Stray ponies in Nuwara Eliya to be auctioned if fines unpaid: Mayor

The Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council has decided to auction stray ponies roaming the city if their owners fail to pay fines and reclaim them, Mayor Upali Wanigasekera said.

Customs agrees to release 991 detained BYD vehicles

The Sri Lanka Customs today informed the Court of Appeal that it has agreed to release 991 BYD electric vehicles (EV), which had been detained by the Customs, subject to several conditions.

SEC, police sign MoU to share info on financial crimes

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Police signed an MoU today to share information and strengthen investigations into money laundering and financing of terrorist.

Second school term for 2025 ends today

The second school term for Sinhala and Tamil government schools and government-approved private schools for the year 2025 will end today.

PM given wrong figures on Chichi's rocket: Wasantha Samarasinghe

The Board of Investments (BOI) has given the wrong statistics to Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya over Chichi’s rocket and the income generated by SupremeSAT Ltd., Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe said today.

Rs.15 Bn lawsuit filed by casino mogul Ravi Wijeratne over alleged contractual breach

Veteran casino operator Ravi Wijeratne and Rank Entertainment Holdings (Pvt) Ltd., have filed action before the Colombo Commercial High Court against four defendants, including Waterfront Properties (Pvt) Ltd. and John Keells Holdings PLC, seeking Rs. 15 billion in damages for the alleged breach of contractual obligations and failure to disclose material information concerning the plaintiffs.

Opposition to handover no-confidence motion against Deputy Minister Aruna Jayasekera on Monday

The Opposition announced plans to submit a no-confidence motion (NCM) against Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekera on Monday, warning that further disclosures will be made if he refuses to resign.

MPs to receive vehicles from next budget: President

The government will provide a vehicle to each MP from the next budget to be returned after the MP’s tenure, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today.

Trump’s sweeping new tariffs take effect against dozens of countries

US President Donald Trump’s sweeping new tariffs on more than 90 countries around the world have come into effect.

Local investment up 18%, 200 major tax evaders identified: President

In the government’s push against tax evasion, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake revealed in Parliament that he is in possession of a list of 200 major tax evaders, who collectively owe between Rs. 100 to 150 billion in unpaid taxes.

Myanmar’s figurehead president dies after long illness

Myanmar’s figurehead president who came to power after a 2021 coup, Myint Swe, has died, the South East Asian nation’s military leaders said. He was 74.

Government agrees with EU on repealing PTA: President

The government has come to an agreement with the European Union on the repealing of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and the Online Safety Bill, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today.

Vehicle imports to continue uninterrupted – President

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today reaffirmed that the importation of vehicles into the country will continue without disruption, dispelling ongoing speculation and public concerns.

PM calls for expedited investigations into ongoing school complaints

Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, has instructed the Investigation Division of the Education Ministry to expedite ongoing investigations into complaints received regarding schools and to fill existing vacancies within the division to strengthen its capacity.

No final agreement yet with US: President

Sri Lanka has neither reached a final agreement on any matter with the United States nor signed any agreements so far, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today.

NR Consultation case against Namal: CID still awaiting AG’s advice

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court tody sent a reminder to the Attorney General to expedite his legal advice regarding a case filed against Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa and four others for their alleged involvement in money laundering amounting to Rs.15 million in a company allegedly owned by Namal Rajapaksa.

Bill to repeal Presidents’ entitlements presented to Parliament

Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara presented in Parliament the Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Bill which aims to repeal the Presidents’ Entitlements Act, No. 4 of 1986.

Over 1,000 vacancies for specialist doctors in Sri Lanka: Minister

Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa today revealed that there is a shortage of 1,139 specialist doctors in Sri Lanka.

Govt deploys team to find sugar mafia

The government ,which is in a quandary over the inability to sell off brown sugar manufactured at four local factories, has deployed a team to investigate whether a mafia is involved in releasing hoarded stocks to the market in a discreet manner , a Minister said.

Trump could meet Putin over Ukraine as soon as next week, official says

Reuters - President Donald Trump could meet Vladimir Putin as soon as next week, a White House official said on Wednesday, as the U.S. continued preparations to impose secondary sanctions, including potentially on China, to pressure Moscow to end the war in Ukraine.

Three Indian nationals arrested at BIA with Rs. 12.16 million worth of ’Kush’

Three Indian nationals were arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morning while attempting to smuggle in a stock of ’’Kush’’ cannabis valued at Rs. 12.16 million.

Trump says US will levy 100% tariff on some chip imports

The United States will impose a tariff of about 100% on semiconductor chips imported from countries not producing in America or planning to do so, President Donald Trump said.

Two Ghanaian ministers die in helicopter crash, along with six others

Ghana’s ministers of defence and environment have died in a military helicopter crash in the central Ashanti region, along with six other people, a government spokesperson says.

Chichi’s rocket found’ – Critics left puzzled

In a shocking revelation and also biting on their own words, the NPP government yesterday admitted that Supreme SAT Ltd., which launched a communications satellite into space in November 2012 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China, had brought in a revenue to the country since it began commercial operations with the Board of Investments in 2015.

Judicial Service Commission flags poor upkeep of judges’ residences

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has instructed all judicial officers to ensure that their official residences and surrounding environs, including boundary walls, are kept clean and orderly, citing concerns over maintenance and public perception.

Former DIG Priyantha Jayakody released on bail

Retired Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Priyantha Jayakody, who was in remand custody over allegations of lodging a false complaint, has been granted bail by the Mahara Magistrate’s Court.

US tariff sparks export diversification push in SL

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) convened a high-level forum yesterday to address the repercussions of the 20 percent tariff imposed by the US on a range of Sri Lankan exports.

Casino operators, state bank fined for money laundering lapse

The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has penalised two licensed casino operators and a state-owned bank for lapses in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing compliance, collecting a total of Rs.6.5 million (US $ 22,000) in fines during the first half of 2025, the Central Bank said.

SC rules in favour of South Korean investor in USD 96,000 copper fraud case

The Supreme Court has delivered a judgment in favour of a South Korean investor, affirming the decision of the Colombo Commercial High Court that he is entitled to recover a sum equivalent to USD 96,000 from a Sri Lankan individual who allegedly defrauded him after promising to export 15 tonnes of copper.

Letter of demand to Wimal only to correct himself: Archdiocese Spokesman

While highlighting that Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith will send a letter of demand to National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa on the remark he made on the Cardinal skipping the Easter Sunday service in 2019, spokesman for the Archdiocese of Colombo Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando said today that it will be sent only to get Weerawansa to correct his statement.