Former Minister Manusha’s brother remanded over alleged Rs. 3 Mn fraud

Thisara Iroshana Nanayakkara, the brother of former Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara, has been ordered to be remanded till January 6, 2025, following his appearance before the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court.

Sri Lanka expresses condolences following Jeju Air tragedy

The Government of Sri Lanka has extended its deepest sympathies following the tragic crash of Jeju Air flight 7C 2216 at Muan Airport in the Republic of Korea earlier today.

179 people feared dead in South Korea plane crash

A Jeju Air plane veered off the runway and collided with a fence in South Korea’s Muan city on Sunday. Out of the 181 passengers, 179 are feared killed. The authorities have so far confirmed 167 deaths from the accident.

Two workers drown at Matale Water Treatment Plant

Two youths employed at the Matale Water Treatment Plant drowned in the Sudu Ganga yesterday (28), police said.

Customs clear 75,000 MT of imported rice

The Sri Lanka Customs have cleared 75,000 metric tons of imported rice as of December 29, following the government’s move to allow rice imports without permits.

Defence forces will be employed exclusively for primary role of military assignments: Govt.

The defence forces will be employed exclusively for their primary role of military assignments in defending the country, Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) said.

At least 62 dead after South Korean jet crash-lands

At least 62 people were killed when a passenger jet crash-landed at an airport in southwestern South Korea, the local fire department told CNN.

Mahout trampled by elephant during Dodanduwa perahera

An elephant trampled its mahout during a temple procession in the Dodanduwa area of Galle last evening.

Senthil Thondaman pays last respects to Manmohan Singh

Ceylon Workers’ Congress ( CWC) Senthil Thondaman is also among Sri Lankan political leaders who paid his last respects to late Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi.

One dead, two injured in Seeduwa shooting

One person died and two others were injured after unidentified gunmen in a car opened fire at a house on Welabada Road, Seeduwa, police said.

Practical and modernized process needed to prevent smuggling: President

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stressed the need for a practical and modernised process to prevent smuggling and called for the replacement of the current scanning equipment with advanced, modern scanners.

‘We have to struggle with officials for our policies’: Handunnetti

The National People’s Power (NPP) government now has a struggle with state officials to safeguard the NPP’s policies, whereas the NPP had to struggle on the streets for the rights of the people before taking over power, Minister of Industries Sunil Handunnetti said today.

New maximum retail price set for canned fish

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has announced new maximum retail prices for specific types of canned fish, effective today.

Deputy Minister agrees to pay fine after his driver caught speeding

Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways Dr. Prasanna Gunasena agreed to pay a fine for speeding despite officers on duty offering to release the vehicle without imposing a fine, an informed source said.

Govt. to convert FCID to a fully-fledged investigative arm

The government has decided to revamp the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) and convert it into a fully-fledged investigative arm like the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), operating under a senior DIG (Deputy Inspector General of Police), Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said.

CID summons Yoshitha Rajapaksa

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has summoned Yoshitha Rajapaksa, the second son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, to record a statement regarding the ownership of a government-owned land in Kataragama.

Sri Lanka loses large amount of foreign exchange due to import of unnecessary drugs: Health Minister

Asserting that Sri Lanka loses a large amount of foreign exchange due to the import of unnecessary drugs, Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said yesterday the government will adopt a scientific solution to address this issue.

Survivor from Azerbaijan plane recalls ’loud bang’ before crash

A passenger aboard the Azerbaijan Airlines flight that crashed in Kazakhstan told Reuters there was at least one loud bang as the plane neared its original destination, Grozny in southern Russia.

NMRA suspends licenses of 60 pharmacies

The National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) has temporarily suspended the licenses of 60 pharmacies during the past five months.

Namal pays final respects to Dr. Manmohan Singh

SLPP Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa, paid his last respects to Dr. Manmohan Singh, the former Prime Minister of India, at the Congress Party headquarters in New Delhi today.

Ex-Provincial Councillor arrested in Rs. 9 mn bribery case, remanded

Sulochana Gamage, a former member of the Western Provincial Council, who was arrested while allegedly accepting a bribe, has been ordered to be remanded in custody along with another individual until January 6, 2025.

Why is Indian Airforce Target drone in Trincomalee? Probe launched

A special defence team has been appointed to investigate after an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), believed to be a target drone belonging to the Indian Air Force, was discovered by a group of fishermen in the sea off Trincomalee.

Do not go after small fish in 2025: Excise Chief warns officers

The newly appointed Chief of the Department of Excise yesterday asked his officials ‘not to go after small fish’ in the new year to meet annual performance evaluation, but to raid major scale illicit liquor dens and narcotic substances that will create a true impact in the society.

Tamil Progressive Alliance to go solo at LG Polls

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) ally the Tamil Progressive Alliance is slated to contest the local government elections under its symbol, a party senior said yesterday.

Unusual activities reported in areas of elephant-human conflicts: Veterinarians’ Association

Unusual activities are being reported in the areas where the elephants are being cased or captured to prevent elephant-human conflicts, advisor to the board of the Association of Veterinarians for Humane Management of Animal Population, Dr. Chamith Nanayakkara said.

NPP MP Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathne lodges CID complaint

MP Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathne representing the National People’s Power (NPP) has filed a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) about false information spreading on social media.

Ancient tunnel near Kotte Ananda Sastralaya in spotlight again

The Department of Archaeology has taken steps to preserve an ancient tunnel which is located in the vicinity of Ananda Sastralaya in Kotte and is slated to fell the trees around it despite protests by the school’s Past Pupil’s Association.

Nasa declares spacecraft ’safe’ after record-breaking Sun approach

Nasa announced on Friday that its Parker Solar Probe is ’’safe’’ and functioning as expected after achieving the closest approach to the Sun ever made by a human-made object.

Couple on INTERPOL red notice arrested at BIA

A couple wanted in connection with massive frauds in Sri Lanka and on whom the INTERPOL had issued a red notice, was arrested on Thursday night (26) at the Bandaranaike International Airport upon their arrival in the country.

Germany’s President dissolves parliament

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Friday ordered parliament dissolved and set new elections for Feb. 23 in the wake of the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition, saying it was the only way to give the country a stable government capable of tackling its problems.