Govt. brands Solheim a liar

The government today branded the Development Assistance Committee (OECD) Chairman and former Norwegian Sri Lanka peace negotiator Eric Solheim ‘a liar and a supporter of terrorists’ who was in cahoots with the LTTE.

Video: UPFA MP Wasantha joins UNP

United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Gampaha District parliamentarian Wasantha Senanayake joined the United National Party (UNP) a short while ago at the UNP Headquarters, Sirikotha.

Video: JHU condemns alleged attempt to intimidate monks

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) today condemned the alleged attempts by some factions to surround and to get hold of ‘Sadaham Sevana’ International Buddhist Centre in Rajagiriya where 25 Buddhist monks including Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera are residing.

Poll date to be announced soon: EC

Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said he would declare the date of the Presidential Election and the deadline for nomination within the course of the day or tomorrow.  

Video: MR signs proclamation

President Mahinda Rajapaksa a short while ago signed the proclamation declaring his intention to hold a Presidential Election seeking another term.

Election proclamation at 1.30 pm

Senior Minister A.H.M. Fowzie, a short while ago said that the gazette notification would be issued at 1.30 p.m. today announcing a presidential election.

Britisher lived here for 24 years without a VISA

A Britisher, who had pleaded guilty to the charge of having lived in Sri Lanka for 24 years after the expiry of his VISA was fined Rs.50,000 and sentenced to a month in jail in case of non-payment of the fine imprisonment in default of the fine by Bandarawela Magisrate Jeyaram Troskey.

Military denies building Chinese Naval Base

The military yesterday denied news reports that the Chinese People's Liberation Army and Navy were to build a naval base in Hambantota.

BJP praises Sri Lanka

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday termed the release of five fishermen on death row in Sri Lanka as 'heart-warming', adding that the action will help improve the ties between the two countries.

Court orders mother to return child to father in SL

Osaka Family Court ordered a Japanese woman on Wednesday to return her 4-year-old child to her Japanese husband living in Sri Lanka under the Hague treaty to settle cross-border child custody disputes.

CMC denies report of a worm in high-class food outlet

Inspections are being carried out every day at food outlets at the Arcade Independence Square, Race Course and the Floating Market to ensure that hygienic standards are maintained, the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) said.

Hewavitharana MV Principal missing

The Hewavitharana Maha Vidyalaya Principal has gone missing since Wednesday morning, his brother said in a complaint to the police.

President to declare poll today

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday received the unanimous approval of his party, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to declare a snap presidential election in early January, two years ahead of schedule, party officials said yesterday.

Are you the common candidate?-Maithripala asked

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena told our sister paper in Gampaha that that there was talk going around that he was going to resign from the government.

Indian fishermen released: Won’t serve sentence in India

The Indian High Commission said the five Indian fishermen who were sentenced to death on drug trafficking charges were today released by Sri Lankan authorities and would not serve their sentence in India.

Video: Traffic in Marcus Fernando MW

Traffic congestion was reported on Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha, Colombo 02 after a tree fell across the road near the National Museum a short while ago, Police said.

India isolates Ebola survivor at New Delhi airport

A 26-year-old Indian working in Liberia, who was treated and cured of Ebola in September, is in isolation at Delhi’s Airport Health Organisation Quarantine Centre after his semen sample showed traces of Ebola virus.

SL among top ten generous countries

Sri Lanka ranked ninth place at the 2014 World Giving Index (WGI) compiled by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) which looks at charitable behaviours of countries including the tendency of helping strangers, donating money and volunteering.

SL born Briton arrested at BIA

A 41-year-old Sri Lankan who is a citizen of England, was arrested today by the Katunayake Airport Police on a complaint that he had sexually harassed a 27-year-old woman on board a flight from London, Police said.

Two soldiers die in three-wheeler accident

Two soldiers were killed and another three injured when a three-wheeler they were traveling skidded off the road and plunged into a precipice at Navimana on the Navimana-Matara Road this morning.

Sanga on CNN’s Talk Asia

Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara will be the featured guest on CNN’s Talk Asia tomorrow.

SLC snubs Indian fixing probe

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had evaded assisting the Mudgal Probe panel investigating Indian Cricket corruption scandal, sources here told daily Mirror.

Election proclamation likely today

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is expected to issue the proclamation at 12.00 midnight today instructing the Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya to conduct a presidential poll.

Legal luminary bids adieu

R.K.W. Goonesekere, one of Sri Lanka’s foremost legal luminaries, passed away on Monday and his cremation will take place at the Jawatte Cemetery this evening.

Video: NFF tells JHU to reconsider decision

The National Freedom Front (NFF) today requested the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) members to reconsider their decision to resign from government portfolios and requested them to stay within the Government.

Video: Madumadawa joins Govt.

Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) Gampaha District Organiser Madumadawa Aravinda resigned from party and joined the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) today.

Video: BBS to field national candidate

Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) today said they are going to field a national candidate if any other party does not provide a proper candidate in the coming presidential election.

Indian drug convicts withdraw appeal

The appeal filed on behalf of the five Indians -- recently sentenced to death after being found guilty of drug trafficking charges -- was today withdrawn when the matter came up before the Court of Appeal.

Kuttan no more

Country’s legendary doorman, Kottarapattu Chattu Kuttan or known as Kuttan at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo passed away peacefully this morning.

Heavy traffic in Punchi Borella

Heavy traffic congestion was reported on a section of the road leading to Colombo from Punchi Borella as a result of a protest march, police said.