Persecuted Hindu Tamils from Lanka can obtain Indian citizenship under CAA says Madras HC

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has said that the principles of the 2019 Citizen (Amendment) Act can be applied to Hindu Tamils who were forced to abandon Sri Lanka.

Legal action against employees, trade unions who violate essential services Act: Minister

Since petroleum-related services have been declared under essential category, legal action will be taken against any employee or trade union that would be found violating the essential service regulations, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said.

Kolonnawa and Muthurajawela refineries stop work over bill being taken up in Parliament

All activities, including fuel distribution, from the Kolonnawa and Muthurajawela refineries, had been suspended in protest against a bill being taken up in Parliament today (18), the Employees’ Union of Petroleum Corporation said.

Tourist arrivals during Oct. 01-16 cross 20,000 mark

The tourist arrivals for the first half of October have crossed the 20,000 mark, showing an improvement in the rate of international visitors entering the country.

Rajapaksas responsible for economic crisis in England, France? - Aluthgamage

Government MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage recently asked whether the Rajapaksas were involved with the current fuel shortage in France and for the children who suffer from hunger.

Private sector says transparency and accountability should complement tax hike

While acknowledging the rationale behind the recently proposed higher tax rates, the Ceylon of Chamber of Commerce yesterday urged the government to show greater restraint, accountability and transparency in government spending.

Shehan Karunatilaka wins Booker prize for The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida

The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Sri Lankan author Shehan Karunatilaka has won the Booker prize for fiction. The judges praised the “ambition of its scope, and the hilarious audacity of its narrative techniques”.

Japan to organize SL creditors’ meeting by end of this year

Japan is working to organize a meeting of Sri Lanka’s creditors by the end of this year in hopes of solving that country’s debt crisis, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.

Who says the truth?

While condemning the claims made by Colombo Municipal Councillor Priyanka Jayasekara, Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thera today said that he had not requested any money from her to invest in any business.

Don’t pay tolls to unauthorized CMC Reps: Commissioner

People are advised not to pay tolls if they park their vehicles on the 19 roads that do not have authorized representatives of the Colombo Municipality, Municipal Commissioner J.M. Badrani Jayawardana said.

Petrol price reduction could cause huge traffic jam tomorrow

With the price of petrol brought down, it will lead to huge traffic congestion on the roads from tomorrow, Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) Chairman Gemunu Wijerathne said.

Caning students to maintain discipline: State and Deputy Principal ordered to pay compensation

The Supreme Court has ordered the State and a Deputy Principal attached to a government school in Matale to pay a compensation of Rs.200,000 to two students for causing injuries by severely caning them, violating their fundamental rights guaranteed under the constitution.

CID arrests Thilini Priyamali’s business partner

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has arrested the business partner of the owner of Thico Group Private Ltd Thilini Priyamali in connection with alleged financial fraud.

Youth should be encouraged in merchant shipping sector: Minister

Sri Lankan youth should be encouraged to take employment opportunities in the merchant shipping sector for which the government is implanting a dedicated programme, Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said.

Tuk tuk fare to remain unchanged until Minister allows 30 liters of petrol weekly: Assn.

Three-wheeler drivers today said that they will reduce the taxi fares only if the Power and Energy Ministry allows another 30 litres of petrol for their three-wheeled vehicles.

Belarus to support local educational reforms

The Belarusian Education Minister said that their government would give its full support to the educational reforms in Sri Lanka.

2hr 20 minutes power outage announced until Friday: PUCSL

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) today approved a two-hour and 20 minute power cut until Friday (21).

Three Sri Lankan hotels in World’s Best Hotels round up

Traveller Australia, the travel section of the two top Australia newspapers; Sydney Morning Herald and the Melbourne Age, included three Sri Lankan hotels in its annual roundup ’’The best of the best: World’s top hotels’’

Stop extravagant Christmas celebrations this year - Cardinal

Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith today called on Catholics to celebrate Christmas on a low key this year and avoid spending lavishly on decorations.

Diesel price down won’t be sufficient for fare revision: NTC Chairman

Even though the Auto Diesel was reduced by Rs. 15, the National Transport Commission (NTC) said that this price reduction is not sufficient to consider bus fare revision.

Fuel prices lowered from tonight

Price of octane 92 Petrol will be reduced by Rs. 40 per liter and the Price of Auto Diesel by Rs. 15 from 9.00 pm today, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara said.

Three die, two injured in car crash

At least three people were killed and two others injured when a car veered off the road and crashed into a tree at Ridibendiella on the Anuradhapura-Padeniya Road this morning, Police said.

SL will qualify; Mickey Arthur still stands by his prediction

Despite Sri Lanka’s shocking defeat against Namibia at the T20 World Cup, former Sri Lanka Coach and the current Derbyshire’s coach Mickey Arthur said he still stands by his prediction that Sri Lanka will qualify.

Paris Club assures fullest support for SL to find early resolution to debt crisis: Minister

The Paris Club assured its fullest support for Sri Lanka’s ongoing efforts to find an early resolution to its debt crisis, State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe said.

EU focuses “green recovery” as way forward to exit ongoing crisis in SL

The European Union (EU) in Sri Lanka said the Team Europe focus on “green recovery”, as a way forward to exit the ongoing multi-faceted crisis in Sri Lanka and that the EU has stood shoulder to shoulder with Sri Lanka to help the country recover from its civil war, the 2004 Tsunami, the Covid-19 pandemic, and now the economic crisis.

Draft ‘rehabilitation’ law would spur abuse - HRW

The Sri Lankan government should withdraw a draft law that would give the authorities broad powers to detain people in military-run “rehabilitation” centers, placing them at great risk of abuse, Human Rights Watch said today.

SJB offers conditional support to 22nd amendment

SJB has decided to offer conditional support to the 22nd amendment to the constitution which is to be debated in Payment this week, MP Tissa Attanayake announced at a media briefing a short while ago.

Remove mandatory Covid test reports for tourists: Udayanga

Former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga who coordinates Russian tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka said he requested the health authorities to do away with mandatory requirement of carrying Covid test report for tourists.

LG polls on time – chairman, election commission

The Election Commission (EC) is determined to hold Local Government (LG) polls a minimum of two weeks prior to March 20th, 2023, as all LG bodies have to be constituted by that day according to the law, Chairman of the EC, S.G.Punchihewa said yesterday.

40 Govt. MPs to form new political entity

Around 40 MPS of the government will form a new political entity independent of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna(SLPP), a top source said. These MPS include some Cabinet Ministers such as Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe.