Had Manmohan come, he would have run the show: Basil

While the Sri Lankan government has so far given the impression that it does not take offence to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh skipping the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, Sri Lanka’s Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa said on Sunday that he was disappointed with Dr. Singh’s absence.

City hotel occupancy far below expectations

The average occupancy rates of the hotels in Colombo remained far below expectations during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2013, according to the Colombo City Hotels Association Chairman M. Shanthi kumar.

What applies to SL, applies to India too-Sikh leader

Commenting on British PM David Cameron’s ‘hard talk’ with Mahinda Rajapaksa asking him to ensure credible, transparent and independent inquiry into alleged war crimes by March 2014 or face a UN investigation, the Dal Khalsa said what applies to Sri Lanka, applies to India too.

Canada says SL Tamils remain fearful

The Harper government says Sri Lanka's Tamil minority continues to be fearful of the country's leadership, as a controversial Commonwealth summit wrapped there Sunday.

A warm birthday at Nuwara Eliya

Prince Charles visited the 172-year-old Mackwoods Tea Factory at Labukale in Nuwara Eliya, yesterday and celebrated his 65th Birthday.  He was welcomed by the Sri Lankan High Commissioner in United Kingdom Dr. Chris Nonis. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Animals harassed in the name of CHOGM

Animals being held captive at the mini-zoo created in Battaramulla as part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) pageantry are reportedly being harmed and subjected to stressful conditions that are adverse to their health

Curtain Call

President Mahinda Rajapaksa looks on as Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma walks in to address the concluding news conference of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held at the BMICH today. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana 

Video: British created Tamil issue in SL: JHU

While denouncing the British Prime Minister’s call for an international inquiry into alleged war crimes committed by the Sri Lankan Army during the civil war that ended in 2009, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) today said the British were responsible for creating the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka.

Abbott, Gotabaya visit Sayura

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott visited Sri Lanka Navy vessel Sayura this morning at Colombo Port. Defence Secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Navy Commander Vice Admiral Jayanath Colambage participated at the event. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana 

Devotees observe IL Poya

Devotees gathered at the Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo today and engaged in religious activities to mark IL Poya Day. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Commonwealth puts on united front

Commonwealth leaders signed agreements Sunday on issues such as poverty and development as they staged a show of unity after a summit in Sri Lanka dominated by a bitter dispute over war crimes.

Centre urged to pass resolution on SL

The DMK-backed Tamil Eelam Supporters Organization (TESO) on Sunday demanded the Center move a resolution in the Parliament seeking an international probe into the alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka.

MR defies Cameron

President Mahinda Rajapaksa directly responding to the British Prime Minister David Cameron warned the latter against “dictating” to him.

Malta to host CHOGM 2015

Malta is to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2015 following a unanimous decision this morning by the Commonwealth heads of government.

Video: Abbott donates patrol boats to SL

The Australian government will donate two retired patrol boats to the Sri Lankan Navy today in a gesture aimed at securing the sustained co-operation in operations against people smuggling of a force long rumoured to have had a hand in the illegal trade ???

Key dovish on Sri Lanka, wins elephant

New Zealand has gained an elephant and Prime Minister John Key has fired off a tweet to someone who isn't the British prime minister while attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting

PC and wife fatally stabbed, son injured

A Police constable (PC) and his wife were allegedly hacked to death late last night in Kambrupitiya, while their two-year-old son who also received injuries is currently being treated at the Matara Hospital.

Prince visits Kandy

Children were seen eagerly greeting Prince Charles when he visited the Temple of Tooth in Kandy yesterday. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Road closures today

Several roads in Colombo and the Colombo-Katunayake expressway would be closed intermittently for a short periods today due the VVIP movement, Police said

Collision kills five

Five people including three women, a boy and a girl were killed and 20 people were injured in an accident when a van collided with a private bus at  Thalathuoya in Kandy this morning, police said. Pictures

Maldives election: Yameen wins run-off vote

Abdulla Yameen has won the presidential election run-off vote in the Maldives.Mr Yameen secured 51.3% of the vote, compared with 48.6% for ex-President Mohamed Nasheed, the Election Commission said.

Spouses of Commonwealth Heads at Gangarama

Spouses of Commonwealth Heads of the Government and other delegates visited the Gangarama Temple today. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Engrossed in conversation

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, seen in a conversation at the ‘Seventh Commonwealth Federation Sports Breakfast’ at Waters Edge in Battaramulla today. Pix by presidential media unit

Import tax on potatoes and onions reduced

The Ministry of Finance and Planning announced today that the import tax on 1 Kilogram of potatoes is to be reduced by Rs. 30, big onion by Rs.25 and red onion by Rs.10 with effect from midnight of today

Cameron meets Murali

Visiting British Prime Minister David Cameron met world famous Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan in Colombo, the BBC reported.

Miss France 2014 contestants in SL

Thirty three contestants who qualified for the Miss France 2014 Finale along with reigning Miss France Marine Lorphelin who is also the first runner up in 2013 Miss World arrived in Sri Lanka today on a tour. Pix by Deepa Adikari

We will resist any international inquiry: Govt.

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said today that Sri Lanka would resist any international inquiry as a policy of the government because it believed that there was no need for an international inquiry within a short span of time now that the government had done its best in the reconciliation process

Video: Cameron issues ultimatum on SL

British Prime Minister David Cameron said today that he will "fully back an international investigation" into alleged war crimes, if Sri Lanka fails to establish a credible mechanism to investigate the allegations, by March 2014.

Cameron was using SL visit to win UK Tamil concerns-MR

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has ‘suggested’ that visiting UK Prime Minister David Cameron was using the visit to win favour with the Tamil community in the UK, the UK’s The Guardian reported. Pictures

Mauritius pulls out of hosting 2015 CHOGM: PM

Mauritius will not host the next Commonwealth summit in 2015 as planned because of its boycott of this weekend's meeting in Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Navin Chandra Ramgoolam told British television