5 dead in shooting at newspaper building in Maryland

Five people were killed Thursday in a shooting at a local newspaper building in Maryland, and several others were wounded, officials in Annapolis said. A law enforcement official tells CBS News the suspect has been identified as Jarrod Ramos, 38, of Laurel, Maryland.



Deputy Minister takes tipper driver’s side in Suriyawewa

An argument erupted between Wildlife Deputy Minister Palitha Thewarapperuma and Police Special Task Force officials at Suriyawewa after tipper drivers complained to the Deputy Minister that STF personnel in civvies are in the habit of confiscating their mobile phones.



Sri Lankan rupee eases on dollar demand from banks, importers

The Sri Lankan rupee closed marginally weaker on Thursday as dollar demand from importers and banks in late trade surpassed selling of the U.S. currency in early trade and inward remittances, dealers said.



Cabraal says New York Times article is ‘fake’ news

Former Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Ajith Nivard Cabraal, has refuted the allegations made in a recent article published by The New York Times, referring to it as ‘fake’ news which has violated the truth and a gross misrepresentation of facts.



Suspect arrested with Heroin, Ice and Hashish at BIA

A 57-year-old Sri Lankan was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morning while attempting to smuggle drugs including heroin, crystal methamphetamine (ice) and hashish worth Rs.4.7 million into the country, Police said.



Udayanga would return on my request: MR

Former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga, who the government has named as a fugitive, would return to Sri Lanka in a month on my request, Ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday.



Sri Lankan national arrested in India, two others escape

A Sri Lankan national, was arrested at Uchipuli Valangapuri coast near Rameswaram while two others escaped into a nearby forest, Tamil Nadu police said today.



Arjuna wants probe on bookies

World Cup winning Captain and Minister Arjuna Ranatunga yesterday said that he would soon formally request Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera to examine profits made by bookies on days the national cricket team lost international matches under controversial and arguable circumstances.



How China got Sri Lanka to cough up Hambantota Port – Report

China’s acquisition of the strategic Hambantota port from Sri Lanka has given it “control of a territory” just a few 100 miles off the shores of India, highlighting its “debt trap” and ambitious use of loans to gain influence around the world, a media report has said.



Postal strike suspended

The Joint Postal Trade Unions Front (JPTUF) yesterday announced that it would together with 24 of its unions, suspend the postal strike which has lasted for the past 16 days.



Bribery case: Bail rejected for Mahanama and Dissanayaka

Colombo Chief Magistrate rejects bail application filed by President’s former Chief of Staff and former Chairman of the State Timber Corporation (STC) over the Rs 20 million bribe case.



Kusal Janith Perera injured

Sri Lankan cricketer Kusal Janith Perera was injured during the third test match against West Indies. He sustained the injury when fielding.



SriLankan hoping to reduce excess staff

The government is considering retrenching the excess staff of SriLankan airlines by measures such as Voluntary Retirement Schemes, a report says.



Acid rain in NCP – Dr. Senanayake

Environmentalists claimed that the acidic gases, which are being released from the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant, can lead to acid rain and deforestation in the North Central Province.



President vows to protect country’s cultural heritage

President Maithripala Sirisena said as we are a proud nation with an ancient history, the government is duty bound to protect and safeguard our cultural heritage and bequeath it to the future generations, President Maithripala Sirisena said.



Postal workers protest hampers traffic in Colombo, Fort

The D.R. Wijewardena Mawatha in Colombo Fort is reportedly hampered with traffic owing to the ongoing protest launched by the Postal Workers at the Central Mail Exchange.