Ferry with 450 people on board sinking off South Korea

A South Korean ship, with hundreds passengers on board, is sinking off the country's southwestern coast, CNN affiliate YTN has reported.

Sharma expresses disappointment

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma has expressed his disappointment over the decision taken by Canada to suspend funding to the Commonwealth

UNP starts appraisal process

The main opposition UNP has already begun discussions with party organizers in areas where the recent provincial council elections were held, in a bid to evaluate their performances, party chairman and Leadership Council member Kabir Hashim said today

Fun at Galle Face

Despite a warning that bathing in the sea is dangerous and to be careful, a large number of people were seen bathing in the sea off Galle Face Green in keeping with the New Year spirit.  Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Fmr Weligama PS member remanded

A former Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha member alleged to have shot and wounded two men during a clash on New Year day in the Kamburugamuwa Garaduwa area was remanded till April 28 by Matara Acting Magistrate Upali Ranasinghe

25 hospitalised in bus collision

At least 25 passengers were injured when the buses they were travelling in collided on the Hatton-Norwood Road, a short while ago

Biswal tweets hailing Solheim

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Nisha Biswal, in a tweet said that she was impressed more by Eric Solheim's “care and concern for all Sri Lankans” than his knowledge of Sri Lanka.

SL to provide counselling to kin of war missing

A government-appointed panel probing the cases of thousands of missing people during the nearly three-decade-long war with the LTTE will provide counselling to the kin of those disappeared, an official said today

'Blood moon'

The moon is seen as it begins a total lunar eclipse that will turn the moon red over Buenos Aires April 15, 2014. The lunar eclipse on Tuesday will unfold over three hours when the moon begins moving into Earth's shadow. REUTERS

Video: Mini-sub to make more search attempts for MH370

The unmanned submarine hunting for wreckage of the missing Malaysian jet MH370 will make a second attempt on Tuesday after aborting its first search mission as it encountered water deeper than its operating limits while scanning the floor of the southern Indian Ocean

149 arrested for drunk driving

A total of 149 people had been arrested across the country for driving under the influence of liquor (DUI) during the past 24 hours, the Police said. The arrests were made between 6 a.m. yesterday (14) to 6 a.m. today

Two Chinese arrested in Pooneryn

Two Chinese were arrested at Pooneryn in Vavuniya on charges of having overstayed their visas and police said that during their stay in the country they had been involved in selling imitation jewellery claiming they were made out of gold

Indian forces took part in SL war: Plea

A PIL filed in the Supreme Court has said Indian military personnel took direct part in the war in 2009, and that some were even injured in the battle

OHCHR will commence assessing the evidence on SL-UK

Britain said that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights will now begin the process of establishing an investigation and assessing the evidence regarding Sri Lanka. 

Canada cuts C'wealth funding over SL woes

Canada will suspend funding to the Commonwealth while the chair of the secretariat is occupied by Sri Lanka because of human rights concerns.

TN gives go ahead for fishermen talks in SL next month

Tamil Nadu Government today gave its nod for Sri Lanka's proposal for holding the next round of fishermen level talks in Colombo on May 12 and 13 on the contentious issue of fishing rights in Palk Straits. 

Tamil self-immolator shows recovery signs

A Sri Lankan Tamil man who doused himself with petrol and set himself alight after being refused settlement in Australia is showing signs of recovery. But he faces a long stint in hospital before his expected deportation.

We have real concerns in SL-UK

British Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Hugo Swire today said that his country has real concern in Sri Lanka.

Coexistence and reconciliation: outstanding traditions of Avurudu-MR

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that the coexistence and reconciliation are the outstanding traditions of these Avurudu festivities.

MP pulls out of SL trip over UN inquiry-report

British MP Sharon Hodgson, who is one of the MPs who canceled their planned visit to Sri Lanka, has said that she decided to cancel her visit on hearing the country’s government was refusing to co-operate with the UN inquiry, Sunderlandecho.com reported.

TN govt. stalled fishermen talks- Indian Minister

Senior Congress leader and Union Shipping Minister G.K. Vasan has charged that the Jayalalithaa government had sabotaged the second round of talks between representatives of Tamil Nadu fishermen and their Sri Lankan counterparts when the Centre was keen on arranging the talks to find an amicable solution to the vexatious issue.

Swiss pilot released after airspace incident

Indonesian Air Force officials in Medan, North Sumatra, on Sunday released a civilian aircraft manned by a Swiss national and originated from Katunayake Airport that it captured on Thursday after it flew into Indonesian air space without permission.

Happy New Year!

We wish our readers a prosperous Sinhala and Tamil New Year...

Dudley used emergency once to protect people: Karu

Acting UNP leader Karu Jayasuriya today said that if the late Dudley Senanayake held the executive presidency, the public would not demand to abolish the Executive Presidency, as Mr. Senanayake used the emergency law only once and that too to protect the people’s rights.

Police Chief in Malaysia

Police Chief N.K.Illangakoon left for Malaysia to attend the Defence Services Asia Exhibition and Conference which will be held there from April 14 to 17. Senior DIG Gamini Nawaratne has been appointed as the acting IGP in the absence of Mr. Illangakoon.

Interpol help sought to arrest overseas LTTE leaders

The Sri Lanka Police Department has sought the assistance of Interpol to arrest Perinbanayagam Sivaparan alias Nediyavan and Segarampillai Vinayagamoorthy alias Vinayagam, both who are virtually handling almost all LTTE overseas network, Police said.

Freed Maldivian drug kingpin in SL

The alleged drug kingpin who was released from police custody for being seven minutes late to the hearing that would extend his detention period has departed to Sri Lanka from Maldives, Haveeru on line has learnt.

Three killed in bus accident in Kalmunai

At least three persons were killed and 18 others injured in an accident involving two busses near the Ashrof Hospital in Kalmunai this morning, police said.

47 ASPs transferred

Forty-seven Assistant Superintendents of Police, who were promoted from the Chief Inspectors few weeks ago have been transferred with effect from April 15, Police said.

Brits warned about drink-spiking in SL

Britain has advised its citizens travelling to Sri Lanka mainly in the southern beach resorts to be vigilant as there have been reports of drinks being spiked with drugs.