Navy sailor’s death Sri Lanka registers protest but tones it down

Sri Lanka registered its concerns with India on the death of a navy sailor in his attempt to seize an Indian fishing boat poaching in Sri Lankan waters, an informed source said.

Old soldiers never die, Sarath Fonseka to serve nation further: President

Whilst highlighting that Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Sarath Fonseka is a man of ability who never gives up, President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said Sri Lanka will get the opportunity of enjoying the services of the former in the near future.

Black Defender abduction case: Hirunika jailed for three years

Former Colombo District Parliamentarian Hirunika Premachandra was found guilty of her involvement in the abduction of a youth using a Defender in 2015 and was given a three-year rigorous prison sentence by the Colombo High Court yesterday.

Tamil Nadu’s silence hampers resolution of Indo-Lanka fisheries issue: Minister

In the backdrop of the death of a Navy sailor in the attempt to contain IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing, Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda said the central government of India alone could not address this issue without the cooperation of the state government Tamil Nadu which is still maintaining stoic silence despite its impact on livelihoods of Sri Lankan Tamil fishermen in particular.

Teachers, principals back at work amid threat by Govt.

The second round of evaluation for the 2024 GCE A/L examination began yesterday

Top U.S. Treasury Official here next week

In the wake of Sri Lanka successfully concluding its bilateral debt restructuring, U.S. Treasury’s Deputy Assistant Secretary Robert Kaproth will visit Sri Lanka next week to meet with government officials, think tanks, and financial sector leaders.

Online financial scam: 137 Indians netted

158 mobile phones, 16 laptops and 60 desktop computers were seized

Cocaine, Kush came as Whey Protein worth Rs.185Mn seized by Customs

The drugs had been sent from Canada and the USA to two addresses in Kadawatha and Colombo about a month ago

Daily Mirror journalist bags top Environmental Award

Prageeth Sampath Karunathilaka, an investigative journalist for the Daily Mirror, has won the Gold Award in the Media Sector - Individual Category (English medium) at the Presidential Environmental Awards 2024. The award honours his exceptional contributions to environmental journalism in Sri Lanka.

Suspects in Jalthara gang rape further remanded

The eight suspects on remand in connection with the alleged gang rape of a 16-year-old schoolgirl, including her lover, inside the concrete structure of a half-built crematorium in Jalthara, Hanwella on Poson Poya Day were produced before Homagama Acting Magistrate Pathmasiri Jayawardene yesterday and further remanded till July 05.

Pathfinder Foundation and U.S. Embassy honour Col. Henry Steel Olcott’s legacy in Buddhist revival

Pathfinder Foundation, in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Colombo, held an event to commemorate the well-known pioneer of the Buddhist revival in Sri Lanka, the late Col. Henry Steel Olcott, on June 16, 2024. The event was held at the historic Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya, where several eminent senior Buddhist clergy and special invitees representing Buddhist organisations, Dhamma schools, and leading Buddhist schools in Colombo parti

Immigration extends validity of expired passports by one year until e-passport issuance

The Department of Immigration and Emigration has extended the validity of all passports that expire from June end by one year until the issuance of the e-passport project takes off in January next year.

Wild elephants damage Divisional Secretariat building

A herd of wild elephants that raided the Mahakumbukkadawala area in the early hours of yesterday morning caused extensive damage to the Divisional Secretariat and a nearby shop.

Sri Lanka hosts 2nd BIMSTEC subgroup on Human Trafficking

Sri Lanka has hosted the Second meeting of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectorial Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) subgroup on Human Trafficking which was held on 26th and 27th of June, 2024 in Colombo, stated the Ministry of Defence. The Keynote Address was delivered by Major General JR Kulatunga, the Chief of National Intelligence and the Head of the Official Committee of National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force of Sri L

Over 60 Indians netted in major online financial scam

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has cracked down on a widespread online financial fraud network in Thalangama, Madiwela, and Negombo areas, apprehending at least 93 suspects, including foreigners involved in the scam. Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa told Daily Mirror that the raids resulted in the seizure of 192 mobile phones, 60 laptops, and 13 computers. The crackdown follows a complaint from a victim who was lured into a

President Warns Considers designating teaching as an essential service

Fulfill needs of schools before declaring school education essential service

While condemning the President’s statement on declaring the services of teachers and principals as essential services, Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) General Secretary Joseph Stalin said that before declaring these services as essential, the essential needs of schools must be fulfilled in the first place. He told the Daily Mirror that no essential needs are provided to schoolchildren. The weight of the education of children has fallen on the par

SC fast-tracks hearing on judicial appointments petition

The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday decided to expedite the hearing of the fundamental rights petition filed to challenge the Constitutional Council’s decision to reject the President’s recommendation to fill the vacancy in the Supreme Court with the incumbent President of the Court of Appeal, Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne.

Two found dead inside toilet at N’Eliya bus stand

The public male toilet at Nuwara Eliya main bus stand on Mosque Road was sealed off by health authorities yesterday in the wake of the death of two individuals who went into the toilet. HQI Nuwara Eliya Police CI Premalal Hettiarachchi said the police initiated a formal investigation into the incident. Police said the deceased were Mohamed Imtiaz Fhasal (71) of Mosque Road and Ajith Nissanka (27) of Bagawanthalawa. The former had died when

Debt restructuring agreement Sajith raises concern

Sajith Premadasa, the leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), raised concerns yesterday regarding the debt restructuring agreement signed by the government with official creditor countries, citing specific issues with the terms negotiated. “We would have welcomed the agreement if it benefited the nation but there are certain issues, Mr. Premadasa told a public gathering. “The IMF report talks of a grace period till 2033 while the governmen

President strikes optimism on commercial debt restructuring too

In the wake of completion of debt restructuring with bilateral creditors, President Ranil Wickremesinghe sounded optimistic for the future of the country and said the agreement with International Sovereign Bondholders could be reached soon as the next step.

Economists see silver lining as SL seals debt deals

Sri Lanka solidified long-awaited agreements with its lenders yesterday, a move economists believe will foster positivity and help the nation emerge from selective default.

Health Ministry convenes emergency meeting amid Bird Flu fears

The officials from the Ministry of Health and the Department of Animal Production and Health convened an emergency meeting yesterday (25) at the Ministry of Health to address the current bird flu situation. The meeting, chaired by Health Secretary Dr. Palitha Mahipala, focused on the potential threat of bird flu.

Ex-LTTE combatants among those seeking common Tamil presidential candidate

The party formed by ex-LTTE militants is in the political amalgam that seeks to field a common Tamil presidential candidate at the upcoming elections, Daily Mirror learns.

Indian poaching trawler’s aggressive maneuvering kills sailor: Navy

A sailor sustained fatal wounds and a Navy Dvora damaged due to the aggressive maneuvering of a poaching Indian bottom trawler during a pre-dawn operation by the Sri Lanka Navy to seize the intruding vessel in the seas off Delft Island in Jaffna yesterday, the Navy said.

Champika Ranawaka clarifies

Parliamentarian Patali Champika Ranawaka yesterday clarified that there has been no move to accept ministerial portfolios.

Two academics move SC to remove bar on President appointing judges

Two Intervenient-Petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court (SC) seeking an order to rescind the interim order issued by the Supreme Court preventing the President from submitting any other nomination to fill the vacancies in the SC other than the vacancy of the position of Chief Justice. Dr. Mahim Mendis and Ven. Dambara Amila Thera

15,000 Bohra community members set to gather in Sri Lanka

Approximately 15,000 members of the Bohra community from various countries, including India, are expected to attend the Bohra community’s spiritual conference and annual convention in Sri Lanka, scheduled to be held from July 7 to 16.

Embracing, kissing, touching female clerk lands HR manager in jail for 7 years

The Court of Appeal has imposed seven years of rigorous imprisonment on a Human Resource Manager of a private company for committing the offence of sexual harassment against a female clerk by embracing, touching, and kissing her face and lips.

Complaints galore from cybercrime victims

Against the backdrop of continuous complaints from cybercrime victims, Sri Lanka CERT urges the public to be cautious of fake messages purportedly sent by various banks, commercial institutions, and international organisations.