Tearful memories…

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday unveiled the new ‘Ranaviru’ Monument at Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment (VIR) Headquarters at Boyagane and dedicated it to the eternal memory of all those VIR fallen War Heroes. Picture shows a widow of a fallen soldier at the monument. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Indian Army chief to visit SL

Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh will travel to Sri Lanka next month to discuss ways to further strengthen military ties between the two countries at a time when political parties in Tamil Nadu are up in arms against any kind of defence cooperation with Colombo.

Four bodies found

Bodies of four persons were found by the Poddala police in Walpitawatta, Galle this morning, Police said.

Karunanidhi on training of SL defence personnel

DMK chief M Karunanidhi reiterated its opposition to India imparting training to Sri Lankan defence personnel on its soil, saying the state is also part of the country.

Romanians arrested for using fake credit cards

Two Romanian nationals were arrested by the Dehiwala police for using fake credit cards to withdraw millions of money from ATM machines in Dehiwala, Mt. Lavinia and Bambalapitiya.

BASL to meet Speaker Chamal

The Executive Committee of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has decided to meet Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa in order to discuss the impeachment motion against the Chief Justice. 

Fishermen plea to carry firearms dismissed

The Madurai bench of the Madras high court dismissed five writ petitions, seeking various reliefs, including giving direction to the authorities to provide licences to the fishermen in coastal areas of Tamil Nadu to carry firearms with them while fishing in the sea between India and Sri Lanka in order to exercise their private defence.

LTTE weapons

The military had recently recovered one of the largest stock of weapons in the post war period. They included five artillery guns-130 mm and 152mm-and a boat fitted with two powerful engines hidden by the LTTE in the Vellamullivaikkal beach at Mullaitivu. Soldiers are seen digging out the weapons yesterday. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Body of TNA MP’s brother-in-law found

The body of the brother–in-law of TNA MP, Selvan Adekkalanathan has been found in the Nanu-Oya area. 

Sri Lanka a potential new target for US beef

The United States Meat Export Federation (USMEF) said that US should start to export wide range of American products, including U.S. beef to Sri Lanka, the US based beefmagazine reported.

CPC facing financial crisis: Susil

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), which is facing a serious financial crisis, is re-considering whether to continue supplying fuel to the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and Private Power Providers (PPP) if they do not settle at least a part of their bills, Petroleum Minister Susil Premjayantha said.

HR Commission to amend laws

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has decided to amend the Human Rights Commission Act empowering the Commission to file Contempt of Court cases before High Courts against the public officers who did not comply with the Commission’s recommendations

Govt responds to US statement at UPR

The Government, in response to the statement made by the United States at the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in Geneva said today that they had completely acted within the provisions of the Constitution with regard to the impeachment against the Chief Justice.

Divi Neguma Bill: Govt. ready even for referendum

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa yesterday vowed to enact the Divi Neguma Bill even by placing it before the people at a referendum in case the Supreme Court had given such a determination.

Highway reopened

Lane towards Galle from Kottawa on the Southern Highway, which was closed due to an earth slip, reopened for traffic, Deputy Minister of Ports and Highways Nirmala Kotalawala said.

Private plane makes emergency landing at BIA

A private plane flying from South Africa to Singapore made an emergency landing at the Bandaranaike International Airport due to a technical fault in one of the engines this evening.

CPC loses $60 mln hedging case vs Deutsche Bank

Sri Lanka's state-run oil company has lost a $60 million hedging case against Deutsche Bank after a U.S.-based arbitrator ruled in favour of the bank, officials said on Friday.

GL meets Khursheed

External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris and his Indian counterpart Salman Khursheed held talks in New Delhi today, the Hindu reported.

Mobile call of nature

A remand prisoner who had concealed two mobile phones in his rectum had to undergo a surgical operation at the Anuradhapura teaching hospital to have them retrieved from their hiding places.

My mother will not back down says CJ’s son

Shaveen Bandaranayake the son of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, who is facing an imminent impeachment motion in parliament in a note posted on Facebook, said his mother would not back down from anything and called on the citizens of the country to stand by her.

Calling for change

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, General Secretary Tissa Attanayake and several other senior MPs met the Election Commissioner to urge him to reconsider the newly proposed electoral list. Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the proposed format comprises many shortcomings which need to be addressed forthwith. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

One lane of expressway closed due to earthslip

The lane towards Galle on the Southern Highway has been temporarily closed due to an earthslip between the Dodangoda and Welipanna exit points. The other lane towards Kottawa is open for vehicle traffic, the Ministry of Highways said.

Amnesty accuses Sri Lanka of targeting judges

Human rights watchdog Amnesty International on Friday accused the Sri Lankan government of cracking down on the judiciary, a day after ruling party lawmakers moved to impeach the country's top judge.

Rocks fall on road

Traffic on the Colombo-Batticaloa main road has come to a stand still since large rocks had fallen on to the road at the 186 mile post near the Galkanda area between Beragala and Koslanda. Pix by Palitha Ariyawansa

26 more Sri Lankan Boat People return to Colombo

The men, who had arrived by boat at Christmas and Cocos Islands earlier in the week, left Christmas Island late on Thursday, Immigration Minister Chris Bowen, said.

Another 43 asylum seekers arrested

At least 43 asylum seekers including 33 men, 8 women and 2 children who had illegally left for Australia off Puttalam seas on a multi day trawler were arrested at the Beruwela Fishing Habour by the Navy and the coastal guard last night, police said.

SC decision on Divi Neguma Bill conveyed to President

The Supreme Court decision relating to the petitions filed in connection with the draft of the Divi Neguma Bill was conveyed to President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa yesterday

Navy fills vacant CoS post after nearly two years

The post of Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy was filled yesterday after being vacant for 21 months, with the appointment of Rear Admiral Damayantha Dharamasiriwardane, informed sources said

US concerned over attempts to impeach CJ

While expressing concern over the move to impeach Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, the United States today highlighted the necessity of strengthening judicial independence by ending government interference with the judicial process.

Video: Legal procedure on impeachment is blatantly one sided-Ex CJ

Former chief justice Sarath N. Silva said at a media briefing on Thursday that the legal procedure to impeach the Chief Justice was blatantly one sided and fundamentally flawed. ???