Scholar monks urge Govt. to address root cause of unrest

A Collective of respected Buddhist scholar monks today urged the Government to take immediate action against extremist groups while focusing on the root cause of the Aluthgama and Beruwela riots instead of accusing the Buddhist monks of the violence that erupted there

Security tightened in TN on terror alert

Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu:  Security along the shores in Kanyakumari and Tuticorin districts has been scaled up after an intelligence alert that six militants, trained in Pakistan, were planning to infiltrate into the country through Sri Lanka, police said today

Man sets himself on fire

A man was reported to have set himself on fire near the Bristol Street in Fort a short while ago and admitted to the Colombo National hospital with serious injuries

Video: Black July…

A young school boy is seen here placing his signature on a large banner in front of Fort Railway Station today, which was used as a Public Petition against recent ethnic violence in Southern Sri Lanka. The campaign reminding about violence against minority Tamils in July 1983.  Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

SC allows “Buddha Tattoo” petition

The Counsel representing the Attorney General today informed Court that the Negombo Magistrate had no authority to order the deportation of British tourist Naomi Coleman, who had a tattoo of the Buddha on her upper arm.

Salman Khan gifts flat to Jacqueline

Bollywood supertar Salman Khan who is well-known for his generosity and for  showering his co-stars with expensive gifts, has been rumoured to have gifted "Kick" co-star Jacqueline Fernandez a plush three-bedroom flat in Bandra, where the actress recently shifted to.

Rajarata Uni. student unions dissolved

The Administrative Board of the Rajarata University has decided to dissolve the main Student Union and Faculty Unions temporarily.

Gota. to meet Ravana Balaya

The Ravana Balaya organisation was asked to meet Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and discuss issues of religious matters tomorrow

Kandy mother gives birth to quintuplets

A mother from Werellagama, Kandy gave birth to quintuplets at the Peradeniya teaching hospital today. The mother who is a lawyer has given birth to four boys and one girl and she is in a stable condition, Hospital sources said.

Four accused sentenced to death

Four accused who stood indicted with murder were found guilty and sentenced to death by Kalutara High Court Judge Preethi Padman Surasena this morning

Sri Lanka is 'at peace'-Tony Abbott

Tony Abbott refused to answer questions over the fate of two boatloads of asylum seekers on Thursday but said: “I want to make this observation, Sri Lanka is not everyone’s idea of an ideal society, but it is at peace

Ramaphosa to come on Monday

South Africa’s Special Envoy to Sri Lanka Cyril Ramaphosa will arrive in Sri Lanka on Monday for talks with the government, the opposition and other groups in an initiative to find a lasting solution to the North-East problem,  a senior government source told the Daily Mirror

Sabitha, husband charged for criminal breach of trust

Charges had been filed before Colombo Additional Magistrate Chandima Liyanage against a popular actress and her husband for instructing a private bank to stop payment of a cheque valued at more than Rs 1.8 million, issued in connection with a construction project

Three UN experts urge SL to curb racial hatred

In a strong message issued to the Government of Sri Lanka today, three UN experts have called upon Sri Lanka to adopt immediate measures that will effectively curb the promotion of racial and faith-based hatred and bring perpetrators of religious and communal violence to justice.

Boozing in public not an offence: Magistrate

Pugoda Magistrate and Additional District Judge Ms. Indika Kalingawansa told courts today that people had the freedom to consume liquor in public

Video: Real culprit is not the BBS: JVP

The JVP today alleged that the real culprit behind the rising extremism in the country is the government and not the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS).

Passing out ceremony

A passing out ceremony was held today for thirty Tamil female soldiers who were recruited to the Sri Lankan army force. Pix by Romesh Madushanka

Video: CID records statement of Ven. Gnanasara Thera

The Crime Investigation Division (CID) is recording a statement from the General Secretary of Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera over the incidents that occurred in Aluthgama, police said.

Prisoners to be photographed

The Prison Commissioner Chandraratne Pallegama said today that steps were being made to attach a photograph of the prisoners to their personal file as stipulated by the Prisons Act.

Four Lankans arrested in TN

Four Sri Lankan Tamils, including two women, were arrested today after they arrived Rameswaram without proper documents in an illegal ferry, a senior police official said

Rajarata Uni closed indefinitely

The University of Rajarata has been closed until further notice, Vice Chancellor Ranjith Wijewardane said today.

SF sues his ex-media Sec.

The Democratic Party (DP) has filed a defamation case against its former Media Secretary Sanjeewa Samarasinghe demanding Rs. 500 million for allegedly making defamatory remarks on its Leader Sarath Fonseka.

Ven. Watareka Vijitha thera further remanded

Ven. Watareka Vijitha thera, who was in the remand custody for making a false statement and misleading the police, was further remanded till July 7 by the Panadura Magistrate today.

Iraq’s ISIS vows war against India

Ibrahim Awwad al-Badri, commander of the insurgent group Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), has vowed war against several countries, including India, in a Ramzan speech released online late on Tuesday

Two children found dead in Yatiyantota

A father, who alleged to have murdered his daughter (7)and son (3), was arrested in Maliboda, Yatiyantota, this morning, Police said. They said that the bodies were found hanging in a line house in Maliboda.

Indians cannot fish near Katchatheevu: Centre

The Indian fishermen have no right to fish near Katchatheevu and are entitled to only dry their nets on the island; besides, almost all the attacks by the Lankan navy on Indian fishermen have taken place only in Sri Lankan waters, the Union government told the Madras high court on Tuesday.

Lankan kills himself

A Sri Lankan man reportedly ended his life inside his sponsor’s house in Sa’ad Al-Abdullah by swallowing a large quantity of pesticide, reports Alam Alyawm daily

SL Navy, denies receiving 153 Tamil asylum seekers from Australia

The Sri Lanka Navy denied media reports that the Australian government had handed over 153 Tamil asylum seekers (who had attempted to migrate to Australia illegally) to the Sri Lanka Navy a few weeks ago

Northern trains back on track

The train services on the Northern Railway line between Polgahawela and Pothuhera which came to a standstill last evening resumed today, the Railway Control Room said

Hotel owner remanded for swindling Britisher

A Hikkaduwa hotel owner who was arrested on charges of having swindling a Britisher of Rs.48 million after promising to get him several plots of land for cultivation was today ordered to be further remanded till July 15 by the Galle Additional Magistrate