People living close to river banks have been advised by the Department of Meteorology to evacuate the area as water levels are expected to rise further with the persistent rain leading to floods, the government information department said

Over 12 notorious underworld criminals wanted for crimes including extortion and murder have fled the country and in some instances have even sought political asylum overseas, police intelligence sources told Daily Mirror online.

Riot police used water cannons to disperse a group of university students protesting opposite the University Grants Commission at Ward Place Colombo. The students hav been protesting at the location since early this evening.

A lorry which skidded off a road and down a 150 meter slope at Rikillagaskada, Hanguranketha this evening left 4 people dead and 28 injured, Police Spokesperson S.P Preshantha Jayakody said.

A group of Sri Lankan detainees at a Japanese immigration detention centre have been on hunger strike for more than a week, demanding to be released and protesting the mysterious death of an African deportee, AFP reported.

A group of protesting university students clashed with the police opposite the University Grants Commission (UGC) at Ward Place in Colombo a short while ago after the students forced their way into the UGC premises to make some demands

The Colombo Additional Magistrate today refused bail for journalist and former UNP candidate Susil Kindelpitiya and further remanded him together with two others over allegations of abducting a woman and possessing an illegal weapon

Member of Parliament General Sarath Fonseka, speaking to Daily Mirror online a short while ago, said that LTTE leader Vellupillai Prabakaran was killed on May 19 last year and not May 18 as claimed by the government after the war.  AUDIO

One child has been killed and over 40 people hospitalized following an accident on the Kandy-Mahiyangana Road today involving a school bus and a private bus. Out of the injured, 20 are school children who were rushed to the Kandy Hospital

An emergency situation has been declared in Nuwera Eliya over the threat of landslides and floods, as a result of the inclement weather conditions, Nuwera Eliya Government Agent D. Kumarasiri told Daily Mirror online a short while ago

The UN says the forming of a commission by President Rajapakse to investigate alleged incidents which took place during the war will not substitute the need for a panel of experts to brief the UN Chief on accountability issues relating to Sri Lank

Sri Lanka has offered India its expertise in defeating the LTTE to help fight the Naxals. Sri Lanka has said its armed forces could train Indian paramilitary personnel to successfully fight the Naxals.

The Kelaniya University has been closed until further notice following clashes between two student groups, the police said. However the medical faculty remains open. A few students have sustained minor injuries, the police said

A Sri Lankan delegation left for Brussels late last night in an attempt to renegotiate the GSP+ trade benefits and the discussions are scheduled to be held on May 20, Foreign Ministry sources told Daily Mirror online today 

The Southern Provincial High Court issued an order today suspending the decision to remove Matara Mayor Upul Nishantha and appointing anyone else to the post following a complaint that he was being removed for supporting Sarath Fonseka

President Mahinda Rajapakse has ordered the authorities to remove the people living along canal banks in Colombo and the suburbs due to flood threats, Deputy Minister of Irrigation and Water Management S. M. Chandrasena told the media

The Airforce has made available their helicopters to transport passengers to and from the airport to Colombo for a nominal fee, Air Force Spokesperson Group Captain Janaka Nanayakkara said

Over 200 houses in Trincomalee have been damaged due to strong winds and urgent measures are being taken to provide temporary shelters for the families, Trincomalee Government Agent, Major General Ranjith De Silva told Daily Mirror online

The government is expected to receive in the next few days an extensive report of a possible pro-Tamil Tiger build up in Venezuela after reports to such an effect was received by the Sri Lankan Envoy in Havana, Foreign Ministry sources

Some parts of the Colombo-Katunayaka road have been closed as the roads are under water and the police have urged the public to use alternate routes or use the flooded roads only for essential travel

A container at the dangerous cargo section at the Colombo harbor caught fire sending thick black smoke in the air as well as a chemical smell, a spokesman at the Colombo harbor said. There are no reports of casualties VIDEO

All international flights scheduled to depart the BIA have been delayed as the Colombo-Katunayaka road has been flooded preventing passengers from reaching the airport on time, the Airport Duty Manager told Daily Mirror online

The Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) held its inaugural sessions in the US. However the US says it continues to investigate and prosecute individuals and entities that have provided material support to the LTTE

Parliament sittings were adjourned a short while ago over the threat of roads leading to parliament getting flooded due to the heavy rains.

Parliament will meet between 1.00 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. from mid next month and not in the mornings. The decision was reached following a party leaders meeting held in parliament today

More than 400 former LTTE suspects including 198 child soldiers were released to their families at a function in Jaffna this morning. Among the 425 former LTTE suspects handed over to their families were 189 former child soldiers

UNP MP Ravi Karunanayaka, in a surprise twist, entered parliament today morning in a national kit rather than his usual full suit, much to the surprise of his colleagues and other members of parliament

A former LTTE captain, who was injured in the final battle at Vellumulaivaikal, has been arrested in Mount Lavinia while preparing to leave for India, the police said today. The police also recovered a large stock of weapons, explosives and ammuni

Australia's Immigration Minister Senator Chris Evans has conceded there are concerns about suspected LTTE cadres being sent back to Sri Lanka and adds that a return would be possible only after an assurance from the Sri Lankan government

The Victory Day celebration which was scheduled to be staged at Galle Face Colombo on Thursday has been postponed owing to the inclement weather conditions, the Director General of the Media Center for National Security said