Gotabaya Rajapaksa cannot deny my allegations: Cardinal

Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa cannot deny what he told me during the telephone conversation he had with me in 2021, Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said today.

Royal Pardon for 44 Sri Lankans in UAE

Forty four Sri Lankans who were in different prisons across the United Arab Emirates have been pardoned by a Royal order, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi said.

CoPF approves suspension of Parate Law until December 15, 2024

The Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) approved the Recovery of Loans by Banks (Special Provisions) (Amendment) Bill which was amended to facilitate legal provisions for the suspension of the Parate Law till December 15, 2024.

Workers’ rights lost in quest for presidential elections

May Day was observed yesterday in the country and elsewhere across the world, but the question remained whether it was done in a befitting manner as usual in Sri Lanka with politics taking center stage rather than the rights of workers.

Sajith surprises all, wants to play mediatory role in Indo-China conflict

In a surprising move, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa, in a meeting with a delegation of the Communist Party of China (CPC), has offered to play a mediatory role between two Asian giants implying India and China, the Daily Mirror learns.

NPP accepts Daily Mirror invitation for political debate, Sajith’s confirmation awaited

The National People’s Power (NPP) yesterday accepted the official invitation for the political debate to be held by the Daily Mirror and Lankadeepa, with the three main presidential candidates while the Samagi Jana Balawegaya leader Sajith Premadasa is yet to confirm his participation.

Govt. concerned over project implementation at snail’s pace

Ahead of the presidential election, the government has allocated Rs.100 million for each divisional secretariat area for development projects and instructed the ruling party MPs to accelerate implementation of them, Daily Mirror learns.

Sri Lanka weighs Open Skies amidst plans for national carrier privatization

Sri Lanka is in a dilemma to decide whether to adopt an open skies policy or not in the event of divestiture of shares of the national carrier ‘SriLankan Airlines’, a top official said.

Racing event tragedy leaves seven dead including eight-year-old child

The Fox Hill Super Cross 2024 racing event, held in Diyatalawa today (21), turned tragic as a race car veered off the track, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals including an eight-year-old child and leaving over 20 others hospitalized with injuries.

SL on alert on possible genocide allegations by Canada

Sri Lanka is still at a loss to thwart the efforts by a city council in Canada to construct what it called a Tamil genocide monument, and to counter the allegations by the Canadian politicians, an informed source said .

Tax payers poised to cough up Rs.45 Mn on another debate on Easter attack

Tax payers will have to cough up as much as Rs. 45 million as the cost of conducting yet another three-day parliamentary debate on the Easter Sunday attack for the fourth time, with uncertainty looming whether it will be a meaningless exercise with key questions unanswered once again.

Debt restructuring with bondholders hits a snag with disagreement on two areas

Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring process with private bondholders is stuck with two aspects of disagreement, whereas it is well underway with bilateral creditors, a top official said yesterday.

Sri Lanka Navy brings ashore seized ICE, heroin worth Rs. 3.7 billion

The Sri Lanka Navy brought ashore the seized narcotics, including 179 kgs and 906 gms of Crystal Methamphetamine (ICE) and 83 kgs and 582 gms of heroin, which were seized yesterday in the seas approximately 133 nautical miles (about 246 kms) off Dondra, south of Sri Lanka.

SLPP to take disciplinary action against GL, others

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) is to take disciplinary action against MP Prof. G.L. Peiris and others who have signed an agreement with the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB).

Sri Lanka shows signs of recovery but must maintain reform momentum: ADB

The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) annual flagship economic publication, the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) April 2024, forecasts Sri Lanka’s economy to record moderate growth of 1.9% in 2024 and 2.5% in 2025 following 2 consecutive years of contractions.

Xi calls for fair, transparent environment for investment in Sri Lanka

Chinese President Xi Jinping , in his recent meeting with Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, has reportedly stressed the need for ‘fair and transparent’ environment for Chinese companies to invest in Sri Lanka.

Ranil likely to contest presidential election under new symbol: Presidential advisor

Incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe is likely to contest the Presidential election under an entirely new symbol other than the elephant or flower bud, Senior Presidential Advisor and UNP senior Ashu Marasinghe said.

Sri Lanka hard-pressed against time to conclude agreements for debt restructuring

Sri Lanka is hard-pressed against time to reach agreements with creditors including bondholders before June, when the third tranche of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) extended fund facility is expected, Daily Mirror learns.

Presidential Debate on Daily Mirror and Lankadeepa! Will candidates accept?

The Daily Mirror and Lankadeepa extends an invitation to the three main Presidential candidates - Ranil Wickremesinghe, Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Sajith Premadasa for a LIVE presidential debate on their economic and political policies and their pledges in moving the country forward if they win the upcoming Presidential election scheduled to be held in October.

Man killed in police shooting in Mawanella

A 53-year-old individual has died in a police shooting while attempting to resolve a dispute in Padiyadora in Mawanella last night.

Maithri under fire, Parliament to demand full disclosure on Easter Sunday attacks

Former President Maithripala Sirisena who is at the centre of controversy over his latest remarks that he is aware of the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday carnage will be forced to place all his cards on the table when Parliament takes up a fresh debate on the matter during the next sitting week.

Foreigners overstaying visas and doing odd jobs

Foreign nationals who overstay their visas and do various odd jobs to earn money continue unabated with the authorities concerned hamstrung with the lack of resources to curb them, an official said.

Sri Lanka’s economy shows signs of stabilization, but poverty remains elevated

Sri Lanka’s economy is projected to see moderate growth of 2.2% in 2024, showing signs of stabilization, following the severe economic downturn of 2022 while the country still faces elevated poverty levels, income inequality, and labor market concerns, said the World Bank’s latest bi-annual update.

AG’s Department has done its duty, other institutions should act: Minister

The Attorney General’s Department has implemented the action recommended by the Presidential Commission which probed the Easter Sunday attacks while it is up to other institutions to act, Minister of Justice Wijedasa Rajapakshe told Parliament today.

’Spas’ face imminent closure amid HIV scare

On the heels of the massive raid conducted on ’Spas’ in the Negombo area resulting in the detection of two HIV cases, illegal spas and Ayurvedic spas that secretly offer prostitution services are facing imminent closure in many parts of the island, Daily Mirror learns.

Abans PLC clarifies: Local McDonald’s franchisee not under its umbrella

In an attempt to set the record straight, Abans PLC today said the local franchisee of the US fast food giant McDonald’s is not a part of its umbrella.

Arrest Maithri: Opposition MPs

Opposition MPs Mano Ganesan and Kavinda Jayawardene today called for the immediate arrest of former President Maithripala Sirisena and to interrogate him regarding the remark he made on Friday, stating that he is aware of the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday attacks.

Sri Lanka sees spike in tourist arrivals this year

Owing to President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s economic initiatives and the peaceful environment fostered within the country, the arrival of foreign tourists has risen, Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. Chairman Athula Galkatiya said.

State Astrologers’ Committee refutes allegations of faulty auspicious times for New Year

Refuting allegations of faulty auspicious times during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, the State Astrologers’ Committee justified the designation of auspicious times for performing Sinhala New Year rituals at night, claiming that they wanted the most suitable time for the rituals despite practical difficulties.

Small elite group trying to stop the ’change’: Harini Amarasuriya

Claiming that the change of power is not going to be easy, NPP MP Harini Amarasuriya said a small elite group is doing everything in their power to stop the change from happening.