Renowned civil servant Lionel passes away

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the passing away of M.E. Lionel Fernando, former Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and conveys its profound condolences to his family.

Chief Justice affirms President’s tenure is five years

Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya yesterday observed that the law, as it stands today, clearly states that the President’s term is five years.

Trade unions flex muscles, Govt adamant, rules out pay hike

In the wake of strike action by trade unions in the state sector crippling even some services, the government remained adamant yesterday and ruled out the possibility of granting a pay hike for public servants.

Sajith vows to secure foreign aid to develop North and East

Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa pledged to hold a special international donor conference in the North before the end of the year with a view of getting foreign assistance to develop the North and the East.

CPSTL uncovers large-scale furnace oil theft

Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Ltd (CPSTL) has managed to unveil a large-scale scandal of theft and reselling furnace oil, its Managing Director Nissanka Jayawardene said yesterday.

Delegation from Communist Party of China visits Pathfinder Foundation HQ

The Pathfinder Foundation welcomed a delegation from the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and had a significant discussion to strengthen bilateral relations and understand perspectives on various global issues. The meeting held at the Pathfinder Foundation’s headquarters was part of a broader tour undertaken by the CPC delegation, which included visits to several countries.

Special traffic plan as Bohra Convention gets underway

Entrance to Bambalapitiya via Palmyra Avenue on Marine Drive

Champika visits Hirunika at Welikada Prison

The leader of the United Republic Party (URP) Parliamentarian Patali Champika Ranawaka and a group of members of the party visited the jailed former parliamentarian Hirunika Premachandra at the Welikada Prison on Saturday.

SL, China, Hong Kong collaborate to hold water and air management workshops

Sri Lanka Environment authorities collaborated with China and Hong Kong and held a series of workshops to educate on water and air management last week.

Anandians walk to serve mother Lanka

Thousands of Anandians both present and past pupils including prominent bureaucrats, public figures and military leaders took to streets yesterday to take part in the Ananda Walk 2024 under one banner of ‘Educate and Empower to Serve Mother Lanka’,

Bus veers off road at Halpe, injuring nine

At least nine passengers were injured when the steering wheel in a SLTB bus dislodged and the bus veered off the road at Halpe on Badulla - Bandarawela highway and fell into a culvert.

People’s Struggle Alliance launches protest march

The People’s Struggle Alliance which comprises few organizations and political parties which includes the Frontline Socialist Party have launched a protest march which is taking an anti IMF line and to ensure that elections are held on time.

Wijeya Newspapers Chairman honoured

Chairman of Wijeya Newspapers, Ranjith Wijewardene, was honoured as a visionary leader and pioneer of the Sri Lankan printing industry at an award ceremony organized by the Ingrin Academy of Printing and Graphics, that was held at the BMICH, recently.

Georgian Ex-Minister and Tiran Alles discuss anti-corruption measures

Former Georgian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Justice Eka Tkeshelashvili engaged in talks with Public Security Minister Tiran Alles at the Ministry of Public Security regarding the adaptation of international anti-corruption measures for Sri Lanka.

Sunday School teachers felicitated

A function was held at the Susilarama Temple, Malabe to felicitate the voluntary service provided by Buddhist monks and teachers for Sunday schools at Susilarama and Rathnarama temples. A total of 52 monks and teachers were felicitated during this function.

PHI murder was a case of mistaken identity

Police investigations have revealed information that this person was given a cash contract of eight lakh rupees by a man named Saman Kolla, who is considered to be an underworld leader hiding in Dubai, to kill a sub-inspector residing in the same area where the house of the PHI is located.

Schoolboy hit by train at Padukka

A schoolboy was knocked down by a train near Siri Piyarathana National School in Padukka last afternoon and was admitted to Padukka District Hospital and transferred to Colombo South Hospital for further treatment.

Thalawa OIC assaulted

A police team under OIC Thalawa Police CI L.M.M.K Lansakara had come under assault during a raid on an illicit brewery at Sumudugama in Thalawa. The OIC and four officers including an IP, who received injuries were admitted to Thalawa hospital and the OIC was thereafter transferred to Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital for further treatment.

Remanded for robbery of imitation gold chain

A robber, who waylaid a school teacher and robbed her of a gold chain after throwing chilli powder on her face only to find it an imitation gold chain. She was on her way back after school when she faced the incident at Madepitiya in Passara, The teacher told police that she had bought it for Rs.500 from a pavement hawker.

That’s Ari back in limelight

Some time back, Ariya Rubasinghe was an icon of everyone in the Sri Lankan media industry. The releasing ceremony of his biographical book “That is Ari” which reveals the challenging and controversial areas of his life from public service mission will be held on July 5 at 3.00 pm at the Government Information Department, Colombo 05.

Readers flock to Kandy Book Fair 2024

Readers flock to the Kandy Book Fair 2024, which kicked off on July 1 at the Kandy City Center (KCC). The book fair will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily, until July 7.

Fisherman stabbed to death by Moralla

A fisherman had been stabbed to death by a garfish, popularly known as Moralla among the fisherfolk, whilen he was fishing in the Gurunagar jetty. The fisherman’s neck had been pierced with the sharp cusp of the mouth of the fish causing his death. The injured fisherman, in critical condition, had been rushed to Jaffna teaching hospital by his fellow fishermen only to be pronounced already dead.

Divorce between two UK citizens recognized in Sri Lanka

The Colombo District Court has delivered an order recognizing the final order granted by a Family Court in the UK, annulling the marriage of UK citizens who contracted their marriage in Sri Lanka. An application was filed in the District Court of Colombo on the basis that a mutual divorce application had been preferred to the Family Courts in UK, where parties had voluntarily moved for the annulment of their marriage which had been entered in S

NMRA introduces new drug pricing mechanism

The National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) has introduced a new pricing mechanism aimed at determining the maximum retail price (MRP) for specific dosages and strengths of medicines. This regulatory initiative, outlined in a Gazette under the National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act, No. 5 of 2015, reflects extensive consultation with the Pricing Committee, Consumer Affairs Authority, and various stakeholders. The formulation of these

SJB Parliamentary group rules out national government

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Parliamentary group has unanimously approved a resolution that the party will not support any national government under President Ranil Wickremesinghe, SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said yesterday. “We denounced a national government proposal by President Wickremesinghe two years ago. We renewed this decision today,” Madduma Bandara told journalists in Parliament. The resolution has been prop

Local government election law still in effect, says EC

In light of the postponed local government polling and the subsequent incomplete polling process, the Election Commission (EC) has reaffirmed the ongoing validity of the election law. According to a statement issued by the EC, during the period in which the local government election law remains in effect, political parties, groups, or candidates are prohibited from engaging in promotional activities. In addition, the use of state property for

State funeral for Sampanthan next Sunday in Trincomalee

The funeral of former Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader R. Sampanthan will be conducted in Trincomalee next Sunday under state patronage. He, 91, passed away on Sunday.

Pada Yatra pilgrims commence their journey

Pada Yatra pilgrims from the North and East, making a long trek through the hard terrain of Kumana and Yala Wildlife Sanctuaries to attend the Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devalaya Esala festival commencing on July 5, set off from the Kumana main entrance on Sunday (30).

Australia to donate maritime surveillance aircraft to Sri Lanka at the end of the year: High Commissioner

Australia will donate a maritime surveillance aircraft at the end of this year to improve Sri Lanka’s capability, country’s High Commissioner Paul Stephens said recently.

Top Tech Entrepreneur: Rotary Governor 2024/25

One of Sri Lanka’s top tech entrepreneurs, Sushena Ranatunga, has been appointed as the Rotary Governor of Sri Lanka & Maldives for the year 2024/25. The Co-Founder/Director of Creative Technology Solutions Pvt Ltd, a company that pioneered Sri Lanka’s software industry way back in 2002, he is also the Director of the BOI-based healthcare software development company Cambio Software Engineering Pvt Limited.