Avoid visiting Mahabodhi next week-Govt

The government today advised Sri Lankan pilgrims against visiting it the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya during the next week due to the ongoing investigations into the series of bomb blasts inside the temple, this morning.

Bombings not targeting Buddhists or SL: Govt.

The Government Information Department said today that initial reports had suggested that the target of the bombings in the Mahabodhi Viharaya in Buddha Gaya was neither Buddhists nor Sri Lankan pilgrims.

No Lankans injured-Govt

The government said that no Sri Lankans were reported to have been injured in the series of blasts at the Mahabodhi Temple in India this morning.

Video: Blasts inside Mahabodhi temple;5 injured

Five people including two Tibetan pilgrims were injured in a serial blast inside the Mahabodhi temple complex at Bodhgaya on Sunday morning.???

Voter registry to be completed by mid-week

Nominations for the upcoming provincial council polls in Northern, Central and North Western provinces will be called only after the supplementary voter register created to provide voting rights to displaced persons of the North are completed and certified, an Elections Department official said today.

Maldivian President in Colombo

Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Waheed and a top business delegation are currently in Sri Lanka on a two-day official visit.

Madras Court restrains bank from ousting SL woman from service

The Madras High Court has passed an interim injunction restraining the State Bank of India from ousting a Sri Lankan a woman, who came to India as a refugee and got appointment in the bank on contract basis and later made eligible for the benefits of permanent employees.

Indo-Lanka ties at high pedestal-GL

Sri Lanka on Saturday said its ties with India are at a high pedestal and are moving forward smoothly.

Menon to visit Sri Lanka

National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon is scheduled to visit Colombo next week to hold talks on a tri-lateral maritime security treaty among India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, officials said today.

48-hour railway strike

Train commuters are due to experience inconveniences on Monday and Tuesday (July 8 and 9), due to an island-wide strike organized by the Railways Professional Trade Union Alliance (RPTUA) to urge the government to rectify their salary anomalies.

Kandy hospital eye-clinic to reopen

The operating theatres of the Kandy Teaching Hospital eye clinic, which was closed due to a contamination, will be reopened on Monday, hospital sources said

Basil meets TN fishermen

Minister Basil Rajapaksa, who is on a visit to New Delhi, met representatives of the Tamil Nadu Fishermen Federation in New Delhi on 5 July, the Sri Lankan High Commission in New Delhi said.

Red Cross worker's murder: DNA evidence delays trial

Problems with DNA evidence have delayed the prosecution of suspects over the murder of a Red Cross worker in Sri Lanka in 2011, British officials said.

Video: One way traffic system – rehearsals today

Rehearsals for a new traffic flow would get underway today (6) as the government prepares to extend the uni-flow system which has proved to be successful in other parts of Colombo.

Lankan man steals money from his Kuwaiti employer

A Sri Lankan man, who was employed as a domestic worker for a Kuwaiti citizen, was arrested yesterday for stealing KD 6,500 from his employer in Riqqa area

Kurshid coming here for talks

Followed by the visit of Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa to New Delhi, India’s External Affairs Minister Salman Kurshid will visit Sri Lanka soon to discuss the political situation in the country.

Those attacking the Govt. are first to crossover – Harin

The UNP parliamentarian Harin Fernando today said opposition members who vociferously blamed the Government were the ones who crossed over. 

India asks SL to fully implement power devolution provision

India today emphasised to Sri Lanka the need to fully implement the constitutional provision dealing with devolution of powers to provinces without dilution and to go beyond it to ensure meaningful development there

PS Chairman nabbed for alleged bribery

The Walallawita Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman was arrested today by the Bribery Commission when he was allegedly soliciting a bribe of 2 million Rs from the Chairman of the Benthara Paradeshiya Sabha, the Bribery Commission said.

State bank manager remanded

The Colombo Fort Magistrate today remanded the Assistant Manager of a leading state bank in Colombo, for allegedly soliciting bribes in return for the promise of employment.

Woman electrocuted in Borella

A 62-year-old woman was electrocuted when she came in contact with a wire of an electricity transmission unit near D S Senanayake College junction in Borella, police said

24 Indian fishermen released by SL

Twenty-four fishermen, who were arrested by Sri Lankan naval personnel on June 5 when they were fishing near Katchathivu islet, arrived Rameswaran, Tamil Nady today after a court in the island nation ordered their release, the PTI reported

Estate Superintendent hacked to death

A 65-year-old Estate Superintendent in Nooriyawaththa at Deraniyagala has been hacked to death this morning by a group of unidentified gangsters, police said

More SL asylums seekers returned

A further 15 Sri Lankan irregular maritime arrivals have been returned to Colombo after failing to meet Australia’s international obligations, a spokesman for the Department of Immigration and Citizenship said today

NWP and CP Provincial Council to be dissolved

Governors of the North-Western Province and Central Province Tissa R. Balalle and Tikiri Kobbekaduwa confirmed that the two provinces would be dissolved effective from 12.00 midnight today

President issues NPC polls proclamation

President Mahinda Rajapaksa issues proclamation to elections commissioner to conduct northern Provincial Council election, government Information department announced

Video: Demo causes heavy traffic in Moratuwa

Heavy traffic jam was reported in front of Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa on the Galle Road due to demonstrations by past students and parents against the move to remove the Principal of the School

29 injured in an accident

At least 29 people were injured including the UPFA southern Provincial Council member Aruna Gunarathna following an accident in Kathaluwa Ahangama, this morning

12 policemen arrested over Trinco students killing

Twelve STF personnel including an ASP and a policeman were arrested by the CID over the killing of five students in Trincomalee in 2006

Video: 'Ramith had consulted doctors over somnambulism'

Cabinet spokesman, Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that his son Ramith was a sleep walker and had even consulted doctors. He surmised that Ramith may have sleep walked during the-flight.