Siezed V8 not Zahran Hashim’s; it belongs to another Easter Sunday bomber: Police

Responding to the reports that former Minister of Public Security Sarath Weerasekara was using a V8 luxury vehicle used earlier by Zahran Hashim who led the Easter Sunday Attacks, the police said a vehicle used by Zahran has not been seized by the police.

JVP protestors occupy one lane of High Level road

One lane of the High Level road up to Police Park has been blocked due to a protest march by the members of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP).

Lawyers urge CJ not to list Magistrate Thilina Gamage to hear Galle Face protest case

A group of lawyers has requested Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya not to list any action instituted by police against the peaceful protesters at the Galle Face Green being heard before Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage.

Uni lecturers protest blocks one lane of Galle road

One lane of the road leading to the Presidential Secretariat from Kollupitiya junction was blocked due to a protest march conducted by the university lecturers.

Bread up by Rs.30, others by Rs.10 from tonight: Bakery Owners’ Assn.

The price of a 450g loaf of bread will be increased by Rs. 30 from tonight, while other bakery items will go up by Rs.10, the All Ceylon Bakery Owners’ Association (ACBOA) said.

Possible scarcity of certain drugs within next three months: Health Minister

There would be a shortage of certain drugs in the next three months due to the delay in opening Letters of Credit (LCs), Health Minister Channa Jayasumana said today.

Pilliyan to be sworn in as State Minister

Batticaloa District MP and Leader of the TMVP, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pilliyan will be sworn in as the State Minister of Rural Roads and Other Infrastructure before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today evening.

35% busfare hike from tonight, minimum fare will increase to Rs.27

Following discussions with the Private Bus Owners’ Associations today, a 35 per cent bus fare revision will come into effect from tonight.

Opposition questions Sarath Weerasekara using Zahran’s V8

SJB MP Harin Fernando questioned as to how former Minister of Public Security Sarath Weerasekara was using the V8 luxury vehicle used by suicide bomber Zahran Hashim who led the Easter Sunday Attacks.

India asks IMF to assist Sri Lanka

Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva , in her meeting with Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, praised India for extending financial support to Sri Lanka , a statement from the Indian government said .

Parliament sessions suspended due to tense situation

Parliament sessions were suspended for ten minutes after a tense situation prevailed, a short while ago.

Wheat flour prices increased by Rs.40

The Prima Ceylon (Pvt) Limited has decided to increase the price of wheat flour by Rs. 40 with immediate effect.

Suspect arrested while selling 6 precious Elephant Pearls

A suspect was arrested for the possession of six Elephant Pearls (Gajamuthu) worth over Rs. 10 million during a raid carried out by the STF in Hingurana.

40 Independent MPs sit in opposition in Parliament

Forty MPs from SLFP and SLPP including former President Maithripala Sirisena, Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gammanpila and Vasudewa Nanayakkawa who have decided to function independently in Parliament today sat in the opposition.

Sudden fuel price hike by CPC draws widespread protests across country

Several protests are being witnessed across the country, especially in major towns after the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) increased the price of fuel from midnight yesterday.

Sri Lanka asks IMF for rapid financial assistance

Sri Lanka has made a request to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) support to mitigate supply chain issues, a finance minister aide said in a tweet on Tuesday.

Moody’s downgrades Sri Lanka to Ca

Moody’s on Monday downgraded Sri Lanka to Ca from Caa2 following the government’s suspension of principal and coupon payments on offshore public debt.

School van fares to go up by Rs.1,000

The All Island School Van Operators’ Association (AISVOA) today said that they are compelled to increase the school van fares by Rs.1,000 as the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has increased its prices from last night.

Lunch packets to go up by 20%: Canteen Owners’ Assn.

The price of lunch packets will be increased by 20% in the wake of the price of a litre of diesel going up by Rs.113 from last night, Head of the All Island Canteen Owners’ Association Asela Sampath said today.

SJB rejects new cabinet

While rejecting the move by the president to appoint a new cabinet, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) yesterday called for an immediate repealing of the 20th Amendment to the constitution and for the appointment of a committee of party leaders to scrap the Executive Presidency.

Fitch cuts Sri Lanka’s economic growth to 1% this year

Fitch Ratings slashed Sri Lanka’s economic growth in 2022 to mere one percent amid the expected deceleration in demand, due to tightening monetary policy and the ongoing foreign exchange troubles, which have caused massive shortages of key commodities and medicines.

CB Governor says unprecedented rate hike aimed at slowing down production, inflation

The new Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said the objective of the sharp increase in interest rates is to drastically reduce the aggregate demand conditions already prevalent in the economy and thereby slowdown the production by increasing the cost of production.

CPC also increases fuel prices; petrol by Rs.84 & diesel by Rs. 113

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has decided to increase the fuel prices with effect from midnight today.

Six men sentenced to death over lynching of Sri Lankan man

Prosecutors in Pakistan on Monday said that six men had been sentenced to death for the lynching of Sri Lankan national Priyantha Kumara in December of last year.

Country heading towards massive antibiotics scarcity: Pharmacy Owners’ Assn.

The country is heading towards a massive shortage of antibiotics that are used to treat from minor to major infections in children and even adults, All-Island Private Pharmacy Owners’ Association (ACPPOA) President Chandika Gankanda said.

Army doesn’t mean harm to peaceful civilians, neither does it hatch ‘secret’ agendas as alleged”: Army Chief

Chief of Defence Staff and Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said yesterday that the Sri Lanka Army does not mean harm to people whom they have committed to protect and neither does it hatch secret agendas as alleged.

Face masks in public not mandatory from today

Wearing face masks in public has been made not compulsory with efect from today (18) , Health Minister Channa Jayasumana said.

President accepts not providing chemical fertilizer was a mistake

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa admitted today that he made a mistake by banning chemical farming, and therefore he decided to re-introduce it. He also said the government should have reached out to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a programme much earlier.

21 State Ministers including SLFP MP sworn in

A total of 21 new State Ministers were sworn in before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today.

Fort police files report regarding Galle Face protest

The Colombo Fort Police today filed a facts report pertaining to the public protest which has been continuing in the Galle Face green area.