Contaminated food given to school children

Stocks of rice and lentils were infested with weevils and other insects and fungus

Warden arrested over death of teenager at children’s detention centre

Contrary to initial reports of the boy succumbing to an illness while in detention, forensic findings have revealed that his death resulted from an assault

LNG power plant to be constructed in Muthurajawela next year

The plant is expected to be completed in 2026 and is expected to generate 350mw of power

A top excise officer likely to land in hot soup over corruption

The government is reportedly considering decisive action against a high-ranking officer within the Excise Department following allegations of soliciting bribes from liquor manufacturing companies, a source said .

Immigration rescues six Pakistani belly dancers exploited by bogus SL film maker

A group of young Pakistani females accompanied by their male manager, who had been brought into Sri Lanka by a local man claiming to be a filmmaker and had exploited them to work as belly dancers at a Colombo nightclub, was rescued by the Department of Immigration and Emigration yesterday.

COPA takes Human Rights Commission to task over data entry failure

The committee inquired about the non-operation of the data system of the commission provided by UNDP

Discrepancies in Higher Education Only 42,147 Selected from 166,967 Qualified for 2022/23 Academic Year

Urgent need for probate investments in higher education sector emphasized

Discussions underway to revise liquor shop opening hours

It has been decided to revise the opening hours of liquor shops, and related discussions have already started, Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said yesterday. While attending th

Inefficiencies in distributing school textbooks in 2022: Report says

Although the first term had begun on March 20, 2023, the Education Department has been unable to supply 15,645,654 textbooks to the distribution centers

Situlpawwa Viharadhipathi passes away

Chief Incumbent of Situlpawwa Raja Maha Vihara and Chief Sanghanayake of the Malwatta Chapter in the Southern province Ven. Metaramba Hemaratana Thera passed away yesterday afternoon at a private hospital in Colombo. Ven. Thera was 83 years of a

Suspect spending Rs.10,000 a day for heroin

Police conducted investigations based on CCTV recordings arrested the suspects in connection with the theft of property valued more than Rs.2 million from a house in Dehiwala

Motion to be moved to suspend Diana and two SJB MPs today

The decision made by the privileges committee was criticized by opposition MPs including Rohana Bandara

Draping Historic Buddha Statue in Saffron Robe Incumbent of Aukana Raja Maha Vihare warned of legal action if he does so without permission

The Department of Archaeology has warned Chief Incumbent of Aukana Raja Maha Vihare that legal action will be taken against him in future if he commits acts like the draping of the historic Aukana Buddha statue in a saffron robe.

CC crisis: Chief justice not yet formally responsive to Speaker

“The CC its mandate to grant approval for the appointment of judges of the Superior Courts

Pastor Jerome Fernando remanded till December 13

Freedom of expression does not include licence to defame, vilify others

World’s ‘saddest elephant’ Mali dies in Manila Zoo Manila to ask SL for a replacement

Mali was gifted by SL to former Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos in 1981 when she was 11 months old

Dengue sweeps across Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is seeing a massive spike in Dengue cases across the country with the Western Province recording over 35,000 cases which is the highest in terms of provinces. According to the Epidemiology Unit, the tally of dengue cases recorded for 2023 has surpassed the 76,000 mark. As of Novem

Over 50% of Lankans say local political forces behind Easter Sunday attacks: Survey

More than half the Sri Lankan population – 53% – believes local political forces were involved in the Easter Sunday attacks carried out in 2019, according to a survey commissioned in October by Syndicated Surveys.

Sri Lanka logs 485 HIV/AIDS cases and 43 deaths in first nine months

Sri Lanka has experienced a dramatic surge in HIV/AIDS cases by the end of September this year. According to the National STD/AIDS Control Programme, Sri Lanka has logged 485 reflecting about a 13 p

Watching Sigiriya sunrise earns over $3,000 a day

KOICA to provide $8Mn aid to boost tourism in the region

8-hour statement recorded from Pastor Jerome

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) yesterday recorded an 8-hour-long statement from Pastor Jerome Fernando in connection with an ongoing investigation against him.

Large-scale poaching racket busted

Arrested suspect had about 20 kilos of venison in his possession

Fuel prices revised from last night

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), Lanka IOC and Sinopec have decided to revise their fuel prices with effect from last night. Accordingly, a litre of Lanka Petrol 92 Octane (Rs. 356) was reduced by Rs. 10, and its new retail price will be Rs. 346

Lottery winners fails to claim Rs. 12 Mn within 6-month window

The National Lotteries Board (NLB) has come under fire following revelations in the country’s 2022 annual audit report regarding unclaimed prize money and uncredited funds.

SL gearing up for election in 2024: UK

​Sri Lanka is among the South Asian countries gearing up for elections at different levels in 2024, alongside India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Maldives, the UK government said.

New Kelani Bridge closes for repairs under three phases from today

The Road Development Authority (RDA) announced the closure of the New Kelani Bridge, popularly known as the ‘Golden Gate Kalyani’ bridge, in three phases, beginning today. The Transport and Highways Ministry said as construction work on the New Kelani Bridge has been completed, it has reached the point where all responsibilities related to the project have to be reviewed

Constitutional Council yet to reveal its stance on new acting IGP’s appointment

The Constitutional Council is yet to give its stance on President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s decision to appoint Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon as the new acting IGP, the Speaker announced yesterday. Speaker M

Principal who forced students to eat Polythene wrappers, remanded

The principal of Rambukpitiya Madya Maha Vidyalaya in Nawalapitiya, who forced five children to eat polythene wrappers, was produced before Nawalapitiya Magistrate Nilantha Wimalaw

Deshabandu reveals his plans

Newly appointed acting IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon told reporters yesterday that everyone would soon witness how he operates as the police chief. QHow do you expect to work for the people and the country in your new position? I have held various positions in the police service for 25 years. So, I have experience. I will take foward the police service for the betterment of the people of Sri Lanka. QDrugs and crimes are on the rise these days

SL and Paris Club agree on preliminary debt deal

Sri Lanka and the country’s Official Creditor Committee (OCC) co-chaired by India, Japan and France as the Chair of the Paris Club have agreed on a preliminary debt restructuring deal, a statement issued by the Paris Club Secretariat said, yesterday.