Lankan caught with gold biscuits worth Rs.15 mn

A 40-year-old Sri Lankan was arrested at the Katunayake Airport this morning while attempting to smuggle into the country 31 gold biscuits worth Rs.15.5, Customs spokesman Leslie Gamini said

President to visit Sri Pada today

President Mahinda Rajapakse is due to visit Sri Pada today and pay homage at the sacred shrine. During his visit the president is scheduled to unveil the eternal flame oil lamp (Dolosmahe Pahana) and the bell tower erected recently.

I was only being good to the UNP: Tevarapperuma

United National Party (UNP) MP Palitha Thevarapperuma, who is alleged to have behaved aggressively under the influence of liquor at the UNP parliamentary group meeting by verbally abusing party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, rejected all allegations and said he was only acting for the good of the party.

Imported potatoes to go up by Rs.15

The Special Commodity Levy on a kilogram of imported potatoes will be increased by Rs.15 from tomorrow, the Ministry of Finance and Planning said

Feroza Muzaamil quits UNP

Colombo Mayor A.J.M. Muzammil’s wife Feroza has resigned from the United National Party (UNP) National Executive Committee today less than 24 hours after the party refused her nomination to contest the elections to the Western Provincial Council.

Convicted drug lord departs to SL for medical reasons

Ibrahim 'Shafaa' Shafaz Abdul Razzaq, the man believed to be the head of one of the most notorious drug cartels in the Maldives, had on Wednesday night departed to Sri Lanka for medical reasons.

Matale MC member walks away with Mace

The Matale Municipal Council sessions were interrupted today after one of the councillors took away the Mace. Several councillors belonging to the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and the opposition United National Party (UNP) left the Chamber

SL boat arrivals returned to Colombo

The Australian Government has today successfully returned 45 Sri Lankans who arrived illegally in Australia by boat, the Australian High Commission said

Video: Hirunika, a symbol of modern thinking: Maithripala

Hirunika Premachandra, who is contesting next month’s elections to the Western Provincial Council under the UPFA ticket, is a symbol of modern thinking, SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena said today

Two killed, nine injured in road accident

At least two people were killed and nine injured when a lorry carrying supporters of a UPFA candidate veered off the road and knocked down some of those who were on the roadside at Ratgama in Katumulla, Galle this afternoon, police sources said PICTURES

SL Military rejects

The Sri Lankan military today rejected the latest Australian report which claimed that the Sri Lankan armed forces had systematically destroyed evidence of alleged mass killings during the last stages of the war in the country

Video: Polls on March 29

Elections for the Western and Southern Provincial Councils would be held on March 29, 2014, Election Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya announced a short while ago

13 schools in Gampaha closed for nominations

Thirteen schools in Gampaha have been asked to close today because of it being the last day for handing over nominations for the elections to the Western Provincial Council, the Zonal Education Department said

Teenage suicide over photo on FB

A-16-years old female student of a School in Kurunegala is alleged to have committed suicide yesterday over some personal matter

TN party seeks Rahul's intervention on SL Tamils issue

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, which advocates the cause of Sri Lankan Tamils, sought Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's intervention to ensure India's support for a resolution against Sri Lanka in a UN body next month

Three brothels raided; 26 prostitutes arrested

Three brothels were raided and 26 alleged prostitutes were arrested in Maradana police area by the Western Province Police Crime Division yesterday, police said

Two containers seized with scrap copper

Two containers of scrap copper which were to be shipped to Singapore were seized on January 22 by the prevented staff of Sri Lanka Customs, Customs Media Spokesman Leslie Gamini said

SL not in Indian VISA extension list

India will extend visa-on arrival to tourists of all nations barring eight, including Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Iran, as it looks to boost tourism, Planning Minister Rajeev Shukla said on Wednesday

India monitoring China build-up in neighbourhood: Khurshid

India is keeping an eye on strategic rival China’s involvement in infrastructure projects in India’s immediate neighbourhood, external affairs minister Salman Khurshid said in Parliament on Wednesday

SLC rejects India-led ICC revamp plans

Sri Lankan cricket bosses have decided to oppose the India-led proposals that subtly aim to put the administration of the International Cricket Council in the hands of BCCI, Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board

Video: We will continue our struggle : Maithri

Former UNP Southern provincial councillor Maithri Gunaratne said today he and Shiral Laktilleke would resume the struggle from Kandy to remove UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and the leadership council in April this year after the UNP’s expected defeat at the forthcoming Provincial Council elections ???

MR writes to Emir of Kuwait

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received on Wednesday a written message from Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa dealing with means of boosting bilateral relations at various levels

Ugly scene at UNP group meeting

An ugly scene occurred at the United National Party (UNP) parliamentary group meeting this morning following a heated argument between Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and UNP Kalutara District MP Palitha Tevarapperuma

Shane Warne to invest in SL

Sri Lanka’s Consul General in New South Wales Bandula Jayasekara said that former Australia’s star cricketer Shane Warne wanted to invest in Sri Lanka and was expected to travel to the island soon

SL won’t sue Channel-4

The Sri Lankan Government has decided not to sue Channel-4 for its telecast of videos on Sri Lanka as it had adopted more effective strategies to deal with such situations, External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris told Parliament today. 

UN Assistant Secretary-General due in SL

United Nations Assistant Secretary-General, Chair, United Nations Development Group Asia-Pacific and UNDP Assistant Administrator & Director, Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific Haoliang Xu, will be visiting Sri Lanka from February 9-12, 2014. 

Brazilian army to train SL military officers

The Brazilian Army has offered training slots to Sri Lankan armed forces at Brazilian National War College, High Studies Schools of the Brazilian Armed Forces, Brazilian Peacekeeping Operations Centre and the Jungle Warfare Instruction Centre. 

Video: Ravi resigns from UNP Nomination Board

UNP MP and party stalwart Ravi Karunanayake has resigned from the UNP Nomination Board following a disagreement over the selecting of candidates for the forthcoming provincial council election, informed source said.

Tax on imported dhal reduced

Special Commodity Levy on imported dhal would be reduced by 17 rupees per kilo with effect from midnight today, the Ministry of Finance and Planning said

Sanga passes 11,000 Test runs

Kumar Sangakkara struck his maiden triple hundred and became the ninth batsman to score 11,000 test runs as a dominant Sri Lanka took control of the second and final test against Bangladesh on Wednesday