Wildlife Dept blacklists, suspends people, vehicles entering Yala and any national park for three years

The Wildlife Department has blacklisted the people who recently entered the Yala National Park and drove vehicles in manner that caused grave concern to the wild animals.

Alleged fraudulent coal tender annulled: Sobhitha Thera’s FR petition withdrawn

A Fundamental Rights petition filed by Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera challenging the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers to award the coal tender to the Black Sand Commodities Company was today withdrawn following the government’s decision to cancel the questionable tender for the procurement of coal to the Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant.

Road mishap claims one, injures 32 in Mawanella

Some 32 passengers were wounded in a head-on collision involving two buses in Mawanella this morning on the Kandy-Colombo main road, police said.

Top US Treasury official visits SL

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Asia in the US Robert Kaproth arrived in Sri Lanka today and will meet with government and economic experts to discuss the way forward on the country’s economic recovery, US Ambassador Julie Chung tweeted.

WhatsApp goes down, Meta says working to restore services

Services of Meta-owned WhatsApp are currently experiencing disruption. Acknowledging the issue, a Meta spokesperson said the company is working to restore services ’as quickly as possible.’

Keith D. Bernard appointed Ports Authority Chairman

Keith D. Bernard has been appointed as the Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority by Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation, Nimal Siripala de Silva.

St Louis: Three dead, seven injured after school shooting

At least three people, including the suspect, have died and seven others are injured after a shooting at a high school in St Louis, Missouri.

Rishi Sunak will become the U.K.’s next prime minister

Rishi Sunak prevailed in a chaotic three-day race for leader of Britain’s Conservative Party on Monday, a remarkable political comeback that doubled as a historical milestone, making him the first person of color to become prime minister in British history.

10 litres not enough, hoping for 30 litres to consider fare revision: Assn.

Despite the President’s recommendation to increase the weekly fuel quota by five litres, three-wheeler drivers said today that they are hoping to get 30 litres of petrol which they have requested for their three-wheeled vehicles to continue service.

Suspend trackers that went with a group abusing animals in Yala: Amaraweera

Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has suggested suspending the services of all trackers who accompanied the group while abusing wild animals in Yala National Park, as well as officials who failed to control the situation.

New tax policies escalate migration of professionals: GMOA

Through the implementation of the new tax policies by the government, migration of professionals from the country has increased and it could plunge the health and other sectors into precipice, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) said.

Raids to detect low-weight bread will only yield futile results: Bakery Owners

Without providing solutions to the bakery industry, it is absurd conducting raids to detect low-weight bread, All Ceylon Bakery Owners’ Association (ACBOA) President N.K. Jayawardena said.

No polls delay at any cost

While stressing that the universal suffrage is a part of the sovereignty of the people guaranteed under basic law, former Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister Faizer Musthapha PC, said the Election Commission (EC) is mandated to hold Local Government polls and constitute all 340 local government bodies on or before March 20th of 2023.

Showery condition expected to subside today

The prevailing showery conditions over the island are expected to subside to some extent, the Meteorological Department said.

IMF remains only hope for Sri Lanka to emerge from crisis: CB Governor

The economic rescue programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) remains the only path available for Sri Lanka to emerge from the prevailing economic crisis, as no one else is ready to bail out Sri Lanka, according to Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe.

Government told to act soon on re-profiling domestic debt to avoid haircuts

Sri Lanka could achieve the economic policy goals it aspires without needing to impose ‘haircuts’ on capital or domestic creditors, if the government can act soon and carry out the restructuring effort early.

Finance and leasing companies remain more susceptible to interest rate risk: Fitch

The finance and leasing companies carry more susceptibility to interest rate risk amid the elevated domestic interest rates, said Fitch Ratings, as they hold mostly fixed-rate loans, which have a slow repricing cycle than their liabilities, of which majority consists of deposits.

Miss Sri Lanka contestants not involved in brawl

None of the Miss Sri Lanka contestants were involved in the brawl after the Miss Sri Lanka New York pageant after-party, the Miss Sri Lanka New York organizing committee said.

Fuel quota for Tuk tuks to be doubled

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has recomended the increase of the weekly fuel quota of five litres issued for professional passenger transport three-wheelers to 10 litres.

Diana re-confirms she will leave for US to initiate talks with Walt Disney

State Minister of Tourism Diana Gamage today reconfirmed that she will leave for US soon to initiate talks on inviting Walt Disney to invest in a theme park in Sri Lanka.

Power cut schedule until Wednesday issued

The power cut schedule for tomorrow (25) and Wednesday (26) for two hour and twenty minutes was announced today, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) said.

Acute shortage of over 90 essential medicines again in hospitals, pharmacies: GMOA

Currently, there is an acute shortage of more than 90 essential medicines in most government hospitals in the country, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) said.

SL’s animal husbandry industry suffers due to animal feed scarcity, price hike: Amaraweera

Sri Lanka’s animal husbandry industry has been severely affected by the shortage of animal feed and the rise in prices, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.

LITRO to lower its prices further: Chairman

The price of LITRO gas cylinders would be further reduced in the first week of November in accordance with the gas price formula, which would come into effect on the 5th of every month, LITRO Lanka Chairman Muditha Peiris said.

Annual taxes on casinos up by 150%; Taxes on betting, gambling also to be revised

The annual tax charged from casino has been increased from Rs. 200 million to Rs. 500 million from August 1, the State Finance Ministry said.

New York brawl brings shame to Sri Lankans

​A brawl which broke out during an after-party in New York following the first-ever Miss Sri Lanka New York pageant has tarnished the image of the Sri Lankan community in the US.

Partial solar eclipse visible in Sri Lanka tomorrow

A partial solar eclipse will be visible in many parts of Sri Lanka tomorrow, during sunset. The eclipse will also be visible over much of Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and western parts of Asia.

India, Israel joint collaboration in agriculture sector in Sri Lanka

India and Israel are planning to invest jointly in the development of the agriculture sector in Sri Lanka, Daily Mirror learns.

New CC must respect President and the Judiciary

The Constitutional Council (CC) to be constituted under the 21st Amendment passed last Friday in Parliament will have to act without offending other two pillars of democracy, the President and the Judiciary, SLFP chief and former President Maithripala Sirisena said.

Boris Johnson pulls out of UK Prime Minister race

Former prime minister Boris Johnson pulled out of the contest to become Britain’s next leader on Sunday, saying he had the support of enough lawmakers to progress to the next stage but far fewer than front-runner former finance minister Rishi Sunak.