the Baddegama Magistrate Chandima Edirimanna and released on bail with two sureties of Rs.500,000 each.

Maithri’s Mahiyangana office attacked

Common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena’s election office at Mahiyanganaya has been attacked last night, the Police media unit said.

Salman and Jacqueline in MR campaign

Bollywood actor Salman Khan and former Miss Sri Lanka, Jacqueline Fernandez arrived in Sri Lanka early this morning and were widely speculated to participate in President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s election campaign.

Video: MR violating election laws: Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is blatantly violating election laws by using and abusing his executive presidential powers to such an extent that he is even using excerpts from the National Anthem for his election campaign advertisements, said Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera, the Chairman of the National Movement for a Just Society.

Missing plane likely at 'the bottom of the sea,’ rescue official

Indonesia's top rescue official says authorities believe the missing AirAsia jet is likely at the bottom of the sea, based on radar data from the plane's last contact.

Jan 8, fixed to hold the election

Elections commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said the decision to hold the presidential election on January 8 would not be changed because of the inclement weather condition experienced in the country.

Video: Government neglecting distribution of poll cards: JVP

Stating that the distribution of poll cards had been hampered by the ongoing flood situation in the country, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today urged the authorities to focus more on this situation.

Refusal to carve out new district is the reason-SLFP

While claiming that the decision of the SLMC to leave the government would not affect the vote base of President Mahinda Rajapaksa or the election campaign or, the SLFP today said that refusal to carve out an ethnically demarcated new district in the east was the reason for the SLMC to support common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena.

Election as planned: Amaraweera

While claiming that nearly 1.1 million people had been affected with 23 deaths and 8 missing by today from the worst floods and earth slips experienced in the country since 1956, Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera expressed hopes that the Presidential Elections would not have to be postponed despite requests from certain quarters.

Floods: 24 killed, eight missing

More than 24 persons had been killed and eight persons were reported missing as a result of adverse weather conditions prevailing in the country during the last few days, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said today.

The 1.5 millionth tourist arrives in SL

Sri Lanka Tourism today welcomed the arrival of 1,500,000th tourist for the year 2014 at the Bandaranaike International Airport.

Fire breaks out on Italian ferry off Greece

An international rescue effort was under way in high winds after a car ferry carrying 466 passengers and crew caught fire while sailing from Greece to Italy and its captain ordered its evacuation, officials said on Sunday.

Muthu remanded till Dec. 30

Deputy Minister Nishantha Muthuhettigama, who was arrested this morning had been remanded till December 30 by the Negombo Magistrate’s Court, the Police said.

Muthu arrested on arrival

Deputy Minister, Nishantha Muthuhettigama who left for Singapore, having an arrest warrant on him, had been arrested by a Special CID team upon his arrival at the Banadaranaike International Airport, Katunayake this morning, the Police said.

Video: SLMC for Maithri

?Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has decided to support Opposition Common Candidate Maithripala Sirisena at the forthcoming Presidential Election, Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem announced a short while ago.

AirAsia flight missing with 162 people onboard

An Air Asia flight from the Indonesia city of Surabaya to Singapore has lost contact with air traffic control, reports say.

​A/L Island best students

Hiruni Udara of of Sujatha Vidyalaya, Matara and Pakiyarajah Darukeesan of Hindu College,  Jaffna have topped the island in the GCE Advanced Level Examination in 2014, Bio-Science and Maths streams respectively.

35 Sri Lankan maids await deportation

A total of 35 stranded Sri Lankan housemaids will be sent home from Jeddah beginning next week, the Sri Lankan Consulate in Jeddah said. “This is the last group of stranded housemaids handed to Tarheel for repatriation home,” Consul General Adambawa Uthuma Lebbe said.

A/L results released

The results of the G.C.E. A/L examination-2014 have been released, the Examinations Department said. The results could be obtained via www.doenets.lk