Cabinet status for parliamentary committee chairpersons?

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has pledged to form a new administration and has also stressed the importance of giving powers to chairpersons of parliamentary committees similar to Cabinet Ministers.

GR to return to SL in 3 months as options run out

Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will return back to Sri Lanka in November after his 90 day Thai visa runs out, and as he runs out of options to receive temporary shelter in another country, the Daily Mirror learns.

Hoteliers say electricity tariff hike unfair given their meagre revenue

Sri Lanka’s hospitality sector yesterday said the electricity tariff hike announced this week would further hurt the tourism industry, as it is not in a position to bear any further pain with the current meagre revenue.

Indian funded housing projects to be expedited

Housing schemes which are carried out using Indian assistance in the South and in the North is to be expedited following an order from Housing and Construction Minister Prasanna Ranatunga.

Overtime payment to refinery workers; Minister to present detailed report in Parliament

Admitting that Rs. 400 million has been paid as overtime to Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) workers, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said yesterday he would present a detailed report in Parliament on the payments.

All MPs must ensure 22A adopted unanimously: Karu Jayasuriya

While appreciating the submission of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution in Parliament, the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) said it is the responsibility of the people’s representatives to ensure it is adopted unanimously.

CAA, Trade minister must provide relief to people in rural, town areas: Canteen Owners Assn.

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) Chairman and Trade Minister should implement a plan to grant concessions to reduce prices of essential commodities for people in rural and town areas, at least through SATHOSA outlets, the All Island Canteen Owners’ Association (AICOA) said.

No power cut tomorrow and Sunday

There will be no scheduled power cuts tomorrow (11) and on Sunday (14), the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) said

Death threats to NTC officials for reducing bus fares

Following the discussion between the National Transport Commission (NTC) officials and the private bus owners regarding the revision of bus fares, the bus owners behaved violently and threatened the NTC officials with death.

Thailand says former Sri Lanka president Rajapaksa seeks visit, not seeking asylum

Thailand has received a request for former Sri Lanka president Gotabaya Rajapaksa to visit the country, but he has no intention of seeking political asylum, Thailand’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday (Aug 10).

Prices of all communication services to go up: Communication Owners’ Assn.

Due to an unfair increase in the electricity tariff, the All Ceylon Communication Owners’ Association (ACCOA) has decided to increase photocopy and printout rates by Rs.5.

SL will get negative impact on long-term friendship with China: ASLCSCC

The government’s decision to postpone the arrival of the Chinese ship Yuan Wang 5 at Hambatota port, would have a negative impact on the long-term friendship between Sri Lanka and China, the Association for Sri Lanka-China Social and Cultural Cooperation (ASLCSCC) said.

Opposition calls for debate on electricity tarrif hike

The opposition today called for a debate on the eletricity tariff hike, claiming that people would be further burdened due to this decision.

Fire breaks out at Durdans Hospital hostel

A fire broke out at the Durdans Hospital hostel, which is a rented property in Kollupitiya a short while ago, and several fire fighting trucks have arrived at the scene.

Arjuna Ranatunga appointed National Sports Council Chairman

Former Sri Lanka Cricket captain and former MP Arjuna Ranatunga has been appointed as the Chairman of the National Sports Council.

Travel ban on Mahinda and Basil further extended till Sept.5

The Supreme Court today further extended its interim order preventing former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa from leaving the country until September 5. (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)

Sapugaskanda refinery to resume operations from August 15: Minister

The Sapugaskanda oil refinery would resume operations from August 15 after the crude oil shipment sailed in on August 13, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara said today.

Four writ petitions filed by Galle Face protesters withdrawn

Four writ petitions filed by Galle Face protesters before Court of Appeal seeking an order preventing the authorities from removing the protest site at Gota Go Gama in Galle Face Green were today withdrawn by themselves.

Sri Lanka’s ousted president expected to go to Thailand - sources

Sri Lanka’s ousted president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, is expected to arrive in Thailand on Thursday, seeking temporary shelter in a second Southeast Asian country after fleeing his island nation last month amid mass protests, two sources said.

22nd Amendment to Constitution presented in Parliament

Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe presented in Parliament the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution a short while ago.

Measures to prevent crop damage from animals within two months

The Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Ministry said that they will implement a work plan to minimise the damage caused by wild animals to food crops within two months.

Fr. Jeewantha Peiris to surrender before Court on Friday

Fr. Jeewantha Peiris who became an active participant in the “GotaGoGama” protest is to be surrendered before Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court on Friday (12), counsel told court.

Legal action against those who obtain fuel fraudulently using QR codes

Technical background to minimise incidents relating to fraudulently obtaining fuel under the quota system by stealing QR codes of other people is underway, Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) Director Dasun Hegoda said.

Four arrested for hoarding 18,800 litres of diesel

Four men have been arrested by the STF for hoarding 18,800 litres of diesel in Hambantota.

NTC to take legal action against charging more than revised bus fares

Raids have been initiated to take legal action against the bus crew members for charging bus fares higher than the revised bus fares, National Transport Commission (NTC) Director General Nilan Miranda said.

No bonuses for CEB if it doesn’t deliver: PUCSL

While the PUCSL has partially given in to the repeated demands of the CEB to increase the electricity tariffs, the utility regulator said that the entity must get its act right and deliver positive financial results, else the year-end bonuses should not be paid.

Govt. struggling to settle Rs.100bn owed to contractors of road development projects

Following the suspension of financing of road development projects by foreign development agencies and current fiscal constraints, the government is struggling to settle the arrears of about Rs.100 billion owed to contractors and their sub-contractors.

Cabinet nod to amend law to allow night work for women

The Cabinet nod has been granted to amend Shop and Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration) Act No.19 of 1954, to remove the archaic restrictive legal provisions on night work for women.

SL to teach Japanese at school level targeting job opportunities in Japan

Targeting employment opportunities in Japan, Sri Lanka will begin to teach Japanese and English languages at the school level, under the technical subject stream.

SLC refute SJB MP’s claims in Parliament

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said refuted what it called “false, derogatory and malicious allegations” made by Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Nalin Bandara Jayamaha in Parliament yesterday regarding the upcoming Asia Cup 2022.