Iran helicopter crash: President Ebrahim Raisi feared dead

Iranian President Raisi and the officials accompanying him are feared dead after the Red Crescent says it has found “no signs of the helicopter’s occupants being alive” at the crash site.

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A total of 10,299 people from 3,518 families have been affected, while two have been injured due to the prevailing weather conditions, Disaster Management Centre Deputy Director Thusitha Waidyarathne said.

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None of the rivers have reached flood level so far due to the heavy rains yesterday, according to the data collected by the Irrigation Department, Irrigation (Hydrology) Director Eng. S.P.C. Sugeeshwara Bandara said.

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Outstanding credit card balance of the licensed commercial banking sector has little changed in March from February despite an uptick signaling the trend that would follow as the consumers grow more optimistic about the economy. The interest rates have fallen to single digit levels.

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The revenue to the government, including the grants, rose by a staggering 61.8 percent in January 2024. This is a result of the government raking in billions of rupees out of people’s pockets to appease the International Monetary Fund’s revenue targets.

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In the wake of the tragic incident involving Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Foreign Minister Ali Sabri have extended their heartfelt prayers to the Iranian people.

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Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Nalin Bandara Jayamaha in a letter addressed to National Peoples Power (NPP) Executive Committee Member Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa has suggested new dates for the proposed debate between its leader Sajith Premadasa and NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the party’s economic experts.

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All schools in the Puttalam district will be closed tomorrow, May 20, due to adverse weather conditions, Governor of the North-Western Province said.

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A TV star pawnbroker has been hand-picked to sell one of the world’s most impressive gemstones that has been valued at almost £250 million.

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One of Sri Lanka’s senior cricketers looks set to retire from white ball cricket at the end of T20 World Cup 2024 in USA and West Indies, Daily Mirror reliably learns.

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A fire has broken out near the port of Colombo. It is reported that the fire broke out in a lodging of employees working on the expressway near the Colombo port premises.

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Iran’s state television reported that one of the helicopters in the convoy carrying President Ebrahim Raisi was involved in an accident.

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A businessman from Colombo 7 has been arrested over the alleged assault on Iranian Ambassador Dr. Alireza Delkhosh at the Colombo City Center (CCC) car park last evening.

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President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is on an official visit to Indonesia, met Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, the Coordinating Minister of Maritime and Investment Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

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The Sri Lanka All Union Alliance of the Board of Investment (BOI) has issued a stark warning against the proposed Economic Transformation Bill, set to be submitted to Parliament on May 22.

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President Ranil Wickremesinghe met Elon Musk in Bali and spoke about Sri Lanka being connected to the starlink network.

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A 42-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the murder of three individuals from the same family at Maladeniya in Nalla, Gampaha early this morning.

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Over 280 kgs of narcotics were destroyed using a new high-powered incinerator built at a cost of over Rs. 11 million at Vanathavilluwa in Puttalam yesterday.

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President Ranil Wickremesinghe has directed to resume the ’’Suraksha’’ student insurance programme, which was temporarily halted due to economic issues.

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The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued landslide warnings for seven districts due to the ongoing heavy rainfall.

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Sri Lanka’s Defence Ministry has received over 400 complaints from family members of citizens recruited by mercenary companies to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war.

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A total of 114 officers and 1,395 other ranks in the Sri Lanka Army have been promoted in view of the 15th Victory Day Anniversary.

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The UN human rights office, OHCHR, on Friday urged the Sri Lankan Government to take decisive action to uncover the fates and locations of tens of thousands of individuals subjected to enforced disappearances over the years and to hold those responsible accountable.

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The Colombo Air Show and Defence Exhibition (CADE 2024) which was scheduled to be held from May 29 to June 2 at the Galle Face and Colombo Port City, has been postponed to next year, the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) said.

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Sri Lankan actress Dinara Punchihewa is among the prestigious Forbes magazine’s “30 Under 30 Asia” entertainment and sports list.

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Despite a recent dip in infections, ongoing showers are likely to drive a rise in Dengue cases, health officials predicted.

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The report of the committee appointed to inquire on increasing the interest rates of the bank accounts of senior citizens will be handed over to the President next week, Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said.

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People living in low-lying areas along the river basins of Kala Oya, Deduru Oya, Maha Oya, Attanagalu Oya, Kelani Ganga, Kalu Ganga, Gin Ganga, Nilwala Ganga, Bentara Ganga, Kirama Oya and Uruboku Oya are requested to be vigilent over possible floods with the continuous rain during the next few days, the Irrigation Department said.

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A situation has arisen where getting the participation of elephants at both peraheras has become a problem due to the holding of the Ratnapura Maha Saman Devalaya Perahera and the Kandy Esala Perahera on the same day, Sri Dalada Maligawa Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela said.

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Global spiritual leader and peacemaker Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will be visitng Sri Lanka from 18th to 20th May, on an invitation from the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Dinesh Gunawardena. This is Gurudev’s sixth visit to the country.

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The Sri Lanka Mixed Relay Team will leave for Bangkok on Sunday to participate in the Inaugural Asian Athletic Relay Championships – Paris Olympic Games Qualifying Meet – on May 20 and 21 in Thailand.

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Sri Lanka welcomed over 46,000 international tourists for the first 12 days of May, a drop in momentum due to the start of the off peak season.

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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) this week commended the progress achieved by Sri Lanka thus far in rolling out the economic reforms, the majority of which have been rather painful to the general public.

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State run Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) for the first quarter ended 31 March (1Q24) has recorded a profit of Rs. 88.3 billion, which is a 349.8 percent change when compared with the Rs. 35.3 billion loss recorded in the corresponding period in 2023.

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In commemoration of the 15th anniversary of Victory Day, the Sri Lanka Navy has promoted 3,146 senior and junior sailors from the Regular and Voluntary Forces.

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The Supreme Court today directed the petitioners to serve notices on former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa as he was not represented by a counsel in connection with five fundamental rights petitions.

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