A media crew of 16 people, including a US national, who were engaged in recording a documentary about the post-war situation in Sri Lanka without obtaining permission, was detained for questioning by the Kalpitiya Police, sources said.

The group was taken into custody while they were filming near the Pallivasal Thurai Lagoon in Kalpitiya on Saturday (26) evening, following a tip-off made by a resident of the area.


The group was released on the same day after recording statements concerning the matter, a senior

“The delegation was briefed on present situation in Jaffna in terms of security, economic development, rehabilitation and resettlement and social harmony during the meeting,” the Army said.

Speaking during the discussion, Maj.Gen.Hathurusinghe told the delegation that the Army has reduced the strength of troops in Jaffna in large numbers since 2009.

“Army does not involve in civil administration at all and the government mechanism similar to the South is very much in place with all responsibilities

Jaffna University students, still undergoing rehabilitation in Welikanda, are likely to be released next month, military officials said last Friday.

Jaffna Security Forces Commander, Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe told The Nation though a specific date of their release was not finalized, they would be freed anytime next month depending on the progress of the rehabilitation program.
Two of four students, who were arrested late November last year by the Terrorist Investigation Division, continue to undergo rehabilitati

Sporadic student clashes at universities have tarnished the image of higher educational institutes. Students who hold different political ideologies and are affiliated to various political parties have been held accountable for unleashing violence during the past four decades. Many students have become victims to the cycle of violence.

The first such victim was an undergraduate at Peradeniya University in 1976. He was allegedly killed by a fellow student and the circumstances that led to the killing is not clear. Thereafter, a

Vice Chancellor of the Moratuwa University Prof. Ananda Jayawardene says that a decision will not be taken as yet to re-commence activities at the relevant faculties until the Disciplinary Committee Report on the recent clash between students at the university is received.

Prof. Ananda Jayawardene said that disciplinary investigations are underway into the clash that took place on the 16th of this month and previous incidents as well.

He added that based on complaints that have been received they have been able to i

An Australian Delegation headed by Deputy Opposition Leader of the Australian government Julie Bishop will arrive in the country on Sunday

Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Karunathillake Amunugama said that the objective of this visit is to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.

He also noted that the delegation including Julie Bishop will hold talks with the Minister of  External Affairs Prof.G.L.Pieris during their visit to

The three American Deputy Secretaries of State, who are on an official visit in Sri Lanka, met Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa on Sunday.

Director General of the Telecommunication Unit of the Ministry of External Affairs, Rodney Perera said that the American diplomats will also be visiting the north.

Meanwhile, the American officials met with a group of parliamentarians of the Tamil National Alliance on Saturday.

TNA parliamentarian M.A Sumandiran noted that the meeting was held at the American ambassa

India is prepared to be a valued partner of Sri Lanka in meeting the aspirations of peace harmony and development said Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Ashok K. Kantha.

Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka stated this addressing a special function which was held in Colombo Saturday to mark the 64th Republic Day of India.

The event was held at the official residence of the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka.

Indian high commissioner to Sri Lanka Ashok K. Kantha was the chief guest at the event.

Last week the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanetham Pillay, issued a critical statement by Sri Lanka. Unusually for the Ministry of External Affairs, there was a forceful rebuttal of this, written by the Acting Secretary, Ms Kshenuka Seneviratne.

I have been a strong proponent of prompt rebuttals of unfair criticism, but the Ministry had seemed to disapprove of this position. Often through former diplomats, as well as journalists connected to Ministry personnel, it claimed that Dayan Jayatilleka and I

Are we, the Sinhala people, so addicted to war, that we cannot do without one? Or are the Rajapaksas trying to manufacture a new threat and a new conflict as camouflage for their dynastic project?

A well organised and financed anti-Muslim campaign has burst into destructive life over the last several months. Organisations, manifestly conceived in the same pathological-womb, are trying to outdo each other in spreading anti-Muslim vitriol. In the name of Buddhism – the most non-violent and tolerant of all religions (in its