A Sinhala and Tamil New Year festival was held at the Ranweli Hotel, Waikkala yesterday. Picture shows tourists taking part in traditional sports during the New Year celebrations. Pix by Jude Samantha

United States Secretary of State John Kerry issuing Sinhala and Tamil New Year’s message said that this New Year brings a new opportunity for all Sri Lankans to join together in the spirit of tolerance, reconciliation, and peace.

The United Nations recalled the commitments made by the Sri Lankan Government in its joint statement with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in May 2009 and urged Sri Lanka to remain committed to its undertaking.

Rajarata University Senior Lecturer in Medicine Dr. Channa Jayasumana said tests carried out by the California State University had revealed that higher grade students in the the North Central Province were at risk of contracting renal diseases in th

Sri Lanka cricketers who refused to sign their annual contracts and left for their victorious campaign in the ICC World T20 tournament in Bangladesh over a disputed payment from International Cricket Council (ICC) events, have been assured of rece

A tense atmosphere prevailed during a monthly meeting of the Balapitiya PS last morning (10) due to an augment between the Chairman and the Vice Chairman over a proposal to do away with the contract system and to implement projects by employing labor

UNP Leadership Council Chairman Karu Jayasuriya and UNP Chairman Kabir Hashim paid a courtesy call on the Mahanayaka Theras of the Malwatta and Asgiriya Chapters today and discussed the current economic, political, social and cultural situation in th

Soldiers are seen after the search operation at Nedunkerni in Vavuniya, where three LTTE operatives were shot dead. Pix by Romesh Madushanka-Wanni

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said authorities are confident that signals heard in the Indian Ocean are coming from the "black box" flight recorders of the missing Malaysia Airlines plane.

A blind folded army soldier is seen smashing a pot of water as part of the traditional National New Year celebrations. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Ponniah Selvanayagam Kajeeban alias Gobi, a former LTTE intelligence cadre, was among the three LTTE leaders who were shot dead by the Army during a clash at Vedivachchikallu in Nedunkerni, Welioya, the Army said.

After observing a fast-unto-death for 34 days demanding the closure of special camps for Sri Lankan refugees in the Tamil Nadu, Sri Lankan Tamil Chenthuran (alias) Murugan on Thursday called off his hunger strike following an assurance from senior po

A Sri Lankan asylum seeker on a bridging visa is fighting for his life after dousing himself in petrol following a decision by the Australian immigration department to deport him back to Sri Lanka

Three LTTE leaders were killed during a clash at Wedichuchikulam in Nedunkeni, Welioya last night, military sources said.

Ten former Presidential Security Division (PSD) Officers, who were found guilty of assaulting songsters Rookantha Gunathilake and Chandraleka Perera, were released under the Presidential Pardon today, Prison Department official said

A retired Swiss airline pilot flying around the world for the last two years in a plane he built himself has been arrested after straying into Indonesian airspace. According to an Indonesian Air Force official he was on a ferry flight from Colombo to

On a red-carpet reception day when the two Sri Lankan players, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene hit out at Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board over retirement issues, the former coach has come out openly for not receiving the "better treatment&

The funeral of the Ven. Kalutara Dhammananda Thera of the Ampara Buddangala Monastery took place at Ampara H.M. Weerasinghe grounds today. Pix by Wasantha Chandrapala

While claiming that Sri Lanka was on track to meet most of the millennium development goals (MDGs) including poverty, Britain however said on Wednesday that poverty still exists in areas in the north and east of Sri Lanka where large numbers of Ta

While claiming that any kind of construction carried out in a National Park was illegal, the main opposition UNP today urged the government to make a statement on the controversial housing complex being constructed within the Wilpattu National Park

A disabled war hero at the RagamaRanviruSevana taking part in the traditional ‘Kana MuttiyaBindeema’ competition today during the New Year celebrations held at the rehabilitation centre. Pix by PradeepPathirana

Police said today that 60 people including 10 women had been arrested and detained by the Terrorist Investigations Division (TID) during the past two months for allegedly supporting subversive activities in violation of the Prevention of Terrorism Ac

The entry fee charged from all categories of vehicles on the Expressways has been reduced from midnight today upto April 25 midnight, on the directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Government Information Department said.

Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) organisation General Secretary Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera was asked to be present at the Slave Island police station on April 12 for allegedly threatening a Buddhist monk yesterday, police said.

Parliamentary proceedings came to an abrupt end at 2.25 pm today since there was no quorum in the House to carry out the day’s business.

While claiming that the human rights situation in Sri Lanka has not improved during the past three months and placing Sri Lanka as country of concern, the 2013 Human Rights and Democracy Report, released by the Foreign Commonwealth Office said there

The two sons of slain Police officer attached to the Anti Corruption Unit of the Matara Police were given educational needs including Rs. 1 million at the Police headquarters today.  Their father and mother were beaten to death in Kamburupitiya,

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today denounced the actions of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) which stormed into a news conference conducted by an organisation called the Jathika Bala Sena (JBS) yesterday.

Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) said today that legal action must be taken against Minister Rishard Bathiutheen for the incident where the Muslim people had been resettled in the Wilpatthu National Park.

Motorcyclists island-wide are requested to switch on their headlights while riding during daytime starting today, the Police said