Video: Swamy hits back at Jaya

A day after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha slammed BJP leader Subramanian Swamy in a letter to the Prime Minister saying that Swamy had asked Sri Lanka not to release the fishermen, Swamy has hit back at Jaya dismissing the allegations

License essential for animal sacrifice-SC

The Supreme Court today affirmed the order of the Court of Appeal that it is compulsory to obtain license to carry out animal sacrifice in any religious places of worship.

Sentenced to death…

A doctor found guilty to the charges of raping a woman and pushing her off the sixth floor of the Negombo General Hospital was sentenced to death by the Negombo High Court today. Pix by Pushpakumara Mallawaarachchi

Wariyapola youth out on bail

Chandra Kumara alias Selva who was in remand on charges of sexually harassing a 21-year-old girl was released on Rs. 100,000 surety bail by the Wariyapola Magistrate Court today.

SL envoy reacts to NYT editorial

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the United States, Prasad Kariyawasam said the recent editorial of the US daily, ‘The New York Times’ on Sri Lanka’s refusal to cooperate with the UN investigation, had made ‘insensitive assertions’ about the Island nation.

Lebanon deports SL mother and son

A 13-year-old Sri Lankan boy who was born in Lebanon and had lived there all his life and his mother were issued deportation notices by General Security-Lebanon’s security agency in charge of foreigners’ entry and residence-in June even though the boy was enrolled in school, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said.

MH17 took Ukraine route to save Malaysia Airlines $28,000

The shortcut that the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 took before it was shot down over Ukraine reportedly saved the airlines 28,000 dollars at the cost of 298 lives.

Doctor sentenced to death

A doctor found guilty to the charges of raping a woman and pushing her off the sixth floor of the Negombo General Hospital was sentenced to death by Western Province High Court judge M.M.A. Gafoor today.

Beauty doctor granted bail

Dr. Nimal Gamage, who was remanded in connection with the death of a lady doctor while she was undergoing cosmetic surgery, was released on strict bail conditions by Colombo Additional Magistrate A. M. Sahabdeen today.

Jaya complaints to Modi'about Swamy

Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday took exception to reported remarks of BJP leader Subramanian Swamy that he had advised the Sri Lankan government not to release the boats of Tamil Nadu fishermen.

Jingping visit to boost mega projects

Chinese President Xi Jingping is expected to discuss the implementation of the second phase of the Hambantota Port Project, the Port City and Colombo City Railway Project with President Mahinda Rajapaksa during his visit to Sri Lanka in September.

Man dies of burn injuries

The man who set himself on fire opposite the Kollupitiya police station yesterday to protest against former UNHRC Chief Pillay, succumbed to his injuries at National Hospital last night

No more spot fines for bus drivers

The issuing of spot fine notices on errant bus drivers has been discontinued from the first of this month. They will be produced in court instead, said DIG (Traffic and Road Security) Amarasiri Senaratne yesterday.

Video: Malsha glad of publicity over “Ice Bucket” challenge

Western Provincial Councillor Malsha Kumaratunga said today she did not take up the “Ice Bucket” challenge to gain publicity but she was happy that she was able to open the eyes of the people of Sri Lanka to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) which was not talked of earlier.

Violence escalates in Moneragala: PAFFREL

The widespread election law violations reported from Moneragala has escalated to 120 and is a cause for concern, particularly considering its comparatively low population, an election monitoring group said today.

BBS to assist health sector

Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera proclaimed that the time was right for the BBS to enter into the trade union sector and to influence them to act according to the teachings of the Buddha.

Protest demanding salary increase

The National Trade Union Centre today held a protest outside the Railway Department demanding a salary increment to public servants. Pix by Kitsiri De Mel

Video: Bus fare hike in November: LPBOA

The Lanka Private Bus Owners Association (LPBOA) said that it would have to go for a bus fare hike in November if the private bus industry did not receive relief from the 2015 budget.

Video: VPN system to inter-link police service

The Police today inaugurated a system through which all police data could be connected into one virtual platform.

Mother strangles 6-year-old daughter

A 29-year-old mother in Kolonnawais reported to have strangled her six-year-old daughter for defecating inside the house.

Qatar Airways flight diverted to Colombo

A Qatar Airways flight en route from Doha to Perth in Australia was forced to divert to Colombo in Sri Lanka after the pilot reported a suspected fuel leak in one of the aircraft's engines, it was reported.

BBS Sec. gives statement

The General Secretary of Bodu Bala Sena, Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera had been summoned to the Slave Island Police to record a statement on the incident where the monk had allegedly used derogatory remarks against Counsel Maithri Gunaratne, the Police said

Audio: 72-year-old man in a fiery protest

A 72-year-old man was admitted to the National Hospital with burn injuries after he set himself on fire outside the Kollupitiya police station this morning in protest over the attacks on Sri Lanka by former UNHRC Chief Navi Pillay, the police said.

Big medal haul for SL juniors at Asian Chess

Sri Lanka’s junior chess players performed brilliantly at the 10th Asian Schools Chess Championships held in Taichung, Taiwan from August 23 to 30, wining two gold, one silver and four bronze medals. Sri Lankan players also bagged 14 merit certificates.

NPC funds lie idle

The Northern Provincial Council (NPC), which is administered by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), has failed to utilize at least 30 per cent of its capital allocations in the annual budget, an opposition politician charged yesterday.

Lankan found murdered in Trichy

A Sri Lankan was murdered by two unidentified men near his house in Karumandapam. The 56-year-old man was a visa agent and was trying to get valid stay permits for people in the locality.

SL to deport Pakistan asylum seekers

A Sri Lankan court on Monday gave permission to authorities to send back scores of Pakistani asylum seekers, after the government said they were a threat to the island’s security and public health

MR interrupts Mervyn’s attacking speech

President Mahinda Rajapaksa had to interrupt Minister Mervyn Silva’s speech during an event at Madulla in Moneragala yesterday and advise him not to sling mud at anyone at personal level.

Launch of ‘Adara Ankura’

Saman Athaudahetti’s  latest publication ‘Adara Ankura’ - the inconcised sinhala translation of the popular Indian Writer Kishwar Desai’s ‘Origins of Love - was launched at the Bandaranaike International Conference Hall today. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Remembering Anagarika Dharmapala

The 150th Birth anniversary commemoration of Anagarika Dharmapala was held today at the Laskhman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations amidst the patronage of Amarapura chapter Mahanayaka the Most Venerable Dauldena Gnaneswara Thera. Pix by Nisal Baduge