Private education may wipe out State education

Joint Opposition front-liner Dr Bandula Gunawardena has protested against the purported decision by the Government to permit private schools to open five branches, each  claiming that the decision would be detrimental to the free education. MP Gunawardena who is also a...

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New DG appointed to Public Enterprise Department

Thilaka Jayasundara yesterday assumed duties as Director General of the Public Enterprises Department.  ...

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President’s anti-narcotic campaign long overdue, but the style is too simplistic

President Maithripala Sirisena genuinely or otherwise seems to share the rightful sense of urgency to combat the drug menace in this country. If he is genuine, he would be the first national leader who understood the gravity of the problem, and sought decisively to act upon...

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The power and the glory of Mahavamsa

Undoubtedly, Mahavamsa focuses essentially on the Sinhala-Buddhists. What else could historian Mahanama do writing in the 5th century? What else was there for him to write about at the time? He couldn’t write about the Tamils because they were not a part of the evolving historical...

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How Jaffna Hindus met challenge of European missionaries

With the advent of European power in Ceylon in the 16th Century, the Hndus of Jaffna began to face religious annihilation. The Portuguese and the Dutch were hell bent on converting them to Christianity – the Portuguese to Roman Catholicism and the Dutch to Protestatism. The...

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Raina’ arrested for 'Keselwatte' shooting incident

‘Raina’, an accomplice of underworld gang member of ‘Keselwatte Dinuka’ was arrested this evening in connection with the shooting incident that occurred in the Keselwaththa Police area on Sunday night, Police said...

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IP arrested over abduction of two businessmen in Rathgama

Police Inspector Kapila Nishantha who is attached to the Southern Province Special Investigation Unit was arrested by the CID today over the abduction of two businessmen in Rathgama...

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Petition filed seeking SC order directing EC to hold PC poll immediately

A petition was filed by the Sathya Gaveshakayo Organisation (Truth Seekers) in the Supreme Court today requesting an order directing the Election Commission to hold the election for Provincial Councils (PC) immediately...

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Chainsaw machine registration to commence tomorrow

Registration process of all chainsaw machines being used in the country will commence from tomorrow (20), the Ministry of Defence announced...

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Chainsaw Machine registration to commence tomorrow

Registration process of all chainsaw machines being used in the country will commence from tomorrow (February 20), the Ministry of Defence announced...

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Three killed, nineteen injured in bus accident

Three people were killed and nineteen others were injured when a Colombo bound bus from Vavuniya, skidded off the road and crashed into a transformer at Mahawewa Junction in Marawila early this morning...

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CC yet to gazette rules on making appointments, promotions: PHU

The Constitutional Council (CC) had not yet issued a gazette notice on the procedure that would be adopted in making appointments and promotions, the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) said today...

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Red clay roofing tile industry urges govt. to relax excessive red tape blocking raw material sourcing

Sri Lanka’s red clay roofing tile industry recently urged the government to reduce excessive regulations and procedures in place with regard to sourcing their main raw material—clay— which has hiked the cost production, driving over 200 clay roofing tile plants out of business.   “The...

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Pest certification puts brakes on grape exports to SL

Export of grapes from India to Russia and Sri Lanka has halted midway in the season over stronger pest control requirements from the destination countries, the Indian Express reported...

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Woman’s body recovered in Diyawanna Oya

A body of around 50-year-old woman had been recovered from Diyawanna Oya this morning...

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Govt seeks US$ 48mn credit line from India to develop KKS port

The government will obtain a US$ 48 million credit line from India for the development of Kankesanthurai Port, an official said yesterday...

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Gangarama Navam Perahera today and tomorrow

The Gangarama Navam Maha Perahera, also known as the Colombo art pageant, will parade the streets today (18) and tomorrow (19)...

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Govt. to regulate rice prices from April 1

Agriculture Minister P. Harrison said that the maximum retail price (MRP)of a kilogramme of Samba would be Rs.85 while Nadu would have a MRP of Rs. 80 with effect from April 1 this year. He said this at a meeting held with the representatives of farmer organizations in Nachchaduwa,...

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Four killed, nineteen injured in bus accident

Four people were killed and nineteen others were injured when a Colombo bound bus from Vavuniya, skidded off the road and crashed into a transformer at Mahawewa Junction in Marawila early this morning...

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Settlements and houses: Heated arguments between TNA MPs and Rishard

TNA MPs and Minister of Trade and Commerce Rishard Bathiudeen were engaged in a heated argument with regard to resettlement and providing housing during the district development progress review meeting in Mullathivu District over the weekend...

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Oh, the times we live! - EDITORIAL

On Friday, US President Donald Trump declared a state of national emergency in the United States. The president is in search of a means to provide himself with funds to construct a 230-mile long wall between the US and Mexico...

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Generational Challenges of Northern Reconstruction

A decade after the war, the North continues to be mired in a social and economic crisis, with little light at the end of the tunnel. The liberals address this crisis by increasingly resorting to attitudinal, behavioural and cultural explanations...

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Race for AI dominance heats up

Last Monday President Trump signed an executive order titled ‘Maintaining American leadership in Artificial Intelligence (AI)’. This new policy is based on five main principles, first of which firmly outlines......

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IPC’s Decriminalizing Section 377: India’s LGBTIQ community feel victorious yet?

Five months after Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code was decriminalised, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ) community still feels the stigma and discrimination lurking around...

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Vandalising Buddha Statues: Suspects remanded till February 27

The suspects in remand custody in connection with vandalizing statues of the Buddha in several areas in the country were produced before Mawanella Magistrate Upul Rajakaruna and further remanded till February 27...

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Female sailor found hanging in room following harassment at camp

A 22-year-old female sailor had allegedly committed suicide at her house in Uragasmanhandiya claiming that she was being harassed by another female naval officer at the camp, the Police said...

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Imported milk powder not healthy, Prez reiterates

President Maitripala Sirisena said that consumption of some imported milk power, would not be healthy for the population, despite the claims of individuals attempting to defend allegations that what was sold as milk powder was a mixture of lactose and animal fats...

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Photo of car racket suspect released

The Police today released a photograph of a suspect wanted in connection with an alleged fraud of Rs. 4.3 million...

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Counterfeit notes valued over half million seized

A suspect had been arrested with Sri Lankan counterfeit currency notes valued over half million during a raid at Peragas Junction on the Biyagama Road...

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That's a superman effort, say Faf du Plessis on Perera's knock

South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis raises a toast to Kusal Perera for his heroic, unbeaten 153 which guided Sri Lanka to a sensational 1-wicket victory in first Test at Durba...

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Postal facility allowance for MPs, PC members increased

A gazette has been issued increasing annual free postal facility allowance for Members of the Parliament and for Provincial Council members...

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Snr.DIG Wijegunawardena on a temporary transfer

Southern Province Senior DIG Ravi Wijegunawardena has been temporarily transferred to Police headquarters, the police said...

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Sri Lanka plugs 'Buddhist tourist trail' site

The Sri Lankan Tourism Promotion Bureau has introduced a "Buddhist Tourism Trail", a Sri Lankan promotional website aiming to attract Thai and other travellers from Theravada Buddhism countries, the Bangkok Post reported...

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TNA for UNHRC resolution seeking more time for Lanka

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said yesterday it would stand for a fresh resolution to be moved by some western countries asking for more time for Sri Lanka to implement the provisions of the previous UNHRC resolution...

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Detection of contraband - Colombo Port to get 3 high-tech scanners

With the installation of three high-tech scanners at the Colombo Port of Colombo on March  1  the Sri Lanka Customs (SLC) would be able to detect drugs, narcotics, cigarettes, gold and other contraband smuggled in containers, Director General P.S.M. Charles said ...

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Life imprisonment for peddling heroin

High Court Judge Sashi Mahendran yesterday sentenced a father of two children to life imprisonment after he was found guilty of trafficking and peddling 10.325 grams of heroin at Nedimala, Kalubowila in 2012...

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Tea exports in hot water due to trade embargoes on Iran

With the imposition of various trade embargoes on Iran, obtaining payments for tea exports from Sri Lanka to Iran is causing several difficulties, Sri Lankan Tea Board Chairman Lucille Wijewardena told Daily Mirror...

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More power useless if what's devolved is unused: PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday there was no point in asking for more powers if the local bodies don't use what is already devolved to the Provincial Councils...

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Madush’s arrest: Police team to leave for Dubai

A six-member police team was appointed by Defense Secretary Hemasiri Fernando to leave for Dubai to assist the Dubai Police in the investigations into the recent arrest of 31 Sri Lankans including drug kingpin Makandure Madush and singers Amal Perera and his son  Nadeemal...

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Nigeria’s election today

Nigeria is a veritable factory of sophisticated novelists. It was no surprise that Ben Okri won the British Booker Prize that goes annually to the best novelist of the year.     ...

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Green Fashion: imagine and act naturally

This week, the United Nations  marked the International Day of Women and Girls in Science with the theme being “Investment in Women and Girls in Science for Inclusive Green Growth.”According to the UN, Science and gender equality are vital for the achievement of the internationally...

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KKS port area to be made vibrant economic hub: PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said step would be taken to develop a vibrant economic hub around the Kankesanthurai harbour that would be transformed into a commercial port with Indian assistance...

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Hartal in Puttalam against garbage recycling plant

Puttalam tuned into a ghost town yesterday when all business establishments and private sector institutions put up shutters and staged a hartal against the Aruwakkalu  Gabage  Recycling plant which is being built...

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Incidents in Parliament: CID records statement from MP Punchinilame

UPFA MP Susantha Punchinilame said today the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) recorded a statement from him over the chaotic incidents that took place in parliament in November last year...

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EU reiterates need to replace PTA with new legislation

The European Union (EU) reiterated the need to repeal and replace Sri Lanka’s Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in order to bring counter-terrorism legislation in line with international standards...

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Opposition vows to defeat national Govt. proposal

The Opposition said today it would defeat the national government proposal with the support of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA)...

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Rains expected to increase

The Department of Meteorology said rains were expected to increase in the next two days...

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Catholic Bishops' Conference says no to death penalty

Issuing a press release, Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Sri Lanka said they were opposed to the death penalty.  ...

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Two youths arrested for taking photos on top of Cheithiya remanded

Two youths, who were arrested for allegedly taking photos on top of one of the retinue Cheithiyas in Mihintale yesterday, were remanded until February 21, police said...

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US Coast Guard trains Sri Lankan port officials

The US Coast Guard (USCG) conducted a port security capacity building programme at the Colombo Port with more than 25 Sri Lankan port officials from February 11 to 13, the US Embassy said today...

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