New Aukana Buddha statue to be revealed on April 23

Power failure in Colombo

Power interruptions were reported in several areas in Colombo including the Port, Slave Island and Kollupitiya areas due to a technical failure, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) said today.

CC had no right to approve name of new IGP: Gammanpila

Taking exception to the decision of the Constitutional Council’s (CC) to grant approval to the appointment of Senior DIG Pujith Jayasundara as the 34th Inspector General of Police (IGP), Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) General Secretary and MP Udaya Gammanpila claimed the appointment was both illegal and unethical.

EU fish ban to be lifted on April 21

The European Union’s (EU) ban on Sri Lankan fish exports will be lifted on April 21, the Fisheries Ministry said today.

Lankan girl has reconstructive burn surgery in South Korea

A Sri Lankan girl, who had suffered severe burns, had reconstructive burn surgery in South Korea. Rochelle, the 13-year-old girl from Colombo had been set on fire by her father, a drug addict, in a fit of rage when she was a baby.  

Heroin haul: 16 suspects further remanded

The 16 suspects who were arrested in connection with the largest ever heroin haul in the southern seas were further remanded till May 3 by the Colombo Fort Magistrate today.

Kidney racket suspects transferred to Colombo Prison

Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris today directed the Prisons Superintendent to transfer the seven remaining suspects of the alleged Indo- Lanka kidney racket to the Colombo Prison.

Man dies during marathon

A 38-year-old man died while running a marathon at an Avurudu festival in Sooriyawewa this morning.

Hand grenades found in Kuliyapitiya

Three hand grenades, hidden inside an ice cream container, were recovered from a land in Hettipola, Kuliyapitiya.

Bond auction process back in spotlight

Questions have again been raised over the government securities (G-Secs) auction process as a recent treasury bond issue had accepted triple the amount it offered at a significantly higher interest rate, driving up the government’s cost of borrowing.

Bangladesh identifies 8 Lankans in cyber theft

Bangladeshi investigators have identified 20 foreigners - 12 Philippine nationals and eight Sri Lankans - suspected to have been involved in the cyber heist of tens of millions of dollars from its central bank, a police officer said on Monday.

India's fighter jet Tejas catches SL attention

India's Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, which was several years in the making, has now caught the attention of foreign buyers with Sri Lanka and Egypt evincing interest in the indigenously built fighter jet.

Authority to regulate electronic media

The government is considering setting up an independent authority to regulate the electronic media in the near future, sources said.

Mahanama College principal removed

Prasanna Upashantha, the principal of Mahanama College, Colombo, has been transferred with immediate effect to the Western Province Education Department, the Education Ministry said.

Underworld figure Kennedy arrested

A prominent underworld figure, Stanly Kennedy, known as ‘Kennedy’, who has been accused of several recent murders in the Southern Province was arrested by the Special Task Force, on Sunday, in Galle, police sources said.

65,000 houses; Sampanthan expresses serious concern

The Opposition (and Tamil National Alliance) leader R. Sampanthan has expressed ‘very serious concerns’ about the initiative to construct 65,000 houses for conflict-affected families in the Northern and Eastern provinces.

VAT a New Year gift: FSP

The increase in the Value Added Tax (VAT) to 15 percent with the effect from May 02 could be considered as an unpleasant New Year present given by the Government to the people, the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) charged today.

‘May Day rally: MS will take final decision on MR’

The Central Committee (CC) of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) will certainly take strict disciplinary action against SLFP MPs who would refuse to attend the Party’s May Day rally at Galle, a Minister said today.

400 feared dead after boat capsizes between Egypt and Italy

More than 400 migrants and refugees are feared to have drowned in the Mediterranean while trying to cross by boat from Egypt to Italy, the Telegraph reported today.

Pujith new IGP

The Constitutional Council (CC) today approved the name of Senior DIG Pujith Jayasundara as the 34th Inspector General of Police (IGP), and referred his name to President Maitripala Sirisena for endorsement according to the Constitution, it is learnt.

Dematagoda abduction: CCD awaits AG's opinion

Colombo additional Magistrate Mohammad Mihar today postponed the inquiry relating to the incident of abducting a 34-year-old man in Dematagoda, where MP Hirunika Premachandra and eight others were found suspects, for August 8 since the Attorney General’s opinion was pending on the matter.  

The country was a piece of cake then: MR

Former President and MP Mahinda Rajapaksa today said the country was like a piece of cake as everything was in order and in shape, when his Government handed it over to the new Government.

Wigneswaran hospitalised; talks postponed

Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran had been admitted to the Jaffna General Hospital due to a sudden illness yesterday, hospital sources said.

Gota summoned by PRECIFAC: Informed he is abroad

Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was summoned by the PRECIFA C to appear before the Commission today over alleged misuse of SL Air Force flights, did not turn up as he was out of the country, sources said.

England propose points system for SL series

England has attempted a minor shake-up of the largely conventional world of test cricket by offering to use a points-based system to determine the winner of their home series against Sri Lanka.

Kidney racket suspect escapes detention camp

The first Indian suspect, of the eight suspects, arrested in connection with the Indo- Lanka kidney racket, Vijitha Giri Kumar had escaped from the Mirihana Detention Camp, the Prisons Authority informed the Colombo Magistrate today.  

Won't allow taxes to be a burden to people: MS

President Maithripala Sirisena said he would not allow economists to enforce any tax that would burden the public.

TN has no role in Katchatheevu issue: Karuna accuses Jaya

Accusing Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa of  “misleading” people on the issue of Katchatheevu, DMK chief M. Karunanidhi on Sunday has reminded her that any steps to retrieve the island ceded to Sri Lanka has to be taken by the Union Government and that the state governments have no role in the issue.

British deputy HC at fashion show

Train delayed as guard waits for auspicious time

The Jaffna bound night mail train was delayed by 96 minutes last Wednesday (April 13) as the railway guard on duty had reported late for duty after performing the rituals at the auspicious time, Railways Department sources said.