Sri Lanka's Minister of Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media Gayantha Karunathilaka Saturday led a group of journalists from the South to the North to show solidarity with the journalists of the North and build a bridge of goodwill and national reconciliation. The 128-member delegation from the South to Jaffna included the Minister, the Deputy Minister the heads of state media institutions, media representatives, and electronic, print and web journalists.

A power disruption was reported in several parts of the country mainly in the Southern Province and Kandy areas for over thirty minutes due to a technical fault today, the CEB said. It said that power disruption, which commenced at around 3.15 pm, lasted for over thirty minutes was reported from Matale, Wellawaya, Minneriya, Rantabe, Kandy, Kurunegala, Habarana, Anuradhapura and the Northern Province.

President Maithripala Sirisena has called for an investigation into the foreign trips of at least six ministers, sources said. According to sources at the Presidential Secretariat, the six ministers are alleged to have misappropriated public funds while travelling overseas. The President has taken the decision to investigate the issue after receiving information that these ministers have been using official foreign trips to have fun and neglect the main purpose of the visits.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has expressed opposition to a housing project in the Tamil-majority north which has been dubbed the

The ceremony of official handing over of 177 acres of land in Sampoor to the rightful owners was held yesterday. Follwoing the instructions of President Maithripala Sirisena, steps have been taken to hand over the land deeds in Northern and Eastern provinces which were held under the control of Government security forces.

The United States Navy's 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) and the embarked 7th Fleet staff arrived in Colombo Saturday (March 26) on a goodwill mission. Sri Lanka Navy in accordance with naval traditions ceremonially welcomed the US Navy flagship on its arrival. The senior officer of the ship, the Chief of Staff of the US Navy's 7th fleet, Vice Admiral Joseph Aucoin called on the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne at the Naval Headquarters in Colombo today. They held cordial discussions on the matters of mutual interests and mementos were also exchanged to mark the occasion.

Several former Chairmen of SLFP LG (Pradeshiya Sabha) bodies who have been summoned by the Party's Central Committee (CC), to explain their rejection of a CC decision on 29 March, say that they will not present themselves before the Committee for disciplinary action.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has decided to bring under his supervision several ministries, which were subjected to bureaucracy during the Rakapaksa regime, that have not been able to achieve the targets set for the first two quarters. This decision has been taken as some ministries which were exposed to rigid bureaucracy during the last regime had not yet been converted to suit the good governance concept of the United National Front Government. Some activities of the Foreign Affairs Ministry were taken over during the 100 day programme and certain activities of the Education ministry have already been taken over.

There are no Islamist jihadist groups in Sri Lanka, said a study commissioned by the Colombo-based International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES). The study had gone into an accusation, made both from within and outside the Muslim community in recent years, that a

The Presidential commission to investigate into complaints regarding missing persons began fresh public sittings in the Mullaitivu District today. Secretary to the Commission Hewa Wasalage Gunadasa said that the commission will hold sittings in Mullaitivu for three days. Following the public sittings in Mullaitivu, the commission will record statements from the public in Mannar and Vavuniya. Gunadasa said that the commission has invited 1600 people to record oral statements over a 6 day period in Mullaitivu, Mannar and Vavuniya regarding family members reported missing during the war.

Discussing the circumstances that led to the violence that took place in the North as well as what took place during the war was essential if we are to move forward with the reconciliation process, Ex-President and National Unity and Reconciliation Office Chairperson Chandrika Kumaratunga said yesterday. Mrs. Kumaratunga, who was one of those present at the panel discussion organised by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) to mark the International Right to Truth Day which fell yesterday, said finding out the truth about what took place during the war, talking about it and knowing that it is recognised, was the most important factor in coping with the results of such violence.

The five suspects including Yoshitha Rajapaksa who are involved in the CSN money laundering case now heard at the Kaduwela Magistrate's Court related to the CSN network were expected to be present in Court yesterday but only FCID officers were present with a B report. Kaduwela Magistrate Dhammika Hemapala on 10 March ordered the suspects to be present in Court yesterday to hear charges of money laundering at CSN and flouting the Public Properties Act. The suspects included Yoshitha Rajapaksa who was granted bail after being incarcerated for 45 days.

Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera yesterday said that Sinhala political leaders could learn from their Muslim and Tamil colleagues on how to treat their own community. Addressing the media in Colombo yesterday the thera noted that while Tamil and Muslim political leaders were always trying to solve grievances of their communities Sinhala leaders continue to turn a blind eye to the woes faced by their own community. The thera charged that the government continues to neglect the need of some Sinhala settlements in the former war battered North and East.

Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has intensified security checks at all arrival and departure points at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake in the aftermath of the bomb explosions that rocked Brussels recently. SLAF Spokesman Chandima Alwis said there would be additional patrolling within the terminal buildings. He said joint 24-hour security operations will be carried out by the SLAF and Airport and Aviation authorities. Several countries have tightened security at their airports to prevent any terror attacks.

Sandhya Eknaligoda wife of missing Journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda yesterday charged Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera MP Wimal Weerawansa and former president Mahinda Rajapaksa of disrupting the investigations into her husband

Several blocks of land in the Jaffna District cannot be handed back over to their original owners because those lands are considered as being essential for national security, Defense Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi said today.

The U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) will arrive in Colombo for a port call March 26, the first visit by a U.S. Navy ship since October 2011. The visit builds upon last month's Partnership Dialogue in Washington D.C., where both nations pledged to strengthen maritime security cooperation efforts in the Indian Ocean Region in order to counter piracy, provide humanitarian assistance, and ensure free and safe navigation in the region's vital shipping lanes, a statement from the U.S. Embassy in Colombo said.

A no-confidence motion was submitted in Parliament today against Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake. The motion was signed by 37 members of the joint opposition.

The Government today told Parliament that the

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has initiated an inquiry into the sudden demise of Ven, Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera in the wake of Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka and National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) calling for an impartial probe. Ven. Dhammaloka Thera has said he has evidence to prove that the death of Ven. Sobtitha Thera was due to a conspiracy. The NMSJ recently wrote to both President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe urging them to initiate an urgent inquiry.

Building a bridge between India and Sri Lanka was shot down yesterday in Parliament. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe denying any bilateral discussion held during his recent visit to India rejected possibilities for a bridge under the current Government.

India and Sri Lanka have agreed that the Jaffna airport in North Sri Lanka should be upgraded to be an international airport without extending the runway because fresh land acquisition is being opposed by the local people. A five-member technical team of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) Chennai which inspected the airport recently, concluded that it could be upgraded without acquiring more land, the Indian Consul General in Jaffna, A.Natarajan, told Express on Tuesday.

Internet giant Google on Tuesday announced that its popular street view feature for Sri Lanka is active and available on Google Maps. The launch brings the total number of countries where street view is available to 76."We are delighted to bring imagery of Sri Lanka to Street View on Google Maps" said Helena Lersch, manager (Public Policy) at Google in an official statement.The new street view allows people around the world to view and experience the infamous bustle of downtown Colombo, the cool tea plantation hills, the rich history and beautiful and diverse landscapes of Sri Lanka in 360-degree panoramic imagery from their phone, tablet or computer.

The Government today said that it will seek to expedite the Sampur power project as part of measures to be taken to avoid a serious power crisis in future.This was announced by Power and Energy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya in Parliament today. The Minister briefed Parliament on the recent power crisis and tabled some of the recommendations and proposals made to avoid a similar crisis in future.The Minister said that a breakdown at the Norochcholai coal power plant was one reason the power crisis could not be avoided.

Sri Lanka is currently looking at one billion US dollars worth currency swap agreement with China, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament Wednesday.

The security at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) had been tightened following the terror attacks at the Brussels Airport in Belgium yesterday. Speaking to Daily Mirror, the Airport Duty Manager said safety precautions had been taken to prevent any terror attack on the airport.

Police have failed to arrest the killers of rugby player Wasim Thajudeen, despite a court order to arrest of those responsible within a month.The one month period given by the court expires tomorrow. While delivering the verdict on the inquest on the death of former rugby player Thajudeen on February 25, Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris ruled that the death appeared to have been a murder, and ordered the CID immediately arrest all suspects and produce them before the Courts.

Several explosions have struck Brussels airport and the metro system, causing at least 13 deaths, Belgian media say. Two blasts tore through the departures area of Zaventem airport shortly after 08:00 local time (07:00 GMT).An hour later, an explosion hit Maalbeek metro station, close to the EU institutions. The metro system and airport have both been closed. The attacks come four days after Salah Abdeslam, the main suspect in the Paris attacks, was captured in Brussels.

There have been no reports so far of any Sri Lankans being injured in the terror attack at the Brussels Airport in Belgium, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said a short while ago.

The United Nations (UN) has reiterated calls for a credible investigation on incidents related to the war in Sri Lanka. Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General said that the UN has made clear what the guidelines for what a credible investigation will entail. He said this in response to a question posed on a comment made by President Maithripala Sirisena that he will not invite foreign judges to be involved in the judicial process after investigating incidents related to the war.