Karuna decides to back Ranil at Presidential Election Impressed with President’s performance

Says President has turned around the economy

Innocent Passage to enter Arabian Sea India remains unresponsive to Sri Lanka’s request

India remains unresponsive to the request by Sri Lanka to allow an innocent passage through the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) for its fishermen to enter the Arabian Sea, a top source said. Sri Lanka made

Khairiya Girls College, Dematagoda gets Rs.100Mn donation for building

On former Provincial Councillor Nauzer Fowzie’s initiative, Dubai-based Saeeda Foundation laid the foundation for a four-storied building with 16 classrooms at a cost of Rs.100 million at Khairiya Girls College, Dematagoda last week. The donation of Rs.100 million was presented by Nauzer Fowzie to the school’s Principal Nazeera Hassanar. Member of Parliament A. H. M. Fowzie was the chief guest of the event whilst All Ceylon Jamiyathul Ulama Presi

Non-appointment of Bribery Commission DG challenged in SC

The Commissioner General of Land, Bandula Jayasinghe yesterday challenged an indictment filed by the Bribery Commission against him on the premise that no Director General has been appointed thus far by the President. When the writ application was taken up for support in the Supreme Court, Counsel Hafeel Farisz appearing for the Commissioner General told court that there was no Director General currently enforced by the Bribery Commission under

Over 83,000 arrested, Rs. 9 billion drugs seized in ‘Yukthiya’ operation

More than 83,000 suspects have been arrested and drugs worth Rs. 9 billion have been seized since the launch of the ‘Yukthiya’ operation in December last year. Police spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa said that while not all arrested suspects were remanded, 2,932 individuals arrested during the operation are undergoing further investigation under detention orders. Police initiated the ‘Yukthiya’ operation on December 17 last year to combat drug-r

Technical malfunction leaves lives of hundreds of children with cancer at risk

The prolonged breakdown of one of the linear accelerators at the Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama, which predominantly treats the pediatric patients has placed hundreds of lives at risk. Sources familiar with the matter revealed that the linear accelerator, crucial for administering radiotherapy — a vital cancer treatment, has been non-operational since February. Despite the severity of the situation, the Health Ministry has turned a blind eye by

I will not resign: CB Governor

The Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe today said that he will not step down from the post of Governor due to the issues caused by the salary increase. While addressing the media, he said the crisis situation was caused by the amount of the salary increase at the CBSL. He also said that he will reconsider the salary increase for the employees working under him.

Parliamentary Committee reveals Govt. vehicles run at Rs. 300 per km, costs Rs. 20 bn more

Government vehicles which are running at a cost of Rs. 300 per kilometre can be run at a cost of 100, incurring some Rs. 20 billion to the government, a research paper submitted to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Energy and Transport has revealed. This was revealed according to the data of a research paper prepared by the Department of Manpower and Employment on “Public Resource Management” which was presented at the Sectoral Oversight Comm

SL bound container ship crashes into Baltimore bridge, causing most of it to collapse

Early on Tuesday morning a container ship crashed into the landmark Francis Scott Key Bridge near the US city of Baltimore, causing most of it to collapse. Several vehicles on the bridge at the time plunged into the waters of the Patapsco River, and rescuers are searching for between seven and 20 people believed to be in the river. Maryland Governor Wes Moore has declared a state of emergency. Several people were seen to be on the bridge a

Skin treatment medicines flooding Sri Lankan market as cosmetics have serious health hazards: NMRA,SLCD

The National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) have made a startling recovery that recent flooding of unregistered skin treatment medicines found in the local market as cosmetics could have serious health hazards. The NMRA Food and Drugs Inspectors following several alerts of the Sri Lanka College of Dermatologists (SLCD)searched several leading cosmetic shops in Colombo yesterday to find an unregistered skin treatment medicine being sold b

No confindence motion against Speaker Resolution to seek cost of no-faith motion from opposition

An idea has been mooted by the ruling party to bring in a resolution to claim expenditure incurred for the three day debate on the no faith motion which was brought against Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, a government MP said. MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake told a gathering that the government is looking towards bringing the resolution during the next Parliament session.

Sri Lanka to reach MoU on debt restructuring with Chinese EXIM Bank soon

State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe who is in the delegation of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena visiting China, will hold talks with EXIM Bank of China and China Development Bank to complete the debt restru

Presidential Election in October first week

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has informed his close associates and hinted to his cabinet that the Presidential Election

Pregnant women gang arrested for robbing bus passengers

The Anuradhapura Police arrested a group of pregnant women involved in robbing passengers of cash and jewellery on

Fishy affair on fish imports, COPA seeks CID probe

The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) had called for an investigation into the importation of contaminated fish in January 2022 and has advised the Ministry of Finance to refer the matter to the CID. It was re

Attorney General objects to Keheliya’s bail request

Order regarding the preliminary objections was fixed for April 3

CA quashes PCoL recommendations against Ranil, Anura and others

The Court of Appeal yesterday issued a writ of certiorari, squashing the report, the findings and the recommendations made by the Presidential Commission on Political Victimisation (PCoI) in respect of incumbent President Ranil Wick

Shavendra in Kenya explores ties in multiple sectors

Chief of Defence Staff General Shavendra Silva of Sri Lanka held talks with Chief of Defence Forces of Kenya General Francis Ogolla in Nairobi and explored cooperation in areas such as counterterrorism. The visit marks a pivotal moment in the diplomatic ties between the two nations, signifying a mutual commitment to enhancing defe

Eye ailments among school children in Anuradhapura Dist.

A recent survey carried out by the health authorities has revealed that more than 12,000 school children in Anuradhapura District are suffering from optical disorders. They had held 14 eye clinics for school children this year covering the whole district. During the eye clinic for school children in the Anuradhapura Municipal limits under the Vision 2000 programme, Medical Officer in Charge of the Non-Communicable Disease Prevention Unit of

Main meal for all children in Grades 1-5 from today

The Education Ministry has undertaken measures to offer a main meal at school to every student in Grades 1 through 5, starting today. The decision was taken into consideration following recommendations from nutritionists. Minister Susil Premajayantha had given instructions to serve the breakfast between 7.30 a.m. and 8.30 a.m. before the students engage in educational activities. He said the Ministry has paid more attention to maintaining the foo

Non-communicable diseases in Sri Lanka on the rise

Sri Lanka has witnessed a surge in non-communicable diseases, prompting action from the Ministry of Health. This was revealed by the Health Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana at the launch of the “Suva Udana” mobile health clinic programme in Yakkalamulla, Galle. The programme, which marks the 14th such initiative this year, seeks to extend healthcare services to rural communities.

Elephant becomes tourist attraction at Gangaramaya Temple

A Mexican tourist is seen feeding the elephant at Gangaramaya Temple yesterday while his family and Venerable Kirinde Assajai Thera look on

Govt. to enact law to safeguard IMF programme amid political uncertainty

Amid fears that the current programme with the International Monetary Fund ( IMF) will be derailed in case of a regime change, the government is planning to enact an economic transformation law to ensure sustainability of the project despite political changes, a minister said yesterday. The International community, particularly the Western countries, has emphasized the importance of continuity with the the economic reform programme supported by

Former GM of Coconut Cultivation Board arrested for misappropriation of Rs. 77Mn

The former General Manager of the Coconut Cultivation Board was arrested for allegedly misappropriating over Rs. 77 million from the Employees Provident Fund, police said. A senior police officer confirmed that the 64-year-old suspect from the Delgoda area was taken into CID custody on Friday following an investigation into the complaint of alleged misappropriation of Rs. 77,722,691 from the EPF. The suspect is scheduled to be produced before th

Sri Lanka authorizes English as language in Commercial High Courts

The Justice Minister has issued an extraordinary gazette notification permitting to use English language for all purposes of record and proceedings in the Commercial High Courts. With the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers and in accordance with Article 24(4) of the Constitution, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has issued this gazette notification enabling all aspects of litigation to be in English in commercial, company, admiralty a

French Appeal Court finally rules against Kudu Anju’s extradition

The French Court of Appeal has finally ruled against the extradition of Sri Lankan organized criminal Sinharage Saminda Silva alias Kudu Anju, a top source familiar with the ruling said. He was arrested in France last year. After his arrest, Sri Lanka sought his extradition since he had been accused of multiple criminal charges, including the murder of Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Municipal Council member Ranjan de Silva and large-scale drug traffick

Maithripala to go before CID today

Former President Maithripala Sirisena is to go before CID today to make a statement on the remark he had made on Easter Sunday attacks. Sirisena’s announcement that he would visit CID today came after CID said it was ready to record a statement from former President Maithripala Sirisena regarding his recent remark on the Easter Sunday bombings in 2019, where he claimed to be “well aware” of the true perpetrators. Public Security Minister T

Easter Sunday attacks Church skeptical on CID questioning Maithri

National Catholic Director of Mass Communications Fr. Jude Krishantha yesterday said the church in Sri Lanka has decided to adopt a wait and see policy with regard to action which the authorities would take against former President Maithripala Sirisena despite the assurance given by the CID that the latter would be questioned on the remark he made on Friday. Former President Sirisena on Friday said he is aware as to who was behind the Easter

Police detain 44 underworld gang suspects in crackdown operation

A total of 44 suspected criminals from underworld gangs, who were arrested during the special operation aimed at cracking down on organized criminal activities, are currently being detained for further questioning, police said.

Sri Lanka will see more economic reforms after June this year: President

Sri Lanka will see more economic reforms after June this year and thereby begin cultivating new export crops, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said over the weekend. Speaking to the youth in Polonnaruwa, he said economic reforms will come into effect after the debt restructuring process comes to an end by June this year. “IMF has agreed with our proposals pertaining to debt restructuring. We now have to sign up agreements with our debtors. Pri