No blockade for LG polls: Bandula Gunawardana

President Ranil Wickremesinghe nor the government, have any intention whatsoever to differ the Local Government (LG) polls and as such it is up to the Election Commission (EC) to hold a free and fair election, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardana said today.

Air quality in Kandy still at unhealthy level: Heath Ministry Secy

Due to high emissions of carbon dioxide (CO 2) and dust particles from vehicles and factories, and with the recent weather conditions, the air quality in Kandy district has gotten worse, Environment Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe said.

SL bank opens vostro account in India to conduct bilateral trade in INR: Indian HC

Sri Lankan bank has opened vostro account in India with State Bank of India to conduct bilateral trade in Indian rupee, Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka said.

Kanjipani Imran released on bail

Underworld gangster Mohommad Najim Mohommad Imran alias Kanjipani Imran who was in remand prison was released on bail by Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekunawela today.

Treasury should state whether the nation can afford an election: Navin

The Treasury should state whether it is possible to allocate the ten billion rupees needed for local government elections, UNP’s Navin Dissanayake said today.

Appoint school committees if necessary, to check school bags: Minister

The Education Ministry is advised to appoint a committee consisting of school teachers, student leaders, and school development society representatives, if it is necessary to check the school bags, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said.

Green light to establish office for “Sri Lankans living abroad”

The cabinet of ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs to establish the proposed “office for the affairs of Sri Lankans living abroad” under the Presidential Secretariat.

Cabinet nod to introduce new VISA categories for Colombo Port City

The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to the proposal furnished by the Minister of Public Security to take necessary steps to introduce three new VISA categories for Colombo Port City.

Gazette issued revoking import restrictions on 10 items

An extraordinary Gazette notification was issued yesterday revoking the import restrictions on 10 items with effect from today, State Minister for Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said.

Developing IT industry as major source to earn foreign exchange: Kanaka Herath

A comprehensive program has been launched to make the IT sector a major foreign exchange earning industry in the country, Technology State Minister Kanaka Herath said.

Grade 5 exam results will be released within next two months: Exam. Dept.

The results of the recently conducted the grade five scholorship examination for 2022 are to be released within the next two months, Examinations Department Commissioner General L.M.D. Dharmasena said.

Northeast monsoon condition gradually establish over the island: Met. Dept.

While establishing the northeast monsoon condition over the island, the low-pressure area over the South Bay of Bengal is likely to move slowly west-northwestward towards the coast of Sri Lanka during the next three days, the Meteorology Department said.

Guna and Ladiya among 9 Lankans arrested from TN over smuggling to revive LTTE

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested nine Sri Lankans from the special camp for Sri Lankan Tamil refugees at Tamil Nadu’s (TN) Tiruchirappalli over their alleged involvement in drugs and arms smuggling to revive the LTTE.

1st batch of school uniform cloth leaves Chinese port

The Chinese government announced yesterday that the first batch of more than three million meters of school uniform cloth for Sri Lanka has been freighted from Shanghai, China, the Chinese Embassy in Colombo said.

Tea exporters set record straight on export proceeds repatriation and conversion

Sri Lanka’s tea exporters joined the bandwagon in clarifying its stance on the issue revolving around repatriation and conversion of export proceeds, pointing out they have been abiding by the relevant rules and regulations.

Corporates maintain earnings streak despite runaway inflation, economic crisis

Much of 2022 has been a wild ride for Sri Lanka but if there was a single segment, which for the most part withstood the economic adversities so far this year, that was corporate earnings.

Labour migration to be digitalised soon: Manusha

Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara said that they are planning to digitalize the migration process.

Cabinet decides to temporarily close Buddhist and Pali University

The Cabinet has decided to temporarily close the Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka.

Borella cemetery to be brought under CCTV surveillance

A CCTV system is to be fixed in the cemetery and in the vicinity, Colombo Mayoress Rosy Senanayake said today.

Refrain believing dramatic statements by parties: AMA requests public

The Association of Medical Administrators (AMA) requested the health officials, public and all nursing officers to refrain from believing the dramatic statements made by parties with vested interests about the events that took place at Colombo East Base Hospital (CEBH).

Rajapaksas not free from my curse until justice served to Prageeth: Sandya

Disappeared journalist Prgaeeth Ekneligoda’s wife Sandya Ekneligoda today said the Rajapaksas will not be free from her curse until justice is meted out to her husband even after 12 years of suffering and agony.

AED installed at BIA to diagnose life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias

An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) has been installed at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for the victims of sudden cardiac arrest who lose their lives due to a lack of timely medical care, the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited (AASL) said.

Power cut schedule until Friday announced

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) today approved a two hour and 20 minutes powercut until Friday (23).

Civil activist Chirantha Amarasinghe files FR to prevent imminent arrest

Civil activist Chirantha Amarasinghe has filed a Fundamental Rights petition in Supreme Court seeking an order preventing police from arresting him over number of incidents.

I came last in the class: Sajith

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa addressing a gathering of students in Maharagama said that he came last in the class when he was reading for his Ordinary Level exams in England.

6.2 million people in SL facing moderate acute food insecurity: FAO

Four in every ten households experienced a reduction in their incomes, as a result of the unprecedented economic crisis Sri Lanka is currently experiencing, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in its response overview from June to December 2022 said.

Monks in universities are like Taliban

Mihintale Raja Maha Vihara Chief Prelate Valahagunawewa Dhammarathana likened monks in universities to the Taliban.

Galle Face agitation site turns into festive site

The special Christmas Carol concert and carnival organized by the Tourism Development Board, the armed forces and the police in the vicinity of the Presidential Secretariat premises was declared open by President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday afternoon.

Sri Lanka to sell plots in Colombo Port City for bunkering: Minister

Sri Lanka is to sell four plots of land in Colombo Port City for an investor to establish a facility for bunkering, a Minister told journalists.

Committee on High Posts approves appointments of four Ambassadors

The Committee on High Posts has approved the appointments of Four Ambassadors and two Permanent Representatives recently, Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake said.