MR leaves for Kazakhstan

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has left for Kazakhstan this morning for a two-day state visit, the Government Information Department said.

NZ Minister due here

New Zealand Primary Industries Minister David Carter will travel to Sri Lanka in order to boost the trade and agriculture ties between two nations, media reports said.

Sub-standard drugs issued to patients

A stock of drugs purchased for Rs.971 million last year had been declared to be of inferior quality. But the bulk of them had been issued to patients for treatment by that time, the Auditor General reports

15 Lankan refugees missing

Fifteen inmates of Boganallur refugee camp in the district are reportedly missing since last Friday. During the fortnightly inspection that was conducted in the refugee camp at Boganallur near Kadayanallur in the district on Saturday

Video: I am the sole authority in Kelaniya-Mervyn

Minister Mervyn Silva today said he would be the only SLFP organizer for Kelaniya and it would be his nominees who would contest elections under the new electoral system introduced to local governments.???

Welikada riot: Four escapees still at large

The police said today that four prisoners who escaped from the Welikada prison during the recent mayhem at the prison were still at large.

FB threat: Girl goes to police to save face

A traditional dancer was remanded today for allegedly threatening to post revealing pictures of his fiancée on facebook, if she did not provide him with her facebook password.

EU gives 'yellow card' to SL for illegal fishing

The European Commission warned eight developing countries including Sri Lanka of sanctions if they did not do more to stop ‘criminal’ illegal fishing, saying it was taking the first step of its kind, the AFP reported.

Male body found on Marine Drive

A body of a male who is believed to have died under suspicious circumstances was found in a car in Marine Drive, Bambalapitiya, a short while ago, the Police said.

Issues galore

UNP leader Ranil Wickermasinghe met with university lecturers today at the mayors residence to discuss issues faced by the dons. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Russians arrested over major ATM card scam

Five Russian nationals arrested by the CID on suspicion over a major ATM card racket involving millions of rupees, were ordered to be remanded till November 30.

Police training college OIC shot dead

Officer in-charge of the In-Service Police Training College Sabaragamuwa, Chief Inspector Indrasoma Rathnayake has been shot dead in Elapatha a short while ago, sources said. UPDATE

Fishermen warned of SL-made IED afloat near coast

Following an intelligence alert that an explosive material made by former Sri Lankan navy officials is afloat near Tamil Nadu’s coast, fishermen have been warned not to touch anything in the sea and coastal security has been beefed up accordingly.

Tamil girls join Army

In a landmark event, nearly 100 Tamil girls joined the Sri Lanka Army on Saturday at a ceremony held at Bharathipuram in Kilinochchi. They will be enlisted to the Army’s Volunteer Force and assigned to serve in the 6th Battalion of the Women's Corps. Pix by Wanni Romesh Madusanka

50 more SL asylum seekers sent home

The federal government has sent more Sri Lankan asylum seekers home, bringing the total number of Sri Lankans "involuntarily" returned to 282.

Navy passing out parade

A commissioning and passing out parade was held at the Naval and Maritime Academy in Trincomale on Saturday night. Navy Commander Jayanath Colambage was the Chief Guest of the event. Pix by Pradeep K. Pathirana

Second reading of budget passed

The second reading of the Budget 2013 was passed in Parliament a short while ago, with a majority of 103 votes. 156 voted in favor and 53 voted against.

Pesticide residue in Parliament ‘Kohila curry’

All raw food including vegetables that is being brought to Parliament are to be subjected to extra scrutiny from today after it was found out that one curry which was to be served to MPs had been contaminated with pesticides.

Eight asylum seekers agree to return to SL

A further eight Sri Lankan asylum seekers who arrived in Australia by boat have agreed to return home.

Special team to probe into gas leak

A special committee is due to be appointed to carry out investigations on the gas leak in the Sapugaskanda oil refinery that resulted in two deaths yesterday, Petroleum Minister Susil Premajayantha informed the parliament today. 

SLRC loses Rs.131M because of Carlton Network: Ravi

  The Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) has lost Rs.131 million by transferring broadcasting rights to Carlton Sports Network (CSN) and thus giving up the sole broadcasting rights of sports programmes, United National Party (UNP) front-liner Ravi Karunanayake told Parliament yesterday.

Gives up masonry for groping

  The Morawaka police arrested a mason who is alleged to have posed off as a gynaecologist and visited homes in Morawaka and Banagala where he had examine women who wanted to be examined whether they were pregnant.

SF says conditions of his release not met

Former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka told Daily Mirror the conditions he stipulated to Tiran Alles for his release from prison had not been met.

Leaflets for education

A leaflet distribution campaign was held at the fort railway station by the JVP urging the government to immediately take concrete measures to address issues relating to education. JVP politburo member Bimal Rathnayake is pictured here during the campaign. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Restriction on transfer of vehicle permits removed

The three-year restriction imposed for transferring duty-free vehicle permits for public servants has been removed with effect from today, the Customs said.

Two men fined for gross indecency

A Colombo Court today imposed a fine of Rs.1,500 each on two men who pleaded guilty to the charge of engaging in homosexual acts inside a public lavatory at the Fort Railway Station.

Poisonous gas kills two, hospitalises nine

Two persons died and 9 others were hospitalised due to inhalation of poisonous gas at the Sapugaskanda oil refinery a short while ago. Dr. Anil Jasinghe Director of the General Hospital said that one person was dead on admission

More students admitted to hospital

More than 100 students of Nugawela Boys' School in Kandy were admitted to the Tittapajjala Rural Hospital.as a result of what is believed to be an allergic reaction, school sources said

Video: Rs.500m worth intoxicant pan parag nabbed

More than Rs. 500 million worth banned intoxicant ‘pan parag’, imported from India through Dubai has been nabbed by the Sri Lankan Customs a short while ago

Bus plunges into precipice

At least 25 were hospitalised after a private bus had plunged into a precipice in Agarapathana area in Dikoya this morning, Police said. Injured were admitted to the Dikoya hospital