Asylum boat 'hijackers' sent back

Fourteen asylum seekers who allegedly hijacked a ship off the Sri Lankan coast in a bid to reach Australia have been found and sent home, the Department of Immigration Australia says.

Ranatunga’s role, a conflict of interest: COPE

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Chairman Upali Dharmadasa said yesterday he would obtain legal advice on Nishantha Ranatunga’s dual role as SLC Secretary and CEO of Carlton Sports Network (CSN) when the parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) directs him to do so in writing.

Dispute won’t affect our political aspirations: TNA

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader R. Sampanthan said the ongoing discussion on the internal rift that had arisen in the party would not impede the headway being made in achieving the objectives of Sri Lanka’s Tamil speaking people.

Principals want parents to look after their children

Royal College and Thurstan College Principals yesterday warned parents that the schools would not take responsibility for any conflict between student groups outside the school premises in future and requested them to take full responsibility for their children’s protection.

Video: I have confidence in my team-Angelo

Sri Lanka’s new T-20 captain Angelo Mathews today said he was satisfied and had confidence in his team scheduled to face the upcoming T-20 tournament against New Zealand. ???

Flour prices up

The price of one kilogram of Prima flour will be increased by Rs. 6 and Serendib flour by Rs. 4 with effect from midnight today, official sources said.

Norway temporally suspends work permits to SL

While advising against private agents charging fees for assistance with visa applications to Norway, the Norwegian Embassy in Colombo said that it had decided that no more work permits would be granted for the time beingfrom certain countries including Sri Lanka.

Indian Foreign Minister 'quits'

Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna has resigned ahead of the Union cabinet reshuffle Indian TV news channels report. Krishna, a veteran Congress politician from Karnataka, was likely to be dropped or moved to another ministry during the reshuffle

Heads fixed to nude bodies for revenge

A photographer who is alleged to have merged the photos of the heads of a principal, two male teachers and two lady teachers with nude bodies was arrested by the Kahathuduwa police and handed over to the CID.

Harassment of Sex workers will be probed:SL

With reference to the United Nations report that sex workers in Sri Lanka were often the target of police or military harassment,the Government said today said the allegations would be looked into and necessary action taken

Fish dying in the Beira

Fish in the Beira Lake have been perishing at a rapid rate due to the fast-spreading of Algae brought on by the prevalent rainy weather. Experts believe that the lack of oxygen in the water may be the cause. Pix By Nisal Baduge

Audio: Probe EPF fraud as well - UNP

The main opposition United National Party (UNP) today commended the Bribery Commission for its courage in initiating action against former National Savings Bank Chairman Pradeep Kariyawasam over the NSB-The Finance Company deal.

Gota meets Indian Def. Minister

Against the backdrop of protests in Tamil Nadu against training to Lankan defence personnel, India and Sri Lanka  held discussions yesterday on furthering their defence cooperation.

Lankan with Indian passport nabbed

A Sri Lankan national, who had secured an Indian passport fraudulently after marrying a Bidar native, was arrested by the immigration authorities when she landed at the Bengaluru International Airport, India on Tuesday

Compensate us-Keheliya to US

Government Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said yesterday that the US must come up with a scheme to avoid harming friendly countries by its embargo on Iran -- or compensate them

Children used as pawns in porn websites

The special police unit of the National Child Protection Authority has uncovered details of 50 locally designed porn websites some of which portraying under-aged girls in school uniforms

Jumbo in critical condition

A wild elephant that was roaming in Kottukachchiya in Anamaduwa was treated by a wildlife veterinary surgeon yesterday. The condition of the elephant, that was said to have walking difficulties, seemed critical according to the veterinary surgeon attending to it. Pix by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe

US envoy in Batti

US Ambassador Michele J. Sison paid a visit to view the historic Dutch Fort in Batticaloa and see the completion of the $52,000 grant made under the 2011 Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP).  Here Conservator Pali Wijeratne showing the Ambassador the Fort as it stands today. Picture courtesy US Embassy

Leader Par Excellence

A ceremony was held to launch a publication commemorating the 18th death anniversary of the late Gamini Dissanayake at the Bandaranaike International Conference Hall last evening. The publication is titled ‘Leader Par Excellence, Gamini Dissanayake – Reminiscences. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

COPE spotlights six bad transactions

The investment of Rs.1,137 million by the People’s Bank in the purchase of shares of Sri Lankan Airlines had impaired by Rs. 848.8 million in 2010, according to the interim report of the parliamentary Committee on Public  Enterprises (COPE) presented in the House today

Judgment in cobra case fixed for Nov. 15

The Colombo Fort Magistrate today reserved the judgment over a request made for the release of a cobra to the woman who had allegedly kept it in a room at a night club in Kollupitiya, for November 15

Road block near Colombo Uni

Motorist proceeding along Reid Avenue Colombo 7 have been advised to use alternate routes as lanes in the road have been closed after a tree had fallen near the Colombo University

Bodu Bala Sena protest

Bodu Bala Sena organised a protest march today in Badulla town against the conversion and vandalism of Buddhist heritage and the threat to the Buddhagaya by the Mujahideen terrorist group.(Pix by Palitha Ariyawansha)

Businessman hacked to death

A leading businessman in Galle was hacked to death in Galle town this morning. The victim (48) was a resident of Pitadeniya in Galle. He was waylaid and hacked to death by a gang of four-armed men with swords, when he was riding on motorcycle

Provide a profitable market

Fishermen in the Southern Province today staged a protest demanding a ban on the import of fish and canned fish and to provide a profitable market for the local production of fish. Fisher folk in several areas with the members of their families joined the protest.  Pix by Krishan Jeewaka Jayrauk

Two inland revenue officers nabbed

Two officers of the Inland Revenue Department were arrested by the CID over a number of frauds allegedly committed by erasing data stored in several computers of the department

New UK visa application procedure

All visa applications submitted in Colombo will be processed by the UK Border Agency at the British Deputy High Commission in Chennai from Thursday, 1 November 2012, The UK Border Agency announced today

Audio: Protest on top of tank

The Vice Chairman of the Maha Oya Pradeshiya Sabha (PS) staging a protest on top of the Water tank in Maha Oya against alleged corruption by the PS Chairman, police said 

Action filed against former NSB Chairman

The Commission to Investigate into Allegations of Bribery or Corruption filed report in the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today against former National Savings Bank Chairman Pradeep Kariyawasam

21 injured in wasp attack

At least twenty-one people in a group of tea-pluckers were attacked by a swarm of wasps in an estate in the Norwood area in Nuwara Eliya this morning