Daily NEWS Srilanka

President Maithripala Sirisena has assured to take all possible measures to win the privileges of the war heroes in the future. The President gave this assurance at the passing out of the Naval Marine Battalion passing out parade. The passing out parade of the Naval Marine Battalion and the pinning of badges was held ...

President Maithripala Sirisena has said that religious vision is the only path to heal the present society facing competitiveness undermining not only humanity but also culture. As such the President pointed out that the need has arisen for everyone including the members of the Maha Sangha and other religious leaders in building a virtuous socie...

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe has said that attention should be directed on new methods of building the country and on new opinions. He pointed out that the competitive economic also has a direct impact on building the country. The Prime Minister was speaking at the opening of a new building of the Ministry of Rur...

All securities issued by the Government are safe. This assurance has been given by Central Bank Governor Dr. Indrajith Coomaraswamy. He was addressing a news conference in Colombo today. The Central Bank Chief said that all Securities issued by the Government of Sri Lanka are absolutely safe. The Government of Sri Lanka stands fully behi...

President Maithripala Sirsena has said that the Government has given priority for the welfare of the destitute people despite the economic challenges. The President made this observation addressing the Workshop on Sustainable Finance. This workshop was organized by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka with the support of the International Finance Corporation and the Wor...

President Maithripala Sirisena has chaired a special discussion to look into the organizational activities of the International Wesak Day commemoration. The President issued instructions to present quality programmes that would lead to a growth in inter-religious relations. Members of the Maha Sangha of the three Nikayas including the Most Ven. Kotugoda Dhammawasa Thera and Pri...

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera has told the UN Human Rights Council, Sri Lanka is determined to address concerns on human rights. The Minister made this reference addressing the high-level segment of the 34th session of the UNHRC in Geneva today. Minister Samaraweera mentioned stated that many in Sri Lanka criticized and continue to criticize t...

Japan has given 250 million yen as assistance to Sri Lanka to eliminate terrorism and improve the security network. The related documents were inked at the Finance Ministry. The Japanese Government pointed out that this sum of 250 million yen approximately amounting to 332 million rupees has been given to Sri Lanka to eliminate terrori...

The van suspected to have been used by the suspects linked to the prison bus attack to flee has been recovered. The Police said that the vehicle was found abandoned in the Moragahahena area. Five Police teams have been deployed for the conduct of inquiries into the incident. The Police said that the persons w...

President Maithripala Sirisena has extended his greetings to Shehan Seneviratne who has been feted with the Platinum Award given to the Most Outstanding National Entrepreneur last year. Shehan Seneviratne, Chairman as well as Managing Director of SMS Holdings and Ceylon Petroleum Stores Terminals Limited, who has been feted with the Platinum Award met President Maithripa...

A suspect has been arrested and remanded with respect to the shooting at the vehicle of Sameera Senaratne the Chief Executive Officer of the SAITM Private Medical College. The Police said that information is coming to light to show that it was an attack planned to indicate that there are threats to the life ...

The Constitutional Council has recommended appointing Priyasath Dep as the new Chief Justice. And in the meantime an official ceremony was held today marking the retirement of Chief Justice K. Sri Pavan. The Constitutional Council met yesterday at the official residence of the Speaker under the patronage of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe and Speaker Ka...

Parliamentarian Mujibur Rahman has said that the real aim of those staging protests obstructing roads was to achieve political mileage. He made this reference at a media briefing held at the Sirikotha United National Party Headquarters. Parliamentarian Wijepala Hettiarachchi also expressed his views. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman said that not a single discussion had been he...

Minister Rajitha Senaratne has ordered the immediate transfer of all doctors at the prison hospital. The Health Minister said the transfer was ordered as there was an allegation that a doctor at the hospital is involved in having some politicians arrested on various charges, transferred to the prison hospital. An order was given earlier to transf...

The new Airbus acquired by the SriLankan Airlines has commenced its flights. SriLankan Airlines Chairman Ajith Dias said that the first A 320 Neo Airbus can accord all the most modern special facilities to the passengers. The A 320 Neo Airbus is the first A 320 Neo and the A 321 Neo family to jo...

Wijaya commemoration minus Chathura The commemoration of artiste the Late Wijaya Cumaratunga held annually was held yesterday with the attendance of wife of Wijaya, former President Chandrika Cumaratunga inclusive of relatives and comrades while Chathura Senaratna, Member of Parliament who says that 'because of Wijaya, a political comeback'...

Sameera Senaratna questioned on the suspicion that he had made others fire at his own vehicle An incident where the Chief Administrative Officer of Malabe SAITM Private Medical College Sameera Senaratna being shot at sometime back in the night hours at a spot close to that university was reported and the team of police officers who conducted...

Underground kingpin 'Samayan' and 6 others die with prison bus being shot at! Underground leader Samayan (30) inclusive of others who were imprisoned were being accompanied to courts today and on its way the prison bus was shot at by some gunmen where 6 persons lost their lives. The gunshots have been fired at in Kalutara. From the shooting...

Stones and rotten eggs thrown at Piliyandala Pitiduwe Thera's Dharma Sanwadaya (video) Stones and rotten eggs were thrown at the Dharma Sanwada programme of Pitiduwe Siridhamma Thera (Arahat Siri Samatha Bhadra) held at Piliyandala Somaweera Chandrasiri playground yesterday, Sunday the 26th by way of protest by people in the environs and...

5 personnel of Peliyagoda Police who say that suspect taken to show hidden weapons died contracting asthma ... taken into custody! Sometime back notorious criminals arrested by police had died unanticipatedly even before they were taken to courts. This trend came to be known as the trend of 'taken to show the weapons', among readers. However,...

The People’s Bank has taken action to install 300 Automated Teller Machines at main Railway stations for the convenience of railway passengers. The relevant agreement was inked by General Manager Railways B.A.P. Ariyaratne and Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of the People’s Bank N. Wasantha Kumar. The inking of the agreement took place ...

2 dead with earth embankment collapsing in Moragahakanda Kalu Ganga Project The number of victims who died being covered by an earth embankment of the Moragahakanda -- Kalu Ganga Irrigation Project has now risen to two. At the beginning the information received was that 1 person who was injured had died and that 2 were wounded and that...

Reason about gadget which motivated Malinga to put his hand inside his pocket from time to time while bowling The reason why Malinga put his hand inside his pocket while bowling during the Twenty 20 match which concluded between Sri Lanka and Australia recently aroused the curiosity of the umpire. Before delivering every ball he paused...

Ruwan rendered dumb for sometime after mother's death, cries yesterday ... remembering her Tele-actor Ruwan Wickramasingha whom most viewers came to know because of the tele-drama Chathuryaya, entered into marriage yesterday. Though both mother and father from the bride's party were present on the day of Ruwan's wedding, since Ruwan's...

Ruwan Wickremasingha puts on his wedding ring. Mahinda also present Popular tele-drama actor Ruwan Wickremasingha has entered into marriage today (23). His bride is Vasana Edirisuriya. Religious customs were conducted at Narahenpita Abhayarama and those present at the wedding were well-wishers of the family. On that occasion former President...

Wimal's son Vibhuthi gives evidence about Lahiru who died because of Viagra. Hulabaloo in courts because of Sashi! The case regarding the death of a young man named Lahiru Dissanayaka because of an overdose of Viagra while in the Hokandara home of Member of Parliament Wimal Weeravansha which incidentally created an uproar was taken...

Five Special Police teams have now embarked on an investigation into the shooting of a prison bus in Kalutara. The Police said that they have identified the driver of the cab in which the gunmen had come. The shooting targeting a Prison bus transporting a group of inmates in the Malwatte area in Kalutara to...

The 34th sessions of the UN Human Rights Council opened in Geneva today with UN Secretary General António Guterres and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein calling on the Council to ensure the rights of all communities are protected around the world. The session will see Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein subm...

The Hambantota Magistrate’s Court has granted bail to twenty four suspects who were arrested and remanded over the clash in Hambantota on January 06th. The suspects were released on three sureties of 500,000 rupees each after being produced before Magistrate Manjula Karunaratne. At least 21 people, including three police officers, were injured in violent clash...

12,106 former LTTE cadres have so far been rehabilitated and reintegrated into society. Rehabilitation officers said that the Government has set aside to 100 million rupees to provide facilities in the rehabilitation work. Four more ex-combatants who had undergone rehabilitation were handed over to their relatives at the Punthottam Rehabilitation Centre. These activities took pla...

Musical La La Land won six Oscars including best director and best actress. Damien Chazelle, director of La La Land, became the youngest filmmaker to win a best director Oscar at the age of 32. La La Land also picked up best cinematography, best score and best original song for City of Stars. It al...

England continued to wobble towards retaining the Six Nations crown with an entertaining home win over Italy. Italy had the host scratching their heads in the first half by refusing to commit to the breakdown. The tactic bamboozled their opponents and helped Italy to a half-time lead at Twickenham. Once England figured it out th...

Experience was the flavour of the day in super-G results at the Norwegian resort of Kvitfjell. The average age of the men who reached the podium was 35. Better late than never, Peter Fill celebrated his first ever victory in the discipline. Not only was he celebrating his first career super-G win but the Itali...

Though some slung mud at me ... all what I said is true. I participated in a protest too, at the age of 4 years -- Chathura Senaratna Member of Parliament Chathura Senaratna was a character who was mostly talked about across the social media during the past few days. The reason for it was certain incredible matters of interest about which...

Professor Carlo Fonseka admitted to hospital suddenly 9.00 am Update Professor Carlo Fonseka was suddenly admitted to Colombo National Hospital last night as a result of a heart ailment and his condition has now turned out for the better, hospital sources say. Physicians have said that the Professor could be released from hospital without...

President Maithripala Sirisena has emphasized that cultural and traditions are helpful in building the country. The President made this reference at a function held at the Walathara Mettharama Vihare in Beruwala. President Maithripala Sirisena after arriving at the Walathara Mettharama Vihare in Beruwala engaged in religious observances and received blessings. The President who called ...

The National Stroke Day walk was held in Colombo today. It was organized under the patronage of the President. The walk organized to mark National Stroke Day commenced from the Vihara Mahadevi Park in Colombo under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena. The National Strokes Association of Sri Lanka organized the walk targeting the preventi...

President Maithripala Sirisena has pointed out that the time has come to study the characters of patriots in a country where there are politicians who go behind money and also think of their personal comfort. The President made this observation at a function organized to commemorate the law State Counsel Senator H. Sri Nissanka. T...

At least one person died and two others were injured following the collapse of an earth embankment. One person has been saved. Police said that the accident occurred at a site in the Moragahakanda -Kaluganga project in Laggala area this morning. The Victim, an Excavator operator who was critically injured has died on the admissi...

Minister Rishard Bathiyuideen has said that law will be strictly enforced irrespective of positions against those selling rice above the controlled price. Expressing views at a media conference held in Vavuniya the Minster emphasized that raids are being carried out countrywide in search of such traders. The Minister said that officials of the Consumer Affai...

The Finance Ministry has launched a full scale investigation into an Extraordinary Gazette Notification authorizing the issuing of treasury bonds in the past. Minister Ravi Karunanayake is in receipt of Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 1895/19 dated 01 January 2015 issued by Mahinda Rajapaksaa, who was the Mistier of Finance and Planning at that time. T...

Minister Sajith Premadasa has said that the previous administration had secretly withdrawn the opportunities given to young men and women during elections. Addressing a function held in Hambantota, the Minister said what the previous government did was duping them giving false pledges. The Minister queried for the cause of the 1971 and 1989 insurrections. ...

Sri Lanka Freedom Party members claim that the Party had entered the correct path under the party leadership of President Maithripala Sirisena. They announced that they would join hands with the President to further strengthen the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. State Ministers A.H.M. Fowzie and Sudarshani Fernandopulle expressed their views joining in the establishment ...

The Pinkama for the laying of bricks at the Salapathala Maluwa near the Tissamaharama Seya was held on a grand scale. A large number of devotees participated. The Pinkama was organized parallel to the 65th birthday commemoration of Chief Incumbent of the Tissamaharama Vihare the Ven. Dr. Devalegama Dhammasena Thera. The Pinkama for the beautificati...

The Vavuniya Police have apprehended three individuals on the allegation of pelting stones at a passenger train. The stones were reportedly pelted at in the Chathamkulam area at a Colombo bound train. However, no one was injured in the incident. The suspects were identified as 20-year-olds who are residents of the same area. They wi...

A motorcyclist was killed in an accident that happened in the Elapatha are in Ratnapura. The accident had occurred when a motorcycle moving towards Ratnapura from the Palaawela area collided with a motor vehicle after crashing on to a parapet wall. The Police said that the motorcyclist who was critically wounded succumbed to injuries aft...

Two suspects have been taken into custody along with heroin. They were arrested on the Karawanella-Ruwanwella area. The raid was carried out by the Ratnapura District Toxic drugs investigations unit. The raid was carried out on information divulged by a persons who was taken into custody a few days ago along with some drugs. O...

President Maithripla Sirisena says, steps will be taken in future to meet the shortage of Anesthetists in the country. The president said this at the inaugural ceremony of the 12th General Meeting of SAARC Anesthetists Association. The President said that due to the shortage of Anesthetists, surgeries get delayed and as a result patients ha...

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe says that more than 400,000 billion rupees will be needed in next 10 years to repay the huge debt taken by the Mahinda Rajapakse era. He said that amount would be paid under the present government’s proper management. The Prime Minister said this during the opening of UNP electoral office ...

More than 225,000 families in 16 Districts have been affected due to the dry weather. Many cultivations have been destroyed and Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said those lands would be assessed under Divisional Secretariat level. The government has decided to grant compensation continuously for four months, from next month onwards, for the farmers whose cultivatio...

Minister Wijayadasa Rajapakse says that a major project is underway to construct court buildings. The Minister said this while launching constructions of a new building of the Anuradhapura Courts Complex. 37 million rupees will be spent to construct the new building. The Minister recalled that 10 newly built court complexes were opened during last yea...

Custom Officers have detected pieces of gold valuing more than 2.4 million rupees, which had been cleverly hidden, to be smuggled out of the country. They have found the gold hidden inside the baggage of a passenger bound to Bangalore, India this morning. He is a resident of Beruwala. Deputy Customs Director Parakrama Basnayake sai...

A suspect has been arrested in the Baddagana area along with a stock of Kerala Cannabis and a Three Wheeler. Mirihana Police Officers have conducted the raid on a tip off. Police said that the suspect had more than 5 kilo grams of Kerala Cannabis with him. The suspect who is a resident of Kot...

The prime expectation and the noble vision of all religions is to promote spiritual and moral well-being of humankind. This observation has been made by President Maithripala Sirisena issuing a message marking Maha Shivarathri Day today. All their religious rituals and celebrations recall those core values of religious teachings. In his message the President point...

The Sri Lanka Navy has arrested five persons along with a stock of 154.6 kg Kerala Cannabis. The Navy said that it had seized 700 kilogrammes of Kerala Cannabis during search operations carried out so far in northern seas from last year. Sri Lanka Navy Patrol Craft, apprehended three suspects with 154.6 kg of Kerala Cannab...

The Sri Lanka Navy has taken into custody 18 Sri Lankans who attempted to migrate to New Zealand illegally. They were arrested in Negombo in a combined operation carried out by the Navy and the police last night. Navy spokesman Lieutenant Commander Chaminda Walakuluge said a van used by the suspects were also taken in...

Initiatives have been taken to expand the measures that should be taken to minimize accidents during shipping. Director General of NARA Buddhika Iddamalgoda said that this programme will be implemented on the full instructions of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development. NARA Director General Buddhika Iddamalgoda said that the Fisheries Minister has giv...

Parliamentarian Harshana Rajakaruna has said that the issue concerning rice will be totally settled within the next two weeks. He gave this assurance at a media conference held at the Information Department auditorium. Parliamentarian Harshana Rajakaruna said that the Government mediated in halting the unnatural hike in the price of rice. Not only it introduc...

The Police have apprehended a youth impersonating as an undergraduate and stealing laptops after entering University hostels. Sleuths of the Mirihana Special Crimes Investigations Unit succeeded in nabbing the suspect from the Wattegedara area during a special operation. During inquiries it has been found that the suspect after robbing identity cards and t-shirts of t...

All arrangements have been finalized for the conduct of the United Nations International Wesak Day and the 2017 World Buddhist Conference in Sri Lanka. This reference was made by Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa. He was addressing a special discussion held with media heads at the Parliamentary Complex. Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa pointed out that the 14 Nation...

Navy Commander Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne has got a service extension. The Presidential Media Division said that the service extension given by President Maithripala Sirisena for six months is effective from toda...

Baby dies inside mother's womb because urgent Ceasarian operation was missed by doctor who had gone on leave! A father gave testimony at the inquest into the death of child in wife's womb ending in a still birth being congested with excreta as a result of a delay due to negligence of doctors of the child when the child was to be delivered...

President Maithripala Sirisena has said that his aim is to carry forward the Sri Lanka Freedom Party as a respectable political movement building it as a clean political party. The President made this reference at a discussion held with a group of senior Chinese Communist Party members. A group of senior members of the Chine...

President Maithripala Sirisena hosted a banquet on behalf of the delegation that arrived in the island to participate in the Second Global Consultation on Migrant Health. The Second Global Consultation on Migrant Health opened in Colombo on Tuesday and came to an end today. Representatives from about 50 countries joined in this consultation. President Maithripa...

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe has said that if National Freedom Front MPs are not members of the United People’s Freedom Alliance, they can be considered as separate Independent MPs and not as a Party. The Prime Minister made this reference only after a clarification made by Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa with respect to a statement ma...

Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Song Tao has pledged China’s full support to Sri Lanka’s efforts to make the island nation a hub of the Indian Ocean. The Chinese Minister who is visiting the country gave this assurance to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe. The visiting Minister of the Internation...

The Government of South Korea is providing modern technological equipment for state media institutions while supporting the exchange of knowledge. These matters came up for discussion when officials of the Korean Radio Promotion Association met Minister Gayantha Karunatilake. Officials of the Korean Radio Promotion Association met Minister Gayantha Karunatilake at the Mass Media Ministry. The...

A Sri Lankan who attempted to travel to Bangkok, Thailand with gems in his baggage was caught and arrested at the Katunayake International Airport. The Customs said the gems were worth 4.8 million rupees. The 26 year old man was attempting to smuggle gems out of the country by hiding them inside his baggage. Custo...

The ceremony to declare rebels as patriots will be held at the Kandy Magul Maduwa on the 01st of next month. A special meeting to discuss the arrangements was held yesterday. British colonials who ruled in the past had branded heroes who contributed to the Uva Wellassa struggle in 1818 as traitors and killed ...

Indonesia has pledged full support for the transport sector in Sri Lanka. The Indonesian Vice Foreign Minister gave this assurance to Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva. Indonesia’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs A.M. Fachir met Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva at the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation Services. President Maithripala Sirisena is scheduled ...

Minister Sajith Premadasa has revealed that the United States has agreed to give its maximum support to the re-awakened model village programme. The Minister made this disclosure participating in the opening of the Tissapura Siri Vijayagama model village built at Tissamaharama in Hambantota. Minister Sajith Premadasa said that a group of members of the ...

The Health Ministry has received complaints that deceitful traders were still selling contact lenses at high prices even though the Government had reduced the prices. An operation spearheaded by the Drugs Authority was carried out to look into this affair. The first stage of the operation was launched in the Gampaha District. Accordingly several locatio...

A special programme is planned to lodge complaints via Online. This Online Mechanism has been set up by the University Grants Commission. The University Grants Commission said that all complaints once lodged would be investigated and cannot be withdrawn. Those who made false or malicious complaints would be subjected to disciplinary procedures. In addition ...

The Colombo Harbour, located in the Southwest corner of the island is rated as the 23rd best in the world. The Colombo Port is placed in this position according to a rating carried out by Alphaliner. In 2015 the Colombo Harbour, according to the rating carried out among the Container Ports in the world w...

Katy Perry has released a new music video to the delight of fans who have been waiting to hear new music from the pop singer whose last album, “Prism,” came out in 2013. The video is for the single “Chained to the Rhythm.” Perry explores a futuristic theme park. The video, as well as t...

Manchester United eased into the last 16 of the Europa League with victory at Saint-Etienne but goalscorer Henrikh Mkhitaryan could be out of Sunday’s EFL Cup final after limping off. Leading 3-0 from the first leg thanks to a Zlatan Ibrahimovic hat-trick, United started sharply in front of a noisy home support at a stadi...

Hungary is set to pull out of the race to hold the 2024 Olympics. Budapest had been campaigning to host the summer Games in seven years time, but the proposals were met with fierce oppostion from those who said it would be too expensive. A petition against the bid has gained more than 200,000 signature...

Minister Lakshman Kiriella has said that immediate action will be taken to release the inquiry report into the shooting incident of the SAITM Executive Officer. The Minister was responding to a query raised by Parliamentarian Bimal Ratnayake in Parliament today. Bimal Ratnayake said that Sameera Senaratne revived as the target of the gunmen went wron...

Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam has said that shortcomings in the circular related to Grade One admissions will be rectified. The Education Minister emphasized that stern action would be taken against irregularities in Grade One admission next year. The Minister was expressing views joining in the inking of a Memorandum of Understanding for the construction ...

Paba with baby for first time It is only 3 months since popular actress and former Member of Parliament Upeksha Swarnamali has turned into a mother of a cute little baby girl of 3 months. It was only a part of a toddler's hand that was first made visible to her fans. However sometime back she had taken steps to expose the looks of the...

Hindagala external 'abbatoir' of Peradeniya campus seniors of Agricultural Faculty who rags students after making them strip ... surrounded! 15 Second Year students of the Agricultural Faculty of University of Peradeniya who have engaged in ragging of a torturous nature of some freshers of the same Faculty were taken into custody early...

Supposed to be in the Army -- who is Asela? After Sri Lanka trounced Australia twice one after the other with yesterday's victory at the T20 cricket match, all eyes of this country was focused on this new player called Asela Guneratne who in fact was behind these wins. The question that sprang up among most people was as to where this...

IPL 2017 -- Matthews sold for Indian Rs. 20 crores and Asela for 30 lakhs! The auction for cricketers' bid for the year 2017 for the Indian Premier League competition is underway from this morning until this moment. By now several names of Sri Lankan players have come forward and among Sri Lankans who have been sold in this respect are...