Kottawa-Kaduwela and Galle-Matara expressway in March

The Road Development Authority (RDA) plans to open the Kottawa – Kaduwela stretch of the Outer Circular Highway (OCH) on March 8 and the Galle-Matara stretch of the Southern Expressway on March 15, the Government information Department said.  

Protest at Law College

Law College students today staged a protest over the suppression of their fundamental rights with regard to the entrance examination and other examination irregularities.

Resolution on SL presented to US Congress

A resolution, calling on the US and the international community to establish an independent international accountability mechanism to evaluate reports of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other human rights violations committed by both sides during and after the war in Sri Lanka was presented to the US Congress by the Republican Senator of North Carolina Richard Burr.

33 arrested for begging

Some thirty three beggars have been arrested in the Colombo city for begging in public today. These persons were arrested in an operation carried out by the police in Maligawatte, Keselwatte and Slave Island last night.

Excavation of mass grave resumes today

Mannar Police today confirmed that excavations at the mass grave in Thiruketheeswaram would resume today in the presence of Mannar Magistrate Ananthi Kanagaratnam.

Indian Coast Guard arrests 25 Lankan fishermen

The Indian Coast Guard has arrested 25 Sri Lankan fishermen for trespassing into Indian waters in Nagapattinam. The Coast Guard has also seized five boats and 5000 kg fish.

Govt. to lobby African support

With the March sessions of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) not too far ahead, the Government hopes to send a ministerial delegation to South Africa to lobby support from countries

I didn’t receive a show-cause letter: Thewarapperuma

Kalutara District United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian Palitha Thewarapperuma today denied being served show-cause letter over the last’s week’s alleged incident in the Parliamentary Complex

Ladies’ talks

First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa and Bollywood songstress Asha Bhosle seen sharing a light moment at the sixth international women’s conference organised by the Art of Living (AoL) in Bangalore, India. Pix courtesy Presidential Media

No vehicles with garage numbers for campaigning

The Elections Department warned the candidates contesting the provincial council elections and their supporters to abstain from using vehicles with garage numbers in their election campaign

UPFA candidate arrested

Southern Provincial Council United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) candidate Ajith Prasanna has been arrested by the Police for carrying out an illegal election campaign and assaulting a policeman in Galle last week, Police said

Top UN official in SL

UN Assistant Secretary-General, Chair, United Nations Development Group Asia-Pacific and UNDP Assistant Administrator & Director, Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, Haoliang Xu, who arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday evening said that he look forward to better understanding the human development priorities of Sri Lanka

Neighbours like SL and China pressuring India: Modi

Indian Prime ministerial BJP candidate Narendra Modi accused the Congress Government of being weak when it came to handle relations with India’s neighbors and said India was being troubled by Sri Lanka, China, Bangladesh and Pakistan

Lankan arrested with illicit fags worth Rs. 8 lakhs

A Sri Lankan man was arrested by the Customs at the Bandaranaike International Airport this morning on charges of illegally importing 400 cigarette cartons worth Rs. 800,000, Customs Spokesman Leslie Gamini said

85 arrested from five gambling centres in Pettah

At least 85 persons were arrested when the Police raided five illegal gambling centres in Pettah last night, the Police said. The gambling centres were located along the Olcott Street and Malwatta Road in Pettah

Pope announces possible trip to SL

Pope Francis on Saturday told a group of Sri Lankan immigrants living in Italy that he welcomes the invitation to visit Sri Lanka and said, “I think the Lord will grant us the grace.”

Cameron held talks with Tamil groups before CHOGM-UK

Britain said that Prime Minister David Cameron held discussions with representatives of several leading Tamil groups in UK, including Global Tamil Forum and British Tamil Forum, before he leaves for Colombo to participate in the CHOGM last November.

Big 3 ICC reforms approved in Singapore

The International Cricket Council board today approved wide-ranging structural and governance reforms despite complaints that they place too much power in the hands of the “Big Three” of India, England and Australia

I always wanted to talk to the LTTE: CBK

Former Sri Lankan president Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga said she always tried her best for peace despite military conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Sri Lanka during her tenure

13 acquitted on charges of aiding LTTE in India

A Sessions Court in Chennai has acquitted three Sri Lankan Tamils and ten others on charges of hoarding communication gadgets and medicines with the aim of supplying them to the LTTE in 2009

S.Africa to support ICC revamp: SL to abstain

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has decided to support ICC revamp proposals while Sri Lanka Cricket has decided to abstain from voting, sources said

Flowery greeting

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is seen sprinkling flowers on the Sri Pada Summit yesterday soon after the unvailing of the Dolos Mahe Pahana. Pix courtesy presidential media

SL banks on China to face UNHRC

With the UNHRC sessions in Geneva drawing nearer and the US indicating that it would move a resolution on Sri Lanka over alleged human rights abuses during the last stages of the war, Sri Lanka will bank on Chinese support to neutralize the resolution

Part of Bauddhaloka Mw closed

The road between Thunmulla junction to Duplication road on the Bauddhaloka Mawatha has been closed due to road construction, until further notice, police said

Sangaree urges Sampanthan to go to Geneva

Former Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian and TULF General Secretary V. Anandasangaree yesterday urged TNA leader R. Sampanthan to take a strong team to Geneva and not to allow others to cheat the innocent Tamil people

Deputy Speaker had set a bad precedent: UNP

The main opposition UNP today charged that Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakoky had set a harmful precedent by not allowing the opposition to go ahead with a debate on the Norochcholai Power plant by adjourning Parliament sessions

One killed, two injured in explosion

A 26-year-old youth was killed and two others injured in an explosion at a fire-cracker factory at Kimbulapitiya in Negombo this evening, police said

A good look at the sunrise

The new Dolosmahe Pahana and the bell tower installed on Sri Pada were inaugurated today by Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapksa amid religious rituals. Mr. Rajapaksa is seen viewing the sunrise at Sri Pada. Pix by Ranjith Rajapaksa

UNP protest over coal power plant

United National Party (UNP) legislators today staged a protest in parliament over the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant

UNP sends show cause letter to Thewarapperuma

The United National Party (UNP) today suspended the membership of Kalutara district parliamentarian Palitha Thewarapperuma and sent him a show cause on his behavior during Wednesday’s group meeting at the Parliamentary complex