President denies allocating Rs. 400 Mn to renovate MR’s residence

President Ranil Wickremesinghe today denied reports which said a sum of Rs. 400 million has been allocated out of state funds to renovate the residence of Former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

GL threatens to seek legal action if LG polls postponed

SLPP Chairman Prof. GL peiris today warned the government that they would seek legal action if any attempt is made to postpone the Local Government election which was due now.

Crisis-hit Sri Lanka strikes staff-level pact with IMF on loan

Sri Lanka and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have reached a preliminary agreement on an emergency loan to the crisis-hit country and a formal announcement will be made on Thursday, four sources with direct knowledge of the matter said.

Troops arrest duo with 10.4 kg of ICE worth Rs. 150mn in Mannar

Two men were arrested by the Army with 10.4 kg of ICE (methamphetamine crystals) which has a street value of more than Rs. 150 million at a Mannar roadblock this morning.

Red alert issued for 20 districts as rains intensify: Met Dept.

A red alert (High risk) for heavy deluge has been issued for 20 districts, the Meteorology Department said today.

SLPP independent group sit in opposition

A group of independent MPs of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) including Dallas Alahapperuma sat in the Opposition side in Parliament today.

Rainfall in hydro catchment areas still inadequate: Irrigation Dept.

Although heavy rainfall has been experienced in the country since last evening, the hydro catchment areas have not received significant rainfall, Irrigation (Hydrology) Director S.P.C. Sugeeshwara said.

Sun directly over Sri Lanka for 11 days

The sun is expected to be directly over the island from August 28 to September 7, as a result of its apparent southward relative motion, the Department of Meteorology said.

Harak Kata’s drug peddler ’Kudu Batti’ arrested

The STF has arrested two suspects including a woman known as ’Kudu Batti’ who are accomplices of the notorious drug kingpin and the leader of an organized criminal gang Nadun Chinthaka alias ’Harak Kata’.

CAA issues special gazette specifying directions for manufacturers, traders

A gazette notification was issued by the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) while issuing special directions for specified manufacturers and traders subject to the conditions specified in the corresponding entries.

Deluge above 150 mm in many provinces: Met Dept.

Heavy rains exceeding 150 mm are expected in some areas of the Western, Southern, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces today due to low-level atmospheric disturbances in the country’s vicinity, the Meteorology Department said.

Last Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev dies at 91

Mikhail Gorbachev, the former Soviet leader who brought the Cold War to a peaceful end, has died aged 91.

Duty-free worker busted with gold biscuits worth Rs.157mn

An employee of the airport duty-free shopping complex was arrested last night while he was attempting to leave the Katunayake airport with 60 gold biscuits worth Rs. 157 million.

18-hour water cut in Colombo and suburbs on Saturday, Sunday

An 18-hour water cut will be in effect in Colombo and its suburbs from 8.00 a.m Saturday (September 3) till 2.00 a.m on Sunday (September 4) the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NSWDB ) said.

Prez has a challenge to setup credible mechanism to probe enforced disappearances: Sandya Eknaligoda

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has a challenge to introduce a credible and internationally trusted mechanism to probe the enforced disappearances and mete out justice to those who affected, missing journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda’s wife Sandya Eknaligoda said today.

University admissions from Monday: UGC Chairman

Students who had got through the 2021 (2022) GCE Advanced Level (A/L) examination can apply for university entrance starting next Monday, University Grant Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof. Sampath Amaratunga said.

Textbooks for 2023 to reach students on time

The Education Ministry has taken the necessary measures to print the required school textbooks for the coming year.

Water levels in several rivers rising; flood warning issued

The Irrigation Department today issued a possibility of floods in several areas following heavy rains.

IUSF protesters tear gassed

The police fired tear gas on students of the Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF) who were protesting near the Technical College Junction in Maradana a short while ago.

Road accident leaves one dead, two critically wounded

A 33-year person had died and two others were seriously injured when a bus and a lorry crashed head on at the Samudra Mawatha in Galle on the Galle-Matara Main Road this morning.

Technical Junction blocked due to protest

Heavy traffic was reported in and around the Technical College Junction in Maradana due to a protest by the Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF), police said.

Pregnant mothers to get Rs. 2,500 monthly allowance

Pregnant mothers would be provided with an additional monthly allowance of Rs. 2,500 in addition to Rs. 20,000 already provided for them, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said in his budget speech.

Bangladesh will never face situation like Sri Lanka: Sheikh Hasina

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today expressed her firm conviction that Bangladesh will never plunge into Sri Lanka-like situation for its development spree, rather the country will continue to move ahead overcoming all global challenges.

VAT to be increased to 15%

The Value Added Tax (VAT) rate will be increased to 15 percent from the current rate of 12 percent with effect from September 1 2022, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said today.

5-year multiple entry tourist visa with 6 months stay for 35 countries: Harin

Cabinet has approved a 5-year multiple entry tourist visa with 6 months stay for 35 countries to help boost tourism in Sri Lanka, Tourism Minister Harin Fernando said.

Sri Lanka rerun, Iraq protestors storm presidential palace, take dip in pool

Two months after the unprecedented Sri Lankan political turmoil wherein thousands of protestors stormed the presidential palace in Colombo, similar sights were visible in Baghdad city in Iraq.

Pakistan secures $1.1bn in IMF bailout funding

The International Monetary Fund released about $1.1 billion to Pakistan as part of its seventh and eighth reviews of the country’s bailout programme helping it avoid a Sri Lanka-like default crisis.

Tokyo will coordinate with other Sri Lanka creditors on debt: Japan Finance Minister

Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki said on Tuesday it was important for all creditor nations of Sri Lanka to gather to discuss Colombo’s debt issue, adding that Tokyo would coordinate with other creditors on the matter.

Three arrested over assault on Senior DIG Thennakoon

Three persons were arrested by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) over assault on Senior DIG in charge of Western Province Deshabandu Tennakoon and two other police officers in early May.

Sweden and Denmark eases travel advisory to SL

Sweden and Denmark have joined the growing list of countries to ease travel advisory to Sri Lanka, which further imporves the chances of the hard-hit tourism sector witnessing signs of revival earlier than expected.