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

Lorry on fire on SE

A small lorry had caught fire at Kananke on the Southern Expressway a short while ago, the Police said.

UL flying high

National carrier SriLankan Airlines joined the global Oneworld Alliance today, becoming the 15th member of the group which includes some of the top names in the passenger airline industry today.  Pix by Samantha Perera

Court allows CBEU to use Hyde Park

Following a dispute between the Joint Trade Union Alliance (JTUA) and Ceylon Bank Employees’ Union (CBEU) over the allocation of the Hyde Park grounds to organise May Day rallies, the Colombo Fort Magistrate today issued an order preventing the JTUA from entering or organising May Day related activities at the Hyde Park grounds and the streets in the vicinity from 6am - 10pm tomorrow.

Moulana’s WPC policy statement turns sour

Western Province Governor Alavi Moulana’s Policy Statement presentation ceremony turned chaotic after the Governor’s speech today, as UNP members of the Western Provincial Council and members of the ruling UPFA clashed over several issues.

Train services on Northern Line likely to be resumed tomorrow

The Railway Control Room said today several long distance trains on the Northern Line have been cancelled because of the train accident which occurred at Potuhera this morning

Man climbs tree for dues

A man climbed on to a tree in front of the Labour Department Narahenpita for not giving him arrears from the private company that he worked despite the Court ruling to grant the arrears to him

Over 33 kg of gold seized, 2 held

Gold weighing 33.453 kg and worth Rs. 10 crore were seized on Tuesday by officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in a raid on an apartment at Triplicane, here. Two youths were arrested. The gold was smuggled from Sri Lanka

Train tragedy

The Palai bound Intercity Express train from Colombo collided with the Matara bound Rajarata Regina express train which had been halted on the main platform at the Potuhera railway station this morning. The injured were admitted to the Kurunegala and Polgahawela hospitals. Pix by Pushpakumara Jayaratne and Ishan Madusanka

68 injured in train accident

At least 68 passengers were injured in the train accident at Pothuhera, Kurunegala this morning, the Police said. Four of the injured were in serious condition, hospital sources said

ISI agent, linked to Pakistan official in SL, held

Central intelligence agencies and the Tamil Nadu police claim to have busted a major terror network with the arrest of an ISI suspect in Chennai on Tuesday

BASL concerned over new SC appointments

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) while expressing concern over the impending appointments to fill Supreme Court vacancies will send a top-priority letter instructing regional branches of the Bar Association to send an immediate response on the intended appointments to the Supreme Court.

Mahela sees no big deal in Farbrace exit

Mahela Jayawardene does not agree with a lot of hypothetical theories that have been flying around in the past few days on how Sri Lanka cricket team would be adversely affected during the forthcoming tour of England after national team coach Paul Farbrace suddenly changed camp and joined England without warning

Pope may visit Sri Lanka in January

While some media reports said Pope Francis is expected to visit Sri Lanka on January 13 next year on an invitation from the local church and the Sri Lankan Government, the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka said the dates were not fixed though the pope was expected in Sri Lanka in January 2015