Days after MH17 tragedy, Malaysia Airlines flies jet over Syria

Embattled Malaysia Airlines faced fresh outrage Tuesday as it confirmed one of its planes flew over war-torn Syria, just days after the MH17 disaster laid bare the risks civilian aircraft face in flying over war zones.

UPFA MP surrenders to Court

UPFA Kurunegala district Parliamentarian Nimal Wijesinghe alias Nilwala, who was accused for assaulting a Grama Niladhari in Mawathagama, surrendered to the Pilassa Magistrate Court in Mawathagama, this morning

Wasp attack at a pre-school: 35 injured

At least 35 persons including 29 pre-school children were hospitalized following a wasp attack at a pre-school in a temple in Kataragama this morning, Police said

15,000 kg of contaminated chili powder seized

The officials of the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) seized 15,000 kg of adulterated chillie powder from a grinding mill store at Sedawatte today.

38 Indian fishermen arrested

Thirty eight Indian fishermen found poaching in Sri Lankan waters had been arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy in the seas off Talaimannar and Delft Islands in two separate incidents last night, the Navy said

What Russian press are saying about air disaster

The Russian media's coverage of the MH17 disaster is in stark contrast to Western reports - focusing on increasingly outlandish claims and conspiracy theories.

Scott Morrison to talk SL Tamil issue with Sushma

Australia will be raising the issue of the 153 Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers with India on Tuesday, when Australian immigration minister Scott Morrison will be meeting with external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and home minister Rajnath Singh.

Video: Ukraine rebels hand over black boxes

Rebels in eastern Ukraine have handed over two flight-data recorders from the downed MH17 plane to Malaysian experts. A senior rebel leader signed them over to the Malaysian officials at a meeting in the city of Donetsk.

States can't interfere with Centre-BJP

Indian Foreign Policy is the exclusive preserve of the Central Government and we expect the political parties in Tamil Nadu to formulate their opinions in line with the realities of the situation, BJP Foreign Policy Cell National Convener and BJP's National Executive Member Dr. Seshadri Chari said in an interview with Daily Mirror

Reduce sacrificial animals: CJ tells M’waran Kovil

Chief Justice Mohan Peiris yesterday advised the Munneswaram Badra Kali Amman Kovil trustees to reduce the number of animals that are sacrificed at its annual festival and that it should be done in a more scientific way.

Large heroin haul seized

A large haul of heroin worth about Rs.700 million found hidden inside moulding machines imported from Karachchi, Pakistan were seized by the Sri Lanka Customs at the Orugodawatta container yard today. Pix by Sanjeewa Niroshan

Sugar levy up

The special commodity levy on one kilogramme of imported sugar was increased by Rs. 3 from last night, the Finance Ministry said. Accordingly, the levy on one kilogramme of imported sugar would be Rs. 28.

Tax concession for bank employees

President Mahinda Rajapaksa today decided to remove the taxes imposed on employees in the state and private sector financial institutions imposed under the 1857/8 special gazette notification.

For a legal interpretation

UNP MP Harin Fernando who is tipped to be the party’s chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming Uva Provincial Council Election seen outside the Superior Courts Complex in Hulftsdorp today after filing a petition against the change in the number of seats allocated to the two districts of the province. Pix by Samantha Perera

Video: Rs.700 mn worth heroin seized

Over a hundred kilogrammes of heroin worth about Rs.700 million found hidden inside moulding machines imported from Karachchi, Pakistan were seized by the Sri Lanka Customs at the Orugodawatta container yard today, Customs spokesman Leslie Gamini said. ???

Police sets up highway traffic squadron

A new highway traffic squadron to curb road accidents has been set up by the police with the recently purchased 279 high-speed motorbikes

Missing Lankan found in Peshawar police custody

A Sri Lankan national, who was missing for months, was found in Peshawar police detention on Monday, ARY News reported.

Next door dog distressing US man in Jaffna

A complaint had been lodged with the Jaffna police by an American claiming the growl of the next door dog was distressing him.

Salaka: Cheating case amicably settled

The case filed against the Salaka owner, Gamini  Neththikumara on the charge of having cheated a private security firm, was amicably settled today after the entire amount was paid to the complainant party.

BJP‘s Swamy to meet MR

Former Union Cabinet Minister and chairman of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Committee for Strategic Action Subramanian Swamy is scheduled to meet Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa during a visit to Sri Lanka

Nine hour water cut in Colombo

A 9-hour water cut would be imposed in several areas in Colombo from tomorrow 9.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m. Wednesday due to the laying of new pipelines under the Colombo City Development Project, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board said

EPRLF calls for re-merger of north and east

The Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) led by MP Suresh Premachandran, has passed resolutions calling, for among other things, the re-merger of the Northern and Eastern Provinces in conformity with Indo-Lanka Accord.

Prisoner sentenced to 20 years’ could be freed in under 13 years

A person sentenced to 20 years rigorous imprisonment need only serve a term of 12 years and 9 months in terms of prison law, said prisons  department sources.

Bar to bar new bars

Legal luminaries yesterday observed that the proposed amendments which are to be brought in respect of Law College entrance by the Incorporated Council of Education (ICLE) would be detrimental and hinder the further education of local students registered with foreign universities.

MR wants world leaders to see SL’s reality

President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Sunday said he wishes to see more foreign leaders visiting his country to experience the island's post conflict progress.

MR meets Portugal PM

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Portugal’s Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho met for discussions at Temple Trees this afternoon. Pix by President's Media

Dancers duel

A rivalry between one dancer and three other women dancers at an Indian Night club in Kollupitiya had led to a brawl which ended up in Court and all four women were reprimanded by Colombo Fort Magistrate.

UNP membership drive

UNP Gampaha District MP Ruwan Wijewardenene greets a vegetable vendor at the weekly fair in Makola during a membership drive of the party where a large number of people obtained membership. Pic by Pradeep Pathirana

BASL president lodges another complaint

The President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) Attorney-at-Law Upul Jayasuriya had made another complaint with the Thalangama police regarding an incident where two unidentified motorcyclists had roamed around his residence located in the Thalangama area.

Iran rejects selling oil to SL

Mohsen Qamsari, an official with the National Iranian Oil Company, said on July 20 rejected the claims that Iran is selling crude oil to Greece, Sri Lanka, and South Africa.