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.

Present resolution has impact-Britain

Hugo Swire, the British Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in a Twitter interview said the US-backed resolution of which Britain was a co-sponsor, was a result of negotiations and added that the text of the present resolution has impact and calls for an international inquiry. 

Nimal sees glimmer of hope in Geneva

House Leader and Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said today there were positive signs with regard to the UNHRC resolution after the wording on an international inquiry on alleged human right violations had been changed because of pressure from other member countries.

Vaas and Ravindu to be produced in HC

Colombo Additional Magistrate A.M. Shahabdeen directed the Prison Superintendent to produce former DIG Vaas Gunawardena, his son Ravindu Vaas Gunawardena and several other police officers before the Colombo High Court on March 31

Australian govt. tight-lipped on whether it will support international inquiry into SL

The Coalition government is continuing to sidestep whether it will support an international investigation into war crimes in Sri Lanka, despite Labor and the Greens now both backing it.

Law Faculty protest

Students of the Law Faculty of the Colombo University staged a protest in front of College House this morning.Pix by Nisal Baduge

Video: Govt. using Geneva to remain for six more years

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said today abstaining from voting at this election would be an act of support for the UPFA Government.

Egypt court sentences 529 Morsi supporters to death

A court in Egypt on Monday sentenced 529 supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi to death after a mass trial, judicial sources said.

Indonesian warship in Colombo

Indonesian Naval Ship “Kri Frans Kaisiepo” arriveed at the Port of Colombo on a Goodwill Visit yesterday, the navy headquarters said.

Arrest warrant on Sihala Ravaya Gen. Sec.

A warrant was issued today for the arrest of Sihala Ravaya General Secretary the Ven. Medille Pannaloka Thera after five monks belonging to the organisation had failed to appear in court in connection with an incident that took place at the Law College on February 24.

Democratic Party candidate assaulted

Western Provincial Council (WPC) Kalutara District Democratic Party candidate K.A. Nishantha has been found trussed up and assaulted inside his vehicle by unidentified group in Dikpitiya, Mathugama this morning, the Police said.

Traffic congestion on Thurstan Road

Heavy traffic has been reported along Thurstan Road Colombo 07, due to a protest carried out by Students of the Law Faculty of the Colombo University, who were on their way to College House, the Police said.

Ex PS Chairman remanded over rape

Former Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Dikkumburage Kulaweera was produced in Court and remanded on charges of having sexually harassed a 22-year-old Sweden woman at tourist hotel in Pelana, Weligama.

Malaysia flight MH370: China spots 'suspicious' objects

A Chinese plane hunting for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane has spotted "suspicious" objects, state media say, as more nations joined the search.

Find an alternative: Sangaree tells Pillay

In separate letters to President Mahinda Rajapaksa and UN Human Rights Chief Navaneetham Pillay, TULF leader V. Anandasangaree has called on Pillay to look for alternative ways to deal with the problem than calling for an international probe.

Isipathana prevail over Royal in cliff hanger

Isipathana (Green jersey) prevailed over Royal in their crucial Singer U20 school rugby league tournament match played at Longden Place this evening. The cliff hanger saw the green jerseys record a close 15 points to 14 win and also retain the Major Milroy Fernando trophy. Pix by Kushan Pathraja

In mourning

The remains of Ven. Dr. Harispaththuwe Ariyawansalankara Thera are being taken to the Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Teaching Hospital in Yakkala from the Vipassana Meditation Centre in Colombo. As requested by the Thera prior to his demise, his funeral was organised in a simple manner, sans coffin. Pic by Nisal Baduge 

UN rights body divided over SL issue-Envoy

Sri Lanka today claimed there was a "division" among members of the UNHRC over a US-backed resolution and termed it a victory for the country.