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.

Tsunami aid to SL was over-billed-Canada court

A Prince Edward Island (PEI) company (Canada) over-billed and misled the Canadian government while working on a multi-million dollar contract overseas to provide aid to Sri Lanka after the 2004 tsunami, the PEI Supreme Court has ruled.

Indian on SL probe panel

The Sri Lankan government has invited an Indian activist to a panel advising its Presidential Commission on missing persons, it is reliably learnt.

Father, son killed in Meegahatenna

A father and son were killed after being brutally assaulted by iron rods by some unidentified men at Meegahatenna last night, Police said

Four NGOs under scrutiny

Four NGOs have come under scrutiny by the NGOs National Secretariat functioning under the Defence Ministry, officials said yesterday.

Actor Robin Williams dead from suspected suicide

Oscar-winning actor and comedian Robin Williams died from suspected suicide on Monday after battling depression, triggering an outpouring of tributes to one of the most beloved entertainers of his generation.

Alleged brothel in Maradana raided

An alleged brothel operating in the guise of a massage parlour at Darley Road area in Maradana was raided last evening by the Police Organised Crimes Investigation Unit.

DIG confident of garnering 300,000 votes

Western Province Senior DIG Anura Senanayake on Monday told Court that going by the trust and confidence people had placed in him, he could easily be able to secure over 300,000 preferential votes from the Colombo district if he contested an election. 

Mysterious light in A'pura skies

Authorities are investigating into reports that a bright light had been seen over the skies in the Anuradhapura district around 8 p.m. today accompanied by a loud sound, sources said.

2014 Esala Perahera comes to an end

Sri Dalada Maligawa Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela today handed over the “Sannas Pathraya” to President Mahinda Rajapaksa to formally announce the end of the Kandy Esala Perahera. President’s media

A rare quadruplet birth

A rare quadruplet birth took place at the Ninewells Hospital on Sunday (10) morning. The four male infants born to lucky parents Gayan Lakmal and Harshani Mallawarachchi were delivered by Gynecologist Dr. Tyron Dias and are currently in the NICU of the hospital. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Video: Fire at Dawson Street

A fire that broke out at Dawson Street in Slave Island destroyed a row of houses in 47/5 Watta  this evening, police said. The cause of the fire had not been ascertained yet but it is believd to have originated at a nearby tyre store.

Access not a must for SL war crimes probe-Pillay

The United Nations can conduct an effective investigation into reports of war crimes in Sri Lanka without visiting the country, said U.N. Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay, reacting to a government decision to deny investigators entry.

Video: MR should take responsibility on errant ministers: BBS

The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Organisation said today President Mahinda Rajapaksa should take the responsibility for action of errant ministers and vowed it would tame them if the President failed to correct them.

SL critisizes US warning

The government today strongly condemned a security message issued by the US warning violent protests targeting the US Embassy officials or its citizens could occur in Sri Lanka.

Investigations against five politicos

An investigation had been launched by the Badulla Police, on the request of a returning officer, to look into three UPFA and two UNP candidates in connection with election law violations.