Give lasting concessions to workers: Ranil

Leader of Opposition and United National Party (UNP) National Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe today called on the government to give lasting concessions to the working people through the next budget and not just election goodies which could be taken away later.

Video: Foreigners need prior permission to visit North-Govt

The Defence and Urban Development Ministry said today that foreigners wishing to visit the North should obtain prior permission from the Ministry.

India was ‘obvious place’ to send SL asylum seekers-Australia

The Australian federal government has said it acted lawfully when detaining 157 asylum seekers on board a Customs boat for a month, telling the Canberra High Court that India was an ‘obvious place’ to send them back.

India was ‘obvious place’ to send SL asylum seekers-Australia

The Australian federal government has said it acted lawfully when detaining 157 asylum seekers on board a Customs boat for a month, telling the Canberra High Court that India was an ‘obvious place’ to send them back.

Video: Foreigners need prior permission to visit North-Govt

The Defence and Urban Development Ministry said today that foreigners wishing to visit the North should obtain prior permission from the Ministry.

Illegal fisheries: red card for SL

In its fight against illegal fishing activities worldwide, the European Commission (EC) has today proposed to ban imports of fisheries products from Sri Lanka to tackle the commercial benefits stemming from illegal fishing. Issuing a statement, the EC said that the move comes after four years of intense dialogue with the country after which it could not demonstrate that it sufficiently addressed illegal, unreported and unregulated (

India may clear new sea route to SL

The vexed Sethusamudram project - which proposes to provide a navigable shipping channel across the Palk Straits between India and Sri Lanka - could see the light of day with the Centre set to clear an alternative route that avoids dredging through the Ram Setu.

Sajith against MR’s third term

United National Party (UNP) Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa had pledged to back a people’s struggle to prevent the incumbent president from contesting for a third term.

UPFA councillors summoned to Colombo

Taking another step towards the declaration of a snap presidential election, the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) has summoned its members of provincial councils and the local authorities for a discussion today, Daily Mirror learns.

Video: HINDFOS join hands to declare amity month

The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) chief, Ven. Kirama Wimalajothi Thera today said that it was high time to select a well educated and disciplined youths to govern the country and to dissolve the monopoly of dishonest and prejudice politicians those who had already governed the country.

Video: Implement Constitutional reforms or face consequences - JHU

Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) parliamentarian Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera said today that they would do everything possible to defeat President Mahinda Rajapaksa, if he was going for a presidential election without implementing the proposals for the 19th Amendment to the Constitution prepared by ‘Pivithuru Hetak’ National Council.

Ministry to ascertain condition of Sanchi Bodhi Tree

The Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs Ministry today said it would look into the reports of the dying and wilting condition of a Bodhi Tree supposedly planted near Sanchi in India by President Mahinda Rajapaksa a couple of years ago.

Damitha, Semini settle their dispute

Two popular film and tele-drama actresses, who had sued each other for millions in damages over allegations that they had insulted each other, withdrew their civil suits filed before Colombo District Judge Yvonne Fernando today after they resolved the matter amicably.

Illegal fisheries: red card for SL

In its fight against illegal fishing activities worldwide, the European Commission (EC) has today proposed to ban imports of fisheries products from Sri Lanka to tackle the commercial benefits stemming from illegal fishing.  

SriLankan flight develops technical snag in Chennai

A SriLankan flight from Colombo developed a technical snag while landing at the international airport in Chennai, but the pilot brought it down safely with no harm to the 122 passengers on board, Indian media reported.

Video: UNP for new body to regulate private universities

A future United National Party (UNP) government will set up a special institution similar to the University Grants Commission (UGC) to regulate the private universities, UNP parliamentarian Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said today.

Audio: Will not cross over: Navin

Public Management Reforms Minister Navin Dissanayake yesterday rejected the claims that he would crossover to the United National Party (UNP) leaving the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Government.

Hair picks Murali, Harbajan, and Saqlain as role models for chuckers

Darrell Hair, the umpire who famously no-balled Muttiah Muralitharan in a Test match, says cricket's crackdown on illegal bowling actions has come 20 years too late, leaving the game with "a generation of chuckers.”

Kalu suffers cardiac ailment

Sri Lanka Cricket Coach Romesh Kaluwitharana who was in Hambantota with the team for a four-day test match against the West Indies was airlifted to Colombo in an Air Force chopper after suffering from a sudden cardiac ailment.

Lankans arrested with foreign currency worth Rs.22 Mn

Three Sri Lankans aged 28, 34 and 38 were arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) departure lounge this morning while attempting to smuggle out foreign currency worth Rs.22,106,331 concealed in their rectum.

UNP outlines guidelines

The main opposition UNP yesterday said it was not prepared to accept any form of a new devolution system other than the existing provincial council system and was ready to adopt a balanced foreign policy in developing ties with China, India and the West alike.

Revised train schedule for Northern sector

With the commissioning of the train service to Jaffna, the Railways Department  has introduced a revised train timetable for the northern sector starting from Mount Lavinia today.

Chinese help to face cyber threats

In a move to boost cyber security, Sri Lanka reached an agreement with China to cooperate closely to face serious cyber threats and to share information on such threats in the future.

Threatening SMS to Sajin

A Moratuwa University senior lecturer was yesterday remanded by Mount Lavinia Chief Magistrate Rangajeewa Wimalasena when produced in Court by the Colombo Crime Division for allegedly threatening External Affairs Monitoring MP Sajin Vaas Gunawardena by SMS.  

SL still has ‘serious levels’ of hunger-Index

Sri Lanka still has ‘serious levels’ of hunger although the number of hungry people has declined with its score on the Global Hunger Index improving to the 39th position in 2014. Sri Lanka stood at the 43rd position on the Index last year.

SL gifted Bodhi tree at Sanchi is dying

The famous Bodhi tree- near Sanchi world heritage site in Madhya Pradesh, India - planted by President Mahinda Rajapaksa two years ago is dying and wilting, the Hindustan Times (HT) reported.

SC to hear Jaya’s bail plea on Friday

The Supreme Court will on Friday hear a special leave petition filed by three-time former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa challenging the Karnataka High Court order refusing to suspend the execution of her sentence and grant of bail in a disproportionate assets case.

Indian ‘rapist’ castrated by angry mob

A man had his genitals chopped off and thrown into the street by an angry mob in India for allegedly sexually assaulting a young woman. It happened in Ganganagar in the north-western state of Rajasthan, in graphic scenes captured on video.

Video: Election illegal: JVP

Political forces should come on a common platform to oppose the incumbent President from contesting the Presidential polls which was illegal, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said.

Jacqueline to go international

Former Miss Sri Lanka and Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez has been offered a lead role in a British film, The Definition of Fear.