South Korea votes to impeach acting president Han Duck-soo

South Korea has voted to impeach its acting president Han Duck-soo, two weeks after parliament voted to impeach its President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Police sergeant killed, another injured in road accident

A police sergeant was killed and another injured when a tipper truck knocked them down while inspecting vehicles at the Gal Oya check point on the Habarana-Trincomalee road last night.

National zoos earn higher income of over 150% than in 2023: Director General

The National Zoological Gardens Department has reported an income increase of over 150% compared to 2023, its Director General Ranjana Marasinghe said.

Previous govt. had reached agreements on restructuring 99% of total external debts: Minister

Amidst debates on claiming credit for debt restructuring, Minister of Labour Prof. Anil Jayantha Fernando said yesterday that fundamental agreements on restructuring 99 percent of the total external debts had been reached during the previous government and the current government intervened to restructure only one percent, USD 300 million external debts.

Harin thanks Govt for continuing efforts to reach 2 million tourists in 2024

Former Tourism Minister Harin Fernando extended special thanks to the current government for continuing the efforts initiated by the previous government to achieve a target of two million tourist arrivals.

Showers expected in Northern, North-Central, Eastern Provinces, Matale

Showers may occur in the Northern, North-Central, Eastern Provinces and in the Matale district, the Forecasting Division of the National Meteorological Centre said.

Sri Lankan passenger dies in Erbil after plane’s emergency landing

A Sri Lankan woman with health issues caused a plane to make an emergency landing at the Erbil International Airport on Wednesday. She died in the Kurdish capital hours later, according to Sri Lanka’s honorary consul.

Resolving toque monkey issue hits a snag

Efforts to capture and sterilize toque macaques planned by the government has hit a snag. This is due to the shortage of veterinary surgeons, transport facilities and other facilities at the Giritale Sterilizing Centre while an environmentalist said sterilizing will create more issues.

Sri Lanka risks loss of entire wild boar population

Sri Lanka faces the risk of its entire wild boar population being wiped out because of African swine fever that has already killed around 100 of them as observed by the wildlife authorities, an official said yesterday.

Cable thefts on Katunayake Expressway leaves RDA facing Rs. 900 mn in costs

The Road Development Authority (RDA) is poised to sustain a cost of Rs.900 million for the restoration of damage done to the electrification system of the Katunayake - Colombo expressway by drug addicts in their acts of thefts of copper cables, an official said yesterday.

India’s former PM Manmohan Singh dies aged 92

Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who governed the South Asian country for two terms and liberalised its economy in an earlier stint as finance minister, has died. He was 92.

Pacers prosper in 13-wicket day in Centurion

An interesting contest brewed in Centurion as South Africa pushed to confirm their place in next year’s ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final.

President Dissanayake expresses interest in joining BRICS

Sri Lankan President Anura Dissanayake expressed interest in joining BRICS in a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the republic’s ambassador to Moscow Pakir Amza told RIA Novosti.

Sri Lanka shaped Blue Sapphire found

A gem merchant in Nivithigala has found a blue sapphire in the shape of Sri Lanka.

Man with wooden rod pierced in neck saved

The Vavuniya Hospital performed a life-saving surgery to remove a wooden rod lodged in the neck of a man admitted in critical condition.

Russia warns against ’hypotheses’ after Azerbaijan Airlines crash

The Russian government has cautioned against promoting ’’hypotheses’’ about the cause of the crash of a Russia-bound passenger plane that killed 38 people in Kazakhstan on Wednesday.

Govt. won’t run Neville Fernando Hospital as traditional facility: Minister

Although Rs. 40 million is spent monthly on salary payments for the Dr. Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital (NFTH), the government does not intend to operate the hospital as a traditional government facility, Health and Mass Media Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said.

Virat Kohli fined for bumping into Sam Konstas

The ICC has reportedly handed out punishment to India batting superstar Virat Kohli for shoulder-bumping Australian debutant Sam Konstas during the first day of the 4th Test that got underway in Melbourne on Thursday.

Withholding tax imposed on depositors below lower-income brackets to be refunded: Govt.

The government is formulating a mechanism to provide relief to depositors who had to pay 10 percent withholding tax whereas they earn less than Rs. 150,000 deposit interest a month, Minister of Labour Anil Jayantha said today.

Sri Lanka’s tourist arrivals surpass 2 million in 2024

Sri Lanka has welcomed its 2 millionth tourist who arrived from Bangkok this year, at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), after a five-year gap.

Railway Department aims to provide people-friendly services, happiness

While assuming duties as the new General Manager of Sri Lanka Railways (GMR) today, Dhammika Jayasundara said that the Railway Department should transform into an institution that brings happiness to the people and to provide a people-friendly service.

Traffic officers to wear luminous gear while stopping vehicles at night

The Acting Inspector General of Police has issued new directives for officers on traffic duty regarding procedures for stopping vehicles at night.

Nearly 9,000 drivers face legal action for drunk driving and traffic violation

Legal action has been taken against nearly 9,000 drivers, including 251 for driving under the influence of liquor, for traffic violations and reckless driving within a 24-hour period that ended yesterday, police said.

Govt. has not yet decided when to assign official vehicles to MPs

The government is yet to assign vehicles to the MPs of the new Parliament though it has taken a policy decision to do so.

National consumer prices dip once again

National consumer prices continued their descent for the third month in a row in November 2024, at a pace much deeper than a month ago as prices either fell or remained unchanged helping the pocketbooks of large swaths of people who were hammered for many years due to runaway prices since 2022.

Bird flu kills 20 big cats at US animal sanctuary

Twenty big cats - including a Bengal tiger and four cougars - have died of bird flu over the past several weeks at an animal sanctuary in the state of Washington.

Definite salary increase for government employees by next year: Deputy Minister

There will be a definite salary increase for government sector employees, including teachers, by next year, Deputy Minister of Economic Development Anil Jayantha Fernando said.

Excise proposes settlement of 50% defaulted tax to restore production licence of W. M. Mendis and Co.

Making a fresh approach towards the stagnating tax issue of staggering Rs.5.8 billion defaulted by the local liquor giant W. M. Mendis and Co. Ltd. the newly appointed Excise Chief has proposed a way-out to settle 50% of the arrears to reactivate its suspended production licence, the Daily Mirror learns.

Sharp increase in financial frauds during festive season: SLCERT

An organized group is once again deceiving the public on a large scale, as evidenced by a sharp increase in financial fraud complaints during the Christmas and New Year season, Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) Chief Information Security Engineer Nirosh Ananda said.

SLPP decides on legal action over reducing MR’s security

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna had decided to go to court over reducing the strength of security provided to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.