Father holds two children hostage for nine hours

An individual who had been arrested in the early hours of yesterday morning for taking hostage his two children and threatening to commit suicide with them by exploding a hand grenade demanding his wife to be brought back to him was produced before Homagama Magistrate Rajindra Jayasuriya yesterday and remanded till May 17. He had been in possession of a high-powered hand grenade with its lock open at the time of arrest. The Special Task F

Sri Lanka to retain existing visa fee-PMD

Meanwhile, earlier in the day addressing a media conference Public Security Minister Tiran Alles maintained that VFS Global, the foreign company now responsible for handling on-arrival visas on behalf of Sri Lanka at the BIA, will continue to operate for at least 12 years. He said that the proposal to transfer the new visa system to VFS Global was unanimously passed on November 23 last year without debate in Parliament following Cabinet approval.

Presidential Elections Prez to announce his stand formally in June only

President Ranil Wickremesinghe is reported to have told Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) founder Basil Rajapaksa that he will formally announce his stand regarding the presidential election only in June. In the midst of political developments ahead of the presidential election pending this year, the two leaders met recently as part of their routine engagements. The President reportedly told Mr. Rajapaksa that he would announce his stand in June

Sri Lankan Visa fiasco worse than bond scam: Sajith

Highlighting that the current Sri Lankan visa issuing process is worse than the bond scam, Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa yesterday called for a proper probe into it and disclosure of all facts. “It is envisaged that the visa fiasco is worse than the bond scam of 2015 where millions of public funds have been robbed. Disclosure of real facts is important after a proper probe as the nation needs to know what had really taken place,” Mr. Prem

SLCARP calls for research concept papers for agriculture research system

Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy which serves as an organization for advisory capacity for coordinating and consolidating efforts has called for concept papers from scientists, researchers for funding in the year 2025. Applications are called for researchers and scientists with the National Agricultural Research System (NARS) for 2025. The deadline which was to be ended on April 30 has been extended to May 14 according to SLCA

Unemployed Graduates arrested in protest outside Provincial Council Secretariat Eleven female graduates among those arrested

By B.G.Chaturanga A group of 22 unemployed graduates who demonstrated in front of the North Central Provincial Council Secretariat yesterday morning were taken into custody by the Anuradhapura Police. Former Convenor of the All Ceylon Unemployed Graduates’ Union Dhammika Munasinghe and eleven female graduates were among those arrested. The police said the protesters had prevented the movement of Governor Maheepala Herath and the o

SL missions left clueless over on-arrival visa change

Sri Lankan missions abroad were inundated with a torrent of telephone calls from foreigners inconvenienced by the sudden decision to outsource on-arrival visa application process to a foreign consortium.

LRT Project : Sri Lanka keen but Japan not

Uncertainty looms over the relaunch of the Japan -financed light rail project (LRT) even after the country’s debt restructuring process is concluded since Japan has decided not to discuss it , according to an official of the Japanese government.

Onset of South West Monsoon expected to trigger tidal swells

The South West Monsoon which is expected to become active within the coming days will cause tidal swells in the seas around Sri Lanka, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) which quoted the Department of Meteorology said yesterday.

Castlereagh and Maussakelle reservoirs going dry

Water levels in reservoirs used for hydro power have been dwindling fast due to the prevailing dry weather in the central hills, authorities said yesterday. Engineers in Charge said the water level in Castlereagh reservoir stood 47ft below the spill level and that of Maussakelle 52 ft below.

Soldier attacks Police OIC, wife over affair

The Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Padiyatalawa Police and a soldier’s wife were seriously injured after an army soldier attacked them with a pestle after he discovered his wife’s affair with the said police officer.

WPC arrested for picking pockets

A Woman Police Constable suspected to have stolen the wallet of a woman inside a textile shop in Kandy was arrested by Kandy crime Investigations Branch.The owner, who found her wallet in her hand bag missing after she selected a dress and prepared to pay money had made a complaint to police.

Passenger using carbon paper to hide gems from scanners, nabbed at BIA

A local passenger who tried to smuggle a range of precious stones to India by concealing them in carbon paper to go undetected at airport X-ray scanners was nabbed by the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) security yesterday afternoon.

Legal battle begins on fresh liquor licences

Petitioners seek an interim order for formulating objective criteria for selecting license applicants

Young Lawyers flay Tiran for calling eliminating criminals not a sin

We have observed that most of these criminals found in the underworld and drug-related crimes are victims of poverty and from the lower levels of society The most righteous statement to make would be to transform a society where criminals are not produced

Sri Lanka drops 15 positions in World Press Freedom Index: Ranks 150

Sri Lanka ranked 150 in the 2024 edition of the Press Freedom Index, published annually by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which is a remarkable drop of 15 positions from 135 to 150 when compared to 2023. According to the index, Sri Lanka’s overall score has dropped from 45.85 to 35.21.

Fisherman arrested for amassing Rs.90Mn assets beyond his means

Assets include a luxury motorcar and two houses

Easter Sunday attacks: CID grills Maithripala for second time

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) questioned former President Maithripala Sirisena for the second time yesterda

No tender calling required: Minister Tiran Alles

Says visa rates were approved by Parliament

Tourist arrivals could drop below two million this year amidst Visa fiasco: Stakeholders

Service provider to earn $50 million

Question arises on national security threat, impact on tourism

The award of contract for issuing on-arrival visas at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) to a foreign consortium including VFS Global as the key technology partner is mired in further controversy since it has been done without f

Harin plays it safe

Minister of Tourism Harin Fernando attempted to play down the controversy surrounding the high visa charges incurred by tourists arriving at the Bandaranaike International Airport earlier this week, adding that a fresh gazette with revised fe

Arjuna refutes reports of joining SJB

MP Palani Digambaram invited me to the May Day rally in Talawakelle which was organized by his party

Rs.500,000 fine for selling overpriced rice at co-op city shop

The manager of a cooperative shop belonging to Ginigathhena Multipurpose Cooperative Society who pleaded guilty of selling Kiri Samba rice in excess of the control price was fined Rs. 500,000 by Hatton Magistrate and District Ju

Fried rice, kottu prices down by Rs.20

The price of a plate of fried rice and kottu will be reduced by Rs. 20 from last night, the Canteen Owners’ Association annou

Naval and fishing communities advised to watch for increasing height of swell waves

The naval and fishing communities involved in activities from Kalpitiya to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle, and Hambantota are advised to remain vigilant as swell wave heights and periods may rise in the sea areas, the Natural Ha

No locals, only foreigners allowed in Sri Pada during off-season

Chief Incumbent of Sri Padasthana and Chief Sanghanayake of Sabaragamuwa Province Ven. Bengamuwe Dhammadinna Thera said only foreign tourists would be permitted to visit Sri Pada during the off-season. Addressin

Protesting medical students tear-gassed

Tensions escalated near Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo 07 as police resorted to using water cannons to disperse a group of protesting medical students. The demonstration was organized by medical students against the proposed introduction of private medical colleges within the nation’s borders.

Public Security Minister defends outsourcing of visa process

Public Security Minister Tiran Alles, in response to allegations over the outsourced online visa application process, said it had been given to VFS Global, a company operating in 151 countries after proper study into the matter and approval by the Cabinet. Asserting that visa endorsement is always retained by Sri Lanka Immigration, he said only document processing is done by VFS Global as in any other country where it is in operation.

India denies any link to on-arrival visa controversy

Indian High Commission in Colombo yesterday denied any reference to India in the visa issuance at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Colombo.