SLMC to go solo at PC polls

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), an ally of the government, will go solo at western and southern provincial council’s election as they did at the previous elections, party officials said today.

SL tops Google’s 2013 ‘sex’ search list

Sri Lanka topped the list of having searched for the word ‘sex’ in 2013, while India followed at the second spot, Google reported.

Sri Lanka bars Australian luxury hotelier in flag spat

Sri Lankan authorities barred the Australian owner of one of the world's most exclusive hotels from returning to his adopted homeland Tuesday for flying the national flag upside down, officials said.

Despite CHOGM, November tourist arrivals up only 3%

Tourist arrivals to the island grew only 2.8 percent in the month of November compared with the corresponding period of the previous year, the data released by the Sri Lanka Tourism showed

12 SSPs, SPs transferred

Twelve police officers, including eight Senior Superintendents of Police (SSP) and four Superintendents of Police (SP) had been transferred with effect from today, Police Media Spokesman said

Lankan accused of molesting teenage swimmer

A Sri Lankan lifeguard has been accused of molesting a 14-year-old teenage swimmer inside the women’s changing rooms at a residential tower in Jumeirah Village in Dubai

Official alleges Growth Rate massaged

A top official in a statement alleged that the Director General of the Department of the Census and Statistics had advised him to ‘massage’ Sri Lanka’s economic growth rate. 

I was labelled a ‘Kudda’-DM

Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne alleged that he was labelled a drug dealer (Kudda) by some faction in robes, soon after he proposed to set up two Courts (Sanga Adhikarana) for Buddhist monks to act against errant Bhikkus.

Creator of AK-47 dies

Lt. Gen. Mikhail T. Kalashnikov, the arms designer credited by the Soviet Union with creating the AK-47, the first in a series of rifles and machine guns that would indelibly associate his name with modern war and become the most abundant firearms ever made, died on Monday in Izhevsk, the capital of the Udmurtia republic, where he lived. He was 94.

Video: Budget proposals on fire

Several opposition members of the Bope Poddala Pradeshiya Sabha set fire to the 2014  Budget proposals after the budget was passed by a majority of three votes. Pix by Sugathapala Deeyagahage ???

TISL wants Elections Judge

While claiming that the Elections Commissioner should be vested with more powers to take actions on election related malpractices, the Transparency International Sri Lanka recommended today that an Elections Judge should be appointed to investigate into election violations and malpractices with focus on misuse of public properties

Video: The printed word

United National Party National Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe is seen reading the annual publication of the Government Printing Services Union at its 46th Anniversary held at Sirikotha today. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel ???

Video: Govt. loans over the top: Ranil

The total amount borrowed by the Sri Lankan Government after the war ended in 2009 far exceeded the amount borrowed since gaining of independence to 2004, United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said today ???

Unhealthy protest

A Federation of Health Services’ Trade Unions held a protest near the Health Ministry today urging the Health Authorities to resolve their salary anomalies. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Steps to be taken to ease Colombo traffic-Gota

Defence Secretary Goatabaya Rajapaksa said that studies being conducted with a view to easing traffic congestion in the Colombo city, with the introduction of a mass transit system being seriously considered as a solution.

India to file charge sheets against SL fishermen

The Thermal Nagar police in Tuticorin district, which had arrested 59 Sri Lankan fishermen on charges of illegal fishing in Indian waters during September-November, are all set to file charge sheet against the fishermen before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) court in Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu.

RDA Provincial Chairman arrested

The Chairman of the Provincial Road Development Authority of the Western Province had been arrested on suspicion of stabbing a man following a brawl at a rest house in Horana.

Pakistan batsman Shehzad fined for pushing Dilshan

Matale Budget passed in a rush

The 2014 Budget of the UPFA-led Matale Urban Council was hurriedly passed under controversial circumstances with the participation of five members

Sponsor to pay SL driver SR 20, 000

A Sri Lankan worker who lost his leg on the job has accepted a compensation of SR20, 000 from his sponsor, officials from the Sri Lankan Consulate in Jeddah told Arab News Sunday.

Homagama Budget defeated amid warning

Despite strictures from the SLFP that its members who vote against the Budgets presented by UPFA-led Pradeshiya Sabhas will be taken to task, the new Budget of the Homagama PS was defeated with 12 members voting against and 10 voting in favour while one member abstained.

Bodies of two gem miners recovered

The bodies of the two men, who died inside thegem pitatAngammana in Ratnapura were recovered early this morning,Police said. The victims,a 39-year-old resident of Alapatha North in Angammana and a 40-year-old resident of Lelumpitiya

Grenade attack kills one person

At least one person was killed and four others injured in a hand grenade attack in Pragathi Mawatha, Walasmulla last night, Polce said.

Female anaconda vomits dead male anaconda

The 15.5 feet long female anaconda at the Dehiwela Zoo that swallowed a 12 feet long male anaconda on Thursday, vomited the male anaconda on Saturday, official said.

Passionate love springs from delicate hearts

Odel held an Embark Christmas Party and Puppy Adoption Day at the store’s Alexandra Place Car Park in this evening. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

The media can’t kill me- Hulugalle

Former director general of the Media Centre for National Security, Lakshman Hulugalle, speaking to Daily Mirror a short while ago denied reports that he had attempted suicide and said instead that he was at home and in good health.

Mine collapses, two workers trapped in Ratnapura mine

Two workers had been reported trapped inside a 30ft-deep gem mine in Angammana in Ratnapura this evening. Initial reports said the mine had collapsed following a water leakage while the workers were engaged in digging.

Robbed while watching ‘Raja Horu’

A man who had taken two women to watch the movie ‘Raja Horu’ at a cinema in Kalutara had robbed them of their money and jewellery after lacing their soft drinks.

Talking Politics

A dinner for both government and opposition members was hosted by the Speaker Chamal Rajapksa last Friday at his residence. President Mahinda Rajapaksa was present at the occasion and Speaker of Pakistan National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq was a special invitee at the dinner. Pix by President’s Media

Iranian Naval rating injured in Pettah

An Iranian Naval rating was injured when an individual standing by the roadside pelted stones at a few ratings that were walking near the Khan Clock Tower in Pettah yesterday, police said.