Category: Local News

Mahanayaka of the Malwathu Chapter, Venerable Thibbotuwawe Sri Sumangala Thera today (17) said that the members in the working committee of the UNP were all over sixty years and had old views on issues. […]

Sri Lanka, having made remarkable accomplishments in the post-conflict situation within two years, is entitled to the space freely and spontaneously to continue this momentum and complete the reconciliation process, Minister of External Affairs Professor G L Peiris said in London last week. […]

President Mahinda Rajapaksa declared that this year’s May Day while rightfully honouring the workers should also be used as an opportunity to protest against the false propaganda being carried out before the world to belittle and undermine the victory achieved by the country. […]

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has moved up to fourth spot on Time Magazine’s annual public poll on the 100 Most Influential People. Voting ends on April 21 when Time will announce the final list. […]

Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma (Pix by: Nalin Hewapathirana) The national oil anointing ceremony of the traditional Sinhala and Hindu New Year festival was held in Matara under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Uposathagaraya Maha Vihara Sri Rohana Temple of Randoopatha (Golden Island) this morning on 16 April. […]

BBC Sinhala Service – By Saroj Pathirana The Chief Justice (CJ) of Sri Lanka has strongly defended the recent Supreme Court verdict that ruled court martial is a competent court. The ruling has come under strong criticism from senior lawyers and the opposition political parties after it sealed the fate of the former army commander, […]

Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma (Pix by: Sudath Silva) The entire country is gripped in a happy and festive mood. The most eagerly awaited National New Year dawned at 1.01 pm on 14 April. This is the second National New Year the whole country is celebrating in an environment of peace and tranquility since […]

Becoming the very first Sri Lankan leader to be featured in TIME magazine’s TIME 100 Top Ten, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has reached much popularity leaving behind all other top political icons and celebrity stars in the world and some Hollywood superstars in 2011. […]

From ancient days the great cultural festival of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year has brought satisfaction and joy to the vast majority of our people. It is a festival that pays homage to the sun for the strength given to the land and people and is also the annual harvest festival that echoes the […]

Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma (Pix by:Nalin Hewapathirana) President Mahinda Rajapaksa officially declared the standard time of Sri Lanka which can be obtained through the website www.sltime.org, the Department of Government Information announced today on 11 April.  The Standard time of Sri Lanka is to be announced at midnight today by the government, making […]

Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma (Pix by: Sudath Silva) Students from the Ramanathan Academy of Fine Arts of Jaffna University enjoyed a very rare opportunity today on 11 April when they visited Colombo for an educational trip. It is the first time in their lifetime these students have visited southern part of Sri Lanka. […]

Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma (Pix by:Nalin Hewapathirana) The traditional Sri Lankan New Year, the most widely celebrated festival in Sri Lanka falls on 14 April. New Year celebrations follow auspicious times calculated by astrology.  Every year Sri Lankans throughout the country rally together with great enthusiasm to celebrate Aluth Avurudu, the Sinhala & […]

A Sri Lankan monk has been invited to the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Chief Incumbent of the London Buddhist Vihara, Venerable Bogoda Seelawimala Thera has thus been invited to grace the occasion. […]

The Ministry of Health has commenced investigation into the death of a 1 ½ year-old child after drinking a soft drink. The mother and brother of the deceased child were admitted to the Wellawaya Hospital also after drinking the soft drink, purchased from a hotel in the Wellawaya town. […]

Fisheries and Aquatic Development Minister Rajitha Senaratne yesterday said the lion’s share of protection money collected by extortionists at the St John’s Fish Market in Colombo had gone to certain politicians. […]

Adequate stocks of essential food items are freely available in the country for the festive season. A sharp drop in the prices of rice and vegetables was also reported due to the increased supplies sent to Dedicated Economic Centres (DECs) and the Colombo market from agricultural districts, said Cooperatives and Internal Trade Secretary Sunil Sirisena. […]