Specialists in Matale district asked to take early retirement

The medical fraternity has raised serious concerns over a letter issued by the Regional Director of Health Services in Matale, instructing specialists over the age of 60 to retire by December 31.

Crackdown on video sharers is akin to shooting messenger - Additional Magistrate

The Colombo Additional Magistrate questioned how the arrest and request to remand individuals who shared videos related to recent Maaveerar Naal commemorations can be justified without first investigating those who created and uploaded the videos.

President assumes duties as Digital Economic Affairs Minister

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today assumed duties as the Minister of Digital Economic Affairs.

Fire breaks out at Steuart hotel in Fort

A fire erupted at the Steuart hotel in the Colombo Fort area this evening, according to the fire brigade.

Urvil Patel: The journey of a rising cricket star

Urvil Patel, a name that has recently started to echo in the cricketing circles, has an inspiring story of dedication, family support, and unyielding passion for the game.

Follow proper mechanism when issuing excise licenses: President

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake directed officials to follow the proper mechanism when issuing excise licenses, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

Imported rice will be cleared within four hours: Customs

Stocks of imported rice will be released from the Colombo Port within four hours of their arrival, provided the necessary taxes are paid, Additional Director General of Customs, Seevali Arukgoda said.

Dujardin handed one-year ban for whipping horse

Three-time Olympic dressage gold medallist Charlotte Dujardin has been banned for one year and fined 10,000 Swiss Francs (£8,886) for ’’excessively’’ whipping a horse.

Government assures to release names of politicians who recommended issuing of liquor licenses

The government today assured that the list of the politicians who had recommended the issuing of liquor licenses will be released after investigations.

ICC Chair Jay Shah visits Dubai headquarters

Newly elected ICC Chair Jay Shah commenced his tenure with a trip to ICC Headquarters.

Govt. Analyst’s Department’s Central Information Unit not functioning for four months

Deputy Solicitor General Madhawa Thennakoon informed court that the Central Information Unit of the Government Analyst’s Department has not been functioning for four months and that it was not possible to obtain any reports.

78 railway engines in need of repairs idling in running sheds

The Auditor General’s Department has reported that 78 railway engines that needs repairs are idling in the running sheds and the Ratmalana Main Railway Workshop without attention for seven years since 2017.

Concerns raised over shortage of several drugs in hospitals

The Health Ministry is grappling with a shortage of multiple drugs, including several essential drugs, a senior official said.

No legal issues over farmers taking actions against wild animals within their own lands: Minister

Farmers can take any action regarding damages to crops by wild animals within their cultivated lands, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Lal Kantha said today.

Bitcoin surges past $100k for first time

The price of Bitcoin has for the first time broken past the $100,000 mark, hitting a new record high.

No shortage of coconuts, mafia created: Minister

Claiming that there is no shortage of coconut in the country, Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe said today there is an attempt to create an artificial shortage in the market.

USAID, CBL group to boost SL’s coconut industry

CBL Global Foods Limited (CBL GFL), a subsidiary of the CBL Group, in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) this week released a practical handbook to improve coconut farming practices in Sri Lanka.

Schoolchildren lose their way during Hanthana excursion

A group of schoolchildren from Colombo, who were on an excursion to Hanthana mountains during the school vacation and had lost their way, were rescued by the police and the army.

People queuing to pay taxes: Handunnetti

People, industrialists and entrepreneurs have volunteered to pay taxes where there was a long queue on September 31 to pay taxes while the online App of the Inland Revenue Department is congested with so many people trying to log in to pay taxes, Minister Sunil Handunnetti said today.

Lohan Ratwatte and his wife granted bail

Former State Minister Lohan Ratwatte and his wife Shashi Prabha Ratwatte were granted bail by the Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court today.

Most lunch boxes, water bottles unfit to store food for children

Most lunch boxes and water bottles available in the local market are not suitable for children to store their food, Public Health Inspectors’ (PHI) Union Chairman Upul Rohana said.

Obtain Parliamentary approval for Debt Sustainability Agreement with ISB holders: Opposition MP

The Government should obtain Parliamentary approval for the debt sustainability agreement with international sovereign bond (ISB) holders before implementing it, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Kabir Hashim told Parliament today.

Unknown flu-like disease kills at least 79 people in DR Congo

At least 79 people have died from an unknown disease that is causing flu-like symptoms in south-western Democratic Republic of Congo, the health ministry says.

Vote on Account presented to Parliament

The vote on account through which the government is seeking Parliament’s approval to spend Rs. 1,403 billion (Rs. 1,402,886,263,000) from January 1, 2025, to April 30, 201,4 was presented to Parliament by Deputy Minister of Economic Development Anil Jayantha a short while ago.

Sri Lanka and South Africa look to keep WT Final hopes alive

South Africa will take on Sri Lanka in the second Test of the twomatch series at St. George’s Park in Gqeberha, starting today.

CID arrests SLPP Administrative Secretary

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) arrested Renuka Perera, the Administrative Secretary of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) this morning.

French government collapses in no-confidence vote

The French government has collapsed after Prime Minister Michel Barnier was ousted in a no-confidence vote.

Excise suspends production licence of W. M. Mendis and Co.

Despite several warnings issued over a span of one year, which were not being adhered to, the Department of Excise yesterday suspended the production licence of local liquor giant W. M. Mendis and Co. Limited for evading tax arrears of Rs.5.5 billion to the government, the Daily Mirror learns.

Political bribes - Govt. to investigate former MPs over liquor licences

The government is to carry out an investigation to determine whether any of the MPs who represented the previous Parliament or any one of their associates had received liquor licences as political bribes during the previous regime, a government spokesman said yesterday.

Rs.10 coin found during autopsy of Digadanthu 1

During the post-mortem examination of Digadanthu 1, wildlife officers found a Rs. 10 coin in its abdomen, Wildlife Conservation Department veterinary surgeon Dr. Chandana Jayasinghe said.