VFS gears up to promote Sri Lanka amid visa woes

07 May 2024 - 18     - 1205

VFS Global, which is currently facing a backlash, vows to boost Sri Lanka’s global image through a robust marketing plan with Sri Lanka Tourism. However, the details remain under wraps from the tourism authorities, Mirror Business learns.

UK’s Indo-Pacific Regional Director meets Anura Kumara

06 May 2024 - 16     - 1054

Indo-Pacific Regional Director of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Ben Mellor met NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the JVP Head Office this afternoon.

Sri Lanka, Scotland gear up for big final that decides Women’s T20 World Cup groups

06 May 2024 - 4     - 1327

Sri Lanka and Scotland will battle it out in the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2024 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi

Singapore to send team to study Sri Lanka’s airport and immigration systems

06 May 2024 - 40     - 2695

Public Security Minister Tiran Alles said today that the Singapore government has agreed to send a five-member team to Sri Lanka to conduct a comprehensive study of the country’s airport and immigration systems.

Heat index forecast warns of extreme caution levels for 12 districts

06 May 2024 - 0     - 1586

While issuing a heat index forecast until tomorrow evening, it has been indicated today that the temperature experienced by the human body is forecast to rise to the extreme caution level, the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Meteorology Department said.

Sri Lanka to retain existing visa fee

06 May 2024 - 34     - 3898

The Cabinet decided to uphold the existing visa fee of USD 50 for a 30-day visa for foreign visitors to Sri Lanka, the President’s Media Division announced today.

UNFPA and Japan partner to enhance healthcare access

06 May 2024 - 2     - 254

In a collaborative effort to bolster healthcare accessibility, UNFPA Sri Lanka, with financial backing from the Government of Japan, orchestrated the official handover of three ’’Health on Wheels’’ trucks to the Ministry of Health.

University system heading for a standstill

06 May 2024 - 7     - 844

The university system’s administration is on the brink of a standstill due to trade union actions initiated by the Joint Committee of University Trade Unions and the University Executive Officers’ Association (UEOA), UEOA President M. W. Vanninayake said.

Key players return to Scotland’s squad for T20 World Cup

06 May 2024 - 0     - 303

Top-order batter Michael Jones and fast bowler Brad Wheal make a return to Scotland’s T20I squad for the upcoming mega event in West Indies and USA.

Uganda name squad for historic T20 World Cup appearance

06 May 2024 - 4     - 343

Brian Masaba holds the honour of leading Uganda in their first appearance at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, with their 15-player squad locked in.

VFS Global is here to stay for at least 12 years, says Tiran

06 May 2024 - 78     - 12329

Despite widespread accusations of handing over the contract for on-arrival visa issuance to VFS Global, Public Security Minister Tiran Alles maintained today that VFS Global, the foreign company now responsible for handling on-arrival visas on behalf of Sri Lanka at the BIA, will continue to operate for at least 12 years.

Nalanda College emerges victorious at SLASU Novices Waterpolo Championship 2024

06 May 2024 - 0     - 869

The Under 11 Waterpolo team from Nalanda College, Colombo emerged victorious at the SLASU Novices Waterpolo Championship 2024.

Applications called for appointment of members to Office of Missing Persons

06 May 2024 - 8     - 743

Applications from eligible persons are called for to fill the vacancies for the posts of members in the Office on Missing Persons (OMP), the Communications Department of Parliament said.

Visa fiasco at BIA:

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Man who spoke out on visa issue at BIA summoned to record statement

06 May 2024 - 36     - 6110

The man who spoke out at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) recently against the takeover of the on-arrival visa issuance process by an Indian company has been summoned to the Katunayake Airport Police to record a statement.

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Two children taken hostage by father rescued after nine-hour operation

06 May 2024 - 3     - 2681

Two children who were taken hostage by a father in Jalthara, Hanwella were rescued by the STF after a nine-hour operation.

LRT Project : Sri Lanka keen but Japan not

06 May 2024 - 38     - 3285

Uncertainty looms over the relaunch of the Japan -financed light rail project (LRT) even after the country’s debt restructuring process is concluded since Japan has decided not to discuss it , according to an official of the Japanese government.

Controversy over ERPM exam annulment: SLMC President accused of nepotism

06 May 2024 - 6     - 5861

The annulment of the Surgery Long and Short Cases components of the ERPM Part B Examination conducted at the Examinations Centre of the Eastern University (Batticaloa) has sparked outrage and accusations of nepotism.

On-arrival visa fiasco drains VFS Global’s confidence in Sri Lanka

06 May 2024 - 85     - 13613

VFS Global which has been caught in the center of controversy in the on arrival visa issuance at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) has raised serious concerns with the Public Security Ministry led by Tiran Alles stating that while they were a reputed global company, they were shocked to be left victimized as the on arrival visa saga took a turn for the worse.

Sri Lanka overcome determined UAE to seal Women’s T20 World Cup spot

06 May 2024 - 6     - 1108

Sri Lanka joined Scotland as the two teams to head to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 from the Qualifier tournament in Abu Dhabi – the duo will now contest in the final on Tuesday.

Tourist arrivals miss 200,000 mark in April

06 May 2024 - 15     - 2736

Sri Lanka tourism witnessed a drop in momentum in April with the number of international visitors falling below the 200,000....

SLA confident of Olympic qualification despite UAE debacle

05 May 2024 - 0     - 1000

Sri Lanka’s elite athletes, Yupun Abeykoon, Tharushi Karunarathna, Nadeesha Ramanayake, and Gayanthika Abeyrathna, failed to reach the Olympic standards following an unimpressive performance at the UAE Grand Prix held at the Police Grounds in Dubai.

Sri Lanka face unusual dilemma

05 May 2024 - 17     - 13347

Moving into World Cup tournaments, Sri Lanka selectors have traditionally faced difficult challenges in relation to squad selection. From time to time, the selectors have made tough calls; some of which have paid off and some turned out to be shocking mistakes - such as leaving out a young Wanindu Hasaranga as a reserve player to include Jeffery Vandersay and Jeevan Mendis in the squad for the ODI World Cup in 2019.

Expert committee to study free tourist visa programme

05 May 2024 - 35     - 2358

Colombo, The Sri Lankan government has established an expert committee tasked with exploring the viability of implementing free tourist visas in a bid to boost tourism in the country.

Matara Hospital gets state-of-the-art CT scanner worth Rs. 200 Mn

05 May 2024 - 4     - 807

The Matara District General Hospital introduced its latest addition, a cutting-edge CT Scanner, worth Rs. 200 million, which is poised to help reduce the backlog of patients.

China launches historic mission to retrieve samples from far side of the moon

05 May 2024 - 4     - 429

China on Friday launched an uncrewed spacecraft on a nearly two-month mission to retrieve rocks and soil from the far side of the moon, the first country to make such an ambitious attempt.

Bernard Hill: Titanic and Lord of the Rings actor dies

05 May 2024 - 0     - 918

Actor Bernard Hill, best known for roles in Titanic and Lord of the Rings, has died aged 79. He played Captain Edward Smith in the 1997 Oscar-winning film and King Théoden in the Rings trilogy.

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Suspect of Horana shooting arrested at BIA through automated facial recognition

05 May 2024 - 0     - 3922

The suspect of the shooting at Graceland Estate, Horana this morning was arrested after being identified by the Automated Facial Recognition System (AFRS) installed at the airport departure terminal.

Sri Lankan passenger using carbon paper to conceal gems from X-ray scanners nabbed at airport

05 May 2024 - 9     - 4220

A local passenger who tried to smuggle a range of precious stones to India by concealing them in carbon paper to go undetected by airport X-ray scanners was nabbed by the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) security this afternoon.

Pathirana returns home to recover from injury in major blow to CSK’s playoff bid

05 May 2024 - 4     - 1624

Matheesha Pathirana has been the top performer for the defending champions with 13 wickets in just six innings at an impressive economy rate of 7.68 but is struggling with a hamstring injury and missed Chennai’s last two fixtures against Punjab Kings.