Will the LLRC report re-write history? Sri Lanka’s Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission will issue its report soon (hopefully to the public). It is not necessary to mention leaks; it is enough to simply look at the initial statement of purpose. “To inquire and report on the following matters that may have taken place during ...

Sarath Fonseka, the former army Chief who led the Sri Lankan Army to completely wipe out the LTTE has been jailed for three years for implicating the government in war crimes. The court has ruled out that he lent credence to allegations the defence secretary ordered Tamil Tigers to be killed as they tried to surrender ...

Colombo is beefing up security ahead of the delivery of the verdict in the controversial white flag case against former army commander General Sarath Fonseka. While there are reports that a key witness against Fonseka has fled the country in fear on a Cathay Pacific Flight bound for Hong Kong, police have also moved in a ...

(Srilankamirror) - Hirunika Premachandra has welcomed the court order to arrest MP Duminda Silva in connection with the killing of her father, presidential advisor Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra. Speaking to the BBC from an undisclosed location outside Sri Lanka, she has said that the news

BBC Sandeshaya says that it reliably learns that a brand new Aston Martin car has been hurriedly imported to Colombo by a wealthy businessman. The new Rs. 55 million sports car has been brought using a specially chartered aeroplane from UK. Former Sri Lanka Cricket chairman Upali Dharmadasa

A brand new Aston Martin car has been hurriedly imported to Colombo by a wealthy businessman, BBC Sandeshaya reliably learns.

A brand new Aston Martin has been hurriedly imported to Colombo by a wealthy businessman, BBC reliably learns.

Colombo (Srilankamirror) - Joint Managing Director of Triad Advertising Dilith Jayaweera has sent Letters of Demand to British Broadcasting Corporation for broadcasting an interview with Shan Wickremesinghe of TNL Network (Pvt) Ltd on Sandeshaya BBC Sinhala Service on 26th October 2011

(Srilankamirror) - Silvio Berlusconi has resigned as prime minister of Italy, after dominating the country's politics for 17 years. President Giorgio Napolitano accepted his offer and is likely to appoint technocrat Mario Monti his successor. Mr Berlusconi lost his majority amid an acute debt crisis that threatens the eurozone. He promised to go once MPs had approved new austerity meas...

Colombo (Srilankamirror) - The CID has summoned a widow who gave evidence to the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission. According to BBC Sandeshya, the CID has asked Ratnam Poongothai, a 45 year old mother of four children from Kalmunai to give detailed explanation

(Srilankamirror) - The convicted insider trader, Sri Lankan born Raj Rajaratnam, has been handed a record fine by the Securities and Exchange Commission in a civil case. A judge ordered the former founder of Galleon Group, a hedge fund, to pay 92.8 million dollars in penalties, BBC reports

Indian Congress Parliamentarian Sudarshan Nachchiappan has emphatically mentioned that the propaganda carried out by the Diaspora with regard to Sri Lanka cannot be endorsed. He invited the Diaspora to visit their motherland and witness the real situation. In a special interview with the BBC Tamil

British Prime Minister David Cameron urged Sri Lanka on Sunday to make progress on human rights before it hosts the next Commonwealth leaders meeting in 2013 to prevent the likelihood of boycotts, AFP reported. Cameron said he pressed President Mahendra Rajapaske during this year's Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Australia to show that Colombo did not "have things to hide" fol...

There seems to be a link between Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), illegal drugs and the recent murder of a presidential advisor, says the owner of a private media network. Shan Wickramsinghe, the owner of the TNL media network, told BBC Sandeshaya that ...

(Srilankamirror) - Players of the Sri Lanka national cricket team have not been paid in the past several months, the BBC reports. About 100 contracted players are not paid since Sri Lanka co-hosted the World Cup together with India and Bangladesh, it reports.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has confirmed that the national cricketers have not been paid their salaries for months. About 100 contracted players are not paid since Sri Lanka co-hosted the World Cup together with India and Bangladesh, BBC report. .

There seems to be a link between Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), illegal drugs and the recent murder of a presidential advisor, says the owner of a private media network. Shan Wickramsinghe, the owner of the TNL media network, told BBC Sandeshaya that he received death threats after his network

The bodies of ex-Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, his son Mutassim and a top aide have been buried in secret in the desert, Libyan officials say. A National Transitional Council (NTC) official told the BBC the bodies were buried at dawn in an unknown location. This follows days of apparent

A post-mortem examination on the body of Libya's ex-leader Muammar Gaddafi has been performed in Misrata, an official told the BBC. He said the body would be handed over to relatives. The burial has been delayed, with officials divided about what to do with the body. The UN

Libyan authorities are planning a secret burial for ousted leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi following his capture and death, the BBC understands.

The cabinet today approved a proposal to open diplomatic relations with the western African country of Mali.   The Cabinet proposal by External Affairs Minister G.L.Peiris said that the country is highly dependent on gold mining and agricultral exports for its revenue.   The BBC profile

Networking for Rights says it is deeply concerned that the assault on Jaffna student leader, Subramaniam Thevapalasingham is a further erosion of the democratic rights of the people of Sri Lanka. In a statement, NfR says Thavapalasigham is reported to have been attacked with iron rods and is presently receiving treatment at the Jaffna Hospital.  Thavapalsingham has sustained injuries to ...

Liam Fox, the Former British Defence Secretary who was forced to resign is accused of seeking funds from wealthy Tamil businessmen in the UK. Former head of the UNP’s British branch Dr. Roger Srinivasan says he met Dr Fox few times accompanying an opposition parliamentarian visiting London during 2007-2009. Dr Fox requested him to introduce wealthy Tamils in UK at a time the Sri Lank...

The ruling party in Sri Lanka should take the responsibility for the recent murder of a presidential advisor, his family members say. In an exclusive interview with BBC Sandeshaya, Swarna Guanaratne, elder sister of slain Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra said that the family is not satisfied

Military authorities in Sri Lanka say they are not aware of a serious assault on a Tamil student leader allegedly by military personnel. Military spokesman, Brig Nihal Hapuarachchi, told BBC Sinhala service that he has received no information about the alleged involvement of the military.

OCTOBER 17, 2011: Status: Not Free Legal Environment: 23 Political Environment: 30 Economic Environment: 18 Total Score: 71 Despite the end of the government’s long-running war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebel group in May 2009, media freedom remained restricted in Sri Lanka, with journalists subject to myriad forms of legal harassment and physical intimidation. Altho...

UPFA MP Duminda Silva is not a suspect in the investigation into the murder of presidential advisor Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, said head of the Media Centre for National Security Lakshman Hulugalle. He has told BBC Sandeshaya that the young MP currently recovering after a brain surgery

Impunity lies at the heart of the Kolonnawa killings “A foul, dishonourable crew….” Giaccomo Leopardi (To Angelo Mai III) By Tisaranee Gunasekara In the Rajapaksa Security State, insecurity is the common condition of the rest of us… Impunity makes jungles out of civilised societies, where the big and the powerful prey on those smaller and ...

Noel Bruno Dawsan, a Sri Lankan, has been recognized as the world's best tour guide by the British travel magazine Wanderlust. The winner says he is delighted and will help disadvantaged people into further education with his bursary. A Tamil of Indian origin, he comes from a family of impoverished tea pickers in a remote Sri Lankan town. Mr. Dawsan was hailed by the judges as a ...

British media reports that the Sri Lanka Development Fund, set up by Britain’s Defence Secretary Liam Fox has not achieved any results other than to pay for his trips to the island. The defence secretary has told the House of Commons that he had worked with people in business, banking and politics in Sri Lanka since 2009 to set up the Trust to help with reconstruction of the country aft...