Rains won’t go away

The atmospheric conditions were still favorable for rainy weather over the island, the Meteorology Department said. It said occasional showers or thundershowers would occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and the Central Provinces and in the Galle and Matara Districts.

Alleged brothel raided in Bambalapitiya

A brothel operating under the guise of a massage parlour at Fonseka Place, Bambalapitiya was raided last evening by the Police Organised Crimes Investigation Unit, the Police said.

Modi may visit SL next year: Swamy

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi may visit Sri Lanka early next year, according to Dr Subramanian Swamy, head of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Strategic Action Committee.

Cartoon of the day

Mahela ends Test career on a high

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse shakes hands with cricketer Mahela Jayawardene after victory in the second Test match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground in Colombo today. AFP

Video: Operation seize fire

The Police had launched a special operation in Colombo and suburbs since Monday to seize illegal firearms following several shooting incidents in the recent past, Police Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said.

Dream comes true to Milton

The family of Milton of Karuwelagaswewa, who had put up a banner to star cricketer Mahela Jayawardene on his retirement from Test cricket was lucky enough to visit the SSC grounds and experience the Test match and meet Mahela Jayawardene. Pix by Isuru Perera

Video: NFF now wants new Constitution

The National Freedom Front (NFF) said today Sri Lanka’s Constitution should be replaced with a new Constitution instead of amending it following the compromise it had reached with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) on NFF’s 12-point action plan.

Video: Two SL students receive bravery awards

Two Sri Lankan students who overpowered a gunman during a McDonalds robbery are among dozens of courageous Victorians to be recognised with bravery awards.

Video: Cosmetic mess: Police want patrons testify

A laptop computer found at the cosmetic clinic of Dr. Nimal Gamage had been send to the Mortauwa University for the inspection to facilitate the investigation into the incident, the Police said today.

Kolonnawa UC chairman remanded

The Chairman of the Kolonnawa Urban Council, Ravindra Udayashantha was remanded till August 22 for allegedly assaulting the Deputy Chairman of the Council, Suresh Kodagoda.

Govt. mulls punitive action on NGOs

Amid allegations of NGO attempts to collect evidence to be sent to Geneva, the government has decided to consider a proper regulatory framework to monitor their accountability, External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris said today.

Amid a lot of laughter

BJP Leader Subramanian Swamy, External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris and Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa are seen in conversation at the Defence Seminar held in Colombo today. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

No Politics, coaching: Mahela

While claiming that the 2015 ICC World Cup would be his last international tournament, star cricketer Mahela Jayawardane, who retired from the international Test Cricket, has ruled out entering politics and being a cricket coach.

Only a few can go in

A police officer is seen requesting a university student to select a few representatives to enter the University Grant Commission in Colombo during a protest by the Sri Lanka National Union of Students over the removal of the Eastern University’s Trincomalee Campus Rector.  Pix by Nisal Baduge

Beauty therapist further remanded

Doctor Nimal Gamage, who was remanded in connection with the death of a lady doctor at his Clinic in Bambalapitiya was further remanded till August 25 when the case was taken up at the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today.

Sri Lanka beats Pakistan in 2nd Test

Sri Lanka won the second test against Pakistan by 105 runs in a perfect send off for Mahela Jayawardene who played his last test match today at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo.

Child drowns

A 4-year-old boy drowned off the sea at Midigama in Weligama last night, police said. It was reported that the mother had reportedly attempted to jump into the sea with the child.

Gunmen kill one, injure another

One person was shot dead and another was injured when two gunmen who arrived in a motorbike had opened fire at Batewela Junction in Nawagamuwa last night, Police said.

23 illegally captured elephants owned by government supporters

There are 23 elephant calves illegally caught from the forests owned by leading supporters of the government, said two UNP Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council members, Sandeeth Samarasinghe and  Heshan Vithanage, at a PC meeting

Help the triplets

A resident of Ranchamadama Embilipitiya had delivered triplets on Wednesday at the Embilipitiya Base Hospital, doctors said

Kaushal set to urge MR to play compromise card

Indian human rights activist, Avdhash Kaushal, who has been invited by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to join a panel of experts which will advise the Presidential Commission on missing persons and war crimes, will urge Rajapaksa and the minority Tamils to go for a compromise

Hats off to the Samaritans

In a heart warming story the Daily Mirror learns that government officials had made special arrangements to grade five students to sit their scholarship exams after some students couldn’t make it to the exam centres yesterday

Traffic Police: No more speed guns

Speed Radar guns would not be used as evidence to charge reckless driving and reckless endangerment on the roads, the Traffic Police Headquarters announced today.

Rain may go away

The Department of Meteorology said the rains in the drought hit areas may be temporary as they were brought about by a atmospheric condition that did not usually last long.

Schoolboy chokes to death

A twelve year boy residing with his parents at the police quarters in Colombo accidentally choked himself to death with a boy scout’s scarf.

Chennai protesters demand boycott of SL Defence meet by India

Workers of Chennai's Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) party today staged a protest demanding that India should boycott the Defence meet scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka between August 18 and August 20.

Youth shot dead in Salon

A man having a hair crop at a barber saloon at Thelawala Road in Ratmalana was shot dead by two gunmen who stormed into the salon around 1.00 pm today.  Update

Welcome showers end the eight month long drought

Welcome showers which fell on most parts of the North Central Province and Mannar, Vavuniya and batticaloa Districts during the weekend after eight months were greeted by the people of the area who grappled with a severe drought which caused the destruction of crops and livestock

Way to go

Sri Lankan cricketer Mahela Jayawardene is congratulated by his teammate Kumar Sangakkara after scoring a half-century during the fourth day of the second Test match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan at the SSC. AFP