15-hour water cut in Colombo

Water supply will be interrupted from Friday (02) at 10.00 pm until 1.00 pm on Saturday (03) in Colombo due to an essential renovation project of the Ambatale Water Treatment Plant, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) said.

AG’s dept. delays filing case against Express Pearl: State Minister

Attorney General’s Department has delayed filing a case against the company that owned the ill-fated ship Xpress Pearl that caught fire while in Sri Lankan waters, State Minister Arundika Fernando told Parliament today.

Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin dies at age 96

Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin died on Wednesday at the age of 96 of leukaemia and multiple organ failure, Chinese state media reported.

Couple assaulted in Hikkaduwa, one dead

A 31-year old man was killed and his wife injured when a group of individuals travelling by motorcar had assaulted them with swords at Wewala junction in Hikkadua this morning.

Sri Lanka’s Debt to China Close to 20% of Public External Debt -Study

Sri Lanka owed Chinese lenders $7.4 billion - nearly a fifth of its public external debt - by the end of last year, calculations by the China Africa Research Initiative (CARI) published on Wednesday showed, an estimate higher than many others.

Staff Grade Officers circulars withdrawn with immediate effect

The two Government circulars issued in 2019 and 2022 stipulating a dress code for Staff Grade Officers had been revoked with immediate effect, Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils, and Local Government Ministry said.

At least 10,000 IT engineers migrated since the crisis: CSSL President

The brain drain has increased decisively due to the current economic crisis in the country, and at least 10,000 of the cream of ICT engineers have migrated since the crisis started, Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL) President Damith Hettihewa said.

US$ 200 Mn from Indian Credit Line to be used for emergency health sector needs: Keheliya

The US dollars 200 million from the Indian credit line is to be used to fulfill emergency needs of the health sector, Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella told the ministry consultative committee today.

World Bank assures continuous support to Sri Lanka: PM

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena held discussions with World Bank Country Director Chiyo Kanda and senior Strategy & Operations officials about the progress of ongoing projects and proposed future projects.

Several sections of Registration of Persons Act amended

While issuing an extraordinary gazette notification (2308/03), the government amended several sections of the Registration of Persons Act.

Qatar says worker deaths for World Cup ’between 400 and 500’

A top Qatari official involved in the country’s World Cup organization has put the number of worker deaths for the tournament “between 400 and 500” for the first time, a drastically higher number than any other previously offered by Doha.

Govt. decides not to transfer teachers, but to place them appropriately

The Education Ministry has decided not to transfer teachers in the same way as public servants but to place them appropriately, focusing on student needs, Minister Susil Premajayantha said.

SL ranked 10th in terms of manufacturing cost

Sri Lanka has been ranked 10 as the country with the cheapest manufacturing costs, as per a list compiled by US News and World Report by global survey respondents.

Orion goes the (max) distance

NASA’s uncrewed Orion spacecraft reached the farthest distance from Earth it will travel during the Artemis I mission — 268,563 miles from our home planet — just after 3 p.m. CST.

Gota-MR overseas visits wipe out Rs.40mn from state in 2021

Just five official foreign visits undertaken by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2021 alone had cost the state more than Rs. 40 million, according to details provided by the Presidential Secretariat and the Prime Minister’s Office on a directive issued by the Right to Information Commission.

Oct. exports down 8%; Jan-Oct. exports up 9% to US$ 11bn

Sri Lanka’s merchandise export performance for the month of October contracted by 8.18 percent Year-on-Year (YoY), however, cumulative...

Kelani Valley railway line restored; train services back as usual

The damaged railway track on the Kelani Valley railway line has been repaired, and train services have resumed as usual, the Railways Department said.

Legal action if UPFA executive council meeting held tomorrow: General Sec.

United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera said today that legal action will follow if the UPFA executive council meeting is held tomorrow.

Damaged rail track disrupts Kelani Valley train service

Train service on the Kelani Valley railway line has been disrupted due to the broken track between Baseline and Narahenpita railway stations, the Railways Department said.

Four SL fishermen distressed for 63 days rescued by Indian coast guard

A group of four Sri Lankan fishermen who set sail on September 25, 2022 on board FV Neil Mary have been rescued by the Indian coast guard after they lost communication, Daily Mirror learns .

28 year old arrested over torching 17 year old student

A 28 year old man was arrested by a special police team in Ampitiya today over torching a 17 year old child who had obtained 9A’s in the 2021 G.C.E Ordinary Level exams, the police said.

Ready to reintroduce district development councils: President

President Ranil Wickremesinghe today said he is ready to reintroduce District Development Councils in place of Provincial Councils.

Third secretary of SL Embassy in Oman remanded over human trafficking case

The third secretary of Sri Lanka Embassy in Oman, E. Kushan who was arrested this morning over the human trafficking of women to Oman, has been remanded until December 13 by Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.

300 doctors left the country since January: Keheliya

Whilst stating that around 300 doctors have left the country since January this year, the Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella today said there is a possibility of the Sri Lankan health sector collapsing as a result.

Moves to upgrade Suwaseriya to prevent in-transit deaths: Dr Seetha Arambepola

Steps were being taken to upgrade the Suwaseriya ambulance service with advanced facilities to prevent in-transit deaths, State Minister of Health Seetha Arambepola said today.

Uni students must finish education and fulfil responsibility to society: Education Minister

The primary objective of University students should be to finish their education as soon as possible and fulfil their responsibility to society, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said.

Tests from 2023 to catch drivers under drug influence: Transport State Minister

Tests would be conducted beginning next year to detect drivers who are under the influence of drugs other than alcohol-such as cocaine and heroin, Transport State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna said.

Ready to reintroduce district development councils: President

President Ranil Wickremesinghe today said he is ready to reintroduce district development councils in place of provincial councils.

Boy who scored 9 A’s suffers serious injuries after being torched

A child who obtained 9 A’s in the 2021 G.C.E Ordinary Level exams has been admitted to hospital with serious burn injuries, after being torched by a drug addict, Police said.

Six illegally imported milk powder containers detained at Colombo port: Siyambalapitiya

Some 153,375 kgs of milk powder imported by a certain company from New Zealand violating import and export regulations have been detained at the Colombo port for more than 25 days, State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said today.