Government to initiate drive for stolen asset recovery

The government is to initiate action for the establishment of a mechanism for stolen asset recovery in keeping with the Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative (StAR Initiative) and fresh measures for probing into corruption and frauds as promised in the election manifesto, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said yesterday.

Former CB Governor confident of IMF review completion by February

Senior Economist and former Central Bank Governor Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy expressed optimism about the completion of the third review of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout package by mid-February next year, as stipulated by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

CEB reports turnaround performance in 3Q despite tariff cuts

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) reported a turnaround performance in the three months through September 2024, at both top and bottom-line levels, as the state-owned power behemoth turned to black, helped by the repeatedly raised tariffs in the last two years, despite the cuts to power tariffs earlier in the quarter.

Young Voices, Big Impact

Katkolam Army Camp land in North disbanded

In a move under the Army’s restructuring plan, an 8-acre land of the Katkolam Army camp in the north will be returned to civilians, the Army said.

’I am eligible for national list slot’: Hirunika

Hirunika Premachandra said today that she is eligible for the National List slot in the event the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) decides to allocate one of its five slots to a woman.

Vietnamese women indulging in the ‘oldest profession’ nabbed by Immigration sleuths

A group of Vietnamese women engaged in running two high end brothels in Colombo by charging up to Rs.35,000 to 50, 000 from their clients were taken into custody by the Department of Immigration and Emigration (DIE) today.

Minor floods...

A minor flood situation was reported on the Gampaha-Ganemulla road and the Gampaha-Ja Ela road following heavy rainfall in the area. Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

A/L exams cannot be postponed, all preparations finalised: Ministry

Despite requests from several parties to postpone the 2024 GCE Advanced Level (A/L) examinations, the Education Ministry announced today that it cannot be delayed, as all preparations have been finalised to conduct the exams as scheduled.

Higher priority for education, schools to follow systematic approach: Harini Amarasuriya

According to the new government policies, higher priority has been given to education, and school education should be implemented in a proper, systematic manner and according to a well-defined schedule, Education Minister Harini Amarasuriya said.

Government to import 70,000 tonnes of Nadu rice

The government has decided to import Nadu rice subject to maximum of 70,000 tonnes as a solution to the shortage of rice in the market, Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe said today.

Information desk for fresh Members of Parliament concludes successfully

The Information Desk set up for the newly elected Members of Parliament for the inaugural sitting of the First Session of the Tenth Parliament, held at the Parliamentary Complex yesterday (19) and today (20), concluded successfully.

Committee appointed to probe Ravi K’s National List appointment

A four-member committee has been appointed to conduct an independent inquiry into the appointment of Ravi Karunanayake as a Member of Parliament (MP) from the National List of the New Democratic Front (NDF).

Pilleyan leaves CID after giving 5-hour long statement

Former State Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, also known as Pilleyan, left the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) a short while ago after giving a 5-hour long statement about the controversial Channel 4 documentary on the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks in Sri Lanka.

Low pressure area likely to form over southeast Bay of Bengal by Saturday

A low-pressure area is likely to form over the southeast Bay of Bengal around Saturday (23) and is likely to intensify into a depression over southwest Bay of Bengal during the two days, the Meteorological Department said.

Universal Children’s Day...

Children enjoying themselves at the Viharamahadevi Park, Colombo on Universal Children’s Day which falls today (November 20). Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Rehearsal for opening of 10th Parliament...

The ceremonial opening of the First Session of the Tenth Parliament is scheduled for tomorrow (21). A rehearsal for the event was held today (20) at the Parliament premises.

Israeli PM Netanyahu offers $5m reward for captives freed from Gaza

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said $5m will be given as a reward for each captive released from Gaza and those that help free Israelis held by Hamas will be given a way out of the war-torn Palestinian territory.

Schoolboy dies following earth slip in Medamahanuwara, two injured

A 16-year-old schoolboy, who was trapped under a mound of earth after an earthslip, died after being rescued early this morning.

X-Press Feeders hits out at long-term detention of master in Sri Lanka

X-Press Feeders has hit out at the “bureaucratic and legal hurdles” that have caused severe delays in the case of the X-Press Pearl, a boxship that caught fire in 2021 causing one of Sri Lanka’s worst-ever environmental disasters. The master of the ship has not been able to leave the Asian island for the past 1,280 days.

Probe underway into death of pregnant woman at Mannar Hospital

The Ministry of Health has initiated an investigation into the tragic death of a pregnant woman and her unborn child at the Mannar District General Hospital.

Harin granted bail

Former Minister Harin Fernando who was arrested in connection with an election violation during the recent general elections was released on bail.

Mahinda Siriwardana assumes duties as treasury secretary

K M Mahinda Siriwardana assumed duties as the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development today.

Rafael Nadal Retires from Tennis

With tears in his eyes, Rafael Nadal said goodbye to professional tennis on Tuesday.

Trump picks WWE co-founder Linda McMahon for education secretary

Trump picks WWE co-founder Linda McMahon for education secretary

Ravi’s crisis beyond EC’s control

The controversy surrounding the nomination of Ravi Karunanayake as an MP on the National List representing the New Democratic Front (NDF) is beyond the control of the Election Commission, according to its chairman.

SAFE Sloth Bear Team visits Sri Lanka

A 14-member team from the Saving Animals from Extinction (SAFE) Sloth Bear Programme of the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums is currently in Sri Lanka.

Pilleyan appears before CID

Former State Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, also known as Pilleyan, arrived at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) this morning (20) to provide a statement.

Biden agrees to give Ukraine anti-personnel mines

US President Joe Biden has agreed to give Ukraine anti-personnel land mines, a US official told the BBC.

Sri Lanka recognizes as tier-2 advancing nation in Global Cybersecurity Index

Sri Lanka has made remarkable progress in enhancing its cybersecurity framework, earning recognition as an ’Advancing’ country in the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI).