United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said the unpleasant happenings that take place today may not occur if the lawmakers supported his private MP bill to ban the cattle slaughter in the island.

Mr Rajapakshe said that he brought this bill in parliament in in March 2009 expecting that the MPs especially including the eight Buddhist monks and the Hindu MPs who were in the parliament then would support the bill.

The Colombo University Teachers’ Association (CUTA) threatened to launch an all-out strike if the newly appointed Vice Chancellor does not step down from the post within two weeks, or if President Mahinda Rajapaksa does not justify his appointment, our new sources said.

Committee member and President of the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri told a local newspaper that the teachers were opposed to the new VC, Dr. Wijaya Kumara Hirimburegama, claiming that the appointm

 Former Deputy Mayor of Colombo Azath Sally today withdrew the fundamental rights petition filed by him in Supreme Court against his arrest by the police.

The writ was filed by senior Attorney-at-law Ms. Gowrishankari Thavarajah on behalf of Mr. Salley's wife Mrs. F. Rizona and it was withdrawn today by Counsel C.J. Weliamuna.

The Muslim politician was arrested on May 02 at his Kolonnawa residence by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Police following several complaints received against the spee

A seminar organised by the Women's Action for Social Justice highlights the difficulties still facing the country, delivers a petition with 10,000 signatures asking the UN to intervene on behalf of women and workers.

Women in Sri Lanka continue to be victims of violence, injustice and threats, in complete violation of international human rights conventions signed by the government, this according to the Women's Action Forum for Social Justice (WASJ) that recently held a seminar titled 'Violence against women is vio

Attacks on freedom of expression in Sri Lanka, particularly against the media, continue to persist as journalists and civil society organizations in the country find themselves operating in an extremely restrictive and dangerous climate. During its 22nd regular session in March 2013, the Human Rights Council expressed concern about violations of the right to freedom of expression and the intimidation of journalists in Sri Lanka. The government’s own Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) has also observed that it was &

The case filed against Former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka and retired captain Senaka Haripiriya de Silva for allegedly committing mutiny, insubordination to the government and harbouring army deserters was taken up before the Colombo high court on Monday.

The case was taken up before High Court Judge Kumudini Wickramasinghe.

Brigadier P.J. Ashok who gave evidence before court on an earlier occasion, responding to cross examination by Attorney-at-Law Saliya Peiris said that he is not aware of the whereabouts of the

Another crisis appears to be brewing in the Colombo University over the appointment of the new Vice Chancellor (VC), Dr. Kumara Hirimburegama. Academics, taking a strong stance against the appointment, have given the new VC an ultimatum – resign from the post within two weeks or face the consequence of continuous strikes.

Dr. Hirimburegama has dismissed the ultimatum, and when contacted by Ceylon Today, remained adamant that he would not step down from the post of Vice Chancellor.

The Media Ministry has alleged that the provincial correspondent who filmed the self immolation of Buddhist monk, Bowatte Indrarathana, was privy to the monk's plan before hand, but had failed to alert the police.

Concerns were raised yesterday after reports emerged that the monk had told a local correspondent attached to a television channel about his plans for self immolation, a few minutes before the incident.

 A group of protesters led by about five to six Buddhist Monks entered the Kollupitiya Municipal Market on Sunday (26) in a bid to close the meat stalls there.

However, by the time the protesters entered the place, the meat stalls were closed.

OIC of the Kollupitiya Police, Chief Inspector Mangala Dehideniya said that a group of monks leading a procession towards Temple Trees to hand over a petition had been stopped near the National Savings Bank (NSB) and only five of them were permitted to proceed.

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has been told in a statement submitted by an NGO that there is no freedom of assembly in Sri Lanka.

In a written statement submitted to the 23rd session of the UNHRC which began today, the International Movement against all Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR) notes several incidents reported in almost all parts of the country this year which violated the freedom of assembly.

In Colombo, the NGO says in January, pole bearing goons, allegedly sent by the State, at