Thousands throng Buddhist Viharayas

Thousands of devotees yesterday attended religious observances at Buddhist Viharayas all over the country to mark Duruthu Full Moon Poya, strictly adhering to health guidelines. They observed Sil at the Kirivehera Cheithiya, attended religious activities including Buddha poojas, alms giving, meditation sessions and preaching of sermons. They attended Poojas held at the Ruhun

Complete ban on importing seeds?

Minister of Agriculture, Mahindananda Aluthgamage said that measure would be taken to suspend the importation of seeds that can be produced locally. He said this at a meeting held in Nuwara eliya Agrarian Service Centre to discuss about issues faced by farmers in the Nuwara eliya district. A sum of

Arrested for selling Valampuri

A rare Valampuri (conch shell) weighing 1.6kg was seized and two suspects who attempted to sell it have been arrested by the STF personnel in Mullaithivu during a raid near a hotel in Mullaithivu tow

Maha season harvest offering by Jaffna farmers

Paddy harvesting in Maha season has begun in Jaffna district and offerings are made to deities prior to harvesting in Nallur Kandaswami Temple in Jaffna. Blessings of gods were invoked prior to paddy harvesting in Jaffna district and offering a bundle of paddy crop to the Sun God before harvesting and sprinkling milk before the paddy harvest are so

Female bank employee killed by wild jumbo

A 49-year-old woman of Thambuttegama has died after being trampled by a wild elephant. The state ba

Three nabbed with stock of turmeric and glyphosate

The Navy seized a stock of 1,340 kilogrammes of turmeric and 800 packets of glyphosate smuggled into the country by sea and arrested three suspects during a raid in the Daluwa beach in Kalpitiya

Signal light system at roundabouts soon to ease traffic jam

In order to reduce traffic congestion in major cities, traffic signal light systems will be installed at roundabouts within six months, while improving the existing ones, Highways Minister Johnston

Cache of unusable artillery shells recovered in Mulliyawalai

The Army yesterday recovered a cache of unusable artillery shells during a search operation conducted in the Mulliyawalai area. Among the a

Commemoration of India’s 72nd Republic Day

Indian High Commission yesterday commemorated India’s 72nd Republic Day at India House – residence of Indian High Commissioner in Colombo, yesterday.

Expertise of Colombo University can be used to achieve govt. goals: GL

The expertise of the University of Colombo will be of enormous assistance to the government in achievement of the goals it has set itself, which is significantly to address the mismatch between what is taught in universities and other educational institutions and employment available, Minister of Education Prof. G. L. Peiris said yesterday. Prof. Peiris made these

STF arrests man with firearm, Rs.27.5 mn in cash

The Special Task Force of Police (STF) arrested a 38-year old man at Wanawasala in Kelaniya with a pistol, two magazi

CPC saved USD 300 million in foreign exchange for 2020

Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has saved USD 300 million in foreign exchange for the year 2020, CPC chairman Sumith Wijesinghe told the COPE recently. The Chairman of

Sugar prices would have been Rs. 155 if not for tax reduction: State Minister

While admitting the fact that a certain Company had earned an unreasonable income through the tax reduction on sugar, Co-

To revive the ‘Hela’ medicinal benefits Bengamuwe Nalaka Thera urges Govt. to legalise cannabis cultivation

In a bid to reap and revive the ancient ‘Hela’ medicinal properties of the ganja plant, leading Buddhist Monk Bengamuwea

Planned vaccine roll-out will boost public confidence in Govt.: Prof.Peiris

Minister of Education Prof. G.L. Peiris said that the planned vaccine roll-out against COVID-19 will strengthen public co

‘Long distance trains to resume operation’

The train services on the main line that had been suspended for more than three months due to the spread of the CORONA pandemic, resumed last morning. Central

Nobody allowed to meddle with Muthurajawela Sanctuary: Lansa

No one will be allowed to carry out any development work in the Muthurajawela Sanctuary, State Minister for Rural Roads and Other Infrastructure Nimal Lansa said during the weekend. State Minis

Prelates of Asgiriya, Malwattu Chapters welcome decision to re-open schools

Malwathu Chapter Anunayake Most Ven, Niyangoda Sri Vijithasiri Thera, Asgiriya Chapter Anunayake, Most Ven. Anama

Dalada Maligawa staff free of Covid: Diyawadana Nilame Maligawa opens to pilgrims as usual

None of the staff of the Sri Dalada Maligawa is COVID-19 infected and all activities in the Dalada Maligawa are going on a

75 employees of Koggala FTZ infected with Coronavirus

Health authorities have identified 75 employees infected with the coronavirus from the garment factories in the Koggala F

All officers of Kamburupitiya Police Station quarantined

All officers in the Kamburupitiya Police Station including an ASP were quarantined and the police station was disinfected

Patali calls on intellectuals to help redeem country from predicament launches 43rd Brigade Campaign

Whilst stressing the need for a fifth generation leadership to deliver the country from the present economic and social crisis, Member of Parliament Patali Champika Ranawaka yesterday called all intellectuals to join in a struggle to

India gifts Rs.200mn worth radar spares equipment to SLAF

The Indian Air Force gifted 341 “Indra Radar” spares worth Rs.200 million to the Sri Lanka Air Force to augment maintenance support for the four INDRA Mk-II Air Surveillance Radars, previously gifted to the SLAF by the Indian Government in 2011.

Parliamentary select committee should be appointed

Whilst highlighting that COVID-19 pandemic will not end this year, the vaccine distribution will be a time-consuming process, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said over the weekend. He called for the appointment of a special parlia

Prisons Dept. to recruit 200 ex-servicemen as Prison Guards

The Department Prisons is to recruit 200 ex-servicemen who have legitimately discharged after completing their 12-year service from the three armed forces, to fill the post of Prison Guards based on urgent service requirements.

EPF is in danger once again: SJB

The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) is in danger once again as there seemed to be a repeat of what took place some years a

Trade Ministry to stabilise commodity prices for six months

Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardane said his Ministry would reach agreements with importers and manufacturers of essential commodities to keep prices stable for six months from February except in case of a tax hike or the spike of

Pongal teaches value of nature and reconciliation : Sajith

Pongal is one of the oldest festivals practised by Hindus and it teaches the value of nature and reconciliation, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said yesterday. Speaking d

Repatriation hindered due to lack of staff at overseas missions: Karu Jayasuriya

Whilst stating that lack of staff in Sri Lankan missions abroad had paved the way for serious issues pertaining to the repatriation of Sri Lankan expatriates especially in the Middle Eastern nations, the head of National Movement for Social Justice Karu Jayasuriya yesterday urged the government to address this shortcoming without delay. Mr. Jaya

UDA to construct 5, 000 housing units for middle income families

The Urban Development Authority(UDA) has taken steps to construct 5000 housing units for middle income families and newly married couples all over the country. The contract agreements to construct 3000 housing units under s