Ranil says no national govt. but calls for all parties to unite to come out of crises

Rumours have been rife that UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe is in talks with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to form a national government amidst the ongoing crises, but sources close to Wickremesinghe yesterday denied these rumours saying the UNP Leader would not form a national government.

Health Ministry refutes rumours of lower testing rates

Responding to reports where it is stated that number of daily cases has gone down due to the lower testing rates, the Health Ministry said there is nothing of that sort.

Mendis Distilleries suspended from functioning: Semasinghe

Mendis Distilleries which is owned by Arjun Aloysius is yet to settle due tax arrears and therefore it has not been allowed to function, State Minister Shehan Semasinghe told Parliament today.

Government willing to amend laws on abortion: Minister

Government is willing to amend laws pertaining to abortion subjected to conditions, Parliament was informed today.

PUCSL announces tomorrow’s power shedding

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) today announced power shedding for tomorrow as a result of fuel scarcity and the absence of power generators.

Red notice issued on severe lightning in 9 districts: Met Dept.

Red notice on thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning was issued for nine districts, the Department of Meteorology said today.

SL should also apply for int’l patent for Kottu: MP Herath

Sri Lanka should apply for an international patent for Kottu which is a food which has originated from the island, a government MP told Parliament today.

SLFP MPs meet President

A meeting between President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Parliamentarians representing the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) was held at the Presidential Secretariat this evening (08).

Myanmar media reports on rice exported to Sri Lanka baseless: Bandula

While claiming that the Myanmar government has refuted reports appeared in the Myanmar media on matters pertaining to rice exported to Sri Lanka, Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardana today informed Parliament that no rice has been imported to Sri Lanka from Myanmar as yet.

School girl axed to death in Haliela

The Haliela Police launched investigations after a school girl had been axed to death at Uduwara in Haliela this afternoon.

Final report on probe into Pandora Papers soon: Govt.

The final report of the investigation which the Bribery Commission had initiated with regards to two Sri Lankans Nirupama Rajapaksa and Thirukumar Nadesan, listed in the controversial Pandora Papers would be released soon, the government informed Parliament today.

There’s a conspiracy behind ongoing power outages - Namal

Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa today said there maybe a conspiracy behind the ongoing power crisis which needed to be probed.

Excise Dept. denies reports of liquor supplies being stopped after March 22

The Excise Department today denied reports circulating on social media that alcohol production will be stopped from March 22 due to insufficient ethanol for its production due to the shortage of fuel and disruption of power.

Jayantha Samaraweera resigns as State Minister

The National Freedom Front (NFF) Parliamentarian Jayantha Samaraweera said that he has resigned from the post of State Minister of Warehousing Facilities, Container Yards, Ports Supply Facilities and Boat and Shipping Industry Development.

Women take to the street against govt.

Heavy traffic was reported from Technical Junction towards the Fort Railway Station due to a protest march organized by the Women’s collective to protect the rights of the people against the government.

Cabinet nod for nine-member Economic Council

The establishment of an Economic Council comprising of nine members received the Cabinet nod today.

Two locals nabbed with Rs.10mn worth Anthurium plants

Two Sri Lankan passengers were arrested at the Katunayake International airport in possession of anthurium plants which they have brought from Thailand, Customs Deputy Director (Legal) and media spokesman Sudatta Silva said.

Two arrested for assaulting ex- PSD officer of Maithripala Sirisena

Two persons have been arrested by the Talangama Police in connection with an assault on a Police Sergeant attached to the Ex-Presidential Security Division (PSD) of former President Maithripala Sirisena.

Certain clauses in PTA Amendment Bill inconsistent with Constitution: Speaker

The Supreme Court has determined that certain clauses in the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) (Amendment) Bill are not consistent with the Constitution and need to be amended before being enacted into laws, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena informed Parliament today.

Gas shipment arrives and distribution to begin

With the arrival of 2, 500 MT of domestic gas shipment, the gas companies have initiated their production, Trade Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna said.

Entry fare to Zoo increased

The government granted permission to increase the entry ticket fare to enter the National Zoological Gardens for local tourists commencing from yesterday (7), the department said.

Incentive for workers’ remittances increased to Rs.38

As the national economy is desperate for foreign exchange inflows, the Cabinet of Ministers today announced their decision to increase the incentive offered for foreign remittances.

Reduce electricity usage by 50% in EP Govt institutions: Governor

Eastern Province (EP) Governor Anuradha Yahampath yesterday urged all institutions that come under the Eastern Provincial Council to take immediate action to reduce their electricity usage by 50%.

Basil to visit India during second half of March: Indian HC

Indian High Commission in Colombo in a twitter message said that during a telephone conversation between Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, they agreed to finalize a mutually convenient date in the second half of this month for Minister Rajapaksa to visit India.

Malawi court charge Sri Lankan with money laundering

The Malawi Magistrate Court in Lilongwe has charged three Chinese nationals and one Sri Lankan with two counts of serious money laundering in excess of MK500 million.

US $ 500 million credit line from India yet to be fully realized

The US $ 500 million credit facility offered by India is yet to be fully realized since there are some more ministerial level formalities to be done, Daily Mirror learns.

Decision to fill fuel in tanks will be made once supply returns to normal

After the country’s fuel scarcity returns to normalcy, decision will be taken to filling of fuel in cans, Power Minister Gamini Lokuge said.

Gas scarcity force closure of 60% canteens, hotels, bakeries: Assn.

More than 60% of the hotels, restaurants, and bakeries across the country have been closed due to power, fuel, and gas scarcity, canteen, hotel, and bakery owners’ associations said.

Manufacturing industries disappointed over measures taken thus far to avoid power cuts

High energy-consuming industries yesterday called on the government to get its act together and give some level of confidence with regard to its ability to come up with sustainable solutions to resolve the ongoing hours-long power cuts, a result of the prevailing foreign exchange crisis.

Wimal calls PM’s statement on fuel crisis foolish

Referring to the statement issued by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa about the prevailing fuel crisis where the PM had stressed that there was no such crisis, sacked Minister Wimal Weerawansa said it was a foolish statement.