Siridhamma College principal arrested

The principal of Siridhamma College, in Labuduwa, Galle was taken into custody by the Bribery Commission a short while ago as he was accepting a bribe of Rs.300,000 to admit a child to grade one for next year.

Depression could develop into cyclone

Sri Lanka may be affected by adverse weather conditions with a possibility of a cyclone developing over the Bay of Bengal in the next few days, the Department of Meteorology said today.

BBS wants Sri Lanka named ‘Sinhale’

The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), revealing details of its policy framework, said today the name Sri Lanka should be changed to ‘Sinhale’ and the state flag should be the one used prior to 1815.

BBS wants Sri Lanka named ‘Sinhale’

The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), revealing details of its policy framework, said today the name Sri Lanka should be changed to ‘Sinhale’ and the state flag should be the one used prior to 1815.

PC member fined in Singapore

Central Provincial Council UPFA member G. Rajapakse today revealed at a PC meeting that he was fined 50 Singapore Dollars (Rs. 5,099) for dropping a bus ticket on a Singapore road.

Video: No issues on MR contesting again: UNP

The United National Party (UNP) does not see the incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa contesting for a third term at a future presidential election as a major issue, General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said today.

Update: Jaya’s bail application rejected

The Karnataka High Court heard the bail petition filed by former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa in a disproportionate assets case and rejected her plea.

Navy rescues four Indian fishermen

Four Indian fishermen were rescued by the Sri Lankan Navy in the Sri Lankan waters off the Delft Island yesterday while their boat had developed an engine trouble, Navy Spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya said.

Video: Harin receiving his appointment

Harin Fernando, who topped the list of provincial votes in Uva is seen receiving his letter of appointment as the Opposition leader of the Provincial Council. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Rare black rhinoceros calf born in the Zoo

A rare black Rhinoceros calf, known to be an endangered species, was born in the Dehiwela zoo this morning, a Zoological Garden official said.

Talpahewa, chargé d’affaires in London

With the acceptance of the resignation of Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Chris Nonis, the External Affairs Ministry has asked the country’s Deputy High Commissioner to the Maldives Chanaka H. Talpahewa to take over as chargé d'affaires in London, a minister said.

15 SL fishermen in Myanmar custody

Fifteen Sri Lankan fishermen and their five fishing boats were taken into Myanmar custody yesterday on charges of illegal fishing within the territorial waters of Myanmar, the Sri Lanka Fisheries Department said.

Prison guards launch trade union action

Prison guards and several other prison officials attached to the Welikada prison have refrained from work and launched a trade union action from this morning.Pictures

SL must stop making empty promises-AI

Sri Lanka must stop making empty promises to the international community and the Sri Lankan people on improving the country’s still desperate human rights situation, Amnesty International said, ahead of a UN review of the country’s rights record.

Karnataka HC to hear Jaya’s bail plea today

The Karnataka high court will on Tuesday hear the bail petitions filed by former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa and her three associates convicted in a disproportionate assets case.

Entire country at risk of assault: Karu

The whole country is bound to get assaulted by the present regime, United National Party Leadership Council Chairman Karu Jayasuriya said yesterday.

Int’l school students can do GCE A/L at Govt. schools

A circular, which permits principals of State Schools to admit international and private school students who had successfully completed their GCE O/L will be issued this week putting an end to the uncertainty and heated arguments on this matter, a Senior Education Ministry Source said yesterday.

LPBOA warns of strike in WP

Bus owners today warned that they would stop bus services if the illegally issued route permits were not withdrawn or cancelled. The Lanka Private bus Owners Association (LPBOA) said that about 250 route permits were illegal.

Police arrest fraudster posed as First Lady's driver

Police arrested a man who allegedly posed as First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa’s driver and cheated another man of Rs.190,000 on the promise of securing employment at Bank of Ceylon.

Law Faculty student sues claiming Rs.100 m

Law Faculty student Achala Priyadarshani whose left hand was amputated due to the alleged negligence on the part of the medical staff of two government hospitals, filed a lawsuit before the Colombo District Court against the medical staff and state claiming Rs.100 million as damages.

Video: No issues on MR contesting again: UNP

The United National Party (UNP) does not see the incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa contesting for a third term at a future presidential election as a major issue, General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said today.

Two players bolt during Asian Games

Two Sri Lankan players who took part in the just-concluded Asian Games in South Korea have gone missing in a purported bid to find jobs, officials said on Monday.

Bharatha remembered

The 3rd death anniversary of Presidential Advisor Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra was held at his statue in Kolonnawa today. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

High level talks with the US underway: Govt.

The External Affairs Ministry today said the Sri Lankan Government had not made an official statement on the meeting which took place between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the US State Secretary in New York and that the government, however, appreciated the beginning of a high level dialogue between the two countries.

Celebrating Hajj

Muslims gathered around the country to celebrate the Hajj festival. Seen here are Muslims gathered at Galle Face green to celebrate the Hajj this morning.  Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

17 hospitalised in bus collision

Seventeen passengers were hospitalised following a bus accident in Rakwana this morning, the Police said.

Anti-boat people ads cost Australia $23m in one year

The Australian government had paid US $ 23 million for advertising campaigns in last year to discourage people from countries such as Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Afghanistan from seeking asylum in Australia.

Kunanayakam hits out at ‘hooliganism’

Sri Lanka’s former permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, Tamara Kunanayakam said the assault of High Commissioner Chris Nonis is only one in a series of acts in a tragedy that opened in Geneva in 2009 with the same cast of villains, followed by other acts also in Geneva in 2011 and 2012, and still others played out in Rome and Paris.

DCD: report tomorrow

The results of the investigation into the imported milk powder for DCD by the Industrial Technological Institute of Sri Lanka (ITI) would be out tomorrow, Health Ministry officials said yesterday.

Gobi’s widow prevented from leaving island

Kajeepan Sarmila, the widow of Ponniah Selvanayagam Kajeepan (alias Gobi), was detained at the Bandaranaike International Airport yesterday, when she was about to leave for Switzerland, informed sources said.