UPDATE - Seven dead, several people injured in Thurstan College bus accident

An accident has been reported on the Nanuoya road in Nuwera Eliya between a bus, three wheeler and a van and seven bodies have been recovered while several people have been reported injured. The bus had been carrying students from Thurstan College in Colombo who had been on an educational tour.

Sri Lanka’s creditors must take proactive steps to facilitate its recovery: Jaishankar

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said today that India has extended financing assurances to the IMF to clear the way for Sri Lanka to move forward because India felt strongly that Sri Lanka’s creditors must take proactive steps to facilitate its recovery.

Fitch downgrades seven Lankan insurers’ National IFS ratings; maintains Watch Negative

Fitch Ratings has downgraded the National Insurer Financial Strength (IFS) Ratings of seven Sri Lankan insurers, following the recent sovereign downgrade and recalibration of the agency’s Sri Lankan National Rating scale.

Race Course murder: Probe reveals boyfriend murdered girl fearing she would love someone else

Initial investigations revealed that a science faculty student of the Colombo University was murdered by her fellow student at the Race Course Ground in Colombo yesterday, fearing that she would love someone else after breaking up the love affair.

Colombo Uni. female student found murdered at Race Course Ground in Col. 7

The body of a female, suspected to be murdered was found at the Race Course Ground in Colombo 7 a short while ago. Police said the body was found near the scoreboard at the Ground.

I have no funds to pay Rs 100mn, will collect from friends: Maithripala

Former President Maithripala Sirisena said today that he will collect and pay the compensation to the victims of Easter Sunday attacks, as ordered by the Supreme Court, with the help of his close friends.

Woes of country mounting with bailout delay, Sri Lanka tells international forum

As Sri Lanka continues to face delays in securing the much sought-after bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the government admitted this week that the situation is becoming increasingly difficult for the people of the country.

Election Commission tells Supreme Court it has taken all steps to hold LG Election

The Election Commission today informed Supreme Court that it has taken all steps to hold the Local Government Election in accordance with the law.

Easter Sunday attack: Supreme Court orders Maithripala Sirisena to pay Rs.100 mn as compensation

The Supreme Court today ordered former President Maithripala Sirisena to pay a sum of Rs.100 million as damages to the victims of Easter Sunday attacks.

Egg producers say Minister’s move to import eggs similar to what Johnston did

The government’s move to import eggs will be an utter failure and will be a waste of foreign exchange as the present shortage of eggs will be rectified in two months, the All Island Egg Producers Association (AIEPA) said today. Sources within the industry also alleged that the decision to import eggs was done with ulterior motives best known to those in charge.

Sri Lanka registers strong protest against Canadian sanctions

Foreign Minister Ali Sabry summoned the Canadian Acting High Commissioner Daniel Bood today and expressed the deep regret of the Government on the announcement of unilateral sanctions brought against four individuals including two former Presidents of Sri Lanka by the Government of Canada based on unsubstantiated allegations, the ministry said.

Foreign Ministry to summon Canadian envoy over sanctions

The Foreign Ministry will summon the Canadian envoy today to register its strongest protest over the issuing of targeted sanctions on four Sri Lankan officials including former leaders Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Cause of Dinesh Schaffter’s death still uncertain; probe continues

The investigation into the death of businessman Dinesh Schaffter has not yet ruled whether it was a suicide or murder and the probe is still underway to ascertain the cause of death, the police said.

Moneragala SSP arrested with Ganja plants at his residence

Moneragala Police SSP Sisira Kumara had been arrested by the Special Task Force of Police (STF) with over 600 of Ganja plants at his official residence.

Sajith says foreign donors trust him more than others

Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa said today that foreign donors trust him more than others.

Sri Lanka on alert for new XBB.1.5 COVID variant from USA

Sri Lanka’s health authorities are on alert for the new XBB.1.5 variant which has emerged in the USA and now seems to be rapidly spreading in the countries it has been detected in, senior health officials told Daily Mirror yesterday.

Government, main opposition tussle on private members Bills on electoral reforms

Government and the opposition are in for a battle to see that the private members Bill on the local government election reforms are debated in Parliament next week.

Politicians of this country should be rehabilitated first: SF

Referring to the proposed Bureau of Rehabilitation Bill, SJB MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka in Parliament yesterday said it is the politicians of this country who should be rehabilitated first as they are the ones who are responsible for the country’s sorry state of affairs today.

GR concludes holiday in Dubai and returns to SL

Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his wife Ayoma Rajapaksa arrived at Bandaranaike International Airport from Dubai this morning, the Airport Duty manager and the spokesperson of the Airport Immigration Department confirmed.

Media barred from reporting on Dinesh Schaffter’s death

The Magisterial inquiry into the death of Janashakthi Insurance Company director Dinesh Schaffter was scheduled to be taken up in open Court before Magistrate Rajindra Jayasuriya of Court No 2 today.

LG polls: Nominations to be accepted from Jan. 18

The Elections Commission has announced that nominations for the Local Government Election will be accepted from January 18 to 21.

Branding Sajith as ‘Bus Man’: Sajith criticizes Anura and SF

Those who criticize my endeavour of donating buses to schools are politically incapable, Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa retaliated today.

LG polls before March 15, gazette calling for nominations to be issued tomorrow: EC

The much awaited gazette notification calling nominations for the Local Government (LG) polls will be issued tomorrow (4) and nominations will be accepted at District level on January 19th, a top official of the Election Commission (EC) confirmed yesterday

2023 to be tougher for global economy than 2022: IMF Chief

This year will be tougher than 2022 for most of the global economy as the United States, European Union and China see slowing growth, the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned.

Fonseka makes a verbal blow at Sajith

One cannot become a leader either by driving buses or by setting fire to buses, SJB MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka said.

Underworld gangster ‘Kanjipani’ Imran sneaks into Tamil Nadu-The Hindu

Notorious underworld gangster Mohamed Najim Mohamed Imran alias ‘Kanjipani’ Imran sneaked into Rameswaram days after his release on bail by a court in Sri Lanka, police sources said on Saturday, The Hindu news agency reported.

2023 - a year of long weekends

The year 2023 is going to be a year of long weekends, as most of the public and mercantile holidays have fallen on Fridays and Mondays.

SL shouldn’t go around the world with begging bowl in 2023: Cardinal

Sri Lanka should not go around the world with a begging bowl in 2023, but should establish a new structure to build up the nation, Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said today.

Ashu Marasinghe demands Rs. 1.5 billion as damages from Hirunika and Adarsha

Prof. Ashu Marasinghe, former advisor to President Ranil Wickremesinghe has sent a letter of demand claiming Rs.500 million and one billion rupees as damages from former Parliamentarian Hirunika Premachandra and Adarsha Karandana respectively for allegedly making a defamatory statement regarding him during a press conference held on December 23.

Dengue cases at an all-time high after 2 years: Experts

Dengue cases are at an all-time high after two years in Sri Lanka, Sri Jayawardenepura University Immunology and Molecular Medicine, Dengue Research Centre Director, and Medical Science Department Faculty Head Prof. Neelika Malavige said.