'Betting' Shammi or Roshan; President must decide: Roshan

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has to decide whether he wants me or ’Betting’ Shammi, Minister of Sports Roshan Ranasinghe told Parliament while dropping bomb shells on Sri Lanka Cricket ( SLC).

Sri Lanka cricket in shambles

Hours after Sports Minister Roshan Ranasingha appointed an interim committee headed by former cricketer Arjuna Ranatunga to assume control of Sri Lanka Cricket yesterday, an angry President Ranil Wickremesinghe telephoned Ranasingha and asked for an immediate explanation as to why he had made such a move without consulting him or the cabinet.

Hunger, anger and helplessness stalk the land

Our people are suffering and our children are starving. In fact, according to UNICEF, more than 5.7 million people, including 2.3 million children, require humanitarian assistance.

How irresponsible spending drains SLC coffers

While Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is toiling to return to its glorious match winning trend, members forming the ‘Cricket Board’ and handling cricket administration are accused of abusing their positions and milking the rich coffers of the controlling body for cricket to their own whims and fancies. With the release of the Auditor General’s (AG) report on SLC astonishing details have surfaced as to how the hierarchy forming the Cricket Board’s admini

Vital documents at NMRA destroyed

Several important documents at the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) have been reportedly destroyed, the Society of Government Pharmacists alleged.

Cabinet approves decision to hike VAT to 18%

Cabinet approval has been granted to increase Value-Added Tax (VAT) to 18 percent from the current 15 percent with effect from January 1, 2024, Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Bandula Gunawardana said this morning.

Sri Lanka’s Central Hills at risk: One-fifth of land prone to landslides

One–fifth of Sri Lanka’s total landmass, particularly the areas in the central hills- is prone to landslides according to a study by the National Building Research Organization (NBRO).

New Health Minister vows to make crucial changes

Newly appointed Health Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said he expects to make some crucial and timely changes in terms of policies and individuals in the health sector.

Refrain from commenting on SL’s internal affairs

The Parliament’s Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security has recommended informing US Ambassador Julie Chung, urging her to refrain from making statements regarding the internal affairs of Sri Lanka in the future.

New legislation to ensure standards of MPs: President

A new legislation will be introduced soon to ensure the proper standards of MPs, President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced today.

Presidential election scheduled for next year - President

In accordance with the Constitution, the Presidential election is scheduled for next year, followed by the parliamentary election, President Ranil Wickremesinghe assured today despite reports that there will be Constitutional reforms instead.

Another Sri Lankan-born turns into a scammer in Australia

A Sri Lankan-born Melbourne financial planner, Terence Rio Rienzo Nugara, accused of pilfering about $10 million from the superannuation funds of vulnerable clients, pleaded guilty in the County Court last month to 37 charges of obtaining a financial advantage by deception and two of theft, Australia’s The Age news agency reported.

CEB increases electricity tariffs from today

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has received permission from the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) to increase electricity tariffs from today (20).

Angelo, Chameera to join World Cup squad

Veteran all-rounder Angelo Mathews and seamer Dushmantha Chameera have been called up by the national selectors to join the World Cup squad in India as traveling reserves.

Bribery Commission decides not to take further legal action

The Bribery Commission has informed the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court that it will not take further legal action into the sum of Rs. 17.85 million recovered from the President’s House on July 9, 2022.

Biden visits Israel and suggests Gaza hospital explosion ’done by the other team’

President Biden suggested on Wednesday that Hamas was responsible for the Gaza hospital explosion that killed hundreds of Palestinian civilians. Speaking in Tel Aviv alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden declared his “outrage” over the blast at al-Ahli Hospital and echoed Israeli claims that it was done by Palestinian militants.

Missing Sri Lankan woman in Israel confirmed dead

Israeli authorities have confirmed the death of Sri Lankan national, Anula Jayathilake who was previously reported missing, Sri Lankan Ambassador to Israel, Nimal Bandara said.

Passenger ferry service between India and Sri Lanka begins

An international, high-speed passenger ferry service between Nagapattinam on the eastern coast of Tamil Nadu and Kankesanthurai in the northern province of Sri Lanka, has resumed as of Saturday, October 14, 2023, after a gap of nearly four decades.

Wickramaratne gets another extension as IGP

With the tussle over appointing a new IGP escalating, C.D. Wickramaratne has been given a three-week extension as the IGP by President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

China takes front seat to lead SL’s debt restructuring process

China has taken the front seat in Sri Lanka’s external debt restructuring process making a calculated move akin to a chessboard strategy, catching everyone off-guard, by entering a preliminary debt deal with the Sri Lanka authorities.

’We only want local probe with foreign observers’: Catholic Church tells President

The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka, in a fresh letter addressed to President Ranil Wickremesinghe has called for a local probe to clear certain shortcomings that are visible in the previous probes into the Easter Sunday bomb attacks.

Health Ministry struggles to replace expired medical equipment

The Health Ministry of Sri Lanka has determined that a sum of Rs. 67 billion is a pre-requisite to replace expired medical equipment, Daily Mirror learns.

Sri Lanka, EXIM Bank of China reach pact on debt disposal

The Export-Import Bank of China reached a preliminary agreement with Sri Lanka last month on the disposal of China-related debts, China’s Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday, as the island sought debt relief from its biggest bilateral lender.

Will National elections be postponed?

The government has moved to change the parliamentary electoral system triggering fears in political circles whether it is yet another attempt to postpone the national elections including the Presidential Election pending next year, Daily Mirror learns.

Supreme Court allows TISL to intervene in X-Press Pearl case

Earlier this year, Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) filed an intervention petition before the Supreme Court, seeking permission to intervene in Case No. SC/FR 168/2021, which was filed by the Centre for Environmental Justice seeking fair compensation for the victims of the X-Press Pearl disaster, a statement from TISL said.

No interference in probe of Police Constable’s tragic death in Colombo

There will be no interference or involvement of top police officers in the investigations into the death of a police constable who was run over by an SUV at Independence Square roundabout in Colombo, Western Province Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon said.

Minister Naseer Ahamad in hot water: SC determines expulsion from SLMC is valid

The Supreme Court in a landmark judgment today determined that the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress’ decision to expel Minister Naseer Ahamad from the party membership is legally valid.

Tree falls on bus: Five killed, five injured

At least five persons were killed and five others injured after a tree collapsed on a bus travelling from Colombo to Mathugama this morning, police said.

Cardinal, Bishops Conference hold same view on Easter Sunday attacks

The Sri Lanka Catholic Bishops’ Conference and Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith hold the same view on the Easter Sunday bomb attacks and call for a local probe into it with the involvement of foreign observers.

CBSL further reduces policy interest rates

The first monetary policy review by the Monetary Policy Board under the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Act, No. 16 of 2023 (CBA) was held yesterday and the Board decided to reduce the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) of the Central Bank by 100 basis points (bps) to 10.00 per cent and 11.00 per cent, respectively.