Meenagaya derailed...

The Meenagaya intercity express train derailed between Colombo Fort and Maradana railway stations this morning, causing delays to train services. Photo by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe.

Govt. will take action to recover Aloysius’ defaulted tax money: Minister

The government will take action to recover the defaulted tax money by Director of W.M. Mendis and Company Ltd. Arjun Aloysius, who was sentenced to a six-month jail term for defaulting a VAT payment amounting to Rs. 3.5 billion, Cabinet Spokesman Vijitha Herath said today.

Two committees appointed on holding 77th Independence Day celebration

A committee comprising of Cabinet Ministers has been appointed with the participation of the President, Prime Minister and Minister of Buddhism, Religious and Cultural Affairs, National Integration, Social Security and Mass Media, for guidance and supervision for holding the 77th independence day celebrations on February 04, 2025.

Sri Lanka eye comeback win against Windies

Sri Lanka would be eyeing to make a strong comeback when they take on the West Indies in the second T20I at the Dambulla Stadium today.

Opposition Leader’s Parliamentary Secretary resigns

Secretary to the Opposition Leader in Parliament Thisath Devapriya Bandara Wijayagunawardena has resigned from the post with effect from September 10, 2024.

Sandya Rajapakse appointed as new Government Analyst

The Cabinet has approved the appointment of Sandya Kumudini Rajapakse as the new Government Analyst.

Misconduct results in suspension of seven MPs from Parliament in 2023

In a situation where public notion is created against the conduct of Parliamentarians, Parliamentary services of seven Members of Parliament in the ninth Parliament were suspended due to their misconduct within the year 2023.

Train delay after a fire breaks out in engine

Train services on the coastal line have been delayed after a fire broke out in the engine of a train near the Kalutara railway station, the Sri Lanka Railways Department said.

Derailment delays coastal line train services

Train services on the coastal line will be delayed due to a derailment between Maradana and Colombo Fort, the Railways Department said.

India expels six Canadian diplomats

India has decided to expel six Canadian diplomats, namely Stewart Ross Wheeler, Acting High Commissioner; Patrick Hebert, Deputy High Commissioner; Marie Catherine Joly, First Secretary; Lan Ross David Trites, First Secretary; Adam James Chuipka, First Secretary and Paula Orjuela, First Secretary.

Does NPP tone down Uganda money allegation?

National People’s Power (NPP) candidate Nilanthi Kottahachchi who made allegations about stolen assets stashed in Uganda by the previous regime said she made such remarks in a broader context on the need to recover ill-gotten wealth concealed in Uganda and elsewhere in the country.

Chinese Embassy assures full support to curb such crimes

Asserting that China is closely following the recent reports that Sri Lankan police arrested a number of foreign suspects of online fraud, including Chinese nationals, the Chinese Embassy said it provides full support to Sri Lankan law enforcement agencies in resolutely cracking down on suspects while protecting their legitimate rights and interests in accordance with the law.

Sri Lanka vulnerable to extreme weather events as an island in equatorial belt

Sri Lanka, as a country surrounded by the ocean and in the equatorial belt, is always vulnerable to extreme weather events, but the Meteorology Department lacks capacity for observation in localized and regional developments for more accurate weather forecasting, a climatologist said yesterday.

Colombo welcomes Cinnamon Life

Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams Sri Lanka, the highly anticipated luxury development by John Keells Group (JKH), opens its doors today for a soft launch, marking a historic moment in Colombo’s evolving skyline.

SriLankan responds to incident involving Captain locking First Officer out of cockpit

SriLankan Airlines confirmed today that an investigation is currently underway in accordance with civil aviation regulations regarding the incident on flight UL 607 from Sydney to Colombo on 21 September 2024.

Is this where aliens are hiding?

NASA spacecraft to study whether Jupiter’s moon Europa can harbor life

NASA is set to launch a spacecraft to Jupiter’s moon Europa, considered one of our solar system’s most promising spots to search for life beyond Earth, to learn whether this ice-encased world believed to harbor a vast underground ocean is habitable.

Govt. to review Adani Mannar wind power project: AG tells SC

The Attorney General informed the Supreme Court today that the government has decided to review the Wind Power Project in Mannar, which involves India’s Adani Group.

Court refuses bail to Arjun Aloysius and others

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today refused to release three Directors of W.M. Mendis and Company Ltd. - Arjun Aloysius, A.R. Dinendra John and Prasanna Kumarasiri de Silva on bail, in a bail pending appeal.

Kattankudy student cycles to Colombo to ask PM to address drug menace

A 14-year-old student, Fatima Nada, cycled from Kattankudy to Colombo to handover a message to Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya at the Prime Minister’s Office this morning (14).

SriLankan captain locks first officer out of cockpit

A tense situation unfolded aboard SriLankan Airlines flight UL607 from Sydney to Colombo when the captain locked the female First Officer out of the cockpit.

Schools in Colombo zone to close tomorrow due to rain

The Ministry of Education has decided to close all schools in the Colombo Education Zone tomorrow (15) due to the prevailing rainy weather conditions.

WFP assures continuous support to Sri Lanka

World Food Programme (WFP) representatives agreed to continue their on-going programmes in Sri Lanka through the World Food Programme, ensuring no disruptions, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

Rain, cold weather likely to increase childhood asthma, respiratory infections

With the rainy weather and cold weather conditions, childhood asthma, especially respiratory viruses infection including influenza will increase, Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH) Consultant Pediatrician Dr. Deepal Perera said.

Kamindu Mendis named ICC Men’s Player of the Month

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has today revealed the ICC Players of the Month for September 2024 as Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis and England’s Tammy Beaumont.

Bribery Commission has already expedited action on alleged corruption cases: Foreign Minister

The Bribery Commission has already expidited action related to cases of allegded corrupion, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said today.

No re-conduct of Grade 5 exam, free marks to be given

Following a meeting held this morning, the Examinations Department has decided not to re-conduct the Grade 5 scholarship examination and will provide free marks for the three questions that were allegedly leaked, Examinations Commissioner General Amit Jayasundara said.

Arjun Aloysius imprisoned for six months for tax default

Three Directors of W.M. Mendis and Company Ltd. Arjun Aloysius, A.R. Dinendra John, and Prasanna Kumarasiri de Silva were sentenced today to a six-month jail term by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court for defaulting a payment of Value Added Tax (VAT) amounting to Rs. 3.5 billion.

Three Presidential candidates in hot water for failing to submit expense reports

The Election Commission has revealed the names of three Presidential candidates who have failed to submit election expenditure reports.

Navy dispatches flood relief teams to assist affected people

Eight Sri Lanka Navy flood relief teams have been dispatched to assist those impacted in the Gampaha, Colombo and Puttalam districts, to work in coordination with the Disaster Management Centre (DMC).