Category: Local News

The Minister of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms, Chandrasiri Gajadeera, announced that the Watareka Prison School would be opened by January 2014. Prison statistics reveal that out of 32,128 inmates, 2,848 are uneducated. […]

President Mahinda Rajapaksa hosted the Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall Sir Charles Philip Arthur George at the President’s House this (Nov. 14) evening. […]

The Duke of Cornwall Sir Charles Philip Arthur George and the Duchess of Cornwall, Lady Camilla Parker Bowles, arrived in Sri Lanka a short while ago, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013 at 4.00pm for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2013 beginning in Colombo. […]

(Reuters) – Sri Lanka could be turned into a preferred destination for wealthy Indian and Chinese tourists, said Australian gambling tycoon James Packer on Wednesday as he promoted his plan to develop a $400 million dollar casino resort in Colombo. Crown Resorts (CWN.AX) Chairman Packer was speaking at a Commonwealth forum on Wednesday after Sri […]

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday urged delegations attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) not to strengthen the hands of those promoting separatist sentiments. […]

Channel -4 journalists including Callum Macrae, who were heading to the North were sent back to Colombo in a special vehicle by the police saying it was being done for security reasons after their train was blocked at Anuradhapura Railway Station by a group of protesters. […]

Australian tycoon James Packer, Chairman of Crown Limited Australia, speaking at the Commonwealth Business Forum stated that Sri Lanka is among the greatest places for foreign investments and tourism. […]

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in his letter to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, gave no reason for his absence at the Commonwealth Summit, according to Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris. […]

Full Text of the Speech:- Secretary General of the Commonwealth Chairman of the Commonwealth Business Council Honourable Ministers Dear friends, At the outset, let me welcome you all to this opening ceremony of the 2013 Commonwealth Business Forum. We are delighted to have you in our peaceful country, and to showcase the ever growing opportunities […]

UNP MP Sajith Premadasa, declared that he will never slink or run away from issues that come up, and said until measures taken to reform the Party are implemented, he is not in a position to answer questions posed by the media. […]

Contrary to reports that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will call up Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to explain why he could not attend the Commonwealth summit, the two leaders have not spoken on the phone since New Delhi firmed up its decision, it is reliably learnt. […]

Commonwealth Secretary-General Mr. Kamalesh Sharma called on Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat this (Nov. 11) morning. […]

Billionaire James Packer will visit Colombo this week to lobby the Sri Lankan government over his plans for a five-star resort. The Crown chairman is expected to meet key government officials and potential joint venture partners on Wednesday. […]

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said Monday he will attend a Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka despite his Indian counterpart pulling out amid pressure for a boycott over alleged war crimes by Colombo. Key said his presence at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) this week did not imply support for the Sri […]

A jinx appears to be affecting the brand new luxury vehicles imported for CHOGM, with at least three top-of-the-line Benz S-400 cars suffering damage last Friday, while being moved around inside the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre grounds. […]

“You are unique in that you repre sent the voices, aspirations, visions, and ambitions of your fellow citizens in each of the countries represented here. You also portray their present and their future. It is in this backdrop, we take pride in hosting this Peoples Forum associated with CHOGM, held in Asia, for the first […]