SL stalls IOC plan

Indian Oil Corporation's (IOC) Lankan arm, Lanka IOC, which leased oil storage tanks at Trincomalee, has hit a dead end as it attempts to set up a joint venture with Ceylon Petroleum Corporation for about 84 tanks, the Times of India reported today.

Congress leaders discuss CHOGM

Congress top brass including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday discussed the strategy ahead amid the controversy over India's participation in the CHOGM summit in Sri Lanka next month, which has been opposed by Tamil Nadu parties.

Launch of Chamal Rajapaksa’s biography

The biography of the Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa written by Punya de Silva was launched today at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH). The first copy of the book titled ‘Chamal Rajapaksa’ was presented to President Mahinda Rajapaksa by his elder brother Chamal Rajapaksa himself.  Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Three bodies found in Anguruwella

The bodies of a man, a woman and her ten- month- old infant were found in a house at Anguruwella, Galpatha in Ruwanwellla this evening, police said

Video: BBS meets Health Minister

The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) organisation met Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena today at the Ministry. They urged the Minister to investigate allegations that Non-Governmental organisations (NGOs) were trying to promote birth control pills and abortion pills amongst Sri Lankan women. Pix by Nisal Baduge ???

IFJ officials asked to leave SL for violating their visas

Asia Pacific Director of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Jacqui Park and another IFJ member were questioned and asked to leave the country by the Sri Lankan Immigration Department today for having conducted a media workshop at a hotel in Colombo while they were on tourist visas

Video: ‘Rajapaksa name’ carries weight at elections: UNP

The United National Party said today that a candidate having the surname ‘Rajapaksa’ when contesting a Provincial Council election was considered a qualification for the post of chief minister ???

Wigneswaran in Hospital

Northern provincial Council Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran has been admitted to the Jaffna Hospital for a cardiac test, Hospital sources said

Grant us compensation

Nearly 216 former employees of the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) who lost their jobs due to alleged political reasons during turbulent times in 1977, today protested at Nawam Mawatha, urging President Mahinda Rajapaksa to grant them their promised compensation payments. Pix by Kithsiri De mel

IUBF protest over education sector crisis

The Inter University Bhikkhu Federation (IUBF)today held a demonstration outside the Fort Railway Station over the crisis in the education sector and the destruction of free education. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

Holiday for Tamil Schools on Nov.1

November 1 has been declared a holiday for all the Tamil schools in the country in view of the Deepawali festival which falls on November 2, the Education Ministry said

Sharma urges setting up of an Independent EC

While commending the Northern Provincial Council elections, Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma underlined the necessity to set up an independent election commission, which is a widely valued as a Commonwealth good practice

Security tightened at SL institutions in Chennai

Security has been strengthened at the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission office, the Mahabodhi Society and Bank of Ceylon all located in Chennai following an attack on two Indian Post Offices on Tuesday, The Hindu reported

Petrol bomb attacks as Khurshid confirms Sri Lanka meet

Petrol bombs were hurled at two post offices in Chennai city on Monday night by members of the Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam (DVK), who were apparently agitated over External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid’s statement confirming his participation in the forthcoming Commonwealth meet in Sri Lanka

Bodies of father and daughter in garden well

The bodies of a man and his two year old daughter were recovered this morning from a garden well at Panwila in Kandy, the police said.

Packer expresses confidence

Crown group Chairman James Packer said he was hopeful the group's proposal for a resort in Sri Lanka could proceed and Parliament will soon debate the final regulatory allowing the project to proceed, Australia’s Business Spectator reported.

Geetha wants disciplinary inquiry into brawl at Benthota PS meeting

The Benthara Elpitiya organiser Geetha Kumarasinghe said today that a disciplinary inquiry should be carried out into the incident where PS Chairman Gayan Sirimana and the Vice Chairman Ranjith Wickremesinghe exchanged fisticuffs over an altercation at the finance committee meeting of the Bentota Pradeshiya Sabha last Monday (28)

SL seeks report on killing of student in UK

The Ministry of External Affairs said today that it had requested a report from the Sri Lankan High Commission in the United Kingdom on the killing of a 25 year old Sri Lankan student on Sunday night in UK

Autobiography of the late Abdul Bakeer Markar

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake, MP Sajth Premasasa and Former Minister Imtiyaz Bakeer Markar were seen at the launch of the autobiography of the late Speaker Abdul Bakeer Markar titled ‘Weda Gedara Viplawaya’ at Sri Lanka Foundation Institute yesterday. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana and Eshan Fernando

Lankan caught trying to marry Italian in sham marriage

A Sri Lankan man has been caught attempting to tie the knot with an Italian woman as immigration officers interrupted the couple's 'sham marriage' in Harrow.

Power disruption due to breakdowns- CEB

The Ceylon Electricity board said that certain areas of the country may experience power cuts spanning a few hours, due to breakdowns at the power generating plants in Norochcholai, Samanalawewa and transmission lines in Kotmale and Biyagama.

Stray dogs removed from Colombo City

Animal rights activists expressed concern over the manner in which stray dogs were being removed from Colombo to make the City presentable for next month’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

Madras High Court dismisses CHOGM case

Sympathy and sentiment cannot be a ground to pass judicial orders, and the court was not inclined to interfere with the foreign policy of India. Saying that, the Madras high court on Tuesday, dismissed a PIL against India's participation at the upcoming Commonwealth heads of governments meeting in Sri Lanka

Video: SSU protest inauguration of private university

The Socialist Students' Union (SSU) today organised a protest near the British High Commission in Colombo over reports that Prince Charles was scheduled to inaugurate a Central Lancashire University Branch Campus in Sri Lanka. Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Teacher beats Principal

A teacher who is alleged to have hit the Borella Ratnawali Balika Vidyalaya Principal with an umbrella was arrested by the Borella Police today

Security banter between SL and Korea

Chief of Defence Staff Jagath Jayasuriya met the Defence Minister of the Republic of Korea, Kim Gwan Jin in Seoul.

Sri Lanka slips in 'Doing Business Index'

Sri Lanka has fallen four places in the World Bank's latest list of best places to run a business. In the latest World Bank's Doing Business Index, Sri Lanka has been ranked 84, down from 81st place it enjoyed in the 2013 Doing Business Index.

Video: Facelift for British Garrison Cemetery

The British Garrison Cemetery in Kandy is being spruced up for the anticipated visit of Prince Charles to this historic venue during his visit to the Commonwealth Leaders summit next month.This beautifully landscaped cemetery was set up in 1817 for the internment of British colonialists. It is managed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Pix by pradeep pathirana

Canadian sentenced to two years for helping Tamil Tigers

A Canadian man who pleaded guilty in the United States to a terrorism offence in connection with the Tamil Tigers has been sentenced to two years

Attack on SL team: Suspect’s bail cancelled

A Lahore High Court division bench on Monday dismissed the bail application of Zubair alias Nek Muhammad, who has been accused of attacking the Sri Lankan cricket team