New legislation to ensure standards of MPs: President

A new legislation will be introduced soon to ensure the proper standards of MPs, President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced today.

Presidential election scheduled for next year - President

In accordance with the Constitution, the Presidential election is scheduled for next year, followed by the parliamentary election, President Ranil Wickremesinghe assured today despite reports that there will be Constitutional reforms instead.

Another Sri Lankan-born turns into a scammer in Australia

A Sri Lankan-born Melbourne financial planner, Terence Rio Rienzo Nugara, accused of pilfering about $10 million from the superannuation funds of vulnerable clients, pleaded guilty in the County Court last month to 37 charges of obtaining a financial advantage by deception and two of theft, Australia’s The Age news agency reported.

CEB increases electricity tariffs from today

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has received permission from the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) to increase electricity tariffs from today (20).

Angelo, Chameera to join World Cup squad

Veteran all-rounder Angelo Mathews and seamer Dushmantha Chameera have been called up by the national selectors to join the World Cup squad in India as traveling reserves.

Bribery Commission decides not to take further legal action

The Bribery Commission has informed the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court that it will not take further legal action into the sum of Rs. 17.85 million recovered from the President’s House on July 9, 2022.

Biden visits Israel and suggests Gaza hospital explosion ’done by the other team’

President Biden suggested on Wednesday that Hamas was responsible for the Gaza hospital explosion that killed hundreds of Palestinian civilians. Speaking in Tel Aviv alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden declared his “outrage” over the blast at al-Ahli Hospital and echoed Israeli claims that it was done by Palestinian militants.

Missing Sri Lankan woman in Israel confirmed dead

Israeli authorities have confirmed the death of Sri Lankan national, Anula Jayathilake who was previously reported missing, Sri Lankan Ambassador to Israel, Nimal Bandara said.

Passenger ferry service between India and Sri Lanka begins

An international, high-speed passenger ferry service between Nagapattinam on the eastern coast of Tamil Nadu and Kankesanthurai in the northern province of Sri Lanka, has resumed as of Saturday, October 14, 2023, after a gap of nearly four decades.

Wickramaratne gets another extension as IGP

With the tussle over appointing a new IGP escalating, C.D. Wickramaratne has been given a three-week extension as the IGP by President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

China takes front seat to lead SL’s debt restructuring process

China has taken the front seat in Sri Lanka’s external debt restructuring process making a calculated move akin to a chessboard strategy, catching everyone off-guard, by entering a preliminary debt deal with the Sri Lanka authorities.

’We only want local probe with foreign observers’: Catholic Church tells President

The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka, in a fresh letter addressed to President Ranil Wickremesinghe has called for a local probe to clear certain shortcomings that are visible in the previous probes into the Easter Sunday bomb attacks.

Health Ministry struggles to replace expired medical equipment

The Health Ministry of Sri Lanka has determined that a sum of Rs. 67 billion is a pre-requisite to replace expired medical equipment, Daily Mirror learns.

Sri Lanka, EXIM Bank of China reach pact on debt disposal

The Export-Import Bank of China reached a preliminary agreement with Sri Lanka last month on the disposal of China-related debts, China’s Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday, as the island sought debt relief from its biggest bilateral lender.

Will National elections be postponed?

The government has moved to change the parliamentary electoral system triggering fears in political circles whether it is yet another attempt to postpone the national elections including the Presidential Election pending next year, Daily Mirror learns.

Supreme Court allows TISL to intervene in X-Press Pearl case

Earlier this year, Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) filed an intervention petition before the Supreme Court, seeking permission to intervene in Case No. SC/FR 168/2021, which was filed by the Centre for Environmental Justice seeking fair compensation for the victims of the X-Press Pearl disaster, a statement from TISL said.

No interference in probe of Police Constable’s tragic death in Colombo

There will be no interference or involvement of top police officers in the investigations into the death of a police constable who was run over by an SUV at Independence Square roundabout in Colombo, Western Province Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon said.

Minister Naseer Ahamad in hot water: SC determines expulsion from SLMC is valid

The Supreme Court in a landmark judgment today determined that the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress’ decision to expel Minister Naseer Ahamad from the party membership is legally valid.

Tree falls on bus: Five killed, five injured

At least five persons were killed and five others injured after a tree collapsed on a bus travelling from Colombo to Mathugama this morning, police said.

Cardinal, Bishops Conference hold same view on Easter Sunday attacks

The Sri Lanka Catholic Bishops’ Conference and Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith hold the same view on the Easter Sunday bomb attacks and call for a local probe into it with the involvement of foreign observers.

CBSL further reduces policy interest rates

The first monetary policy review by the Monetary Policy Board under the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Act, No. 16 of 2023 (CBA) was held yesterday and the Board decided to reduce the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) of the Central Bank by 100 basis points (bps) to 10.00 per cent and 11.00 per cent, respectively.

Striking railway workers to lose jobs

The government has decided to consider the railway workers who are on strike as having vacated their posts as per the gazette notification issued on September 12.

LITRO increases LP gas prices

The price of 12.5kg domestic LITRO gas cylinders has been increased by Rs. 343 with effect from today.

Respect the media!

Journalism is one of the most powerful careers, with the pen holding more power than even the highest position in any country.

Constitutionality of Online Safety Bill challenged before Supreme Court

Former President of the Sri Lanka Young Journalists’ Association, Tharindu Uduwaragedara today filed a Special Determination petition before the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the Online Safety Bill, which was placed on the order paper of Parliament today (03).

RW slams western media, says no to Int’l probe

President Ranil Wickremesinghe slammed the Western media for their attitude towards Sri Lanka and rejected an international inquiry into the Easter Sunday blasts.

Do not raise third party concerns with US-SL tells USA, Japan

Sri Lanka has informed the United States and Japan to have direct dialogue regarding matters of their own geopolitical concerns but not those of any third party, Daily Mirror learns.

BASL condemns threats, violence to members of judiciary

In a statement regarding the resignation of Mullaitivu Magistrate, T. Saravanarajah, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has vehemently condemned any type of threats and violence to members of the judiciary.

NPP demands transparent truth-seeking investigation

The National People’s Power (NPP) urged the government to conduct a transparent truth-seeking investigation into the resignation of Mullaitivu Magistrate T. Saravanarajah.

Inefficiency and corruption drain state coffers of Rs. 500 billion

In the wake of the International Monetary Board (IMF) revenue mobilization gains-while improved relative to last year--are expected to fall short of initial projections by nearly 15 per cent by year-end, the state cof­fers are deprived of a whopping Rs.500 billion annually...