No chance for last minute rigging; all state employees with us -AKD

Claiming that there is no chance for last minute election rigging as feared by some, NPP presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday all government employees who deal with election related duties such as police personnel, teachers and election department officials are supporting the National People’s Power (NPP) this time.

Excessive taxation will not increase state revenue as intended - Namal

Excessive taxation will not increase state revenue as intended nor will it mete out justice to the people, SLPP Presidential candidate Namal Rajapaksa said.

Jalani Premadasa receives salute from Air Force?

The present arms is a salute position where the rifle is brought up vertically in line with the body and is usually given to the Heads of State and Members of Parliament

Rice price hike unfair, say S&M rice mill owners

Small and Medium Scale Rice Mill Owners’ Association has accused the government and the Consumer Affairs Authority of failing to take action against large scale rice mill owners for increasing the prices of Nadu rice to Rs. 230 a kilo.

IUSF stages protest

A protest organized by the Inter-University Student’s Federation (IUSF) was held in front of the Fort Railway Station yesteday

Greenpeace South Asia calls on Presidential candidates to commit to the Global Ocean Treaty

Greenpeace South Asia is calling on all the Sri Lankan presidential candidates for their commitment to sign and ratify the Global Ocean Treaty once they come into office, in order to safeguard ocean biodiversity, support climate change mitigation and the future of the generations to follow.

Easter Sunday attacks: Pujith completes Rs.75Mn compensation payment

In compliance with the Supreme Court’s judgement former IGP Pujith Jayasundara has paid the remaining balance of compensation owed to the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks. The Supreme Court had ordered former IGP Pujith Jayasundara to pay Rs. 75 million as compensation for his failure to perform his statutory duties.

Prez challenges Anura to clarify revenue plan

President Ranil Wickremesinghe who participated in a rally in Gampola urged NPP candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake to state how he is planning to increase government revenue in order to fulfil his pledges.

Mango cultivation for export with modern technology training

Department of Agriculture has taken steps to promote mango cultivation as an export crop.

Three-year-old girl sexually abused

A three-and-a-half-year-old girl from Highland Estate in Bandarawela had been subjected to grave sexual abuse by a relative. Police said the suspect had taken the girl to a secret location under the pretext of buying toffees for her and caused grave sexual abuse. The 30-year-old suspect was a resident of Meethotamulla.

Schools closed on Sept 20 for election

The Education Ministry yesterday announced the closure of all schools on September 20 as requested by the Election Commission. The schools will reopen the following Monday. The decision was taken following a request from the Election Commission due to the Presidential Election to be held on Saturday (21).

Cop arrested for suspected narcotics dealing

A Police Constable attached to the Ipalogama Police was arrested on suspicion of dealing in narcotics.

Farmer trampled to death by wild elephant

A farmer had been trampled to death by a wild elephant in the Madayakalalanda area in the early hours of last morning. The victim Hewa Hakuruge Upul Priyanga, 40, was a resident of Perakum Mawatha in Madayamalalanda in Ambalanthota Police area.

Next SL govt should commit to accountability, justice, reconciliation- UN Human Rights Chief

With less than two weeks for the presidential elections Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that the newly elected administration must commit to the concrete transformational changes needed to ensure accountability, justice and reconciliation.

Ranil pledges provincial development boards for the North and East

President Ranil Wickremesinghe pledged to set up provincial development boards to take charge of developments in the North and the East..

Sajith pledges a new constitution

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa pledged a new constitution without Executive presidency and where there is a system of appointing people to the top posts after stakeholder consultation.

AKD pledges pension scheme for private sector

The National People’s Power (NPP) has proposed to introduce a contributory pension scheme for private sector employees in a move to ensure a dignified and happy retired life, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday.

Namal pledges tech and biz hub for Jaffna

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Presidential candidate Namal Rajapaksa has pledged to transform the Jaffna Peninsula into a thriving technology and business hub, positioning it as Sri Lanka’s version of Silicon Valley.

Shooting at Uddika’s vehicle, former ASP arrested

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested the former Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) of Anuradhapura Sanjeewa Mahanama for allegedly assisting in the incident involving the shooting of actor-turned-politician Uddika Premaratne’s vehicle near his residence in Anuradhapura.

Doctors stage protest

Doctors affiliated to the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) staged a protest outside the Health Ministry, denouncing the government’s suppression of health trade unions yesterday.

Some candidates request support but will remain neutral: CBK

Claiming that some presidential candidates sought her support, former president Chandrika Kumaratunga said yesterday she decided to remain neutral at the presidential election 2024.

Sri Lanka Air Force Beechcraft participates in India’s ’Tarang Shakthi’ exercise

The Sri Lanka Air Force Beechcraft aircraft is making a significant contribution to the inaugural edition of India’s biennial multinational air combat exercise, ‘Tarang Shakthi’.

Sajith rules out political marriage with RW

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday ruled out an alliance with his rival Ranil Wickremesinghe. “The RW camp and the camp led by Anura Kumara Dissanayake are spreading so many fake news today. They say we in Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) are to get into a political marriage. This is totally false. We will never ally with those who destroyed this nation,” Mr. Premadasa told a rally in Galle. “The Ranil camp and NPP can form an allianc

Minister Arundika Fernando becomes independent

While calling for unity among President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and others, State Minister Arundika Fernando announced in Parliament that he will function as an independent MP from today.

NPP has options to run government until Parliament dissolved: Anura Kumara

Claiming that the National People’s Power (NPP) will not violate the Constitution if elected on September 21, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday the NPP will run the government as per the Constitution for one and half months until the Parliament is dissolved.

Network Against Disinformation calls for expediting process of debunking AI-generated videos

-AI-generated videos featuring the faces of Presidential candidates already circulating on social media, the inability to debunk these videos and remove them quickly could potentially influence the final outcome of the election.

Jaffna market in full swing

The public market of Jaffna bustling with trading, particularly with the demand for the traditional and famous Palmyrah products.

Sajith pledges new income tax formula

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday pledged to introduce a new income tax formula if elected as the President of this country.

Ranil making impractical promises: AKD

President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who senses his defeat, has started to give impractical pledges like increasing salaries of government servants and writing off crop loans, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday.

Air pollution, changes in climate and rapid urbanization have led to a surge in the number of respiratory illnesses, top officials say

The Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Palitha Mahipala commented on the spread of respiratory-related ailments in Sri Lanka at the annual research conference of the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) held recently. Discussions ranged from policies to improve air quality in India, to the problem of Smear Negative Pulmonary Tuberculosis prevalent in Low and Middle Income Countries.