Road ahead for Sri Lanka is challenging: Top IMF official

First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said the road ahead for Sri Lanka is challenging, and it is critical to keep up with the reform momentum. Taking to X, she said she really appreciated meeting Sri Lanka’s State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe and Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe. “I commended them on hard-won economic gains in the past year. The road ahead is challenging, and it’s critical

Deafening silence by Govt. on emblematic cases

The Government is maintaining a deafening silence on the investigations over a number of emblematic cases. Current President then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had in 2015 assured justice over the murders, including that of former Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge and rugger player Wasim Thajudeen. However, President Wickremesinghe and his administration have not provided any assurances to the families of the victims since taking office

Easter Sunday attacks Catholic Church to go to UNHRC seeking international probe

The Catholic Church is planning to present a proposal to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) through several foreign governments and international organizations to initiate an international investigation into the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks with a view to mete out justice to the victims of those attacks. Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith revealed this to the BBC Sinhala Service yesterday in a statement

Easter Sunday terror attack victims commemorated

Prayers were offered at the St. Anthony’s Shrine, Kochchikade, led by the Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, to mark the fifth anniversary of the Easter Sunday bomb attacks and in comme

Increase in dollar reserves will enable vehicle imports: Siyambalapitiya

The gradual increase in dollar reserves and the rise in the value of the rupee expected in the future will enable the import of vehicles, Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said. Addressing a meeting in Ruwanwella, he said the committee appointed to carry out a high-level study to systematically remove restrictions on the import of vehicles is currently active. Due to the economic crisis in the country, import restrictions were im

Fox Hill racing event tragedy leaves seven dead and dozens injured in Diyatalawa

The Fox Hill Super Cross 2024 racing event, held in Diyatalawa, turned tragic yesterday (21) as a race car veered off the track, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals, including an 8-year-old child, and leaving 21 others hospitalized with injuries. Police Media Spokesperson DIG Nihal Thalduwa stated that the accident occurred when the race car lost control and collided with a group of spectators. The injured were rushed to the D

Debt Restructuring Talks: Bondholders Fear Regime Change Impact

Sri Lanka rejected last week international bondholders’ proposal to restructure more than $12 billion in debt, putting at risk critical International Monetary Fund support and delaying its efforts to resolve a two-year-long debt crisis

Don’t be deceived by NPP and Cardinal Ranjith: UNP

Range Bandara questioned as to whether Cardinal is out to vouch support for NPP the same way he did for former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2019

Emirates halts check-in for connections, UL cancels flights to Dubai

Passengers bound for Dubai are advised to check the status of their flights, given the volatile situation. Those whose flights are scheduled after the specified time will only be accepted for check-in at their departure points

Plans afoot to obtain “Blue Flag Beaches” certification for SL beaches

India which started the initiative even after Sri Lanka had already obtained “Blue Flag Beaches” certification for eight beaches whereas Sri Lanka is yet to commence the project

SJB Beliatta organizer joins UNP

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Beliatta Organizer Druvin Pravin Atapattu joined UNP and obtained the membership from party Chairman Vajira Abeywardena. Atapattu is the son of late Dr.Ranjith Atapattu who was the Minister of Health in the cabinet of late President J. R. Jayewardene. Druvin Atapattu who was representing UNP in the Hambant

Election Commission ready to accept SLFP nominations despite disputes

The Commission members emphasized that such matters should be resolved through the courts, as the commission is not authorized to intervene under existing legal frameworks

Murderer sentenced in absentia arrested after 35 years on the run

Convict Colambage Saratchandra Sumanasekara alias Nandana Sumanasekara had hacked to death an Engineer of the Ceylon Electricity Board Dr. Waduarachchige Amarasiri over a family dispute

Ottawa mass killing suspect not seeking bail, says lawyer

De-Zoysa, who was studying in Canada as an international student, is set to return to court next week where lawyers expect to set dates for a preliminary inquiry in his case

Culture of Sri Lankan traders prevent people from reaping benefits from price cuts: Sagala

Sri Lankan trading culture does not allow people to enjoy benefits in terms of price reductions whenever the costs of inputs and logistics drop, Chief of Staff President’s Office Sagala Ratnayake said. “Fuel price

Electric Cables worth Rs.10 million chipped away from train parked at Hikkaduwa

According to railway security officials, the thieves specifically targeted cables used for powering the lighting system within the passenger compartments

Mother gives birth on boat en route to hospital

She had been first admitted to the Nagadeepa Base Hospital and on the advice of doctors had been transferred to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital by ferry

Foreigners join in celebrating the new year

A group of Danish tourists were provided the opportunity to enjoy Sri Lankan new year dishes at Ahangama. Local dishes of red rice, fish and pickle and sweetmeats prepared specially for the New Year meal were served to them. It was followe

Wild elephants pull down 16 telephone poles

A herd of wild elephant that roamed into the Settikulam-Mannar main highway in the early hours of last morning had pulled down telephone poles causing the breakdown of telecom services in several areas.

Middleman arrested for price gouging at Kalutara eatery

A middleman who gained notoriety in a social media video for overcharging a foreign national at a Kalutara eatery for ‘Vadai’ and ‘plain tea’ was arrested by the Tourist Police yesterday.

Bondholders’ agreement delay won’t hinder IMF third tranche payout:  Dr. Coomaraswamy

Possible delays in reaching an agreement (in principle) with private bondholders is unlikely to impact the disbursement of the third tranche under IMF’s US$ 3billion bailout package, given negotiations are moving ahead in good faith, Former Governor of Central Bank (CB) and renowned economist, Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy said.

Party leaders to shoot down MPs request for concessionary duty free vehicle permits

A request by some MPs across the political divide for concessionary vehicle permits is likely to be shot down by the party leaders given the dire economic situation of the country, Daily Mirror learns. Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Eran Wickramaratne brought to the notice of the Business Committee last week that a letter is being signed by the MPs for such a request.

Rising temperatures Public urged to provide water access to animals

As scorching temperatures continue to sweep across Sri Lanka, the Vets in Sri Lanka have issued a stark call to action, urging public to provide water access to animals especially birds.

Parties raise objections against first court case under Online Safety Act

The respondent parties in the first application filed before Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court under the newly enacted Online Safety Act, today raised objections challenging the maintainability of the application.

Grave risk of substandard medicines entering market soon

Sri Lanka is facing an imminent threat in its health sector with high chances of substandard medicines like human immunoglobulin entering the market in the near future, as the law enforcement body of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) has diminished to just a single officer since this week.

Man dies after insect bite

A 52-year-old man in Jaffna city died after succumbing to an illness caused by an insect bite, as reported by hospital sources.

100 Police personnel trained to target criminals operating on motorbikes

In response to alarming shootings by criminals, IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon said that a team of 100 police personnel are undergoing training to go after motorbike riders engaging in criminal activities.

Catholic Church receives full report

The Catholic Church has received the remaining parts of the report submitted by the presidential commission which probed the Easter Sunday attacks, Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said yesterday.

Complaint lodged over Piumi Hansamali’s possession of Gota’s Range Rover

Mage Rata organization president Sanjaya Mahawatta yesterday, lodged a complaint with the Illegal Assets Investigations Division, calling for an inquiry into model Piumi Hansamali using the Range Rover vehicle previously used by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

We are struggling with severe shortage of staff – Excise Chief

The Excise Department of Sri Lanka, one of the three main revenue generating arms of the country’s Ministry of Finance is struggling with a severe dearth of staff even to perform day-to-day duties, as the 17 top rung positions are vacant for months now, the Daily Mirror learns.