Category: Local News

By Janaka Alahapperuma – (Pix by: Sudath Silva) Sri Lanka’s second airport, Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA), ceremoniously declared open today on 18 March at 10.54 am by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. […]

– Submitted by Walter Jayawardhana – BEIJING: Newly-elected Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday offered his support in protecting Sri Lanka’s national sovereignty, hinting at Beijing’s backing to stave off a US-backed resolution against the country at UN Human Rights Council. […]

– Submitted by Walter Jayawardhana – Away from the current political turmoil, in the quiet hills of Sri Lanka, plans are afoot to build a temple for goddess Sita at Divurumpola, near Nuwara-Eliya, a place believed to be associated with the Ramayana. […]

Exclusive interview by Janaka Alahapperuma from London The Hambantota Mahinda Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) is Sri Lanka’s second international airport, with its wondrous new sky gate which has currently finished in its 1st phase. The official opening to the nation will be on 18 March 2013. I had a very rare opportunity to talk directly to […]

– Submitted by Walter Jayawardhana – COLOMBO: Sri Lankan immigration authorities have deported a British national who had arrived on holiday to the island. […]

A Sri Lankan Buddhist monk, Pathberiye Gnanaloka Thero, was assaulted by members of Tamil outfits at the Big Temple in Thanjavur, in Tiruchi, India on Saturday. […]

Customs and excise officials yesterday forced open two 40-foot containers and found 210 barrels comprising 62,000 liters of contraband ethyl alcohol imported from Vietnam under the guise of thinner. […]

– Submitted by Walter Jayawardhana – DMK president M. Karunanidhi on Saturday expressed his disappointment over the Centre’s silence on announcing its stand on the US-sponsored draft resolution against Sri Lankan in the United Nations Human Rights Council for its war crimes. […]

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will commission Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport on March 18. This is the second International Airport in Sri Lanka and the first ever Sri Lankan International Airport to be operated as an International Airport ‘from the day of commencing operations’, Civil Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratne said. […]

Statement at the Adoption of the Report of the UPR Working Group by Hon Mahinda Samarasinghe MP, Minister of Plantation Industries, Special Envoy of H.E. the President of Sri Lanka on Human Rights & Leader of the Delegation of Sri Lanka to the 22nd Session of the UN Human Rights Council, Geneva 15 Mar 2013 […]

The United States are scheduled to present its resolution on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council sessions today (March 15). […]

Sri Lanka has been told to speedily release the 53 Indian fishermen arrested by its navy Wednesday and Thursday, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said. Making a statement in the Rajya Sabha, Khurshid said the government conveyed its view to Sri Lanka’s deputy high commissioner after summoning him to the foreign ministry. […]

FILE PHOTO Six family members of slain SLFPer Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra will attend the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session in Geneva today while one family member is scheduled to address the session with regard to the killing of Mr. Premachandra and other alleged politically motivated killings in Sri Lanka. […]

By Janaka Alahapperuma (Pix by: Sudath Silva) Deputy Prime Minister of Japan, Taro Aso called on the Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wednesday (13) afternoon during his four day official visit to Japan. Defence Minister of Japan, Itsunori Onodera also met with the President just after the conclusion of the Japanese deputy premier’s meeting […]

The Cabinet Sub-Committee yesterday decided to recommend to the government a legal mechanism worked out to deal with the Halal certification of food items, a Minister said yesterday. […]

United National Party Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake says that the electricity tariff should not be increased. […]