List of VAT exempted goods and services issued

The Inland Revenue Department has issued the list of goods and services that would be exempted from the Value Added Tax (VAT) with effect from January 1, 2024.

Sri Lanka declares pause on foreign research vessels for one year

Amid geopolitical strain, Sri Lanka has decided to have a one-year moratorium in allowing foreign vessels in conducting research in the country’s territorial waters, a minister said.

Former Health Secretary arrested

Former Health Ministry Secretary Janaka Sri Chandragupta was arrested by the CID a short while ago.

Minister Alles sets deadline against drugs and underworld

Public Security Minister Tiran Alles said that a special operation targeting drug-related activities and the underworld is set to commence tomorrow.

Incomplete power transmission line led to nation-wide blackout

The failure to complete the construction of the power transmission line linking Kotmale, Polpitiya, Padukka and Athurugiriya resulted in the inability to avoid an all island blackout, a top engineer said.

Indian Air Force arranges special jet transport for General Silva in Delhi

The circulating image on social media, featuring Chief of Defence Staff General Shavendra Silva and his spouse aboard a special jet, has been clarified.

Harin revokes SLC interim committee

Sports Minister Harin Fernando today rescinded the gazette issued by former minister Roshan Ranasinghe that appointed an interim committee, headed by Arjuna Ranatunga, and attempted to dissolve the incumbent administration of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

Controversial drug strikes again, causes allergic reaction

Ceftriaxone, the antibiotic which caused the tragic and untimely death of a 21-year-old woman in July, has caused another allergic reaction in a patient at the National Hospital Colombo, Daily Mirror learns.

Security personnel deployed at Mihintale to be withdrawn

It has been decided to withdraw the security personnel deployed at the historical Minintale temple if the chief Incumbent thinks that the military presence is a threat to his life, State Minister of Defence Pramitha Bandara Tennekoon told Parliament today.

Islandwide blackout

An islandwide power failure has occured due to a systems failure in the main supply line, a senior Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) official said.

Thennakoon’s first move: 19 key appointments and transfers in Police

A total of 19 police officers, including a Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG), seven Deputy Inspector Generals (DIGs), nine SSPs, and two ASPs, have been either transferred or appointed to positions by the Acting IGP Deshabandu Thennakoon with immediate effect.

Govt. curb mercenary recruitment through local agents

In the wake of reports about three Sri Lankan ex-military personnel dying in Ukraine in the war with Russia, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said Sri Lanka, as a country, had made every possible effort to prevent recruits through local agents.

Spine-chilling ragging continue to plague university system

With another inhuman case of ragging reported from Sri Jayewardenepura University, Higher Education Minister Suren Raghavan said many cases of harassment of juniors by their seniors within the universities go unreported but the government will leave no stone unturned in its attempt to eradicate the menace.

Parliament to be prorogued in January?

President Ranil Wickremesinghe is reported to be mulling prorogation of Parliament by the middle of January, next year.

Dehiattakandiya Hospital in quandary as its only Surgeon leaves

Dehiattakandiya Base Hospital is facing a crisis as its only surgeon has left the country, bringing all surgeries to a standstill and leaving patients in desperation.

Excise Department’s monthly income up by Rs. 1 bn, committee reveals

The monthly income of the Excise Department has increased by Rs. 1 billion after checking fake stickers on liquor bottles, a Parliamentary committee revealed.

Government imposes special commodity levy on various goods

President Ranil Wickremesinghe, acting in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, has officially announced the imposition of the Special Commodity Levy on a range of goods, effective today (01).

Pastor Jerome arrested

Pastor Jerome Fernando has been arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) this morning in connection with an ongoing investigation against him, his lawyer said.

SL secures USD 60 Mn financial assistance from ADB

The Government of Sri Lanka is set to borrow USD 60 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) under the Second Integrated Road Investment Programme – Tranche 4.

Public sector to get part of Rs 10,000 pay hike from January 2024

The Government is exploring the option of providing Rs 5,000 of the proposed pay increase of Rs. 10,000 from January 2024, followed by the balance from April.

IGP crisis: President likely to grant another extension to CD

The prolonged saga of appointing a new Inspector General of Police (IGP) has reached a critical juncture, leaving the country’s law enforcement in a state of uncertainty and raising concerns about the government’s ability to address rising crime rates.

Saliya rejects President’s claims he had ambition to be PM

Former Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) President Saliya Pieris PC today rejected the claims by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Parliament that Pieris had ambitions to be Prime Minister prior to May 9, 2022.

115 drugs fail quality tests in 2023

A total of 115 drugs have failed quality tests so far in 2023 recording the highest number of quality failures of drugs in a year, according to the Medical Supplies Division of the Health Ministry.

Corruption taints recruitment for Korean, Israeli jobs

The recruitment of Sri Lankans for around 1000 employment opportunities offered by Israel recently is mired in controversy due to lack of transparency in the process, Daily Mirror learns.

Presidential, Parliamentary elections will be held next year: President tells Parliament

Both the Presidential and Parliamentary elections will be held next year, President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced today.

Another VAT fraud: coal imports under-invoiced, COPA orders probe

The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) will initiate a probe into incidents in which stocks of coal imported for the Norochcholai thermal power plant have been under-invoiced for the evasion of due amount of Value Added Tax (VAT) , an official said.

CID arrests Medical Supplies Division Director

Director of the Medical Supplies Division of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Kapila Wickramanayaka and three others were arrested by the CID over the Immunoglobulin import case, police said.

Sajith tables SLC letter to ICC over undue interference

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa today revealed that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) president Shammi Silva had sent a letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC) alleging that the Sports Ministry had made undue interferences in its activities and claimed that this had paved the way for the ICC ban on Sri Lanka Cricket.

SC holds W.D.Lakshman, Cabraal, S.R. Atygalle, Kumarasinghe violated public trust

While holding the guilty persons’ liable and naming them, including one member of the Monetary Board, the Supreme Court in its recent judgment regarding two fundamental rights petitions filed over economic crisis, decided not to make any adverse decisions or orders against two Monetary Board members President’s Counsel Dr. Sanjeeva Jayawardena and Dr. Ranee Jayamaha.

Sri Lanka faces uphill battle in meeting 2024 budget targets: Fitch

The targets laid out in Sri Lanka’s 2024 budget, particularly with regards to revenue and fiscal defect, would be challenging to meet even with the economic recovery that is expected to continue next year, Fitch Ratings yesterday said.