STF officers honoured for rescuing children held hostage by their father

A team of Special Task Force (STF) officers, lauded for their bravery in rescuing two children held hostage by their father in Jalthara, Hanwella, were honoured with cash prizes in recognition of their exemplary service.

Court imposes travel ban on Diana Gamage

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court yesterday issued an order directing the Controller-General of Immigration and Emigration to prevent State Minister Diana Gamage from leaving the country in connection with a magisterial inquiry over a complaint that she obtained a Sri Lankan passport after furnishing false information.

EC announces plan for presidential election A move to preempt hush-hush project on snap general election before

Speculation is rife in political circles that the Election Commission announced the plan for the conduct of the presidential election interpreting the Constitution in a bid to suppress any internal political discourse for a possible snap general election, Daily Mirror learns.

COPF calls for immediate probe

The Committee on Public Finance (COPF) yesterday instructed the Commissioner General Immigration and Emigration to carry out an immediate probe on the personal data breach related to Sri Lanka’s visa issuing system. COPF Chairman Dr. Harsha de Silva told Daily Mirror that he had instructed the Commissioner General Immigration and Emigration to carry out an immediate probe on the personal data breach which was revealed over social media.

Govt. concerned over data breach reports in Sri Lanka’s visa system

While saying that the government is concerned over reports of data breach related to Sri Lanka’s visa issuance system, the Public Security Ministry said yesterday that they will look into the matter.

I am coming back: Diana Gamage

Former State Minister Diana Gamage, whose parliamentary seat was recently declared illegal by the Supreme Court over her citizenship issue, expressed her determination to return to the political arena. “I am coming back to parliament. I will not leave the country,” Gamage asserted, dismissing any notion of retreat despite the legal setback.

Human traffickers sent over 80 Sri Lankan war veterans to Russian-Ukrainian war front: 8 killed

Investigations have revealed that more than 80 Sri Lankan war veterans have been sent to the Russian-Ukrainian war front as members of mercenary groups by human traffickers.

Sri Lanka is gradually moving towards economic boom: President

Sri Lanka is gradually moving towards an economic boom and is slated to achieve a three percent economic growth in 2024 while inflation has dropped to 1.5 percent already, President Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament yesterday.

No import of vehicles expected in near future - Vehicle Importers Association

While denouncing the false rumours regarding imminent vehicle importation, the Vehicle Importers Association of Sri Lanka (VIASL) clarified that no vehicles, including lightweight vehicles, will be imported within the current year or before the election.

Opposition Leader must take full responsibility over issues faced by country: President

Claiming that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa must take full responsibility over issues faced by the country, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday that if Sajith had taken up the premiership on April 10, there would have been no issues. The President said this when Sajith Premadasa requested some clarifications from the President over his special statement in Parliament yesterday.

Customs find Rs.40Mn worth gold gel from passenger’s underwear

A Sri Lankan passenger who tried to smuggle in gold gel worth Rs.40 million, which had been concealed in his undergarment was nabbed by the Customs at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) yesterday morning. Officials of the Customs Narcotic Control Unit stationed at the BIA Arrival Terminal searched a passenger on suspicion and found the contraband hidden in his underwear and shoes.

Government planning four-stage vehicle import resumption

Following discussions with vehicle importers, the government is focused on resuming vehicle imports in four stages, Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said. After the meeting, the State Minister claimed that vehicle importers are expected to deliver a report soon on the potential impact of lifting vehicle import restrictions.

Reduced New Year drinking leads to less quarrels

Cutting back on alcohol consumption during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year festival has resulted in notable dip in incidents of conflict and quarrels associated with alcohol use during the festival season.

Diana loses Parliamentary seat as SC declares her disqualification

The Supreme Court in a landmark judgement yesterday held that State Minister Diana Gamage is disqualified to be a Member of Parliament and thus she is not entitled to hold office as a Member of Parliament, as she was not a citizen of Sri Lanka.

SJB legitimacy at stake after SC ruling on Diana: Kanchana

Another court case with regard to Diana Gamage is on the cards as anyone could file another court case calling the Supreme Court to declare whether Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MPs could remain in Parliament as per yesterday’s judgement, Minister Kanchana Wijesekera told Parliament yesterday.

No legal barrier for non- Sri Lankans to register political parties

There is no legal barrier for the non-citizens to register a political party, Former Chairman of Elections Commission Mahinda Deshapriya said yesterday.

Diplomatic efforts to protect Sri Lankan youth in mercenary forces

The government yesterday said that diplomatic initiatives are currently underway to protect Sri Lankan youth enlisted in mercenary forces linked to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Marine heat waves:Coral reefs in Sri Lankan waters risk die-offs

Coral reefs in the sea around Sri Lanka risk die-offs if the current marine heat level persists for another one month or so, a top scientist said yesterday. The Indian media reported that an alarming situation of severe coral bleaching had been reported in the Lakshadweep Sea and the Gulf of Mannar.

Body of youth who went missing while visiting girlfriend found

The body of a youth from Kuliyapitiya, who had gone missing a few days ago while visiting his girlfriend’s house, has been recovered in the Panirendawa area of Madampe, police said. Police Spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa said the body was found in a forest in the area.

Exclude Health Ministry from drug procurement to curb corruption: GMOF urges Govt.

The Government Medical Officers’ Forum (GMOF) urged the government to refrain from including the Health Ministry in centralized drug procurement to reduce corruption.

Woman arrested with heroin valued at more than Rs.10 million

A woman who had in her possession 26.250 grams of heroin was arrested by Anuradhapura Division Crime Investigation Unit during a raid last morning.

Shavendra advises Sri Lankan veterans to avoid mercenary service abroad

In light of emerging reports detailing the involvement of Sri Lankan veterans in foreign mercenary forces, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Shavendra Silva has issued a heartfelt plea to his fellow veterans, urging them to resist the allure of mercenary service.

Visa fiasco Sajith plays it safe in Parliament

Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa yesterday raised objections to the questioning of the youth, Sandaru Kumarasinghe, who spoke out against the Visa issue at the airport but avoided debate on the visa fiasco involving a foreign consortium with VFS as technology partner.

Sri Lankan Engineers urged to help rebuild nation

Highlighting that Sri Lanka has lost US $ 130 billion from 2006 to 2022 as a result of making wrong decisions, all engineers were called upon to become catalysts of rebuilding the nation.

Bengamuwe Nalaka Thera warns MPs on same-sex marriage vote

Venerable Bengamuwe Nalaka Thera cautioned parliamentarians yesterday against returning to their villages to seek votes if they support the same-sex marriage bill in parliament.

Power grid connection with India: Sri Lanka seeks to review estimated US $1.2 billion cost

The government has sought to review the estimated cost of US $ 1.2 billion for the implementation of the project to link the power grids of India and Sri Lanka as part of connectivity between the two sides, a source familiar with negotiations said.

Lalkantha’s remark triggers showdown in Parliament

The remark made by National People’s Power (NPP) strongman K. D. Lalkantha at the recent May Day rally that a future NPP government will decentralize judicial powers to its cadres at village level, triggered a flare up in Parliament with both the ruling party and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) launching a verbal attack on MP Harini Amarasuriya.

Basil reasserts general election first, yet Prez braces for presidential race

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) founder Basil Rajapaksa reasserted yesterday that his party still believes the general election should precede the presidential elections but President Ranil Wickremesinghe has a contrasting stand, according to an informed source of the party.

NMRA trains police to sniff out psychoactive pharmaceutical drugs

In a bid to mitigate the pharmaceutical drugs abuse menace, the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) will back police and excise officials to identify and crackdown the trends of misusing psychoactive medicines. In a move to make the law enforcement officials aware, the NMRA organized a special programme last week to educate the psychoactive substances, which are prescribed as medicinal drugs for various ailments. A senior NMRA off

Woman accused of drugging husband’s tea to meet up with paramour

A woman who allegedly spiked her husband’s tea with sleeping tablets, suspected of planning to spend the night with her paramour, was placed in custody after her husband fell seriously ill and was hospitalized. The suspect woman was produced before Hatton District Judge and Magistrate H. M.Seriddeen and remanded till May 15. The suspect woman (26) and her husband (32) were residents of Maskeliya Divisional Hospital quarters and hospital emplo