Sri Lanka weighs Open Skies amidst plans for national carrier privatization

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) yesterday said its leader Sajith Premadasa is ready for the proposed debate with National People’s Power (NPP), leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake on the policies of both parties on economic issues in the month of May but not on dates proposed by NPP Member Nalinda Jayatissa.

38 minute ago - 0     - 118

The Cabinet is likely to endorse a proposal this week on the transfer of the management of Sri Lanka’s second largest Mattala international airport, a top official said.

2 hours ago - 0     - 483

In view of the Iranian President’s visit, Katunayake - Colombo Expressway will be closed from 2 pm to 3 pm and 9:30 pm to 10:30 pm today, police announced.

3 hours ago - 0     - 719

Stringent security measures have been put in place ahead of the arrival of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Sri Lanka today. The President is scheduled for a one-day official visit to join a public event commemorating the launch of the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project (UOMDP).

4 hours ago - 0     - 811

The proposed Public Financial Management (PFM) Act remains crucial for the disbursement of the third tranche under the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) US$ 3billion bailout package, stressed Former Central Bank (CB) Governor and economist, Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy.

5 hours ago - 0     - 549

A top economist yesterday raised concerns over the “loosening of fiscal squeeze” by authorities to stimulate economic growth. Since doing so could lead to potential risks of jeopardising Sri Lanka’s agreements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

7 hours ago - 0     - 367

Tourist arrivals to the island nation continue to pickup from levels witnessed since the pandemic and the economic crisis. However, a slight drop in momentum is seen for the month of April.

9 hours ago - 0     - 429

Sri Lanka took minimal steps to identify and punish officials who may have committed human rights abuses, the 2023 report issued by the US State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour on Sri Lanka’s Human Rights Practices has alleged.

23 Apr 2024 - 0     - 690

With the commissioning of the Uma Oya Hydro Power Plant tomorrow, 120 MW generation capacity will be added to the national grid and reduce the cost of energy, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara said today.

23 Apr 2024 - 1     - 435

State Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya urged people to verify their vehicle documents with the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) to ensure whether their vehicle is among the 112 luxury vehicles that have been temporarily prohibited from sale or transfer. Additionally, he stressed the importance of confirming whether the vehicles imported into the country have followed legal procedures.

23 Apr 2024 - 3     - 890

The US space agency says its Voyager-1 probe is once again sending usable information back to Earth after months of spouting gibberish.

23 Apr 2024 - 1     - 957

Sixteen would-be migrants have died and another 28 are missing after a boat carrying 77 people capsized off the coast of Djibouti, the second such incident in two weeks, the United Nations migration agency said on Tuesday.

23 Apr 2024 - 1     - 322

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court issued a restraining order preventing a planned protest march by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) employees’ union tomorrow near the Polduwa Junction in the Welikada police area.

23 Apr 2024 - 1     - 484

India’s main opposition party accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using hate speech after he called Muslims “infiltrators” — some of his most incendiary rhetoric about the minority faith, days after the country began its weekslong general election.

23 Apr 2024 - 2     - 1396

The Meteorology Department issued a cautionary warning today about escalating temperatures that may be particularly intense for people across the country except in Matale, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Badulla.

23 Apr 2024 - 0     - 1594

Document authentication services provided by the Consular Affairs Division of the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Colombo will be temporarily suspended for the public on April 29 and 30 in order to facilitate the transition of the Electronic Document Authentication System (e-DAS) to the new premises at Suhurupaya.

23 Apr 2024 - 0     - 430

A top delegation of the Chinese Communist Party headed by Vice Minister of the International Department, Sun Haiyan met National People’s Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the JVP head office today.

23 Apr 2024 - 8     - 1223

More than 25 tons of garbage have been disposed of into the environment in the Sri Pada route from Nallathaniya for the last five months of the Sri Pada pilgrimage season.

23 Apr 2024 - 7     - 689

More than one in five cars sold worldwide in 2024 will be electric vehicles (EV’s) according to the forecasts of the International Energy Agency (IEA).

23 Apr 2024 - 1     - 490

All arrangements have been made to hand over the Uma Oya Multi-Purpose Development Project to the public tomorrow (April 24), Irrigation, Wildlife and Forest Conservation Minister Pavitra Wanniarachchi said following a recent visit to inspect the project.

23 Apr 2024 - 1     - 1031

A 78-year-old man, Gopal Rao, of Bengaluru, Karnataka, died of a heart attack while he was swimming from Thalaimannar in Sri Lanka to the Dhanushkodi islet in Rameswaram, T.N., on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.

23 Apr 2024 - 6     - 1576

Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu is back at the top of the ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings after a superb 195 not out in the third ODI against South Africa in Potchefstroom that helped her team level the ICC Women’s Championship Series 1-1.

23 Apr 2024 - 1     - 670

Residents in the Western and Sabaragamuwa Provinces, as well as the Galle and Matara districts, should be prepared for fairly heavy showers of about 50 mm in some areas, the Meteorology Department predicted.

23 Apr 2024 - 0     - 454

The Sri Lanka Army has decided to appoint a special investigation committee consisting of 07 senior officers chaired by a Major General to probe the accident that occurred during the Diyatalawa Fox Hill Supercross.

23 Apr 2024 - 18     - 1470

Based on complaints received, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has released eight other institutions and inputs identified as engaging in pyramid activities.

23 Apr 2024 - 7     - 2598

Ten people have died after two navy helicopters collided in mid-air during a military rehearsal for a Royal Malaysian Navy parade.

23 Apr 2024 - 1     - 1140

The General Manager of Railways, H.M.K.W. Bandara passed away this morning due to a sudden illness at the Anuradhapura Hospital.

23 Apr 2024 - 1     - 2652

The consumer prices measured by the broader National Consumer Price Index (NCPI) continued to soften in March, as the non-food prices cooled sharply while the food prices remained unchanged from a year ago.

23 Apr 2024 - 6     - 544

Two persons have died after police fired at a three-wheeler that was driving in defiance of orders to halt at Millawa in Moragahahena.

23 Apr 2024 - 2     - 1044

The National People’s Power (NPP) has officially notified the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) yesterday that they are prepared to hold the proposed debate between NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa on one of the following days: May 7, 9, 13, or 14.

23 Apr 2024 - 33     - 1981

Some MPs from both Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) have reportedly brokered liquor licences from the government for their cronies for hefty commissions involved, Daily Mirror learns.

23 Apr 2024 - 39     - 4310

In an alarming incident, a gang of three individuals disguised in authentic police attire perpetrated a robbery in Norochcholai, Kalpitiya yesterday, leaving residents shaken and authorities on high alert. According to police reports, the culprits made away with a staggering sum of Rs. 8 million in cash along with gold items weighing approximately 40 sovereigns.

23 Apr 2024 - 17     - 1165

Sri Lanka Army yesterday said organising the Fox Hill Super Cross race on April 21st when the fifth Easter Attack commemoration was taking place in the country was unintentional, as heavy public criticism was underway for holding the event on a day of public mourning.

23 Apr 2024 - 18     - 1665

The government’s search for a suitor for national carrier SriLankan Airlines has narrowed down with a total of six bidders showing interest in the debt-ridden entity.

23 Apr 2024 - 21     - 3878

President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Dr. Ebrahim Raisi is scheduled to make an official bilateral visit to Sri Lanka at the invitation of President Ranil Wickremesinghe to jointly declare open the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project on April 24, The Foreign Affairs Ministry said.

22 Apr 2024 - 11     - 1652

During the launch of Operation ’Disi Rala,’ the joint maritime security effort between Australia and Sri Lanka, Mark Whitechurch, who heads the Emergency Task Force Operations Submarine Borders, mentioned that they had not spotted any boats from Sri Lanka heading to Australia in over a year.

22 Apr 2024 - 13     - 1529