Those who don’t like development call Elon Musk an economic hitman: Manusha

Those who dislike seeing progress achieved by the underprivileged have labelled entrepreneurs like Elon Musk as ’’economic hitmen’’, Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara said at a meeting held in Badulla.

Shortage of 5,000 buses hampers private passenger transport services

A shortage of 5,000 private buses is making it difficult to provide adequate passenger transport services, Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) chairman Gemunu Wijerathne claimed.

Smuggling attempt through BIA ‘green channel’ reveals Rs.7Mn worth phones, cigarettes

A special surveillance operation conducted by the Sri Lanka Customs today led to the arrest of three passengers returning from Dubai trying to use the airport green channel with a stock of cigarettes and mobile phones worth over Rs. 7 million in their possession.

Welipenna Interchange closed until further notice

The Welipenna Interchange on the Southern Expressway (E-01) will remain closed until further notice due to sudden floods, the Expressway Operation Maintenance and Management Division of the Road Development Authority (RDA) said.

Apple iPhone is now an obsolete product

Apple has added iPhone 5s, iPhone 6s, iPod touch, and 2015 iMac to its list of obsolete products, following the 7-year distribution cutoff. These devices won’t receive updates or service from Apple.

GCE (O/L) 2023 results to be released by September

The results of the GCE Ordinary Level (O/L) examinations for the year 2023 is scheduled to be released by September, Examinations Commissioner Amit Jayasundara said.

Public support sought to apprehend suspect at large

Police have sought the assistance of the public to apprehend a suspect who escaped from police custody after being arrested over the alleged rape of a nine-year-old girl in Talaimannar on February 15.

Earliest and most distant galaxy ever observed

The James Webb Space Telescope has smashed its own record for detecting the most distant known galaxy. Called JADES-GS-z14-0, the collection of stars was spied as it was a mere 290 million years after the Big Bang.

Bus fares can be revised only if diesel drops to Rs. 307 per litre: NTC, bus associations

The National Transport Commission (NTC) and private bus associations announced today that bus fares could be revised only if diesel prices drop to Rs. 307 per litre.

Michelle Obama’s mother, Marian Robinson, dies at 86

Marian Robinson, the mother of former US First Lady Michelle Obama, has died at 86. In a statement, her family said that Robinson had died ’’peacefully’’ on Friday morning.

India votes in final phase of elections as both Modi and Rahul Gandhi eye victory

India voted on Saturday in the final phase of a long-drawn general election, held in record summer heat in many parts, as both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his challengers said they would win the polls centred mostly on inequality and religion.

Colombo inflation cools to 0.9% in May

The Colombo district inflation eased further to 0.9 percent in May, from 1.5 percent in April, as both food and non-food prices continued their months-long streak of declines,

Increased tobacco use among schoolchildren: Expert

Health experts have raised concerns about the rising use of tobacco products among schoolchildren in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan monks, Minister explore rich Buddhist heritage in Pakistan

A Sri Lankan delegation of Sri Lankan Buddhist monks and Minister for Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Vidura Wickramanayake called on the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Faisal Karim Kundi at the Governor’s House in Peshawar, Pakistan on Friday.

Tourism sector still reeling from economic crisis

Despite the signs of recovery, the tourism sector is still struggling with the aftershocks of the economic and political crisis, Tourism Minister Harin Fernando said.

Shanaka takes 4 as Sri Lanka ease past Ireland

Former captain Dasun Shanaka bagged a four-wicket haul as Sri Lanka avoided a scare to win comprehensively against Ireland in their T20 World Cup warm-up match played at Lauderhill, Florida, yesterday.

Industry stakeholders up in arms against moves to scrap ‘Happy Hour’

Industry stakeholders including hoteliers, tourism authorities and even law enforcement agencies have shown their utter dismay over an abrupt decision taken by the National Authority on Alcohol and Tobacco (NATA) to scrap the ‘Happy Hour’ in hotels, which was termed as an ‘absurd’ move to discourage already ailing tourism sector and consumers.

England all-rounder Woakes taking time out from cricket after father’s death

England all-rounder Chris Woakes revealed Friday he was mourning the death of his father as he explained his recent absence from cricket.

Handover Sirikotha to SJB: SJB tells Ranil

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) yesterday demanded President Ranil Wickremesinghe to hand over the UNP headquarters Sirikotha to the SJB.

Rajagiriya accident case: SC rules two policemen violated fundamental rights of wife of former minister’s driver

The Supreme Court ruled yesterday that two police officers from the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) violated the Fundamental Rights of the wife of a former driver attached to former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, by illegally arresting and detaining her, along with her mother and her 23-month-old child, after inquiring about the whereabouts of her husband in connection with the controversial Rajagiriya accident case.

CA orders authorities to prosecute individuals who illegally kept elephants

The Court of Appeal today issued a Writ of Mandamus directing the Director General of Wildlife Conservation, CID, IGP and the Attorney General to take necessary steps to prosecute all individuals who illegally kept the elephants referred to the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court and Matale Magistrate’s Court, who have not been lawfully registered in terms of the law.

Ranil trying to open doors to economic hitmen like Elon Musk: Hadunnetti

President Ranil Wickremesinghe is trying to open doors to economic hitmen like billionaire Elon Musk, George Soros and James Packer by introducing the Economic Transformation Bill, NPP Economic Council member Sunil Hadunnetti said.

CID arrests suspected ISIS terrorist coordinator

The Criminal Investigation Department arrested a wanted suspect, Gerard Pushparaja Osman Gerard, suspected to be the person who co-ordinated the sending of the four alleged ISIS terrorists from Sri Lanka to India and who were arrested in India.

CPC announces fuel price revisions

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) announced a revision of fuel prices, which will take effect from midnight today.

Contempt of court application against Diana fixed for support

A contempt of court application filed against former State Minister Diana Gamage was today fixed for support on June 26 by the Supreme Court.

Young Sri Lankan golfer Kaya triumphs at Nepal Open Golf Tourney

Young Sri Lankan golfer, Kaya Daluwatte claimed the top position at the 10th Nepal Amateur Open Golf Championship 2024, which concluded in Kathmandu, Nepal today.

Jeevan criticized for thuggish behavior; takes law into own hands

In a country where Ministers often believe they can get away by taking the law into their own hands, Water Supply Minister Jeevan Thondaman was the latest to be ridiculed for his thuggish behavior when he threatened police officers and the management of a Nuwara Eliya tea estate.

Over 150,000 qualify for university entrance

A total of 173,444 students have qualified to apply for university admission this year following the 2023 (2024) GCE Advanced Level (A/L) examinations.

SAITM, Neville Fernando Hospital to be integrated into Moratuwa University

The South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) along with the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital (NFTH) will be officially transferred to the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Moratuwa in August 2024.

Key accomplice of ’Kudu Salindu’ arrested

A key accomplice of notorious drug trafficker Salindu Malshika alias ’Kudu Salindu’ has been arrested along with a string of narcotics, police said.