SL born Cassandra Fernando to enter in Australian federal Parliament

Sri Lankan born Holt Labor Candidate Cassandra Fernando won a seat at the Australian federal election which was held on Saturday to elect members of the 47th Parliament of Australia.

President congratulates Anthony Albanese

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has congratulated the Australian prime minister-elect, Anthony Albanese on winning the election and said the government is looking forward to working with him.

SL family in Australia sheds ‘happy tears’ as Labor win paves path home to Biloela

The Tamil asylum seekers in Australia at the centre of a years-long grassroots campaign to save them from deportation to Sri Lanka will be going home to the small central Queensland town of Biloela.

India supplies another 40,000 metric tonnes of diesel to Sri Lanka

India has supplied another 40,000 MT consignment of diesel to Sri Lanka to help ease the fuel shortage in the country.

Australian election: Anthony Albanese ‘humbled’ to be next PM as voters abandon Coalition

Anthony Albanese will be Australia’s next prime minister, leaving the Coalition in disarray after it lost more than a dozen seats to Labor and independents in an election that has transformed the country’s political landscape.

Update: CID grills IGP, STF Commandant over May 9 incidents

The Criminal Investigations Division (CID) recorded statements from IGP C.D. Wickramaratne and the Commandant of the STF for nearly five hours over the incidents which took place at Kollupitiya and Galle Face on May 9.

Special arrangements for exam officials to get fuel

All arrangements, including supply of fuel for public transport and examination staff, have been made for the GCE Ordinary Level (O/L) examination which begins on Monday (23), Examinations Department Commissioner Ggeneral L.M.D. Dharmasena said.

COPA instructs ‘Water Lily’ to be identified as SL’S National Flower

The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) has instructed the Ministry of Environment to make the public aware of the national flower of Sri Lanka as the ’Water Lily Flower’ through the National Institute of Education, the University Grants’ Commission and other relevant agencies and through newspaper advertisements, a statement from the Parliamentary Media Unit said .

Scott Morrison confirms vessel from Sri Lanka intercepted while en route to Australia

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed a boat from Sri Lanka was intercepted on Saturday morning while illegally en route to Australia.

LITRO to introduce Mobile app on gas distribution from Monday

The LITRO gas is to introduce a mobile application to alert the consumers and agents about the supply, distribution and availability of LP gas.

Drone technology used to get info to attack ministers’ houses

Leader of the House Minister Dinesh Gunawardene told Parliament yesterday that the attack on politicians’ houses had been carried out after obtaining information through drone footages.

3,900MT LP gas unloaded; 80,000 cylinders could be released from today: LITRO head

The LITRO Gas today said that they have resumed the process of releasing 80,000 domestic gas cylinders per day, its Chairman Vijitha Herath today said.

10-hour water cut in Colombo today

A 10-hour water cut will be in place in several areas in Colombo today, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) said.

COPE instructs Litro to supply gas to highly residential areas

Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has instructed Litro gas to focus on supplying gas to highly residential areas, the Parliament unit said.

Fitch Ratings downgrades Sri Lanka to ‘Restricted Default’ from ‘C’

Fitch Ratings downgraded Sri Lanka’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency (LTFC) Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to Restricted Default (RD), from ‘C’.

Technical discussions with IMF to conclude on May 24: Spokesman Rice

The technical discussions between Sri Lanka and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on a potential loan programme will come to a close on May 24, IMF Spokesman Gerry Rice said.

Tourism sector stakeholders welcome new minister

The private sector stakeholders yesterday congratulated Harin Fernando on his appointment as the new Tourism and Lands Minister.

Some organized groups threatening to set fire to fuel trucks: Minister

Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said that some organized groups are preventing fuel trucks to pass certain areas demanding they be unloaded at different fuel stations and threatening to set fire to them.

Airforce denies MP Arundika Fernando’s claim that he served in SLAF

The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) today denied the statement made by SLPP MP Arundhika Fernando that he has served in the SLAF as a pilot or even as a cadet officer.

Issuing admission letters to national schools suspended: Ministry

Issuing letters for seeking admission to national schools for children have been temporarily suspended with effect from today, the Education Ministry said.

CID grills Namal over May 9 incidents

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is currently recording a statement from SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa over the incidents at Kollupitiya and Galle Face Green on May 9.

India extending aid to crisis-hit Sri Lanka, proves long lasting relationship between two nations

’’A bad neighbor is a misfortune ,as much as a good one is a great blessing.’’ This means that every country needs a good neighbour with friendly relations, which is essential to maintain peace and progress of a country.

Harin, Manusha to push GR to go home

Newly appointed Cabinet Ministers Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara asserted that they will push President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to step down.

We don’t get away from investigations: Namal

Expressing that they would not get away from investigations over the attack on ’GotaGoGama, former Minister Namal Rajapaksa said today they would offer full support to the investigations.

No objection allowing compensation to MPs who lost property

SJB MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka said today he does not object granting compensation to parliamentarians who lost their houses and property due to recent violent incidents.

SLFP MPs accepted portfolios against party decision: Maithri

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Parliamentarians have accepted Ministry Portfolios in contrary to the decision by the party, SLFP Chairman former President Maithripala Sirisena said today.

LIOC stops issuing fuel to cans, containers, bottles with immediate effect

The Lanka IOC today announced that they have decided not to issue fuel to cans, containers, or bottles with immediate effect.

CPC suspends issuing fuel for four filling stations

Measures have been taken to suspend fuel supply to four filling stations with effect from today after having found they acted in contrary to the instructions and regulations laid down by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC).

SJB to take disciplinary action against Harin, Manusha

Disciplinary action would be taken against SJB MPs who were sworn in as Ministers, Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella said today.

Nine new Cabinet Ministers appointed

Nine new Cabinet ministers have been sworn in before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today.