Colombo Tea Auction offering drops to 4.9 MnKgs this week

The Colombo Tea Auction offering recorded a decline significantly, totalling 4.9 million kilogrammes. There was improved demand and a dearer trend in prices for most teas on offer, perhaps triggered by the lower volume on offer against the backdrop of urgent shipments, Forbes and Walker Tea Brokers said.

Diana under immigration radar for overstaying visa since 2014

In the wake of UK citizenship holding Diana Gamage losing her parliamentary seat following a ruling by the Supreme Court, the immigration authorities are planning to consult the Attorney General to inquire into how she lived in Sri Lanka without a valid visa since she last arrived in the country on a tourist visa since around 2014, an official said.

Authorities on alert as illicit fags flow from airport

Law enforcement agents are on alert as illicit cigarettes in bulk arrive at the airport and were also found within the country during the last couple of days amounting to the value of over Rs.1.5 million.

SL to see an increase in automobile assembly plants

Sri Lanka will see the addition of automobile assembly plants, as four are set to begin operations within the next three months and another 11 have been registered by the Industries Ministry.

Tourist arrivals cross 800,000 mark in May

The tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka crossed the 800,000 mark in May, which is two months earlier than 2023 in achieving the milestone.

Battery-operated toys pose risks to kids

Battery operated toys sold in the market are harmful to children, Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) Assistant Secretary Dr. Palitha Rajapaksa said.

Urging support for struggling artistes...

The United Youth Artistes’ Forum emphasized the importance of maintaining the stability that the country has achieved and called for assistance for artistes who they claim have become helpless in the wake of the economic crisis. Artists Senaka Wijesinghe, Rajitha Hiran and Kumar Jayakatha were among those who voiced these concerns at a media briefing. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Tharshan Selvarajah makes history as first Sri Lankan to carry Olympic torch

Paris-based Sri Lankan-born baker Tharshan Selvarajah has etched his name into the annals of history as the first Sri Lankan to be bestowed with the honour of carrying the iconic Olympic torch.

Three cops arrested for bribery to halt action against selling sexual stimulants

In a startling turn of events, three police officers from the Sapugaskanda Police, including a sergeant and two constables, were arrested today on suspicion of accepting a bribe amounting to Rs. 150,000 to stop proceeding with legal action against the sale of aphrodisiacs (a food, drink, or other thing that stimulates sexual desire) by an Ayurvedic medicine dealer.

CID tells Maithripala’s statements contradict each other

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) conducting investigations into the controversial revelation made by former President Maithripala Sirisena regarding the Easter Sunday bomb attacks, informed court that his two statements given to the CID and evidence gathered from CCTV footage contradict each other.

Sri Lanka Cricket raises player fees across all formats

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has decided to enhance player welfare and incentivizing performance by announcing substantial increases in player fees across all formats, effective immediately.

South Korea to establish ministry to tackle low birth rate crisis

South Korea’s President, Yoon Suk Yeol, has announced plans to establish a new government ministry dedicated to addressing the country’s dire birth rate situation.

SLPP ready for Presidential election, no candidate yet: Basil

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) is ready for the Presidential eletion but they are yet to find a candidate for the presidency, SLPP founder Basil Rajapaksa said today.

One killed, four injured in head-on collision

One person was killed and four others seriously injured in a head-on collision of a SLTB bus and a trishaw at Puwagodamulla on the Badulla- Mahiyangana road.

Diana’s expulsion case postponed

The expulsion petition filed by former State Minister Diana Gamage challenging the Samagi Jana Balawegaya’s (SJB) decision to expel her from party membership was today fixed for May 28 by the Supreme Court.

Expo 2024 at BMICH

The Build Sri Lanka Housing & Construction International Expo 2024 was launched today at the BMICH with several novel features. The exhibition will be held till Sunday (12) and will also feature many stalls of companies from several countries as it is an international exhibition. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Some police officers misuse Yukthiya operation: MPs charge

Innocent people including school children are arrested under the Yukthiya Operation for minor offences in some police stations and they are unreasonably charged under Act 54 of the Criminal Procedure, several government MPs charged today.

Sri Lankan in Germany wins a Cybertruck

Pasindu Jayaweera, a Sri Lankan in Germany won the incredible Tesla Cybertruck as the grand prize after becoming the winner of the WSO2CodeChallenge held in Hollywood.

US Assistant Secretary Donald Lu to visit Sri Lanka

United States Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu will travel to India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh between May 10 and 15.

Central Bank joins chorus urging need to uphold reform momentum

Sri Lanka is facing mounting pressure to maintain its current reform momentum, as experts continue to warn that any deviation from the path could potentially derail the country’s progress and plunge it back into crisis.

Mujibur sworn in as a National List MP

Mujibur Rahuman was sworn in as a National List MP before Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena a shortwhile ago.

Kaspersky detects 15 million incidents on Sri Lankan computers in 2023

Kaspersky yesterday shared that in 2023, its products detected 15 million local incidents on the computers of Kaspersky Security Network participants in Sri Lanka.

A move to preempt hush-hush project on snap general election before

Speculation is rife in political circles that the Election Commission announced the plan for the conduct of the presidential election interpreting the Constitution in a bid to suppress any internal political discourse for a possible snap general election, Daily Mirror learns.

Majority MPs call for General Election first

In the wake of the Election Commission officially announcing that the Presidential election will be held between September 17 and October 16, a faction of both government and opposition MPs have expressed concerns as they prefer a parliamentary election first, Daily Mirror learns.

Human traffickers sent over 80 Sri Lankan war veterans to Russian-Ukrainian war front: 8 killed

Investigations have revealed that more than 80 Sri Lankan war veterans have been sent to the Russian-Ukrainian war front as members of mercenary groups by human traffickers.

SEC approves Accredited Scholars for Islamic capital market product certification

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) yesterday announced the approval of a list of Accredited Shariah Scholars as “Supplementary Service Providers”.

Fitch affirms SriLankan Airlines’ Government-Guaranteed Bonds at ‘C’

Fitch Ratings yesterday announced it has affirmed the rating on SriLankan Airlines Government-Guaranteed bonds at ‘C’.

No import of vehicles expected in near future - Vehicle Importers Association

While denouncing the false rumours regarding imminent vehicle importation, the Vehicle Importers Association of Sri Lanka (VIASL) clarified that no vehicles, including lightweight vehicles, will be imported within the current year or before the election.

Former SL netball captain fails doping test

Sri Lanka’s current national netball poolist and former captain Semini Alwis has been alleged to have used prohibited stimulants, according to a random test conducted by the Sri Lanka Anti Doping Agency (SLADA).

Two floating solar pilot projects implemented on Chandrika Wewa, Kiriibban Wewa

Two floating solar pilot projects were implemented on Chandrika Wewa in Embilipitiya and Kiriibban Wewa in Sewanagala and will be completed by July 2024, the Power and Energy Ministry said.