Special laws to protect plantation workers’ rights

Labour and Foreign Employment Minister is planning to introduce special laws to protect plantation workers’ rights.

Electricity tariff revision effective date cannot be back dated: PUCSL chairman

According to the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Act, the cabinet decision taken to implement the electricity tariff revision with effect from January 1 should not be amended in a way that affects the past, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) said.

“Don’t nominate corrupt people” - March 12 Movement

The March 12 Movement today urged all the political parties to give nominations to honest and non-corrupt people in the upcoming Local Government elections so as to create a better country.

Shehan, Bandula contradict each other over govt. salaries

State Minister of Finance, Shehan Semasingha and Cabinet Spokesperson Bandula Gunawardena today expressed contradictory statements over the salary payments of government employees, signaling that all is not right and statements are being made without final confirmations.

Wimal, Dullas, SLFP, Anura Yapa to merge to contest LG Polls

With Local Government Polls expected to be held in the coming months, another new alliance is in the making. This time, Wimal Weerwansa, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Dullas Allahapperuma and the SLFP have decided to merge under the helicopter symbol.

Ranil, MR merge for LG polls

The United National Party and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna will contest the upcoming LG Polls as one alliance, the UNP confirmed.

Court rejects Adarsha Karandana’s anticipatory bail application

An anticipatory bail application filed by Adarsha Karandana seeking an order directing the CID to release her on an anticipatory bail, if she was arrested over a complaint made by Prof. Marasinghe was today rejected by Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.

Defaming Dalada Maligawa: Sepal Amarasinghe further remanded

Sepal Amarasinghe who was arrested for making a controversial statement on Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, further remanded until January 17 by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court.

Young women from north engaged in prostitution in south to earn extra money while working

A number of young women in the Northern province who are currently working in private institutions in Colombo and South reportedly have no option but to engage in prostitution to earn additional income due to the prevailing economic hardships in the country.

Lankan-born Canadian dies at BIA

A 54-year-old Sri Lankan-born Canadian passenger died after having collapsed at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morning.

Assam declares half-day holiday for India vs Sri Lanka ODI match

Guwahati: The Assam government announced a half-day holiday in Kamrup Metropolitan district on Tuesday in view of the India-Sri Lanka ODI match in Guwahati.

Cause of Dinesh Schaffter’s death still uncertain; probe continues

The investigation into the death of businessman Dinesh Schaffter has not yet ruled whether it was a suicide or murder and the probe is still underway to ascertain the cause of death, the police said.

Foreign employement to get a digital revolution by end of this year: Manusha

The foreign employment sector will be converted to a fully digitalized system by the end of this year, Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara said yesterday.

Mainly fair weather prevails over island, around sea area

In an announcement, the Meteorology Department said today that mainly fair weather will prevail over the island and around the sea areas throughout the day.

Two nabbed with precious stones encrusted in Chaitya from treasure to be sold for Rs. 1bn

Two persons have been arrested with archaeological value Chaitya encrusted with precious gem stones suspected to have been unearthed from a treasure and preparing to sell for Rs. 1 billion.

My mayoral candidacy for CMC still under discussion: Mujibur Rahman

Referring to reports that he would be Samagi Jana Balawegaya mayoral candidate for Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), MP Mujibur Rahman yesterday said the matter is still at discussion stage.

NGOs monitoring elections voice concern

The election monitoring NGOs in Sri Lanka expressed their concern and disagreement on the summoning of the Elections Commission (EC) by President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday.

SL welcomes over 20,000 tourists in first week of Jan.

Sri Lanka continues to maintain the momentum in tourist arrivals witnessed over the last few weeks, as it welcomed over 20,000 international visitors in the first seven days of the new year.

No tsunami threat to Sri Lanka from Indonesia earthquake: Tsunami Centre

The 7.9 magnitude earthquake that had occurred in the Tanimbar Islands Region, Indonesia has no threat to Sri Lanka, the National Tsunami Early Warning Centre (NTEWC) said.

Those starving need not watch India-SL ODI match: Kerala Minister

Faced with criticism from various quarters that ticket rates for the upcoming India-Sri Lanka ODI scheduled to be held in Thiruvananthapuram are exorbitant, Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman has sparked off a huge controversy by saying that those who cannot afford it need not go to watch the match.

PUCSL refuses to accept tariff hike, says CEB doesn’t incur huge loss

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) today said that they cannot accept the proposed electricity tariff hike and said the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is not incurring a huge loss over the past few years.

Talks with NTC on bus fare revision ended in stalemate: Bus Assn.

Discussion between the private bus associations and the National Transport Commission (NTC) about the possibility of reducing bus fares after the recent diesel price reduction, ended without a solution.

Cabinet gives consent to implement cost effective electricity tariff from Jan.

Kanchana Wijesekera, Minister of Power and Energy stated that cabinet approval has been granted to amend the general policy guidelines for the electricity industry and to implement a cost-effective electricity tariff beginning from January 2023

Fully implementing Constitution, political solution to feature during TNA - Prez talks today

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) will meet with President Ranil Wickremesinghe tomorrow evening for a discussion aimed at fast tracking the release of military occupied lands in the north, full implementation of the provision of the Constitution and evolution of a political solution, a party spokesman said.

People who feed wild elephants will be arrested: Wildlife

Wildlife officials have been advised by their director general to arrest people who feed wild elephants and those cause harm to them, after increasing incidents have been reported.

Leopards on the nocturnal prowl, villagers live in fear

Residents of Agarapathana area in Thalawakele are living in constant fear of any possible danger from leopards that roam into their villages and enter their homes.

Man appeared in Rajitha’s “white van” media conference arrested over alleged murder in Kelaniya

Watareka Gamage Athula Sanjeewa Madanayake alias Undial Athula, one of the two men who had appeared in the “white van” media conference led by former Minister Rajitha Senaratne, had been arrested over the murder in Pethiyagoda, Kelaniya.

Govt. suspends PAYE tax, circular will be issued this week: Siyambalapitiya

The government has decided to suspend paying of PAYE tax by government or semi-government institutions, Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said.

Ministry to import 200,000 hatching eggs

Considering the delay in egg production for eleven months, if mother hens are imported, the Agriculture Ministry has decided to import 200,000 hatching eggs.

Handunnetti’s FR against alleged Sugar Fraud fixed for May 6

The Fundamental Rights petition filed by former JVP Parliamentarian Sunil Handunnetti seeking an order to recover a sum of Rs.15.9 billion from persons responsible for the alleged sugar fraud that took place when importing sugar in 2020 was today fixed for support by Supreme Court.