An individual who had been arrested in the early hours of yesterday morning for taking hostage his two children and threatening to commit suicide with them by exploding a hand grenade demanding his wife to be brought back to him was produced before

Meanwhile, earlier in the day addressing a media conference Public Security Minister Tiran Alles maintained that VFS Global, the foreign company now responsible for handling on-arrival visas on behalf of Sri Lanka at the BIA, will continue to operate

President Ranil Wickremesinghe is reported to have told Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) founder Basil Rajapaksa that he will formally announce his stand regarding the presidential election only in June. In the midst of political developments ahead

Highlighting that the current Sri Lankan visa issuing process is worse than the bond scam, Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa yesterday called for a proper probe into it and disclosure of all facts. “It is envisaged that the visa fiasco is worse

Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy which serves as an organization for advisory capacity for coordinating and consolidating efforts has called for concept papers from scientists, researchers for funding in the year 2025. Applications

By B.G.Chaturanga A group of 22 unemployed graduates who demonstrated in front of the North Central Provincial Council Secretariat yesterday morning were taken into custody by the Anuradhapura Police. Former Convenor of the All Ceylon Unemp

Sri Lankan missions abroad were inundated with a torrent of telephone calls from foreigners inconvenienced by the sudden decision to outsource on-arrival visa application process to a foreign consortium.

Uncertainty looms over the relaunch of the Japan -financed light rail project (LRT) even after the country’s debt restructuring process is concluded since Japan has decided not to discuss it , according to an official of the Japanese government.

The South West Monsoon which is expected to become active within the coming days will cause tidal swells in the seas around Sri Lanka, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) which quoted the Department of Meteorology said yesterday.

Water levels in reservoirs used for hydro power have been dwindling fast due to the prevailing dry weather in the central hills, authorities said yesterday. Engineers in Charge said the water level in Castlereagh reservoir stood 47ft below the spill

The Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Padiyatalawa Police and a soldier’s wife were seriously injured after an army soldier attacked them with a pestle after he discovered his wife’s affair with the said police officer.

A Woman Police Constable suspected to have stolen the wallet of a woman inside a textile shop in Kandy was arrested by Kandy crime Investigations Branch.The owner, who found her wallet in her hand bag missing after she selected a dress and prepared t

A local passenger who tried to smuggle a range of precious stones to India by concealing them in carbon paper to go undetected at airport X-ray scanners was nabbed by the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) security yesterday afternoon.

Petitioners seek an interim order for formulating objective criteria for selecting license applicants

We have observed that most of these criminals found in the underworld and drug-related crimes are victims of poverty and from the lower levels of society The most righteous statement to make would be to transform a society where criminals are not

Sri Lanka ranked 150 in the 2024 edition of the Press Freedom Index, published annually by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which is a remarkable drop of 15 positions from 135 to 150 when compared to 2023. According to the index, Sri Lanka’s overal

Assets include a luxury motorcar and two houses

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) questioned former President Maithripala Sirisena for the second time yesterda

Says visa rates were approved by Parliament

Service provider to earn $50 million

The award of contract for issuing on-arrival visas at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) to a foreign consortium including VFS Global as the key technology partner is mired in further controversy since it has been done without f

Minister of Tourism Harin Fernando attempted to play down the controversy surrounding the high visa charges incurred by tourists arriving at the Bandaranaike International Airport earlier this week, adding that a fresh gazette with revised fe

MP Palani Digambaram invited me to the May Day rally in Talawakelle which was organized by his party

The manager of a cooperative shop belonging to Ginigathhena Multipurpose Cooperative Society who pleaded guilty of selling Kiri Samba rice in excess of the control price was fined Rs. 500,000 by Hatton Magistrate and District Ju

The price of a plate of fried rice and kottu will be reduced by Rs. 20 from last night, the Canteen Owners’ Association annou

The naval and fishing communities involved in activities from Kalpitiya to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle, and Hambantota are advised to remain vigilant as swell wave heights and periods may rise in the sea areas, the Natural Ha

Chief Incumbent of Sri Padasthana and Chief Sanghanayake of Sabaragamuwa Province Ven. Bengamuwe Dhammadinna Thera said only foreign tourists would be permitted to visit Sri Pada during the off-season. Addressin

Tensions escalated near Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo 07 as police resorted to using water cannons to disperse a group of protesting medical students. The demonstration was organized by medical students against the proposed introduction of privat

Public Security Minister Tiran Alles, in response to allegations over the outsourced online visa application process, said it had been given to VFS Global, a company operating in 151 countries after proper study into the matter and approval by the Ca

Indian High Commission in Colombo yesterday denied any reference to India in the visa issuance at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Colombo.