Lanka Indian Oil Company (LIOC), which began operations in 2003 has secured a tax amnesty for ten years through an international arbitration panel, Deputy Economic Development Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardane told Parliament today.

Criticizing the US government report on human rights, China today said that ‘the United States has turned a blind eye to its own woeful human rights situation and remained silent about it,” Xinhua news agency reported.

The United States has said that ‘unlawful killings by security forces and government-allied paramilitary groups are a major human rights problem in Sri Lanka, often in the predominantly Tamil areas.’

Heavy traffic jam reported from the Colombo, Fort area due to a protest by the Ceylon Electricity Board’s employees in front of the CEB Headquarters near Regal Cinema, reporter said. Police have closed a section of the road from the Lake House

Chinese police arrested 482 Chinese nationals from several countries including Sri Lanka who were allegedly involved in a transnational telephone fraud, China Daily reported today.

Media Minister Keheliya Rambukkwella, who returned to the country this morning from Melbourne, Australia, is going to sue the hotel he stayed at in Melbourne for the injuries that occurred due to a mishap at the hotel four months ago.

Several roads in Colombo including Town Hall, Horton Place, Thunmulla, Amarasekara Mw, Devi Balika has been flooded due to the heavy rain experienced in several parts of country this morning, police said.

While claiming that media freedom in Sri Lanka continued to face pressure, the US said that it would continue to push for the protection of journalists’ safety and the right of all citizens to freely express their opinions

The Britain said that it hopes that the military presence in the North and East of Sri Lanka can move to resemble that in other parts of Sri Lanka

Seventeen Chinese including six women were arrested by the CID at Rajagiriya today on charges of having defrauded more than two million dollars from several banks in China, police said

The Supreme Court today rejected a move by Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake to constitute a Commission to look into the grievances of G.C.E (A/L) students who challenged the application of an alleged erroneous and unjustifiable formula to

Opposition UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe today said that those who negotiated for the release of former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka should be held responsible for the failure to secure a full pardon with his civic rights intact

At least 25 Sri Lankans living in Italy were displaced due to the Earthquake that struck parts of Italy on May 20, the External Affairs ministry said

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a directive suspending Dinal Wijemanne from functioning in the capacity of Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director of Taprobane Securities (Pvt) Ltd

A fire broke out at a fuel station in front of the Dehiwela Municipal Council (DMC) damaging the fuel station and a motor vehicle a short while ago, police said. (PICTURES)

A four year old boy in Ampara was trampled to death by a wild elephant last night, Police said. The elephant raided the village and attacked the house of the boy killing him and injuring the father.

Police Chief N.K.Illangakoon has interdicted four police officers of the Anuradhapura Police station over neglecting inquiries into a rape of a 13 year old girl in Anuradhapura on January 12 this year, the police said.

A stock of 5.7 kg of Gold jewellery worth over Rs 55 million, illegally brought from Singapore was seized at BIA this morning. One person was taken into custody, Official said.

SupremeSAT (Pvt) Ltd. signed the investment agreement with the Board of Investment yesterday with very ambitious plans to take Sri Lanka into the global space race.

Attempts to force an international probe on Sri Lanka, into civilian deaths and rights abuses during the final months of the island nation’s civil war, are unacceptable, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a meeting with his Sri Lank

A Sri Lankan refugee is making a High Court bid to challenge the indefinite detention of 51 refugees ASIO deems national security risks.

An Action Plan to implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) will be ready soon, External Affairs Ministry said yesterday

In a move to expedite the prosecution of LTTE suspects, the government will establish three new High Courts in Anuradhapura, Vavuniya and Mannar within a month, Leader of the House and Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told Parliament today

A weapons manufacturing hideout in the Dediyagala area in Akuressa was raided by the Matara Division Anti-vice Squad where they found hundreds of half-built guns similar to T56 assault rifles

Nugegoda District Judge Champa Janaki Rajaratna today refused to issue an order restraining the United National Party (UNP) from holding a disciplinary inquiry against UNP parliamentarian Karu Jayasuriya

The United National Party (UNP) said today the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) action plan presented by External Affairs Minister G.L Peiris in Washington was different to the one presented in Sri Lanka.

A team of soldiers who were on a foot patrol mission  along Balapokuna road, in Kirulapone this morning, found 320 packs of heroin each containing 30 miligrams.

The television rights of the Sri Lankan cricket team’s matches for the territory of Sri Lanka have been offered to sports channel Carlton Sports Network (CSN) for three years from 2012 to 2015, Sri Lanka Cricket President Upali Dharmadasa said

Former Australian cricket star and sacked Sri Lanka national cricket coach Geoff Marsh has sent a letter of demand to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said Upali Dharmadasa, President of SLC yesterday.

The government has agreed to provide adequate security to former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka, who was released on a special pardon on Monday, a parliamentarian said.