Arts students protest in Fort

Students of the Visual and Performing Arts University today staged a protest in front of the Fort Railway station urging the authorities not reduce the duration of the degree course from four years to three. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Video: Request for investigation reflective of partisan agenda-SL

Sri Lanka today told UN Human Rights Council that the draft resolution on Sri Lanka being mooted by some members of the Council is reflective of the same partisan politicised agenda through its request to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to undertake "a comprehensive independent investigation" ???

Minor fire at Govt. press

A room in the Government Press caught fire this evening and the fire brigade managed to douse the fire before it spread, fire brigade said.

Khuram’s girlfriend identifies accuse

Victoria Alexandrona the girlfriend of murdered British national Khuram Shaikh said although she identified the suspect who assaulted her at the poolside of the resort at the Tangalle Magistrate’s Court, she did not point him out during the identification parade in fear of her life

Kelaniya students get bail

Twelve students of Kelaniya University, who had been earlier issued warrants over protesting against a court order, were released on two sureties of Rs. 100,000 each when they appeared in the Mahara Magistrate’s Court today

An ordeal that continues

The Ministerial Security Division provides security to the girlfriend of murdered British tourist Khuram Shaikh, who appeared  at the Colombo High Court today. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Heavy traffic in Kollupitiya

Heavy Traffic congestion is reported along the Galle Road leading up to the Embassy of United States in Kollupitiya due to a protest march carried out against the US-backed resolution on Sri Lanka at the ongoing UNHRC sessions in Geneva

Video: Elephant owners want proper ownership records

A group of elephant owners accompanied by about 25 elephants today staged a demonstration opposite the Wildlife Resources Conservation Ministry at Battaramulla and handed over a memorandum to Minister Vijith Vijeyamuni Soysa. Pix by Nisal Baduge, Siri Mahabellana

Video: Murdered British aid worker’s girlfriend in SL Court

British aid worker Khuram Shaikh’s Russian girlfriend was present at the Colombo High Court today when it took up the inquiry into the killing of Mr. Shaikh at a holiday resort in Tangalle two years ago

SL parents seeks pardon for murder in UAE

An old couple living in a remote village in Sri Lanka is pleading for the mercy of an Indian family to save the life of their son who is facing the gallows in the UAE after being found guilty of murder

India concedes giving training to SL Navy

The Union Ministry of External Affairs has conceded that the Centre has been imparting long-term and short-term training in technical and non-technical streams for Sri Lankan Navy personnel in order to enhance maritime security in the region

More forged currency notes found

The CID uncovered another stack of 424 counterfeit 5,000 rupee notes and two printing machines hidden inside a house in Ethul Kotte early morning, following the arrest of a suspect Rolitha Perera who allegedly gave Ms Dulanjalee Premadasa Rs.2 million in counterfeit 5,000 rupee notes on Tuesday evening. UPDATE

JVP candidate killed in accident

Western Provincial Council JVP candidate and trade unionist Sumathipala Manawadu was killed this evening when the motorbike he was riding collided head on with a lorry in Ganemulla

"Adistana Pooja"

An "Adistana Pooja" organised by the Federation of National organisations held today at Independence Square to invoke blessings on the president and the people and to bring success at the Geneva UNHRC resolution. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Garment factory MD arrested over Rs. 2 M. in fake notes

The CID arrested the managing director of a garment factory in connection with the handing over of 400 counterfeit 5000-rupee notes to another party -- after the Cinnamon Gardens branch of the HSBC had identified them as counterfeits as they were about to be deposited

Rains in catchment areas insufficient for reservoirs

Although the catchment areas have received a significant amount of rain, it has not been sufficient to have an impact on the reservoirs, CEB Deputy General Manager Senajith Dassanayaka said

Video: No need for leadership change : Ketagoda

Rejecting the claims that there were democratic issues within the party, the Democratic Party led by Sarath Fonseka said today that there was no need to change the party leadership and that Sarath Fonseka would remain as the party’s leader

A lane on Kandy Road closed

The lane leading to Kandy on the Kandy-Colombo Road between Nuge Junction and Pattiya Junction has been closed from 4.30 p.m. to 8.00 p.m. due to repairs, police said

Minister gets bail

Minister of Sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage who appeared before Hatton Magistrate and District Judge Amila Ariiyasena in connection with the alleged assault on a supporter of the Ceylon Workers’ Congress was released on surety bail of Rs.50, 000 and personal bail of Rs.25, 000

Video: Mervyn reserves his place in Kanatta

Public Affairs and Public Relations Minister Mervyn Silva laid the foundation stone at his reserved grave plot at the Borella cemetery today. The Minister invited Pitiduwe Siri Samanthabhadra Thera to bless the site of his own resting place. He interred his mother’s ashes also at the same place. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Daughter keeps tweeting for missing father

‘God loves you more, daddy.... God loves them more. :')’ 17 year-old Maira Elizabeth Nari tweeted yesterday evening, few minutes after the Malaysian government formally announced the ill-fated Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 was ‘lost’ with no survivors. Maira’s father, Andrew Nari was the Chief Flight Attendant of the missing flight.

Fishing issue: SL had made significant progress-EU

The European Union has considered Sri Lanka, which was warned earlier over illegal fishing issue, had made significant progress, but the Commission is continuing to monitor the situation, the EU said.

Centre opposes move to free convicts in Rajiv case

The Centre on Monday informed the Supreme Court that the Tamil Nadu government had no jurisdiction to order the release of seven life convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case as such a power was vested only with the Union of India

Credit card fraudster trained, funded refugees

International credit card racketeer Jeyatharan Thambapillai (28) had distributed lakhs of rupees of siphoned off money among Sri Lankan refugees in camps in Chengalpattu and Dindigul, said city police, who have apprehended him

SC clips Wigneswaran’s wings

The Supreme Court yesterday issued an Interim Order suspending the operation of the Administrative Standing Instructions of the Northern Province Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran.

Third revised draft resolution;Time frame for probe

The third revised draft resolution on Sri Lanka currently in circulation among the UNHRC members call for a comprehensive independent investigation into alleged serious violations and abuses of human rights and related crimes by both parties in Sri Lanka, during the period covered by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) from 2002-2009.

Ranil challenges MR to a debate

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesighe on Monday challenged President Mahinda Rajapaksa to a public debate this week on the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) resolution on Sri Lanka which is expected to be adopted or rejected on Thursday, March 27.

SL hammer Netherlands by nine wickets

Sri Lanka have thrashed the Netherlands by nine wickets in Group 1 of the World Twenty20 in Chittagong, Bangladesh.

Netherlands 39 all out vs SL

Netherlands were all out for 39 against Sri Lanka in their super 10 Group one match of the World Twenty20 at Chittagong's Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on Monday.

Malaysian plane crashed in Indian Ocean, no survivors-PM

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razar said Monday that a new analysis of electronic data shows that the missing Malaysian airlines it went down in a remote area of the Indian ocean and that there were no survivors.