MR hits out at UN double standards

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday it was a matter of grave concern to witness so many instances of the deliberate and arrogant violation of the fundamental principles of justice and the rule of law by some agencies within and outside the United Nations. 

Video: Bringing inept persons into SLFS hurting country: Sobitha Thera

The head of the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ), Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera, yesterday claimed that the Sri Lanka Foreign Service was a chaotic mess and that the wrong people were being awarded posts in the Foreign Service.

India, SL to speedily free fishermen

The Indian and Sri Lankan Coast Guards have agreed to work for the speedy release of fishermen arrested for violating the maritime boundary, the Indian government said Friday.

Petition seeking to probe KP's role dismissed

The Madras High Court on Friday dismissed a petition which sought investigation into the role played by former LTTE leader Kumaran Pathmanabhan in the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Shipping company demands Rs. 89 mn demurrage charges

Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Jathika Sewaka Sangamaya Branch Secretary Ananda Palitha said today an Indonesian shipping company had demanded Rs. 89 million from the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) as demurrage and urged the CPC  to reveal whether it was going to pay it, as it claimed earlier that such a fee would not have to be paid.

Lawyers seek police protection

Lawyers who appeared for a petition filed by the BASL are leaving the Court premises. The petition was filed by the BASL Executive Committee seeking police protection for its President Upul Jayasuriya. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja  

An Asanaghara excavated at Rajagalathenna

Officials of the Archeological Department and the Sri Jayawardena University unearthed an historical ‘Asanaghara’ during the excavation carried out at Rajagalathenna. Pix by Wasantha Chandrapala

Heavy showers expected in several places

The Meteorology Department said today showers exceeding 150mm will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and in the Galle and Matara districts.

UPFA MP Thenuka arrested and bailed

UPFA Badulla District Parliamentarian Thenuka Vidanagama, former Provincial Council member Anura Vidanagama and another person were arrested today on charges of threatening a Deputy Elections Commissioner and robbing his camera.

UK officials met SL military adviser after the war-report

Police in Northern Ireland organised a meeting between British officials and a Sri Lankan military adviser a month after the massacre of tens of thousands of Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka, it has emerged – but no minutes were taken about what was discussed.

Police asked to provide security to Upul

Colombo Fort Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya today ordered the Colombo Central SSP to provide security to Sri Lanka Bar Association (BASL) President Upul Jayasuriya until August 11.

Video: JVP protests Israeli attacks on Palestine

Some JVP members including Bimal Ratnayake, Sunil Handunneththi and Vijitha Herath are seen pasting their petition on a glass pane at the entrance to the US Embassy in Kollupitiya after they were prevented from entering the building. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Velayudhan takes over from Harin

K. Velayudhan was sworn in by the Deputy Speaker as a Member of Parliament to replace former parliamentarian Harin Fernando.

IPL match fixing: Sri Lankan CID’s help sought

The Justice Mukul Mudgal-led panel looking into the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2013 betting and spot-fixing controversy is said to have asked the Sri Lankan Crime Investigation Department (CID) for their help.

Two women in baby deal arrested

A woman was arrested yesterday on charges of having sold her six-month-old baby girl to another woman at Mihindu Uyana in Hanwella for Rs.30,000.

Heavy traffic in Kollupitiya

Traffic congestion was reported in Kollupitiya on the Galle Road due to a protest staged by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) in protest of the attacks on Palestine, police said.

Protest against Lankan official in Chennai

The lawyers’ wing of AIADMK staged a protest in front of the premier institute in Chennai on Thursday demanding the deportation of a Sri Lankan bureaucrat invited by the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF).

10 Army personnel injured in accident

Ten army personnel were hospitalised when their bus veered into a protective side wall of a culvert at Batu Oya in Maradankadawala last night, police said.

Breach of trust: Turkish embassy goes to court

The Colombo Fraud Investigations Bureau (CFIB) is probing a complaint made by a secretary of the Turkish Embassy in Colombo alleging that a Sri Lankan had committed criminal breach of trust to the tune of Rs. 3.8 million after undertaking to renovate a building to operate the Embassy office

Wele Suda’s wife released

Notorious drug trafficker Wele Suda’s wife and mother-in-law who had been detained by the Colombo Narcotics Bureau for allegedly aiding and abetting the trafficking of 85 kilogrammes of heroin valued at more than Rs.6.8 million were released

Video: Rajitha to sue BBS for Rs. 1 bn

Minister Rajitha Senaratne today said he would institute legal action to the amount of Rs.1 billion against BBS General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera over allegations made by him

Anura reveals names of relatives in Foreign Service

While criticizing the country’s foreign policy JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday revealed names of relatives of government politicians and henchmen in the Foreign Service

Lover’s lunge

A 22-year-old woman had been admitted to the National Hospital after being stabbed by allegedly her former lover, the Police said

Court wants Thenuka and two others

Mahiyangana Magistrate’s Court today ordered the Mahiyangana Police to produce UPFA Badulla District Parliamentarian Thenuka Vidanagamage, a former Provincial Council member Anura Vidanagamage and another person in court before August 26 for allegedly threatening a Deputy Elections Commissioner.

Dismiss

Sri Lanka cricketer Mahela Jayawardene celebrates with teammate Kaushal Silva after dismissing Pakistan batsman Junaid Khan during the second day of the opening Test match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan at the Galle International Cricket Stadium in Galle. AFP and Pradeep Dilrukshana

Video: Ranil accuses govt. of double standards

UNP National Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said today there would be no need for foreign experts to intervene in our internal affairs if democracy and an independent judiciary were ensured, the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) recommendations carried out and the 17th Amendment re-instated

Temple robbed at gun point in Kalthota

A gang of robbers who entered a temple at Puhulyaya in Kalthota had trussed up five Buddhist monks and looted valuable artifacts at gun point early today, the Police said

New passport pass-back service for UK visa applicants in SL

The British High Commission in Colombo today announced the launch of a passport pass-back service for UK visa applicants applying at the visa application centre in Colombo from August 11, 2014

TID arrests uni. student

The Police Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) had arrested a third-year student of the Sabaragamuwa University on Tuesday on charges of an assault incident in the University.

Video: Maldivian Police Chief welcomed

Maldivian Police Commissioner Hussain Waheed, who arrived in Sri Lanka on an invitation of Law and Order Ministry Secretary, was welcomed by Police Chief N.K. Illangakoon at Police Headquarters today. Picture courtesy Police Media