USS blue ridge to visit SL on March 26

The U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) will arrive in Colombo for a port call March 26, the first visit by a U.S. Navy ship since October 2011.

Police clash with Ratugala Veddas

Ratugala Vedda Chief Suda Vannilyala Ettho, his wife, a child and a police constable were injured in a clash between a group of the Vedda community attending a function at the Vedda Chief’s house and the police on Wednesday night.

Govt. has no mandate to sign ECTA -- Ex- FUTA president

The former president of the Federation of University Teachers' Associations (FUTA), Dr Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri said yesterday that the government had no mandate to sign any trade agreement such as the Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ECTA), and that its keenness to sign the agreement over the objections of the professionals was a dubious act.

17 undergrads suspended for ragging

Seventeen senior students of the Allied Health Faculty of the University of Peradeniya have been suspended from attending lectures because they had ragged freshers.

Police to record statement from Uduwe Thera

The statement purported to have been made by the Ven.Uduwe Dammaloka Thera, on the demise of the former convener of the People's Movement for a Just Society, the Ven Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera (the former Viharadhipathi of Kotte Sri Naga Viharaya) is now being investigated.

Gem of great price lost and found

A disturbance had occurred when a gem said to be worth Rs 500,000 worn by Minister S.B. Dissanayake was found to be missing during a function held at Lunugama.

Eknaligoda case: Sandhya says BBS, MR disrupting probe

Sandhya Eknaligoda, wife of missing Journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda, yesterday charged Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera, MP Wimal Weerawansa and former president Mahinda Rajapaksa of disrupting the investigations into her husband’s disappearance.

Questions over NWP Question papers

One of the questions in the multiple choice question paper (MCP) for the Buddhism subject set by the North Western Province Education Department for the first term test in schools have been criticized by the public and education sector trade unions for its incongruous answers

Second no-faith motion against Ravi handed over

The Joint Opposition today handed over the second no-confidence motion signed by 37 Parliamentarians against Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake.

Legislation to regulate massage clinics

The Health Ministry was in the process of introducing legislation to regulate and monitor Massage Clinics and Health Clubs in order to prevent nefarious activities allegedly carried out at these locations, Director General, Health Services Dr. Palitha Mahipala said.

Court restrains Suhada Koka DVD sale

The Colombo District Court today restrained till April 7 the printing and selling of DVD copies of the popular comedy film 'Suhada Koka'.

B'day wishes from the President

Referendum: Kiwis vote to keep current flag

Kiwis have voted to keep their existing flag after a national referendum. The existing New Zealand's national flag won 56.6 per cent of the vote, compared to 43.2 per cent for the silver fern flag.

Gota at PRECIFAC

Former defense secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and former Navy Commander Admiral Jayantha Perera arrived at the PRECIFAC a short while ago to give a statement over the Rakna Lanka controversy.  

Gunaratnam's bail decision on 31st March

The decision on bailing out the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) member Kumar Gunaratnam will be given on 31st of this month, Kegalle Magistrate Prasanna Alwis said.

PM turns 67

Sicille granted bail over Golden Key case

Sicille Kotelawala, the sixth accused in connection with the alleged swindling of Rs.7.2 billion belonging to the Golden Key Company depositors, was granted Rs 100,000 cash bail with two sureties of Rs 1,000,000 each by the Court of Appeal today.

Judge sternly warns Dhammika

Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Chairman Dhammika Ranatunga was released on bail by the Colombo Chief Magistrate Court today over the alleged incident of threatening a journalist at the Colombo High Court premises.

Right to Information draft bill presented

The much-awaited Right to Information draft bill was presented in Parliament by Media Minister Gayantha Karunathilake this morning.

Paris to Brussels

We deported suspected Brussels bomber: Turkey

Turkish officials said Wednesday the country previously deported one of the suspected Brussels bombers, and authorities pressed the search for at least one other suspect in the deadly attack.

Japan likely to invest in a coal-fired power project: Harsha

Japan is expected to invest in a coal power project in Sri Lanka which was provided 600 megawatts of electricity to the national grid, a Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Harsha de Silva said yesterday.

PM places sacred relic casket at Parmitha Perahera

Human trafficking racket busted in Maradana

Foreign Employment Bureau (FEB) officials and the police yesterday busted a human trafficking network and rescued ten victims including six teenage girls, who were forcibly detained for more than six months.

Crosstalk between Ranil, Udaya over Hanuman Bridge issue

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Opposition MP Udaya Gammanpila engaged in crosstalk in Parliament yesterday when an issue relating to the Hanuman Bridge between India and Sri Lanka came up for debate.

Intense heat batters Nuwara Eliya

The heat in Nuwara Eliya at noon today was recorded as 30 degrees C and the cultivation in the area is fading fast due to the drought prevailing in the area for more than a month.

Jaffna lands essential for nat'l security: Defence Secy.

Several blocks of land in the Jaffna District cannot be handed back over to their original owners because those lands are considered as being essential for national security, Defense Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi said today.

Bomb attack on SF was his fault: NMPS

The National Movement for the Protection of Soldiers (NMPS) today charged that the bomb attack on Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka at Army Headquarters during the war occurred due to his own fault.

Proposed MPs allowance suspended

Leaders of all political parties represented in Parliament, at a meeting held today, decided against increasing the allowances given to MPs that was proposed recently.

Power outage in Southern province

Power outage was reported in several areas in Southern province due to the tripping of powerline carrying electricity to Balangoda from Lakshapana this evening, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) said.