President Rajapaksa participates in a religious ceremony at Nallur Hindu Kovil

Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma (Pix by: Nalin Hewapathirana) President Mahinda Rajapaksa participated in a special religious ceremony at Nallur Hindu Kovil on his visit to Jaffna yesterday morning on 01st of April. This is President Rajapaksa’s second visit to the historic Hindu Shrine in the peninsula. His first visit was made prior to […]



President Rajapaksa visits Naga Vihara in Jaffna

Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma – (Pix by: Nalin Hewapathirana) President Mahinda Rajapaksa paid a visit to Naga Vihara, the historic Buddhist Shrine at Jaffna town yesterday on 1st of April. Venerable Maha Sanga headed by Chief Incumbent of the Naga Vihara Ven. Meegahajathure Gnanarathana Nayaka Thero invoked blessings on President Rajapaksa after he […]



Sri Lanka call-up uncapped Chandimal for World Twenty20

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (Reuters) – Sri Lanka have called up uncapped wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Chandimal in their 15-man squad for next month’s Twenty20 World Cup. The highly-rated 20-year-old was included in the squad named by selectors on Wednesday after scoring 320 runs at an average of 53.33 in Sri Lanka’s domestic T20 league. The squad also […]



Hero Tillakaratne Dilshan led us to safety as bullets rained in – Kent coach Paul Farbrace relives horror of terrorist attack on Sri Lanka team in Pakistan

Daily Mail – By Paul Newman Paul Farbrace talks about the day he nearly lost his life in an almost unnervingly matter-of-fact fashion. ‘I was sitting in the team bus when I heard this popping and banging noise,’ said Kent’s new head coach. ‘I looked out of the window and saw this guy running with […]



Ranmihithenna National Tele-Cinema Park: Biggest investment for local cinema – President

President Mahinda Rajapaksa who declared opened the country’s first ever fully-equipped National Tele-Cinema Park at Ranmihithenna in Tissamaharama yesterday identified the facility as the biggest investment a Government could make on behalf of its local cinema. The Mahinda Rajapaksa Tele-Cinema Park built according to a concept by him is located in a sprawling 235 acres […]



President opens Tele-cinema park today

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will open the Mahinda Rajapaksa National Tele-cinema Park in Ranmihithenne, Tissamaharama, today at 4 .30 p.m. Around 450 artistes will take part in the event which will felicitate President for his yeoman service to the industry. […]



Chinese help to build Lanka port no security threat – India

The Indian Navy today said it did not see any security threat to the country in the Chinese involvement in building Hambantota port in southern Sri Lanka. ‘Building the port in Sri Lanka will not hamper our security. Indiais too vast for that,’ Southern Naval Command’s Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Vice-Admiral K N Sunshil, told newsmen […]



Sri Lanka police announce Rs one million reward for info on Fonseka kin

Sri Lankan police has announced a Rs one million reward for information on Danuna Tillekaratne, the son-in-law of detained ex-army chief Sarath Fonseka, over alleged profits made by his firm from illegal defence deals. The reward was announced weeks after Sri Lankan authorities asked Interpol to help them unearth details of Tillekaratne’s foreign bank accounts.Tillekaratne […]



AKON APOLOGISES FOR VIDEO CONTROVERSY IN SRI LANKA

AKON has apologised for using a Buddha statue in the video for SEXY CHICK after it sparked protests in Sri Lanka – but insists he was unaware the spiritual monument was featured in the promo. Locals in the capital city of Colombo were outraged by the video, which features groups of scantily-clad women dancing at […]



Huge manapeys no guarantee for Ministership – President

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday emphasised that it would not be the number of votes garnered which would decide the fate of a candidate when it came to deciding the future ministerial positions, but their ability, commitment and productivity. “I prefer a Parliament which could work more than talk. As such I would not hesitate to […]



Akon denied visa to perform in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO (Reuters) – Sri Lanka on Tuesday said it would deny a visa to singer Akon, whose planned April concert in the island nation sparked rock-throwing protests by Buddhists offended by one of his videos. A day earlier, hundreds of people stormed the head offices of the Maharaja Broadcasting and Television (MBC/MTV) Network, a sponsor […]



Two Indian cricketers meet President Rajapaksa after receiving Ayurvedic treatments in Sri Lanka

Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma – (Pix by: Sudath Silva) Indian opening batsman Gautam Gambhir and left-arm fast bowler Ashish Nehra met with President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees on Monday evening after receiving Ayurvedic treatments in Sri Lanka. Both players who are playing for Delhi Daredevils received treatments in Sri Lanka for the […]



Mob attacks private broadcaster in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – An employee says an unidentified gang has attacked the head office of a private broadcasting company in Sri Lanka. Three employees were injured in the second attack on the broadcaster in just over a year. Shevan Daniel, an employee of Maharaja Organization, says about 200 people suddenly gathered Monday outside the […]



President Rajapaksa Inaugurates Mahinda Rajapaksa IT Centre at Gatambe, Kandy

Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma – (Pix by: Chandana Perera) Mahinda Rajapaksa IT Centre was inaugurated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Gatambe, Kandy on 19th March. A new IT Computer Training Centre was built under the ‘Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dekma (Brighter Future) programme’ and it will have facilities to train local children to gain […]



President Rajapaksa inaugurates the construction work on the Norochcholaya Power Plant Phase II

Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma – (Pix By : Sudath Silva) The construction work on the Norochcholaya Coal Power Plant Phase II in the Puttalama District was inaugurated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on 18th March. The contract was awarded to the China National Machinery & Equipment Import & Export Corporation (CMEC), a Chinese Government […]



President Rajapaksa visits Sri Dalada Maligawa with Kandy district UPFA candidates

Onlanka News – By Janaka Alahapperuma – (Pix by: Chandana Perera) President Mahinda Rajapaksa paid homage to Sri Dalada Maligawa, the most sacred Temple of the Tooth during his visit to Kandy this morning on 19th March. Venerable Maha Sangha invoked blessings on President Rajapaksa after he engaged in religious observances at the Sri Dalada […]