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.

Video: Attempt on my life: Upul

An attempt had allegedly been made on the life of Sri Lanka Bar Association (BASL) President Upul Jayasuriya by two men who followed him on a motorcycle today, the DM Online learns.

Murder in Nuwara Eliya: Five sentenced to death

The five accused found guilty of murdering Govinda Logeshwaran and robbing jewellery worth Rs.750, 000 from a jewellery store at Nuwara Eliya in 2000 were today sentenced to death by the Nuwara Eliya High court.

Video: Expel Hakeem, calls BBS

The Bodhu Bala Sena (BBS) today urged the government to expel Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem from the government over the recent statements he had made against what he called “Buddhist extremism and the need to control it.”

ADB lends 300 mln USD to SL

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $300 million dual-tranche loan to help Sri Lanka scale up its use of clean energy and cut its reliance on costly petroleum oil for electricity generation.

Longest ship at Magampura

The 300-metre long vessel, Eurydice Darrived at the Hambanthota Magampura Harbour for refueling today. It was the longest ship to arrive at this harbor so far. The ship with a depth of 19 metres was supplied with 1,400 metric tonnes of IF-380 fuel. Seven vessels had been refueled at the harbour since the opening of the terminal. Pix by Sanath Gamage

Dehiowita PS chairman arrested

Dehiowita Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Amila Ruwan Kandearachchi is reported to have surrendered to the police this morning over charges that he had July 4, forcibly taken away a bus seized by a leasing company after he had defaulted on the lease payments.

Suspect arrested with 9kg of heroin

A suspect was arrested with nine kilogrammes of heroin worth Rs.63 million from Madiwela area by the Police Narcotics Bureau last night, Police said

Karunanidhi gets four weeks to respond

The Supreme Court on Monday granted four weeks’ time to DMK president M. Karunanidhi and the Tamil Nadu government to file their response to the Centre’s reply that Katchatheevu could not be retrieved from Sri Lanka.

Indian Air Force Chief due here

In a bid to boost bilateral military ties, Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha will go on a three-day visit to Sri Lanka from Tuesday, a tour that could trigger political opposition from parties and groups in TN.

MR telephones Mahmoud Abbas

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has telephoned Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday and conveyed Sri Lanka’s condolences to those who lost their lives in Gaza, Presidential spokesman Mohan Samaranayaka said.

Senanayake exceeds 43 degrees

Though Sri Lanka players and Sri Lanka Cricket officials have been making a big fuss over Sachithra Senanayake’s reporting for a suspected illegal action by ICC match officials during Sri Lanka’s recent tour of England, tests conducted by the ICC accredited laboratory in Cardiff has proved that the star spinner had extended his elbow as much as a whopping 43 degrees, way beyond the allowed legal limit of 15 degrees.

SL court keeps five in Australia asylum case in detention

A Sri Lankan court on Monday ordered that five suspected ringleaders of a people-smuggling operation remain in custody for two more weeks, in a case that has fuelled controversy over Australia's tough line on immigration.

Red notice issued for suspects arrest

Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya today issued red notice for the arrest of S.D.T. Christine Dilhari of No 2, Kotikawatte Shopping Complex, Angoda for aiding and abetting the main suspects in the Korean Job scam by communicating with the victims and getting the victim’s cash deposited in the suspects bank accounts.