Rankings joy for Sri Lanka stars following memorable England Test triumph

Big gains for a host of Sri Lanka players on the latest Test rankings, as Australia’s best white-ball performers make eye-catching ground on the T20I lists.

Cocaine from Colombia worth Rs. 75 Mn seized at BIA

Over two kilos of Cocaine worth over Rs. 75 million sent from Colombia concealed in a courier package was seized by Sri Lanka Customs at the Bandaranaike International Airport today.

President responds to AKD’s invitation for debate

Commenting on Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s invitation for a debate, President Ranil Wickremesinghe asked him to first hold a separate discussion within the party to clarify their economic policy.

Seetha Arambepola appointed Minister of State for Health, Women’s & Child Affairs

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has appointed MP Seetha Kumari Arambepola as the Minister of State for Health, Women’s & Child Affairs.

Pakistan resentful over exclusion of its nationals from visa-relaxed entry into Sri Lanka

Pakistan, a country that stood by Sri Lanka in international forums and the fight against terrorism, is upset over the latest visa restrictions imposed on its nationals arriving in the country, Daily Mirror learns.

NASA sets sights on another ‘world that might be habitable today’

The Europa Clipper spacecraft passed a key milestone on Monday and is on track to launch next month to explore and seek signs of habitability on one of Jupiter’s moons, according to NASA. The launch window for its journey opens on October 10.

USD 577.5 million received from expatriate workers during August

The amount of remittance sent to Sri Lanka in August this year has increased by 11 percent when compared with August of last year, the Bureau of Foreign Employment said.

Veteran singer and composer Senaka Batagoda no more

Veteran Sri Lankan singer and composer Senaka Batagoda has passed away at the age of 65.

China aims for historic Mars mission ‘around 2028’ as it vies for space power

China’s historic attempt to bring samples from Mars to Earth could launch as soon as 2028, two years earlier than previously stated, according to a senior mission official

215 MPs secure two repeater shotguns each ahead of presidential poll

Ahead of the presidential poll, all except ten out of 215 parliamentarians have already secured two repeater shotguns each from the Defence Ministry for their personal security following concerns triggered after arson on a number of houses belonging to them in the aftermath of the 2022 Aragalaya, an official said.

Revised import duties set to boost local trade and industries

Sri Lanka’s local business community stands to gain from a major revision of the country’s import tax structure, with the government announcing new measures to reduce costs and boost domestic production.

Govt. protests with UK over display of LTTE emblem

Sri Lanka protested with the UK Home Office regarding the display of LTTE emblems during a demonstration organized by the Tamil Diaspora activists, an official said.

Jalani Premadasa receives salute from Air force?

Severe controversy has erupted over a video circulating on social media showing Jalani Premadasa, the wife of Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa supposedly receiving a present arms salute by SLAF personnel while she was entering the Air Force Camp in Palali yesterday (10)

SL to setup Rs. 1,000mn Financial Stability Fund

Sri Lanka will establish a financial stability fund with an initial allocation of Rs. 1,000 million, provided by the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilisation, and National Policy, according to the Department of Government Information.

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 today most of the 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.

Lankadeepa bags 'Most Popular Newspaper’ award

Our sister paper Lankadeepa was crowned the ’Most Popular Newspaper’ for the year 2024 at the CALIN Popular Awards ceremony held at Waters Edge today. Here Associate Features Editor of the Daily Lankadeepa Chaminda Munasinghe receiving the award.

FR petition filed on alleged Rs. 30 Bn LTL Holdings share transfer fraud

The Fundamental Rights petitions filed challenging the legality of the business transactions relating to LTL Holdings (Private) Limited, a leading engineering company in Sri Lanka, have been fixed for support on Friday (13) by the Supreme Court.

I don’t intend to make Sri Lanka a welfare state: Sajith

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa said he does not intend to make Sri Lanka a welfare state and will turn the poor into entrepreneurs.

EU court rules Google, Apple must pay billions of euros in antitrust, tax cases

A top European Union court on Tuesday told Google it would have to pay a €2.4 billion fine brought forth by the bloc’s antitrust regulators seven years ago, just as the court rejected Apple’s final legal challenge against an order from the European Commission to repay €13 billion in back taxes to Ireland.

Govt. responds to controversies over salary hike for public servants

Reports claiming that the Cabinet has not yet approved the salary increase for public sector employees set to be implemented in 2025 are false and the necessary approval has already been granted, the President’s Media Division said.

President removes five more State Ministers

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has removed five State Ministers, including Geetha Kumarasinghe, with immediate effect, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

RW has no secret pact with AKD: Akila

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has no secret pact with NPP presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake, UNP Assistant Leader Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said today.

IUSF protests

A protest organsied by the Inter-University Student’s Federation (IUSF) was held in front of the Fort Railway Station against government policies affecting higher education and the rising cost of living. Pix by Nisal Baduge

IUSF Convener arrested

The Convener of the Inter-University Student’s Federation (IUSF) and several other demonstrators were arrested this afternoon near the Fort Railway Station during a protest march in Colombo.

Poultry-related production reach self-sufficiency: Amaraweera

The poultry meat and related productions in the country have reached self-sufficiency, Agriculture and Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.

Some 80 SLPP MPs to leave country due to RW’s actions: Mujibur

Around 80 SLPP MPs have booked tickets to leave the country because of President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s action of promoting NPP candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake, SJB MP Mujibur Rahman said.

Mahapola scholarship, bursary premium to increase from April 2025

Cabinet approval has been granted to increase the Mahapola scholarship premium to Rs. 7,500 and the bursary premium to Rs. 6,500 with effect from April 2025.

Germany to tighten border controls after stabbing

Germany is set to expand border checks following a knife attack which left three people dead in the town of Solingen in August.

“Dividena Ranaviru”

The “Dividena Ranaviru” National Conference organized by SJB was held at the Sugathadasa Stadium under the patronage of Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Anura’s hidden message to Tamils creation of another communal clash: Deshapremi Janatha Balawegaya

The Deshapremi Janatha Balawegaya which is backing independent candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential election, alleged today that the hidden message of NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake is that they will have to face a communal clash if they fail to vote for him.