Cement usage slumps 19% in first half reflecting slowdown in construction

Total cement usage in the country has plunged 19 percent in the six months to June 2022 reflecting the depth of the contraction in construction activities and thereby the impact on the country’s total economic output.

Govt. revenue considerably up in first half amid tax increases

The government revenue in the first half of 2022 jumped the most in recent times as Value Added Tax (VAT) and a slew of other taxes were raised effective from June as part of broader fiscal sector reforms....

Tourism earnings reach US$ 900mn in January-August period

The repeatedly battered tourism industry in the last three years is showing some recovery with the resurgence of global leisure travel and the focused efforts by the Lankan authorities and industry stakeholders to lure more travellers to the country.

Privately-owned hydro power sector risks imminent shutdown as CEB fails to honour payments

Sri Lanka’s privately owned hydro power sector risks an imminent shutdown with virtually all cash-flows drying up as a result of Ceylon Electricity Board’s failure to honour payments to the tune of Rs.20 billion....

Lanka IOC kicks off commercial operations of SL’s first grease plant

Lanka IOC (LIOC) PLC said it commenced commercial operations of Sri Lanka’s first grease manufacturing plant at LIOC Terminal in Trincomalee.

Calls grow louder to make public transport mainstay

Experts last week made a strong case as to why Sri Lankans should embrace public transport as part of their everyday life and make private vehicle use restrained as much as possible after the country....

FM requests Ukrainian Govt. for more info on seven SL students rescued in Ukraine

The Foreign Ministry has requested the Ukrainian Government to ascertain the veracity of the news item with regard to the rescue of seven Sri Lankan students from Kupyansk Medical College in the Kharkiv region in Ukraine and to provide more information on it as a matter of priority, given the need to ensure the welfare of Sri Lankan nationals in Ukraine.

Police release drawn sketches of suspects in Mt. Lavinia court shooting

The police today released sketches of two suspects wanted over the shooting inside the Mount Lavinia Court premises on August 4, seeking public assistance to arrest them.

Sri Lanka to brief creditors on IMF deal

The Sri Lankan government will virtually brief all its external creditors on September 23, 2022, on the deal agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the economic recovery and the next steps in the debt restructuring process.

Tsunami alert issued after major quake strikes off Taiwan

A 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan’s southeastern coast on Sunday prompting tsunami warnings, with at least one building collapse and train cars derailed.

Five Acting Ministers appointed to cover duties of Prez

Five state ministers have been appointed as Acting Ministers and they will be in charge of these ministries during the absence of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who left for UK to attend the funeral of British Monarch Queen Elizabeth II.

Queen Elizabeth II had close links with Church of Ceylon, SL: Church of Ceylon

Queen Elizabeth II served as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, the Head of the Commonwealth and therefore had close links with the Church of Ceylon, the worldwide Anglican Communion and Sri Lanka, the Church of Ceylon said.

Bus Owners’ Assn. blames minister for non- implementation of fuel price formula

The Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association said the government should clarify the facts for the reason as to why there is no reduction in the price of fuel when the crude oil prices in the world market have slumped.

Saudi aims to double Sri Lankan workforce

The number of Sri Lankan skilled and semi-skilled workforce in Saudi Arabia could be increased to 400,000 from the present 180,000 within a short period of time, Saudi Ambassador to Sri Lanka Khalid bin Hamoud Nasser Aldasam Alkahtani said.

China records first monkeypox case

BEIJING: China recorded its first case of monkeypox on Friday (Sep 16) in a person who had recently entered the country, officials said.

Sri Lanka, Russia continue talks on loan for Russian oil products: Minister

The Sri Lankan authorities continue negotiations with Russia on the provision of a loan to buy Russian fuel, Minister of Transport and Highways Bandula Gunawardena said.

Bandula Gunawardena apologizes to Russia

The arrest of the Russian Aeroflot plane in Sri Lanka was a terrible mistake, the authorities promise that this will not happen again, Minister of Transport and Highways and Minister of Mass Media Bandula Gunawardena said on Saturday in an interview with Sputnik.

Be careful against Wanindu: Muralitharan

Sri Lankan great Muttiah Muralitharan sounded a warning to the teams ahead of next month’s T20 World Cup, saying they will have to be careful against Wanindu Hasaranga as the mystery spinner would be a threat on Australian pitches.

Two state ministers in power and Energy Ministry assigned separate duties: Kanchana

The two state ministers who assumed duties in the Power and Energy Ministry recently were assigned separate duties with each institute to coordinate, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara said.

Azerbaijani border guards detain SL citizens in Beylagan

Four Sri Lankan citizens were detained on the territory of Horadiz border detachment of Azerbaijani State Border Service near Birinji Shahsevan village of Azerbaijan’s Beylagan district during attempt to cross the state border with Iran, Trend reports via the service.

SLBFE warn people against racketeers promising foreign jobs

Sri Lanka Bureau of Foriegn Employments (SLBFE) warned people not to get caught to rackteers who defraud money by promising foreign employments claiming that there wàs an increase in receiving such complaints recently.

Accomplice of ‘Pookutu Kanna’ arrested with drugs

The STF has arrested a close associate of underworld figure ’Pookutu Kanna’ during a raid in Polgasowita in Kahathuduwa.

Bezos loses spot as world’s second-richest person to Adani

Gautam Adani, the Indian tycoon who has climbed the wealth rankings at breakneck speed this year, surpassed Jeff Bezos to become the world’s second-richest person.

Namal ignored requests to lift ban on best cricketers for 2021 T20 world cup: Kiriella

It was a mockery on the part of SLPP parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa’s attempt to get credit for the recent T20 cricket Asia cup victory after sabotaging the Sri Lanka cricket team at the last T20 World Cup tournament held in Dubai in 2021 when he was the Sports Minister, claimed the Chief Opposition Whip and Senior Vice President of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), Lakshman Kiriella yesterday.

President leaves for UK; his maiden overseas visit as head of state

President Ranil Wickremesinghe left for the United Kingdom this morning to attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

Seven SL students held by invaders in Ukraine since March rescued in Kharkiv region – Zelenskyy

Seven Sri Lankan citizens, students of Kupyansk Medical College in Ukraine, who had been held by the Russian soldiers since March were rescued In the Kharkiv region, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Public sector vacancies will be filled from excessive staff at state establishments: Minister

Following the government’s decision to suspend recruitments to the public sector and the announcement of the mandatory requirement of retirement at the age of 60 years, the vacancies created in the public service will be filled from the excessive staff at various state establishments, Plantation Industries Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said.

Alleged abduction and assault of SLIIT student Colombo HC orders to arrest Ex DIG Vaas Gunawardena’s wife and SI Indika

Colombo High Court yesterday issued warrants for the arrest of former DIG Vaas Gunawardena’s wife Shamali Perera Gunawardena and Ex SI Indika Pushpakumara for absconding court yesterday in the case against them for allegedly abducting and assaulting a student of Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) Nipuna Ramanayake in August 2009.

Sri Lanka among four nations to receive capacity building assistance for selected infrastructure sector

Sri Lanka will receive assistance from international donor agencies to build capacity in selected infrastructure sectors, so that appropriate disaster-resilient measures are defined and applied to pre-disaster preparation for recovery and post-disaster recovery efforts.

Online violence emerging as an important workplace issue in Sri Lanka: International Finance Corporation

Similar to sexual harassment, online violence is emerging as an important workplace issue among local companies and making the stance worse is that human resource (HR) managers understand poorly on the act and its implications on employees.