I am coming back: Diana Gamage

Former State Minister Diana Gamage, whose parliamentary seat was recently declared illegal by the Supreme Court over her citizenship issue, expressed her determination to return to the political arena. “I am coming back to parliament. I will not leave the country,” Gamage asserted, dismissing any notion of retreat despite the legal setback.

Human traffickers sent over 80 Sri Lankan war veterans to Russian-Ukrainian war front: 8 killed

Investigations have revealed that more than 80 Sri Lankan war veterans have been sent to the Russian-Ukrainian war front as members of mercenary groups by human traffickers.

Sri Lanka is gradually moving towards economic boom: President

Sri Lanka is gradually moving towards an economic boom and is slated to achieve a three percent economic growth in 2024 while inflation has dropped to 1.5 percent already, President Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament yesterday.

No import of vehicles expected in near future - Vehicle Importers Association

While denouncing the false rumours regarding imminent vehicle importation, the Vehicle Importers Association of Sri Lanka (VIASL) clarified that no vehicles, including lightweight vehicles, will be imported within the current year or before the election.

Opposition Leader must take full responsibility over issues faced by country: President

Claiming that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa must take full responsibility over issues faced by the country, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday that if Sajith had taken up the premiership on April 10, there would have been no issues. The President said this when Sajith Premadasa requested some clarifications from the President over his special statement in Parliament yesterday.

Customs find Rs.40Mn worth gold gel from passenger’s underwear

A Sri Lankan passenger who tried to smuggle in gold gel worth Rs.40 million, which had been concealed in his undergarment was nabbed by the Customs at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) yesterday morning. Officials of the Customs Narcotic Control Unit stationed at the BIA Arrival Terminal searched a passenger on suspicion and found the contraband hidden in his underwear and shoes.

Government planning four-stage vehicle import resumption

Following discussions with vehicle importers, the government is focused on resuming vehicle imports in four stages, Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said. After the meeting, the State Minister claimed that vehicle importers are expected to deliver a report soon on the potential impact of lifting vehicle import restrictions.

Reduced New Year drinking leads to less quarrels

Cutting back on alcohol consumption during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year festival has resulted in notable dip in incidents of conflict and quarrels associated with alcohol use during the festival season.

Diana loses Parliamentary seat as SC declares her disqualification

The Supreme Court in a landmark judgement yesterday held that State Minister Diana Gamage is disqualified to be a Member of Parliament and thus she is not entitled to hold office as a Member of Parliament, as she was not a citizen of Sri Lanka.

SJB legitimacy at stake after SC ruling on Diana: Kanchana

Another court case with regard to Diana Gamage is on the cards as anyone could file another court case calling the Supreme Court to declare whether Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MPs could remain in Parliament as per yesterday’s judgement, Minister Kanchana Wijesekera told Parliament yesterday.

No legal barrier for non- Sri Lankans to register political parties

There is no legal barrier for the non-citizens to register a political party, Former Chairman of Elections Commission Mahinda Deshapriya said yesterday.

Diplomatic efforts to protect Sri Lankan youth in mercenary forces

The government yesterday said that diplomatic initiatives are currently underway to protect Sri Lankan youth enlisted in mercenary forces linked to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Marine heat waves:Coral reefs in Sri Lankan waters risk die-offs

Coral reefs in the sea around Sri Lanka risk die-offs if the current marine heat level persists for another one month or so, a top scientist said yesterday. The Indian media reported that an alarming situation of severe coral bleaching had been reported in the Lakshadweep Sea and the Gulf of Mannar.

Body of youth who went missing while visiting girlfriend found

The body of a youth from Kuliyapitiya, who had gone missing a few days ago while visiting his girlfriend’s house, has been recovered in the Panirendawa area of Madampe, police said. Police Spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa said the body was found in a forest in the area.

Exclude Health Ministry from drug procurement to curb corruption: GMOF urges Govt.

The Government Medical Officers’ Forum (GMOF) urged the government to refrain from including the Health Ministry in centralized drug procurement to reduce corruption.

Woman arrested with heroin valued at more than Rs.10 million

A woman who had in her possession 26.250 grams of heroin was arrested by Anuradhapura Division Crime Investigation Unit during a raid last morning.

Shavendra advises Sri Lankan veterans to avoid mercenary service abroad

In light of emerging reports detailing the involvement of Sri Lankan veterans in foreign mercenary forces, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Shavendra Silva has issued a heartfelt plea to his fellow veterans, urging them to resist the allure of mercenary service.

Visa fiasco Sajith plays it safe in Parliament

Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa yesterday raised objections to the questioning of the youth, Sandaru Kumarasinghe, who spoke out against the Visa issue at the airport but avoided debate on the visa fiasco involving a foreign consortium with VFS as technology partner.

Sri Lankan Engineers urged to help rebuild nation

Highlighting that Sri Lanka has lost US $ 130 billion from 2006 to 2022 as a result of making wrong decisions, all engineers were called upon to become catalysts of rebuilding the nation.

Bengamuwe Nalaka Thera warns MPs on same-sex marriage vote

Venerable Bengamuwe Nalaka Thera cautioned parliamentarians yesterday against returning to their villages to seek votes if they support the same-sex marriage bill in parliament.

Power grid connection with India: Sri Lanka seeks to review estimated US $1.2 billion cost

The government has sought to review the estimated cost of US $ 1.2 billion for the implementation of the project to link the power grids of India and Sri Lanka as part of connectivity between the two sides, a source familiar with negotiations said.

Lalkantha’s remark triggers showdown in Parliament

The remark made by National People’s Power (NPP) strongman K. D. Lalkantha at the recent May Day rally that a future NPP government will decentralize judicial powers to its cadres at village level, triggered a flare up in Parliament with both the ruling party and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) launching a verbal attack on MP Harini Amarasuriya.

Basil reasserts general election first, yet Prez braces for presidential race

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) founder Basil Rajapaksa reasserted yesterday that his party still believes the general election should precede the presidential elections but President Ranil Wickremesinghe has a contrasting stand, according to an informed source of the party.

NMRA trains police to sniff out psychoactive pharmaceutical drugs

In a bid to mitigate the pharmaceutical drugs abuse menace, the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) will back police and excise officials to identify and crackdown the trends of misusing psychoactive medicines. In a move to make the law enforcement officials aware, the NMRA organized a special programme last week to educate the psychoactive substances, which are prescribed as medicinal drugs for various ailments. A senior NMRA off

Woman accused of drugging husband’s tea to meet up with paramour

A woman who allegedly spiked her husband’s tea with sleeping tablets, suspected of planning to spend the night with her paramour, was placed in custody after her husband fell seriously ill and was hospitalized. The suspect woman was produced before Hatton District Judge and Magistrate H. M.Seriddeen and remanded till May 15. The suspect woman (26) and her husband (32) were residents of Maskeliya Divisional Hospital quarters and hospital emplo

Father holds two children hostage for nine hours

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 Homagama Magistrate Rajindra Jayasuriya yesterday and remanded till May 17. He had been in possession of a high-powered hand grenade with its lock open at the time of arrest. The Special Task F

Sri Lanka to retain existing visa fee-PMD

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 for at least 12 years. He said that the proposal to transfer the new visa system to VFS Global was unanimously passed on November 23 last year without debate in Parliament following Cabinet approval.

Presidential Elections Prez to announce his stand formally in June only

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 of the presidential election pending this year, the two leaders met recently as part of their routine engagements. The President reportedly told Mr. Rajapaksa that he would announce his stand in June

Sri Lankan Visa fiasco worse than bond scam: Sajith

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 than the bond scam of 2015 where millions of public funds have been robbed. Disclosure of real facts is important after a proper probe as the nation needs to know what had really taken place,” Mr. Prem

SLCARP calls for research concept papers for agriculture research system

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 are called for researchers and scientists with the National Agricultural Research System (NARS) for 2025. The deadline which was to be ended on April 30 has been extended to May 14 according to SLCA