Killing of British tourist: UK MP fears of cover-up by SL

British Labour party Parliamentarian Simon Danczuk has expressed fears of a cover-up by the Sri Lankan Government after Red Cross worker Khuram Shaikh was murdered last Christmas.

Hathurusinghe appointed NSW coach

New South Wales Cricket Board (Australia) sack head coach Anthony Stuart, appointing Former Sri Lanka player Chandika Hathurusinghe as the acting head coach.

Christmas Pandol at Lipton Circus

Celebrating Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ in Sri Lankan style, a 48-feet tall Christmas pandol was opened at Lipton Circus in Colombo this evening. The pandol depicts the different stages of Jesus Christ’s life. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Guard of Honour for Indian Army Chief

Indian Army General Bikram Singh arrived in Sri Lanka today on a five day visit to strengthen military relationship between the two countries. He is visiting the country on an invitation from Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya. He was given a guard of honour at the Army Headquarters. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Colombo Night Race competitor released

A contestant of the Colombo Night Races who was in remand for causing injuries to workers of a road project while practicing for the races was released on bail by the Colombo Traffic Court Magistrate consequent to agreeing  to compensate the victims according to the injuries sustained.

Protest against the attack on Gunaratne Wanninayake

Colombo Lawyers Association and Chief Magistrate’s Court Lawyers Association staged a joint protest opposite the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court denouncing the attack carried out on lawyer Gunaratne Wanninayake near his house in Borallesgamuwa last Monday. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja 

GDP slows down in 3Q12

Sri Lanka’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew 4.8 percent in the third quarter of 2012 (3Q12) against 8.5 percent growth recorded in the same period of the previous year (3Q11)

Chilaw town flooded

The Chilaw town is currently flooded with water levels rising close to 4 feet, with water levels continuing to increase our reporter said Pictures

Leaflet campaign against impeachment

The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) today organised a leaflet distribution campaign outside the Fort Railway station in Colombo expressing its disapproval about the verdict given by the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) regarding the impeachment motion against the Chief Justice (CJ) Shirani Bandaranayke. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Resident Missions to be opened in Kabul and Colombo

Sri Lanka will open a resident mission in Kabul, Afghanistan and a Resident Mission of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan will open a resident mission in Colombo to strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries.

‘India remains preferred destination for training of SL military’

While stating that India remains the preferred destination for training of Sri Lankan officers, an Indian TV channel NDTV said that 870 Sri Lankan military officers are undergoing training in India in the current year (2012-13).

Floods continue, weather improves

Although the rains which lashed out the last couple of days, has eased a bit, most of the areas in the country remained inundated, while the death toll raised to 16 with 14 others missing. Some 175,558 individuals were reported to be affected by the bad weather, Disaster Management Centre said.

CJ files petition challenging PSC findings

Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranaike filed a petition in the Court of Appeal challenging the findings of the Parliamentary Select Committee.

SLC rejects Mahela's request

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has decided to reject a request from Sri Lanka team captain Mahela Jayawardene to pay a part of the guarantee fee due to the players from the concluded ICC World T20 to the support staff and nominated coaches.

Declare a state of national emergency: Sajith

UNP Deputy leader Sajith Premadasa called on the government to declare a state of national emergency, in view of the catastrophic situation faced by many citizens resulting from the floods that had affected 10 districts across the country.

Natures wrath to be unleashed again?

The overflowing of several rivers and canals in the Puttalam district including Deduruoya, Battuluoya, and Kudupitiiyaoya rivers and the Hamilton canal has created a flood threat in seven divisions.

Five fishermen missing

Five fishermen who set sail on December 16 have been reported missing, Chilaw Police said.

Night mail back on-track

The Colombo- Badulla night mail which was derailed at Ohiya is back on track. Pix by Prasad Rukmal

Where is the alleged massacre report?

While the Human Rights Commission said they were awaiting the report of the Commission appointed to inquire into the alleged massacre at the Welikada Prison on November 9, opposition parties yesterday said many questions had been raised as to the progress of the report.

Token strike by nurses

Government nurses throughout the island today launched a token strike demanding that the recently introduced recruitment process by the government be withdrawn.

Bharatha's wife & daughter talk to AG

The CID told a Colombo Court today that former presidential advisor Bharatha Lakshman Pemachandra’s wife Sumana and daughter Hirunika had made representations to the Attorney General’s Department on the killing of Mr. Premachandra.

Woman, child strangled; infant suffocated-JMO

The Judicial Medical Officer’s (JMO) report on the charred bodies found at Ratmalana yesterday revealed that the infant had died of suffocation while the mother and the three-year-old child were strangled.

Sri Lanka briefs diplomats

Sri Lanka yesterday briefed the Colombo based diplomatic community on a wide range of issues including the current political situation in the country, the External Affairs ministry said.

Equal Rights want Jaffna students released

The movement for Equal Rights staged a protest outside Fort Railway Station to urge the government to release the Jaffna University students who are being held in Custody and to end the military rule in the North. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

No immediate cut on vehicle import tariff - SL

Sri Lanka has ruled out an immediate lowering of its high import tariffs on automobiles that has hurt exports from India, but said it may consider such a move once it is able to strike a balance of trade with its neighbour

Reservoirs filled to capacity

All major reservoirs have reached their capacity level of 85% as a result of torrential rains lashing several parts of the country, the Irrigation and Water resources Ministry said

Audio: It was a media show by stooges: Wijeydasa

Sri Lanka Bar Association (BASL) President Wijeydasa Rajapakshe today rejected allegations made by certain groups that the resolutions passed at the BASL Special General Meeting were done in an arbitrary manner

Australia beat SL

Australia beat Sri Lanka by 137 runs in the first test match played in Hobart, Australia. The Australians scored 450 and 278 runs with Sri Lanka succumbing to a potent fast bowling attack to 336 and 255 runs respectively

Tamil women forced to marry SL soldiers-Karunanidhi

Alleging that Tamil women in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts in northern Sri Lanka were being forced to marry Sri Lankan Army personnel, DMK leader M. Karunanidhi on Monday asked the Union government to ascertain the facts and take it up with the neighbouring country.

Intact

The heavy rains in the area had uprooted the Bo tree at the Lahugala Kiriwehera Temple premises. It fell on the ancient Dagoba but the Buddha statue inside was miraculously saved. Pix by Upul Wijesinghe