700,000 letters and parcels pile up

A huge backlog of about 700,000 letters and parcels were piled up at post offices around the island due to the strike launched by the Joint Postal Trade Union, its Convener Chinthaka Bandara said today.

Alavi Moulana passes away

Former Western Province governor and veteran Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) politician, Alavi Moulana passed away this evening after a brief illness.

Fake passport racket busted, 3 Lankans held

A fake passport and visa racket has been busted with the arrest of five persons, including three Sri Lankan nationals, and fake visa and stamps seized from them, police said today.

Turkish FM meets Ranil

China pledges to develop Northern Province

Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Yi Xianliang today visited Jaffna and pledged to take forward bilateral ties by assisting in the development of former war zone in the Tamil-dominated north, the Business Standard reported.  

FCID grills Yoshitha for bank transactions

Head of Carlton Sports Network Yoshitha Rajapaksa was summoned by the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division today to record a statement.

IUSF protest: 4 hospitalised, 3 arrested

Four students were hospitalised and three more inlcuidng a female were arrested during a protest staged by the Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF) demanding the release of the seven students who were arrested for a ragging incident at the Kelaniya University.

Ranil ‘very concerned’ on probable Brexit

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has said Sri Lanka was‘very concerned’ about the probable impact of a British exit from the European Union (EU).

Jordanian heroin peddler sentenced to death

A Jordanian who was found guilty of peddling heroin arrested at Grandpass in 2012 was sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court Judge Manilal Waidyathilake today.

It wasn’t me- Mahela

Former Sri Lankan Cricket team skipper Mahela Jayawardena denied claims that he had donated Rs. 30 million to purchase a pet scan machine for the Mahargama Cancer Hospital.

'No CCTV evidence to show Patali in vicinity of Rajagiriya accident'

Police today told Court that according to the report sent by the Moratuwa University, the CCTV footage on the Rajagiriya accident in which Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka’s vehicle met with an accident, shows no scientific evidence to prove that the minister was anywhere in the vicinity.

Turkish FM calls on counterpart

Several containers aboard a ship on fire

Several containers onboard a ship birthed in the Colombo Port has caught fire, the Fire Brigade said.

Sticker visas, online passport applications introduced

Department of Immigration and Emigration yesterday introduced a sticker instead of a rubber stamp to issue visa, Internal Affairs, North Western Development and Cultural Affairs Ministry said.

Somawansa no more

Former Leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Somawansa Amarasinghe (73) passed away last night, sources said.

Kithuruwan, Ramith in trouble after night brawl

The careers of promising cricketers Kithuruwan Vithanage and Ramith Rambukwella are in jeopardy with Sri Lanka Cricket pursuing disciplinary action against the duo over a breach of discipline.

Illegal kidney transplant: CCD to travel to India

Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) ASP C.H. Chandrathilaka told Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya that their officers would be going to India to question T.R. Roy, who is thought to be the mastermind behind the illegal kidney transplant scam that has been taking place in both India and Sri Lanka.

No official residence for Opposition Leader

The Government is yet to provide an official residence to Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan despite several ministers occupying official residences while having homes in Colombo and in the suburbs, a senior Public Administration Ministry source said yesterday.

Questions over Aluthgamage's appointment to COPE

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) MP and parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) Chairman Sunil Handunetti yesterday said the members of the committee would have to work with MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage the newest member to appointed by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya.

Public Servants' Concessionary Vehicle Permits increased

The Government has increased the concessionary vehicle permits to Public Servants from the current US$25,000 to US$45,000 in a new circular to be issued shortly by the Treasury's Trade and Investment Policy Department.

Thondaman to join government

The Ceylon Workers Congress led by Arumugan Thondaman, which functioned as a constituent party of the UPFA supporting the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, is to join the United National Front government sometime next week, UNP sources indicated.

Copy of latest volume of Mahavansa presented to PM

Even India wouldn’t have got to know facts about its history if Mahawansa was not written, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today.

GMOA doctors to leave the country

The Government Medical Officer’s Association (GMOA) today warned that doctors would be compelled to leave the country unless the difficulties they face when admitting their children to national schools were resolved.

President inspects seized Cocaine haul

JO to protest Mahendran's reappointment

The joint opposition has decided to launch a protest from June 24 to 30 against the reappointment of Arjuna Mahendran to the post of Central Bank Governor after his term ends on June 30.

President inspects cocaine haul

President Maithripala Sirisena today visited the customs Orugodawatte Rank Container Terminal (RCT) and inspected the Cocaine haul seized by Custom officials.

Cocaine worth Rs.2 Bn seized

Three travelling bags packed with around 91.3 kilos valued at Rs.2 billion which was the largest ever detection of cocaine in Sri Lanka were seized by the  Special Narcotic Raid Unit collaboration with the STF  at the Rank Container Terminal (RCT) Container Yard Orugodawatte this morning, the Finance Ministry said.

Tiran allowed to travel overseas for medical treatments

Former parliamentarian Tiran Alles was granted permission today by Colombo High Court Judge A.A.R. Heiyanthuduwa to travel abroad to seek medical treatment.

Postal strike won’t end until demands are granted: Union

The Joint Postal Trade Union today warned that the trade union action launched by a group of Postal Department workers on Sunday would continue until the authorities fulfilled the promises made to them.

FCID questions Keheliya over Rs.20Mn accident compensation

Former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella arrived at the FCID this morning after he was summoned in connection with a probe of claiming Rs.20 million from the President’s Fund as compensation for his accident in Australia.