Rohingya refugees in Lanka fear closure of UNHCR mission here

By Awarjitha Edirisooriya Nearly 100 Rohingya refugees in Sri Lanka have expressed fear for their future as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has decided to close its office. A group of Rohingya refugees representing nearly 100 refugees living in Sri Lanka at present staged a protest in front of the UNHCR office in Colombo yesterday, and they urged that a permanent solution be given with regard to their settlement.

Minister booed at by villagers in Konwewa

By Dayaratna Embogama The villagers in the Konwewa area in Thambuttegama booed Minister S.M. Chandrasena and former Chief Minister S.M. Ranjith Samarakoon, who arrived in the area for a discussion on distribution of water filters. They questioned the two politicians as to whether they used their personal wealth to get the water filters provided by the government. Later the two politicians had left the place amidst protests by the villagers.

Two displaced Palestine families come to SL from Gaza

By Yohan Perera and Chathuranga pradeep Samarawickrama Two displaced Palestine families who had managed to arrive in Sri Lanka yesterday said they have become helpless after losing everything they owned in Gaza as a result of the conflict which has killed scores of people since October 8 last year. The two families according to Palestine Ambassador in Sri Lanka Dr. Zuhair Dar Zaid are of both Sri Lankan and Palestine origin. Mothers of the t

Excise Department on the brink of collapse

Department expected to collect Rs.160 Mn per day from new VAT

124 drugs fail quality tests in 2023

Among the drugs identified as having failed the quality tests, some have been withdrawn, withheld or discontinued

X-Press Pearl disaster Poor coordination leaves compensation process in disarray

Providing compensation to the victims of theX-Press Pearl disaster is in disarray due to the lack of proper coordination between the state agencies involved in the process of providing compensation, a Parliamentary Committee revealed.

Anura Kumara says Upcoming elections will be ‘do or die game’

The upcoming elections in the country would create the most intense battle ever in the Sri Lankan political arena which would be a do or die game for the National People’s Power (NPP), its leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday. Speaking at a seminar in Colombo, he said the political camps that are in the offing and political divisions which are created are not ordinar

Senanayake Samudra reaches spill level

For the frist time in about ten years, Senanayake Samudra in Inginiyagala reached spill level over 105ft last morning and it resulted in the opening of five spill gates to release excess water at a speed of 2750 cu.ft per second into Galoya river. Director of Irrigation, Ampara District Sudath Gamage said the capacity of the river stood at 662800 acre feet by last morning and it was little less than the normal capacity. He said several other

Suspected drug smuggler’s ‘Soul Beach’ hotel demolished

The hotel’s structures were removed after it was found to be an illegal construction

Safari elephant turns aggressive attacks and kills Mahout

A video capturing a tragic incident has gone viral, showing a mahout being fatally attacked by an elephant at an elephant safari center in Rambukkana. The incident occurred while the elephant, carrying two tourists, unexpectedly turned aggressive towards another mahout who was with another elephant. No harm was reported to the tourists involved in the incident.

Driver arrested for indecent behaviour towards tourist

A driver who sexually harassed an Indian woman on a trip to Yala National Park was taken into custody by Kirinda Police.

SL Customs makes Rs.970Bn with just 990 staffers in hand

Sri Lanka Customs has made its highest revenue generation in history, a recorded Rs.970 billion last year with only 990 staffers in han

VAT: CAA warns against arbitrary price increases

The new rate applies only to goods manufactured and released to the market after January 1

2024 another year of long weekends

Like last year, the New Year 2024 will be one with long holidays, since most Public holidays will fall either on Fridays or Mondays. There will be around 10 long weekends this year as well starting from January as Thai Pongal on January 15 falls on a Monday.

Suspected drug smuggler’s ’Soul Beach’ hotel demolished

The hotel’s structures were removed after it was found to be an illegal construction

Over half a billion rupees in assets confiscated in Police operation

22,026 suspects arrested within a span of 15 days

NPP gears up for national movement ahead of polls

The National People’s Power (NPP) - the political front led by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), said it will intensify organizational work to mobile different social organizations, an official said. NPP National Exec

Surge in imports: traders trying to get undue profit from VAT hike

Imports had gone up by 50 to 60 per cent during the last two weeks

NEW YEAR DAWNS Political Parties take wing for Elections

President says will reduce the high VAT as soon as possible

Sinopec offers Rs. 3 concession for Petrol and Auto Diesel

Sinopec Energy Lanka announced its revised fuel prices, with 92 Octane Petrol and Lanka Auto Diesel offered at Rs.3 less than CEYPETCO and LIOC. Accordingly, the price of a litre of Petrol 9

VAT caused increase in LITRO prices

The government could have reduced the price of a 12.5 kg LITRO gas cylinder by Rs. 685 if not for the VAT increase, LITRO Lanka Chairman Muditha Peiris said. In the absence of VAT imposition, there was a possibility of retailing the 12.5kg gas cylinder at a price of Rs. 3,700.

Excise Chief announces 18 dry holidays during 2024

The Chief of Excise yesterday announced 18 dry holidays including the Full Moon Poya days for the year 2024, where sales of all alcoholic beverages should be prohibited. The list starts from Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day, which falls on January 25, Independence Day on February 4, Nawam Fu

Easter Sunday attacks victims go before SC against Deshabandu

Three victims of Easter Sunday terrorist attacks have filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court seeking an order restraining Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon from accepting any further appointments as acting Inspector General of Police. The petition

Bus fare will not increase: NTC

The National Transport Commission (NTC) yesterday announced that there would be no bus fare revision due to the increase in value-added tax (VAT). A litre of L

New Education Ministry Secretary assumes duties

Mrs. Vasantha Perera has been appointed as the new Education Ministry Secretary, and marking the opening of the new year, she assumed duties in the Ministry yesterday (01). Prior to this a

New Year Bonanza for diplomatic officers: Children’s school fees to be fully borne by Foreign Ministry

The Ministry, effective from January 1, 2024, will pay the of school fees of first children of diplomatic officials

VAT hike dampens New Year hopes

New Year will dawn today with fresh, anticipated challenges for the government and people alike on the economic front due to the increase of the Value Added Tax (VAT) . The VAT is increased from 15 percent to 18 percent effective from today. The VAT threshold will also be reduced to Rs. 60 million. The government also removed VAT exemptions from 97 items out of 138 goods. The government expects to collect revenue amounting to Rs.378 billion

Mix-up in gases results in tragic death, medical negligence linked

An incident has raised alarming questions about potential medical negligence, as it is reported that a patient at the Colombo National Hospital has been mistakenly administered high levels of carbon dioxide instead of life-sustaining oxygen by a minor staff member leading to the death of the patient. According to sources, the alleged mix-up in administering gases has prompted heightened scrutiny, it is suggested that s

VAT a New Year: Prices of essentials go up from today

Long Distance Bus fares, school van fees, three-wheeler fares, food prices increase as VAT pushes up costs

Echoes of Jonestown in Malabe?

Echoes of a dark past reverberated through the quiet town of Malabe on New Year’s Eve as Police uncovered what they say a suspected plan for mass suicide, reminiscent of the 1978 Jonestown tragedy.