Sports Minister offers to take action based on findings

Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe said he would take appropriate action after studying the report submitted by the committee appointed to probe allegations related to the Sri Lankan cricket team that represented the T20 World Cup in Australia.

At Least 30 killed in plane crash at Nepal’s Pokhara Airport

At least 30 people have died after a 72-seater passenger aircraft crashed on the runway at Pokhara International Airport in Nepal.

Modernization of agriculture sector is govt’s top priority: President

Modernization of the agriculture sector is a priority for the Government in its bid to create it as an effective, sustainable and profitable livelihood and also serve the competitive international markets, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said.

No power cut today

Scheduled power cuts will not be carried out today due to Thai Pongal festival, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) said.

Pfizer bivalent COVID shots link to stroke: U.S. health authorities

A safety monitoring system flagged that U.S. drugmaker Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) and German partner BioNTech’s updated COVID-19 shot could be linked to a type of brain stroke in older adults, according to preliminary data analyzed by U.S. health authorities.

Let’s solve economic issues by working within one policy framework; Prez tells TUs

President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized the need of working within one policy framework by all while facing the economic difficulties the country is confronted with, President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

SL entry status quo remains unchanged; Keheliya contradicts Sri Lanka Tourism

Contradicting the statement issued by the Sri Lanka Tourism declaring new guidelines for inbound tourists, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said Sri Lanka entry status quo remains unchanged.

Woman nabbed with gold worth Rs.111.55mn at BIA

A 30-year-old Sri Lankan woman was arrested early this morning at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) by the customs officials while she attempted to smuggle a stock of gold into the country, Customs Deputy Director (Legal) and media spokesman Sudatta Silva said.

46 Sri Lankans arrested in Réunion Island of France repatriated to Sri Lanka

Forty-six Sri Lankan nationals who were arrested by the authorities of the Réunion Island of France were repatriated to Sri Lanka by air yesterday evening.

Foreign remittances increased to US$ 475.6 Mn in December 2022: Minister

Sri Lankan migrant workers’ foreign remittances have increased to US$ 475.6 million in December 2022 from US$ 325.2 million in December 2021, Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara said.

China’s Communist Party delegate arrives in SL

Chen Zhou, Vice Minister of the International Department, the Communist Party of the China Central Committee arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morning, the Chinese Embassy in Colombo said.

Liquor sales in several areas prohibited tomorrow

Sale of liquor and all alcoholic beverages was ordered to be prohibited in several selected areas of Badulla and Nuwara Eliya Districts on the occasion of the Thai Pongal festival tomorrow by order of the Department of Excise.

System needed to charge taxes for non-cash benefits starting from Prez: COPF

A system should be set up properly to charge taxes for non-cash benefits starting from the President, extending to all officials, Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) Dr. Harsha De Silva said.

Indigenous community to contest LG polls

A group of the Vedda Community under its leader Uruvarigelage Wannila Aththo has decided to contest the upcoming local election for the first time.

Excise Dept. approves production of new alcoholic beverages locally for export markets

With the aim to boost foreign exchange earnings from locally produced alcoholic beverages, the Excise Department has granted approval to produce cider and milk punch, with local ingredients, for export markets.

Woes of country mounting with bailout delay, Sri Lanka tells international forum

As Sri Lanka continues to face delays in securing the much sought-after bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the government admitted this week that the situation is becoming increasingly difficult for the people of the country.

Jaishankar to discuss debt crisis on visit to Sri Lanka next week

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will travel to Sri Lanka next week, sources told The Hindu. This will be his first trip to the country since President Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn-in last July after street protests forced out the previous Rajapaksa regime.

New ’Covid 19’ protocol, procedures issued for all inbound tourists

Sri Lanka Tourism has issued new ’Covid 19’ Protocol and Procedures for all inbound tourists.

Public Admin. Ministry Secy apologises to EC over his letter

Public Administration Ministry Secretary Neil Bandara Hapuhinne apologized to the Election Commission for issuing a letter to the Returning Officers asking them not to accept deposits from candidates for the Local Government Election.

Only a day’s govt. revenue needed for LG polls: AKD

Refuting claims made by the government that the Local Government elections could not be held due to the shortage of funds, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said it was totally unacceptable as only a day’s government revenue was required for the election.

Claymore bomb found in Ahungalla

A claymore bomb which was hidden under a banana bush at Welikanda in ​​Ahungalla, Galle had been found by the police this evening.

Lotus Tower defaced, several arrested

The management of the Lotus Tower urged the public to help preserve the iconic structure by treating it as a national treasure.

Train operations on the Batticaloa line resumes

The train services which was suspended on the Batticaloa railway line since this morning has resumed, the Railways Department said.

30 short distance trains will be off the track from Monday: Minister

The Railways Department has decided to cancel 30 short distance trains with effect from Monday (16).

A/L tuition classes prohibited from Jan. 17 midnight

Conducting coaching classes or tuition classes targeting the 2022 (2023) GCE Advanced Level (A/L) Examination will be prohibited from January 17 midnight, the Department of Examinations said.

Govt receives 70% school uniform fabric requirements from China

While completing 70 percent of the total school uniform fabric requirement for the year 2023, the Chinese government today handed over a donation of 8,862,990 meters of cloth to Education Minister Susil Premajayantha.

SIU Director informs Court he was threatened by Deshabandu Tennakoon

The Director of the Special Investigation Unit of the Police Department SSP Wickramasinghe today informed court that he was threatened by Senior DIG Deshbandu Tennakoon for reporting facts to the court regarding the investigations into the money recovered by protesters inside the President’s House on 9th July.

High level Chinese delegation to visit Sri Lanka

A high-level delegation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) led by its International Department Vice Minister Chen Zhou will visit Sri Lanka from January 14 to 18, the first official visit of the Chinese party in 2023 and after the 20th CPC National Congress, diplomatic sources said.

Mawanella PS Chairman arrested for accepting bribe

Chairman of the Mawanella Pradeshiya Sabha Samantha Steevan was arrested by the Bribery Commission officers today while accepting a bribe of Rs. 2 million.

Criminal case should be filed against Maithri and others based on SC ruling: AKD

While highlighting that a criminal case should be filed against former President Maithripala Sirisena and others for failing to prevent the Easter Sunday attacks based on the Supreme Court ruling, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today their legal team is studying the Supreme Court verdict and how the Attorney General was acting upon the verdict.