JVP meets EC

JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake walks out of the elections office in Rajagiriya followed by party General Secretary Tilvin Silva, MP Sunil Handunnetti and Western Provincial Councillor Sunil Watagala. Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Expressway segment closed on Sep. 2

The segment from Kottawa Interchange to Kahathuduwa Interchange on the Southern Expressway (E01) would be closed on September 2 from 10 p.m. to 12 midnight for restoration work, the Road Development Authority (RDA) said.

Kites pose risk to BIA planes

Flying kites near the airport raises the possibility of airplane crashes, The Air Traffic Control (ATC) room of the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake said.

Basil opens National Handicrafts Exhibition

The ‘Shilpa Udana 2014’ National Handicrafts Festival was held today at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike International Memorial Exhibition Hall. The exhibition was inaugurated by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa. Here Minister Rajapaksa is seen inspecting a sword that was on display at the exhibition. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Nimalka complains of poster campaign against her

Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) activist and Attorney Nimalka Fernando has complained to the Fort police seeking an inquiry against a poster campaign by unknown persons indicating that puppies were to be sold, giving her contact number in the posters

One millionth tourist of 2014 arrives

The Sri Lanka Tourist Board today ceremoniously welcomed the arrival of one millionth tourist of this year at the Bandaranaike International Airport. Pix by Nirmala Ferdinandus

Two new detention centres for illegal foreigners

Two new detention centres have been established by the Department of Immigration and Emigration to detain foreigners overstaying their visas after seeking refugee status with the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).

Expectant mother run over by tipper

An angry crowd had set fire to a tipper truck at Navakiri, Jaffna after the truck run over a young expectant mother today, the Police said. Pictures

Facebook page to survey sex workers

The AIDS Prevention Programme is to create a new Facebook page to carry out a survey on sex workers in the country aimed at containing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, its Director Dr. Sisira Liyanage said.

Video: TNA ready to resume talks with Govt.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said today it was ready to resume talks with the Government in search of a solution to based on power devolution within a united and undivided Sri Lanka.

Sun over the island

The sun would directly over Sri Lanka from today, till September 7, the Department of Meteorology said.

Exporters: CDN system from Sept. 01

Director General of Sri Lanka Customs had urged exporters and wharf representatives to submit Electronic Cargo Dispatch Notes (CDN) to the Customs from September 1, Customs media spokesman Leslie Gamini said.

218 semi-luxury buses caught for overloading

The National Transport Commission (NTC) said today it had taken action against 218 inter-provincial semi-luxury buses that were found to have carried passengers over and above the number of seats in the buses in violation of the route permit conditions.

Packer plan for SL Crown casino causes delay

Australian gambling tycoon James Packer's Crown Ltd is facing months of new delays in building a planned $400 million Sri Lanka hotel and casino resort due to unspecified legal issues, a government minister said on Wednesday.

Dayasiri hospitalised

North-Western Province Chief Minister DayasiriJayasekara was admitted to the Badulla Hospital last night after he took ill suddenly but had left hospital on his own accord this morning after undergoing several tests, hospital sources said.

LTTE’s largest training camp at Kolathur

The village of Kolathur, 11 km from the Mettur dam in Salem district, was one of the places in Tamil Nadu where the cadre of the LTTE were imparted armed training in the early 1980s to fight the Sri Lankan forces.

Colombo bound woman duped in flight

A woman passenger of a Colombo-Thiruvananthapuram flight was duped of a 14-sovereign gold chain by a co-passenger.

Norochcholai power plant breaks down

The second stage of the Norochcholai coal power plant, which contributes 300 megawatts  to the national grid, was inoperative this evening due to a technical fault, a spokesman for the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) said.

Rarely seen bunch

An unusually big comb of bananas discovered by a family in Rathmalana was captured on film today. About 70 bananas are seen in this unusually big comb.

Land seizure in Vavuniya, says BBS

The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) today said that politicians were attempting to alter the diversity of population in Sri Lanka by backing the resettlement of one ethnic group in a specific area ignoring others.

Wariyapola girl released on bail

Twenty one-year-old Thilini Amalka, who was arrested this morning for allegedly slapping a youth at the Wariyapola Bus Terminal recently, was released on a surety bail of Rs. 50, 000 by the Wariyapola additional magistrate this evening. PICTURES

Protest at Mahaweli Authority

Workers attached to the Mahaweli Authority seen shouting slogans at a demonstration held today in front of the Mahaweli Authority over several demands. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Two suspicious containers detained

Two containers imported from Pakistan declared as big onions had been detained by the Sri Lanka Customs at the Orugodawatte Container Yard on suspicion this evening, Custom’s Spokesman Leslie Gamini said.

Two Indians nabbed with sensitive pics

Two Indians were arrested at Modara yesterday for allegedly possessing photographs of high security zones including the Parliament and the Prime Minister’s Residence, the Police said today

Another successful surgery

A stick which had pierced the neck of a Suriyawewa resident was surgically removed by a team of surgeons at the Hambantota General Hospital today. It had pierced the neck of the man during a brawl. Pix by Sanath Gamage

Video: Aluthgama: renovated houses handed back

Seventy one houses and 22 shops which were destroyed in Aluthgama and Beruwela recently had been handed over to the owners after renovation, Military Spokesman Ruwan Wanigasuriya said today.

Heavy traffic on Darley Road

Heavy traffic has been reported along Darley Road, Maradana because of a protest outside the Mahaweli Authority; motorists are advised to use alternative routes

Wariyapola girl arrested

Twenty one-year-old Thilini Amalka, who is alleged to have slapped a youth at the Wariyapola Bus Terminal recently had been arrested by the  Wariyapola Police this morning, Police Media Unit said. UPDATE

India has to go to war to retrieve Kachatheevu: AG

Indian Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that retrieving Kachatheevu Island was an impossible task and India would have to declare war with Sri Lanka to retrieve it.

TNA seeks India’s help in return of refugees

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has sought India’s help in the return of Sri Lankan refugees from India.