Video: 250 plastic ballot boxes for Colombo

Elections Chief Mahinda Desapriya said today the Department would use see-through plastic ballot boxes imported from Kenya for the forthcoming elections to the Western Provincial Council ???

Qing Dynasty costumes

Performers dressed in costumes of the Qing Dynasty (AD 1644-1911) rehearse the ancient royal heaven worshiping ceremony for the upcoming Lunar New Year or Spring Festival at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing today. AFP

Mannar mass grave toll reaches 53

The skeletal remains of 53 bodies have been unearthed from a mass grave at Thirukethishvara in Mannar during the excavation work which was carried out up to yesterday, police said Pictures

SL woman arrested with foreign currency

A 35-year-old Sri Lankan woman was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) last night while attempting to smuggle in foreign currency worth Rs.5,090,666 concealed in her hand bag, Customs media spokesman Leslie Gamini said

Biswal to arrive on Jan 31

Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Biswal will travel to Sri Lanka January 31-February 2, the US State Department said

GL to meet Khurshid over UNHRC resolution

Sri Lankan foreign minister G L Peiris will be meeting external affairs minister Salman Khurshid on Wednesday with the agenda to take forward the talks to resolve the fishermen issue and to also discuss the forthcoming UNHRC session where US is expected to again bring a resolution

We are ready to support SL-UK

Britain on Monday said that if the Sri Lankan government has begun a genuine and credible domestic process in to the alleged war crimes claims, properly by March 2014, it would give it its full support to the Sri Lankan government.

Uganda Minister in Sri Lanka

The Ugandan Minister of State Defense in his first visit to Sri Lanka met the Chief of Defence Staff General Jagath Jayasuriya yesterday. The eight member delegation from Uganda also called on Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa as a part of their itinerary. (Pix by Pradeep Pathirana)

CBK for religious harmony

A forum titled ‘Building religious harmony’ organized by a foundation of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumarathunga was held today with the participation of Kotugoda Dammawasi Nayaka Thero, Rev. Oswald Gomis and a host of other religious leaders and dignitaries. (Pix by Kushan Pathiraja)

Moderates are scared to express their thoughts: CBK

As the only living former President/Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, I felt the responsibility to speak out in order to resolve the prevalent religious tensions in the country, Former President Chandrika Bandaranike Kumaratunga said today

Video: Ranil calls for action against drugs, commissions

UNP National Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe who was speaking during the joint rally involving several opposition political parties at Hyde Park last evening urged the authorities to take action over drugs and illegal commissions which have, he said, almost become the motto of the government.  Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Man tries to enter President’s official residence in Kandy

A person was arrested by the guards at the President’s official residence in Kandy, for trying to enter it by force this evening, police said

Alleged rape of Australian girl: suspect yet to be arrested

Police are yet to arrest the suspect who involved in alleged rape of an Australian University student during an excursion to the Gendawana Rock in the seas near Ambalangoda on Thursday

Video: Democratic Party protest march

A protest march organised by the Democratic Party over several issues including casinos, drugs and scrapping of grade five scholarship examinations was held today from Maradana to Colombo Fort with the participation of its leader Sarath Fonseka, parliamentarian Jayantha Ketagoda and its provincial councilors. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Video: NFF opposes NPC proposals

While claiming the proposals passed in the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) last Monday, including a call for an international inquiry into war crimes allegedly committed by the Sri Lankan armed forces during the last stage of the civil war was

Complaint against Harsha withdrawn

A medical officer’s driver who lodged complaint claiming that UNP Parliamentarian Harsha De Silva had assaulted him over a land dispute in Longden place, Colombo on Sunday, had withdrawn his complaint today, Police said

CIFL depositors march to Temple Trees

A group of Central Investments & Finance Limited (CIFL) depositors conducted a protest march to temple trees this afternoon from CIFL head office in Dharmapala Mw. Pix by Samantha Perera

‘Vipakshaya Virodhaya’ commenced; heavy traffic in Town Hall

The movement of heavy traffic was reported in the Town Hall area and Slave Island as the main opposition UNP started to march to Hyde Park grounds in two groups from Darley Road and from Slave Island.

Audio: My powers are not limited: Mervyn

Minister of Public Relations Mervyn Silva said, he had received Rs.300 million for the development programmes of the area within a day of assuming duties as Kelaniya electoral organiser

SSP passes away

Kandy-Nuwara Eliya Special Task Force (STF) Zonal Commander SSP B.D.Chandrasiri passed away this morning at the age of 53 after a sudden illness, the STF said.

Hulugalle discharged

Former Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) Director General Lakshman Hulugalle was discharged from the Kandy General Hospital (KGH) yesterday, hospital sources said

Nepal Army Chief due here

Chief of Army Staff Gaurav Shumsher Rana is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka and the Maldives from January 29 to February 6, the Nepal Army said.

Traffic at Kollupitiya

Heavy traffic congestion is reported in Kollupitiya due to a demonstration by a group of depositors of Central Investment and Finance Limited (CIFL) blocking the Dharmapala Mawatha towards Kollupitiya, police said

SL says int'l war crimes probe would bring 'chaos'

An international inquiry into war crimes in Sri Lanka would bring "chaos," and the government's national reconciliation process must be given several more years to work, a top aide to Sri Lanka's president said on Monday

Probe on Bribery Chief yet to begin

The investigation into the complaint by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) against Bribery Commission Chief Jagath De Silva Balapatabendi was still to begin despite the lapse of more than three weeks since the date of the complaint, Daily Mirror learns

Student killed in wall collapse

A 19-year-old student was killed when a parapet wall collapsed at a private tuition class in Tangalle yesterday, Police said. The victim was a resident of Buttala and he was boarded in Tangalle, police said.

SL to continue oil cooperation with Iran

Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiyutheen says his country will proceed with oil cooperation with Iran.

UAE-SL joint committee meeting ends

The UAE-Sri Lanka joint committee concluded its activities in Abu Dhabi on Monday. The UAE delegation was headed by Foreign Minister Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan while the Sri Lankan delegation was led by Gamini Lakshman Peiries, Sri Lanka’s Minister of External Affairs

More party members to UNP

Western Provincial Council UPFA member Randiv Rodrigo and Wattala Pradeshiya Sabha member Anthony Cooray handed over their UNP party memberships today. UNP National Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Leadership Council Chairman Karu Jayasuriya were also present at the ceremony. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Army denies claims of monitoring patrols in Jaffna

While claiming that within the last two weeks an important step was taken to further reduce the military presence in Jaffna by relocating 214 static guard positions occupied by troops within the peninsula, the army today rejected claims that the Sri Lanka Army had stepped up monitoring patrols in Jaffna