Malaysian flight crash: 295 dead

A Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 with 295 people aboard crashed on Thursday in eastern Ukraine near the Russian border, an area roiled by fighting between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces.

Video: Uva seats based on 2013 census: EC

Election Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said yesterday the decision, to change the number of members elected from the Districts of Monaragala and Badulla in the Uva Provincial Council, was based on the Provincial Council Act and not on political reasons.

Video: Pointing fingers at each other

UNP MP Nalin Bandara points his finger at the crowds who were gathered at the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery today preventing them from entering the premises while the crowds point their finger at them. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Kollupitiya massage parlour cleared by court

The blind owner and eight other female employees of a physiotherapy massage centre in Kollupitiya which engages in the practice of physiotherapy since 1958 were yesterday acquitted and released by a Colombo Court from the allegations that they managed a brothel under the guise of a massage parlour in 2011.

Video: Election mechanism manipulated to help Govt.; SF

Democratic Party leader Sarath Fonseka said today that the Elections Commissioner was changing the election mechanism in a tactful manner to suit the needs of the government and was making various statements with regard to the elections to the Uva Provincial Council.

Gulp!

A 13-foot python that had gulped a calf was captured by the villagers at Jambugasmulla, Akmeemana in Galle and was later released to the Hiyare reservoir.  Environmentalists said pythons usually refrain from meals for months after having such big meal. Pix by Sajeewa Wijeweera

Three appointed to advise on Missing Persons

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has appointed Sir Desmond De Silva, Sir Geoffrey Nice and David Crane as experts to advice the Commission to Investigate into Complaints Regarding Missing Persons, Presidential Spokesperson, Mohan Samaranayake said.

Video: UNP fact finding mission blocked

A group of United National Party Parliamentarians who were on a fact finding mission to the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery was prevented from entering by a group of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation employees a short while ago.

Six in trishaw: two killed

Two people were killed when their three-wheeler carrying six people collided head on with a lorry near Pubudu Mawatha Junction on Kadawatha-Mawaramandiya Road in Kadawatha today.

Missing albino cobra found

The albino cobra, which was reported missing from Dehiwela Zoo last Monday was found while it was left near the Zoo this morning, police said.

Woman killed, another injured in leopard attack

A 32 year-old woman was killed and a boy was injured following a leopard attack in the Fredrose Estate in Nawalapitiya, the Police said today.

FR petitions filed on Aluthgama riots

Several people affected by the recent riots in Aluthgama and Beruwala have filed fundamental rights petitions alleging that the police had failed to carry out their duties to prevent the riots from taking place.

Ministers stifle pruning of personal staff perks

A Cabinet Paper seeking to withdraw the vehicle facilities provided to ministerial and deputy ministerial staff has been withdrawn on the vehement protest by ministers, the Daily Mirror learns.

Video: Online sex offenders identified

The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) said today its Cyber Watch Unit had identified nearly 30 sex offenders and 300 potential sex offenders who had allegedly lured children and youth through social media network sites. ???

Dambadiva pilgrimage racketeer at large

The Police Special Investigations Unit had begun an investigation to arrest a racketeer involved in cheating devotees who were expecting to go on pilgrimage to Dambadiwa after promising them to arrange concessionary prices for their tours through parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa.

39 Indian fishermen arrested

A total of 39 fishermen from Jagathapattinam and Rameswaram were arrested by Sri Lankan navy personnel today while fishing near the Palk Straits, fisheries department officials said

Limitations needed to prevent conflicts: Keheliya

Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella today said media control was sometimes needed during incidents like the one in Aluthgama to prevent possible escalation of violence.

Salaka owner released on bail

The owner of Salaka Gamini Neththikumara was today ordered to be released on bail after appearing before the Colombo Fort Magistrate regarding a case which had been filed against him on the charge of having cheated a private security firm of Rs.326,987.

Nominations announced for Uva PC

Nominations for Elections to the Uva provincial council elections will be received from July 30 to August 6 at the nomination centres in the respective District Secretariats, the Election Department said.

Uzbek couple sentenced to death for murder

Colombo High Court today sentenced to death an Uzbekistan husband and wife found guilty of murdering an eight-year-old Chinese child and the baby sitter at Nawala on February 23, 2010.

High time to topple this dictatorship: Ranil

The lawlessness in this country can no longer be overcome through democratic means but through a well- organised struggle by all parties and civil society groups, United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremeisnghe said today.

Video: Buddhist monks meet Media Minister

Several Buddhist organisations including the National Sangha Council, Bodu Bala Sena and Sihala Ravaya met Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella at the Ministry today.  They urged the Ministry to look into media statements and campaigns against Buddhism. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Heavy traffic at Town Hall

Heavy traffic congestion was reported near Town Hall in Colombo due to a protest by Joint Trade Union Committee comprising of 19 trade unions against a new circular issued by the Health Ministry.

Video: Nine kilos of heroin seized in Wanathamulla

Borella police had seized nine Kilos of Heroin in Wanathamulla last night during a special raid and arrested eight suspects, police said today.Pictures

Daughter’s face burnt with heated spoon

A mother of five children was arrested by the Kuruwita Police yesterday for allegedly burning the face of her five-year- old daughter with a heated spoon used to make hoppers

Katchatheevu’s sovereignty has never been with SL: Karunanidhi

DMK president M. Karunanidhi on Tuesday opposed in the Supreme Court the Centre’s stand that Katchatheevu belonged to Sri Lanka in light of the 1974 agreement and said the sovereignty over the islet “was never with Ceylon but with India.”

I admit: Vasudeva

I accept the mistakes made by the government when it comes to National unity, National Languages and Social Integration Minister Vasudeva Nanyakara said while declaring open the Ministry’s Kilinochchi office yesterday

UNP MPs to check oil pipelines

A group of United National Party (UNP) parliamentarians are expected to undertake a fact-finding mission on Thursday to ascertain the seriousness of the breakdown in the pipe lines at the Sapugaskanda oil refinery, party sources said yesterday.

Video: We would have to pay demurrages: Minister

Petroleum Industries Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said today even though the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) would have to pay demurrages for the ships anchored due to the breakdown of the buoy carrying crude oil to the Sapugaskanda oil refinery, the Ministry would not burden the people by increasing fuel prices due to this.

SL concerned over conflict in Gaza

Sri Lanka today called upon the concerned parties to exercise utmost restraint in a bid to halt the violence and ensure a climate conducive to the recommencement of negotiations for a lasting solution to the conflict in Gaza.