Parliament to be prorogued in January?

President Ranil Wickremesinghe is reported to be mulling prorogation of Parliament by the middle of January, next year.

Dehiattakandiya Hospital in quandary as its only Surgeon leaves

Dehiattakandiya Base Hospital is facing a crisis as its only surgeon has left the country, bringing all surgeries to a standstill and leaving patients in desperation.

Excise Department’s monthly income up by Rs. 1 bn, committee reveals

The monthly income of the Excise Department has increased by Rs. 1 billion after checking fake stickers on liquor bottles, a Parliamentary committee revealed.

Government imposes special commodity levy on various goods

President Ranil Wickremesinghe, acting in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, has officially announced the imposition of the Special Commodity Levy on a range of goods, effective today (01).

Pastor Jerome arrested

Pastor Jerome Fernando has been arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) this morning in connection with an ongoing investigation against him, his lawyer said.

SL secures USD 60 Mn financial assistance from ADB

The Government of Sri Lanka is set to borrow USD 60 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) under the Second Integrated Road Investment Programme – Tranche 4.

Public sector to get part of Rs 10,000 pay hike from January 2024

The Government is exploring the option of providing Rs 5,000 of the proposed pay increase of Rs. 10,000 from January 2024, followed by the balance from April.

IGP crisis: President likely to grant another extension to CD

The prolonged saga of appointing a new Inspector General of Police (IGP) has reached a critical juncture, leaving the country’s law enforcement in a state of uncertainty and raising concerns about the government’s ability to address rising crime rates.

Saliya rejects President’s claims he had ambition to be PM

Former Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) President Saliya Pieris PC today rejected the claims by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Parliament that Pieris had ambitions to be Prime Minister prior to May 9, 2022.

115 drugs fail quality tests in 2023

A total of 115 drugs have failed quality tests so far in 2023 recording the highest number of quality failures of drugs in a year, according to the Medical Supplies Division of the Health Ministry.

Corruption taints recruitment for Korean, Israeli jobs

The recruitment of Sri Lankans for around 1000 employment opportunities offered by Israel recently is mired in controversy due to lack of transparency in the process, Daily Mirror learns.

Presidential, Parliamentary elections will be held next year: President tells Parliament

Both the Presidential and Parliamentary elections will be held next year, President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced today.

Another VAT fraud: coal imports under-invoiced, COPA orders probe

The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) will initiate a probe into incidents in which stocks of coal imported for the Norochcholai thermal power plant have been under-invoiced for the evasion of due amount of Value Added Tax (VAT) , an official said.

CID arrests Medical Supplies Division Director

Director of the Medical Supplies Division of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Kapila Wickramanayaka and three others were arrested by the CID over the Immunoglobulin import case, police said.

Sajith tables SLC letter to ICC over undue interference

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa today revealed that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) president Shammi Silva had sent a letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC) alleging that the Sports Ministry had made undue interferences in its activities and claimed that this had paved the way for the ICC ban on Sri Lanka Cricket.

SC holds W.D.Lakshman, Cabraal, S.R. Atygalle, Kumarasinghe violated public trust

While holding the guilty persons’ liable and naming them, including one member of the Monetary Board, the Supreme Court in its recent judgment regarding two fundamental rights petitions filed over economic crisis, decided not to make any adverse decisions or orders against two Monetary Board members President’s Counsel Dr. Sanjeeva Jayawardena and Dr. Ranee Jayamaha.

Sri Lanka faces uphill battle in meeting 2024 budget targets: Fitch

The targets laid out in Sri Lanka’s 2024 budget, particularly with regards to revenue and fiscal defect, would be challenging to meet even with the economic recovery that is expected to continue next year, Fitch Ratings yesterday said.

President proposes Rs. 10,000 raise for state employees in 2024 Budget

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has proposed a Rs. 10,000 increase in the Cost of Living Allowance for government employees while presenting the 2024 budget to Parliament.

Roshan fears he may be poisoned at Presidential Secretariat

Reiterating an earlier claim that he had received threats to his life, Sports Minister said that he would not drink even a glass of water at the Presidential Secretariat because it could be poisoned.

ICC suspends Sri Lanka Cricket’s membership

The International Cricket Council (ICC) Board has suspended Sri Lanka Cricket’s membership of the ICC with immediate effect.

Sri Lanka Cricket to be governed by 18-member Board of Directors

In a bid to address and resolve the ongoing crisis in Sri Lanka’s popular sport of cricket, Sri Lanka Cricket is to be governed by a Board of Directors comprising 18 members.

'Betting' Shammi or Roshan; President must decide: Roshan

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has to decide whether he wants me or ’Betting’ Shammi, Minister of Sports Roshan Ranasinghe told Parliament while dropping bomb shells on Sri Lanka Cricket ( SLC).

Sri Lanka cricket in shambles

Hours after Sports Minister Roshan Ranasingha appointed an interim committee headed by former cricketer Arjuna Ranatunga to assume control of Sri Lanka Cricket yesterday, an angry President Ranil Wickremesinghe telephoned Ranasingha and asked for an immediate explanation as to why he had made such a move without consulting him or the cabinet.

Hunger, anger and helplessness stalk the land

Our people are suffering and our children are starving. In fact, according to UNICEF, more than 5.7 million people, including 2.3 million children, require humanitarian assistance.

How irresponsible spending drains SLC coffers

While Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is toiling to return to its glorious match winning trend, members forming the ‘Cricket Board’ and handling cricket administration are accused of abusing their positions and milking the rich coffers of the controlling body for cricket to their own whims and fancies. With the release of the Auditor General’s (AG) report on SLC astonishing details have surfaced as to how the hierarchy forming the Cricket Board’s admini

Vital documents at NMRA destroyed

Several important documents at the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) have been reportedly destroyed, the Society of Government Pharmacists alleged.

Cabinet approves decision to hike VAT to 18%

Cabinet approval has been granted to increase Value-Added Tax (VAT) to 18 percent from the current 15 percent with effect from January 1, 2024, Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Bandula Gunawardana said this morning.

Sri Lanka’s Central Hills at risk: One-fifth of land prone to landslides

One–fifth of Sri Lanka’s total landmass, particularly the areas in the central hills- is prone to landslides according to a study by the National Building Research Organization (NBRO).

New Health Minister vows to make crucial changes

Newly appointed Health Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said he expects to make some crucial and timely changes in terms of policies and individuals in the health sector.

Refrain from commenting on SL’s internal affairs

The Parliament’s Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security has recommended informing US Ambassador Julie Chung, urging her to refrain from making statements regarding the internal affairs of Sri Lanka in the future.