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.

Rice must be sold under controlled price from tonight: Dudley Sirisena

All rice varieties should be sold under the government approved controlled price from tonight, the President of Rice Millers Association Dudley Sirisena said today.

Unanimous support on need to stand with Lanka in difficult time, says S. Jaishankar Indian External

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on June 18 chaired a parliamentary consultative committee meeting on the situation in Sri Lanka and said there was ’’unanimous support’’ on the need to stand with the neighbouring country in this difficult time.

Website to check fuel availability shut down temporarily

The official website (fuel.gov.lk) of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has been temporarily shut down.

Online education for schools in Colombo City limits next week: Ministry

A school holiday has been announced for all government and government approved private schools in the Colombo city limits next week, the Education Ministry Secretary said.

Sapugaskanda may shut down if govt. unable to bring crude oil shipment: Union

If the government is unable to bring a crude oil shipment, there is a possibility of shutting down the Sapugaskanda refinery after June 23, the Petroleum General Employees Union President Ashoka Ranwala said.

Cardiac surgeons, anesthesiologists to limit operations from Monday

The cardiac surgeons and cardiac anesthesiologists at national hospitals have claimed that they have decided to curtail several operations from Monday (20) due to the shortage of drugs and consumables and the fuel crisis.

Discussions underway over online schooling for students

A special discussion is being held at the Education Ministry today regarding the continuation of school activities due to the current situation.

Financial losses loom for Sri Lanka apparel sector

The export earnings in Sri Lanka’s clothing sector for the June to August period are set to fall by 20-25 percent, with the sector likely to miss the US $ 6 billion export target for the year, as the country’s political and economic crisis continues unabated.

Sri Lanka should have gone to IMF sooner, says Central Bank Governor

Sri Lanka could have avoided its current economic turmoil if it had gone to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout sooner, the country’s Central Bank Governor says.

Prevailing crisis situation led to closure of Peradeniya University

Peradeniya University will be closed from today due to the present deepening crisis situation, Vice Chancellor Prof. M. D. Lamawansa said.

Six cops injured in Athurugiriya petrol shed clash: Nine arrested

Nine persons including a woman have been arrested in connection with an incident that took place near a filling station in Athurugiriya, police said.

WB expects SL economy to contract by 7.8% in 2022

The World Bank (WB) expects Sri Lanka’s economy to contract by 7.8 percent in the year 2022, a grim outlook, due to the country battling with severe shortages in electricity, food and fuel.

Amarasekera and Weerasinghe to head several listed firms of Dhammika Perera

President’s Counsel Harsha Amarasekera and businessman A.M. Weerasinghe have been chosen to fill the shoes of business magnate Dhammika Perera in several listed entities.

Court orders nine suspects including ’Ratta’ arrested

The Fort Magistrate yesterday ordered police to arrest nine suspects, including Rathindu Senaratne alias ’Ratta’, Wasantha Mudalige and Lahiru Weerasekara for being part of the violent incidents at Fort and Talangama on June 6 and 9 and produce them before courts.

COPA instructs to prepare 10-year Economic Development Plan

The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) has directed the Department of External Resources to prepare a specific 10-year Economic Development Plan aimed at the economic development of the country and to seek assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the same.

Negombo Hospital murder case CA affirms death sentence for the Doctor

The appeal filed by Indika Sudarshana - the doctor who was convicted, was dismissed

Food crisis likely to affect around four to five million people - PM

A committee headed by Parliamentarian Nimal Lansa to be appointed to look into mitigation efforts of food crisis

Aeroflot willing to resume flights to Colombo if SL gives assurance

Russia-based carrier Aeroflot is willing to resume flight operations to Sri Lanka if the government assures that its aircrafts will not be detained again, an official said. Sri Lanka

Watchful visiting Galle Face, Protest site due to rising crimes: Police urge public

Police today urged the public to be more vigilant while frequenting Galle Face Green and ’’GotaGoGama’ protest area due to rising crimes including thefts.

Two-week ’work from home’ for public servants from next week

A two-week period of work-from-home has been declared for public servants by the government from June 20, 2022.

Distribute existing fuel stocks in a systematic manner: President

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed the relevant officials to take measures to ensure that the stocks of fuel currently received and to be received within the next few days, will be systematically distributed to fuel stations islandwide.

Growing animosity between Prez, PM: Maithri

Former President Maithripala Sirisena said there is growing animosity between President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe like a rivalry.

Inadequate diesel supply may lead to extended powercuts: CEB

If there is no additional stock of diesel is supplied to maintain the system once the Norochcholai power plant which will be shutdown at 12:00 midnight today, power cut will have to be extended to around four hours, CEB Engineering Association Secretary Eranga Kudahewa said.

Sri Lanka facing its longest queues ever today

Sri Lanka is currently experiencing its longest fuel queues in its history today due to limited issuance of diesel and petrol stocks.

Basil hospitalised

Former minister Basil Rajapaksa has been admitted to a private Hospital in Colombo.

Police sergeant shoots himself in Tangalle

A police sergeant attached to the Tangalle Police Station has died after shooting himself outside the Tangalle DIG’s office.

Agnipath Row: Violent protests in Bihar, train set on fire in Secunderabad - unrest across India

At least three trains were set ablaze and a ruling BJP legislator attacked on Thursday in Bihar by Army job aspirants whose protest against the Centre’s short-term recruitment scheme for military, “Agnipath”, continued for the second consecutive day.

Prosecutors drop case over death of detained Sri Lankan in Japan

Public prosecutors in Japan will drop their case against senior officials from the Nagoya Regional Immigration Services Bureau over the death of a Sri Lankan woman at an immigration detention facility, according to sources.

Special Jaffna-Colombo express train service from today

After introducing special passenger transportation plans from June 15, the Railway Department has launched an intercity luxury express train service from Mount Lavinia to Jaffna today.