Petrol shipment due tonight

A ship carrying 35,000 MT of petrol will berth in Colombo ports tonight and the discharging process scheduled to begin tomorrow, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said.

Vehicle registrations, issuing revenue licence on weekdays

The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) has decided to provide their service during weekdays in the Western Province (WP) soon after restoring the fuel crisis to some extent.

SJB MP Wedaarachchi’s brother arrested

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Dilip Wedaarachchi’s brother Nihal Wedaarachchi has been arrested by the Tangalle Police in connection with May 9 violence near Carlton House in Tangalle.

Ranjan to decide whether to apologize for contempt of court

Former MP Ranjan Ramanayake is currently discussing with his lawyers to decide whether to submit an apology for contempt of court, one of his legal consultants said today.

EU encourages SL to devote attention on GSP+, IMF, HR Council

Ambassadors of the European Union countries to Sri Lanka who met President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday encouraged the President to devote special attention to ongoing key processes of GSP+, IMF and Human Rights Council.

Aussie cricketers donate prizemoney to SL appeal

Australia’s men’s cricketers have donated their prizemoney from the recent tour of Sri Lanka to support children and families impacted by the nation’s worst economic crisis in decades.

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith tests positive for COVID-19

Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has tested positive for COVID 19, a spokesman from the Archbishop’s house said yesterday.

British instagrammer in SL informed to leave SL

The British national, Kayleigh Fraser whose passport was taken in for examination by the Immigration and Emigration Department for posting content about protests on Social Media, has been informed to leave Sri Lanka before August 15.

Personal data provided by public is processed only for facilitating NFP System: ICTA

Any personal data provided by the public through online registration process located at fuelpass.gov.lk is processed only for the purpose of facilitating the use of the National Fuel Pass (NFP) System, the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) said.

Cabinet status for parliamentary committee chairpersons?

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has pledged to form a new administration and has also stressed the importance of giving powers to chairpersons of parliamentary committees similar to Cabinet Ministers.

GR to return to SL in 3 months as options run out

Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will return back to Sri Lanka in November after his 90 day Thai visa runs out, and as he runs out of options to receive temporary shelter in another country, the Daily Mirror learns.

Hoteliers say electricity tariff hike unfair given their meagre revenue

Sri Lanka’s hospitality sector yesterday said the electricity tariff hike announced this week would further hurt the tourism industry, as it is not in a position to bear any further pain with the current meagre revenue.

Indian funded housing projects to be expedited

Housing schemes which are carried out using Indian assistance in the South and in the North is to be expedited following an order from Housing and Construction Minister Prasanna Ranatunga.

Overtime payment to refinery workers; Minister to present detailed report in Parliament

Admitting that Rs. 400 million has been paid as overtime to Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) workers, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said yesterday he would present a detailed report in Parliament on the payments.

All MPs must ensure 22A adopted unanimously: Karu Jayasuriya

While appreciating the submission of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution in Parliament, the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) said it is the responsibility of the people’s representatives to ensure it is adopted unanimously.

CAA, Trade minister must provide relief to people in rural, town areas: Canteen Owners Assn.

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) Chairman and Trade Minister should implement a plan to grant concessions to reduce prices of essential commodities for people in rural and town areas, at least through SATHOSA outlets, the All Island Canteen Owners’ Association (AICOA) said.

No power cut tomorrow and Sunday

There will be no scheduled power cuts tomorrow (11) and on Sunday (14), the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) said

Death threats to NTC officials for reducing bus fares

Following the discussion between the National Transport Commission (NTC) officials and the private bus owners regarding the revision of bus fares, the bus owners behaved violently and threatened the NTC officials with death.

Thailand says former Sri Lanka president Rajapaksa seeks visit, not seeking asylum

Thailand has received a request for former Sri Lanka president Gotabaya Rajapaksa to visit the country, but he has no intention of seeking political asylum, Thailand’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday (Aug 10).

Prices of all communication services to go up: Communication Owners’ Assn.

Due to an unfair increase in the electricity tariff, the All Ceylon Communication Owners’ Association (ACCOA) has decided to increase photocopy and printout rates by Rs.5.

SL will get negative impact on long-term friendship with China: ASLCSCC

The government’s decision to postpone the arrival of the Chinese ship Yuan Wang 5 at Hambatota port, would have a negative impact on the long-term friendship between Sri Lanka and China, the Association for Sri Lanka-China Social and Cultural Cooperation (ASLCSCC) said.

Opposition calls for debate on electricity tarrif hike

The opposition today called for a debate on the eletricity tariff hike, claiming that people would be further burdened due to this decision.

Fire breaks out at Durdans Hospital hostel

A fire broke out at the Durdans Hospital hostel, which is a rented property in Kollupitiya a short while ago, and several fire fighting trucks have arrived at the scene.

Arjuna Ranatunga appointed National Sports Council Chairman

Former Sri Lanka Cricket captain and former MP Arjuna Ranatunga has been appointed as the Chairman of the National Sports Council.

Travel ban on Mahinda and Basil further extended till Sept.5

The Supreme Court today further extended its interim order preventing former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa from leaving the country until September 5. (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)

Sapugaskanda refinery to resume operations from August 15: Minister

The Sapugaskanda oil refinery would resume operations from August 15 after the crude oil shipment sailed in on August 13, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara said today.

Four writ petitions filed by Galle Face protesters withdrawn

Four writ petitions filed by Galle Face protesters before Court of Appeal seeking an order preventing the authorities from removing the protest site at Gota Go Gama in Galle Face Green were today withdrawn by themselves.

Sri Lanka’s ousted president expected to go to Thailand - sources

Sri Lanka’s ousted president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, is expected to arrive in Thailand on Thursday, seeking temporary shelter in a second Southeast Asian country after fleeing his island nation last month amid mass protests, two sources said.

22nd Amendment to Constitution presented in Parliament

Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe presented in Parliament the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution a short while ago.

Measures to prevent crop damage from animals within two months

The Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Ministry said that they will implement a work plan to minimise the damage caused by wild animals to food crops within two months.