Category: Local News

A Sri Lankan man who came to Australia by boat has been found to be eligible for a protection visa, although he is suspected of murder in his home country.

A Ceylon Petroleum Corporation think-tank is in constant deliberation to continue fuel supplies countrywide without interruption after petrol consumption doubled with the recent price reduction, a top official said.

China today reacted guardedly to new Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena’s India visit, saying it is “happy to see” close and friendly relations between them and emphasised that sound ties among the three nations will be conducive to the entire region.

Sri Lanka’s foreign minister will visit China next week in the highest-level trip to Beijing by a member of the new government, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, as China seeks to ensure the safety of its investments there.

Former director of the Transport division of the Presidential Secretariat, Keerthi Samarakoon has been arrested by the Police in connection with the missing of three luxury vehicles of the Presidential Secretariat.

The Hindus of Sri Lanka, who have a long tradition of friendship and harmony with all other communities in Sri Lanka will gain more strength in their search for unity through reconciliation and understanding with the spirit of Maha Shivarathri festival, President Maithripala Sirisena issuing a message to mark the festival said.

Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said that former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa cannot be given equal treatment during CID interrogation because he is now an ordinary citizen and not a VIP anymore.

At the request of the top United Nations rights official, the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council today agreed to temporarily hold off its consideration of a long-awaited report into alleged rights violations during the conflict in Sri Lanka for six months, until September 2015.

Chinese tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka kicked off the new year positively, growing by 8.9 percent in January, latest data showed Monday.

A private bank in Piliyandala has been robbed by two unidentified individuals, this afternoon, the police said.

26 tractors that were allegedly used to smuggle in heroin to Sri Lanka by Wele Suda were found in a warehouse in the Sinharamulla area in Kelaniya in a raid carried out by the Police Narcotic Bureau.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met visiting Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena at the Hyderabad House, this morning. Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj earlier called on the visiting dignitary.

A gift of a cash donation of more than Rs. 8.7 million given by the Catholic Bishops was given back to Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith by the Pontiff, the Archdiocesan Monthly Bulletin ‘Koinonia’ reported.

NEW DELHI: India and Sri Lanka will seek to open a new chapter in ties on Monday with a meeting between PM Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena who has chosen India for his maiden visit abroad as president. In a likely big takeaway from the visit, India and Sri Lanka will sign a civil nuclear cooperation agreement.

The National Freedom Front (NFF) yesterday said the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) cannot halt its strategy, of fielding former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Prime Ministerial candidate, at the General Election, to defeat the United National Party (UNP).

Sri Lanka’s new president arrived in India Sunday on his first foreign trip in office, trying to rebuild ties hit by tensions over growing Chinese influence on the strategically located island.