The Indian Film Academy opened its second decade of festivity in Colombo yesterday. The three-day Videocon IIFA Weekend is expected to spark massive media coverage for Sri Lanka as foreign artistes as well as business giants across the globe will take part, showcasing the country as a business enterprise, tourist destination as well as an […]
President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited the sacred area of Kataragama yesterday morning and attended several religious ceremonies. He first visited the ancient ‘Kiri Vehera’ and engaged in religious observances. The Chief Incumbent of the temple Ven. Aluthwewa Soratha Thera chanted pirith to invoke blessings on the President and the others accompanying him. […]
The Sri Lanka Tourist Board said some of the most popular Indian actors have confirmed their participation at the 11th International Indian Film Academy Awards which will be held at the Sugathadasa Indoor stadium on June 5. Actors Sanjaya Dutt, Bipasha Basu, Sharman Joshi, Genelia D’Souza, Rajiv Kapoor, Malaika Arora, Aamna Sharif, Sarina Khan and […]
As the 11th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards kick off in Colombo, for the first time in a decade it’s not the stars but venue that’s attracting attention. Conducting the IIFA in Sri Lanka has been seen as hurting the Tamil sentiments back in India and the prime reason for the controversy around it. […]
*Fifteen percent surcharge on import duty removed *Import duty on raw materials, machines reduced *Three band tariff structure of 5, 15, 30 comes into operation *Tax on mobiles, cameras, watches, electronics and motor vehicles slashed In a major step towards simplifying and broad basing the tax structure, President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as Fiance […]
A special super luxury intercity train yesterday began its maiden journey from the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) to the Secretariat Halt opposite Colombo Hilton for tourists visiting the country for Videocon IIFA Weekend and Micromax IIFA Awards. The train service was launched under the patronage of Transport Minister Kumara Welgama and Hambantota District Parliamentarian Namal […]
COLOMBO (AFP) – Bollywood’s leading stars may skip their annual awards festival, which is being held in Sri Lanka this week, following protests from pro-Tamil rebel lobbies in India, officials said Monday. The brand ambassador of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards, Amitabh Bachchan, his actor son Abhishek and daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai — Bollywood’s […]
Colombo Fort Magistrate and Additional District Judge Lanka Jayaratne yesterday issued notice against Danuna Tillakaratne, son-in-law of General Sarath Fonseka, to appear before the Colombo Fort Magistrate Court on June 30 at 9.00 a.m. without fail. If he failed to appear before Court as directed by the Court his movable and immovable properties will be […]
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP)—Former skipper Aravinda de Silva has been appointed Sri Lanka’s chief cricket selector and set the challenge of preparing a team capable of winning a World Cup just nine months away. “I want another team to win a World Cup,” said De Silva, whose unbeaten century against Australia in the 1996 World […]
Film Producer and Director Chandran Ratnam was arrested by the police for allegedly possessing explosive materials in his residence, Police Spokesperson SP Preshantha Jayakody told Daily Mirror online Ratnam produced the film ‘Road to Elephant Pass’ which focused on the war in Sri Lanka and also worked with Hollywood producer Steven Spielberg in the movie […]
Whatever the long term objectives of the reform proposals that have been adopted by the UNP Working Committee may be, the immediate target of them seems to be removing the party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe from that powerful post. Although it is said that the UNP Working Committee has passed these reform proposals in order to […]
President Mahinda Rajapaksa participated in religious functions at the ancient Somawathiya temple in Polonnaruwa and Agbopura Rajamaha Viharaya in Kantale Saturday. President Rajapaksa who first visited the Agbopura Rajamaha Viharaya, opened the new shrine room of the temple. After taking part in religious ceremonies, he offered alms to the Maha Sangha. […]
Sunday Observer – By Shirajiv SIRIMANE – (Pix: Reuters) The country will be reputed as one of the best Meeting, Incentive, Conference and Exhibitions (MICE) destinations when Sri Lanka hosts the eleventh edition of the IIFA Indian International Film Awards from June 3 to 5. The Sunday Observer is the official print media sponsor. The […]
Singer posted Lynn Hirschberg’s phone number, which writer called ‘infuriating.’ By now, you may have read the rather lengthy New York Times Magazine feature on M.I.A. (and if you haven’t, well, here it is). If you’re like us, there were probably more than a few passages that made you go, “Wait, what?” Journalist Lynn Hirschberg […]
WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Friday the Sri Lankan post-war reconciliation panel “holds promise,” hoping it will have a broad mandate and resources to pursue claims of wartime atrocities. “I think this commission holds promise and we hope and expect that it will fulfill that promise,” Clinton said during a press briefing […]
COLOMBO (AFP) – The Asian Development Bank on Friday asked Sri Lanka to prune the size of its budget to sustain economic stability as the island emerges from decades of ethnic conflict. The Manila-based bank’s President Haruhiko Kuroda said Sri Lanka’s top priority now is to rebuild infrastructure in the island’s war-ravaged north and east; […]