Two excavators, two tipper lorries set on fire

Two Excavators and two tipper Lorries are alleged to have been set on fire by seven people last night, police said. They said the vehicles parked within a tank being newly constructed near the Vilgam Vehera off the Trincomalee-Anuradhapura main road last night

Airtel to sell Sri Lanka operations to Etisalat

Bharti Airtel is close to selling its operations in Sri Lanka to UAE-based telecom company Etisalat, The Hindu newspaper reported today. The two companies have been negotiating for over five months now and have agreed on the broad contours of the deal

Indian fishermen launch indefinite strike

Fishermen of Nagapattinam taluk on Sunday launched an indefinite strike demanding the release of fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy

Two killed in road tragedy at Marawila

Two people were killed in a head-on collision between a three-wheeler and a lorry at Weerahena junction on the Nattandiya-Marawila road this morning, police said

Coal smoke kills Lankan in Saudi

An Indian and a Sri Lankan suffocated to death while asleep after leaving a coal fireplace lit in their room in Saudi Arabia, newspapers said on Tuesday

ICAO wants facial features visible

Registrations of Persons Department Chief R.N.S. Sarath Kumara said yesterday he had devised the plan for issuing electronic Identity Cards in conformity with the standards set by International Civil Aviation Organisations

Two Indians arrested for illegal trading

A 71-year-old Indian possessing a tourist visa was arrested near the Mannar bus stand by the Mannar police while engaging in illegal trade yesterday, police said

Vehicle shipments stranded over tax row

Two vehicle shipments are stuck in the port as the importers have declined to clear them as a result of the reduced import tax concessions poposed by the government in this year’s budget

Warships to SL: Indian officials impleaded as respondents

The Madras High Court today directed to implead the Defence Secretary, External Affairs Secretary and the Indian Coast Guard Deputy Director General as respondents on a petition seeking to cancel the proposed sale of two warships to Sri Lanka

SL monitoring situation in Thailand

Sri Lanka today said that it is observing the developments taking place in Thailand, where the protests -- aimed at toppling Yingluck and curbing the influence of her older brother, ousted Premier Thaksin Shinawatra -- have left five dead and more than 200 wounded in street violence

Bogambara comes under President on Jan. 1

The properties and belongings of the Bogambara Prisons in Kandy were expected to be to be handed over to President Mahinda Rajapaksa on January 01, Commissioner General of Prisons Chandrarathne Pallegama said today

These roads to be closed from time to time

PS member arrested

Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) member Milroy Perera was arrested yesterday for allegedly harassing an 18-year-old girl during a get-together recently, Police said today

Unduvap Poya

A devotee is seen engaging in religious activities at the Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo to mark the Unduvap Poya Day, today. Pix by Pradeep Dlirukshana

Millions worth rare albino turtle stolen

A rare species of albino turtles claimed to be worth over Rs.35 million had been stolen from a private turtle hatchery and research centre Kosgoda last night.

Lankan tamil refugees arrive by illegal boat service, one held

A Sri Lankan Tamil refugee, who arrived Rameshwarm by an illegal boat service, has been taken into custody for questioning and a massive hunt launched for other refugees, police said.

President returns to the country

President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived in the country this morning after a four day official visit to Kenya. The Presidential media Office said.

Bizarre vanishing of museum artifacts

As many as 221 artifacts including old coins dating back to Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa eras, ancient swords and the belt worn by Nugawela Adikaram, had disappeared last year after an exhibition conducted at the Colombo National Museum

Video: UNP Rally in Bandaragama

Member of the Eksath Bikkhu Sangamaya, Venerable Meetiyagoda Gunaratana Thera is seen sitting next UNP Leadership Council Chairman Karu Jayasuriya and member of the leadership council Ruwan Wijewardene at a UNP Rally in Bandaragama. Pic by Pradeep Pathirana

Man of the match

UNP Kurunegala District MP Nalin Bandara Jayamaha in full swing at the Speaker’s Trophy Cricket Encounter between MPs and Ministers held at the Sports Ministry grounds today. Mr.Bandara was adjudged man of the match in the T 20 encounter where the MPs beat the Ministers. Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Three bodies found in Gandara

Bodies of a 29-year-old mother and her two children aged seven and nine were found hanging down from the roof of a house in Kapugama, Gandara this evening, police said.

SL, Kenya to share defence experiences

Sri Lanka and Kenya have agreed to enhance cooperation and the sharing of experiences especially in the areas of counterterrorism and defence, a joint communiqué said.

Buddha relics brought from SL stolen from Cambodian shrine

Cambodian police on Sunday said they were searching for a golden urn, brought from Sri Lanka, said to contain relics of the Buddha - including hair, teeth and bones - after it was stolen from a shrine. 

Mandela laid to rest in Qunu

Nelson Mandela was laid to rest in his childhood village of Qunu on Sunday, marking the end of an exceptional journey for the prisoner turned president who transformed South Africa.

A strengthening of ties

The Sri Lankan delegation, headed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, held bilateral discussion with their Kenyan counterparts, headed by President Uhuru Kenyatta, this morning at the State House in Nairobi. Pix by President’s Media

'Take steps to avoid collapse of TNA Government'

Dr K Vigneswaran, who was advisor to two Sri Lankan Tamil Chief Ministers, A Varadarajaperumal and S Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan, has urged the Northern Province Chief Minister, C V Wignewaran, and the provincial Governor, Maj Gen G A Chandrasiri, to have a dialogue,

I selected James Packer-Ravi Wijeratne

A leading businessman, Chairman of the Ranks Holdings (Pvt) Limited Ravi Wijeratne, who claims to be the prime mover of introducing casino to Sri Lanka said that he was the person who selected Australia’s James Packer and not the government. Full interview

DMK has struggled for SL tamil cause since early days: Karunanidhi

Refuting criticism that his party had done little for the Sri Lankan Tamils cause, DMK president M Karunanidhi on Saturday said it had struggled for the ethnic minority since the early days, with even his party led governments being dismissed in the light of the issue.

Accident kills three in Mundalama

Three persons were killed when their three-wheeler collided with the official vehicle of the Puttalam Police Superintendent in the Mundalama area, last night, police said.Pictures

I am going to be a bachelor again- Mahindananda

While claiming that he is becoming a single, Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage who is currently under a cloud for allegedly threatening his estranged wife, denied allegations levelled against him. Full interview