Parliament must decide on nature of probe on Channel 4 allegations: Wijeyadasa

The Sri Lankan Parliament should decide on the nature of the probe into the allegations by the recent Channel 4 video on the Easter Sunday attacks, Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapaksha said today.

Rugby World Cup kicks off as France faces key organisational test

Hosts France kick-off the Rugby World Cup against three-time champions New Zealand on Friday in a mouth-watering appetiser to a seven-week tournament that will also provide a key test of the country’s organisational skills ahead of the 2024 Olympics.

Adani, Emirates, Tata interested in SriLankan Airlines: Report

The Sri Lankan government is actively exploring options for the privatisation of SriLankan Airlines (UL, Colombo International) and is engaging in talks with various private entities and airlines, according to a report by ch-aviation. Among the potential investors are well-known names such as Emirates (EK, Dubai International), Tata Sons, and the Adani Group.

Reserve day added for India Vs Pakistan Super 4 match in Colombo

After the first clash of arch-rivals India and Pakistan washed away, a reserve day has been incorporated for the upcoming Super 4 clash which will be played at R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo on September 10, the Sri Lanka Cricket said.

Hand over Easter Sunday attacks probe to Shani Abeysekara: Sajith tells RW

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa urged President Ranil Wickremesinghe to hand over the investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks to former Director of the CID Shani Abeysekara.

Probe launched after body of two year old girl exhumed and taken away

The body of a two-year-old girl buried at the Rasendrakulam cemetery in Nelunkulama in Vavuniya had been exhumed and taken away by unidentified persons.

Dharmasena among match officials for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023

All umpires from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires including Kumar Dharmasena will officiate in the upcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India, the ICC said.

MS Dhoni and Donald Trump’s surprise golf face-off: ‘Thala fever in USA’

Former Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and former US President Donald Trump played golf together in an unexpected meeting.

Mali: At least 49 civilians reported dead in attack on river boat

Islamist militants have attacked a river boat in north-eastern Mali, killing at least 49 civilians, the interim government says.

Trains operating on main line delayed

The Railways Department announced that all trains operating on the main line will be delayed due to a technical failure of the Colombo-bound night mail train from Kankesanturai (KKS) this morning.

Maithri’s SLFP aims for supporting President at presidential elections

The removal of MP Dayasiri Jayasekara from his post as SLFP (Sri Lanka Freedom Party) General Secretary appears to be a strategic move aimed at eliminating potential obstacles to the party’s support for President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the upcoming presidential election, according to sources.

Health Ministry to get tough on doctors who leave country

In the wake of the incident where the only consultant anaesthetist at the Embilipitiya District General Hospital had left the hospital without prior notice, the Health Ministry said stringent actions will be taken against doctors who travel overseas without prior notice.

Sri Lanka welcomes 22,896 international tourists in first week of September

Sri Lanka welcomed a total of 22,896 tourists for the first six days of September, fulfilling 19 percent of the target set for the month. Sri Lanka aims to draw at least 120,201 international visitors for the month of September.

FSL presidential candidate Sumathipala appeals to FIFA, AFC for justice after rejection

Anuradhapura Football League president Dacshitha Sumathipala says that the decision taken by the Election Committee and Appeals Committee to reject the nomination of four people including himself for the Football Sri Lanka (FSL) elections is unacceptable.

Ports Authority spends Rs. 1.2 bn on food in 2022; Rs. 498 mn for snacks: COPE reveals

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority has spent Rs 1.2 billion on food for 2022, the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) revealed.

4,000 GN officers to fill existing vacancies: State Minister

Swift action will be taken to fill nearly 4,000 vacant Grama Niladhari (GN) positions, Home Affairs State Minister Ashoka Priyantha said.

Govt makes policy decision to increase number of electric vehicles: Dr. Jasinghe

The government of Sri Lanka has taken a policy decision to increase the number of electric vehicles (EVs) when importing vehicles, Environment Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe said.

Ruwan holds talks with Kenyan PM on strengthening bilateral ties

Senior advisor to President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Climate Change, Ruwan Wijewardene met with Kenyan Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi today to explore the possibility of increasing Sri Lankan investments in that country.

Emmissions from 60% of vehicles cause air pollution in the country

Sixty percent of the total vehicle fleet in the country cause air pollution due to their emissions, Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) Chief Nishantha Anuruddha Weerasinghe said.

Parliament approves Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill

The Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill was passed with a majority of 45 votes in Parliament a short while ago.

Woman injured in bus shooting

A woman sustained injuries after an unidentified person opened fire at her while she was traveling on a bus today, Police said.

President to leave for Cuba

President Ranil Wickremesinghe is set to depart for Cuba to address the G77 + China Leaders’ Summit next week, the President’s Media Division said.

No decision to postpone A/L exam: Minister

There is no expectations of postponing the 2023 GCE Advanced Level (A/L) examination as announced by the Examinations Department, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said.

Opposition MP craving for Health Minister post: Vijitha

Claiming that an Opposition MP was craving for the post of Health Minister, NPP MP Vijitha Herath said the Health Ministry had been a lucrative and highly demanding portfolio for some, as millions of rupees were involved in it.

Polluted dust particles found in human blood circulatory system: Dr. Jasinghe

It has been proven that Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5) in the air enters the human body by diffusion into the blood, causing an inflammatory response all over the body and thickening blood vessels, Environment Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe said.

Probe on Channel 4 allegations on Easter Sunday attacks is a must: Fonseka

An international probe into the Channel 4 allegations on the Easter Sunday attacks is a must while select Commitees will not serve any purpose, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka told Parliament.

Chamara Sampath's mix-up with Channel 4 and Channel Eye in Parliament

State Minister Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, who repeatedly used Channel Eye instead of Channel 4 when referring to the Channel 4 exposure on the Easter Sunday attacks, swiftly corrected himself after being informed by a fellow MP.

Recall retired doctors: Vajira

Retired doctors should be recalled immediately to work in hospitals where there are a large number of vacancies due to migration, a government MP told Parliament.

Tax payers spend over Rs. 4 mn to produce a doctor: Minister

Taxpayers of this country spend around Rs. 4 million to produce a doctor in Sri Lanka, State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said today.

Gota slams Channel 4, says video is an anti Rajapaksa tirade

In response to the recent allegations made by UK Channel 4 News regarding the 2019 Easter bombings, former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that the latest program by Channel 4 is primarily an anti-Rajapaksa tirade aimed at blackening the Rajapaksa legacy from 2005 onwards.