Video: MR invites C4 men for a cuppa

In what appeared to be a consolidation of the charm that President Mahinda Rajapaksa is renowned for, while dismissing questions posed by Channel-4 journalist when he was about to board the car after the opening of the Commonwealth Business Forum, invited them “for a cup of tea” ???

Video: I will make more: Macrae

The visiting Channel-4 Journalist Callum Macrae, who made the controversial War crimes documentaries on Sri Lankan civil war, said today that he would make documentaries in future if there were evidence on war crimes

Motion to change Northern Governor passed

A motion calling the President to appoint a civilian as the Governor of the Northern Province had been passed in the Northern Province Council during its second sitting on Monday

300 workers arrested for protesting against CHOGM

Over 300 MDMK activists, including its General Secretary Vaiko were, arrested for blocking train traffic as the dawn-to-dusk Tamil Nadu bandh called by pro-Eelam outfits demanding that India completely boycott CHOGM meet in Colombo got underway.

Video: James packer attends Business Forum

Australian business tycoon James Packer, who is currently in the spotlight in connection with an up-market casino he intends setting up in Colombo, was among the business leaders, heads of states and other dignitaries who participated at the Commonwealth Business Forum sessions today at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Skip CHOGM, Sikh group tells UK PM

Ahead of British Prime Minister David Cameron’s India visit, the radical Sikh organisation Dal Khalsa has written to him urging him not to take part in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo, over allegations of human rights violations by the Lankan Government.

Road closures in Colombo during CHOGM

Renovation work in Colombo completed-CMC

The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) said that renovation work carried out for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meting (CHOGM) had been successfully completed.

No road closures during the day today-Police

Roads in Colombo will not be closed during the day today other than the scheduled closures from 12.30 a.m. to 1.00 a.m. and from 3.30 a.m. to 4.00 a.m., the police said.

Umariya case: DJ Jaynoor released

English radio station DJ Ramsey Jaynoor was yesterday ordered to be released from the case filed against him on charges of having harassed the Sri Lankan Pop, R&B and Jazz Singer Umariya Sinhawansa at the World Trade Centre car park.

Video: Demo against Callum Macrae

Channel-4 journalist Callum Macrae is seen addressing the media at the Bandaranaike International Airport today following a group calling itself the “Movement to Promote National Harmony” staging a protest over his presence in Sri Lanka. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Australia won’t give other countries HR lectures: Abbott

The Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott won't be joining other world leaders in a boycott of the Commonwealth summit, saying Australia shouldn't be giving lectures to other countries about human rights, the Guardian reported

Video: President has to follow the CW values as the Chair: UNP

The United National Party (UNP) today said once the Sri Lankan President becomes the Chairperson of Commonwealth, he would have to implement Commonwealth values exactly without ignoring them unlike now

Video: 'Political henchman' behind transfer of 23 Police officers- JVP

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today urged the government to divulge the ‘political henchmen’ who engineered the transfer of 23 police officers attached to the Organised Crimes Investigation Unit.

Indian Media criticise Singh's ‘diplomatic error’

Media in India see Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's boycott of the Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka as a "diplomatic error", the BBC reported

Video: Complaint against Packer

A group of UNP MPs including Ruwan Wijewardene, Harsha de Silva and Ajith P. Perera today lodged a complaint with Police Headquarters against the Australian Business tycoon James Packer who is currently in Sri Lanka, to participate in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) Business Forum.  Pix by Nisal Baduge

Video: Demo against Channel 4

Around a 100 demonstrators protested against the visiting Channel 4 journalists at the lobby of the Bandaranaike International Airport, when they arrived in the country a short while ago

Probe Packer who is in SL - UNP

A group of UNP MPs including Ruwan Wijewardene, Harsha De Silva and Ajith P. Perera yesterday lodged a complaint at the Police Headquarters against Australian business tycoon James packer who is currently in Sri Lanka to participate in the Commonwealth Heads of State Meeting (CHOGM) Business Forum.

Lankans can see comet

The comet ISON, one of the brightest and potentially dazzling comets would appear clearly on November 18 morning to Sri Lankans, Sri Lanka Astronomical Association said

Packer to address C’wealth Business Forum in Colombo

Billionaire James Packer will visit Colombo this week to lobby the Sri Lankan government over his plans for a five-star resort

Sharma calls on MR

The Secretary General of the Commonwealth Kamalesh Sharma is currently at a meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat, the Government Information Department said

14 Injured in Kegalle Bus Collision

At least 14 passengers were injured when a bus carrying employees of a garment factory collided with a private bus in Imbulgasdeniya junction, in the Kegalle-Polgahawela road this morning, police said.  

Maldives president will stay on beyond term

The president of the Maldives said he will stay in office even though his term ends at midnight Sunday in order to avert a constitutional void that could have arisen due to the postponement of a presidential runoff election.

NZ PM says CHOGM boycott not the right move

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said on Monday he will attend a Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka despite his Indian counterpart pulling out amid pressure for a boycott over alleged war crimes by Colombo.

Britain says disappointed over CMAG inaction

Britain said that it was disappointed that Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) has not addressed Sri Lanka’s human rights situation more substantively in their its meetings.

Roads closed for nearly two hours

The Colombo-Katunayake Expressway, Baseline Road from New Kelani Bridge to Boraella Cemetery Junction, Bauddaloka Mawatha to Bambalapitiya Junction and Galle Road from Bambalapitiya Junction..

Fascinated

A foreign delegate who attended the Commonwealth (CHOGM) Youth Forum in Hambantota today tries to imitate the Kandyan dancers of the troupe that performed the welcome dance at the forum. Pic by Santha Ratnayake

Driver crashes bus to avoid disaster, 20 injured

Twenty people including the driver and conductor of a bus that had been heading back to Panadura after a trip to Ambuluwawa in Gampola were injured when the bus plunged down an embankment due to break failure this afternoon, police said.

Dengue eradication campaign

The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) today conducted a dengue eradication campaign at Vihara Maha Devi Park. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

CHOGM: Manmohan writes to Rajapaksa

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday wrote to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa regretting his inability to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) from November 15.