No bus fare revision at this time, potential switch to super diesel if price decreases further: Gemunu

Since there hasn’t been a price revision for Lanka Auto Diesel, it is not possible to consider a bus fare revision right now, but if the

Economically- hit people neglected in fuel price revision: Three-Wheeler Drivers’ Association

All-Island Three-Wheeler Drivers’ Union (AITWDU) President Lalith Dharmasekera criticized the recent fuel price revision, saying the social group mostly affected by the economic crisis had been neglected in the process. He said the

School children’s drinking party busted

A group of seven school children under 16 years of age including two school girls who held a drinking party in an abandoned building at Sappukade in Welimada were arrested by Welimada Police. Police sa

Easter Sunday celebrated in a calm atmosphere

The Easter Sunday service was held at St Anthony’s Shrine Kochchikade in a calm atmosphere but under tight security. The same service in this church ended in carnage five years ago when a suicide bomber blew himself up killing around a hundred people. The tears of this devotee indicate the reminiscences of the incident.

Donation to hospital

A social worker and philanthropist of Malwatuhiripitiya area donated a consignment of equipment valued more than Rs.50,000 required by the Maternity Clinic of the Malwatuhiripitiya hospital in Gampaha.

Wild Jumbo stops traffic in Randenigala

Traffic on the Badulla – Randenigala – Kandy main highway came to a standstill last morning when a wild elephant from Randenigala forest reserve stood motionless across the road. The vehicles from either direction were halted at a distance to avoid any possible danger. However the jumbo that kept standing on the road for about half an hour had gone back padded towards the Randenigala reservoir reservation much to the relief of the drivers.

UNESCO adopts landmark decision for International day of Vesak

The Executive Board of UNESCO at its 219th Session adopted by acclamation a Decision to commemorate the International Day of Vesak at UNESCO in alignment with the Organization’s core mandate of promoting global peace, intercultural dialogue, and the preservation of cultural heritage. The landmark Decision was based on the historic UN General Assembly Resolution 54/115 of 1999 on International Recognition of Vesak at the United Nations which was t

Two arrested for killing a woman in Kaduwela

Police arrested two suspects yesterday during their investigations into the death of a woman at Paddiyawatta in Kotalawala in Kaduwela on Thursday (28) her body which was lying in a pool of blood had been recovered from her house. The deceased Ajantha Katugampola (54) was a mother of two children who had been away from home for employment at the time of the incident. One of the suspects was a close relative of the deceased and the other a mas

Man arrested for clubbing mistress to death in Pallekele

An individual who had allegedly clubbed to death his mistress and complained to the police that she fell in the bathroom and died was arrested by the Pallekele police yesterday. The victim Vimani Kodituwakku (48) was a resident of Vidurawatta in Pallekele and her 54-year-old paramour, who was taken into custody in connection with her death, a resident of Kundasale. The woman in critical condition had been admitted to the ICU of Kandy Nation

Asgiriya Mahanayake Thera says Internal threats to Sasana worse than external threats

Mahanayake of Asgiriya Chapter Ven. Warakagoda Gnanarathana Thera said the threat of internal forces to the Buddha Sasana were more serious than those posed by external forces. Addressing a religious ceremony yesterday at the Polgolla Sarawana Temple, the Ven. Thera pointed out that till recently anti- Buddhist organisations had been attempting to destroy Buddhism through their own forces, but their modus operandi is to use Buddhist themselves a

Mother and daughter injured in collision involving three vehicles

A woman and her seven year old daughter were seriously injured when a car collided with a double cab and a scooter and crashed into a wall at Ilukhena on the Kaleliya – Medagampitiya road in the Pallewela police area. The injured admitted to the Watupitiwala base hospital were a 35 year old woman and her daughter who were on a scooter. Investigations revealed that the driver had lost control of the car due to excessive speed. He was taken i

SL braces for AI powered election malpractices in future

In the wake of AI (Artificial Intelligence) powered election malpractices mushrooming globally , Sri Lanka’s Election Commission is bracing for such possibilities in the future elections here, an official said yesterday . According to global experience , AI can accelerate the production and diffusion of disinformation in contributing to organised attempts to persuade people to vote in a certain way.

Beach cleaning in Crow Island

Senior Presidential Advisor on Climate Change Ruwan Wijewardene participated in a beach cleaning campaign at Crow Island in Colombo 15 yesterday. The programme was organized by Sustainability Climate Action Plan, Marine Environment Protection Authority, National Youth Services Council and few other civil organisations.

Baltimore Bridge collapse Ship was carrying US toxic waste to SL - Report

The Singapore cargo ship Dali chartered by Maersk, which crashed into the Baltimore, US bridge on Tuesday 26 March, was carrying 764 tons of hazardous materials to Sri Lanka, US media reported. The waste included mostly corrosives, flammables, miscellaneous hazardous materials, and Class-9 hazardous materials, including explosives & lithium-ion batteries – in 56 containers. So says the US National Transportation Safety Board, still ‘analyzing t

Another health strike to inconvenience millions

The spectre of a widespread health worker strike looms over Sri Lanka’s medical landscape, as the Health Trade Union Alliance, representing 72 unions, has issued an ultimatum slated to commence on Tuesday, April 2, at 6:30 a.m. The year 2024 has thus far witnessed a series of health strike actions, with the latest marking the fourth occurrence in the past three months. Among the unresolved grievances plaguing the health workers, the main con

Man who came first in drinking competition dies within hours

An individual who came first in a drinking competition in Lethenty estate in Hatton had died within hours of the competition. The victim Ganeshan Ramachandran (39) was a worker in the estate. A group of young men had organised the drinking competition after the Ther festival at the Hindu Kovil in the estate. Several young men including Ganesan had joined the competition and they had been provided 750ml.bottles of arrack each. The competito

CPC Fuel prices revised from today

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has decided to revise its fuel prices with effect from today. Accordingly, a litre of Lanka Petrol 95 Octane Euro 4 (Rs. 447) has been reduced by Rs. 7, and its new retail price will be Rs. 440. A litre of Lanka Super Diesel 4 Star Euro 4 (Rs. 458) has been reduced by Rs. 72, and its new retail price will be Rs. 386. A litre of Lanka Kerosene (Rs. 257) has been reduced by Rs. 12, and its new retail price wil

Marketing executive arrested for theft

A marketing executive from an electrical appliances showroom in Piliyandala belonging to a leading company in the country was arrested by the Dehiwala police on suspicion of pilfering electrical appliances valued more than Rs. 6.7 million. The 25-year-old suspect was a resident of Bellanwila. Investigations revealed that he had placed forged orders from different institutions and issued consignments of goods and transported them by company vehi

Modi lashes out at Congress for giving away Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday lashed out at the Congress party over a controversial island, Katchatheevu that was given to Sri Lanka by former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1974. The Katchatheevu island debate has taken centre stage in Tamil Nadu politics as the Lok Sabha election nears. PM Modi on Sunday cited a report in Times of India that said, ‘RTI reply shows how Indira Gandhi ceded the island to Sri Lanka’. The PM on the

Wijeyadasa’s presence at SLFP meeting creates stir

Presence of Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe at the SLFP central committee meeting over the weekend surprised many. Responding to journalists as to whether he intends joining SLFP, the Minister said he will make a political decision later. “ I have been a member of SLFP from the time late Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike led the party. Therefore my presence at SLFP Central Commitee meeting is nothing new,” he said. Asked whether he will re

Immigration nabs Indians violating work visa conditions in N’Eliya restaurants

The Indian nationals had been granted employment visas to work in a particular restaurant in Nuwara Eliya and they were found working elsewhere

Special Commodity Levy to be scrapped from next year: Siyambalapitiya

Says new tax based on seasons to be introduced to protect local farmers and producers from next year

Deceased MP acquitted in murder case

The accused who had on October 10, 2000 shot seven individuals and caused injuries stood indicted with unlawful assembly and attempted murder

Two prisoners escape from A’pura outdoor prison camp

They had changed clothes and fled the camp

A Singaporean authority accuses Colombo Port of inaction in X-Press Pearl disaster

There was a lack of coordination among the stakeholders ashore to find a common solution in the handling of this emergency, states report

Abolition of corporal punishment problematic in Sri Lanka: NCPA

Abolition of corporal punishment in Sri Lanka is problematic because of the attitude of children, parents and the teachers, said the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA). NCPA Chairma

Indian tourist en route to Sri Pada falls down precipice

An Indian tourist who fell into a more than 100 metre deep precipice at Ehela Kanuwa on the Ratnapura Sri Pada route in the early hours of yesterday morning was rescued by a team of officers from Maskeliya STF camp. Police said the tourist Bharath Chandradas (25) from Mumbai Maharashtra had been heading for Sri Padastana along the Ratnapura route with several others when he fell off the protective fence into the precipice at about 5 am yesterd

Minimum expenditure per person to fulfill monthly basic needs gone up by 144% compared to 2019

According to the District Poverty Line, Colombo and Gampaha recorded the highest of 18,350 and 18,256 respectively while the lowest of Rs. 16,268 was recorded in Moneragala District

China’s Shanghai, Colombo, Hambantota to be developed as sister cities

Prime Minister points out that huge lessons can be learnt by Sri Lanka from the progress made in the planned urban development of the city of Shanghai

Insecticide tainted wheat flour seized in Kekirawa, kingpin arrested

Investigations reveal that a private sector pest control enterprise in Madiwela, Kotte had undertaken to destroy weevils by spraying insecticide