52 Australia bound persons intercepted

Sri Lanka Navy intercepted 52 persons illegally bound for Australia in a multi-day trawler yesterday, navy said. The trawler named “Rosa Kusum” was intercepted by a Fast Naval Patrol Craft attached to the Western Naval Command 18 nautical miles west of Chilaw

Dr. Jayalath Jayawardane passes away

The Main opposition United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena passed away on Wednesday after a brief illness in Sigapore

Homagama judge arrested

Homagama district judge Sunil Abyesinghe was arrested by the Bribery Commission when he allegedly tried to solicit a bribe of Rs. 300,000 from a person in order to return a Judgment in his favour, officials said yesterday

Video: Scrap Executive Presidency: UNP

Opposition leader Ranil Wickckremasinghe yesterday launching a policy document for a new draft Constitution said that the Executive Presidency which has been “desecrated by the present regime” would be totally abolished, ensuring the sovereignty of the people, within six months of a future UNP government ???

UN Judge rules in long-running probe’s case in SL

UN Dispute Tribunal Judge Coral Shaw has ruled that the UN refugee agency unfairly punished one of its investigators for documenting a rape case in Sri Lanka a decade ago, foreign media said.

Rs.50 robbery suspect acquitted after 10 years

A Colombo Court  today released a suspect from a case that was dragging on for ten years over the theft of Rs. 50. It transpired in Court that the suspect was reported to have been kept under remand custody for over three months

IPL match-fixing probe:Bookies own team in SLPL

Mumbai crime branch suspects that Sanjay and Pawan Jaipur, two alleged bookies have huge investment in a franchise which is playing in Sri Lankan Premier League(SLPL).

‘Dematagoda Chaminda’ follows Duminda

The third accused in the Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra killing was released on bail by the Colombo High Court today

Angelo backs SL to excel in Champions Trophy

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews is confident his side can impress during the upcoming Champions Trophy tournament in the United Kingdom

Video: China to provide SL's first communication satellite

China's Great Wall Industry Corp. has signed a contract to provide Sri Lanka's first communication satellite. The company, in which China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. has an equity interest, is China's only authorized provider of commercial satellite launch services to the global market, the official media said ???

Police seek info on escaped prisoner

The person shown in the picture, Balasubramaniyam Jadisan alias Wardhan who was in prison after being convicted on terrorist activities had escaped from the prison officers in the Matara area on May 26, police said

Mother and daughter stabbed to death

A mother and daughter were stabbed to death in Ambepura, in Anuradhapura last night due to a love dispute, police said.

Uganda President at BIA

Uganda President Yoweri Musevani arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake and spent nearly one hour there last night on his way back to Uganda after a visit to Korea.

Tamil refugees flow continues to bother Australia

Despite efforts of Australian authorities to deter Sri Lankan refugees from taking ferries from Indian shores to Australia, such illegal migrants have been on the rise, braving death and danger in the high seas

China to provide further funding for transport sector

China has pledged to provide further funding to develop Sri Lanka’s transport sector that includes a number of expressways, road networks and railway lines, including a new Colombo-Jaffna expressway

Kelaniya PS chairman surrenders

Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Prasanna Ranaweera surrendered to court yesterday through a lawyer for an alleged assault on a businessman supporter of Minister Mervyn Silva last Thursday (23)

Video: MR meets Chinese President

President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is on a four-day state visit to China met Chinese President Xi Jinping for bilateral talks a short while ago, the Government Information Department announced ???

Video: China pledges more financial aid to Lanka

The China Exim Bank has pledged continuous support to Sri Lanka’s development work, particularly in areas involving road development, construction of highways and water supply projects ???

Court refused Singapore visit for Duminda

Colombo Magistrate court today refused permission for MP Duminda Silva to two weeks-visit to Singapore for medical observations.

Big heist at Ekala

An unidentified armed group arrived in a van robbed Rs. 7 mn belonging to a private firm at the Ekala junction, Ja-ela, a short while ago, the police said

Video: Govt. planning to privatise SOR-UNP

The Government is making arrangements to privatise the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery (SOR), despite its assurance not do so while in the meantime is going ahead with its plans to construct a new oil refinery at Hambantota, the United National Party (UNP) said today

SL Tamil duo mastermind in fake ATM card racket

The Tamil Nadu Q-branch police arrested two more persons - Habib Rahman of Saibaba Colony in Coimbatore and Muthukumar, Sellur, in Madurai in connection with the ATM card fraud case

Video: Pakistani journalist nabbed with Heroin

A Pakistan journalist was arrested last night for possessing one kilogram of heroin valued at rupees five million by the Excise Department officials at Orugadawatta

Met. Dept. says 'sorry'

Meteorology Department today tendered its public apology for naming the recent cyclone which ripped through Indian Ocean as Mahasen, one of the greatest Kings of Sri Lanka following a public disapproval of naming the tropical storm after the King

Grade 1 enrolment to be curtailed

The Education Ministry is planning to reduce Grade 1 enrolment in schools from the present capacity of 45 students to 35 per classroom by 2016, a Minister said yesterday

Murder accused given bridging visa

A Sri Lankan man accused of murdering his girlfriend before fleeing to Australia on an asylum boat was released into the community on a bridging visa in 2012

Mervyn to get powers to discipline public servants?

A new Parliamentary Act will be soon introduced giving unrestricted power to the Public Relations and Public Affairs Ministry to entertain and investigate complaints against public officials and recommend redress or take legal action against those who ignore ministry directions, a senior official said

Chinese arrested with protected animals

Wildlife rangers arrested a Chinese at Mirijjawila in Hambantota for allegedly possessing a tortoise and a pangolin yesterday, the Wildlife Department said

SL concerned over lack of financial independence of OHCHR

The Sri Lankan government today said that it remains deeply concerned that the lack of financial independence of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) also leads to disproportionate attention being paid to country-specific action in the Council.

Navi Pillay to visit SL in August

High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay will undertake a visit to Sri Lanka from 25 to 31 August 2013, in response to an invitation formally extended to her by the Sri Lankan government in April 2011, the government said.