Sri Lanka will witness meteor shower tonight

The people of Sri Lanka will have a rare opportunity to witness a breathtaking meteor shower tonight.

Shooting incident reported near hotel in Galle

The Galle Police launched an investigation after two persons in a Wagon R type car had opened fire at a person in a three-wheeler in front of a hotel at Dadalla in Galle today.

President calls for collaboration to harness economic power in Asian region

Emphasizing the need for South Asian nations to work together to harness the growing economic power in the region, President Ranil Wickremesinghe proposed a model where selective integration in certain sectors could pave the way for effective collaboration.

Dr. Palitha Mahipala to be new Health Secretary

As the service period of Health Ministry Secretary Janaka Sri Chandragupta ends today due to his retirement, Dr. Palitha Gunarathna Mahipala is tipped to be the next Health Secretary.

Ultra-luxury liner ‘Celebrity Edge’ arrives in Colombo with over 2,700 tourists

The ’Celebrity Edge’, a cruise ship operated by Celebrity Cruises, will arrive from Kochi, India to Colombo, Sri Lanka today, with 2,780 passengers, primarily from the United States, Australia and Canada, along with 1,273 crew members.

Sajith tables SLC letter to ICC over undue interference

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa today revealed that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) president Shammi Silva had sent a letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC) alleging that the Sports Ministry had made undue interferences in its activities and claimed that this had paved the way for the ICC ban on Sri Lanka Cricket.

Appointments to superior courts must be on merits, integrity rather than seniority

The Lawyers’ Collective, a prominent legal advocacy group in Sri Lanka emphasized that appointments made by the President to the superior courts in consultation with the Chief Justice and as approved by the Constitutional Council must be on merit and integrity rather than merely on seniority.

November sees steep increase in tourist arrival rate

Sri Lanka tourism is witnessing an impressive performance in the fourth quarter of 2023 (4Q23), with tourist arrivals to the island nation increasing sharply in the first half of the month of November.

Over 1million three-wheelers to have access to affordable electric battery swapping

One million two hundred thousand three-wheelers in Sri Lanka to be able to offer clean and affordable transportation solutions, with Lanka E-mobility Solutions (Private) Limited

Showers above 100mm after 1p.m today

Heavy showers of about 100 mm are likely in the Central, Uva and Sabaragamuwa Provinces and several places in most provinces of the country after 1p.m., the forecasting division of the National Meteorological Centre said.

Second Base Jumping event from Lotus Tower starts

The second wingsuit Base Jumping event was launched a short while ago and the frist jump was experienced from the top, the Lotus Tower management said.

Terms of China debt deal shared with official creditors’ committee: CB Governor

Sri Lanka is expected to make further headway with regard to restructuring its foreign debt and securing the second tranche of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan, as the government has disclosed the terms of the US $ 4.2 billion debt deal with China Exim Bank to the country’s other creditors.

Majority of Constitutional Council members decline to approve IGP extension

The Constitutional Council (CC) appears to be divided, with the majority of members declining to approve the reappointment of Mr. C.D. Wickramaratne as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Daily Mirror learns.

Intense competition for new Health Secretary as incumbent’s term ends

The service period of Health Ministry Secretary Janaka Sri Chandragupta will end today due to retirement, leaving a vacant position that has sparked intense competition, Daily Mirror learns.

Ai-generated video to be launched suggesting Prabhakaran’s daughter alive

Foreign intelligence agencies have alerted Sri Lanka that a video clip is being prepared to be disseminated around the world on November 27, using artificial intelligence to indicate that Dwaraka Prabhakaran, the daughter of late LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, is still alive, informed sources said.

First in the Island at Grade 5 Scholarship Exam

A student of Anuradhapura St. Joseph’s College Gampalage Nawanga Hansa Raja Fonseka has scored a triumph by being first in the Island at the Grade Five scholarship examination this year. He had scored 198 marks.

STF hijacks massive cigarette consignment from Customs’ probe: Customs says

Sri Lanka Customs to launch a comprehensive investigation into an incident, where the Police Special Task Force (STF) seized a massive cigarette consignment, which was being transported under the Customs supervision for its own probe on Thursday.

Sudden breakdown of generator reported at Norochcholai

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has reported a sudden breakdown of the high-pressure heater system in Unit 2 of the Lakvijaya thermal power plant at Norochcholai.

IMF’s second tranche likely in December: Government

The disbursement of the second installment of the loan under the extended funding facility provided to Sri Lanka by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is anticipated in December, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Civil Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva said.

Malawi’s President bans himself and his cabinet from foreign travel

Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera has suspended with immediate effect all international travel for himself and his government in a bid to save money.

Former pacer named chief selector as Pakistan’s reshuffle continues after CWC23

Former Pakistan pacer Wahab Riaz has been named the chief selector of the Pakistan men’s national team in the aftermath of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. He will take over from Inzamam-ul-Haq, who had tendered his resignation during the tournament.

Printing shop in Grandpass engulfed in flames

A printing shop in the Kettarama area in Grandpass was engulfed in a sudden fire this evening (17).

Second Base Jumping event from Lotus Tower starts tomorrow

The second wingsuit Base Jumping event will be launched from the top of the Lotus Tower tomorrow (18), the Lotus Tower management said.

SLC grants Rs. 28 mn in cash awards to Asian Games medal winners

Tharushi Karunaratne, the Asian Games Gold Medalist, Nadeesha Dilhani Lekamge, the ‘Silver Medalist’, and 09 other athletes who made the country proud by winning bronze medals during the concluded Asian Games 2023 were recognized and given cash awards.

Sri Lanka seeks investors for nuclear power plants

Sri Lanka will call for expressions of interest (EOI) in setting up nuclear power plants, its energy minister said on Friday, as it seeks cheap electricity to support its economic recovery.

COPF wants Bribery Commission Chairman’s salary increased

The Committee on Public Finance (COPF) has recommended that the salary scale of the Chairman of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) should be increased.

Kanchana challenges Sajith to file lawsuit if substandard fuel distributed

Refuting allegations that permission had been granted to unload stocks of substandard fuel, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara today challenged Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa to file a lawsuit if substandard fuel had been distributed.

Umandawa Hospital, Wellness Centre to be handed over to government tomorrow

The Mahahoshadha Hospital and the first phase of the Wellness Centre were constructed under the guidance of Ven. Siri Samanthabhadra Thera will be handed over to the government for public welfare tomorrow, the Government Information Department said.

Discontinue Select Committee to probe economic crisis: Anura tells Speaker

The Parliamentary Select Committee chaired by SLPP MP Sagara Kariyawasam to look into the insolvency of Sri Lanka should be discontinued as the Supreme Court has given a judgment on those who were instrumental in the country’s economic debacle, NPP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today.

DCSL enters beer business with Heineken Lanka acquisition

Leading local spirits maker Distilleries Company of Sir Lanka PLC (DCSL) has entered into an agreement with Heineken International B.V. to acquire all its shares in Heineken Lanka Limited for an undisclosed price.