Cigarettes worth Rs.30 mn seized by Customs

One million cigarette sticks worth Rs.30 million from Dubai were seized by the Customs today at the Central Mail Exchange in Colombo.  The cigarettes made up in to 61 parcels had a non-existent address. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

MR receives award for contributions to peace and democracy

President Mahinda Rajapaksa was awarded with the ‘Parliamentary Order Merit Democratic Rep. Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruza’, the highest honor presented by the Plurinational State of Bolivia, by the Bolivian Government on Monday. 

Pakistan Army Chief's visit postponed

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif has postponed his official visit to Sri Lanka, Geo News reported Tuesday

SL keen to set up ties with new nations: MR

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has told Bolivian President Evo Morales on Monday that establishing relationships with new nations is a part of the Government’s policy.

Prince Zeid: new UNHR chief

The United Nations General Assembly on Monday unanimously approved Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid al-Hussein of Jordan as the new High Commissioner for Human Rights, succeeding Navi Pillay of South Africa

Australia issues travel advisory

The Australian government in its latest travel advisory issued today adviced its citizen travelling to Sri Lanka to exercise a high degree of caution in Sri Lankan at this time because of the unrest situation in some part of the country.

Canada condemns

The Canadian government yesterday condemned the outbreak of communal violence and called on the Sri Lankan authorities to act quickly to ensure the safety of all communities.

Curfew temporarily lifted

The police curfew, which was imposed on Sunday in the Aluthgama and Beruwela police areas, has been lifted 8 am today and will be imposed again at 12 noon today for essential services, Police said.

OHCHR says it can probe without coming

Days after the announcement that Sri Lanka had decided to deny access to the UN investigation team, the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said yesterday it had developed extensive methodologies to deal with situations where access had been denied.

UNP condemns Aluthgama riots

Condemning the incidents at Aluthgama and Beruwala the United National Party (UNP) said this was something that had been instigated by the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) to get political mileage.

Pillay expresses alarm at Aluthgama incident

UN Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay has called on the Government of Sri Lanka to take immediate measures to curb the inter-communal violence taking place in South Western Sri Lanka while expressing her deep alarm at the incidents. 

Mechanism to prevent further escalation of violence

In the aftermath of the flare up in Aluthgama and nearby areas, several Buddhist and Muslim religious leaders backed by politicians agreed to set up a mechanism to prevent further escalation of violence, officials said.

Video: JVP calls on people to remain calm

The Janatha Vimuthi Peramuna (JVP) which called the Aluthgama violence ‘totally unwarranted’   appealed to people from both the communities to exercise restraint and preserve law and order.

US condemns violence in Aluthgama and Beruwela

U.S.  Embassy today condemned the violence that has spread over the weekend in Aluthgama and Beruwela

115 more to give evidence against ex-DIG

The Attorney General today added 115 more witnesses to the already existing list of 162 making a todal of 277 to give evidence on behalf of the prosecution in the case against the former DIG Vaas Gunawardene in connection with the killing of a millionaire businessman.

Ashoka students protest

Students of Ashoka Vidyalaya held a protest today holding placards and demanding the immediate removal of the incumbent principal of the school. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Relics of the Buddha back at Gangaramaya Temple

The relics of the Buddha taken to Anuradapura for devotees to pay homage during the Poson season were brought back to the Gangaramaya Temple today. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

We love to work with President Rajapaksa: Castro

Cuban President Raul Castro who met President Mahinda Rajapapksa on the sidelines of the G77 Summit in Bolivia yesterday that Cuba liked to work with leaders like him

Govt. wants media to be wary

The government has urged all media institutions in the country to refrain from publishing news that could create disharmony among various religious groups.

Five arrested for attempting to smuggle tobacco to SL

Five persons were arrested today at Pamban, Rameswaram  for attempting to smuggle tobacco worth about Rs five lakh to Sri Lanka, police said.

Dehiwala Zoo animal deaths raise concern

Employees of the Dehiwala Zoo expressed concern over the death of the rare species of animals that had been going on unchecked in the Dehiwala zoo.

Police curfew in Aluthgama and Beruwala

Police curfew has been imposed in the Aluthgama and  Beruwala police divisions with immediate effect after tense situation in the area-police said

Twenty injured in bus mishap

Three passengers had been critically injured while 17 others were injured when a bus plying from Kurunegala to Madagalle veered off the road and turned turtle at Ibbagamuwa this evening, the Police said.

Light Painting

“Light Painting” a photographic exhibition by Indranatha Thenuwara is being held at the J. D. A. Perera Gallery from June 13 to 16. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Disabled boys abandoned

Two mentally-retarded children who had been abandoned had been recovered in the centre of Dambulla today, the Dambulla Police said. The two male children, both about 16 years old, can’t talk, the Police said.

Pakistan Army Chief to visit SL

The Chief of the Army Staff of Pakistan General Raheel Sharif would arrive in Sri Lanka on Thursday, June 19 on a four day visit, officials said

MR at G77 Summit

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is seen here being escorted to the opening session of the Group of 77 and China (G77+China) Summit taking place in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Pix by President’s media

Video: Pothgul Maha Vihara Mihindu Perahara

Annual Mihindu Perahara organized by Pothgul Maha Vihara Heenatiyana Gampaha was held for the 173rd time yesterday with the special floats made into the shape of various animals. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

12 kg of gold smuggled from Sri Lanka seized

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 12 kg of gold biscuits allegedly smuggled from Sri Lanka through sea and arrested two persons, who attempted to smuggle the contraband to Madurai

Foreign interferences have ruined countries today: MR

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that the situations of the countries which were subjected to foreign interferences are worse today than before