Category: Local News


Sri Lanka to standardize time

The government has decided to officially gazette Sri Lanka’s local time as the standard time. According to reports this has been decided due to clocks in various parts of the country and time announced by various media depicting the time in different minutes. […]



Fonseka transferred to Welikada

MP Sarath Fonseka was transferred to the Welikada Prison last night after his 30 month rigorous imprisonment which was recommended by the second Court Martial was ratified by the President, Army Spokesman Ubaya Medawala told Ada Derana. […]



NO SPECIAL CELL FOR FONSEKA, SAYS PRISONS COMMISSIONER GENERAL

September 30, 2010: There are no special cells within the prison, said the Prisons Commissioner General Major General V. R. De Silva, speaking on the measures that will be taken with regard to Sarath Fonseka, as the President has approved the verdict of the court martial. “From this point on, he becomes a prisoner. After […]



President confirms 30-month jail term for Fonseka

Sri Lanka’s president has confirmed the 30-month jail term imposed on former army chief Sarath Fonseka following his conviction by a military court, an official said Thursday. President Mahinda Rajapakse approved the prison sentence for a period of two-and-a-half years after returning Wednesday from New York, where he addressed the U.N. general assembly, a senior […]



Incessant rain in Anuradhapura: Floods submerge over 100 houses

Over 100 houses in Anuradhapura were submerged by flood waters following incessant rain which lasted for nearly eight hours Tuesday. Residents said they had not experienced such heavy showers for the last 20 years. Areas worst affected included Hidogama, Pavakkulama, Maha Nelubewa, and 8th and 12th canal areas. Some of the houses were three to […]



President Returns

President Mahinda Rajapaksa returned to the Island in the early morning at 4.00 am Wednesday Presidential sources said. President during his visit to attend the 65th Summit of the UN General Assembly also addressed the UN special summit on Millennium Development Goal (MDG). President also held special talks with UN Secretary General Ban ki Moon […]



Maldives thanks President Mahinda Rajapaksa

Maldivian Vice-President Dr. Mohammed Waheed Hassan speaking at the 65th Session of the UN General Assembly has thanked Sri Lanka and President Mahinda Rajapaksa for his support during the Maldivian political crisis while calling on the International Community to assist Sri Lanka in rebuilding after the 25 year period of conflict. “I would like to […]



President to The Wall Street Journal: Opportunity for Sri Lanka as China’s labour costs rise

Rising labour costs in China present an opportunity for Sri Lanka to attract foreign companies seeking an alternative low-cost manufacturing base, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal published on September 22, 2010. President Rajapaksa, in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, told the newspaper that Sri Lanka […]



TRAIN TRAGEDY AT KATUNAYAKE: RESIDENTS BLAME MALFUNCTIONING SIGNAL LIGHTS

September 27, 2010: The postmortem into the incident where three persons died at the Katunayake level crossing was conducted today. Those killed when the train knocked the motorbike they were travelling on was a nine-month-old child, his mother and a relative. The motorbike had been travelling from the Averiwatta area in Katunayake towards the Katunayake […]



Top US Business Leaders meet President in NY

Express keen interest in investment opportunities in Sri Lanka While on his official visit to New York City for the United Nations General Assembly, President Mahinda Rajapaksa met with leading American business leaders at a luncheon to outline emerging opportunities for investment in Sri Lanka. Business executives from a variety of industries, including the aerospace […]



President meets UN Chief and holds talks with other leaders too

President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is New York attending the UNGA summit called on UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon in New York and held one on one talks at UN office Presidential sources said. President during his address in UNGA had apprised the world leaders of the latest post conflict situation in Sri Lanka and […]



Fonseka’s Parliamentary privileges: Call for explanation from Army Commander, UNP urges Speaker

News Courtesy: Ada Derana The issue of the breach of Parliamentary privilege of Democratic National Alliance (DNA) leader Sarath Fonseka came up in Parliament today as well. Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has urged Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa to call for an explanation from the Army Commander regarding the matter. United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe […]



Taj group to rebrand hotels in Sri Lanka

Looking at expanding its business in Sri Lanka after the end of the 30-year-old conflict, the Taj Group of Hotels today announced rebranding and reclassification of its hotels in the Island nation. “Taj has been among the first hospitality entrants in this country and today we wish to commit ourselves to a renewed relationship with […]



Rs. 70m robbed at Paliyagoda

News Courtesy: Ada Derana An armed gang at Paliyagoda has robbed Rs. 70 Million from a vehicle carrying cash to an ATM machine says Police Spokesman. The theft had taken place at around 1.00 am today at Aluwakella, Thegalapotha by five suspects traveling in two motorbikes. It is reported that the robbers had forcibly stopped […]



President tells United Nations General Assembly: Healing wounds greatest challenge

Sri Lanka recognizes the challenges we face, among the greatest of which is healing the wounds of the recent past, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the 64th United Nations General Assembly in New York yesterday. To this end, earlier this year, a Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission has been established, giving full expression to the […]