CB chief issues ultimatum to banks to cut lending rates

The Central Bank last week issued an ultimatum to banks to reduce lending rates, which have only fallen disproportionately, compared to the plunge in deposit rates in response to the easing in the monetary....

Litro, Laugfs to sell gas at same prices: Minister

Minister of Trade, Consumer Affairs and Food Safety Nalin Fernando stressed that according to the existing price formula, the two LP gas companies should sell gas at the same prices and that legal action would be taken if this requirement is violated.

“I do want to start my sports again” says top SL athlete working as housemaid in Dubai

A top Sri Lankan athlete Sachini Perera who set national records in the pole vault and has been working as a housemaid in Dubai to help support her family at home said “I do want to start my sports again”.

Land connectivity proposal came from SL President- Indian Foreign Secretary

Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said land connectivity between India and Sri Lanka was proposed by Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Health Ministry admits quality issues in 63 drugs in 2023

The Health Ministry has acknowledged that a total of 63 drugs have failed quality tests in 2023, Additional Secretary to the Health Ministry, Dr. Saman Rathnayake, disclosed during a news briefing held at the Ministry auditorium yesterday.

All elective cesarean surgeries at Kalutara Hospital suspended

All elective cesarean section surgeries at the Teaching Hospital Kalutara have been halted in order to preserve the remaining 17 vials of an anesthetic drug called Marcaine Spinal Heavy needed to carry out elective cesarean sections, Daily Mirror learns.

Lives of cancer patients at stake as radiographers dodge work

Radiographers at the Radiation Treatment Department of the Maharagama Apeksha Hospital are facing criticisms for their slow pace of work, which is reportedly putting cancer patients’ lives at risk.

I’m Ranil Wickremesinghe, not Ranil Rajapaksa: RW tells Tamil party leaders

President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized to Tamil Parliamentarians representing the North and East yesterday that he had already put forth a comprehensive proposal to address the problems faced by the people in those regions. He said that it was up to the Tamil Parliamentarians whether to take it forward or not.

LRH Doctors to strike for the first time in history

The 24-hour token strike to be launched by the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) starting from 8 a.m. today (19) at the OutPatient Department (OPD) of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH) will go down in history as the first strike at the hospital.

Sri Lanka ranks 95 along with Libya in Passport Index

Singapore has replaced Japan as the most powerful passport among all passports in the world, as it allows visa-free access to as many as 192 global destinations, according to the latest ranking published by Henley Passport Index, released on Tuesday.

Bandula reveals how ‘Sri Lanka Legume’ tree was removed so soon

Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa questioned Transport Minister Bandula Gunawardane on how the ‘Sri Lanka Legume’ tree (Crudia zeylanica) which blocked the construction of the Colombo-Kandy Expressway in the Daraluwa area of Veyangoda, was removed within a short period of time.

Sri Lanka attempts to join the world largest trade bloc to heal economy

In its bid to revive the economy in the long run, Sri Lanka has initiated steps to join the world’s largest free trade zone called ’Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) ’, a trade grouping of countries including key world economies such as China, Australia and Japan.

Seven-member committee appointed to probe issues in health sector

Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella has appointed a seven-member committee headed by Dr Dedunu Dias, Medical Research Institute Director to conduct a full investigation and report on the issues related to the health sector.

Three-wheelers to replace traditional bicycles in postal service: Shantha Bandara

Some 1,000 three-wheelers will be deployed country-wide under the modernization of the postal service, replacing the traditional bicycles used in the field for a long time, State Minister of Mass Media Shantha Bandara said today.

Drug used at Peradeniya Hospital causes more complications

One of the batches of the drug used in the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital that resulted in the demise of a 21-year-old girl has been withheld following two more cases of severe allergic reactions reported from the Kandy Hospital, a Health Ministry official said.

SL keen on seeing Indian rupee used as much as US dollar

The Sri Lankan government would want to see the Indian rupee used as much as the dollar, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said

SJB to bring no-confidence motion against Keheliya

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) is contemplating bringing a no-confidence motion against Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, a party senior said today.

No negligence, rare allergic reaction caused the death

Referring to the tragic and untimely death of a 21-year-old woman who died after being administered a drug via cannula while receiving treatment at the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital on Wednesday (12), Hospital Director Arjuna Thilakarathna denied any medical negligence involving the incident.

President Sirisena tells SC he followed due process

Former President Maithripala Sirisena, through his lawyer today, informed the Supreme Court that he had followed due process and had always acted reasonably when granting the Presidential pardon to Royal Park murder convict Don Shramantha Jude Anthony Jayamaha.

No discussions held on any plans for digital services tax with SL: IMF

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has not discussed any plans for a digital services tax with the Sri Lankan authorities in the current programme, an IMF spokesperson said.

Victims up in arms over Maithripala & co. delay to compensate

Claiming that those whose negligence caused the Easter Sunday attacks in 2019 had shown no remorse by compensating them as ordered by court, several family members of the victims of the attacks who spoke to the Daily Mirror made a fresh call for justice for their lost loved ones.

Easter Sunday attacks: Maithripala seeks further time to pay compensation

Filing a motion before the Supreme Court, former President Maithripala Sirisena has sought further time to pay the remaining sum of Rs.85 million as compensation to the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks.

Lack of advanced lab leads to influx of low-quality drugs: Experts

The absence of an advanced laboratory to test the quality of pharmaceuticals has resulted in an influx of drugs of inferior quality in the market, leading to fatalities of patients at times, medical experts alleged.

Two days more for Maithripala to pay compensation over Easter bombings

The deadline to former President Maithripala Sirisena and other accused individuals to pay compensation for failing to avert the Easter Sunday bomb attacks will come to an end on Wednesday (July 12).

Health authorities in hot water over critical health issues

The health authorities including Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella have been reprimanded over existing issues plaguing the health sector.

Robots say they won’t steal jobs, rebel against humans

Robots presented at an AI forum said on July 7 they expected to increase in number and help solve global problems, and would not steal humans’ jobs or rebel against us.

Four babies die in Kilinochchi Hospital, medical negligence or otherwise?

In a shocking turn of events, four new-born babies have died in the District General Hospital, Kilinochchi within the past seven days leading to serious questions whether these deaths are due to medical negligence or otherwise.

Fitch Downgrades Sri Lanka’s Long-Term Local-Currency IDR to ’C

Fitch Ratings has downgraded Sri Lanka’s Long-Term Local-Currency (LTLC) Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to ’C’ from ’CC’. The issue ratings on local-currency bonds have also been downgraded to ’C’ from ’CC’.

SL seeks innocent passage via Indian territorial waters to enter Arabian Sea

Sri Lanka will seek fresh diplomatic engagements with India to secure what is termed ‘an innocent passage’ through its territorial waters for Sri Lankan fishermen to enter the Arabian Sea for multi-day fisheries, a minister said.

No more free food for celebrities, politicians or anyone: Canteen Owners

The All Island Canteen Owners’ Association (AICOA) urged its members to hit anyone with hot water, waste water or with their fried rice mixture pan if they refuse to pay their bills.