MPs exploit liquor permit system, selling for up to Rs. 50 Million

The MPs across the political divide are inclined to secure liquor permits under the names of their associates and relatives only to be sold for amounts as large as Rs.50 million at times, the Daily Mirror learns.

MPs seek one million rupee insurance coverage To be extended To include family members

Following the approval of concessionary vehicle permits, the MPs across the political divide have asked for the extension of their one -million rupee insurance coverage to include their family members, a top source said yesterday. At the House Committee meeting held last Friday, the MPs have asked for this benefit while insisting for concessionary vehicle permits for the second time.

U.S. State Dept. gets involved in drafting local NGO law

The U.S. State Department has sought to intervene in the drafting of Sri Lanka’s new piece of legislation that, if enacted, will provide for the registration of both local and international NGOs in the country, a top source said yesterday.

Health experts raise red flags over soaring influenza cases

In the wake of the rising influenza cases at an unusual rate, health experts are urging the public to beware of symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue. Speaking to Daily Mirror, Dr. D

Lime prices up but cultivators incur losses

Farmers in the Anuradhapura District who cultivated lime are in a predicament for want of a remunerative market for their produce, while the price of lime has skyrocketed in urban areas due to the ongoing racket of the middleman.

Hospice Sri Lanka Alliance makes a milestone in palliative care – Health Secy.

Forming an alliance in the hospice treatment sector in the country will make a milestone in the palliative care and will help to standardize an industry, which had rendered a significant service to the public, said Secretary of Health Dr. Palit

Concessionary vehicle permits: MPs have their way, ignoring economic crisis

Despite the cost of living sizzling at red hot levels and the country being cash- strapped , the House Committee of Parliament has endorsed the proposal to offer concessionary vehicle permits for MPs as requested by them , a top source said.

Majority MPs call for General Election first

In the wake of the Election Commission officially announcing that the Presidential election will be held between September 17 and October 16, a faction of both government and opposition MPs have expressed concerns as they prefer a parliamentary election first, Daily Mirror learns.

Govt.’s pre-poll development drive met with stiff resistance from Election Commission

The government’s development drive ahead of the presidential election met with stiff resistance from the Election Commission (EC) which barred the involvement of political representatives of the ruling side in any such activities, an official said.

Sri Lanka to overhaul visa issuance process

In the wake of perplexities surrounding the issuance of the on-arrival visa issuance at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), the Government is mulling to overhaul the visa issuance process, Daily Mirror learns. To fulfill this requirement, a cabinet paper is to be submitted at the next cabinet meeting. Meanwhile, government sources confirmed that VFS Global has temporarily ceased operations at the BIA counter. Nevertheless, ther

Racism, body shaming fly high with Air Belgium crew against SriLankan staff

By JAMILA HUSAIN A massive racism scandal has come to light after pilots and crew members of Sri Lankan Airlines lodged a strong complaint against an Air Belgium pilot and crew who were operating a UL Flight on April 30, after they were allegedly body-shamed and racially discriminated against, the Daily Mirror learns. State-run Sri Lankan Airlines which is facing heavy losses, leased two aircraft from Air Belgium in December, to bo

On-arrival visa fiasco drains VFS Global’s confidence in Sri Lanka

VFS Global which has been caught in the centre of controversy in the on-arrival visa issuance at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) has raised serious concerns with the Public Security Ministry led by Tiran Alles stating that while they were a reputed global company, they were shocked to be left victimized as the on arrival visa saga took a turn for the worse.

Harin plays it safe

Minister of Tourism Harin Fernando attempted to play down the controversy surrounding the high visa charges incurred by tourists arriving at the Bandaranaike International Airport earlier this week, adding that a fresh gazette with revised fe

Outrage erupts as Govt. brings in foreign company to issue on arrival visas at BIA

The decision to outsource the on-arrival visa issuance process in Sri Lanka to a consortium led by VFS Global has sparked controversy and chaos at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA). Critics are questioning why the Sri Lankan authorities relinquished control of a process they had managed smoothly for over a decade.

Workers’ rights lost in quest for presidential elections

May Day was observed yesterday in the country and elsewhere across the world , but the question remained whether it was done in a befitting manner as usual in Sri Lanka with politics taking center stage rather than the rights of workers. The day has been observed across the globe since 1886 commemorating the supreme sacrifices of the workers at Hay Market, Chicago, in the United States for working eight-hours a day and upholding the rights of

Heavy taxes for public, duty free vehicles for MPs, senior officials?

Despite the public being heaped with tax burdens and a soaring cost of living, parliamentarians, along with public servants in the executive category, are set to get concessionary vehicle permits soon, the Daily Mirror learns.

SLFP faction distances from Maithri’s claims

In an effort to nip any discord with India in the bud, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) faction led by Nimal Siripala de Silva as acting chairman called on Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha and disassociated itself from remarks by its former Chairman Maithripala Sirisena implicating alleged Indian involvement in orchestrating the Easter Sunday attacks, an informed source said.

Cabinet nod to transfer China-built Mattala airport’s management to Indian, Russian joint venture

Commercial agreement to be signed soon

What happened,...What next?

Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, seated and flanked by Urban Development and Housing Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, is in a serious conversation with Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Shavendra Silva, Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayake, Eastern Province Governor Senthil Thondaman. Gen. Silva was the Army Commander when the ‘Aragalaya’ that ousted Mr. Rajapaksa from office took place in 2022.

Main man behind Sri Lanka -Malaysia child smuggling syndicate arrested at BIA

The chief local facilitator behind the organised child smuggling syndicate between Sri Lanka and Malaysia, which rocked the country with 17 child smuggling cases last year, was arrested by the Department of Immigration and Emigration at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), when he was deported from Malaysia yesterday.

Iranian President’s visit Sri Lanka withstands western pressure

Sri Lanka withstood pressure from some quarters of the Western world and proceeded with the visit of Iranian President Dr. Ebrahim Raisi. He will arrive in the country today in response to a special invitation extended by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, marking the first visit of an Iranian President to Sri Lanka since former President Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit in April 2008.

SJB embroiled in controversy after its MPs secured funds from Govt without party approval

The main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), finds itself embroiled in controversy as reports emerge that several of its MPs had received Rs. 50 million each from the government’s decentralized budget without nod from the party leadership,Daily Mirror learns . In the past , the governments used to allocate funds to MPs in the opposition to carry out development projects of their choice in their constituencies. However , such allocations ha

Don’t be deceived by NPP and Cardinal Ranjith: UNP

Range Bandara questioned as to whether Cardinal is out to vouch support for NPP the same way he did for former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2019

No presidential candidate has secured a 50% vote base as of date

With the Presidential Election scheduled to be held in the first week of October, political parties have begun vigorous campaigns in electorates as well as closed door discussions with parliamentarians in a bid to secure a basic 50 percent vote base which will win them the presidency.

Sri Lanka at a loss to counter genocide allegations by Canada

Sri Lanka is still at a loss to thwart the efforts by a city council in Canada to construct what it called a Tamil genocide monument, and to counter the allegations by the Canadian politicians, an informed source said .

Tax payers poised to cough up Rs.45 million on another debate on Easter attack

Tax payers will have to cough up as much as Rs. 45 million as the cost of conducting yet another three-day parliamentary debate on the Easter Sunday attack for the fifth time, with uncertainty looming whether it will be a meaningless exercise with key questions unanswered once again. Previously, three such debates took place in the House, but failed to leave the question regarding the mastermind behind the attack unanswered. People, mostly the

Debt restructuring with bondholders hits a snag with disagreement on two areas

Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring process with private bondholders is stuck with two aspects of disagreement, whereas it is well underway with bilateral creditors, a top official said yesterday.

Xi calls for fair, transparent environment for investment in Sri Lanka

Chinese President Xi Jinping , in his recent meeting with Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, has reportedly stressed the need for ‘fair and transparent’ environment for Chinese companies to invest in Sri Lanka . The Chinese leader had further mentioned that China is not happy about its friends being influenced by other countries unnecessarily when taking decisions . However , in the meeting which a top source mentioned as friendly and cordial

President restricts foreign travel for Govt. members

Ahead of the presidential election, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed the government members to restrict foreign travel as much as possible because their presence is required to undertake political work, an informed source said. The United National Party (UNP) led by the President is planning to ramp up political work in view of the election after the May Day rally. The party is planning to conduct the rally on a grand scale thi

Getting busy with Ramazan

With Ramadan festival fast approaching, Muslims are seen bustling with their shopping activities in Pettah. Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana.