MR calls for immediate relief for landslide victims

President Mahinda Rajapaksa today directed the authorities to provide immediate relief to the people affected by the landslide at the Meeriyabedda Estate in Koslanda.

Heavy traffic in Town Hall

Heavy traffic was reported in the Town Hall area due to a protest march by Insurance Employees Union towards the Pittala Junction from Slave Island via Town Hall. 

SC dismisses Vass appeal

A five judge Supreme Court bench including Chief Justice Mohan Peiris today dismissed an appeal filed by former DIG Vass Gunawardena and five others against the Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar.

Only three bodies found - DMC

Contradicting earlier reports issued by the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) about the dead bodies recovered from the Koslanda landslide, DMC Assistant Director Pradeep Kodippili said yesterday that only three dead bodies were found related to the landslide

Pope’s visit confirmed

The Roman Catholic Church in Sri Lanka said yesterday that the visit of Pope Francis to Sri Lanka would take place as scheduled.

Earth slip halts Badulla-Colombo train service

The train service on the Badulla-Colombo track came to a standstill after a massive mound of earth crashed againstthetrain engine and a part of the track at a point between Ella and Demodara last night, the Railway Department said.

Ranil challenges MR on whether he met LTTErs in US

United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe today challenged president Rajapaksa to respond to the questions he had raised on whether the latter had met members of the LTTE in America and why the government had not intervened in the case involving the ban on the LTTE -- in the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

Govt. to help poor Muslims go on Haj pilgrimage

The Government will make arrangements to send Muslims who do not have the financial means to visit Mecca on the Haj pilgrimage, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said today

BBS raps MPs

The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) today charged that Parliamentarians were behaving as a bunch of adolescents without considering the seriousness of their responsibilities.

Joy ride on police motorbike costs Rs.3000 each

Three men who pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing a new 600cc engine capacity motorcycle valued at Rs.3.6 million belonging to the Slave Island Traffic Police were yesterday each ordered to pay Rs.3,000 as crown cost.

Gender equality:SL among top 10 in A/P

Sri Lanka continues to make progress in closing the gender gap on health and survival, and has high involvement of women in tertiary education, ranking 13th in the world, stated the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap 2014 Report, published today.

Nightclub in Anuradhapura: UNP

A nightclub is being operated within the Sacred City of Anuradhapura desecrating its religious, Parliament was informed today.

Don’t ink MoU on oil supply: Tissa

The government should not sign an MoU with the foreign companies for the supply of oil at current price as crude oil prices would tend to go down by next year, UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said.

Reasons for extending LTTE ban not valid: Vaiko

MDMK general secretary Vaiko said on Monday that the reasons cited for extending the ban on the LTTE were not valid.

SL denounces terrorist attack in Egypt

PC injured in a misfire

A police constable was injured when a Sub Inspector’s pistol was accidently triggered when they were attempting to arrest a speeding three-wheel driver who refused to stop when asked to do so at Neluwa last night.

PS member attacked by jumbo

Member of the Lankapura Pradeshiya Sabha Sri Sarath Ananda was attacked by a wild elephant this morning in front of his house. He was injured in the incident and admitted to Polonnaruwa general hospital.

Lankan asylum seeker killed in UK

An asylum seeker who escaped war-ravaged Sri Lanka was mowed down and killed in a hit-and-run last night just metres from his home in Croydon.

Two arrested for transporting a baby sambur

Two men illegally transporting a baby sambur, a protected animal under the Wildlife Protection Act and prohibited to keep, were arrested at Manthottam in Damana last evening, police said.

Senanayake ready to make international return

Star bowler Sachitra Senanayake has completed the remodelling process of his bowling action and is ready to bowl at international stage, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Head of Coaching Jerome Jayaratne has informed the SLC authorities and was brought up for the notice of SLC Executive Committee yesterday at their emergency meeting

SL women’s cricket sex scandal to be probed

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Executive Committee decided at an emergency meeting yesterday to conduct an immediate inquiry into claims that members of Sri Lanka women’s cricket team management and national selectors had to be bribed sexually by Sri Lanka women’s cricketers if they were to get selected to the national team and keep their places.

UN Counter Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate here

The UN Counter Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) is due to arrive in Sri Lanka today on a three-day visit to asses Sri Lanka’s approach in countering terrorism during which they are due to visit Jaffna as well.

Committee to study JHU proposals

A five-member committee was appointed yesterday to study the proposals put forward by the Jathika Hela Urumaya for it to support the government at an upcoming presidential election.

Two-thirds of SL refugees want to remain in India

A survey by Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, conducted among the one-lakh-odd Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in India has found that 67 per cent of those interviewed wanted to remain in India.

MPs listed for oral questions not present

None of the opposition members listed to raise oral questions were present in Parliament today and this became a salient feature during the sessions with Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunawardene calling it a world record.

Wheel bursts while landing

One wheel of a light passenger aircraft belonging to a domestic passenger service had burst while landing at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this afternoon, airport officials said.

Bangladesh to export 50,000 T rice to SL

Bangladesh will export 50,000 tonnes of rice to Sri Lanka for the first time under a government-to-government deal at $450 a tonne including cost, freight and insurance, Food Minister Mohammad Karmul Islam said on Monday.

CW to assist LLRC implementation: Sharma

Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma today said that the Commonwealth Organisation would continue to assist Sri Lanka in the implementation of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) recommendations.

Video: LTTE assets could be used for election: UNP

The main opposition United National Party (UNP) today charged that the government may use LTTE assets in its campaign for a Presidential Election via Kumaran Pathmanathan (KP) following the lifting of the European Union General Court’s ban on the LTTE.

China has no military presence in Lanka: SL assures India

Sri Lanka's Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera on Monday allayed India's fears on increasing Chinese military presence in the island nation, as he categorically stated that his nation will never compromise on India's national security or for that matter of any other country.