Finance Ministry Secy. late to attend IMF meeting due to protest: 21 protesters arrested

Twenty-one persons including a Buddhist monk were arrested by the Police and the STF for blocking two entrances to the Finance Ministry and the Presidential Secretariat.

Australia to provide $50 Mn for urgent food and healthcare needs

Australia will provide $50 million in Official Development Assistance to support Sri Lanka meet urgent food and healthcare needs, Australian High Commission in Sri Lanka said.

Three including MP Sanath Nishantha’s brother arrested

Three men including the brother of MP Sanath Nishantha have been arrested on charges of causing bodily harm to people and obstructing the duties of policemen at a filling station in Arachchikattuwa.

Buses, trains run smoothly today

All Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) buses and trains are running as usual as per scheduled time tables, SLTB and Railways officials said.

Clare O’Neil visits Sri Lanka for talks on how Australia can assist country’s economic crisis

Australian Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil will visit Sri Lanka on Monday as the South Asian neighbour continues to struggle with its economic and humanitarian crises.

Protesters blocking entrance to Presidential Secretariat removed

Protesters, who commenced a protest by blocking two other entrances to the Presidential Secretariat in Galle Face last night, were removed and taken into police custody a short while ago.

PM commences talks with IMF Delegation

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe commenced discussions with the IMF delegation a short while ago at the Prime Minister’s Office.

UN, US urge SL to probe any excessive use of force

Following series of incidents at filling stations in the recent past between the public and the law enforcement authorities the United Nations and the US have called on the Sri Lankan authorities to investigate any excessive use of force.

Nearly 5 million people food insecure

Nearly 5 million people, or 22 per cent of the Sri Lankan population, are food insecure and in need of assistance, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said.

Teachers’ attendance not ’must’ this week: Edu Minister

Except for academic staff and security force officials, teachers are not required to report for duty in schools today where the activities in the main educational zones are on mute, since this week is considered a school holiday, according to Education Minister Susil Premajayantha.

All island private bus service will return to normal after tomorrow: Gemunu

The Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) yesterday said that all-Island private bus services will resume to normalcy after tomorrow following the decision of the Power and Energy Minister.

Global financial agencies or donor countries would not come forward to bail out SL: Sirisena

Global financial agencies or donor countries would not come forward to bail out Sri Lanka from her current economic, political and social mess as long as Gotabaya Rajapaksa – Ranil Wickremesinghe kleptocracy remains in power, former President and SLFP leader Maithripala Sirisena said.

Sri Lanka comes to grinding halt as fuel runs out

Sri Lankan economy comes to a complete standstill from today as the country has run out of fuel, bringing all economic activities to an abrupt halt as the government declared holiday for most State sector services, suspended schools and universities and asked the private sector to work-from-home.

Newly-restored Embilipitiya Paper Mill to save extensive outflow of dollars, says BOI

Korean SPA Packaging (Pvt.) Ltd (KSPA) recently signed an agreement with the Board of Investment (BOI) with respect to the resumption of the operation at the defunct Embilipitiya Paper Mill, which had discontinued its production since 2012.

Pathum Nissanka century gives Sri Lanka 2-1 series lead vs Australia

Pathum Nissanka’s magnificent century powered Sri Lanka to a six-wicket win in the third ODI of the five-match series against Australia on Sunday at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Govt plotting to arrest protesters on court orders: JVP alleges

The government has launched a cold hunt on leaders of the struggle, activists and people who demand basic rights instead of trying to meet basic needs of the people, JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva said today.

LITRO clarifies freight costs on 280,000 MT LPG Tender for 2022–23

LITRO Gas Lanka Ltd has issued a statement clarifying the truth behind the Freight Costs pertaining to the 280,000 MT International LPG Tender for the period 2022-23.

No lockdown planned

Government officials today said that no curfew or lockdown had been planned for the coming days, but schools would switch to an online learning method and government employees would begin a work-from-home policy for two weeks.

Don’t queue up for petrol next three- four days: Minister

Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera today requested people not to queue up for petrol next three-four days.

General election could be held if no other option remains: Harsha

A general election could be held if that is the only option available to bring political stability, Samagi Jana Balawegaya ( SJB) MP Harsha De Silva said today.

SLBFE warns people of scammers promising foreign employments

Claiming that some scammers were defrauding money from people promising them foreign employments, Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employments (SLBFE) warned people seeking foreign employments to be cautious of such scams.

Liyoni Kotelawala passes away

Veteran actress Liyoni Kotelawala has passed away this morning at the age of 78.

Army clarifies on Vishwamadu incident: Three soldiers injured

The Army said that yesterday’s incident at a fuel station in Vishwamadu was a deliberate attempt by some suspicious elements to sabotage the goodwill and the cooperation that prevail between members of the Security Forces and the general public.

Police to use minimal force against violence near petrol sheds

The Ministry of Public Security has instructed the police to use minimal force against those who behave violently near filling stations and during protests.

Shots fired into air as tension flared up in Vishwamadu

A tension flared up near a fuel station in Vishwamadu between a group of people and soldiers.

Suspect killed when police officer’s pistol discharged during raid in Neluwa

One person was killed when a firearm of a police officer had discharged during a raid in a house in Neluwa, Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said.

China-built Norochcholai Coal Power Plant requires feasible approach to avoid frequent shutdowns

The Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant, more commonly known as the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant (NCPP) is a 900-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power station located in the village of Narakkalli and Penaiyadi near Norochcholai, within Puttalam District, on the West Coast of the Kalpitiya Peninsula.

Licences of three fuel trucks suspended

Following illegal fuel pumping video footages circulated on social media, the licenses of three fuel trucks have been suspended, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said.

Schools in main cities to be closed for a week

All government and government-approved private schools in Colombo city limits as well as schools in other main cities in the other provinces will be closed during the next week, the Education Ministry said.

Youth dies after getting jammed between train and platform

A 23-year old young man died after having fallen from a moving train at the Matara railway station last night.