Blast kills two Chinese near Pakistan’s Karachi airport

Two Chinese nationals have been killed and at least ten people injured after an explosion near Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan.

Dozens of MPs to quit parliamentary politics

Dozens of MPs who were in the ninth Parliament which is now dissolved have decided to quit politics due to reasons ranging from old age, ill health to unfavourable political realities for them, Daily Mirror learns.

Piyumi Hansamali questioned

Model and actress Piyumi Hansamali has been questioned by the Illegal Assets division of police yesterday.

Tourism earnings reach US$ 2.35bn

Sri Lanka is seeing continuous headway in its tourism trade through September as both the arrivals and earnings made progress in the months, although there was some easing from a month ago.

CEBEU optimistic on averting looming power crisis in 2026-2027

The Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers’ Union (CEBEU) expressed optimism that recent changes in the leadership and management of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) will lay a much-needed foundation to avert a looming power crisis in 2026-2027.

Credit card debt tad higher in August in tandem with overall private credit

Consumer spending made via credit cards appear to be increasing as the total outstanding credit card debt in licensed commercial banks have expanded by a little under a billion rupees in August in line with the sharper increase seen in overall credit to the private sector in the same month.

Teledrama actor arrested with drugs

A teledrama actor who had in his possession a stock of the illegal intoxicant Methamphetamine (ICE) and attempted to escape arrest by offering a bribe of Rs.1 million to the police was taken into custody by Thanamalwila police.

Foreigners netted in major online financial scam

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested a group of foreigners involved in an online financial fraud network which operated from a hotel in Avissawella and from a private organisation in Hanwella, police said.

Population and housing data collection begins tomorrow: Census and Statistics Department

The collection of information about the population in Sri Lanka and their residences will begin tomorrow, Census and Statistics Department Director General Ms. Anoja Seneviratne said.

Reassuring to see current administration upholding same policy on vehicle imports: Semasinghe

Claiming that the current government appears to continue the vehicle import resumption policy that was originally introduced by the previous government, former State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe said it is reassuring to see the current administration upholding the same policy.

Agencies seize Rs.11.1 Mn worth illegal cigarettes during weekend

Law enforcement agencies running operations in and outside the airport made a couple of detections of illegal cigarettes worth over Rs.11.1 million during the weekend and arrested two females and a male.

President assures justice for Easter Sunday victims

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced that the investigations into the Easter Sunday bomb attacks will be expedited, and steps will be taken to ensure that such a tragedy never occurs again in the country.

Sri Lankan students shine in Global Robotics Competition

A team of students from Dharmapala College, St. Sebastian’s College and Elizabeth Moir School achieved international recognition by winning the Zhang Heng Award for Engineering Design at the 6th Global Challenge Robotics Competition 2024, held in Athens, Greece, from September 26 to 29.

Inland Revenue exceeds 70% of annual tax target

The Inland Revenue Department has collected Rs. 1,417 billion in taxes by September 30, 2024, surpassing 70% of its annual goal of Rs. 2,024 billion.

Pakistani prisoners return home from SL

Oct 6 (SAMAA): Pakistani prisoners as many as 56 who have been imprisoned in Sri Lanka for several years will return home Sunday (today) via chartered plane.

Import levy hike on potatoes, big onions

The Finance Ministry has increased the special import levy on potatoes and big onions.

Police seek evidence on Grade 5 exam paper leak

The police urge anyone with evidence or knowledge of any leaked questions from the Grade 5 scholarship exam, beyond the three already reported, to come forward by October 7, 2024.

Akram Cassim elected Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association President

Managing Partner of Colombo Jewellery Stores Akram Cassim has been elected as the President of Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association (SLJGA).

Responsibility of uplifting innocent peoples’ lives rests on President’s shoulders: Atamasthanadhipathi

The responsibility of uplifting the lives of the innocent people of this country and protecting the nation, race and religion now rests on the shoulders of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the Atamasthanadhipathi Most Venerable Pallekumbura Hemarathana Nayake Thera said today.

Over 120 independent groups place deposits for General Elections

A total of 122 independent groups have placed their cash deposits for the upcoming general elections scheduled for November 14, 2024, the Election Commission stated.

DIG Dhammika Priyantha appointed as SIS Director

DIG Dhammika Priyantha has been appointed as the new Director of the State Intelligence Service (SIS).

Numerous MPs to quit politics

Numerous MPs who were in the currently dissolved Parliament have decided to opt out of politics without contesting the upcoming general election.

Election Commission suspends unlawful appointment of SLPA Managing Director

The Election Commission has halted the unlawful appointment of a new Managing Director to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) by the new government.

Woman in hot soup for smuggling Coconut Sambol laced with toxic drug for husband in remand

A 25-year-old woman from Sucharithagama, Anuradhapura, was arrested by prison authorities after attempting to smuggle a psychoactive drug into the Anuradhapura prison, concealed in a lunch parcel intended for her remanded husband.

Road along Temple Trees opened to public after 19 years

A part of R.A. de Mel Mawatha in the Kollupitiya Police area from St. Michael’s Roundabout to the Rotunda Roundabout along Temple Trees was opened to the public after 19 years, the Ministry of Defence said.

NPP to formulate mechanism to avoid competition for preferential votes among its contenders

Claiming that the National People’s Power (NPP) is finalising its nomination lists at district level for the upcoming General Election, NPP General Secretary Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe said yesterday the NPP is preparing a mechanism to avoid competition for preferential votes among the NPP contenders.

Will remain steadfast partner in supporting Sri Lanka and its people: IMF

Asserting that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) remains a steadfast partner in supporting Sri Lanka and its people, Director for Asia Pacific Department Krishna Srinivasan said today that the IMF team will continue its close engagement with Sri Lanka’s economic team to set a date for the third review of the IMF-supported programme.

Increase in spreading influenza among children, advised to wear masks: Pediatrician

There has been an increase in the number of children showing symptoms of influenza and doctors advise vulnerable groups to wear masks, Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH) Consultant Pediatrician Dr. Deepal Perera said.

Govt. in positive mind of importing vehicles from January: Importers

There is a positive response from the government regarding the import of vehicles from January.

DMT Deputy Commissioner, clerk arrested for soliciting bribe

Officers from the Bribery Commission arrested a Deputy Commissioner and a clerk from the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT), along with a broker, for accepting a bribe.