Sri Lanka is in a dilemma to decide whether to adopt an open skies policy or not in the event of divestiture of shares of the national carrier ‘SriLankan Airlines’, a top official said . An Open Skies policy means liberalization and ease of access and rules of use of national airports for foreign airlines. It is joined in order to increase the tourist flow and to develop the potential as a regional air hub.
A top delegation of the Chinese Communist Party headed by Vice Minister of the International Department Sun Haiyan met National People’s Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the JVP head office yesterday.The delegation included head of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party Liu Jianchao and Political Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka Chen Xiang Yuan.
Estate workers in the upcountry yesterday staged a token strike with several demands including a wage increase in keeping with the cost of living. Their main demand was a minimum daily wage of Rs.1700. They accused the Estate Companies of ignoring President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s instructions to increase the wages up to Rs.1700 per day. The trade union action was organised by the Ceylon Workers’ Congress with the help of several other trade union
The United States Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and Sri Lanka Navy will partner for the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Sri Lanka 2024 exercise. CARAT Sri Lanka will feature the expertise of the U.S. Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team (FAST), a U.S. Marine Corps unit specialized in security and anti-terrorism for naval assets, engaging alongside their Sri Lanka Navy Marine counterparts on a full spectrum of naval capabilities.
Claiming that people will not vote as a gratitude for goods distributed by politicians, Minister Prasanna Ranatunge said yesterday people have already selected Ranil Wickremesinghe for Presidency as he can rescue the country from the economic crisis. The Minister said this to the media after an event to distribute rice to low income families in Kelaniya. Responding to a question, he said they were not distributing rice targeting elections and
The construction of 10,000 housing units with Indian financial assistance for the plantation workers has commenced, the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) sources say. The sources said that Rs. 2.8 million has been allocated for the construction of each housing unit built in six plantation districts and beneficiaries of the housing units are to be selected by the District Secretariats of relevant areas with the collaboration of the
Two Guinean women who smuggled into the country two kilos of Cocaine valued about Rs.80 million were arrested by the Narcotic Control Unit of the Customs at Katunayake International Airport in the early hours of last morning. The two suspect passengers of 40 and 42 years of age had arrived from Istanbul. They had swallowed the stock of Cocaine in capsules and they were subject to scanning to find the stock of contraband which they had swallowe
Maldivians living in Sri Lanka cast their ballots at the Parliamentary Election of their country at the polling station established at the Maldivian High Commission in Colombo on yesterday. More than 300 Maldivian nationals residing in Sri Lanka have registered for the parliamentary elections. A total of 93 seats in the People’s Majlis are elected in single-member constituencies using the first-past-the-post system. Prior to the elections, th
A civil engineer who smuggled a narcotic called ‘Ice’ in a luxury vehicle to tourist hotels and resorts has been arrested in Bandarawela, the Special Task Force (STF) of the police said. He had been arrested near a hotel in Kesbewa along with 6032 milligrams of
The main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), finds itself embroiled in controversy as reports emerge that several of its MPs had received Rs. 50 million each from the government’s decentralized budget without nod from the party leadership,Daily Mirror learns . In the past , the governments used to allocate funds to MPs in the opposition to carry out development projects of their choice in their constituencies. However , such allocations ha
Sri Lanka is projected to fall short of its budget target on revenue to GDP (gross domestic product) for the 33rd consecutive year in 2024, according to the recently released ‘State of the Budget Report 2024’. The State of the Budget Report is compiled annually by Verité Research and published on PublicFinance.lk, Sri Lanka’s premier platform for economic insights. The report provides a robust analysis and objective assessment of the fiscal
First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said the road ahead for Sri Lanka is challenging, and it is critical to keep up with the reform momentum. Taking to X, she said she really appreciated meeting Sri Lanka’s State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe and Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe. “I commended them on hard-won economic gains in the past year. The road ahead is challenging, and it’s critical
The Government is maintaining a deafening silence on the investigations over a number of emblematic cases. Current President then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had in 2015 assured justice over the murders, including that of former Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge and rugger player Wasim Thajudeen. However, President Wickremesinghe and his administration have not provided any assurances to the families of the victims since taking office
The Catholic Church is planning to present a proposal to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) through several foreign governments and international organizations to initiate an international investigation into the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks with a view to mete out justice to the victims of those attacks. Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith revealed this to the BBC Sinhala Service yesterday in a statement
The gradual increase in dollar reserves and the rise in the value of the rupee expected in the future will enable the import of vehicles, Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said. Addressing a meeting in Ruwanwella, he said the committee appointed to carry out a high-level study to systematically remove restrictions on the import of vehicles is currently active. Due to the economic crisis in the country, import restrictions were im
The Fox Hill Super Cross 2024 racing event, held in Diyatalawa, turned tragic yesterday (21) as a race car veered off the track, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals, including an 8-year-old child, and leaving 21 others hospitalized with injuries. Police Media Spokesperson DIG Nihal Thalduwa stated that the accident occurred when the race car lost control and collided with a group of spectators. The injured were rushed to the D
Sri Lanka rejected last week international bondholders’ proposal to restructure more than $12 billion in debt, putting at risk critical International Monetary Fund support and delaying its efforts to resolve a two-year-long debt crisis
Passengers bound for Dubai are advised to check the status of their flights, given the volatile situation. Those whose flights are scheduled after the specified time will only be accepted for check-in at their departure points
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Beliatta Organizer Druvin Pravin Atapattu joined UNP and obtained the membership from party Chairman Vajira Abeywardena. Atapattu is the son of late Dr.Ranjith Atapattu who was the Minister of Health in the cabinet of late President J. R. Jayewardene. Druvin Atapattu who was representing UNP in the Hambant
Sri Lankan trading culture does not allow people to enjoy benefits in terms of price reductions whenever the costs of inputs and logistics drop, Chief of Staff President’s Office Sagala Ratnayake said. “Fuel price
More countries issue travel advisories
Sri Lanka Tourism invites global travellers for upcoming season
Russian embassy urges citizens to stay vigilant in Arugam Bay
US Embassy issues travel warning for Arugam Bay
India-Sri Lanka ferry service operates smoothly