23 injured in accident


At least 23 people were injured when a bus skidded off the road and crashed into a telephone post at Amunumulla junction on the Welimada – Haputale road this morning, the police said

Video: SL should withdraw from C'wealth: JVP

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today said that Sri Lanka should withdraw from the Commonwealth because the objective of the organisation, which had not changed in the course of history, was to maintain their colonial masters’ status

Video: UNP protest Packer’s venture

United National Party (UNP) held a demonstration at the Fort Railway station this evening against the impending casino business venture in Colombo. The opposition by Buddhist religious leaders and some political parties led the government to announce on October 23 that it will alter tax concessions granted to Australian gambling tycoon James Packer's Crown Ltd for a $400 million hotel resort that will include a casino. Pix by Pradeep Pathir

PBOA commends ban of mobile phones for drivers

Private Bus Owners Association (PBOA) President Gamunu Wijeratne said today they would fully agree with the initiatives taken to ban the use of mobile phones by Private bus drivers

Local Express Post System launched

A Local Express Post System commenced at the Postal Headquarters at D.R. Wijewardena Mawatha, Colombo today. The Secretary to the Ministry of Postal Services Hemasiri Fernando hands over the first mail to the Postmaster General D.L.P. Rohana Abeyaratne to inaugurate occasion. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Visa denied for IBAHRI delegation

Entry to Sri Lanka has been denied to participants of an International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) high-level delegation which includes the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers Gabriela Knaul, and the first UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers ParamCumaraswamy, IBAHRI said

UK Minister meets SL envoy over SL student murder

UK’s Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Hugo Swire has held talks with Sri Lanka's High Commissioner in London, Dr. Chris Nonis on Wednesday on the recent murder of a Sri Lankan student Thavisha Lakindu Peiris, in Sheffield last Sunday

Three Lankan researchers forced to leave TN

Three Sri Lankan researchers were forced to leave Coonoor near Udhagamandalam in the early hours of today following pro-Tamil outfits' plans to stage demonstrations, police said.

No mod helmets for motorcyclists

The regulations, prohibiting the use of motorcycle helmets, which cover the whole face and helmets with tinted visors, will be strictly enforced with immediate effect, police said today

PM's visit will give India more leverage over SL: TNA

As Colombo is gearing up to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), moderate leaders of the Tamil National Alliance, which formed the Northern Provincial Council Government recently, say they are not opposed to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Sri Lanka, especially if it includes a trip to Jaffna

23 OCID police officers transferred

Twenty three police officers attached to the Organized Crimes Investigation Division (OCID) have been transferred, Police media spokesman Ajith Rohana said

Nipuna Case: Ex-DIG, son remanded till Nov.14

Former DIG Vass Gunawardene and son Ravindu were further remanded till November 14 in connection with the abduction and assault of SLIIT campus student Nipuna Ramanayake.

Video: Katunayake highway the most expensive in the world: UNP

UNP parliamentarian Mangala Samaraweera said today his party would write to the Guinness Book of Records requesting it to include the Katunayake Expressway as the most expensive expressway in the world

C.R. De Silva passes away

Former Attorney General and leading lawyer C.R. De Silva PC passed away this morning. He was also the Chairman of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC)

SL man's body in Dubai water tank

The decomposed body of a man was found in the rooftop water tank of a building in Al Khail Gate community in Dubai’s Al Quoz area.

I want to see the change in SL: Hague

The UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said that the UK does no good for the situation in Sri Lanka by sitting on the sidelines and said that he was among the first to want to see the change in Sri Lanka.

India denying visa to Ch-4 director is ‘cheap’-Karunanidhi

DMK chief M Karunanidhi today described as “cheap tactics” the reported denial of a visa to a UK documentary film-maker Callum Macrae, the director of the controversial Channel-4 films.

SLC Coach: Attapattu and Davis shortlisted

The Sri Lanka Cricket today said that Marvan Attapattu and Mark Davis have been shortlisted for the final interview to the Post of National Head Coach

Manmohan’s decision likely tomorrow

A decision on the participation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the CHOGM Summit in Sri Lanka is likely to be taken tomorrow, highly placed sources said today

Kadirgamar Memorial Oration 2013

Lakshman Kadirgamar Memorial Oration 2013 organised by the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies was held today at the Foundation Institute. It was delivered by the World Intellectual Property Organisation Director General Dr. Francis Gurry. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Protest against casinos

National collective against casinos organised a protest today at the New Town hall against establishment of casinos in the country. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana

Mobile phones banned for passenger bus crew

Bus drivers would be banned from using mobile phones while driving from tomorrow, Transport Minister Kumara Welgama said

CHOGM holiday for universities

The University Grants Commission (UGC) today announced that an eight-day vacation would be given to all universities countrywide starting Saturday, due to requests made by many undergraduates in light of the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

Feast for the eyes

This wondrous and rare sight of Nelu trees in bloom attracts thousands of local and foreign tourists to the Horton Plains. Nelu flowers bloomed this year, for the first time since 2001. Pix by R. Kogulan

Video: Insufficient stocks of crude oil at SOR

The Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery may have close down by November 10 because the current crude oil stocks would only last till then, employees said today.

Sridharan’s staff discharged

Colombo Additional Magistrate Nirosha Fernando today discharged TNA Parliamentarian S. Sridharan’s private secretary and two others.

SL welcomes scrapping of UK visa bond proposal

The Sri Lankan government said today that it welcomed the decision by the United Kingdom to ‘scrap the proposed introduction of a bond to visitors of six countries termed ‘high risk’ and said that it appreciated the removal of such proposed “discriminatory restrictions” for travel

Kassippu confiscated

Welikada police officers confiscated 67,500 liters of illicit liquor (kassippu) and 10 goda barrels in Madinnagoda today. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Macrae gets visa to visit SL

Callum Macrae, the director of the controversial Channel-4 films has been granted a Visa to enter the country to cover the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) along with a Channel 4 crew, the Minsitry of Mass Media & Information said today.

Australian Senator to investigate SL asylum seekers

An Australian Senator Lee Rhinannon says she wants to investigate issues behind the influx of asylum seekers from Sri Lanka to Australia and thereafter submit a detailed report to the Australian parliament.