Video: The golden rectum

A 50-year-old Sri Lankan was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) on charges of having attempted to smuggle 600g of gold worth Rs.3 million last night, Customs Director and media spokesman Leslie Gamini said ???

Child drowns

A two and a half-year-old child drowned in the sea near a hotel in Marawila last morning, police said. They said the child had managed to escape the attention of the parents and reach the seas in close proximity to their house

Local group promoting sexual violence on Facebook

Local users of the popular social networking site ‘Facebook’ were appalled when attempts made by them to report and block several pages and groups that promote sexual violence, were not accepted by Facebook administrators

More lands released in Jaffna-military

The military said that several army camps in the Jaffna peninsula were closed down today, further reducing the presence of troops in the area

Some countries using UNHRC to attack SL-MR

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has condemned the practice of certain countries for using the UN Human Rights Council against countries like Sri Lanka and Belarus, the President’s office said

Proper dietary habits lead to a healthy life: Veddah Chief

Veddah Chief Uruvarigelage Vanniyale Ettho said one must be cautious of his dietary habits and be a nature lover to live a healthy life.  He said a recent survey conducted by the western and indigenous medical specialists had found that no-one in the Veddah community suffered from renal diseases or diabetes although many others in the Redeemaliyedda division were victims of such ailments

12 batches of DCD-free milk powder released

Twelve more batches of milk powder imported from New Zealand and Australia were released to the market after laboratory tests by the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) had found they were free of dicyandiamide (DCD), the Health Ministry said today

Evidence recorded from 72 witnesses- Army

The Army said today that the Court of Inquiry appointed by Army Commander Lt. General Daya Rathnayake into the recent Weliweriya shootings, recorded evidence from 72 witnesses which include 58 Army personnel ‘associated with the incident’

Gang robs Rs.2.2 million

A gang of robbers have reportedly robbed Rs.2.2 million from a petrol station in Thihariya and have got away, the police said

Pillay raises “religious tensions” with Hakeem

Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem said today that visiting UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay raised concerns regarding the rise in religious tensions, and said that he briefed her about the steps taken to curb violence directed at religious groups.Pictures

Remove party symbols painted on the roads: UPFA

Sri Lanka Freedom Party  (SLFP) General Secretary and Minister Maithripala Sirisena today directed the police and the authorities to take immediate steps to remove the party symbols that are drawn on streets, Government Information Department said.

35 Indians caught poaching

The Navy last night arrested 35 Indian fishermen and confiscated their four boats when they were caught fishing off the coast of Kalpitiya well within Sri Lanka’s territorial waters, Navy spokesman Kosala Warnakulasooriya said today

N’Eliya Deputy Mayor remanded

The Deputy Mayor of Nuwara Eliya, Tissa Senaviratne who surrendered to Court was remanded until September 9 on allegation of child abuse

Video: Vaas remanded in separate case

Former DIG Vaas Gunawardhana was ordered to be remanded till September 4, by the Fort Magistrate today over a separate case of intimidating CID officers probing his case. Pictures

Ravana Balaya demo causes major traffic snarl up

A protest organized by ‘Ravana Balaya’ near United Nations office in Colombo  against UNHR Chief Navanethem  Pillay is causing major traffic congestions on roads in proximity to Bauddhaloka Mawata and Tummulla Junction

Karunanidhi asks Centre to follow Indira's path

DMK president M Karunanidhi on Sunday stressed that setting up of an Indian naval base in Dhanushkodi or Mandapam near Rameswaram will bring a "lasting solution" to the issue of alleged attacks on fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy.

Video: I have not come here to criticize-Pillay

The visiting United Nations Human Rights Chief Navaneetham Pillay told the media today that she came to Sri Lanka not to criticise but to assess the human rights situation in the country.

Army refutes allegations, denounces heist

While deploring the fact that some parties were trying to implicate the Army in the alleged robbery that took place at the Bambalapitiya residence of a senior journalist

Saudi Lawyer to represent murdered SL woman

The Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh has hired a Saudi lawyer to plead the case for a Sri Lankan woman who was allegedly killed by her American husband in the Kingdom

Pillay arrives

United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner Navaneethan Pillay arrived in the country a short while ago on a week-long official tour

Tense situation in Matugama

A tense situation prevailed near Sri Kaali Amman Kovil in St. George estate, Yatadola at Matugama a short  while ago when a organisation called ‘Matugama Bodu Bala Defending Organisation’ entered the area in protest of an animal sacrifice ritual organized by the Kovil

Video: MR leaves for Belarus

President Mahinda Rajapaksa this morning left the country on a three-day official visit to Republic of Belarus, Government Information Department said

SL keen to expand economic relations with Pakistan

External Affair Prof GL Peiris Minister called on Finance Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Friday in Islamabad and discussed areas of economic cooperation and explored ways to enhance bilateral trade and economic relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar said that the present volume of trade between the two countries does not reflect the depth and close relations between the two countries.

SL welcomes Madras Café

'Madras Café, a movie set in the backdrop of the Lankan insurgency of the 1990s has found place at a movie hall in Colombo, while in Tamil Nadu, no theatre is willing to screen the same – not even after the reported assurance from the Police Commissioner of Chennai.

Gang storms journalist's house

A member of a robber gang, who attempted to rob the house of journalist Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema in Bambalapitiya, was killed when police opened fire at the gang in the early hours today, police said.

Indian Court restrains govt from deporting Lankan

Madras High Court today restrained authorities from deporting a Sri Lankan Tamil refugee to the island nation.

Defence advisors meet Army Chief

Several foreign military officers Friday (23) morning paid courtesy calls on the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake at the Army Headquarters.

Three injured in expressway accident

Three people including a 19-month-old infant its mother and sister were injured when the jeep they were travelling in toppled near the Dodangoda exit on the Southern Expressway.

Order against Fonterra lifted

The Gampaha District Court today vacated the enjoining order issued against Fonterra Brands Lanka (Pvt) Limited which prevented the company from releasing, distributing or advertising its products.

UN rights chief stays open-minded ahead of Sri Lanka trip

The United Nations human rights chief said on Friday she has an “open mind” and will not be “pre-judging anything” ahead of her first trip to Sri Lanka, which is under growing pressure from the international community to address alleged war crimes.