MR upbraids Nimal Siripala

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is reported to have pulled up Irrigation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva at Thursday’s Cabinet meeting over a statement made by him to the media saying that mega development projects would not suffice to win votes.

Four soldiers in custody over YouTube video

The Army’s Military Police are currently questioning four soldiers with regard to the leaked video footage which went on YouTube showing a group of trainee women soldiers being harassed at an Army Camp in Anuradhapura.

Britain will work closely with int’l partners on SL -Cameron

British Prime Minster David Cameron said that Britain will work closely with its international partners to support the implementation of the resolution on Sri Lanka establishing an international investigation.

Video: SL multi-ethnic nature holds a tremendous dynamism: Shanmugam

Referring to Sri Lanka ethnic, religious and cultural diversity, visiting Singapore Foreign Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam today said that its human capital, potential and the multi-ethnic nature of the population could hold a tremendous dynamism.

India into World T20 against SL

India beat South Africa, comfortbaly, by seven wickets, to book a place in Sunday's final of the World T20 2014, against Sri Lanka.

Lankan issue will not affect congress in polls- Vasan

Union Minister and senior Congress leader G K Vasan today said the centre's stand in abstaining from voting on a US resolution on alleged war crimes by Sri Lanka at the UNHRC would not affect the party in the Lok Sabha elections.

India’s abstention at UNHRC vote on SL ‘a political decision’

India’s decision to abstain from voting on the U.S.-sponsored resolution at the UNHRC against alleged war crimes by Sri Lanka was taken at the “political” level for the welfare of the Tamils in that country, the External Affairs Ministry said on Friday.

S. Africa elected to bat in semi

South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first in the semifinal of the Twenty-Twenty Cricket World Cup against India in Mirpur, a short while ago

Sri Lanka offers $1 mn bonus to win T20

The Sri Lankan team will be handed a million dollar bonus if they can shake off their reputation as chokers in the final of the World Twenty20 this weekend, the country's cricket board announced today.

Lankan indicted in US over Andhra mining scam

A United States Grand Jury this week handed down an indictment to six persons including a Sri Lankan, Periyasamy Sunderalingam, in $18.5-million titanium mining scam

PC ministers and Chief Ministers appointed

Chief Ministers and Ministers for the Western and Southern Provincial Councils were sworn in by the President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential secretariat today. Pix by Presidential media

Social Progress Index: SL ranked 85

Sri Lanka is ranked 85th out of 132 countries on the Social Progress Index 2014, a measure of human wellbeing that goes beyond traditional economic measures such as GDP or per capita income, becoming the top performers for the region, a global index released Thursday.

Luxury cruise ship at Hambantota Port

A luxury cruise ship carrying 800 tourists arrived at the Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa international harbour today. On their arrival they were welcomed by Sri Lanka’s traditional dancers. Pix by Sanath Gamage

Probe on the entire period will be good for SL: U.S.

The United States on Thursday said that although the recently passed resolution on Sri Lanka at the Geneva session wanted to investigate incidents between 2002 and 2009, ‘an independent and credible investigation into all actions, by all parties, for the entire period of the conflict would be good for Sri Lanka’

Prasanna and Shan take oaths as Chief Ministers

Prasanna Ranatunga was sworn in as the Western Province Chief Minister while Shan Wijeyalal de Silva was sworn in as the Southern Province Chief Minister by President Mahinda Rajapaksa a short while ago, presidential media reported.

WHO commends Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has made remarkable progress in controlling malaria by bringing cases down from 203,000 in 2000 to zero locally acquired cases in November 2012, the World Health Organization said

Sun shines directly above SL

With the temperatures rising significantly, the sun will come directly above Sri Lanka between April 5 and 15 and will be above Colombo and the suburbs on April 7

Sirisena says he comes from a strong UNP family

Health Minister and SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena says that he comes from a staunch UNP family and once almost got hammered by his father for supporting the Communist Party as a student

MSD police inspector interdicted

A Police Inspector attached to the Ministerial Security Division (MSD) of a deputy minister was interdicted following a charge that he had attempted to extort money from a businesswoman by threatening her.

Video: SL beat West Indies, enter T20 final

Sri Lanka defeated the West Indies by 27 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method on Thursday to enter the World Twenty20 final in Dhaka Full Match Highlights

Samsung launches new smart phone

Samsung unveiled its new flagship Galaxy S5 smart-phone armed with a fingerprint scanner and a built-in heart rate sensor to defend its place as the world's industry leader, at the official ceremony held at Hotel Kingsbury today. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

SL set 161 target for West Indies

Sri Lanka scored 160 for six against West Indies in the first semi-final of the ICC World T20 Championships

Arangala and Nilame as Opposition leaders

The United National Party (UNP) working committee which met today decided to appoint Manjusiri Arangala as the Opposition Leader of Western Provincial Council and Thennekoon Nilame as the Opposition Leader of Southern Provincial Council

World T20 1st semi-final: SL elected to bat

Sri Lanka captain Lasith Malinga won the toss and elected to bat first against defending champions West Indies in the first semi-final of the ICC World T20 Championships at Dhaka

MR meets O/L top rankers

President Mahinda Rajapaksa met the best students who excelled at the GCE O/L examination at Temple Trees a short while ago and shared his happiness by presenting them with gifts, the Government Information Department said.Pictures

Menushika, Thapodha top O/L island rankings

K.A. Menushika Jayani Kariyawasam of Rathnawali Balika Vidyalaya, Gampaha and Thapodha Harindi Gangodawila of Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo topped the island rankings at the GCE O/L examinations held in 2013

University dream or nightmare!

The students of the Sri Jayawardenapura University today staged a protest march urging the authorities to release 14 University Arts Faculty students who were arrested on charges of assaulting a security officer and damaging a security post in the University on February 24.  Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Road closure at Dematagoda

Police advised motorists travelling on the Baseline Road to use alternative routes from 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. tomorrow because of repairs to the upper section of the railway crossing near the Dematagoda Railway Station

Video: We’ll work with other opposition parties in PCs - UNP

The United National Party (UNP) said today anti- government votes had been recorded as 46% in the Western Province and 41% in the Southern province and said itwould work with other opposition parties in the twoprovincial councils.

Khuram case: Four suspects granted bail

Four suspects, except the former PS Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Sampath Chandrapushpa Vidanapathirana, were released on bail today when the inquiry into the killing of Khuram Shaik was taken up for hearing