No softening of stand on SL: US

The US said that there has been no softening of its stand on Sri Lanka with regard to the human rights situation, as being reported in a section of the media.

UNP has secret plan for victory

The main opposition UNP is in the process of devising a secret plan to ensure victory at the next presidential election, the party’s Elections Affairs Secretary Talatha Athukorala said today.

Accident kills three in Kandy

Three persons were killed and another seriously injured after a van fell into the Pinga Oya in Katugastota, Kandy this morning, Police said. The van was heading to Kandy from Matale at the time of the accident.

TN CM reiterates demand for Katchateevu

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam (OPS) has swung into action, shooting off a letter to the prime minister in the style of his predecessor J. Jayalalithaa demanding that Katchateevu Island should be recovered from Sri Lanka.

Govt. insists on third term

Ahead of a planned snap presidential election, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the largest constituent party of the government, will initiate a public seminar series to drive home the point that President Mahinda Rajapaksa is constitutionally entitled to contest for the third time, informed sources said yesterday.

Attorney in Korean job scam: Police

The CID told the Colombo Chief Magistrate today they were probing the alleged involvement of an attorney in the Korean job scam, to take appropriate action against the attorney.

UN to review SL

Sri Lanka’s human rights record is due to be reviewed by the UN Human Rights Committee next week during which issues pertaining to rights of persons belonging to minorities, violence against women and counter terrorism measures are due to be discussed.

MR leaves for Italy and Vatican

President Mahinda Rajapaksa left the Island this afternoon for a visit to Italy and the Vatican on an invitation by the Holy See. He is accompanied by First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa.

Video: Pension frauds: CID raids save Rs. 700 mn

Police today said the government had been able to save at least Rs. 700 million of pension funds from being drawn through fraudulent means, due to raids conducted by the CID during the past three months.

Video: Police wants Ratnapura woman’s statement

Police said today that they had informed the woman who was allegedly assaulted by a policeman at the Ratnapura Bus Stand to come to the police and make a statement so that she could be referred to a medical check up and to provide details to the courts.

FMM over assault on journalist

Free Media Movement (FMM) today staged a protest outside the Fort Railway Station over the assault on a journalist in Hali Ela during the Uva Provincial Council election. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Video: UNP has secret plan for victory

The main opposition UNP is in the process of devising a secret plan to ensure victory at the next presidential election, the party’s Elections Affairs Secretary Talatha Athukorala said today.

ITI capable of testing DCD levels

ITI was capable of conducting laboratory tests to the internationally accepted standards to determine DCD (Dicyandiamide) levels in imported milk foods in order to ensure consumers - children in particular - not to consume contaminated milk products, Technology and Research Minister Patali Champika  Ranawaka said today.

Army Celebrates 65th Anniversary

Army Commander Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake participated at a religious ceremony at the Jayasiri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura to mark Sri Lanka Army’s 65th Anniversary today. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Video: Mannapperuma keen to attend the Budget debate

UNP Gampaha District Parliamentarian Ajith Mannapperuma whose right leg was amputated after an accident on the Southern Expressway told Daly Mirror today that he would soon return to Parliament even on crutches or on a wheel-chair to serve the people.

Dog meat sold with venison

Flesh of dogs was mixed with venison and other wild animals in Hambantota, officials of the Wildlife Conservation Department said.

Girl abducted in Kandana

Two persons including a bus conductor from Kandana had been arrested for abducting a 14-year-old girl, the police said.

Girl molested in school van

A seventeen year old school girl studying in a girl’s school in Kandy had been molested on Wednesday by a school van driver inside the van in Ampitiya, Kandy, the police said.

Fire at Mattegoda army camp

An explosion followed by a fire that broke out at the ammunition dump of the Army Engineers Regiment Camp in Mattegoda this morning, is suspected to have been triggered by lightning. Pictures

Nonis assault; No inquiry yet

The Government has still not launched a formal inquiry or investigation into the alleged assault on Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in Britain, Chris Nonis by MP Sajin Vass Gunawardena, Daily Mirror learns.

Hashish concealed in bicycle frame seized at BIA

An Indian national who attempted to smuggle in 775 grams of Hashish   concealed in  bars  of a bicycle frame  was taken into custody  today by the Anti Narcotics Unit of the Customs at the Bandaranaike International Airport,  Customs spokesman Lesley Gamini said.

Navy seize 45 kilos of gold

Navy arrested two Sri Lankans with a haul of 45 kilograms of gold in the sea off Madagalthurei in Kankasanthurai this evening while they were attempting to smuggle it to India by boat

Landslide warning extended

Landslide warning had been extended for the next 24-hours to Nuwara Eliya, Galle, Kandy, Kegalle and Matale, Ratnapura and the Kurunegala Districts as the wet weather condition was expected to continue, the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) said.

Lightning strike kills four in Morawaka

Four persons including three women were killed by lightning in Morawaka, Deniyaya a short while ago, the police said. They said three women and two men had been resting in a shed on a tea estate when the tragedy occurred.

Rescued…

Five wild elephants including three baby elephants which fell into an abandoned agricultural well in Kekirawa this morning were saved and released into a forest reserve by the wildlife conservation officers and the police with the help of the villagers. Pix by Kanchana Kumara and Kushan Jayawardene

2016 Green Card lottery programme opens

The US Government’s 2016 Diversity Visa Lottery programme also known as the Green Card Lottery has started accepting online applications from Sri Lankans and Maldivians from today, the US Embassy announced.

UNP urges action on Nonis’ assault

UNP parliamentarian Lakshman Kiriella said today that a Sri Lankan High Commissioner had been assaulted for the first time in the history of this country and urged that the law should be enforced against those involved in this shameful incident.

Oct. 6 is a Public and Bank Holiday

October 6 has been declared a Public and Special Bank Holiday in lieu of the Hajj Festival which falls on October 5, the Government Information Department said..

Let it be free and fair

UNP Leadership Council Chairman Karu Jayasuriya, General Secretary Tissa Attanayaka, Assistant President Ravi Karunanayake and MP Joseph Michael Perera today met the Commissioner of Elections and urged him to make provisions for the upcoming Presidential election to be free and fair. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Pakistan naval ships in SL on a goodwill visit

Pakistan Naval Ships PNS NASR and SAIF will be arriving today at Colombo Port for a four-day goodwill visit, the Pakistan High Commission in Colombo said.