PM says he would take the blame if allegation was proved

Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne yesterday assured the nation that he would accept that there had been a shortcoming on his part if it is proven that his secretary had really issued a letter to the customs to release the consignment of heroin which was discovered recently

Minister Aluthgamage did not threaten wife - Police

The Police,today, cleared Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage of the allegation levelled against him by his wife -- that he was trying to harm her.

India has more fishermen in custody: Navy

Rejecting the allegations made by Tamil Nadu today that Sri Lankan Navy has turned Bay of Bengal into an ‘open-air prison’, Sri Lankan Navy said that India was more responsible for the fishermen issue as they had more fishermen in their custody

Trains to carry automobiles

The Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) and a leading vehicle manufacturing company in Sri Lanka launched a special vehicle transporting system by using a train with several cars from Polgahawela to Hunupitiya Railway station in Kelaniya today

Two killed, 10 injured in bus accident

Two people were killed and 10 others were injured following a private bus accident along the Chilaw-Negombo main road this evening, police said PICTURES

Two more budgets defeated

The 2014 budget of the Waththegama Urban Council and Hanguranketha Pradeshiya Sabha were defeated today. UPFA governed Waththegama Urban Council was defeated with a majority of one vote

Video: Anti-SL campaign by PPT and TNA targeting UNHRC 2014

A huge anti-Sri Lanka campaign has been activated, targeting the March 2014 UNHRC sessions in Geneva by local and global elements headed by the so-called ‘Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal’ (PPT) in Germany and the TNA

Uni-flow traffic rehearsal up to Savoy

A uni-flow traffic rehearsal would be initiated from 9.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. on Friday (Dec. 13) along Duplication Road (R.A. De Mel Mw) and Galle Road, the Police said

PM should not undermine his post-JHU

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) said today Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne should not undermine his position by acting in a manner that left room for various controversies to crop up against him such as in the heroin fiasco

SL Navy turned bay of Bengal into 'Open-air prison': Karuna

Slamming Sri Lanka and India over the issue of repeated instances of arrest of Indian fishermen, DMK president M Karunanidhi today said the navy of that country had turned Bay of Bengal into an "open-air prison," and charged New Delhi with allowing that.

Lankan dead in Lebanon

A Sri Lankan woman died of injuries Thursday in a weather-related motorcycle crash on Dahr al-Basheq road in the Metn region northeast of Beirut

30 more Indian fishermen arrested

Hours after the arrest of 110 Indian fishermen while poaching in Sri Lankan waters, another group of 30 Indian fishermen were arrested for a similar offence in the northern sea of Sri Lanka, the Navy said.

CAA to raid milk stores at any time of the day

A gazette notification will be issued soon to enable the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) to raid milk powder stores at any time of the day, Cooperatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando told a parliament media briefing today

SL temple photo wins “Best Smartphone Photo’ contest

The 'Best Photo Taken on a Smartphone' contest, launched by Celebrity Cruises, encouraged amateur photographers to submit their holiday snaps and has announced that a shot of the Gangaramaya Viharaya Temple, taken in Colombo, Sri Lanka, has taken top place

Military spokesman now at the MCNS building

With the abolition of the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS), the military spokesman’s office which comes under the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) has been moved to the MCNS building at Colombo 3

High Court finds in favour of SL Tamil woman

Australian Immigration Minister Scott Morrison will have to consider the case of a Tamil Sri Lankan woman in indefinite detention after the High Court ruled his department made a mistake

MR in Kenya

President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived in Nairobi, Kenya, this evening, beginning a four-day state visit, the President’s Office said

Update: 110 Indian fishermen arrested

Sri Lanka Navy today arrested 110 Indian fishermen and 15 Indian trawlers engaged in illegal fishing in the eastern seas of Sri Lanka, the navy said

Minister’s foot in mouth over Basil ad

Civil Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratne was in a spot in Parliament today, when he claimed that the enlarged photograph of Minister Basil Rajapaksa was included in a full page newspaper advertisement as part of the Mattala International Airport’s publicity campaign

Heroin container: Ministry Secretary resigns

The Coordinating Secretary to the Minister of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs, who had allegedly intervened to release a heroin container from the Customs, had tendered his resignation to Prime Minister and the Minister of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs D.M. Jayaratne from December 9

Melee in Homagama; Budget defeated

Adding to the list of UPFA defeats in budgets of local government bodies, the budget of the Homagama Pradeshiya Sabha was defeated 11- 2 with the Chairman of the council hospitalised following an assault by a member of the gallery

Church warns of 'foreign intervention' in Sri Lanka

The Catholic Church today warned Sri Lanka's government of foreign intervention unless it worked towards reconciliation and addressed allegations of war crimes during the war against Tamil separatists

Pakistan's Naval Chief arrives tomorrow

Pakistan’s Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Mohammad Asif Sandila, NI (M) will be arriving in Sri Lanka tomorrow on a bilateral visit alongwith a three members’ delegation

Navy step up heat on poaching fishermen

The Navy said today that 15 Indian fishing vessels along with fishermen have been taken into custody for poaching in Sri Lankan waters

Reveal Govt. stance on letter by Maha Nayake Theras: UNP

United National Party (UNP) media spokesman Gayantha Karunathilake asked the Government to reveal its stance on the letter sent to President Mahinda Rajapaksa by the Maha Nayake Theras of the four Nikayas asking that casinos be banned in Sri Lanka

Police issues guidelines for Sri Pada season

The Police today introduced a special set of guidelines for devotees who go on Sri Pada pilgrimage which starts on December 16.

Man knocked down by a train at Bambalapitiya

A man selling ‘Kola Kenda’ in Bambalapitiya was run over by a train at around 8.15 a.m. today, police said. They identified the victim as 40-year-old Mohammed Thuwan, a resident of Raddoluwa. Pictures

SL should follow Mandela’s example: Britain

British Deputy Prime Minister Nicholas Clegg said Sri Lanka should emulate South Africa’s truth and reconciliation process as, “there can be no better way for Sri Lanka to heal its wounds and bring peace and unity to its entire people other than by following Mandela’s example.”

SL, TN fishermen talks by month-end

After months of prodding by Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa to set up a talks table between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lankan fishermen, the Centre has finally stirred into action and the proposed meeting might take place by this month-end

Gem and gold worth Rs.64mn seized

Custom Officials arrested a Sri Lankan gem exporter at the Bandaranaike International Airport today while attempting to smuggle gems and gold valued Rs. 64 million to Chennai.