No move to appoint rice mill owner as national list MP

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) yesterday refuted the claim made by New Rathna Rice Mill owner Mithrapala Lankeshwara that he is to be appointed to Parliament through the National List.

No plan to lay off public service: Minister

The government has no plans to lay off the public service, but will focus instead on improving productivity, a minister said.

Vote on account passed without a vote

Parliament passed the resolution on the vote on account for the first quarter of next year passed without a vote yesterday.

Prove you have a degree, Mahinda Deshapriya challenges Speaker

Former chairman of the Election Commission Mahinda Deshapriya has challenged Speaker Dr. Ashoka Ranwala to prove his degree if he had claimed so.

SC suspends gazette issued which increased annual excise licence fees

The licence fee (excluding Palmyra arrack) was raised from Rs.1Mn to Rs. 25Mn

Tourists lean out from train doors for selfies, number of accidents keep rising

Hotels, tour guides and travel agencies urged to educate visitors on such dangers

No electricity price reduction for next six months: CEB

Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has decided not to change electricity tariff for six months and to go for a revision by mid this year, it was revealed yesterday.

Govt. considers sweet deal on brown sugar, VAT to be removed on imports: Minister

130,000 tonnes required annually but around 70,000 tonnes produced locally

Vehicle imports are still strictly prohibited Do not fall prey to automobile smugglers and lose both money and car: Customs warn public

Smugglers attempt to bypass Customs regulations by packing dismantled vehicles in containers

Opposition flares up over Govt. reducing its representation in House Business Committee

Govt. emphasises increased opposition representation in COPA, COPE and COPF

Controversial letter withdrawn following medical specialists’ protest

The controversial letter, issued by the Regional Director of Health Services in Matale, instructing medical specialists aged 60 and above to retire by December 31 was withdrawn following agitation by specialists.

Disabled soldier netted for heroin peddling

A former disabled soldier, who had in his possession a stock of 320 packets of heroin, was arrested by Bandarawela Division Crime Investigation Bureau during a raid on a house in Bandarawela town in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Teenage daughter killed in assault by drug-addict father

An individual who had assaulted to death his 14-year-old daughter and dumped the body in a toilet pit. The victim Himasha Sandaruwani was a resident of Makevita in Gampaha. The suspect, with his wife and daughter, had been living in a partly built house and his wife had been employed in a garment factory

Damage to crops by wild animals: No legal issues over farmers taking action against wild animals within their own lands: Minister

Farmers can take any action regarding damage to crops by wild animals within their cultivated lands, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Lalkantha said yesterday. “Take any action that is possible,” he said.

Foreigner among six hospitalized due to Steuart hotel Fire

Six individuals including a foreigner and five police personnel were hospitalized after a fire broke out at the Steuart Hotel in the Colombo Fort area last evening, according to the police.

Railway engines in dire need of repair since 2017 yet to be attended to - AG’s Dept.

The Auditor General’s Department has reported that 78 railway engines that need repairs have been left in the running sheds and Ratmalana Main Railway Workshop without attention for seven years since 2017.

Govt. Analyst’s Dept. information unit dysfunctional for four months

The Central Information Unit of the Government Analyst’s Department has been non-functional for four months, hindering access to crucial reports, Deputy Solicitor General Madhawa Thennakoon informed the court yesterday (05).

Maaveerar Naal commemorations: Crackdown on video sharers is akin to shooting the messenger - Additional Magistrate

The Colombo Additional Magistrate questioned how the arrest and request to remand individuals who shared videos related to recent Maaveerar Naal commemorations can be justified without first investigating those who created and uploaded the videos. The Magistrate observed that this approach is akin to “shooting the messenger.”

Govt. to name politicians who recommended issue of liquor licences

The government today assured that the list of politicians who recommended the issuance of liquor licences will be released after investigations, Chief Government Whip and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said yesterday.

Concerns raised over shortage of several drugs in hospitals

The Health Ministry is grappling with a shortage of multiple drugs, including several essential drugs, a senior official said.

Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa claims shortage of 300 drugs

Government hospitals across the country are facing a severe shortage of more than 300 types of essential medicines, according to Medical Specialist Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa.

Half a coconut selling at Rs. 120

Due to a shortage of coconuts in the country, it is reported that half a coconut is being sold at a price between Rs. 100 and Rs. 120.

A Sri Lankan Buddhist monk enters Oxford University after 105 years

St Cross College which is under the Oxford University England has enrolled Venerable Wadigala Samitharathana thus making him the first Buddhist monk to become a student of the university after 105 years. Venerable Samitharathana has been enrolled to pursue a MPhil degree in Buddhist Studies at the college.

Rs.10 coin found during autopsy of Digadanthu 1

During the post-mortem examination of Digadanthu 1, wildlife officers found a Rs. 10 coin in its abdomen, Wildlife Conservation Department veterinary surgeon Dr. Chandana Jayasinghe said.

Evasion of Rs.5.5Bn tax revenue to government: Excise suspends production licence of W. M. Mendis and Co.

Despite several warnings issued over a span of one year, which were not being adhered to, the Department of Excise yesterday suspended the production licence of local liquor giant W. M. Mendis and Co. Limited for evading tax arrears of Rs.5.5 billion to the government, the Daily Mirror learns.

Ten instances of Mahaviru commemorations with LTTE logos this year: Govt.

Ten Mahaviru Day commemorations out of 244 in the country were found to have displayed LTTE flags and logos, Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala told Parliament yesterday.

A group of 60 SL asylum seekers arrive in UK from Diego Garcia

A group of 60 Tamil migrants from Sri Lanka, who had been living in precarious conditions for over three years on the remote island of Diego Garcia, has been relocated to the United Kingdom, news agencies reported.

NPP Govt. should probe killings of Wijeweera, Vijaya - MP

The NPP government should probe the killings of its founder leader Rohana Wijeweera and actor turned politician Vijaya Kumaratunga in keeping with the pledges made by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake during his policy statement, opposition MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake told Parliament yesterday.

Australian dies after jumping from Crescat in Kollupitiya

51-year-old Australian national has reportedly committed suicide by jumping from the Crescat apartment complex in Kollupitiya last morning.

Military Intelligence chief removed

Director of Military Intelligence Brigadier Chandika Mahathanthila has been removed from his post, effective yesterday, military sources said. Following his removal, Brigadier Mahathanthila has been assigned to the Security Force Headquarters – West.