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.

Panneerselvam requests Modi to release fishermen

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, in his first letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after assuming charge, has sought the release of 20 fishermen who were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy early this week.

Children show colours

An art competition was held at the Viharamaha Devi Park this morning in view of the World Children’s Day organised by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Department of Buddhist Affairs. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Jaya’s bail plea hearing adjourned again to Oct. 7

Former Tamil Nadu chief minister and AIADMK chief J. Jayalalithaa will continue to stay in jail as the special vacation bench of the Karnataka high court has adjourned her bail plea hearing to 7 October.

12 fishermen, two boats detained by India

Twelve Sri Lankan fishermen on board two fishing boats were taken into custody last morning at Tutucorin in Chennai while on their way back passing through the maritime boundaries of India and Malaysia, Fisheries Ministry Assistant Director Lal De Silva said.

US stance on SL softens

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is reported to have told the Cabinet meeting that his discussions with US Secretary of State John Kerry had made him realize that the US had softened its stance on Sri Lanka.

Falling tree kills trishaw driver

A 48-year-old three-wheel driver was killed when a tree fell on his three-wheeler at the Queens Road Junction at Thummulla along Thurstan Road, the Police said.

Indian arrested for overstaying visa

A 31-year-old Indian was arrested yesterday on charges of have overstayed his tourist visa and engaging in illegal trade in Nanu Oya, Police said.

Complaints related to private buses via SMS from today - Minister

The Private Transport Services Ministry said that it would launch a programme effective from  today for commuters to make private bus-related complaints via SMS through the hotline 071 655 0000.

Jaya's bail request to be heard today

The Karnataka High Court will hear the bail appeal filed by former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday after her advocates moved the court seeking a special hearing.

Restrictions on land alienation to foreigners

President Mahinda Rajapaksa today instructed the Cabinet to enact the proposed bill restricting land alienation to foreigners as soon as possible, informed sources said.

SLN siezes gold and dinghy

The Northern Naval Command of the Sri Lanka Navy’s ‘Uttara’ intercepted a boat carrying one kg of gold biscuits hidden inside a dingy. Customs media spokesman Leslie Gamini said.

BBS - 969 sign pact on anti extremism

The Leader of Burma’s 969 oraganisation, Ven. Ashin Wirathu Thera and Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera today signed an agreement with the objective of building an Asian region without extremism.

Video: Go eat Kochchi, Nandimitra tells UNP

Deputy Minister of Higher Education Nandimitra Ekanayake told the media today that the Opposition must eat pungent Kochchi chilies to overcome the sorrow of their debacle at the Uva Provincial elections.

Nonis has not resigned: Keheliya

Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Britain, Chris Nonis has not tendered his resignation to the External Affairs Ministry as reported in the foreign media, Government Spokesman and Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said today.

Revised electricity tariffs for domestic consumers

The Public Utilities Commission today announced the approved electricity tariffs structure which would be effective from September 16, in line with the government policy directive on the reduction of electricity tariffs.

Video: Govt. already violating election laws: UNP

UNP Leadership Council Chairman Karu Jayasuriya said they would complain to Elections Commissioner tomorrow on the alleged election law violations committed by the SLFP even before a presidential election had been declared.

16 TN fishermen arrested by SL navy

Sixteen Indian fishermen found poaching in Sri Lankan waters had been arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy in the seas off North Mathagal in Jaffna yesterday, the Navy said.

Prison inmates to get telephone facilities

The Prison Department said today steps were being taken to provide telephone facilities for the prison inmates in collaboration with Sri Lanka Telecom.