Salutes for a legend

Picture shows a banner that was put up by a family to pay respects to the senior cricketer and former Sri Lanka Cricket captain Mahela Jayawardena on his retirement from Test Cricket. Pix by Shanaka Maliyadda

Another brothel raided in Maradana

Eight people including five women were arrested during a raid on a brothel at Sangaraja Mawatha, Maradana yesterday, Police said. Police said the brothel was operated under the guise of a lodging house.

AL student bitten by a snake during exam

A private GCE (AL) candidate had been bitten by a rat snake (garandiya) inside the examination hall at  Sri Medhalankara Vidyalaya, Horana.

PC who fined minister’s driver charged with bribery

Police Constable Suminda Saman who issued a spot fine on Deputy Minister Hemal Gunasekara’s chauffeur for speeding on the Southern Expressway has been indicted in Colombo High Court by the director general of the Commission to Investigate Bribery or Corruption for allegedly taking a bribe in May 2009

Cosmetician remanded

Doctor Nimal Gamage, who had allegedly run a cosmetic surgery clinic in Bambalapitiya, was remanded until August 18 by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today.

Video: Mahela a real fighter: Matthews

Mahela is a real fighter and an incredible player, Sri Lanka Cricket Captain Angelo Matthews speaking at a media briefing said. He was commenting on the Mahela Jayawardena’s retirement from Test Cricket.

Protest over Gaza violence

Police today stopped the protest march organized by the Sri Lanka Thawheed Jamath at Maligawatte against the Israeli attack on the Palastine people in the Gaza Strip. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Three persons removed from terrorist list

Three people who were named as Terrorists in a gazette notification have since been removed from the list through an Extraordinary Gazette issued last week.

Video: Mangala to go before UNHRC and local Panels

United National Party (UNP) MP Mangala Samaraweera today said he would likely testify before the panel appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner (UNHRC) to look into the happenings in the final stages of war in Sri Lanka and the Missing Persons Commission appointed by the Sri Lankan government.

Pay your bills to the Postman: PMG

Consumers could pay their utility bills to the postman when he comes to deliver your mail from September 1, Postmaster General D.L.P. Rohana Abeyaratne said.

Sri Lankan doctorates for sale in Bangalore

Two men had walked into the office of Vasudeva Sharma, executive director of Child Rights Trust in India and placed an application on his desk that would fetch him an honorary doctorate from a Sri Lankan university.

Sangha Council wants Oktoberfest cancelled

Members of the National Sangha Council today met the Commissioner General of the Excise Department and urged him to stop the German (Bavarian) Cultural event Oktoberfest to be held at Havelock Park from October 7 to October 12 saying the fest was against cultural norms of Sri Lanka. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

No role for India in my nomination to SL Panel: Kaushal

Indian legal rights activist Avdhash Kaushal claimed that Indian government had no role in his nomination to international advisory panel to Sri Lanka’s Presidential Commission probing disappearances and war crimes.

Few injured in clash with police

Residents of the area protested against the arrest of women suspects by a team of male police officers attached to the Kokadichalai police.

Video: 'Veda Hamine' loses battle with cancer

Popular actress Rebecca Nirmalee who shot to fame with her iconic role as Veda Hamine, passed away this morning after losing a battle with cancer.

Restraining orders issued against demonstration in Colombo today

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court yesterday issued restraining orders on the Thowheed Jamath, Bodu Bala Sena and Sihala Ravaya organisations preventing them from holding demonstrations and protests in Colombo and the Colombo Fort area today, police said.

John Kerry invited to Sri Lanka

The government has invited US Secretary of State John Kerry to visit Sri Lanka and see for himself what the country has achieved on the ground since the war ended in 2009, External Affairs Minister G. L. Peiris said yesterday.

Ranil meets government press union leaders

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in conversation with the leaders of the government press trade unions in his office today. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

24 Colonels promoted as Brigadiers

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces, has approved the promotion of 24 Army Colonels to the rank of Brigadier.

Video: Protest against high prices

A women’s rights organisation held a protest campaign in front of Fort Railway Station today against the government demanding that prices of essential commodities be brought down. Pix By Pradeep Pathirana

SL violates int'l refugee law-UN

The UN refugee agency today accused Sri Lanka of breaking international law in its growing campaign to kick out Pakistani asylum seekers without a fair hearing.

Was it an exploding metorite

The strange lights that have been spotted by residents in several areas of the North-Central Province could possibly been from an exploding meteorite, the Arthur C. Clarke Centre said today.

Levy on imports will not affect consumers

Commenting on the impact of the recently imposed special commodity levy, the Finance Ministry today said the tax imposition on imported potatoes and onions will not affect the consumers but rather will be a measure to safeguard both consumers and local farmers.

Cosmetic death

A forty seven year old woman doctor who visited a private beauty parlour named 'Cosmetic Surgery Clinic' in Bambalapitiya, Colombo today and obtained an injection to improve her looks and to become young and pretty had the misfortune of dying at the beauty parlour itself, police said.

Civil organisation gives false numbers: Paranagama

Some civil organisations published baseless statements showing a higher number of people as gone missing in the North, the Chairman of the Presidential Commission on Missing Persons Maxwell Paranagama said today.

Lankans in West Africa asked to return

Sri Lankans have been asked to inform their relatives still staying in West African countries to return immediately because of the threat of contracting the dreaded Ebola virus, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) said.

Revenue workers demand higher salaries

Members of the Inland Revenue Employees’ General Union today staged a petition campaign in front of the Inland Revenue Department demanding salaries increase along and rectification of other salary anomalies. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Women prisoners stripped naked: Counsel

Counsel appearing for 13 women including two Thai nationals informed Colombo Additional Magistrate A.M. Shabdeen that his clients were stripped naked and checked by non-prison guards in the remand prisons.

57,500 kg of refuse tea confiscated by STF

A large consignment of refuse tea had been seized by the Special Task Force (STF) from a lorry and two warehouses at Kelanimulla and Megoda Kolonnawa today.Pictures

Police claim student’s injuries were self-inflicted

The police said today the injuries suffered by the first-year student of the Sabaragamuwa University by some unidentified people were found to have been self-inflicted.