Speaker asks Rosy to stay close to him

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa yesterday advised United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian Rosy Senanayake to stay close to him as otherwise she would disturb the proceedings in the House by chatting to others.

Govt. blocks Karu’s anti casino bill

The Government yesterday prevented United National Party (UNP) MP Karu Jayasuriya from presenting a Bill that prohibited the operation of casinos and other gaming activities under the strategic development projects.

Minister Champika’s Facebook page disabled

The Facebook account and fan page of Technology and Research Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka has been disabled without notice by the Facebook Administration Committee, according to the minister.

Guilty verdict in pizza delivery murder trial

The family of murdered Sri Lankan university graduate Thavisha Pereis today said the conviction of his two killers had brought them “some form of solace” after his death

SL cyclists stopped by police in Scotland

Four members of Sri Lanka's Commonwealth Games team were stopped by police when they were spotted cycling down the M74 near Glasgow, in Scotland.

42 dead and 11 injured in Taiwan plane crash

At least 42 people were killed and another 11 taken to hospital after their plane crashed and caught fire while trying to make an emergency landing in stormy weather on a small Taiwanese island.

Uni. students protest

University students today staged a protest in Colombo Fort urging the authorities to revoke the decision of the university administrations to suspend the studentship of 28 undergraduates. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Marvan’s term extended

The appointment of Marvan Attapattu as the Head Coach of the National Team has been extended until the end of the Pakistan Tour of Sri Lanka, the Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said

Britain sold weapons to SL

Sri Lanka is also among the 27 countries that the British government sold weapons. Britain had supplied £12bn of arms to some 27 countries including Sri Lanka, the House of Commons Committees on Arms Export Controls stated in their 2013 report.

Police record statement from Ranatunge

The Welikada Police OIC recorded a statement from Western Province Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga in connection with the complaint that he had assaulted a Rajagiriya resident.

Remembering ‘Black July’

Remembering ‘Black July’, the anti-Tamil riots started on July 23 1983, a peace vigil has been organised by a government institution today in Battaramulla. Following the Black July, the country experienced nearly three decades of war against Tamil militant groups who demanded for a separate state. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana.

Video: Heavy traffic in Town Hall

Heavy traffic has been reported from the Town Hall area due to a protest by Students of the Rajarata University in front of the University Grant Commission (UGC), Ward Place.

“Minnie's Tropical Splash”

A Tokyo DisneySea cast member (R) sprays a bucketful water towards guests during a special summer attraction called “Minnie's Tropical Splash” at Tokyo DisneySea in Urayasu, suburban Tokyo on July 23, 2014. AFP

India accepts Australia's request to probe 157 boat refugees

India gave Australia a bit of a breather by agreeing to investigate whether some of the 157 boat refugees confined to their boat on Christmas Island were Sri Lankan Tamil refugees from a camp in Puducherry.

Video: Turns out to be turmeric

The Customs Revenue Task Force discovered 27,000 kilogrammes of fraudulently imported Turmeric from India in two containers, Customs Spokesman Leslie Gamini said. ???

Don’t bother about probe: Swamy

Chairman of the BJP Committee on Strategic Action and BJP's National Executive Committee Member Subramanian Swamy in an exclusive interview with Daily Mirror said Sri Lanka should not bother about the international inquiry led by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) as it could not take any unilateral action. Full Interview

Sue cigarette companies: Minister

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena yesterday appealed to family members of those who had died of smoking-related ailments to sue the Ceylon Tobacco Company (CTC) taking a cue from a US Court ruling that the tobacco company should pay US$23.6 billion (nearly Rs.3000 billion) to the victim’s wife.

India wants info on Chinese project

India has sought details about the proposed US$40 million investment by China National Aero-Technology Import-Export Corporation (CATIC) to establish an aircraft maintenance base in Sri Lanka, External affairs Minister G.L. Peiris said in Parliament yesterday.

Senior-most singer passes away

Senior-most vocalist Kalabushana Vincent de Paul Peiris of ‘Siri Pade Samanala Kanda Pene’ fame passed away late last night at the age of 92.

Army Commander chats with former commanders

Army Commander Lt. General Daya Ratnayake has a word with former army commanders General Rohan Daluwatte, General Srilal Weerasuriya, and Lt. General Gerry de Silva at the Ranaviru apparel awards ceremony held at BMICH today. Pix  By Pradeep Pathirana

No foreign funds without approval: Ministry

The Finance and Planning Ministry has informed all Non-Governmental Organisations that they should receive prior approval from the Ministry prior to obtaining foreign funds.

Workshop on National Alcohol Policy

A workshop on Alcohol and Tobacco Control will held from July 22 to 24 in collaboration with the Regional Parliamentarians and Civil Society Representatives. The meeting was held at the Hotel Kingsbury this morning. Pix by Samantha Perera

Video: BBS claims Gnanasara Thera’s Australian Visa in jeopardy

Following the United States’ cancellation of Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera’s visa, the BBS today said that there was a conspiracy by Muslim extremist organisations in Australia to follow suit. ???

Rare fish caught in fishing net

A rare deep sea fish was found entangled in a fishing net of a boat that went fishing off the Valaichchenai seas today. The fish is four feet long and about 7.5 kilograms in weight and it is to be handed over to the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA). Pix by M.M. Anaam

Complaint against Ranatunge

A complaint has been lodged against Chief Minister of the Western Province Prasanna Ranatunge over an alleged assault on a resident in Rajagiriya, the Police said.

Arrest the predator

A massive protest rallies are being held across the hill country by the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) demanding the arrest of a person who had sexually abused a school girl in Ratnapura. Pix by Ranjith Rajapaksa

Jaya opposes installing buoys on IMBL with SL

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today termed as "inappropriate" the Centre's proposal to conduct feasibility study on installing buoys on International Maritime Boundary Line as the state government has not accepted IMBL with Sri Lanka as a settled issue

Naval rating falls to his death

A naval rating attached to the Trincomalee Naval Base had fallen to his death from the third floor of a building in the camp. The 25-year-old rating was a resident of Maradana, Colombo.

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