Amidst reports that some ex-military men from Sri Lanka have joined the Russian military operations against Ukraine, Sri Lankan Ambassador in Moscow Prof. Janita Liyanage said she asked for details about them from the Russian military if any.
A group of MPs from both the ruling party and the opposition have urged the speaker and government officials to provide vehicle permits at lower prices if the previously issued duty-free licenses cannot be granted before the upcoming presidential election.
Chinese President Xi Jinping , in his recent meeting with Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, has reportedly stressed the need for ‘fair and transparent’ environment for Chinese companies to invest in Sri Lanka . The Chinese leader had further mentioned that China is not happy about its friends being influenced by other countries unnecessarily when taking decisions . However , in the meeting which a top source mentioned as friendly and cordial
By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya The Sri Lanka Air Force is gearing up for the Colombo Air Show and Defence Exhibition (CADE 2024) to showcase air power and boost tourism and investment. Air Force Commander Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa announced that the five-day event will run from May 29 to June 2 at the Galle Face and Colombo Port City. CADE 2024 aims to enhance SLAF’s proficiency, readiness, and overall effectiveness, with international a
A nine-year-old child, identified as M.R. Rantharu, who was a fourth-grade student at Moratuwa Jana Jaya School and resided at Clovius Mawatha, Moratuwa, was hit and killed by a train while riding a bicycle near the Murawatta railway crossing in Moratuwa. According to the police, the incident occurred when the child rode his bicycle from New Galle Road towards the closed gates of the railway crossing as a train was approaching. The child attem
In the wake of SLPP (Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna) MPs airing contrasting views over the upcoming elections, the party hierarchy has barred all MPs from making comments on their support to any presidential candidate until a formal decision is taken, a party official said yesterday. The party’s executive committee took this decision at its meeting held last Tuesday. The SLPP is currently divided on its support, with those holdin
Air Force Commander Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa said the SLAF is very much worried about the civilians, weaponizers and providing free navigation for naval craft in the Indian Ocean and that they need to address those issues. In response to a media query the necessity of maintaining fighter jets like Kfir and F7 in the SLAF’s fleet, the Commander explained that while they don’t currently see an immediate need to phase out such jets, they are
India will remain Sri Lanka’s most reliable friend and a trusted and dependable partner, emphasized Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha. “Our bilateral cooperation is expanding and diversifying. It is buttressed by India’s growing national capabilities.
The testicles of a young man had been removed yesterday at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital allegedly as a result of a police assault. He is under treatment at present after the surgery on Tuesday (9). It is alleged that six officers of the Medawachchiya police had trussed up his hands and brutally assaulted him. The 23 year old victim a resident of Thulawellia area in Medawachchiya. He told the media that he was driving his mini- lorry a
The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) has confirmed that the Education Ministry’s website was hacked by a local individual on April 4. The Senior Information Security Engineer of SLCERT, Charuka Damunupola, stated that a report will be sent to the Education Minister regarding the hacking incident.
By Anuradhapura Special Corr. State Minister of Primary Industries Chamara Sampath Dassanayake is alleged to have severely abused and threatened the Human Resources and Administration Assistant of the Lanka Phosphate Company Mrs. H.D.V.K. Chandraratne in the presence of officials of the ministry and the company. The trade union Sri Lanka Nidahas Sevaka Sangamaya has informed the minister that it will resort to trade union action in case of re
The Department of Excise is planning to launch a special operation in Colombo during the two festive dry days targeting illegal booze sellers and to implement law strictly during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year period. A senior Excise official overseeing the Colombo City told the Daily Mirror yesterday that a joint operation has been organised in collaboration with four main Excise stations in Kesbewa, Padukka, Battaramulla and Colombo City.
Despite the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) implementing a VAT on discounts for Petroleum Dealers, Vice President Kusum Sandanayaka of the Sri Lanka Petroleum Private Tank Owners’ Association stated they’ll ensure uninterrupted fuel distribution until April 20. Addressing the media, he highlighted that Petroleum Dealers are burdened with an 18 percent VAT on the CPC’s three percent discount. Despite their willingness to pay VAT, he emphas
Ahead of the presidential election, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed the government members to restrict foreign travel as much as possible because their presence is required to undertake political work, an informed source said. The United National Party (UNP) led by the President is planning to ramp up political work in view of the election after the May Day rally. The party is planning to conduct the rally on a grand scale thi
Retired Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police P.G.S. Gamini De Silva passed away at the age of 70 on Monday while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Colombo due to illness. Born on September 3,1953, De Silva joined the Sri Lanka Police as an Apprentice Sub-Inspector on 20.08.1974. The final rites of the late senior DIG will be held at Eldeniya cemetery in Kadawatha on April 10.
Senior Vice Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Prof. Rohana Laxman Piyadasa said a conspiracy against the SLFP was being hatched by the government and that its main object was to lure the SLFP to become a constituent party of the government at the upcoming presidential election and the general election. He told the media in Kandy yesterday that the prevailing crisis in the party was just one episode of that conspiracy to absorb the SLFP
The sports instructor of a school in Buttala education zone was arrested in connection with the alleged rape of a 15 year old school girl. The 33 year old suspect was a resident of Udaganawa colony in Buttala, Investigations revealed that he had been in love with the girl since November 2022 and first raped her at midnight on March 29 and April 04, 2024 in a hut behind her house. When her father came to know about her relations with the
If the country’s economy improves by next year, there can be optimism regarding the import of vehicles, Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said. Addressing the media at an opening event in Dematagoda, he said Rs. 13 billion was paid additionally for the increase in state employee salaries. Accordingly, Rs. 107 billion was paid for state employee salaries for the month of April.
A resident from Jaffna who paid Euro 7, 000 to get a forged Polish visa affixed to his Sri Lankan passport was nabbed by the Immigration and Emigration Department officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), whilst trying to leave the country. The passenger was about to board a SriLankan Airlines flight UL 217 bound for Doha, Qatar on Monday evening, when he was intercepted by the Immigration officials at the BIA departure counte
By Lakmal Sooriyagoda In a bid to promote close relations between the Sri Lanka Law College and its alumni, coinciding with the college’s 150th-anniversary celebrations, the Sri Lanka Law College Alumni Association was officially established in 2024. The association’s inaugural meeting was held on April 3, 2024, in the Main Hall of Sri Lanka Law College, with several esteemed alumni in attendance. This marks the first time in the 150-year history
SANASA ‘Idiriya’ (future) programme was inaugurated recently at the Nagoda Divisional Secretariat under the auspices of Galle District Parliamentarian and Chairman of the District Coordinating Committee Sampath Atukorala. As per the programme, 3,750 chicks and 150 egg hatcheries are expected to be distributed among 3,750 members of 150 SANASA Societies selected from 22 Divisional Secretariats. Head of SANASA Society Development and Business
The billion rupee project to clean up Beira Lake was deliberately delayed by public officers attached to few state institutions, Senior Presidential Advisor Ashu Marasinghe said yesterday. Professor Marasinghe said public officers attached to few institutions such as the Central Environment Authority and Colombo Municipal Council took a long time to grant the final approval for the project. “We wonder as to why the approval was delayed for su
Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon emphasized the need for heightened security measures in light of the upcoming Ramadan festival and Sinhala and Hindu New Year celebrations. Speaking at an event held at the Minister’s Security Division, the IGP highlighted the global threat of extremist terrorist attacks stressing the importance of focusing on VIP security and national security. “Extremist and terrorist attacks occur worldwide
40-year-old heritage brand Soorya honours the tradition and spirit of togetherness this season by presenting the new year auspicious times once again for everyone’s convenience so the public can find out the Nakath times in advance. An individual can access by simply using a smartphone to scan any Soorya matchbox. This enables access to the AR filter to view the Litha on the social media applications, Facebook and Instagram. The Digital Lith
Muslims in Sri Lanka will celebrate the Eid-Ul-Fithr (Ramadan) festival today, as the new moon for the Islamic month of Shawwal was sighted yesterday. The Colombo Grand Mosque announced the decision last night after a meeting at the Colombo Grand Mosque attended by the representatives of All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (the Supreme Council of Muslim Theologians of Sri Lanka), Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs and Colombo Grand M
Incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe is likely to contest the presidential election under a whole new symbol other than the elephant or flower bud, Senior Presidential Advisor and UNP senior Ashu Marasinghe said yesterday. Professor Marasinghe told journalists that Mr. Wickremesinghe will represent a number of parties as a national candidate. “People such as Minister Prasanna Ranatunga had said man
A Parliamentary Committee has revealed that CCTV camera equipment that had been purchased at a cost of Rs. 2.1 million to be fixed at the internal premises of the Immigration and Emigration head office had been stored for six years without being fixed. This was revealed when the Immigration and Emigrations Department was summoned before the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) recently. It was further revealed that the equipment had been purch
In the wake of the tragic death of Treasurer of the Public Health Inspectors’ Union, Roshan Kumara Vithanage, the Public Health Inspectors are in cold sweat hindering their ability to carry out responsibilities effectively. Roshan Kumara was shot dead at his house in Elpitiya in February leaving doubts of the motive behind his death. Speaking to Daily Mirror, PHI union Head Upul Rohan said a significant number of PHIs feel insecure and fear
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