Maithri pledges war crime inquiry

Opposition Common Presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena said the country cannot be charged with war crimes in the International Criminal Court, but he will launch a domestic inquiry if he wins a January election.

Kumbichchankulam bund at risk of collapsing

Residents living in low-lying areas of the Anuradhapura Kumbichchankulam tank have been asked to evacuate as the tank bund is at risk of collapsing, Anuradhapura Municipal Commissioner Sampath Rohana Dharmadasa said.

Heavy rains exceeding 150 mm: Met. Dep.

The Meteorology Department said today heavy rain falls exceeding 150 mm could be expected over most parts of the country specially in the Central, North-central, Eastern, Uva and Southern provinces.

Positive response on relief for SF: Ketagoda

Parliamentarian Jayantha Ketagoda who was a member of the Democratic Party led by former army commander Sarath Fonseka said today that both President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa had responded positively to his request to grant relief to Fonseka.

SL govt. orders 1.25 lakhs bikes from India

Bajaj Auto has bagged an order for 1.25 lakh units of Discover-125M motorcycles from Sri Lankan government.

Video: Show any factory promised in the Mahinda Chinthanaya: UNP

UNP MP and National Youth Front President Ruwan Wijewardene said today the upcoming presidential election would be a crucial one that changes the next decade and would be decisive particularly for the youth because they had been neglected by the present government.

SL 89th in Forbes’ Best Countries for Business

Sri Lanka is placed 89th out of 146 nations in the Forbes’ Best Countries for Business 2014 ranking, Forbes announced.

Muthuhettigama tries to take away arson suspects

Deputy Minister Nishantha Muthuhettigama had reportedly attempted to forcibly take away the suspects, arrested in connection with the arson attack on the stage put up for the opposition’s propaganda rally at Wanduramba, when they were being brought to Court under police custody this monring.

Two killed in earth mound collapse

A 31-year-old woman and her six-year-old daughter were killed when an earth embankment collapsed on their house at Hasalaka this morning, police said.

Dhanuna surrenders, granted bail

Colombo High Court Judge Irangani Perera this morning granted bail to former army Commander Sarath Fonseka’s son-in-law Dhanuna Thilakaratne on Rs 400,000 cash with two sureties for Rs 5 million on each of them in the HiCorp case.

Video: Maithri launches manifesto

Common opposition candidate Maitripala Sirisena launched his manifesto titled, ‘A Maithri Administration and a Stable Country’at the Colombo Vihara Maha Devi Park a short while ago.  

Hokandara plane crash survivor dies

Leading Aircraftman Lance Corporal Chaturanga, who survived in the An-32 plane crash in Hokandara last Friday (13), succumbed to his injuries last night at the National Hospital.  

Bodies of mother and daughter found in Padiyathalawa

The bodies of a 30-year-old woman and her six-year-old daughter were found last night near the 51st milepost at Padiyathalawa in Mahiyangana, police said.  

Church cannot withdraw invitation to Pope: Cardinal Ranjith

The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka is not in a position to ask Pope Francis to cancel his visit to Sri Lanka next month, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said yesterday.

Canvassing at state institutions forbidden -- EC

It is forbidden, at any of the offices owned by the state or the provincial councils, government schools, local authorities or any institution owned by any state corporation or board, to  canvass for presidential candidates in any manner – such as by the distribution of handbills or leaflets or conducting meetings, Elections Chief Mahinda Deshapriya announced yesterday.

Petrol, diesel levies anulled after Jan. 8-Champika

The petrol and diesel levies will be annulled after the January 8, 2015 under the government of Maithripala Sirisena, said Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) General Secretary and former minister Champika Ranawaka.

Muthuhettigama asks Rajitha to show the video

Deputy Minister Nishantha Muthuhettigama today denied allegations that he was behind Wednesday morning’s attack on the stage set up for common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena’s rally at Wanduramba, Galle and challenged Dr. Rajitha Senaratne to show the video of the attack if he had one.

BASL asked to locate illegal cutouts

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) was today directed by the Court of Appeal to prepare a list containing the locations of unauthorized hoardings and cutouts and hand it over to the respondents by 1.30 pm today (19).

Rajitha acusses Muthu of arson attack

Common opposition stalwart and MP Rajitha Senaratne today levelled the accusing finger at Galle District UPFA MP Nishantha Muthuhettigama for Wednesday’s arson attack on the stage that had been erected at Wanduramba for the public rally of Common Opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena.

Drug addict arrested for breaking into Aravinda’s home

A man, having Rs.1 million in his possession, was arrested in connection with the robbery of former cricketer Aravinda de Silva’s home in Kollupitiya.

Defence Ministry influences LG members: Champika

Local politicians of the Jathika Hela Urumaya had been influenced by Defence Ministry and that they had been unable to attend Pradeshiya Sabha and Urban Councils or carry out their election campaign, General Secretary of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) Parliamentarian Champika Ranawaka charged today.

Video: ‘Maithri will be sworn-in immediately’

Common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena will be sworn in immediately if he is elected the President of this country, the common opposition said today.

Can't allow Arab Spring in SL: MR in Mullaithivu

President Mahinda Rajapaksa today said that he cannot allow Sri Lanka to face the same fate suffered by the countries like Iraq, Libya or Egypt.

Video: MR should vacate immediately: JVP

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today said if the incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa was defeated at the election in January, he would have to vacate the office right after the results were announced.

Hamas should be removed from terror list: EU court

The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas should be removed from the European Union's terrorist list, an EU court ruled on Wednesday, saying the decision to include it was based on media reports not considered analysis.

Nittambuwa claymores to be defused today

The two locally made claymore mines discovered yesterday at a cemetery in Bamunuwa, Nittambuwa would be defused by the Special Task Force today on a court order, Police said.

Madras high court suggests TN govt. free Lankan doctor

The Madras high court has asked the Tamil Nadu government to consider releasing a Sri Lankan Tamil doctor, now lodged in a special camp for refugees at Poonamallee, so that he could return to his country with his family and reclaim the property they had left behind during the civil war.

Two Pakistani Nationals sentenced to death

Two Pakistani men, who pleaded guilty to charges of possessing and peddling 1560 grammes of heroin in Bambalapitiya in 2012, were today sentenced to death by Colombo High Court Judge Irangani Perera.

Video: Gota blasts those ashamed of being Sinhalese

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa today said it was extremely unfortunate to note that there were some influential figures within Sri Lanka who have said openly that the country should submit itself to an international investigation.

Video: 10 PS members arrested for election law violations

The Police Department today said that 30 individuals including four Pradeshiya Saba (PS) Chairmen were arrested for violating election law violations.