The government has not yet decided on the final amount of compensation to be paid to the victims of the Meethotamulla garbage dump collapse, Disaster Management Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said yesterday.

India had helped Sri Lanka fight the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) even without being asked to, says former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa in an exclusive interview to  www.wionews.com posted on Monday.

King Mswati III of Swaziland has banned divorce in his Kingdom issuing the decree during a meeting held with Christian religious leaders at the Engabezweni Royal Residence, Daily Nation reported today.

Sri Lankan recruitment offices have turned their back on agreement with their Saudi counterparts by raising housemaid recruitment fees by about 92 percent from US$1,560 to US$3,000, according to chairman of the recruitment committee of the Eastern Pr

The number of deaths reported due to the Meethotamulla garbage dump collapse, has risen to 30, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said.

The rapid spread of the influenza virus necessitates the declaration of a state of emergency but Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne has neglected it, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) said today.

Indian Railways will supply modern locomotives and train sets worth Rs.6.8 billion to Sri Lanka, in what could be described as the largest export order for the public transport sector, the PTI reported today.

The Finance Ministry a short while ago clarified that the amount of Rs.100,000 which will be awarded to the family members of those who perished in Meethotamulla mishap was an insurance payment and not compensation.  

The number of deaths reported due to the collapse of a part of the Meethotamulla garbage dump, had increased to 28 today, the Police said.

From May 1, garbage disposal will not be permitted on lands coming under the purview of the Urban Development Authority (UDA), Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said today.

The government had received a total of Rs.230 million in tolls from expressways during the New Year holidays, which is an increase of 25 per cent compared with last year, the Road Development Authority (RDA) said today.

The Wildlife Conservation Officers opened fire at a she-elephant when it went on rampage after being saved from drowning in an abandoned well at Kombuwaittakulam in Omanthai.

The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Mumbai Customs arrested two Sri Lankans for smuggling in gold bars concealed in their rectum on Saturday, India Today reported.

Former Opposition Leader of the Matala Muncipal Council Duljith Aluvihare - the brother of UNP stalwarts MPs Ranjith Aluvihare and Wasantha Aluvihare, said he and his mother received greetings for the Sinhala - Tamil New Year from former President Ma

The power failure which occurred in several areas this morning was due to the breakdown of a power generator in the first phase of the Norochcholai Coal power station (Lakvijaya), Power and Energy Ministry Media Spokesman Pathum Paskuwal said.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, along with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, held a common view on the importance of securing stability in the oceans, and particularly regarding the South China Sea.

The Chemical substance container carrying ship 'MSC Daniela", which caught fire on April 4 was still remained a threat to the environment as the fire was not hundred percent doused, Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) General Mana

A 37-year-old Sri Lankan was arrested this morning at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) with 37 kilograms of gold jewellery worth over Rs.70 million, Customs media spokesman Dharmasena Kahandawa said.

Fairly strong winds (up to 40-50 kmp/h) could be expected over the island, the Department of Meteorology said in its forecast yesterday.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who reached Vietnam last afternoon had decided to cut short his visit because of the tragedy at Meetotamulla, sources close to him told journalists today.

The number of deaths reported due to the collapse of a part of the Meetotamulla garbage dump, had risen to 26, the Police said.

A high powered explosive device had been recovered from a house compound in Ukkulan Kulam Vavuniya, today, the Vavuniya Police said.

President Maithripala Sirisena today instructed the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) officials to produce an assessment report within five days after analysing the valuation on the losses to the people due to the collapse of the Meetotamulla garbage

Security at three major international airports in Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai has been stepped up after agencies were informed about a possible hijack attempt of an aircraft from these facilities.

The large scale sewerage dumping in the Attidiya canal along the Lake road during the past two weeks, polluting the Attidiya Lake, has resulted in the disappearance of many bird species from the area, residents complained.

The Japanese Government would send a team of experts to assist Sri Lanka in providing relief to those who were affected by the collapse of Meetotamulla garbage dump, sources close to Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said.

The number of deaths reported due to the collapse of a part of the Meethotamulla garbage dump, had risen to 21 by today, the Police said.

At least twelve persons, including two pedestrians, were killed and another seven were injured in road accidents across the country as of last night following the week-long festival holidays, the Police said today.