Govt. ready to listen to democratic public protests: PM

The government is ready to listen to the democratic public protests, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said today.

More than 4 mn successfully registered for ’National Fuel Pass’

The number of people who have successfully registered themselves to obtain National Fuel Passes has exceeded four million (4,096,824) by last evening, the Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said.

Vajira Abeywardena sworn in as National List MP

Vajira Abeywardena was sworn in as a national list MP of the United National Party (UNP) a short while ago.

Singapore grants further 14-day stay for former Sri Lankan president

Singapore has granted another stay of 14 days to former Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the city state’s Straits Times newspaper said on Wednesday.

Susil Premajayantha appointed Leader of the House

Education Minister Susil Premajayantha has been appointed as the Leader of the House in Parliament.

SriLankan says paid interest on US$ 175mn bond after sovereign debt default

National carrier SriLankan Airlines yesterday said it paid the interest in full on its US$ 175 million bond due in 2024 using company funds.

A few ministries likely to lose current portfolios in new Cabinet

A few ministers are likely to have a change of their portfolios when the next Cabinet is appointed with the accommodation of MPS who will join the government from the opposition, Daily Mirror learns.

SL has been on champagne diet with kasippu income, top economist quips

The status of Sri Lanka’s fast-crumbling economy has been attributed to many factors, but the key reason for the downfall of the island nation is that it has been on a ‘champagne diet with a kassipu income’ for a bit too long, according to a top economist in the country.

Sri Lanka asks China for help with trade, investment and tourism

Sri Lanka has asked China to help with trade, investment and tourism to help it grow sustainably, Colombo’s envoy to Beijing said on Monday as it negotiates for an emergency US$ 4 billion package to help it emerge from an economic meltdown.

Stop arrests, suppression of protesters: AKD urges Govt.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today urged the government to stop arrests and suppression of Galle Face protesters.

Any fresh COVID wave in future could cause extensive harm to non-recipients of vaccines

There is a possibility of causing danger to people who had obtained only the first and second COVID vaccine doses, if another COVID wave emerges in the future.

Leading GotaGoGama activist Dhaniz Ali arrested

A leading Galle Face protest site activist Dhaniz Ali has been arrested by the CID while trying to leave for Dubai on a flight from the BIA this evening, Police said.

President Wickremasinghe should be discharged from FR petitions filed over Easter Sunday attacks: Counsel

Counsel Suren Fernando appearing for President Ranil Wickremasinghe today moved Supreme Court that his client should be discharged from the Fundamental Rights petitions filed over Easter Sunday attacks, owing to the presidential immunity.

School, hospital transport services to resume from August 1: Gemunu

Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) Chairman Gemunu Wijerathe said today that they are hoping to start the school and hospital transport services on August 1.

Tusker Bharana found dead mysteriously

Tusker Bharana, was one of the few remaining giant tuskers in the island and had attracted more tourists in Kalawewa International Park, was found dead mysteriously.

FR filed by Police OIC challenging transfer at the behest of racketeers: SC grants leave to proceed

The Supreme Court has granted leave to proceed with a Fundamental Rights petition filed by the former OIC of Thelikada police station in Galle district for allegedly unreasonably transferring him to the Tangalle police Division for normal duties at the behest of the racketeers involved in illegal activities in Gin Ganga and forests in Thelikada.

Some SJB MPs in favour of all party govt with RW

Whilst Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) parliamentary group has unanimously decided to vote against the Emergency Bill tomorrow, there seemed to be different opinions about an all party government as some MPs representing the party opine that the party should play a role in an all party government without accepting ministerial portfolios.

Debate on Emergancy proclamation in Parliament tomorrow

Parliament is scheduled to meet tomorrow and the proclamation of emergency regulations by President Ranil Wickremesinghe under the Public Security Act is to be approved in Parliament, Communications Department of Parliament said.

Dan Priyasad’s brother hacked to death in Wellampitiya

A 34-year old man, who has been identified as the brother of Dan Priyasad had been hacked to death last night near the Orugodawattha flyover in Wellampitiya.

Court imposes travel ban on six protest leaders

The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court today issued an order preventing six protest leaders including General Secretary of Ceylon Teachers Union Joseph Stalin and Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF) Convener Wasantha Mudalige from leaving the country.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa to return

Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will return to the country from Singapore, Cabinet spokesman Bandula Gunewardena said today.

Polish man arrested for illegally sailing in from Sri Lanka

Coastal security agencies in India have arrested a Polish national who illegally entered Tamil Nadu by boat.

Tuk Tuks, garden equipment, generators and equipment require fuel must be registered: Minister

The Power and Energy Minister requested all three-wheeler owners, garden equipment, generators and other equipment that need fuel, to get registered with their respective area police stations and divisional secretariats to obtain fuel from their registered fuel station.

Face masks recommended for indoors, transit, public gathering: Ministry

Considering the current COVID-19 situation in the country, the Health Services Director General has strongly recommended wearing face masks indoors, when using public transport and when taking part in public gatherings.

Doctor arrested for aiding to kill his maid’s newborn infant in 2017

A doctor attached to the Kandy Hospital has been arrested for aiding and abetting to kill an infant and dumping the body in a well after his domestic aide had given birth to it in 2017.

Covid-19 on the rise with 2 deaths reported yesterday

Two people who were being treated for the covid-19 virus died yesterday and 75 people infected with the virus were reported, the Director General of Government Information announced

Monkeypox not proven as a sexually transmittable disease

Monkeypox is not proven to be a sexually transmittable disease and it is not clinically proven that it is a disease which mostly affects homosexuals, a Sri Lankan expert said yesterday.

Exporters set to face higher freight charges amid acute jet fuel shortage

Sri Lankan exporters are set to experience increased air freight rates amid capacity constraints stemming from reduced frequencies and limits on payloads, caused by the acute jet fuel shortage in the country.

Free Trade Zone Manufacturers expresses confidence in Prez. fulfilling nation’s aspirations

The Free Trade Zone Manufacturers’ Association (FTZMA) yesterday sounded a note of optimism about President Ranil Wickremesinghe ushering in the necessary changes to the country’s economy.

Remanded for Facebook post

A suspect was produced before Galle Magistrate Pavitra Sanjeewani Pathiran today on the charge of sharing a Facebook post showing solidarity to the ’Aragalaya’ struggle and containing malicious statements against the police and security forces was remanded till August 8.