Video: We will continue our struggle : Maithri

Former UNP Southern provincial councillor Maithri Gunaratne said today he and Shiral Laktilleke would resume the struggle from Kandy to remove UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and the leadership council in April this year after the UNP’s expected defeat at the forthcoming Provincial Council elections ???

MR writes to Emir of Kuwait

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received on Wednesday a written message from Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa dealing with means of boosting bilateral relations at various levels

Ugly scene at UNP group meeting

An ugly scene occurred at the United National Party (UNP) parliamentary group meeting this morning following a heated argument between Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and UNP Kalutara District MP Palitha Tevarapperuma

Shane Warne to invest in SL

Sri Lanka’s Consul General in New South Wales Bandula Jayasekara said that former Australia’s star cricketer Shane Warne wanted to invest in Sri Lanka and was expected to travel to the island soon

Video: Nominations handed over

Ministers Wimal Weerawansa, Susil Premajayantha and United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) candidate at Western Provincial Council Election Udaya Gammanpila were seen coming out of the Colombo District Secretariat in Narahenpita today after handing over the UPFA nominations for the PC Elections. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

SL won’t sue Channel-4

The Sri Lankan Government has decided not to sue Channel-4 for its telecast of videos on Sri Lanka as it had adopted more effective strategies to deal with such situations, External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris told Parliament today. 

UN Assistant Secretary-General due in SL

United Nations Assistant Secretary-General, Chair, United Nations Development Group Asia-Pacific and UNDP Assistant Administrator & Director, Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific Haoliang Xu, will be visiting Sri Lanka from February 9-12, 2014. 

Brazilian army to train SL military officers

The Brazilian Army has offered training slots to Sri Lankan armed forces at Brazilian National War College, High Studies Schools of the Brazilian Armed Forces, Brazilian Peacekeeping Operations Centre and the Jungle Warfare Instruction Centre. 

Video: Ravi resigns from UNP Nomination Board

UNP MP and party stalwart Ravi Karunanayake has resigned from the UNP Nomination Board following a disagreement over the selecting of candidates for the forthcoming provincial council election, informed source said.

Tax on imported dhal reduced

Special Commodity Levy on imported dhal would be reduced by 17 rupees per kilo with effect from midnight today, the Ministry of Finance and Planning said

11,000 Test runs

Kumar Sangakkara achieved his 11,000 Test runs milestone during the second day of the final Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong today.(AFP)

Sanga passes 11,000 Test runs

Kumar Sangakkara struck his maiden triple hundred and became the ninth batsman to score 11,000 test runs as a dominant Sri Lanka took control of the second and final test against Bangladesh on Wednesday

Australia refuses to back int’l probe against SL

The Australian government is refusing to back an independent international investigation into alleged war crimes during the Sri Lankan civil war as the government of Sri Lanka rejected a new report detailing "credible" claims of civilian bombings, extrajudicial killings and other abuses.

SL denies refusing visa to US official

The Sri Lankan External Affairs Ministry today denied reports that it had refused a visa to top US official Catherine Russell. The Ministry said such reports were a fabrication and incorrect.

29 injured in Hatton bus accident

A least 29 passengers were injured after a private bus veered off the road and toppled in Dimbulapathana, Hatton this morning, police said.Pictures

Anarkalli to contest Matara

Anarkalli Aakarsha said that she would contest from the Matara District at the Southern Provincial Council election this time. Her election campaign is scheduled to begin after the opening of her co-ordinating office tomorrow

HSBC Colombo Fashion Week Day 2

HSBC Colombo Fashion Week was held today for the second day at the Hilton Hotel. The Bright Sparks Project initiated by CFW is designed to identify potential in local campuses. Bright Sparks is a result of quarterly open days at various fashion schools to search for new talent. Pix by Manoj Rathnayake and Waruna Wanniarachchi

Video: Bill Gates steps down as Chairman

Microsoft Corp. today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Satya Nadella as Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors effective immediately. Nadella previously held the position of Executive Vice President of Microsoft’s Cloud and Enterprise group ???

Asymmetric warfare course commences in SL

The Special Boat Squadron (SBS) of the Sri Lanka Navy commenced the asymmetric warfare course 2014, at the eastern Navy Headquarters in Trincomalee. Sixteen foreign military officers from five countries are taking part in the training course.

Nadeesha, Manamendra in the fray; Feroza out

The main opposition UNP has included popular actress Nadeesha Hemamali in its list of candidates for the Matara District for the upcoming Southern Provincial Council Elections while Nawa Sihala Urumaya leader Sarath Manamendra was given the ticket from Colombo District. 

Prisoners released on Independence Day

Some 1,233 prisoners were released islandwide today marking the 66th Independence celebrations. A female prisoner is seen greeting the Pisons and Rehabilitations Minister Chandrasiri Gajadira at the Welikada Prison. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Journalist's killing: suspect remanded

The suspect who was arrested in connection with the murder of senior journalist Mel Gunasekara was remanded till February 18 by the Kaduwela Magistrate today, police said.

Mangala to demand Rs.10 bn from state-owned newspapers

Claiming that there is a limit to one’s patience in the face of mud-slinging against one through the state media, UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera yesterday demanded Rs 10 Billion from two newspapers of the state owned Lake House (ANCL) Group as damages for tarnishing his image.

Video: 66th Independence Day celebrated

Sri Lanka today celebrated its 66th Independence Day in Kegalle. President is seen greeting the people gathered to witness the celebrations.  Pix by Samantha Perera

Biswal briefs Britain on SL

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal held talks with Britain’s Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Hugo Swire in London yesterday on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka.

Richmond student dies in an accident

A 17-year-old Advanced Level student of Richmond College, Galle died after falling from a  tree while engaged in decoration work  in connection with the school inter-house  sports meet,  Galle police said.

Father of nation remembered

UNP stalwarts paid tribute today to the father of nation and UNP founder leader the late Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake who was instrumental in gaining independence to the country in 1948. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Two teenagers drown in Bentota

Two youth drowned in the Bentota sea this morning while bathing in a group, the Police said

1,233 prisoners to be released for Indep. Day

The Department of Prison had taken steps to release 1,233 prisoners to mark the 66th Independence celebrations, Media Spokesman G.B. Kulathunga said

Delhi police seize drugs heading to SL

New Delhi Police busted an international narco-terrorism racket arresting three people including a Jammu and Kashmir police constable along with 10kg of heroine worth around Rs35 crore, that was on its way to customers in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and countries including, Sri Lanka and Mayanmar