Civil Security Department personnels’ dual roles under scrutiny

The Ministry of Defence said that an investigation is underway to determine whether members of the Civil Security Department, who have been assigned to carry out tasks at places of worship, state and other institutions, are engaged in activities beyond their official duties. State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon has directed the Director General of the Civil Security Department Air Vice Marshal Roshan Biyanwila to conduct a thoro

Lycamobile Services appeals against judgement

On 26th October 2023, the Paris Criminal Court, (Tribunal Correctional de Paris), rendered a guilty verdict against Lycamobile Services Limited and Lycamobile Sarl. The same day the companies appealed against the judgement. The appeal is believed to have two consequences, firstly the court will retrial the case and the effects of the judgement are suspended, and secondly Lycamobile Services and Lycomobile Sarl remain presumed innocent. T

Sri Lanka a soft target for cybercrimes: SC determination

Sri Lanka has been identified as a soft target for cybercriminals, and according to the 21st edition of Microsoft’s Security Intelligence Report, cryptocurrency mining malware, where cybercriminals seek illicit profits by using victim’s computers to mine cryptocurrency coins such as Bitcoins have increased in the country, according to the Supreme Court determination on Online Safety Bill. Sri Lanka has been identified as a soft target for cyb

Online Safety Bill echoes UK, Australia’s internet regulations to combat cybercrime

Determining that the Online Safety Bill is not inconsistent with the Constitution and can be passed by a simple majority in the House subject to amendments, the Supreme Court has observed that increasingly countries are trying to regulate internet content through “cybercrime legislation”. The Supreme Court determination communicated to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena says it covers a wide range of criminal offences from terrorist activities

State Minister and opposition MP claim credit for checkmating liquor tax defaulters

Whilst State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya claimed that a sum of Rs 6,721 million is to be collected from five liquor manufacturing companies which have defaulted taxes, opposition MP Patali Champika Ranawaka claimed that it was the Committee on Ways and Means headed by him that paved the way for the possible collection of the said amount.

Court suspends Sports Minister’s gazette

The Court of Appeal yesterday issued an interim order suspending the operation of the gazette notification issued by Sports Minister appointing an interim committee to Sri Lanka Cricket. The Court of Appeal two-judge-bench comprising Justices Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and Chamath Morais made this order pursuant to a writ petition filed by SLC President Shammi Silva. This order will be effective till November 16. The petitioner had named

Remove me from Cabinet

The Sri Lanka Cricket crisis took yet another dramatic turn yesterday when Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe asked President Ranil Wickremesinghe to remove him from office while the Court of Appeal gave an order against the new interim committee headed by former skipper Arjuna Ranatunga. Ranasinghe told Parliament that President Ranil Wickremesinghe wanted him to abolish the interim committee when he met him after the Cabinet meeting on Monday

Alleged assault of Diana Gamage, both parties testify before special committee Key witness fails to turn up

Diana alleges that Perera and Bandara assaulted her in the Parliament lobby

30 Factory workers hospitalized after food poisoning

At least 30 employees of a fagarment factory at Meegoda who had taken ill after eating their midday meal yesterday were admitted to the hospital. They were admitted, 17 of them, to th

Fatal consequences of self-medication: JMO warns against overdosing on common drugs

Taking an overdose of paracetamol is particularly dangerous

Tax revenue collected from private sector workers, tourism should not be wasted through trade union actions: Vajira

Says people should act consciously when attempts are made to resuscitate the economy

Deduru Oya and Weheragala reservoirs spilling over

Deduru Oya reservoir reached spill level last morning and all eight spill gates were open to release 17,000 acre ft. of water per second to Deduru Oya. Irrigation Engineer Sampath Samarajeewa warned of the possibility of a minor food threat affecting the low-lying areas in Wariyapola, Nikaweratiya, Maho, Kobeiga

CID grills Health Ministry Secretary

Director of the National Blood Transfusion Service was also questioned

Lalith Kotelawala was held hostage: Family tells court

Kotelawala was manipulated into writing valuable properties

Historical Raja Sabha Mandapaya in Kurunegala Officer charged with damaging historical site appointed to Buddhist Affairs Ministry

Kurunegala Magistrate has issued warrants against this officer

Interim Committee tasked with probing misconduct, corruption within SLC

Committee comprises retired judges, lawyers, and cricket administrators

SRI LANKA CRICKET IN SHAMBLES

Furious President telephones Roshan Ranasinghe over his sudden move

A batch of new principals for NCP

A batch of 325 Grade III Principals appointed to schools in the North Central Province received their letters of appointment at the Provincial Council Auditorium. NCP Governor Maheepala Hera

Railway workers injured due to a rock slide

Workmen attending to repairs to the railway line between Bandarawela and Kinigama railway stations were injured and admitted to hospital when rocks from a adjacent hillock had fallen on them.

Corruption Galore at Agriculture Ministry Fertilizer blunder; Another scandal ignored, costing SL U.S $ 6.9 million

Despite the lapse of nearly three years and the Auditor General pinpointing dereliction of duty on the part of authorities concerned, the Agriculture Ministry or the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) of Parliament, have not yet initiated formal investigations into the incident in which Sri Lanka lost US $ 6.9 million following the rejection of a stock of bio-fertilizer imported fr

Gas price hike attributed to costs in world market

The new retail price of a 12.5kg cylinder of gas is now Rs. 3,565

Another Sugar scam?

The Committee on Public Finance ( COPF) is to probe the alleged second sugar scam where it is alleged that the government is slated to lose Rs 10 billion as a result of releasing an old stock of sugar to the market after the duty revision, Daily Mirror learns. COPF Chairman Dr. Harsha De Silva told Daily Mirror that he will take up the issue when the Committee meets on Tuesday. “ We are planning to bring up the issue on Tuesday when COPF mee

Police pursue couple who ran contract company in Rs. 9.9 Mn fraud probe

The Mirihana Special Crimes Investigation Unit has launched an investigation to arrest a couple, who are owners of a contract company named “D’ marc solution (PVT) LTD,” in connection with a fraudulent transaction amounting to over Rs. 9.9 million.

Rule of Law at risk: Lawyers’ Collective raises concerns over not appointing new IGP

According to the Constitution (Article 41C), the President must nominate an IGP candidate approved by the Constitutional Council, emphasizing the need for a candidate with an impeccable service record, devoid of any allegations, to rebuild trust in the police

Approval of government falls to 9% in October: Verité Research survey

Colombo- Badulla main road likely to fall apart

The Colombo – Badulla main highway which caved in near the 168KM post in Marangahawela, Haldummulla due to the incessant heavy rain experienced at present is endangered of falling apart.

Rajangana, Angamuwa, Udawalawe Reservoirs spilling over

Rajangana and Angamuwa tanks are spilling over due to the heavy rainfall experiened in the Anuradhapura district at present and eight spill gates in the former and two in the latter were opened last morning.

President issues warning to officials on development directive implementation

While emphasizing the importance of effective implementation of directives related to the country’s development, President Ranil Wickremesinghe warned that action would be taken against heads of government institutions who fail to properly implement directives. He made the

399 Elephant deaths reported up to October 2023

A total of 399 elephants have died up to the month of October, and the majority of them due to human-elephant conflicts and many deaths related to shooting incidents, the Wildlife Conservation Department said.

Bring in laws to keep politicians away from cricket : Sajith

Says Sri Lanka will suffer a similar fate like the West Indies