Govt. to boost tax revenue by removing VAT exemptions

The government is planning to boost tax revenue by 1.2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by removing most of the Value-Added Tax (VAT) exemptions and abolishing the Simplified Value Added Tax (SVAT) methodology.

Australia and India are relaxed but ready as WTC23 Final arrives : Preview

The peace won’t last for long, with the ICC World Test Championship Final set to bring the noise inside the gates of the famous south London ground, but The Oval’s calmness is in harmony with the two squads’ attitudes ahead of their title-deciding clash.

SL origin Barrister, 34, becomes youngest ever minority ethnic Crown Court judge in UK

A Harrogate barrister has been announced as the youngest ever black and minority ethnic crown court judge in the UK. Sri Lankan origin Ayesha Smart, 34, can now sit as a Recorder in crown courts across the north east of England.

Do not enter parents’ data when setting up e-mail accounts for school children: Police Crime Division

The Police Crime Division requests people to refrain from entering parents’ data when setting up e-mail accounts for school children and also to enter the correct age of the children.

Cleaning up programme soon after O/L exam ends: Minister

A dengue mosquito cleaning programme will be conducted in all GCE Ordinary Level (O/L) examination centres, including leading schools where nearly 40 students were found with dengue, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said.

Minister Nimal says a case warranting media regulation

Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva, who accused the media of involving him and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardane in the ordeal experience by Venerable Ajahn Brahmawanso (Ajahn Brahm Thera), said it was a case warranting regulation of media activities.

Sri Lanka youth netball team leaves for Asian C’ships in South Korea

The Sri Lanka youth netball team left for South Korea today (June 6) to participate in the 12th Asian Youth (U-21) Netball Championship 2023.

Customs RTF seize Rs.350Mn worth cars, fags, cosmetics and booze in container

Sri Lanka Customs today displayed a seized container carrying three hybrid cars, a large stock of cosmetics, illicit cigarettes and foreign liquor worth over Rs.350 million, which had been imported by a trader falsely declaring as motor spare parts.

Sri Lanka’s Chamari, Harshitha nominated for Women's ICC player of the month award

Sri Lanka’s Women’s team captain Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama have been nominated for the Women’s International Cricket Council (ICC) Player of the Month Award for May.

PET scan at Apeksha Hospital functioning without hitch: Health Ministry

Denying media reports that patient services at the Maharagama Apeksha Hospital have been hampered due to the malfunction of the PET scan, Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena stressed that the PET scan is currently functioning without any interruptions.

Cyclonic storm warning due to depression over south-east Arabian Sea

The depression over the south-east Arabian Sea is likely to move northward and intensify into a cyclonic storm during the next 12 hours, the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Meteorology Department said.

Failure to replant trees: CA issues notice on Bathiudeen

The Court of Appeal issued notices on former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen over a contempt of court application filed for his failure to comply with the orders by the Court of Appeal in connection with the Wilpattu National Park case.

Unbeaten Madushka ton, Madushanka four-fer help Sri Lanka A to series-levelling win

Opener Nishan Madushka scored an unbeaten century after left-arm fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka ripped through the South Africa A top order as Sri Lanka A recorded a comfortable seven-wicket win in the second unofficial ODI in Pallekele.

Raising of disciplined children should start from pre-school: Minister

While there is a transformative need for discipline in the school system from pre-school onwards, the Education Ministry should set a precedent by carrying out its pioneering mission, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said.

Over 5,000 police personnel assigned for security of non-MPs, Ministers: Tiran

Some 5,400 police personnel have been assigned for the security of individuals who are not either MPs or Ministers and a report has been called for regarding the matter, Public Security Minister Tiran Alles said today.

Ponnambalam faces travel ban over altercation with Police

The Kilinochchi Magistrate has imposed a travel ban on Ceylon Tamil Congress leader MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam. The order was issued over the incident that occurred in Jaffna between MP Ponnambalam and Police officers recently.

SLC appoints four-member technical committee for LPL

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has appointed a four-member technical committee for the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023.

Overlooked Dilshan Madushanka takes four wickets against South Africa ‘A’

Left-arm fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka, who was overlooked for the ODI series against Afghanistan, took four wickets as Sri Lanka ’A’ bowled out South Africa ’A’ for 175 runs in the second unofficial ODI in Pallekele.

Minister apologizes to Ven. Brahmawanso Thera for holding him back at BIA

While apologizing to Venerable Ajahn Brahmawanso Thera for holding him back at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for 12 hours, Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said today the inquiry conducted by the Civil Aviation Authority would reveal who was at fault and assured to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future.

Cabinet approval for 16% reduction on MRP of 60 medicinal drugs from 15 June

Cabinet approval was granted today to review the price of medicines every three months to reduce the maximum retail price (MRP) of 60 types of medicinal drugs by 16 percent with effect from 15 June.

Pakistan may pull out of Asia Cup after Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh reject ’Hybrid Model’: Report

Left with no option after Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan backed out of their proposed ’Hybrid Model’, hosts Pakistan may pull out of the Asia Cup in September.

Judgment in citizenship case against Diana postponed to July 25

The Court of Appeal today postponed to July 25 to deliver its judgment regarding the writ petition filed seeking an order declaring State Minister of Tourism Diana Gamage as not qualified to be a Member of Parliament since she is a British citizen.

Malinga finds his Mini-Mali

Former cricketer Lasith Malinga posted a special message on Facebook thanking social media users for helping him track down a nine-year-old boy whose bowling action had caught his attention.

Sweden declaring sex as a sport: ’False information to tarnish Sweden’

Several Indian media outlets, including Times of India, Hindustan Times, News18, India Today, recently published reports, which stated that Sweden has declared sex as a sport and the first-ever sex competition is scheduled to take place this week.

Gun running taking place parallel to drug trafficking: Minster

There is a disturbing trend of gun-running being carried out together with drug trafficking, while arms that were used during the conflict in the North have come into the South after the end of the conflict, Minister of National Security Tilan Alles revealed in Parliament today.

ICC to shift T20 World Cup 2024 to England from USA and West Indies :Reports

The T20 World Cup 2024 scheduled to be held in the West Indies and USA could well be shifted to a new venue due to the under-preparedness in the latter country. The current infrastructure in the USA which is not yet ready for the marquee event is forcing the ICC (International Cricket Council) to reconsider their options.

Minor earth tremor in Gampola

A minor earth tremor of Magnitude 2 on the Richter scale was reported in the Gampola area last night, a senior official of the Seismic Data and Tsunami Alert Centre (SDTAC) said. The tremor occured 10kms deep from the earth’s surface and only two telephone calls were received to report this, the SDTAC said.

PSC appointed to probe X-Press Pearl and New Diamond marine disasters

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena announced the appointment of a special Parliamentary Select Committee headed by Minister Ramesh Pathirana to look into the X-Press Pearl and New Diamond marine disasters.

Certain sections of Anti-corruption Bill inconsistent with Constitution: Speaker

The Supreme Court has observed that certain sections of the Anti-corruption Bill are inconsistent with the Constitution and can be passed if amendments set out by the Supreme Court are made, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene announced in Parliament today.

Andhra Pradesh Police seizes 240 kg of cannabis routed to Sri Lanka

Andhra Pradesh Police on Monday seized 240 kg of cannabis and arrested eight people at Sullurupeta in Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh that was planned to be dispatched to Sri Lanka.