UPDATE - Customs destroy Rs.75Mn worth counterfeit cigarettes at Ceylon Tobacco compound

Sri Lanka Customs today destroyed a large quantity of counterfeit cigarettes seized from many smuggling attempts through the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) during the first half of this year.

Namal’s election manifesto ’Namal Dekma’ launched

Election manifesto of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) presidential candidate Namal Rajapaksa was launched a short while ago.

No official decision on ITAK supporting Sajith Premadasa: Mavai Senathirajah

Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) senior leader Mavai Senathirajah said the party has not made a formal decision to support Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa at the upcoming Presidential election.

Striking images reveal depths of Titanic’s slow decay

It was the image that made the Titanic’s wreck instantly recognisable - the ship’s bow looming out of the darkness of the Atlantic depths.

AI generated election related videos: Election Commission handicapped without tools

The Election Commission is handicapped due to the lack of technological know-how to debunk adversarial election propaganda videos generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) with a bearing on some candidates, a top source said.

SJB Economic Policies - The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

The SJB manifesto in English is long (11,795 words), comprehensive and detailed. Like most manifestos it is aspirational, but it is also detailed.

Leopard’s death at Luccombe Estate sparks urgent calls for action

A leopard’s death at Luccombe Estate in Maskeliya has raised alarm among conservationists including the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS).

July trade deficit up over higher imports, but exports remain robust

Merchandise trade deficit, what Sri Lanka spent for its imports over its exports, expanded in July and so was for the cumulative seven months as imports gained pace with the economy normalising.

Colombo district land prices increase 6.9% YoY

The Land Valuation Indicator (LVI) for Colombo District rose 6.9 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2024, driven by increases across all sub-indicators — Residential, Commercial, and Industrial.

PNB nabs cosmetics trader with Rs.3Mn worth fags at BIA

A Sri Lankan passenger who tried to smuggle in foreign cigarettes worth over Rs.3 million under the pretense of carrying cosmetics from Doha, Qatar was nabbed by the Police at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) today.

IndiGo commences daily Chennai-Jaffna flights

IndiGo, a key Indian airline, commenced their flight operations between Chennai and Jaffna from today, the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited said.

RW pledges to extend Katunayake expressway towards Chilaw

Independent Presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe today pledged to extend the Colombo-Katunayake expressway towards Chilaw.

Public servants’ salary hikes at risk if government programme changes: Rajitha

If the current government programme changes at any point, there is a clear risk of losing the salary increases scheduled for all public servants starting January 1, 2025. Therefore, public servants should be wise in casting their postal votes at the upcoming Presidential election, Parliamentarian Rajitha Senaratne said.

NPP will ensure political rights of expatriate workers: Anura Kumara

Claiming that certain politicians have issued threatening statements against Sri Lankan expatriate workers challenging their political rights, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today that the NPP will ensure the political rights of Sri Lankan expatriate workers.

Prices of goods, services must reduce after fuel revision

In line with yesterday’s (August 31) fuel price revision, the prices of all goods and services should decrease from tonight, National Movement for Consumer Rights Protection (NMCRP) Chairman Ranjith Vithanage said.

ITAK decides to back Sajith

The Ilankai Tamil Arashu Kadchchi (ITAK) after a deliberation of five hours, decided to back Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa at the upcoming Presidential election, party spokesman MP M.A. Sumanthiran said.

Government falls short on transparency for foreign-financed projects

Large infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka, often funded by foreign loans and grants, are legally required to disclose information online when the amount exceeds USD 100,000, Verité Research said in a statement.

Some powerful nations want a weak government in Sri Lanka: Rajitha

Some powerful nations including those from the region want a weak government in Sri Lanka, so that they can get what they want, MP Rajitha Senaratne said today.

No LP gas price revision this time: Litro Chairman

Price of Litro domestic LP gas will not be increased despite the LP gas price increase in the world market, Litro Gas Chairman Muditha Peiris said.

Election complaints surge to 1,500 in month ahead of Presidential poll

A total of 112 new complaints related to the upcoming Presidential election have been received, bringing the overall number of complaints to 1,592, according to the Election Commission.

Grammy-winning rapper dies after collapsing on stage during US show

Rapper Fatman Scoop, 53, has died after collapsing on stage in front of a crowd of horrified fans.

Police recover high explosives and grenade from underworld gang member

Police recovered a stock of high explosives and a live hand grenade following the interrogation of an underworld gang member recently brought to Sri Lanka.

Namal Rajapaksa pauses political activities in Jaffna

SLPP Presidential candidate Namal Rajapaksa said that he will temporarily halt all political activities in Jaffna until the conclusion of the Nallur Ther (chariot) festival.

Committee to probe Covid-19 cremations, compensation for affected families: President

President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that new legislation will be introduced to ensure that individuals can choose either burial or cremation based on their personal wishes.

UAE launches visa amnesty for illegal residents

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced a visa amnesty program to allow people living illegally in the country to legalise their residency status or depart without facing any penalties.

Fuel prices slashed

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) announced that it will reduce the prices of fuel from midnight today.

MKDS Gunawardana's son Nalin Gunawardana pledges support to RW

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Seruwawila organiser Nalin Gunawardena, son of late Minister M. K. D. S. Gunawardena and T. Bahardeen, a former Municipal councillor of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) have expressed their support for President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the upcoming Presidential election.

Supporting Tamil candidate could disrupt reconciliation efforts: SLPP Politburo Member Cassilingham

Geethanath Cassilingham, a Politburo member of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) from the Northern Province has expressed serious concern over the idea of supporting a Tamil common candidature.

Brazil block on social media platform X comes into effect after Supreme Court order

A block on Elon Musk’s X social network in Brazil started to take effect early Saturday after a Supreme Court judge ordered its suspension, according to AFP.

Bar Council demands BASL President’s immediate resignation

The Bar Council of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has unanimously called for BASL President Kaushalya Navaratne to resign from office after a five-member committee appointed to investigate into the JAICA fund controversy, found that the BASL President had failed to act with transparency.