SL looks to Indian visitors to restore battered tourism sector

Sri Lanka will hold road shows in five key Indian cities to attract more visitors from its populous northern neighbour in a bid to bring more foreign currency into the crisis-hit island, Tourism Minister said yesterday.

Only 50 trains operated today: Station Masters’ Union

Only 50 out of 280 trains were operated today at the Fort Railway station as a result railway workers did not turn up for duties owing to severe fuel crisis, the Sri Lanka Railways Station Masters’ Union (SLRSMU) said.

India should allow star players to take part in T20 leagues overseas: Aravinda

Former Sri Lanka captain Aravinda de Silva acknowledged that the IPL and other T20 leagues have benefited cricket, but urged India to allow star players to take part in tournaments overseas.

FR challenging presidential pardon given to Sunil Ratnayake fixed for support

Several fundamental rights petitions challenging the Presidential pardon given to ex-soldier Sunil Ratnayake were today fixed for support by the Supreme Court.

Some private bus operators indulge in diesel pilferage

Private bus operators who are allowed to tank up at the depots of the state –run bus service indulge in pilferage of diesel to be sold in the black market for undue profits without using their vehicles for passenger transportation during the crisis time, Daily Mirror learns.

SC fuller bench to hear petitions filed over economic crisis

Several Fundamental Rights petitions filed seeking an order to take legal action against those responsible for financial irregularities and mismanagement of the economy are to be heard on July 27 before a Supreme Court’s fuller bench.

GR speaks to Putin, asks for credit support to import fuel

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin has requested for credit support to import fuel from Russia as the Sri Lankan government runs dry without any fuel shipment in sight till July 22.

All-party govt will not be successful: SF

An All-Party government will not succeed as seniors in political parties will become cabinet ministers in such an eventuality thus creating divisions, SJB MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka told Parliament today.

Dhammika calls on Ranil to resign as Finance Min.

Investment Promotion Minister Dhammika Perera said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe should resign as the Finance Minister and from the post of Prime Minister immediately and the political game which he is playing needs to be stopped.

SL to pay colossal prices plus commissions for 40k MT of fuel: Harsha

Sri Lanka is agreeing to pay crazy prices plus commissions for a 40k MT of fuel, SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva alledged today.

President tells Nimal Siripala to step down temporarily

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has told Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva to step down temporarily from the position of Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation Services, until the investigations over an alleged transaction with a private company, are concluded, President’s Secretary Gamini Senarath said.

LITRO Gas distribution to resume on July 11: Prime Minister

Arrangements have been made to distribute LITRO Gas in Colombo on July 11 and 12 in 140 locations, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today.

Hirunika and group arrested for protesting near President's House

The Police arrested a group led by former MP Hirunika Premachandra who launched a protest near the President’s official House in Fort this morning.

Payment to be made today to bring down petrol shipment between July 13 and 15: Minister

Advance payment would be made today to freight petrol between 13,14 and 15, earlier than the scheduled shipment by July 22, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara said today.

Disney likely to lose exclusive rights to Mickey Mouse

Entertainment giant Disney is likely to lose exclusive rights to its iconic and most beloved cartoon character ‘Mickey Mouse’ in 2024.

Prices of medicines astronomically high; hard to find in local market: GMOA

The prices of medicine and medical equipment have increased three to four times in the local market, and it is very hard to find medicine and medical equipment due to the current economic crisis in the country, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) said.

Dalai Lama an icon who advocates democracy and freedom: Ven Prof Lenagala Sirinivasa

As one of the most revered spiritual leaders, His Holiness the Dalai Lama is an icon who advocates democracy and freedom not only for his country but also for the world, Ven Prof Lenagala Sirinivasa, Dean, Faculty of Language Studies, Buddhist and Pali University Sri Lanka said.

Expats who remit more dollars will be allowed to return back to work abroad: Manusha

The Labour and Foreign Employment Ministry has decided to allow only those who have sent significant amount of dollars to the country through legal channels to return back to work abroad.

I can turn around Sri Lanka’s economy- Prime Minister

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has said he is confident he can turn the economy around – but cautioned it will take 18 months before stability returns.

Govt. to streamline casino industry to boost tax collection

The Cabinet greenlighted a proposal to streamline the country’s casino industry in order to recover tax dues owed by casino operators and to bring in legislative amendments to give effect to proposed tax increases.

Opp. parties, Govt factions make fresh bid for all party government

In a fresh bid for the formation of an all party government, the parties in the opposition, bar the JVP-led National Peoples’ Power, and some factions of the ruling side met in the parliamentary complex yesterday to discuss the way forward, but the event was marred by differences of opinion, Daily Mirror learns.

Ranil has no powers to appoint me as PM even if he resigns: Anura

Claiming that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had no powers to appoint him as Prime Minister, even if the latter stepped down, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday there was a plan to remove Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister.

No train strike tonight

The Sri Lanka Railways Station Masters’ Union (SLRSMU) has decided to cancel the scheduled train strike tonight, following decisions taken by the Railways General Manager.

C.W. Mackie PLC – Scan Products Division launches ‘Recycle for Future Generation’

Corporates and the private sector play a main part in plastic waste generation and the ensuing environmental, marine, and social damage. With this in mind, more and more global and local corporates are adopting the extended producer responsibility (EPR) policy that holds producers accountable for the collection and recycling of plastic volumes they produce and release to the market.

Husband arrested over murder of admin officer's wife

The husband of the administrative officer of the Polonnaruwa, Lankapura Divisional Secretariat had been arrested on suspicion of her murder.

140 trains cancelled; no fuel for railway workers to report for duty

Nearly 140 trains, including office and intercity trains scheduled for today have been cancelled due to a strike launched by the railway workers in Colombo, the Sri Lanka Railways Station Masters’ Union (SLRSMU) said.

Cardinal calls for resignation of President and Govt.

Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malclom Ranjith today called for the resignation of the President and the government and to form a new multiparty interim administration to resolve the crisis in the nation and to bring in a total system change.

Army officer seen assaulting civilian at fuel shed, relieved off duties till probe completed

The army officer who was seen assaulting a civilian at the Yagghapitiya Petrol Station has been relieved off his duties with immediate effect by Army Commander Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage until the 5-member Court of Inquiry recommendations are received.

Summon PUCSL Chairman before COPE over his statement on fuel import: Wijeyadasa

Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa today requested the Speaker to take steps to summon Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) before Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) tomorrow to clarify his claim that a litre of fuel could be sold at Rs. 250.

Verbal battle erupts between RW and SP

A verbal battle between Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa rocked Parliament today with Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene warning that he would have to suspend the sessions if the agenda is not followed.