Sri Lanka is facing diplomatic sanctions: Sajith

Sri Lanka is facing diplomatic sanctions and other kinds of embargos following the attack on Galle Face protesters, Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa said today.

IMF staff level agreement delayed due to unrest by protesters

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff level agreement which was to come in August this year has been delayed because of the unrest caused by some protesters whose agitation later turned violent, a cabinet Minister said today.

FOREX crisis may restrict fuel imports in the next 12 months

Power and Energy Minster Kanchana Wijesekera today said that fuel imports including diesel and petrol have to be restricted in the next 12 months due to FOREX issues.

Govt. must act expeditiously to provide relief for children’s education

Parents can no longer bear the prevalent transport cost to send their children to school and therefore the government should take immediate action to provide relief for children’s education, Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) General Secretary Joseph Stalin said.

National Fuel Pass QR code to be implemented from Aug. 1: Minister

The QR code system under the National Fuel Pass portal will be implemented islandwide from August 1 in multiple filling station locations of CEYPETCO and Lanka Indian Oil Company (LIOC) while placing the system to refuel for vehicles according to the last digit of the vehicle’s registration number until August 1, the Power and Energy Ministry said.

SL aviation contingent at MINUSCA commended for recent act of bravery

Lieutenant General Daniel Sidiki Traoré, the Forces Commander of the Multi-dimensional Integrated UN Stabilization Mission in CAR (MINUSCA) has commended the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Aviation contingent at MINUSCA under the United Nations for the act of bravery during a recent mission.

Turned down govt’s request to attend group meeting tomorrow: Vasu

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara tomorrow said that he had turned down the request made by the government to attend a group meeting that was scheduled to be held tomorrow.

Man stabbed to death in Borella over petrol dispute

A 40-year old man was stabbed to death by an individual during a dispute regarding theft of petrol from a motorcycle in Borella early this morning.

T-56 firearm stolen by protestors during recent unrest found in Diyawanna Lake

One of the T-56 firearms that was grabbed from a soldier by the protesters during the massive agitation at Polduwa Junction on July 13, was found in the Diyavanna Lake near Parliament, police said.

Travel ban on Cabraal further extended till October 26

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s court today further extended its order preventing former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal from leaving the country until October 26.

July 25, designated as Dengue Eradication Day

The Health Ministry announced today (25) as a special dengue eradication day for the immediate control and prevention of dengue in the country.

Open-Air theatre at Viharamahadevi Park available for peaceful protests: Prez

President Ranil Wickremesinghe briefed the diplomatic community that facilitates within Colombo, such as the Open-Air theatre at Viharamahadevi Park, New Town Hall, Hyde Park and Campbell Park were all being made available for non-violent protests.

Sri Lanka faces risk of airlines pulling out as jet fuel issue worsens

With no credible solution in sight to resolve the jet fuel shortage and the fund repatriation issues faced by the country’s aviation industry, several airlines are contemplating on suspending their operations to Sri Lanka threatening tourism industry’s recovery, which depends on air connectivity.

Refueling according QR code, last digit of vehicle’s number plate begins today

The refueling process for vehicles as per the QR code system under the National Fuel Pass portal along with the last digit of the vehicle’s registration number will commence today, the Power and Energy Ministry said.

Taisei Corp. denies bribery allegations

Details of a disinformation campaign to discredit the government making allegations of demanding a bribe from a Japanese company engaged in the construction work of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) expansion project have been revealed.

Three arrested with stolen goods from the President’s House

Three persons who stormed into the President’s House at Fort on July 9 during protest, had been arrested with 40 gold-plated brass sockets that were fixed on the walls to hang window curtains.

Circular issued calling state employees to work extended

A new circular has been issued by the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government summoning limited number of state employees to work.

Aragalaya only achieved partial victory: AKD

The Aragalaya (struggle) has achieved only a partial victory as its slogan was not complete, National People’s Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today.

Rights group seeks arrest of former president Rajapaksa in Singapore

A rights group documenting alleged abuses in Sri Lanka has filed a criminal complaint with Singapore’s attorney general, seeking the arrest of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for his role in the South Asian nation’s decades-long civil war, the Reuters reported.

Station masters called off trade union action

The Sri Lanka Railways Station Masters’ Union (SLRSMU) has decided to call off their 48-hour trade union action after discussions held with the officials of the National Transport Commission.

Willing to play a role in the govt, won’t accept ministries: SJB

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) is willing to play a role in the government through parliamentary committees, its leader and Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa said.

SLAF clarifies over airman who claims he does not want to be a slave to SLAF

The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) said that an airman who claimed that he did not want to be a slave to Sri Lanka Air Force, has left the SLAF on termination of his initial engagement of eight-years.

UK minister Tariq Ahmad says will continue to support Sri Lanka

The United Kingdom (UK) will continue to support Sri Lanka through these challenges, UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Minister Lord Tariq Ahmad said yesterday.

Not far from Sri Lanka moment, warns Imran

Former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Saturday warned that Pakistan is not far from a Sri Lanka moment when the public will fill the streets for the ‘Haqeeqi Azadi’.

WHO declares highest alert over outbreak of monkeypox

The monkeypox outbreak has been declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization.

EU condemns unwarranted use of force against peaceful demonstrators

While condemning the unwarranted use of force against peaceful demonstrators, the European Union (EU) has stressed the importance of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

Recall COVID technical committee, make face masks mandatory; GMOA tells health authorities

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has requested the Health Services Director General to recall the COVID technical committee, make it compulsory for people to wear face masks when entering high-risk areas and to make the public aware of the possibility of another COVID wave due to the spread of the COVID-19 omicron new subvariant, BA.5, around the country, including in Sri Lanka.

President instructs to speed up and streamline fuel distribution island-wide

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed the relevant officials to accelerate and regularize the island-wide fuel distribution process.

Station masters to stay away from issuing tickets from 6.00 pm today

The station masters on duty at all railway stations have decided to refrain from issuing tickets from 6pm today to oppose charging unfair ticket fares from commuters during the current economic crisis in the country and the failure to implement proper methodology to increase the fares, The Sri Lanka Railways Station Masters’ Union (SLRSMU) said.

Tamil Nadu sends INR74 crore worth rice, medicines to Sri Lanka

Essential goods, including rice, milk powder and medicines all valued at ₹74 crore, was dispatched to Sri Lanka from the VOC Port Madurei by Lok Sabha MP K. Kanimozhi on Saturday.