Two suspects arrested; locally-made weapons seized

A woman and her son were arrested yesterday after they were found to have had in their possession a stock of locally-made weapons

Two HR activists released

Two human rights activists, Fr. Praveen Maheshan and Ruki Fernando, who were arrested by the Terrorist Investigations Division (TID) on Sunday, have been released after they were produced before the Fort Magistrate in the early hours today.

Price of rice to be controlled

The government is slated to introduce a controlled price for rice in order to arrest the continual rise in the price of rice, sources from the Ministry of Cooperatives and Internal Trade said yesterday

SL has to consider national security

Sri Lanka today informed the UNHRC in Geneva that the Sri Lanka’s Law enforcement authorities have to take national security into consideration as a prominent LTTE operative now in Sri Lanka was actively involved in reviving the LTTE by regrouping LTTE cadres

We do not need coalitions to form govt.: Harin

United National Party (UNP) Parliamentarian Harin Fernando today said that the UNP did not require assistance from other political parties to form a government and that he had already kept the Working Committee informed about this fact

Crimean leaders sign treaty to join Russia

A defiant Russian President Vladimir Putin answered President Obama's announced sanctions against a handful of officials in Putin's inner circle -- but not Putin, himself -- by signing a treaty Tuesday making Crimea a part of Russia

Two aircraft diverted to Mattala

Two aircraft from India and Indonesia that were scheduled to land at the Katunayake Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this evening were diverted to the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) because of bad weather, official sources said.

Walla Patta men out on bail

Four men, who were arrested with a stock of medicinal Walla Patta (Wrightia Zeylanica) or a substitute, were released on bail by Colombo Fort Magistrate yesterday. Pix by Nisal Baduge

One killed by lightning

A 32- year-old man was killed due to lightning strike at a house in Elpitiya early today, the Police said

JVP holds awareness campaign

In an awareness campaign the members of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) distributed hand bills detailing the regulations of the Provincial Council elections, in front of the Fort Railway Station today. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Poll violence: first death

In the first case of election reported deaths for the upcoming Provincial Council elections, a supporter of UNP WPC candidate Harshana Rajakaruna had died allegedly due to an assault by UPFA supporters in Kimbulvilawattha, Dompe a short while ago, Police said.

UN and UK concerned

While claiming that it was aware about the report on the arrest of two human rights activists in Sri Lanka, the United Nations said that the situation is being constantly looked at and evaluated

167 poll cards up in smoke

A postman had been arrested in Walpita, Akuressa for allegedly losing 167 polling cards yesterday, the Police said. However the postman claimed that two men who had come on a motorcycle snatched away the 167 polling cards in Walpita

MH370: SL gives over-flight clearance for search and rescue ops

The Sri Lanka Government has granted over-flight clearance for aircraft from Malaysia, United States, Australia and New Zealand in the ongoing search and rescue operations to locate the missing Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370, the External Affairs Ministry said today

Fmr SPC minister arrested over assault

UPFA candidate and former Southern Provincial Council (SPC) Minister D.V Upul has been arrested by the Beliaththa Police for allegedly assaulting supporters of another UPFA candidate in Medagoda, Beliaththa today, Police said.

Forces will not allow LTTE regrouping: Udaya Perera

The Sri Lankan government and the Fefence forces would not allow the reemergence of the LTTE as the Tamil Diaspora wants, Jaffna Commander Major General Udaya Perera  told the Canadian High Commissioner Shelley Whiting

South Asian airports in MH370 pilot’s simulator

Investigations into the flight simulator taken from the missing pilot's home showed a software for five practice runaways, including Sri Lanka, international media reported

No legal provision for probe on SL

External Affairs Minister G. L. Peiris yesterday raised ethical concerns on UN Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay heading a probe on human rights allegations against Sri Lanka while pointing out that she was neither legally nor financially provisioned to carry out such an inquiry

Baby killed, 9 injured in E01 accident

A three-year-old baby died and nine others were seriously injured in an accident between a van and a lorry at the 33.2 and 33.3 km mile post in Dodangoda on the Southern Expressway (E01) this morning, police said

3 killed in bus, three-wheeler accident

Three people were killed after a bus collided head on with a three-wheeler on the road between Narammala and Giriulla this morning, police said

Missing aircraft: SL wants to know if help needed

The Sri Lankan mission in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia has been informed by the External Affairs Ministry to find out whether Sri Lanka was among the countries that the Malaysian government had requested to join in the search operation for the missing Malaysian aircraft MH370, the External Affairs Ministry said

Majority want death penalty restored

About 90 per cent of the public who visited the gallows at the Bogambara prison wanted the death penalty restored, a Prisons Department official said

MR in Hakmana

President Mahinda Rajapaksa seen cuddling a child amidst the warm welcome given by the residents after he declared open several development projects in Hakmana and Deniyaya today. Pix by Presidential Media

US imposes new sanctions on Russian officials

The United States, working in coordination with Europe, imposed new sanctions on prominent Russian officials on Monday as the showdown over Ukraine reached a new stage of confrontation between East and West

US concerned over detention of HR defenders

The United States Government is concerned about the arrests and detention of several well-known Sri Lankan human rights defenders and activists over the past week.

Memories of beauty

The water level of the Maussakele Reservoir has decreased significantly and the ruins of the old town which was submerged when the reservoir was built, has become visible. Pix by Rathnam Kogulan

BBS agitated by Hakeem’s report

While condemning a report submitted to the UNHRC on alleged religious disharmony in the country by Minister Rauf Hakeem, the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Organisation today charged that the contents of the report were false and the Minister should immediately rectify his actions

Crimean parliament formally applies to join Russia

Crimea's parliament has formally declared independence from Ukraine and asked to join the Russian Federation following Sunday's referendum in which officials say nearly 97% of Crimeans voted to break away from Ukraine

Video: JVP on Thunnana: Police allegations a fabrication

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said today the allegation by police spokesman Aith Rohana that a group of people with ulterior motives had incited the Thunnana residents to protest was baseless.

Mahela to join Sanga in T20 retirement

Sri Lankan cricketer Mahela Jayawardene will retire from Twenty20 international at the end of ICC World T20 2014 event, along with Kumar Sangakkara, International Cricket Council’s (ICC) announced the news on Twitter on Monday.