President Rajapaksa pays homage to Nagadeepa Temple in Jaffna.

Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma (Pix by: Sudath Silva) President Mahinda Rajapaksa paid homage to Nagadeepa Temple in Nainativu Island on 17 January after attending at the National Thai Pongal Festival which was held at the Alfred Doraiappa Stadium. Chief incumbent of the Nagadeepa Temple and the Chief Sangha Nayaka of the Northern Province, […]



No room for underworld, terrorism in Lanka – President

I will never let underworld gangs or terrorism raise its head whether in the South or North, President Mahinda Rajapksa speaking in Tamil at the Thaipongal festival in Jaffna said today. He added that terrorism in any form will not be tolerated. […]



Warship sent after hijacked ship

Source: BBC – Photo by BGNES A South Korean warship has set off in pursuit of a chemical tanker from the country which has been hijacked by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean. The naval destroyer is part of a multinational patrol force based in the region. […]



U.S., India send help to flood-battered Sri Lanka

United States became the second country to offer emergency assistance to more than a million affected by flooding in Sri Lanka. U.S. ambassador to the country, Patricia A. Butenis, said in a statement that Washington was donating U.S. $300,000 to provide various goods and services to areas hardest-hit by the floods. […]



A dream comes true: Sangupiddy Bridge declares open by President Rajapaksa

Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma (Pix by: Sudath Silva) A much waited Sangupiddy dream bridge which links the Northern peninsula to the rest of the country via Pooneryn declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday on 16 January. The Sangupiddy Bridge across the Jaffna lagoon connects Pooneryn from the mainland and Karaitivu in the […]



British Minister expresses his support and sympathy on flooding in Sri Lanka

Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma from London British Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister Alistair Burt has expressed his support on the flooding in Sri Lanka in a message issued on the 14 January. Minister Burt further extended his sympathy to all those who have suffered as a result of the rains. Minister made these […]



Sachin equals Jayasuriya’s ODI record

Sachin Tendulkar is playing his 444th one-day international, reaching another milestone in a career where he holds nearly every major record with the bat. Tendulkar, 37, equaled Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya for the number of ODI appearances. Tendulkar reached the mark in the second ODI against South Africa on Saturday and will likely break the […]



‘No visa on arrival’ to Sri Lanka

A new online visa scheme for all visitors will be introduced soon replacing the current on arrival visa for selected countries, Sri Lanka authorities say. Controller General of Immigration and Emigration Chulananda Perera told BBC Sandeshaya that representatives of tourism industry whom he recently met agreed that it is a much improved measure than the […]



Political solution to ethnic problem: Govt for consensus

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said with regard to a political solution to the ethnic problem, a solution will be arrived at in consensus with all political parties depending on the proposals they make. The President said so at a discussion with foreign correspondents at Temple Trees yesterday. […]



THREE-YEAR-OLD JUMBO DIES CAUGHT IN RAGING WATERS IN HABARANA

The raging waters caused by the incessant rains spared no man nor beast in its path. When nature unleashed it fury across the land, this little pachyderm had little chance of survival. The tiny jumbo got swept away by the raging floods. Whether he breathed his last by drowning or by getting his skull cracked […]



President tells media: Help build amity

It is the duty of the media to help build amity among all communities and not contribute to fostering hatred among people, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the Heads and Editors of the Private and State Media at Temple Trees yesterday. Responding to a question as to what he considered the major challenge in the […]



Composer of the Sri Lanka National Anthem Ananda Samarakoon’s birth centenary commemorates

Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma (Pix by: Sudath Silva) The composer of the Sri Lankan National Anthem, artiste and late musician Ananda Samarakoon’s 100th birth anniversary was commemorated at Temple Trees on 13 January. President Mahinda Rajapaksa graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and said that the best honour can be awarded to […]



NINE RAJARATA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS APOLOGISE TO DEAN IN COURT

Nine student activists of the Rajarata University had to apologize before the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences yesterday. The student activists were produced before court with charges levelled against them for harassment and obstruction of a group including professor Ariyasinghe Langamuwa, while participating at a meeting of a banned organisation. […]



Accident kills six

At least six were killed and eight others injured following a passenger bus bashed into a van proceeding from Kuruwita to Colombo at Ihala Kosgama on the Avissawella-Colombo road early this morning, the Police said. Out of the fourteen people in the van six died, while the driver died on the spot, The Police said. […]



UNICEF responds to Sri Lanka floods

Press Release: UNICEF UNICEF is rushing emergency supplies to eastern Sri Lanka as hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced by flooding. Water levels in some areas are two metres higher than normal – and still rising. Preceded by more than a week of intense wet weather, four days of non-stop heavy rain since […]



India to despatch relief material to Sri Lanka

NEW DELHI: The Indian government will despatch relief material for the flood-affected people of Sri Lanka, and the first consignment will be sent on Friday, Defence Ministry officials said here. Twenty-five tonnes of relief material, including food, drinking water, sleeping mats, blankets, bed sheets will be sent to Colombo by Friday afternoon. […]