156th birth anniversary of Anagarika Dharmapala

The 156th birth anniversary of Srimath Anagarika Dharmapala was celebrated under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Maligakanda Mahabodhi Agrasrawaka Maha Viharaya last morning.

pm says Port City project will attract $15Bn investments

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, yesterday said that the Colombo Port City project will attract investments worth 15 billion US dollars once completed, making it the main financial and economic hub for Sri Lanka. Visiting the

Opposition Leader sets up special unit to preserve environment

Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa yesterday announced the setting up of a special unit at his office and the appointment of a task force to preserve environment. Mr. Prema

“Pavidihanda” opposes slaughter of cattle

The ‘Pavidihanda’ organization headed by Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thera launched a march in favour of the Government’s decision to ban the slaughter of cattle for human consumption. The marc

Ex-CID Director Shani Abeysekara and two others further remanded till Oct.02

Former Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Director Shani Abeysekara and two others arrived at the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court yesterday.They were further remanded till October 02.

AGM of Field Officers’ of SL Insurance Corp.

The Annual General Meeting of the Field Officers of the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation will be held tomorrow (19) September at the “Hotel one plus one”, Peradeniya Road, Kandy. The meeting will commence paying homage to the most sacred Tooth Relic at the Kandy Sri Dalada Maligawa. The participation of all members are anticipated to make this meeting a success.

Met.Dept forecasts heavy showers from today

The showery condition over the South-Western part and in North-Western Province is expected to intensify from today (18) to the next few days, Department of Meteorology forecasts. “Heavy rainfalls

Over 10 inmates commited suicide since January Zero access to drugs claims another life of prisoner

Another inmate at the Kalutara Prison has committed suicide for not being able to consume drugs bringing the total number of suicides to six within the last weeks, prison sources said. Sources sai

Police nab bogus police officer

A man posing as a police officer was arrested by Mount Lavinia Police during a raid carried out in Attidiya. The police, on suspicion checked the man to find that he was wearing a helmet similar t

Wild jumbo tramples wildlife field asst. to death

A 44-year-old wildlife field assistant was trampled to death by a wild elephant yesterday in Siyambalanduwa. The victim was part of a group of wildlife officers from the Damana Wildlife Zone that rush

Atulugama assault: Four more suspects arrested in Kaltota

Four more suspects who were wanted over the assault of a group of police officers at a raid at Atulugama in Bandaragama, were arrested in Kaltota yesterday. Police said the s

UNP-SJB Merger Mayantha clarifies

With reference to the news item carried by us on September 17, under the title ‘UNP - SJB merger possible under new leadership’, SJB MP Mayantha Dissanayake sent the following clarifica

12 Lankans attempting to travel to Canada on forged visas arrested

Twelve Sri Lankan nationals including five females were arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers when they were attempting to travel to Canada with forged visas. Police said th

Complete 100,000 km of road development by 2024: President instructs officials

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed the officials to complete the national programme to develop 100,000 kilometres of roads by 2024, the President’s Media Division said. Speaking

Drug rehabilitation process to resume, capacity to be increased

The Bureau of the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation said they hoped to resume rehabilitation process, especially for those addicted to drugs, which was temporarily suspended due to spread of COVID-19.

Accomplices of Wele Suda, Army Sampath arrested

Police have arrested two close associates of notorious criminals, Wele Suda and Army Sampath in possession of heroin. Sumeera Madhusanka alias ‘Railpare Sumeera’, a close associate of c

Govt. determined to bring road accidents to zero within 10 years: Transport Minister

The Government is planning to bring down the number of road accidents to zero by 2030, Transport Minister Gamini Lokuge said. He said so while addressing an event organised by the National Council for Road Safety at the Transport Ministry, to hand over monetary assistance for hit-and-run victims. Minister Lokuge said at

I’m analysing whether PCs are a burden to Govt.:State Minister Dr. Weeresekera

I am studying whether the Provincial Councils are a burden to the Government and whether the system should be abolished, Provincial Councils & Local Government State Minister Dr. Sarath Weerasekera said “We will have to

PCoI into Easter Sunday bombings Fmr Dir. SIS ended call sans detailed info: Ex-CNI Call disconnected abruptly

After receiving the reliable intelligence information from a foreign counterpart on April 20, 2019, about imminent coordinated terror attacks, former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director SDIG Nilantha Jayawardena called Chief of National Intelligence (CNI) Sisira Mendis, but in the middle of the conversation, the former SIS Director disconnected the call without providing detailed inform

Compliance with COVID-19 safety guideline by people reduced

While saying that people have taken the COVID-19 safety guideline for granted, Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera urged people to comply with COVID-19 regulations until risk factors are

13 mn copies of textbooks to be printed in 2021

The Education Ministry will print 13,890,000 copies of school text books in 106 subjects and related categories to be distributed among 4.2 million students in 2021 at a cost of Rs. 1.094 billion, Ca

President approves construction of slipway in Beruwala

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has approved the construction of a slipway in Beruwala to enable the launch of large vessels, the President’s Media Division said. He had given the approval at a meeting held to discuss the future plans of the State Ministry of Warehouse Facilities, Container Yards, Port Supply Facilities and Boats and Shipping Industry Dev

Talented youths lack financial backing: Arambepola

Youths in our country have talents and skills for inventions, new creations and new products but they lack financial backing and support to make their inventions and products commercially viable, Science, Technology and Research State Minister, Dr. Seetha Arambepola said yesterday. Minister Arambep

Ratmalana airport For flights to regional destinations

The Ratmalana Aiport will be used for flight operations with the Maldives and some destinations in the southern parts of India, Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said yesterday. He said

Premier lauds health care system in the country

The excellent heath care system of the country has helped to successfully control Covid- 19 pandemic in Sri Lanka. Hence, the government is fully committed to protect and further develop the free health service of Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said. Mr. Rajapak

Research book “Tabloid Paththara” to be launched

A Research Book “Tabloid Paththara” compiled by journalist Ajantha Kumara Agalakada will be launched on September 20 at 3.00 p.m. at the Divisional Secretariat Auditorium in Matara. The book launching ceremony will be presided by Editor in Chief of Lankadeepa and Director- Wijeya Newspapers Siri Ranasinghe. Professor Sunil Ariyaratne and veteran journalist Bandula Padmakumara will deliver special sp

Premalal appointed as Mayor of Kotte

I.M.B. Premalal was yesterday appointed as the new Mayor of Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte Municipal Council unopposed, following the election of the previous mayor to parliament. Since the

Drug racketeers arrested in Mannar

Four people including two females involved in a large scale drug racket were arrested with 52 kilos of cannabis and over 900 kgs of smuggled turmeric during a joint raid conducted by the Police

Road-worthiness of vehicles to be tested

No decision has been taken to discontinue the vehicle emission testing programme but a new test will be introduced as a road-worthiness test soon in the future, State Minister for Transport Dilum Amun

Legal action against those who feed wild elephants

The Department of Wild Life has requested drivers and passengers of vehicles which travel via the Buttala-Sella Kataragama road which cuts across the Yala National Park to refrain from feeding wild elephants known to frequent the road sides. As per a DWC off