Smuggling attempt foiled by Customs

Two Chinese and two Sri Lankans were arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this afternoon while attempting to smuggle "Walla-Patta" logs and gold slabs worth Rs.28.5 million and Rs.10 million respectively, Customs spokesman Leslie Gamini said.

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB)

Lankan ISI agent under NIA custody

A special court on Wednesday granted six days custody of suspected ISI agent Arun Selvarajan to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The judge, however, dismissed a petition by CBI to include it as a party in the investigation.

Uva campaign worse than Southern and Western : PAFFREL

While claiming the election campaign carried out by various political parties for the Uva Provincial Council was not worse than the campaign in the North Western Province, election watchdog PAFFREL today said it was certainly worse than the Southern and Western Provincial Council election campaigns.

BJP leaders to attend Colombo meet

Even before the dust could settle down over Indian representation at the strategic conclave of Sri Lanka, two senior BJP leaders would be participating in a global conference of Asian political parties in Colombo.

CEB asks consumers not to panic

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) today appealed to its nearly five million consumers not to panic when they receive the monthly electricity bill this month based on the previous tariff despite President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s announcement of a 25% tariff reduction with immediate effect.

Pope approves Joseph Vaz as Lanka's 1st saint

Pope Francis has approved the decision by the Vatican's saint-making office to canonize the Indian born Rev. Joseph Vaz as Sri Lanka's first saint, foreign media reported.

One killed, 19 injured in accident in Bandarawela

One person was killed and nineteen others including UPFA Uva provincial council candidate Sendil Thondaman were injured in an accident in Bandarawela this evening, police said

India's CBI to grill Selvarajan for LTTE links

Days after the arrest of Arun Selvarajan by National Investigating Agency (NIA) and reports about his alleged connections with politicians, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has sought permission from a court to quiz the Sri Lankan national about his possible links with the LTTE.

Fuel price reduction not sufficient: LPBOA

Lanka Private Bus Owners' Association (LPBOA) President Gemunu Wijeratne said today the three-rupee price reduction on diesel was meant to deceive the people and that it would in no way be helpful to the people.

Six dead in two accidents

At least six persons were killed and three were injured in two separate road accidents in Kekirawa and Bandaragama this morning, the Police said.

Lankan fishing boat apprehended off Chennai

Five Sri Lankan fishermen along with their boat have been apprehended for fishing in Indian waters and 300 kg of tuna fish seized from them by the Indian Coast Guard off Chennai.

Sajith’s name will be given prominence-Ranil

UNP National leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said that prominence would be given to UNP MP Sajith Premadasa when appointing a deputy leader for the party.

Probe on SL is of great importance-new UNHRC Chief

The new UN Human Rights Chief Prince Zeid Ra'ad Zeid Al-Hussein of Jordan has remarked that he attaches great importance to the investigation on Sri Lanka led by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) while urging the Lankan authorities to cooperate with the investigation.

Saudi Courts to recruit translators from Sri Lanka

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Justice has decided to recruit translators with a sound knowledge of English, Sinhala and Tamil from Sri Lanka, Arab News reported.

SL, a country with growing influence in political domain-Abe

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who will be in Colombo tomorrow, described Sri Lanka as a country with a growing influence in economic and political domains.

Akashi meets MR in Colombo

Senior Japanese diplomat Yasushi Akashi called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees a short while ago, president’s media unit said.

Senadirajah elected as ITAK leader

Tamil National Alliance MP Mavai Senathirajah was elected as the new leader of Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) at the party convention held in Vavuniya today, an official said.

Import of potatoes suspended

The import of potatoes has been suspended from midnight today because of the increase in local harvest, Finance Ministry said.

Rs.2 mn worth illegal drugs detected at BIA

A stock of illegally imported medical drugs valued at Rs. 2 million has been detected by the staff of customs preventive office at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Customs media spokesman Leslie Gamini said.

TN spikers asked to return from SL

Two Tamil Nadu volleyball players, V. Hariharan and L. Manoj, who were asked by the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) to come back midway from the Asian youth volleyball championship in Colombo, returned to the Chennai city on Friday.

University entrance cut-off marks released

The University Grants Commission has released the cut-off marks for university entrance for students, those who sat for the GCE A/L Examination in 2013.The UGC said that the cut-off marks can be obtained from www.ugc.ac.lk and www.admission.ugc.ac.lk websites.

Kudu Laalitha shot dead

Laalitha Kaushalya alias Kudu Laalitha was shot dead a short while ago when he attempted to escape from Police Narcotic Bureau personnel during a raid in Athurugiriya. (Pictures)

Dilshan not worried about Shehzad’s comments

Referring to the religion-focused comments made by Pakistani cricketer Ahmed Shehzad following the third ODI, Tillakaratne Dilshan said he thought little of the exchange at the time and would not consider lodging a complaint.

18-day-old baby dashed on the ground

An 18-day-old baby was killed after he was dashed on the ground by a 22-year-old woman in Polgasowita this morning. Update

Pistol-holder gets bail

The person, who is alleged to have entered the Court Complex armed with a pistol was released on a Rs.5,000 bail with a surety of Rs.100,000 by Colombo Fort Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya.

Vaas to be given security

The Colombo Additional Magistrate A.M. Shahabdeen today directed Borella Police OIC to provide adequate security to ex-DIG Vaas Gunawardena following the incident where a hand grenade was thrown at his house in Nedimala, Dehiwela yesterday.

Some concerns remain in North: UK

British High Commissioner John Rankin said today though Sri Lanka’s Northern region is moving forward from its difficult past, some concerns still remained.

Janaka Perera case: Ex LTTEer gets 20 year RI

The Anuradhapura High Court today sentenced former LTTE colonel Shanmuganadan Sudaharan for 20 years rigorous imprisonment after being guilty of assassinating Major General Janaka Perera and 29 others.

Sri Lanka ranked 73 at global competitiveness index

Sri Lanka has slid eight places to rank 73rd out of 144 countries in the Global Competitiveness Report 2014-2015 released by the World Economic Forum on Thursday.