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.

Schools reopen from Monday; three days per week: Ministry

All schools and government approved private schools will reopen from Monday (25) and to continue with schools’ academic activities for three days in a week, the Education Ministry said.

Over 1,000 valuable artefacts missing in state premises taken over by protesters

More than 1,000 items with archaeological value reported to have gone missing from the state premises such as President’s House and Temple Trees which were taken over by the protesters.

Navy denies two officers stepped down after seeing attack on Galle Face protesters

The Sri Lanka Navy denied some social media reports that two naval officers had stepped down after the attack on protesters near the Presidential Secretariat at Galle Face Green early yesterday morning.

President raises unofficial concerns with Colombo based diplomats over statements

President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday evening invited the Colombo based diplomats to the President’s Office during which unofficial concerns were raised over their statements released over the operation carried out by the security forces to clear the Presidential Secretariat area.

President appoints committee to probe allegation against Nimal Siripala

A three-member committee has been appointed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to conduct an Investigation immediately into the bribery allegation against former minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and to submit a report.

Tourist arrivals in July cross 28,000 mark

Sri Lanka welcomed 28,733 tourists for the first 19 days of July, bringing the total number of international visitors entering the country for the year starting January 01 to 440,110.

Aragalaya President Wickremesinghe should have initiated dialogue with protesters - Mano Ganesan

President Wickremesinghe told party leaders, he will provide Vihara Maha Devi Gardens to protesters

Facilitating talks with IMF, creditors, my priority - Foreign Minister

Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry said facilitation of talks with the International Monetary Fund ( IMF) and creditors is his priority in the new job .

Cabinet discusses country to be normalized in one week

The Cabinet which met for the first time under President Ranil Wickremesinghe discussed that the country should be normalized within one week by regularizing functions of the government institutions such as the Prime Minister’s Office, the Presidential Secretariat and schools, Daily Mirror learns.

CCC submits proposal to PUCSL for effective electricity tariff revision

In order to ensure the implementation of an effective tariff revision, which sustainably addresses Sri Lanka’s energy requirements, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) submitted suggestions and recommendations on the proposed electricity tariffs to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) this week.

SJB asks Harin to resign from Parliament

MP Harin Fernando should hand over the national list slot through which he came into Parliament back to Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) so that former MP Ranjan Ramanayake could be nominated to Parliament once he is out of prison, an SJB MP suggested today.

Gazette issued nominating Vajira Abeywardena as National List MP

The elections commission today issued an Extraordinary gazette notification announcing Vajira Abeywardena as a national list MP of United National Party (UNP).

Chinese President offers Sri Lanka’s new president support amid crisis

Chinese President Xi Jinping offered Sri Lanka’s new president his support on Friday (Jul 22), state broadcaster CCTV reported, as the Indian Ocean island grapples with its worst economic crisis in decades.

Cannot stop struggle through suppression: NPP

While condemning the attack on Galle Face protesters, the National People’s Power (NPP) said today the struggle which is prevalent throughout the country cannot be ended through suppression and urged everyone to come foward to expel President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the entire Parliament.

’’This is not the time to crack down on citizens’’; Julie Chung tells Ranil

US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung said she met with President Ranil Wickremesinghe to express her grave concern over the unnecessary and deeply troubling escalation of violence against protesters overnight.

India extended Line of Credit worth USD 1.85 bn to SL in 10 years: Jaishankar

India has extended 8 Lines of Credit (LOCs) to Sri Lanka amounting to USD 1850.64 million in the past 10 years, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar said on Friday.

Nine protesters released on bail

Nine protesters including Attorney-at-law Nuwan Bopage arrested at the Galle Face were granted bail after being produced before Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court.

New COVID Omicron variant deadlier than Delta, wear facemasks: Medical Specialists warn

Medical specialists warned people to wear facemasks as the new COVID-Omicron variant which is spreading now was deadly and not easy to detect correctly either.

Karu Jayasuriya condemns attack on Galle Face protesters

While condemning the attack on Galle Face protesters, National Movement for Social Justice Chairman Karu Jayasuriya said the right to dissent and to express one’s opinions as well as to protest peacefully must be protected.

New cabinet sworn-in ; Ali Sabry appointed Foreign Affairs Minister

The new Cabinet of Ministers were sworn in today before President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the Prime Minister’s Office.

Kamal Gunaratne re-appointed as Defence Secretary

General (Rtd) Kamal Gunaratne has been re-appointed as the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence by President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Droupadi Murmu elected 15th President of India

NDA’s presidential nominee Droupadi Murmu on Thursday became the first tribal woman to be elected as President of India by defeating her rival, opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha, by a margin of 947 votes, bagging 64.03% of the electoral college votes against Sinha’s share of 35.97%.

Dinesh Gunawardena sworn in as PM

Dinesh Gunawardena was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka before President Ranil Wickremesinghe a short while ago.