Virgin passenger plane in hijack scare

A Virgin Australia passenger plane was involved in a suspected hijack Friday after a drunk passenger attempted to break into the cockpit, a Virgin official told the Reuters news agency.

Marvan appointed new Coach

Former Cricketer Marvan Atapattu has been appointed as the National Team Head Coach and Ruwan Kalpage as the Interim Assistant Coach with immediate effect, the Sri Lanka Cricket announced.

Rajiv's killers not to be released for now: SC

In a significant development, the Supreme Court on Friday deferred the verdict in the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and referred the case to a larger Constitution Bench.

A Gobi associate arrested

A man, suspected to have been a close associate of the slain LTTE leader Ponniah Selvanayagam Kajeeban alias Gobi, was arrested by the Terrorist Investigation Department (TID) in Jaffna, police said.

England post too good to turn down, says Paul Farbrace

England's new assistant coach Paul Farbrace admitted on Thursday that it was impossible turn down the job even though he will have mixed feelings when he faces former employers Sri Lanka next month

Red notice on Nediyavan: Norway still evaluating the request

Norwegian Foreign Ministry said that it was still evaluating how to respond to the approach by the Sri Lankan government with regard to the red notice that make it necessary for Norway's government to arrest Perinpanayagam Sivaparan or Nediyavan...

Video: Marvan for top job – Jayasuriya non committal

Chief Selector of the national cricket team Sanath Jayasuriya today hinted that they may already have a replacement for the vacant head coaching position, saying that he and others involved in the recruitment process hope to discuss the vacancy with batting coach Marvan Atapattu, ahead of the tour of Ireland and England next month ???

Committee to probe Indian kidney racket

Following the shocking exposure of a medical racket involving some Indians and a Sri Lankan doctor to trade live kidneys for transplantation in Sri Lanka, the Health Ministry today appointed a one woman committee to look into the highly unethical and illegal human organ deal and report back in a month

Controversial gazette notifications passed

One of the three controversial gazette notifications that the opposition claims will legalize casinos was passed in Parliament a short while ago with a majority of 71 votes.

First Bay Class Patrol Vessel arrives

The first Bay Class Patrol Vessel arrived in Sri Lanka today.The vessel was gifted by Australia to the Sri Lanka Navy to enhance maritime security and combat human smuggling. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Video: SF seeks UN assistance for regime change

If the government and its leadership continue to be corrupt and keep oppressing the people, the opposition will have to seek the assistance of the United Nations (UN) to change the leadership, Democratic Party Leader Sarath Fonseka said today

SL briefs diplomats on action taken against terrorist funding

External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris today briefed the Colombo based diplomatic community regarding the action taken by the Sri Lankan government against groups and individuals involved in terrorist funding and other activity connected with plans to revive terrorism

No casino; only a hotel: Govt.

Draft Strategic Development Project Bill doesn't allow any casinos and the project was only a hotel project, the Government Information Department said today

Zoo staff want jumbo dance back

Employees of Dehiwela Zoological Garden today staged a protest near the Zoological Garden urging the administration to restart elephant performances which were halted due to the bad health condition of the elephants

230 promoted as Chief Inspectors

Two hundred and eighteen (218) male Police Inspectors and 12 women Police Inspectors were promoted as Chief Police Inspectors by the Inspector General of Police with effect from March 17

Mahela, Sanga make up with Nishantha

Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara have shaken hands with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Secretary Nishantha Ranatunga and have resolved their differences at a brief but amicable meeting last evening at SLC head office, sources said

Video: Saying no to Casinos

A massive protest over the setting up of casinos was held at D.R. Wijeyawardene Mawatha. The protest rally was organised by the United National Party (UNP), religious leaders and civil society groups this morning. The Casino Bill is being presented to the parliament today. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja ???

Video: Man throws his two little children into Nilvala River

Soldiers attached to the Matara 3rd Gemunu Watch today rescued two little children who were thrown 30 feet down the crocodile-infested Nilwala River from the Mahanama Bridge by their father ??? UPDATE

Special unit to handle religious matters

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said a special Police unit would be established within the Religious Affairs Ministry to inquire complains on religious matters, the government information department said

Tattooed British tourist to leave today

The British tourist, who was arrested and ordered to be deported Court for sporting a tattoo of the Buddha on her arm, is expected to leave the country after being held at the Mirihana Detention camp

Tsunami warning rehearsal today

A tsunami rehearsal will be conducted between 2.00 pm and 4.00 pm today covering 14 Districts in the country, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said

Don’t use Buddha’s image- MR

On a petition by the Mahanayaka Theras, the President has directed media organisations to inform the people to desist from using the image of the Buddha for general purposes, the government information department said

Prince Charles' brother-in-law dies after fall

The brother of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, has died after suffering a serious head injury following a fall in New York, royal officials said

Authorities step in to reunite Elina with Lankan dad

The authorities in Dubai have stepped up their efforts to reunite little Elina with her father Chris after reading about her plight in XPRESS even as offers to help the five-year-old keeps pouring from all corners every day

Casino Bill is against Constitution: Ven Sobitha

People's Movement for Social Justice Chairman the Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera said today S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike’s Government in1956 closed the racecourse by banning horse racing in Colombo and replaced it with a university but this Government was going to start casinos which are much worse.

Living there for a long time

Minister Rishad Badiutheen organised a media tour yesterday to brief the media about the charge that Muslim colonies were created in the Wilpattu Forest reserve. The Minister said that the Muslim families alleged to be resettled in the controversial region had been living there for long time. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Object found on Australian shore examined for link to flight MH370

Three pieces of debris washed up off the coast of Western Australia are being investigated to see if they could be wreckage from missing Malaysian flight MH370

Video: BBS at Rishad’s office

A tense situation prevailed when members of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) surrounded Minister Rishad Badiutheen’s Ministry building in Kollupitiya this morning claiming that Ven. Watareka Vijitha Thera was hiding there. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Cricket contracts finally resolved

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) issued a media release stating that the national players have agreed to accept a share of ten percent from the payments received by SLC from ICC events and that the players would sign the new contracts shortly

Philips resigns from SLC disciplinary committee

Eminent lawyer Dinal Philips has resigned from the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) disciplinary committee with immediate effect, in response to an email sent by SLC asking the committee to probe the statements allegedly made by Mahela Jayawardene at a press conference at the Colombo Airport upon his arrival from Bangladesh after the ICC World T20 triumph.