State Minister slammed by Korean delegate for not being punctual

Social Empowerment State Minister Anupa Pasqual and its officials were taken to task by South Korea Disaster Relief Foundation (SKDRF) President Cho Sung Lea for getting late by 30 minutes for a scheduled meeting in Colombo.

6 high-powered motorbikes, bikers taken in Weliweriya

Two suspects have been arrested with six illegal high-powered motorbikes valued over Rs.40 million in Weliweriya.

School second term ends today

The Education Ministry today announced that all the Government and Government-assisted private schools would end their second term for 2022 today.

State employees in SL behave like kings - Korean official

The Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary of Sri Lanka’s democratic political system and the education system need to be reformed and the mindset of the people changed to see any development in the country, Korea Disaster Relief Foundation (KDRF) President Cho Sung Lea said yesterday.

Electricity bill increase in January will be seen as violation against basic rights: SLHRC

If the electricity bill is increased in a way that violates the basic rights of the public, then it is ready to intervene as a stakeholder without complaint, the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission (SLHRC) said.

Bus topples on A9 road; one dead, 20 injured

One person had died and 20 others were injured when a Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) passenger bus turned turtle on the Jaffna-Jaffna (A-9) road last evening, police said.

Govt. to roll out special programmes to recognise contribution of up-country Tamil community to plantation sector

Coinciding with the 200-year anniversary of the arrival of the first generation of the up-country Tamil community to Sri Lanka, in next February, the Cabinet has decided to roll out special programmes to enhance the living conditions of the up-country Tamil community, who contributed immensely to the development of the plantation sector.

SL told to revisit dividend tax policy to rectify double taxation

As Sri Lanka’s dividend tax policy is inhibiting risk-taking, entrepreneurship and timely restructuring activities in the corporate sector, a top investment professional called upon the government to take corrective actions to rectify the unfair double taxation on profits when distributing dividends to investors.

Dinesh Weerakkody appointed BOI Chairman

Dinesh Weerakkody has been appointed as Chairman of the Board of Investment (BOI) by President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Finance Minisry to hand over customs confiscated vehicles to police

Necessary arrangements have been made to hand over the vehicles confiscated by Sri Lanka Customs (SLC) to be used for raids by the Sri Lanka Police Department, including drug prevention, State Finance Minister Ranjith Siambalapitiya said.

No term tests for primary sections starting in March: Minister

The Education Ministry has decided not to have term tests for primary sections, which are scheduled to start their school year in March, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said.

SJB SLFP alliance in the offing?

While calling the election commission to declare the local government election by the end of this month, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) today hinted that it is in the process of forming an alliance with several parties.

Liquor to be served but stores to be shut

The liquor stores island-wide will be closed on December 25, Commissioner General of Excise Department confirmed.

Schaffter’s business partners questioned; no suspect yet

The investigation into the murder of businessman Dinesh Schaffter is making progress and the CID and the Borella Police have questioned nearly 50 people so far over the murder.

Ban on animal, meat transport lifted

The ban imposed on cattle and animal transport has been lifted with immediate effect, the Director General of Department of Animal Production and Health.

Lab experiment goes wrong in Pussellawa

Eight including three teachers and five students were hospitalized after a lab experiment went wrong at a school in Pussellawa.

10-hour power cut claim: Minister says TUs cannot act like terrorists

Rejecting the claim made by CEB Engineers Union President that there would be 10-hour-power cuts next year, Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said today that legal action will be taken against the said TU over the false statement.

No power cuts during festive season: Minister

Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara said there will be no power cuts on December 24, 25, 26, 31 and January 1.

Minister confirms electricity bills to go up from January

There should be a definite increase in electricity tariffs beginning from January in order to purchase the required coal shipments for the month, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said.

Student killed, 13 injured in Aranayaka bus mishap

A 14-year-old student was killed and 13 other persons were hospitalised after a bus skidded off the road and toppled at Selawa in Aranayaka this morning.

Three women waiting at bus halt to get Samurdhi die after van crashes into them

Three women aged 51, 54 and 61 were killed when a van crashed into a bus halt at Bedigamuwa Junction in Narammala this morning.

Elon Musk to quit as Twitter CEO when replacement found

Elon Musk has said he will resign as Twitter’s chief executive officer when he finds someone ’’foolish enough to take the job’’.

2,835 fishermen released from Sri Lanka since 2014: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that 2,835 Indian fishermen have been released from Sri Lanka since 2014.

17-year-old monk allegedly been forced to take poison

A 17-year-old novice monk of Hindagala Raja Maha Vihare in Peradeniya had been forced to take poison and pain killer drugs under death threat at dagger point and pushed into the nearby stream.

Dinesh Schaffter’s killers still at large

The police who are yet to make an arrest over the murder of Dinesh Schaffter, the director of Janashakthi Company, has questioned more than 30 persons including Schaffter’s wife so far and police said they would be able to arrest the killers soon by solving the mystery of the murder.

Solheim rules out mediator role between Tamil parties and Govt.

Former Norwegian peace negotiator Erik Solheim has ruled out playing the role of mediator between Tamil political parties and the Government, to push for a political solution for the national issue. Solheim had talks with Tamil political parties and others, including Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, in Colombo this week.

Chamber of Tourism and Industry calls on govt. to develop domestic air travel services

The Chamber of Tourism and Industry asserts the need to develop domestic air travel services to effectively compete with its regional peers. It pointed out that putting....

Draft Central Bank law gets Cabinet approval

The Cabinet of Ministers this week green lighted the draft of the new Monetary Law Act clearing the only remaining prior action required by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to unlock its US$ 2.9 billion....

Twin baby nilgais, four blue-and-yellow macaw chics born in Dehiwala zoo

Twin baby nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) and four blue-and-yellow macaw chics (Ara ararauna) were born at the Dehiwala National Zoo, National Zoological Gardens Deputy Director Dinushika Manawadu said.

Jacqueline requests travel permission from Delhi court

Jacqueline Fernandez appeared at Delhi’s Patiala House Court in connection with the conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar case.