Semasinghe responds to ‘Daily Mirror Expose’

In response to the ‘expose’ headlined ‘Controversy surrounds Semasinghe’s hotel under construction in Nuwara Wewa reserve’ and appearing on page 4 of the Daily Mirror newspaper published on February 1, 2024, State Minister Shehan Semasinghe has sent us the following response: “I deny this report and will make a complete statement on my return as I’m overseas.”

No bus fare increase: Shashi Welgama; Increase bus fare by 10% within two weeks: Gemunu

National Transport Commission Chairman, Shashi Welgama said yesterday that there is no provision to increase bus fares even though the price of diesel has increased by Rs. 5. He said

CEA to conduct World Wetlands Day national ceremony today, tomorrow

The Central Environment Authority will conduct the national ceremony to mark World Wetlands Day, which falls on February 2 at Colombo’s urban wetland with a rich biodiversity, ‘Diyasaru Uyana’ in Thalawathugoda today and tomorrow. The two-day national ceremony, which is being organised by the CEA in collaboration with the Department of Wildlife Conservation, is expected to be attended by Minister of Environment Keheliya Rambukwella and senior pol

Mid-day meals to all primary school children from March

Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said that a sum of Rs. 16 million has been allocated to facilitate the provision of school lunches for students in Grades 1 to 5, and measures will be implemen

Private creditors warn Sri Lanka

Private creditors have threatened to do all it can to persuade the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to hold back the next tranche of funding for Sri Lanka under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) if the Government fai

Police arrest five activists who demonstrated calling for Keheliya’s arrest

Minister Rambukwella fails to appear at CID

Will Keheliya be arrested later over substandard Immunoglobulin scandal?

Keheliya to be grilled by CID

Influential writer and former Sunday Observer editor passes away

H.L.D Mahindapala, the former Editor in Chief of the Sunday Observer and Observer (Daily) and veteran journalist passed away at a private hospital on Tuesday. He was 93. Don Mahindapala, who belonged to a different era in journalism shared the limelight with legendary figures in the newspapers, such as Denzil Pieris, Clarence Fernando etc. in those spacio

Remove Daya Ratnayake from SJB or face consequences: SF tells Sajith

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Sarath Fonseka yesterday urged SJB leader Sajith Premadasa to remove former Army Commander Daya Ratnayake from the party claiming that the party would have t

Divisional Secretary transferred due to taking stand against corruption

The Divisional Secretary Udapalatha in Gampola who had taken steps to prevent State Minister of Justice and Prison Affairs engaging in corrupt activities in the Kandy District has been transferred with immediate

Surge in vehicle ownership transfers to avert CCTV-based fine complications

The Commissioner General of the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) said yesterday that a large number of people are currently visiting the Department to transfer vehicle ownerships to their names, to avoid com

Police arrest five activists who demonstrated calling for Keheliya’s arrest

Police have arrested five activists from civil organizations who staged a protest outside the Criminal Investigation Department yesterday, displaying banners with the slogan ‘Keheliya Go Gama,’ demanding the arrest of Minister Keheliya Rambukwella in connection with the import of substandard Immunoglobulin injections. The Citizen Power Against Bribery and Corruption, and people’s organizations jointly organized a peaceful Satyagraha yesterday i

Will Keheliya be arrested later over substandard Immunoglobulin scandal?

Referring to the investigations over the import of substandard Immunoglobulin injections, Former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella is in hot water as he has been summoned by the CID to provide a statement with the probe nearing completion. According to informed sources, despite Rambukwella being summoned to the CID last morning, he had not visited the CID over reasonable grounds. However, the former health minister has requested the CID t

Decision on contempt proceedings against Sanath Nishantha fixed for Feb.2

The decision regarding the contempt of court cases filed against late State Minister Sanath Nishantha in connection with his alleged contemptuous statement is to be delivered on February 2 by the Court of Appeal. The Cour

SJB vows to file Fundamental Rights petition against Tiran Alles

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) would file a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition against Public Security Minister Tiran Alles who ordered to fire tear gas and water cannon at the SJB protest and the police officers who acted unlawfully, SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said yesterday. He told a news con

Health sector unrest escalates as another strike announced

In a decisive move set to reverberate across the nation’s healthcare landscape, at least 72 trade unions within the health sector have announced plans for an island-wide strike commencing at 6:30 a.m. today (01). The prima

SJB bid for Aragalaya type agitation thwarted with police force

In what appeared to be an attempt by the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) to instigate a mass agitation against the government in a manner reminiscent of the Aragalaya, was

Minister rules out darkness on expressways cause accidents

Says slow moving vehicles also one of the reasons for accidents on expressways

Willing to enter politics on behalf of Sanath Nishantha: Spouse

Attorney-at-Law Chamari Priyanka Perera, the spouse of the late former Water Supply State Minister Sanath Nishantha, expressed her willingness to fill the void left by her husband’s demise. She said

Paratroopers to continue in Independence Day rehearsals despite mid-air mishap

Despite the unfortunate mid-air incident last morning where four paratroopers were injured, paratroopers of the Sri Lanka tri-forces and Police are to continue in rehearsals for the Independence Day celebrations at Galle Face Green, Four paratroopers from Sri Lanka Army and Sri Lanka Air Force were injured yesterday morning (30), during rehearsals for the National Independence Day

Air ambulance service to commence between Maldives-Sri Lanka on March 1

An air ambulance service between the Maldives and the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) will commence on March 1 this year as part of phase I of the programme, Ports, Shipping, and Aviation Mini

Rapist who married victim acquitted

An accused who stood indicted with the abduction and rape of a 16 year old girl was acquitted by Galle High Court Judge Kavindya Nanayakkara when the Defence Counsel and the police informed court that the victim and the accused were married and parents of a child. The Attorn

Govt. plans to send 10,000 individuals to Japan for employment: State Minister

Overall goal of 100,000 additional foreign jobs for Sri Lankans in 2024

Colombo University makes history with new anti-aging drug

A scientific think-tank from the University of Colombo is in the process of launching an anti-aging nutraceutical capsule for the first time in Sri Lanka. Speaking to

Passenger with fake Italian visa stopped at BIA Immigration officials ask travelers to be extra cautious of bogus agents

The Immigration and Emigration Department yesterday asked the local travelers to be extremely cautious of bogus travel agents who would arrange fake foreign visas or travel documents for exorbitant rates, f

Indian High Commissioner calls for Tamil parties to have unified stance on political rights

New Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha, in his maiden interaction with the representatives of the mainstream Tamil parties in the north recently, is reported to have emphasized the need for them to have a unified position on their collective deman

Ten President’s Counsel take silk

Ten senior attorneys yesterday took their oaths as President’s Counsel (PC) at a ceremonial sitting of the Supreme Court. Chamantha Weerakoon, Dr. Asanga Gunawansa, Mohamed Adamaly, Harsha Fernando, Dr. Sivaji Felix, Faisza Markar, Kaushalya Nawaratne, Upul Kumarapperuma, Viran Corea and Eraj de Silva took their oaths as President’s

Tragic collision claims two lives, four seriously injured

Victims identified as Dishan Kavinda Ranasinghe (26) and Chanaka Lakshan (26)

50-year rigorous imprisonment for rape, grave sexual abuse of brother’s daughter

Ordered to pay Rs. 01Mn as compensation to the victim

13-year-old daughter lodges police complaint against father over rape

A 13 -year- old girl who came alone on Sunday to the Nochchiyagama Police lodged a complaint against her father, accusing him of raping her, the police said. According to the police, she had been living with her mother, father and brother and that she was fi