Sri Lanka targets economic transition achieving net zero

Plans are underway to introduce legislation in Parliament, which would ensure that all government policies focus on the transformation to a highly competitive export-oriented economy, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said.

Government must fully digitalise Sri Lanka Customs

The government must fully digitalise the services offered by the border agencies, including Sri Lanka Customs, to ensure paperless trade, which will facilitate exports and bring down the cost of living.

Government planning four-stage vehicle import resumption

Following discussions with vehicle importers, the government is focused on resuming vehicle imports in four stages, Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said.

Ex Major General arrested for trafficking ex-military personnel to Russian-Ukrainian war front

A retired Army Major General and a former Army Sergeant have been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department on charges of trafficking ex-military personnel to conflict zones in Ukraine.

Former NMRA CEO arrested

The former Chief Executive Officer of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) Dr. Vijith Gunasekera has been arrested.

54-year-old shot dead in Ahungalla

A 54-year-old man was shot dead by two unidentified men who arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire in Bogahapitiya, Ahungalla tonight.

Sri Lankan charged with rape of ex-girlfriend in Malta

A Sri Lankan has been remanded in Malta on Tuesday after being charged with the rape of his ex-girlfriend.

Viyaskanth debuts in IPL with Sunrisers

Leg-spinner Viyaskanth Vijayakanth was handed his Indian Premier League debut today after he was named in the Sunrisers Hyderabad playing XI against the Lucknow Super Giants.

Immigration head, Ministry secretary summoned before CoPF

Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security along with Controller General of the Department of Immigration and Emigration have been summoned before the Committee on Public Finance tomorrow, CoPF Chairman Dr. Harsha De Silva said today.

Mystery surrounds inmate deaths at Magazine Prison

Following the deaths of two inmates at the Magazine Prison allegedly after consuming a parcel of rice containing pork curry, the Department of Prisons has announced an internal investigation into the incident.

Over 2,000 Grama Niladharis appointed today

Following the Grama Niladhari examination conducted till December 2, 2023, a total of 2,100 letters were issued to new recruits appointed to Grama Niladhari positions.

Medawachchiya OIC remanded over lorry driver losing testicle after assault

The OIC of the Anti-Vice Unit of the Medawachchiya police, who had been arrested by the CID for allegedly assaulting a young truck driver and which resulted in a surgery to remove his testicle, was produced before the Medawachchiya Magistrate Nimesha Dharmadasa and remanded till May 15.

Government MP given land at BIA to operate jet fuel storage facility: Dayasiri

The government has provided a plot of land to a government MP at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) to operate a jet fuel storage facility, Parliamentarian Dayasiri Jayasekara revealed today.

AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally

AstraZeneca (AZN.L), opens new tab said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a ’’surplus of available updated vaccines’’ since the pandemic.

No airline in the world making profits: Minister

No airline in the world is making any profits and it is a situation inherent to all airlines, Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said today.

Australia raises minimum savings for student visa, warns on fake recruitment

Australia said on Wednesday it would raise the amount of savings international students will need to get a visa and warned several colleges of fraudulent student recruitment practices, as part of efforts to rein in record migration.

Diana unseated!

The Supreme Court has ruled that State Minister Diana Gamage does not meet the legal qualifications necessary to hold a parliamentary seat. Counsel Hafeel Farisz with Oshala Herath who petitioned against Diana Gamage walk out of court following the judgement .

Emirates reaffirms strategic cooperation with SLTPB

Underscoring Emirates’ commitment to boost tourism inflows across its network, the airline has reaffirmed its strategic cooperation with Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.

Mujibur Rahman likely to replace Diana Gamage?

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) will hold a discussion shortly to decide on who will fill the national list slot that has fallen vacant as a result of the Supreme Court decision that Diana Gamage cannot function as an MP as she is not a citizen of Sri Lanka, party General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said today.

Sri Lankan Engineers urged to help rebuild nation

Highlighting that Sri Lanka has lost US $ 130 billion from 2006 to 2022 as a result of making wrong decisions, all engineers were called upon to become catalysts of rebuilding the nation.

Supreme Court rules Diana Gamage ineligible for parliamentary seat

The Supreme Court has ruled that State Minister Diana Gamage does not meet the legal qualifications necessary to hold a parliamentary seat.

Programme initiated to manufacture artificial limbs

The Sri Lanka Army, in bilateral cooperation with the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka, yesterday initiated a programme to manufacture artificial limbs at the Ranaviru Sevana, Ragama.

Appointment of CIABOC Director General challenged in SC

Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has filed a Fundamental Rights Petition in the Supreme Court, challenging the appointment of Kanishka Wijeratne as the Director General (DG) of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

Lalkantha’s remark triggers showdown in Parliament

The remark made by National People’s Power (NPP) strongman K. D. Lalkantha at the recent May Day rally that a future NPP government will decentralize judicial powers to its cadres at village level, triggered a flare up in Parliament with both the ruling party and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) launching a verbal attack on MP Harini Amarasuriya.

Shavendra advises Sri Lankan veterans to avoid mercenary service abroad

In light of emerging reports detailing the involvement of Sri Lankan veterans in foreign mercenary forces, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Shavendra Silva has issued a heartfelt plea to his fellow veterans, urging them to resist the allure of mercenary service.

Athapaththu’s splendid hundred powers Sri Lanka to title win

Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu hit a sensational hundred to set up a big win in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier final against Scotland.

Basil reasserts general election first, yet President braces for presidential race

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) founder Basil Rajapaksa reasserted yesterday that his party still believes the general election should precede the presidential elections but President Ranil Wickremesinghe has a contrasting stand, according to an informed source of the party.

Sri Lanka to overhaul visa issuance process

In the wake of perplexities surrounding the issuance of the on-arrival visa issuance at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), the Government is mulling to overhaul the visa issuance process, Daily Mirror learns.

Sajith plays it safe in Parliament

Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa yesterday raised objections to the questioning of the youth, Sandaru Kumarasinghe, who spoke out against the Visa issue at the airport but avoided debate on the visa fiasco involving a foreign consortium with VFS as technology partner.

Gross official reserves surpass US$ 5bn mark

Sri Lanka’s gross official reserves have continued to increase through the end of April topping the US$ 5.0 billion level for the first time since December 2020 when the country was coming out of the second wave of the virus outbreak.