Two Indian ministers don’t want Singh to travel to SL

Voices within the Cabinet grew lounder against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visiting Sri Lanka with two more ministers saying today that he should not attend Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in view of alleged atrocities against ethnic Tamils, Indian media reported.

Matara clash: UNP goes to HRC to obtain redress

The United National Party (UNP) today filed a complaint at the Human Rights Commission over the arrest of several of its members in connection with the Matara Clash on October 5

Ministry gets new name

The Ministry of Ports and Highways had been renamed as the Ministry of Highways, Ports and Shipping, the ministry said. The ministry said that it received the Gazette notification in this regard today.

Possibility of heavy rainfall in several provinces

The Department of Meteorology said showers or thundershowers would occur in the Northern, North-Central, Eastern, Southern and Uva Provinces during this afternoon and night.

12-hour water cut in Kolonnawa

A 12-hour water cut will be imposed from 8.00 a.m. tomorrow (05) till 8.00 p.m., in the Kolonnawa area because of vital repairs being carried out to the electricity supply by the Lanka Electricity Company (LECO), the National Water Supply and Drainage Board said.

British man drowns in Hikkaduwa Sea

A British man who was bathing in the Hikkaduwa sea with three other British nationals drowned yesterday

Lankan refugees in TN injured in clash

Fifteen persons were injured when a group of people from Pudhupatti village and Sri Lankan refugees clashed over a personal dispute near Batlagundu on Sunday night.

Two arrested over the killing of film maker’s aunt

Two suspects in the killing of an aunt of the late filmmaker Tissa Abeysekara in Welikada on September 28 were arrested today by the special investigation unit of the Western Province (South) DIG’s office.

UK scraps visa bond plan

Britain is scrapping a plan to force visitors from six "high risk" countries including Sri Lanka to pay a cash bond of £3,000 the interior ministry said on Sunday.

India wants probe on Ch 4 clip

India on Saturday called on the Sri Lankan government to investigate into the latest Video by Britain’s Channel 4, which contained alleged rape and murder of an LTTE female combatant, the PTI news agency reported.

Trishaw cruises on Expressway

A man who allegedly entered the Katunayake–Colombo Expressway in a trishaw, defying Expressway traffic officers at the Peliyagoda entrance, was arrested by the traffic officers near the 11.9 km post on Saturday night, and handed over to the Pamunugama police.

‘UK will not bathe SL in golden light’

While claiming that UK's presence at the CHOGM in Sri Lanka was not intended to bathe the Sri Lankan government in a golden light, Britain said: “The UK will make the point that the meeting is about the Commonwealth and not just Sri Lanka.”

Over 65 beauty parlours raided

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has seized cosmetic products from 67 salons and beauty parlours, as they were not suitable for use.

Police round up alleged sex workers

Nine women who allegedly engaged in prostitution were arrrested by a special police unit while they were loitering along several roads in Pettah yesterday.

Brothers drown while trying to retrieve helmet

Two brothers in their twenties drowned in a lake near the Panankadu Bridge in Akkaraipattu yesterday while trying to retrieve their helmet from the lake, police said.

Highest number of sixes: Sharma creates world record

India's Rohit Sharma on Saturday created history by slamming highest number of sixes by any batsman in a One-Day International (ODI) tie, against Australia in the seventh match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. Rohit slammed the third double century in ODI cricket's history, scoring 209 off 158 balls, hitting 12 boundaries and 16 sixes — a new world record.

Two charged with murdering Lankan student

Two people have been charged with murdering Sri Lankan student Thavisha Peiris as he delivered his last pizza before starting his dream job as an IT consultant, in UK.

UNP denounces arrest of two IFJ journalists

The main opposition UNP today denounced the arrest and interrogation of two journalists of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) including its Asia Pacific Director Jacqui Park

Video: NCPA to create sex offenders’ database

The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) said that it was making arrangements to create a data base with the names of offenders accused of sexual harassment

90,000 vehicles used Katunayake Expressway: RDA

The Road Development Authority (RDA) said today that some 90,000 vehicles have used the Colombo- Katunayake expressway since its opening six days ago

Still time to decide on PM's visit to Lanka: Chidambaram

Some union ministers are opposed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Sri Lanka to participate in CHOGM later this month but there is still time to take a decision, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said today

Road repairs at Lipton Circus

Police advise motorists using roads around Lipton Circus and Zoysa Roundabout to use alternative roads throughout the day to avoid possible traffic congestion due to ongoing road repair work in the area

German national drowns in Dikwella

A 34-year-old German national drowned in Dikwella while he was taking a sea bath in the Dikwella beach area, police said

Ranil, Karu, Sajith to meet again on Monday

Opposition and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, MPs Sajith Premadasa and Karu Jayasuriya who met today for a discussion with regard to the proposed party reforms decided to meet again next Monday,

Thugs assault policeman outside DIG office

A policeman who attempted to prevent a foreign woman being sexually harassed by three youth was allegedly assaulted by them in front of the Kandy DIG’s office, police said.

Reality star sings a different song

A singer who took part in a reality show on a popular television channel and was among the last 40 contestants was arrested by the Chilaw Police Unsolved Crimes Investigation Unit, on charges of house breaking and robbing cash and valuables.

Video: Harsha challenges Lakshman Yapa for open casino debate

UNP Parliamentarian Harsha de Silva posed an open challenge to Investment Promotion Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeyawardane for an open debate with him on any television channel regarding the Casino issue Pictures

SL to take up student’s killing with Cameron

The Government is expected to check on the progress with regard to the investigations into the killing of a Sri Lankan student in Britain when Prime Minister David Cameron visits Sri Lanka for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), a top official said today

Poaching: Indian Navy helpless -SL Navy Chief

Navy Commander Vice Admiral Jayanath Colombage said yesterday though the Sri Lankan and Indian Navies maintain a vibrant relationship, the Indian Navy and Coastguard units are often helpless when it comes to poaching by Indian fishermen

2,526 candidates proficient in the Korean Language

Nearly 2,526 candidates have passed the Korean Language Proficiency Test out of the 18,466 who sat the examination, the Foreign Employment Bureau said