Lightning destroys Walasmulla Hospital ETU

The Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the Walasmulla Base Hospital has been completely destroyed due to a lightning strike with the heavy rains.

Over 10 MPs with dual citizenship still in parliament; step down before elections: Ven. Sobitha Thera

Venerable Omalpe Sobitha Thera told the Daily Mirror today that there are over 10 members currently serving in Parliament who hold dual citizenship and said that those MPs should be removed from their posts before the elections.

‘Yukthiya’ nets over 11,000 suspects since inception

The Yukthiya operation which commenced on December 17, 2023 has resulted in the arrest of 111,074 suspects, with 4,472 currently held under detention orders for further questioning.

Former Indian envoy in Sri Lanka contests Lok Sabha election from BJP

Former Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Taranjit Singh Sandhu has joined India’s ruling BJP and is contesting the elections. After Sri Lanka, he also served in the United States.

New legislation to prevent sharing of false information over telephones

The Sri Lanka Telecommunications (Amendment) Bill which seeks to penalize those who share false information over the telephone and cause public commotion was presented to Parliament.

State officials can become monks in Thailand

The government has decided to implement a referral programme for state officials to become monks in Thailand, theBuddhist Religious and Cultural Affairs Ministry said.

Three day Base Jump from Lotus Tower

The Colombo Lotus Tower Management Company (Private) Limited announced the Base Jump happening at Colombo Lotus Tower for three days from tomorrow.

Sri Lanka votes in favour of Palestine’s UN membership

In a resounding display of solidarity with the Palestinian people, Sri Lanka cast its vote in support of Palestine’s application for membership in the United Nations.

Public warned of severe lightning today

The Department of Meteorology has issued a severe lightning warning for several provinces in Sri Lanka, including the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Central, North-Western, Uva, and North-Central Provinces, as well as the Mannar and Vavuniya districts.

US nominee to Sri Lanka prioritizes fair access to ports for all ships

Amid concerns over the presence of Chinese research vessels conducting surveys in the Indian Ocean, the US nominee to Sri Lanka Elizabeth K. Horst assured the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee to work with Sri Lanka to ensure a moratorium on these vessels remains in place.

Some players excluded from new contracts despite ICC T20 World Cup roles

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has unveiled a revamped contract structure for forty-one national players, with substantial raises in player fees across all formats, ahead of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup.

Woman raped, strangled to death in Maradankerni

The Maradankerni Police have initiated an investigation following the suspicious death of a woman at a residence in Thalai Adi, Maradankerni last night.

Woman injured in shooting at Medawachchiya

A 44-year-old woman was hospitalized after she was injured by gunshots in Medawachchiya last night.

Not only on-arrival visas but online visas too should be stopped

Not only the on-arrival visa but the online visa system too should be stopped, as it already affects the number of foreigners who usually arrive in the country, a senior official of the Immigration and Emigration Department said.

Japan bread recalled after rat parts found inside packs

More than 100,000 packets of sliced bread have been recalled in Japan after parts of a rat’s body were discovered inside two of them, the manufacturer said.

English teacher’s, mother’s mobile phones taken into police custody

The mobile phones of the Hasalaka English tuition master and his mother were taken into police custody for circulating the English question paper for the ongoing GCE Ordinary Level (O/L) examinations, police said.

Colombo Tea Auction offering drops to 4.9 MnKgs this week

The Colombo Tea Auction offering recorded a decline significantly, totalling 4.9 million kilogrammes. There was improved demand and a dearer trend in prices for most teas on offer, perhaps triggered by the lower volume on offer against the backdrop of urgent shipments, Forbes and Walker Tea Brokers said.

Diana under immigration radar for overstaying visa since 2014

In the wake of UK citizenship holding Diana Gamage losing her parliamentary seat following a ruling by the Supreme Court, the immigration authorities are planning to consult the Attorney General to inquire into how she lived in Sri Lanka without a valid visa since she last arrived in the country on a tourist visa since around 2014, an official said.

Authorities on alert as illicit fags flow from airport

Law enforcement agents are on alert as illicit cigarettes in bulk arrive at the airport and were also found within the country during the last couple of days amounting to the value of over Rs.1.5 million.

SL to see an increase in automobile assembly plants

Sri Lanka will see the addition of automobile assembly plants, as four are set to begin operations within the next three months and another 11 have been registered by the Industries Ministry.

Tourist arrivals cross 800,000 mark in May

The tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka crossed the 800,000 mark in May, which is two months earlier than 2023 in achieving the milestone.

Battery-operated toys pose risks to kids

Battery operated toys sold in the market are harmful to children, Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) Assistant Secretary Dr. Palitha Rajapaksa said.

Tharshan Selvarajah makes history as first Sri Lankan to carry Olympic torch

Paris-based Sri Lankan-born baker Tharshan Selvarajah has etched his name into the annals of history as the first Sri Lankan to be bestowed with the honour of carrying the iconic Olympic torch.

Three cops arrested for bribery to halt action against selling sexual stimulants

In a startling turn of events, three police officers from the Sapugaskanda Police, including a sergeant and two constables, were arrested today on suspicion of accepting a bribe amounting to Rs. 150,000 to stop proceeding with legal action against the sale of aphrodisiacs (a food, drink, or other thing that stimulates sexual desire) by an Ayurvedic medicine dealer.

CID tells Maithripala’s statements contradict each other

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) conducting investigations into the controversial revelation made by former President Maithripala Sirisena regarding the Easter Sunday bomb attacks, informed court that his two statements given to the CID and evidence gathered from CCTV footage contradict each other.

Sri Lanka Cricket raises player fees across all formats

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has decided to enhance player welfare and incentivizing performance by announcing substantial increases in player fees across all formats, effective immediately.

South Korea to establish ministry to tackle low birth rate crisis

South Korea’s President, Yoon Suk Yeol, has announced plans to establish a new government ministry dedicated to addressing the country’s dire birth rate situation.

SLPP ready for Presidential election, no candidate yet: Basil

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) is ready for the Presidential eletion but they are yet to find a candidate for the presidency, SLPP founder Basil Rajapaksa said today.

One killed, four injured in head-on collision

One person was killed and four others seriously injured in a head-on collision of a SLTB bus and a trishaw at Puwagodamulla on the Badulla- Mahiyangana road.

Diana’s expulsion case postponed

The expulsion petition filed by former State Minister Diana Gamage challenging the Samagi Jana Balawegaya’s (SJB) decision to expel her from party membership was today fixed for May 28 by the Supreme Court.