President, parliament clash heightens with judiciary coming into play

The crisis involving the Executive and the Legislature has heightened to a new level with the judiciary also coming into play over the Constitutional Council’s (CC) rejection of appointment of Court of Appeal President Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne as a Supreme Court judge and Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena informing President Ranil Wickremesinghe that the lack of majority support resulted in the stalemate.

Sarath Fonseka to be axed from SJB chairmanship

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) is to expel its MP Sarath Fonseka from the post of party chairman shortly over his latest remarks affecting the party politically, a source said.

Commonwealth Enterprise chief in Colombo next week

Sri Lanka’s private sector and government are to get fresh insights from a chief of a Commonwealth trade and investment organisation next week besides opportunities to expand businesses across the 56 Member States of the Commonwealth.

Sri Lanka to host first-ever Chinese marathon in May

Sri Lanka will host the first-ever Chinese marathon this May, where over 2000-3000 Chinese athletes will arrive under the ‘Ni Hao Zhong Guo’ programme, Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management Chairman Shirantha Peiris announced.

Buddhist trail in the works to boost tourism

Tourism authorities are in the process of creating a Buddhist trail in Sri Lanka, a fresh effort towards luring religious travellers.

Ambitious plans underway to make SL a ‘happening’ tourist destination

Sri Lanka’s tourism sector is gearing up for a major transformation, as the authorities unveil an ambitious plan to make the country one of the world’s most dynamic and sought-after destinations.

Speaker’s act of certifying Online Safety Bill challenged in SC by Sumanthiran

Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran has filed a fundamental rights application before the Supreme Court, challenging the Speaker’s act of certifying the Online Safety Bill as enacted into law.

No one can bring down hospital system except for doctors, nurses

Apart from medical professionals such as doctors and nurses, no one has the capability to collapse the hospital system. If such an occurrence does happen for two days, the subsequent consequences are unpredictable, Government Medical Officers’ Forum (GMOF) president Dr. Rukshan Bellana said.

LGBTIQ+ community representatives meet Speaker

The LGBTIQ+ community representatives breifed Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana on the issues faced by the LGBTIQ+ community in Sri Lanka.

Electricity tariff must be reduced by 28 to 33%: NPP tells PUCSL

Claiming that the proposed electricity tariff revision by about 3 percent is not at all sufficient, the National People’s Power (NPP) said the tariffs should be reduced by at least 28 to 33 percent.

Keheliya Rambukwella re-remanded until February 29

Former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella who was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over the importation of substandard Immunoglobulin injections, was further remanded until February 29.

Kalpitiya OIC interdicted over sexual assault on police woman

The Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Kalpitiya Police Station who was charged over sexually assaulting a female police constable, has been interdicted by the National Police Commission with immediate effect.

Better to abolish executive presidency; I have already enjoyed it: Mahinda

Former President and MP Mahinda Rajapaksa expressed the opinion that it will be preferable to abolish the Executive Presidency and said that he had enjoyed having held the position.

JICA to resume construction of second terminal of Katunayake airport

Since Sri Lanka’s economy is showing growth, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) said they will support the construction of the second terminal of the Katunayake Airport after the financial restructuring process is implemented by the International Monetary Fund.

Minister calls for domestic medicine production to curtail USD 500 Mn imports

In a bid to address the substantial financial outlay of over USD 500 million spent annually on importing medicines, Minister of Health and Industry, Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, underscored the need for domestic production.

Doctor remanded for selling narcotic tablets

A doctor of the Peradeniya Children’s Hospital who was arrested by the Ethgala police during a raid in Jayamalapura, Gampola on suspicion being involved in the selling of intoxicant tablets, was remanded till February 19.

UK based cricketer handed 17 ½ year ban over match-fixing

UK based club cricketer Rizwan Javed has been banned from all cricket for 17 ½ years after he was found guilty of five different breaches of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) Anti-Corruption Code for Participants (the ‘Code’).

Tickets for the first T20 game, 'Sold Out'

Tickets for the first T20I match to be played at Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium on Saturday (17) have been sold out.

Thennakoon says 42 International red notices issued for wanted criminals

Acting Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon said 42 international red notices have been issued so far for criminals who have fled the country after underworld and drug crimes.

Sri Lanka could lose US$ 50 bn from extreme weather conditions: Ruwan

Sri Lanka is slated to lose US$ 50 billion with 87 percent of its population potentially facing extreme weather conditions within the next two decades, Presidential Advisor on climate change Ruwan Wijewardene told a top gathering.

Japan no longer world’s third-largest economy as it slips into recession

Japan’s economy is now the world’s fourth-largest after it contracted in the last quarter of 2023 and fell behind Germany.

Science teacher arrested for molesting schoolgirls

A science teacher of a Tamil school in Watawala was arrested today during investigations on a complaint that he had attempted to sexually abuse three schoolgirls.

Sri Lanka’s attempt to secure big onions from India fails

Sri Lanka’s attempt to secure an exemption from India on its ban on big onion exports has not materialized resulting in importers looking to other markets for purchases at higher costs, Daily Mirror learns.

Schools third term ends tomorrow

The Education Ministry today announced the end of the third term of government and government approved private schools.

Maithripala Sirisena meets key US official in Washington DC

Former President Maithripala Sirisena who is on a visit to the United States held talks with US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State at the State Department Afreen Akhter.

Public toilet facility charges increased to Rs. 50 per person

The fees for utilizing the public restroom facilities at Bastian Mawatha Bus Stand have been raised to Rs. 50 per person.

Ambitious plans underway to make SL a ‘happening’ tourist destination

Sri Lanka’s tourism sector is gearing up for a major transformation, as the authorities unveil an ambitious plan to make the country one of the world’s most dynamic and sought-after destinations.

One dead and 21 injured near Super Bowl parade

One person has died and 21 people were wounded in a shooting in Missouri at the end of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory parade.

Against electricity tariff revision...

The National Front of Civil Organizations (NFCO) today staged a protest in front of the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) premises to express opposition to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), which is set to finalize the collection of public opinions for the upcoming electricity tariff revision. Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Kudu Salindu’s main accomplice ’Piyuma’ arrested in Dubai

Piyum Hastika, alias ’Piyuma,’ identified as a primary accomplice of the notorious drug trafficker Salidu Malshika, also known as ’Kudu Salidu,’ was arrested in Dubai and brought to Sri Lanka this morning.