Missing aircraft: SL wants to know if help needed

The Sri Lankan mission in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia has been informed by the External Affairs Ministry to find out whether Sri Lanka was among the countries that the Malaysian government had requested to join in the search operation for the missing Malaysian aircraft MH370, the External Affairs Ministry said

Majority want death penalty restored

About 90 per cent of the public who visited the gallows at the Bogambara prison wanted the death penalty restored, a Prisons Department official said

US imposes new sanctions on Russian officials

The United States, working in coordination with Europe, imposed new sanctions on prominent Russian officials on Monday as the showdown over Ukraine reached a new stage of confrontation between East and West

US concerned over detention of HR defenders

The United States Government is concerned about the arrests and detention of several well-known Sri Lankan human rights defenders and activists over the past week.

BBS agitated by Hakeem’s report

While condemning a report submitted to the UNHRC on alleged religious disharmony in the country by Minister Rauf Hakeem, the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Organisation today charged that the contents of the report were false and the Minister should immediately rectify his actions

Crimean parliament formally applies to join Russia

Crimea's parliament has formally declared independence from Ukraine and asked to join the Russian Federation following Sunday's referendum in which officials say nearly 97% of Crimeans voted to break away from Ukraine

Video: JVP on Thunnana: Police allegations a fabrication

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said today the allegation by police spokesman Aith Rohana that a group of people with ulterior motives had incited the Thunnana residents to protest was baseless.

Mahela to join Sanga in T20 retirement

Sri Lankan cricketer Mahela Jayawardene will retire from Twenty20 international at the end of ICC World T20 2014 event, along with Kumar Sangakkara, International Cricket Council’s (ICC) announced the news on Twitter on Monday.

OIC Siriwardena promoted

The late Chief Inspector Prasad Siriwardena, the Officer in Charge (OIC) of the Borella Police had been promoted to the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP) posthumously on the recommendation of IGP N.K Illangakoon, the Police said.

Two teachers, student of Bandaranayake College arrested

Two teachers and one student of the Bandaranayake College, Gampaha had been arrested in connection with the unrest that took place in the school two weeks ago, Police sources said.

Mercy passes away; but memories will live on

‘Made Lagina Tharawan Nawannada Mang – Uru Delen Mona Gajamuthu Aragannada Mang’. This song will no doubt remind you of the actress Mercy Edirisinghe who sang and played the lead role in the Tharawo Igilethi stage play which became immensely popular.

Veteran cinematographer Gafoor no more

Veteran, award winning cinematographer and film director M. A. Gafoor passed away this morning and his funeral will take place at the Thihariya Muslim Burial Grounds this evening at 4 pm.

Crimeans vote over 90 percent to quit Ukraine for Russia

Russian state media said Crimeans voted overwhelmingly to break with Ukraine and join Russia on Sunday, as Kiev accused Moscow of pouring forces into the peninsula and warned separatist leaders "the ground will burn under their feet".

Video: CID to investigate Hanwella unrest

The Police said the CID had taken over the investigations in to the incident of Hanwella unrest where an OIC was injured and died.

Bookies offer second-best odds to SL, India to win T20

An online betting forum has tipped Sri Lanka and India at odds of six dollars to win the World Twenty20, while Australia is tipped even lower at odds of 4.25 dollars for claiming their first Twenty20 title

Borella OIC succumbs to injuries

Borella Police OIC Prasad Siriwardhana who was admitted to the Avissawella Hospital following a mishap during a stand off in Hanwella, succumbed to his injuries a while ago, the Police said

Sanjeewa Kaviratne passes away

UNP Central Provincial Council member and UNP Dambulla Organiser Sanjeewa Kaviratne has passed away a short while ago

India to release 25 SL fishermen

Twenty-five Sri Lankan fishermen arrested for poaching off Nagapattinam and remanded in judicial custody were ordered to be released by the Tamil Nadu State government yesterday

OIC hospitalised: Hanwella calm

The Borella Police OIC had been admitted to the Avissawella Hospital following a mishap during a stand off in in Hanwella, the Police said

Hanwella tense as police fire tear gas

Police have fired water cannon and tear gas to disperse hundreds of people protesting against a factory in Hanwella, police said.

SL puts its No.1 T20 ranking on the line

Sri Lanka will start the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh, which runs from 16 March to 6 April, as the number-one ranked side on the Reliance ICC T20I Team Rankings Table, the ICC said.

Galle-Matara stretch of southern expressway opened

The Pinnaduwa (Galle) to Godagama (Matara) stretch of the Southern expressway was declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa a short while ago.

Youth killed in Jaffna big match clash

An old boy of St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna was killed in a clash between old boys of his school and Jaffna College today, during the annual one day Cricket encounter of the two schools, police said

Next round of fishermen talks on March 25

The Tamil Nadu State government has fixed March 25 as the date for the next round of fishermen-level talks to be held in Colombo

Woman arrested for harbouring LTTE suspect

A woman had been arrested in Kilinochchi on charges of harbouring an LTTE suspect, who was absconding after shooting a police Sub Inspector, the Police said

Diversion of MH370 was deliberate: Malaysian PM

The Malaysian Prime Minister said investigators now know that the missing Malaysian airliner’s communications were deliberately disabled and that it turned back from its flight to Beijing and flew across Malaysia

SL donates 50,000 tons of rice to WFP

Sri Lanka yesterday donated 50,000 metric tons of rice to the World Food Program (WFP) for free supply to 10 countries in Central Africa and South Asia

Be alert as Mervyn has opened his mouth-Hakeem

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress ( SLMC) Leader and Minister Rauff Hakeem cautioned media personnel to keep an eye on their camera equipment because Minister Mervyn Silva, who is the Kelaniya SLFP Organiser, has now begun talking after remaining silent for some time.

Mother tongue, religion, history compulsory in int’l schools

The Cabinet has endorsed a proposal to teach the mother tongue, religion and history as compulsory subjects for local students from next year at private and international schools operating in the country, a minister said yesterday.

Police, army teams to arrest LTTE suspect who shot SI

Police said the suspect who fled after shooting a Police officer in Kilinochchi was a former LTTE cadre who is suspected to have been involved in terrorist activities and several crimes against the state.