Italy bans couples from travelling abroad for surrogacy

Italy has made it illegal for couples to go abroad to have a baby through surrogacy.

Boy drowns in Kotadeniyawa while bathing in ditch

A 14-year-old boy drowned and died yesterday while bathing in a water-filled ditch in Kotadeniyawa, police said.

Keheliya’s name removed from school

Central Province Governor Prof. S.B.S. Abayakoon yesterday authorized the immediate renaming of ’Keheliya Rambukwella Primary School’ in the Kundasale Division of the Wattegama Education Zone, Kandy.

Man sentenced to death for deliberate electrocution

The Galle Magistrate’s Court yesterday sentenced a man to death for deliberately killing another person by electrocution, the police said.

Police seek regulatory changes to combat surge in online scams involving foreign nationals

Following the recent arrests of several foreign nationals, mostly Chinese, involved in online scams, the police are now seeking guidance from relevant authorities including the Attorney General’s Department to update laws and regulations.

500-house township to be vested to recipients after 14 years

A township of 500 houses with other facilities such as a hospital and a recreation hall built with assistance from Saudi Arabia way back in 2009 is to be vested with recipients only now.

Disease affecting pigs spirals out of control

The highly contagious viral disease known as ’Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome’ (PRRS), which is spreading among pigs, hogs, and boars in Sri Lanka, has spiraled out of control, according to informed sources, over 2000 pigs have so far succumbed to the virus.

Has the govt. overborrowed in its first month in office?

Admitting the fact that the Central Bank has issued treasury bills of Rs. 465.1 billion during the period between September 27 and October 15,a top economist of the government said it was not an additional loan obtained by the new government as alleged by some but it is a routine practice of the Central Bank to issue treasury bills for debt servicing.

Sri Lanka and WI clash in T20I series decider

The third and final T20 International between Sri Lanka and the West Indies will be played at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla today. The series is evenly poised at 1-1.

Manufacturing & services PMI points to continuous expansion in activities through September

The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for both manufacturing and services activities pointed to persistent expansion in the economic activities in the respective sectors through September 2024, albeit there has been some softening in both from a month earlier.

Tourist arrivals surpass 63,000 in first half of October

Sri Lanka welcomed 63,491 tourists in the first half of October, in continuing with the slowdown in tourist arrivals, ahead of the winter season, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) data showed.

SJB refuses to accept Hirunika’s resignation as National Organizer of party’s women’s wing

In what seemed like an interesting development within the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), The party leadership had refused to accept the resignation letter submitted by Samagi Vanitha Balawegaya National Organiser Hirunika Premachandra while Ms. Premachandra insisted that she had to focus on her campaign in Colombo.

Iranian impersonating Italian intercepted at BIA after informed by Interpol

An Iranian national who tried to enter Sri Lanka by impersonating an Italian national was intercepted by the Immigration and Emigration Department officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport today.

Who is the best!

The 45th National Conference of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) was held at the Monarch Imperial Hotel in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. Former presidents of the institute attended the event and shared their experiences from their respective tenures. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Voters’ thumb instead of little finger to be marked in Elpitiya PS election

The Elections Commission announced that the thumb of the voter’s left hand will be marked with the appropriate marking ink for the Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha election scheduled for October 26, 2024.

Prioritise safety of public, railway employees in executing railway projects: President tells officials

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake instructed officials of the Ministry of Transport and Highways to prioritise the safety of railway employees and the public in the execution of railway line projects.

Body of young man found at Mini World’s End

A team from the Army Commando Regiment recovered the body of a young man who had been brutally murdered and disposed of at the Mini World’s End (Punchi Lokanthaya) today.

President urges education reforms to align with global demands for future growth

It is need to rebuild Sri Lanka’s education system in alignment with global demands to achieve the country’s educational goals, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said.

Sri Lanka abandons plans to sell national carrier

Sri Lanka’s new government has abandoned plans to sell the debt-ridden national airline SriLankan Airlines, but will restructure it for a more profitable future.

Former Kandy SC player Bati no more

Former Fijian and Kandy Sports Club centre three quarter Bati Ponai passed away in Fiji recently.

Man shot dead in Grandpass

A 35-year-old man was shot dead in the Madampitiya area of Grandpass, this evening, Police said.

Sahara desert flooded for the first time in decades

Striking images from the Sahara Desert show large lakes etched into rolling sand dunes after one of the most arid, barren places in the world was hit with its first floods in decades.

Earthquake shakes eastern Turkey, no casualties reported

An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9 struck eastern Turkey’s Malatya province on Wednesday, the country’s disaster and emergency management authority (AFAD) said, adding that there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties

Sri Lankan attorney Vincent Perera sworn in as new Attorney General of Seychelles

A Sri Lankan attorney, Vincent Perera has been sworn in as the new Attorney General of Seychelles on Wednesday at State House.

Parliamentarians fail to understand struggles of poor

None of the parliamentarians elected by the people understand the struggles of the country’s innocent poor, Janasetha Peramuna Leader Ven. Battaramulle Seelarathana Thera said.

Winds, waves damage boats on Southern coast

Ten Indian flights receive bomb threats in 48 hours

Ten flights, including an Air India plane with 211 people from Delhi to Chicago, received bomb-threat messages through social media handles in the past 48 hours, prompting security agencies to reportedly undertake specific counter-terrorist drills at various airports, Foreign media reported.

Court clears path for Ambuluwawa cable car project

The Court of Appeal today issued an interim order restraining the Divisional Secretary of Udapalatha, Gampola, from unduly interfering with or suspending the Cable Car Project in Ambuluwawa, which is being carried out by a private company.

Over 1,000 pigs in livestock farms die

More than 1,000 pigs in livestock farms in the Anuradhapura district have died from a disease caused by an unidentified virus, much to the distress of local farmers.

Non participation in BRICS summit: Did President succumb to any pressure?: SJS

Sri Lanka’s main opposition party, the Samagi Jana Sandanaya (SJS) today questioned as to whether President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath have decided not to participate in the Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (BRICS) summit 2024 due to pressure by any foreign force.