Kotelawela College ex-principal remanded for threatening witnesses

Sir John Kotalawela College former principal Saman Indaratne was remanded till April 11 on charges of having threatened the witnesses. He was produced before Kurunegala Magistrate Ravindra Premaratne today.

April 15 public holiday

April 15 has been declared as a Public and Bank Holiday in view of the National New Year that falls on Monday April 14, the Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs said today

Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera acquitted

The Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera and 13 others including four monks charged with trespassing and attacking the Cavalry Church in Thalahena at Malabe in 2008 were acquitted today.Pictures

SC reaffirms death sentence on Angulana murder convicts

A five Judge Bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Shiranee Thilakawardena dismissed the appeal filed by the four persons including the former OIC of the Angulana Police station convicted for the murder of two youth in Angulana and reaffirmed the death sentence ordered by the High Court, today.Pictures

Video: Customs seize Rs. 1 bn worth rosewood

The Customs had seized 420 metric tonnes of Rosewood valued at Rs.1 bn in 28 containers at the Grayline II terminal, Customs Director General Jagath Wijeweera said today ???

I saw PS Chairman, accomplices attacking Khuram: Resort Manager

The Tangalle Nature Resort Manager said she saw Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Sampath Vidanapathirana and some others, who accompanied him to the resort’s Christmas Party mercilessly assault Khuram Shaik near its camp fire area

Cooperate to implement the resolution- Ban to SL

UN Chief Ban Ki-moon calls on the Sri Lankan Government to constructively engage and cooperate with the Office of the High Commissioner on the implementation of the resolution adopted last week by the Human Rights Council

Tsunami evacuations ordered after Chile quake

Preventative evacuations had been ordered along the coast of the Arica, Parinacota and Tarapaca regions after a magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck off the coast of northern Chile, according to local media reports.

Army Chief orders probe into soldier’s arrest

Army Commander Daya Ratnayake directed senior officers to swiftly conduct inquiries into the arrest of a soldier with Rs.2.7 million worth fake currency notes and support the Police to carry on with investigations in order to find out whether any more of the suspect’s associates, were involved in the fraud

SC rejects Centre's plea against relief for Rajiv killers

The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to review its February 18 judgment commuting the death sentence of three convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan, into life imprisonment

Decision on Duminda on May 2

Colombo Additional Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage today reserved order for May 2 on whether to indict parliamentarian Duminda Silva and 12 others in the High Court on charges of killing of presidential advisor Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra and three others on October 10, 2011

Dawoodi Bohra head visits Sri Lanka

The Spiritual Head of the lnternational Dawoodi Bohra Community His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin arrived in Colombo on Monday evening for a short visit in the island.Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Candidates selected for bonus seats

UPFA candidate Nawzer Fowzie has been nominated from the Colombo District and Lalitha Gunasekera from the Gampaha District to the two bonus seats in Western Provincial Council while Dulshan Kariyawasam from the Galle District and Ananda Patirange from the Hambantota District were nominated to the two bonus seats in the Southern Provincial Council, sources said.

Video: LPBOA up against Kodikara

Bus owners alleged today that the former Western Provincial Council Transport Minister Upali Kodikara had violated election laws at the Provincial Council Elections and said that it would urge the Elections Commissioner to revoke Mr. Kodikara’s membership in the Provincial Council.

Video: BBS flays Govt. on Wilpattu housing project

The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Organisation today lashed out at President Mahinda Rajapaksa and government officials for keeping mum about a large scale housing complex being constructed in the middle of the Wilpattu National Park

Two Japanese Naval vessels in Colombo

Two Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) vessels, Inazuma - 105 and Umigiri - 158, berthed at the Colombo Port on a goodwill and logistic visit today, Navy Headquarters said.

Another counterfeit racket bared

A 30- year-old man, who was alleged to have printed counterfeit notes including 520 notes of Rs.5, 000 and 10 notes of Rs.1000 each to the equivalent to Rs.2.7 million, was arrested in Kegalle today, police said.

Dilshan fined for breaching ICC Code of Conduct

Sri Lanka all-rounder Tillakaratne Dilshan has been fined 20 per cent of his match fee for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during his side’s final Group 1 match against New Zealand at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium (ZACS) in Chittagong on Monday

IUSF demo outside UGC

Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) today staged a protest opposite the University Grant Commission (UGC) over several demands including the reduction of the period of the degree programme from four to three years. Pix by Samantha Perera

99 Chief Inspectors promoted

Some 99 Police Chief Inspectors have been promoted to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police with effect from January 13 on 2014.

Australia hands over first patrol Ship to SL

The Australian government on Saturday officially handed over the first Australian Bay Class patrol vessel in Cairns Australia to the Sri Lanka Navy, Navy Headquarters said today

Beware – you smokers!!!

The Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC) marked the April Fools’ Day with its annual poster campaign sending birthday greetings to the members of the public who are still into smoking. While the posters sent a strong message across the country they also made a fascinating backdrop when placed alongside with other posters. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Two on a motorcycle snatch Rs.5 Mn

Two men are alleged to have robbed Rs.5 Million from a van transporting cash to a Private Leasing Company in Matugama this morning. Police said the robbery had taken place while the van was parked outside the Company situated on the Agalawatta Road

Malaysia corrects last words from Flight MH370

Malaysia's civil aviation department said late Monday the last words spoken by one of pilots of missing Flight MH370 were "Good night Malaysian three seven zero", and not the more casual "All right, good night" originally reported

Two brothers caught selling heroin near school

Two brothers allegedly selling heroin outside a school at Kahagalla in Katugastota were arrested yesterday, Katugastota Police said

Video: Magical Herath destroys Kiwis

Sri Lanka bowler Rangana Herath celebrates the  wicket of New Zealand batsman Trent Boult with captain Lasith Malinga and teammates during the ICC World Twenty20 tournament cricket match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at The Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong yesterday. AFP

Rising number of housemaid deaths alarms SL

The Sri Lankan government is showing grave concern about the large number of housemaid deaths in the Gulf countries where they come to work as domestic helps in households

Case of sexual abuse: German woman identifies suspect

The 25 year-old German woman, who was allegedly sexually abused by a young businessman recently, identified the suspect at an identification parade held at Colombo Magistrate’s Court today

Video: SL bans LTTE fronts

The Sri Lankan government has in a decisive move with far reaching implications proscribed as foreign terrorist entities, several overseas organizations suspected of being fronts of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

I will set Kolonnawa on the right path -- Hirunika

Hirunika Premachandra, the daughter of slain Presidential Advisor Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, polled the highest number of preferential votes of the UPFA in Colombo District at the Western Provincial Council Election, with more than 130,000 preferences ???