Kanchana leaves for Qatar to discuss fuel crisis

Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera left for Qatar this afternoon (27) to discuss fuel issue with the Qatar officials.

No fuel for private vehicles, only essential services

The cabinet of ministers today decided to issue fuel only for essential services from mid night today(27) until July 10, Cabinet spokesman Minister Bandula Gunawardane said.

Train disruptions possible if SMs, junior staff don’t report to work

Due to the current fuel crisis in the country and the difficulties Station Masters (SM) and junior staff reporting are facing to report for work, there is a possibility of disruption to train services in the future, Sri Lanka Railways Station Masters’ Union (SLRSMU) said.

Not possible to purchase fuel from any nation: Champika

It is not possible to purchase fuel from any nation without restoring Sri Lanka’s image in the world which is tarnished badly, an opposition MP said today.

PUCSL to convene stakeholder consultation

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) is to convene a stakeholder consultation on the proposed revision of electricity tariffs.

No scientific approach or formula followed during recent fuel price revision

The recent fuel price revision was not done according to any formula or any scientific manner but was based on a report released on estimated cost of imported refined petroleum products, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) chairman Janaka Rathnayake said.

Man complaints of daughter’s affair with Indian woman

A complaint has been lodged against a 24 year old Indian woman who was allegedly in a relationship with a 33 year old woman in Akkaraipattuwa, police said today.

Visiting high-level US officials meet President

The visiting high-level delegation of officials representing the US State Department and the Treasury Department met with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung said.

Suspect arrested over killing of funeral parlour owner

A 46-year-old suspect has been arrested by the Special Task Force of Police (STF) in connection with the shooting and killing of a funeral parlour owner at Middeniya in Embilipitiya.

Five injured as bus crashes on queued up motorcycles for fuel in Batticaloa

At least five persons who were waiting in a fuel queue at Oorani in Batticaloa were injured when a bus rammed with five motorcycles early this morning on the Eravur-Batticaloa Main Road.

Cop in soup for riding motorcycle on expressway

The Expressway Traffic Police have arrested a police constable for causing an accident while riding a motorcycle on the Southern Expressway.

Expert warns about transmissible Omicron variant BA.5

Head of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology at Sri Jayewardenepura University, Dr. Chandima Jeewandara said yesterday that the latest COVID-19 Omicron variant BA.5 is the most transmissible and immune-evasive lineage detected since the pandemic began.

SL runs out of fuel and no new shipments ordered

Sri Lanka has run out of fuel as only 1,100 tonnes of petrol and 7,500 tonnes of diesel are remaining which is not even sufficient to last the country for a day, highly placed sources from the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Trade Union told Daily Mirror last evening.

China offers SL to establish sales galleries to showcase export products

The Chinese authorities have offered to assist Sri Lanka for the establishment of sales galleries in three provinces - Yunnan, Sichuan and Beijing - to showcase export products, an official said.

May tourism income halves deepening country’s forex crisis

Foreign exchange income from tourism, the largest services inflow to Sri Lanka after remittances, more than halved in May as the island nation’s economic crisis and the resultant social unrest appears to be getting worse.

Banking body urges decisive wave of global rate hikes to stem inflation

The world’s central bank umbrella body, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), has called for interest rates to be raised “quickly and decisively” to prevent the surge in inflation turning into something even more problematic.

Credit card spend weakens further in May as rates go into restrictive territory 

People appeared to have cut back on their credit card spending and instead settled their balances after banks raised their rates to 30 percent effective from May as both banks and card users digested the reality of the rising rates in the economy.

Revised notice on conducting schools from June 27 to July 1 issued

The Ministry of Education has issued the directive to close schools in the Colombo region of the Western Province and the suburban cities, as well as the schools in major cities in other provinces, until July 1.

Man killed, two year old child and woman injured in shooting in Peliyagoda

A 32 year old man was killed and his 2-year-old son and another woman were hospitalised following a shooting incident at Pattiya Junction in Peliyagoda tonight.

3-hour power cuts from 27th June - 03rd July

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has approved 3 hours power cut from June 27 to July 3.

Govt. implements token system for fuel distribution

The government has decided to implement a token system dedicated for filling stations to supply fuel for those waiting in queues to obtain petrol and diesel, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said.

No point queuing up at petrol sheds: Bowser Assn.

There is no use of queuing for petrol as stocks of fuel in hand with Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) storage facilities have run out, the Ceylon Petroleum Private Bowser Owners Association (CPPBOA) said.

Expressway revenue declined due to fuel scarcity

The daily revenue on the expressway has declined to Rs.15-16 million due to the current fuel shortage, Highway Operations (Maintenance and Management) Direcor Nihal Ludowyke said.

No buses from Tuesday if no annual bus fare revision considered tomorrow: Gemunu

Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) today requested to consider the annual bus fare revision by tomorrow with the recent hike in the price of diesel, if no favourable response received, bus services will grind to a halt from Tuesday (28).

Update: Two killed, two incl. 4-yr old girl injured in fire in house

Two persons were killed and another two persons including a 4-year old girl were hospitalized following a fire that broke out at a house in Magammana, Kahathuduwa last night.

Lunch packet prices up by 10% from today

The All Island Canteen Owners Association (AICOA) has decided to increase all foods, including vegetable rice packets by 10% from the current price.

CPC gains from petrol, super diesel; incurs losses from auto diesel, kerosene

With the increase of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) fuel prices from early this morning, the estimated cost of imported refined petroleum products was released by the Power and Energy Minister.

US delegation arrives in Sri Lanka

A high-level delegation from the US Treasury and the State Department arrived in Sri Lanka this morning for a three-day official visit.

Tuk Tuk fares up; Rs.90 for second km onwards

The three wheeler fare for the second kilometre has been increased to Rs. 90 from today, the All-Island Three-Wheeler Drivers’ Union President Lalith Dharmasekera said.

CPC, LIOC increased fuel prices

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has decided to increase the fuel prices with effect from 2.00 am today.