newslanka.org

External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris today raised concerns with US Ambassador Ms. Patricia Butenis about the references to Sri Lanka in the WikiLeaks website cables.

Defeated terrorist elements have encamped in several foreign nations and their latest weapon is to defame our country and throw allegations at our war heroes accusing them of war crimes, stated President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Close on the heels of our expose that the majority of 60 newly elected Parliamentarians have sold their duty free vehicle permits (CIF value of US$ 50,000) for as much as Rs. 12 to Rs. 17 million, it is revealed…

In an apparent cost-cutting exercise, the government has decided to slash the housing allowance paid to Ministers and Deputy Ministers by 50 per cent, informed sources said.

The Sri Lanka Transport Board has deployed a fleet of buses for the convenience of Sri Pada pilgrims. The Sri Pada season commenced yesterday and the SLTB announced that 20 buses have been added to the normal bus service from…

A group of Tamil and Muslim political parties have decided to join together as one front in the hope of finding a solution to the 60 year long racial problems in Sri Lanka.

The security camera system installed within Colombo will be operational from December 29 in order to tighten security within the city.

The Government has banned the felling of coconut trees with immediate effect. The relevant gazette has been sent to the Government Press and the ban will be effective after the gazette has been issued, said Coconut Development…

Police yesterday said they raided a controversial casino set up in a government building at D.R. Wijewardena Mawatha and removed its gambling tables, furniture and other items to the police station.

The Tamil National Alliance is to launch a programme to offer membership to youth, as currently the party has very small number of youth, TNA MP Mavai Senadhiraja said.

Former Sri Lankan Sprint queen and Olympic silver medalist Susanthika Jayasinghe says she is still waiting for a response from President Mahinda Rajapaksa and new Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage to see if she will be permitted to return to the…

Sri Lankan Airline flights to London had been indefinitely delayed due to the closure of Heathrow Airport in London after heavy snowing, officials said.

The Government is refusing to release a letter sent by British Prime Minister David Cameron to President Mahinda Rajapaksa following the President’s second-term inauguration a month ago.

The police were looking for a gem miner after a second man who was rescued from the collapsed mine pit at Kirinda died today while under treatment at the local hospital.

Colombo: Sri Lanka on Sunday clarified that it had no intention to halt foreign-funded construction work in the former war zones where the Indian government is building 5,000 new houses, after a media report said that new building activities are…

The family of Badal Muhandiram Gamlathlage Hemalatha who left Sri Lanka 10 years ago in December believed that she was dead.

The special Economic Centre at Narahenpita, Colombo will be fully refurbished and transformed into a full-fledged business centre before the end of this year under an action plan implemented by the Co-operatives and Internal Trade Ministry.

The Agrarian Services and Wildlife Ministry yesterday warned the public to refrain from carrying plastic, paper, plastic cans and liquor bottles on their visits to the sacred Sri Pada. The annual Sri Pada season begins tomorrow (Full…

Surpassing the USD 2000 per capita income, Sri Lanka is no longer an underdeveloped country and as a result not qualified for International Development Association (IDA) loans that provide interest free financial assistance to underdeveloped countries, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Managing…

Eight suspects led by an army deserter who used several kinds of explosives to hunt animals at the Somawathi National Park were apprehended by Wild Life officers After the suspects were arrested, 20 high explosives known as “Hakka Pattas” and…

Colombo - Sri Lanka''s jailed ex-army chief Sarath Fonseka marked his 60th birthday by cutting a cake smuggled into the court while attending a hearing, officials and witnesses said.

In a bid to protect sensitive environmental zones rich in water resources, the construction of houses and buildings on land 5,000 feet above sea level has been banned, the environmental Ministry said yesterday.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup venue inspection team, which visited Sri Lanka earlier this month, have raised serious concern over all three Sri Lankan venues assigned to host next year’s ICC Cricket World Cup.

Janashakthi Insurance PLC the most profitable insurer in the first half of 2010, clinched dual honours for two consecutive years at the glittering 19th World Brand Excellence Awards Ceremony held in Mumbai, India.

The Indian Intelligence Bureau has issued alert this evening that LTTE is planning to assassinate Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Indian media reports said.

Sri Lanka’s economy expanded faster than analysts estimated, stoking price pressures that may force the central bank to raise interest rates.

The government has decided to import coconut with immediate effect from several Asian countries to control the ever increasing coconut market, the Internal Trade Ministry said.

Sri Lanka has taken steps to set up a disaster warning network with island wide warning towers. The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) has taken steps to setup Disaster Warning Network island-wide.

Sri Lankan poultry firm Bairaha Farms aims to increase production by more than half in three years with a total estimated investment of almost 360 million rupees on a new farm, a statement said.

Controversial government figure and Minister of Public Relations and Public Affairs Mervyn Silva says that he will be on call between 7am-11pm daily for the public to call him when they face a crisis situation.

Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka yesterday stated that the bills of 78 percent of the electricity consumers would not be increased by the new proposed electricity tariff as they consume lesser than 90 units monthly.

Now that the war is over, Sri Lanka can comfortably join the Ottawa Convention aka Mine Ban Treaty.

Several MPs have illegally transacted their duty free vehicle permits, at times at prices as high as Rs.16.5 million each, by handing over the possession of vehicles to be imported under this facility to their dealers, authoritative parliamentary sources…

The British High Commission in a press release says The UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) (the trade arm of the British High Commission - BHC) the British Council and the UK Border Agency (UKBA) jointly hosted a…

The Sri Lankan Government will begin the second phase of construction of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) expansion project in 2012 to increase the capacity of airport facilities.

Siemens Enterprise Communication has appointed Lanka Bell subsidiary BellVantage as its authorised business partner in Sri Lanka.

Bids for 10 islands at Kalpitiya as tourist resorts are being evaluated, a weekly meeting brings all state agencies together to speed up tourism-related project approvals and major changes soon to the Tourism Act 2005 to revert back to a…

The Chairman of Muslim Aid, Sir Iqbal Sacranie called on the President of Sri Lanka, H.E Mahinda Rajapaksa, on 13 December 2010 at the Prime Minister’s House, Temple Trees in Colombo.

Leader of the UNP Ranil Wickremesinghe and his main rival Sajith Premadasa claimed victory yesterday, as the UNP adopted a new constitution that makes it the only political party, in Sri Lanka and possibly in Asia, to institutionalise the democratic…

Sri Lanka have sprung a couple of surprises by including Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas in their 30-member preliminary squad for the 2011 World Cup. Seamer Nuwan Pradeep is the only uncapped player in the list, which will be pruned…

Sri Lanka have sprung a couple of surprises by including Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas in their 30-member preliminary squad for the 2011 World Cup. Seamer Nuwan Pradeep is the only uncapped player in the list, which will be pruned…

Sri Lanka's 2010 state spending is on track with a planned 8.0 percent of gross domestic product deficit, and a new budget for next year has reformed taxes, but inflation is rising, the International Monetary Fund said.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has appointed three Monitoring Members of Parliament. Sajin de Vass Gunawardena has been appointed as the Monitoring MP to the External Affairs Ministry while parliamentarians R. Dumindha Silva and UdithaSanjaya Lokubandara were appointed as Monitoring MPs to…

Eleven officers and four hundred and forty-three other ranks of Special Forces joined to serve the motherland after passing out from Special Forces Training School (SFTS) at Maduruoya yesterday, (11 Dec).

The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Response Team (SLCERT) has requested the public to immediately inform them on any Cyber criminal activities.

A millionaire hardware merchant was stabbed to death at his hardware shop in Dalugama on Sunday evening when he refused to part with money to a three-member robber gang.

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe who thanked everyone who helped to make the party convention a success told media a short while ago that the party will hold a mass protest against the government on January 26 brining one million people…

Movenpick Hotels Resorts has secured a management agreement to operate the Movenpick Hotel Colombo, a 180-room property in Sri Lanka, which is expected to open by mid 2013.

Movenpick Hotels Resorts has secured a management agreement to operate the Movenpick Hotel Colombo, a 180-room property in Sri Lanka, which is expected to open by mid 2013.

The GCE Ordinary Level examination will begin as scheduled tomorrow and special steps are being taken to conduct the test in flood affected areas, a top official announced yesterday.

Serving in the health sector is more than just another duty, it’s a noble obligation that has to be carried out with humane affection, says the Minister of Health Maithripala Sirisena.

The UNP new constitution was passed at the Sirikotha, party headquarters, a short while ago, a party spokesman said. UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe today addressing the Special Convention of the party called UNP supporters to rally round to defeat President…

A group of 40 school badminton players will leave for Singapore for a tournament this week and the observers point out that the badminton officials have violated an education ministry circular by collecting Rs 95,000 each from players.

The writing is on the wall for Sri Lanka Cricket. After months of fooling around and appointing incompetent ‘nobodies’ to key positions of the administration, SLC is facing the bitter truth, which is the consequence of appointing misfits to run…

India’s Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said that Sri Lanka is moving in the right direction after eradicating terrorism and added that there are “unique opportunities” for Sri Lanka and India after terrorism was defeated by the Security…

The Sri Lankan cabinet has mandated the Sinhala version of the national anthem instead of a Tamil version used in some parts of the country, a media report said.

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - Sri Lankan police arrested four people Friday, including a Pakistani national, after seizing 50 kilos (110 pounds) of high-grade heroin with a street value of one million dollars.

United Nations agencies are helping the Government of Sri Lanka address the humanitarian needs of more than 100,000 people affected by flash floods and landslides over the past month as heavy rains .

COLOMBO - Sri Lanka is targeting big-ticket projects that will give the economy a short-term boost and enhance export earnings, to increase slowing post-war foreign direct investment, the state investment body's head said on Friday.

Raj Rajaratnam and Danielle Chiesi will be tried separately in the government's Galleon insider trading case.