Blessings before departure

Sri Lankan Cricketers are seen performing religious rituals at the Sri Lanka Cricket Office before leaving for the ODI tour of Ireland and England. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Bharatha case referred to HC

The Colombo Chief Magistrate today concluded the magisterial inquiry into the killing of Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra and referred the matter to the High Court because of a case pending in the HC against the accused including parliamentarian Duminda Silva

Video: We have done nothing to destroy religious harmony; BBS

Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Galagodaatte GnanasaraThera today claimed they had done nothing to destroy religious harmony and whatever they did was in the open and exposed to the media.

Navy arrests 54 illegal migrants

The Navy today intercepted a trawler with 54 people on board off the coast of Mullaitivu while they were allegedly attempting to migrate to Australia. Pictures

Three injured in explosion

A man, his daughter and son were reported to have been injured in an explosion at Meddekanda in Balangoda this morning

Audio: Flight MH370: Final cockpit communications released

The final communications between missing flight MH370 and air traffic control have been released, after it vanished on 8 March with 239 people on board

Matale bones to the US for dating

The Matale Magistrate’s Court has ordered Kurunegala Teaching Hospital JMO Dr. Ajith  Jayasena to hand over the  human skeletal remains found from the Matale mass grave to the CID  to be sent to the  Beata Analyiic  Archaeological Museum Laboratory  in Florida, America for dating analysis.

Almost all UN agencies praise SL- MR

While almost all of the UN agencies praise Sri Lanka’s achievements on all fronts since the war victory, those who brought human rights violation charges against Sri Lanka were conspicuous in their silence on those accomplishments, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa today.

Super luxury motor car collides with 3-wheeler

A super luxury car, a Shelby G T 500 manufactured by the Ford Company in America, which was being driven along Narahenpita Road, had collided with a three wheeler near the Elvitigala flats severely injuring the driver of the three- wheeler, several eye witnesses stated

Hold a general election and we’ll do the rest-UNP

While claiming that the next May Day would be held under a UNP government, UNP acting leader Karu Jayasuriya who led the party’s May Day rally urged the government to hold a general election and said his party would do the rest.

Sanga disappointed to lose Farbrace

Kumar Sangakkara has admitted that it was a big blow for Sri Lanka to lose head coach Paul Farbrace earlier this month.

Video: An act of honour

Power and Energy Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi is seen paying her respects to President Mahinda Rajapaksa who was the guest of honour at the SLFP’s May Day celebrations that was held at Nelum Pokuna in Colombo. Thousands of people took to the streets in Colombo from across the country to mark the International Workers Day today. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja.

SL condemns Chennai bomb blasts

The Sri Lankan government today strongly condemned the twin blasts that took place at the Chennai Central Railway Station this morning on a train that had arrived from Bengalooru

Video: May Day processions begin

May Day processions organised by the main political parties and other organizations, began a short while ago and are on their way to the respective venues of May Day rallies ???

Three 3 SL refugees sentenced to life imprisonment

A court in India today sentenced three Sri Lankan refugees to life imprisonment for murdering a person at a nearby refugee camp in October 2013

Colombo deserted

The Colombo City was deserted today because of the May Day holiday and the several road closures to facilitate the workers’ rallies organized by political parties and other organisations. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

5 Lankan fishermen nabbed in India

Five Sri Lankan fishermen were apprehended and a vessel containing huge quantity of fish was seized by Indian Coast Guard off Paradip coast in Odisha

No Lankans injured in Chennai blasts: Ministry

No Sri Lankan had been reported injured in the bomb explosions at the Chennai Central Railway Station this morning, the External Affairs Ministry said

21st death anniversary of R. Premadasa

The 21st death anniversary of the late president Ranasinghe Premadasa was commemorated today at his statue at Keselwatta. Hambantota District parliamentarian Sajith Premadasa and his family members participated at the event. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

No May Day rally for these men

Legal action would be taken against K.B Sirisena, Saman Ratnapriya and Joseph Stalin or their supporters if they entered the Hyde Park Ground today despite the Court order, the Police said.

Audio: Trains on the Northern line disrupted today as well

The train disruption on the Northern Railway line due to yesterdays train accident would be in effect today as well, the Railway Operations Superintendent L.A.M. Ratnayake said ???

2 blasts on train at Chennai railway station

Two bombs planted on a train killed a 22-year-old woman and wounded nine others at the Chennai Central Railway Station on Thursday morning

Canada Concerned by SL’s inclusion of Canadians on Terrorist list

While expressing concern over the Sri Lankan government decision to list 16 entities and 424 individuals for purported links to terrorist activities, the Canadian government said that it ‘could further hinder progress on reconciliation'

LTTE int'l network persists,diaspora's funding continues-US

While claiming that the LTTE’s financial network of support continued to operate throughout 2013, the United States on Wednesday said that the LTTE uses its international contacts and the large Tamil diaspora in North America, Europe, and Asia to procure weapons, communications, funding, and other needed supplies.

Bomb hoax passenger jailed for three years

A passenger who made a bomb hoax on board a plane has been jailed for three years. Alan Patey, 49, admitted making threats on a Sri Lankan Airlines plane, which had to be diverted to Stansted Airport on September 20 last year

May Day rallies 2014

Use valid criteria in making appointments to Apex Courts -- BASL

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) the premier body that represents the country’s legal fraternity yesterday said proper and valid criteria should be used when appointments are made to the apex courts and that this should be transparently evident for all to see

Cost of labour

A labourer pulls a cart laden with sacks of vegetable at the main market in Colombo today on the eve of International Labour Day. Trade unions are promising to turn the May Day rallies into protests against the country’s high cost of living. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana.

Wes Mangalyaya in Welikada

A Kandyan dancing ceremony (Wes Mangalyaya) was held today by 26 imamates of the Welikada Prison for the 18th time at the prison premises. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

‘Thanha Rathi Ranga’ wins best film award in India

Nilendra Deshapriya’s debut movie "Thanha Rathi Ranga” [BETWEEN YESTERDAY & TOMORROW]  clinched the award for the Best Film at the Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival in New Delhi a short while ago