Parliament to convene only today and tomorrow due to fuel crisis

Business Committee of the Parliament has decided to convene Parliamentary sessions only today and tomorrow due to fuel crisis.

CA orders Magistrate to make fresh orders against Johnston

The Court of Appeal today held that Colombo Fort Magistrate should make fresh orders in terms of law when MP Johnston Fernando appears before court in due course in connection with the attacks took place at Galle Face.

Crisis aggravated after new govt., PM took over: AKD

Claiming that the economic crisis had aggravated after the newly-appointed Prime Minister and the government took over, National People’s Power (NPP) MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today that the new government has also failed in a short period of time.

US extends fresh funding of US$ 5.75 mil

The U.S. government announced a third tranche of new funding today to address the immediate needs of people hardest hit by the economic crisis in Sri Lanka.

August and December school holidays to be shortened - Education Minister

School holidays will be shortened in August and December and the number of school days to be increased to cover the syllabi missed by children during these additional school days, Education Minister Susil Peyaramajayantha said.

SC determines SJB’s 21A requires approval through referendum: Speaker informs Parliament

The Supreme Court has determined that the 21st Amendment to the Constitution tabled by Samagi Jana Balawegaya required approval through a referendum and a two-thirds majority in Parliament, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardhane announced today.

Driver gets a friendly nudge from Geetha

Responding to a journalist MP Geetha Kumarasinghe said that there were discussions regarding the issuance of fuel during the next couple of days.

SJB, SLFP and NPP walk out of Parliament

Some opposition political parties including, SJB, SLFP, National People’s Power (NPP) , independent MPs Patali Champika Ranawaka and Venerable Athureliye Rathana Thera walked out of Parliament announcing that they would boycott sessions for a week.

Minimum age for SL women working abroad amended to 21

The government has amended the minimum age limit for Sri Lankan women leaving for foreign employment as domestic aides to 21 years of age.

SJB to boycott Parliament from today

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has decided to boycott Parliament from today, Party General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said.

Gazette issued; bringing fuel supply, power, health care under essential services category

A special gazette notification has been issued, declaring the supply and distribution of petroleum products and fuel, the electricity supply, hospitals and all related services essential services.

Sri Lankans trapped in livability crisis as wages massively fall behind inflation

Sri Lankans are entrapped in a massive-scale livability crisis, as their incomes do not keep pace with the prices, after the authorities plunged the country into an unprecedented economic crisis characterised by hyperinflation.

State intervention sought to prevent continuous exploitation of foreign employment seekers

Sri Lanka’s foreign employment industry calls for immediate state intervention to put an end to the continuous exploitation of the country’s foreign employment seekers by the so-called ‘GAMCA-accredited medical mafia’, backed by influential political forces.

Sarpaya acquitted in double murder case

The Colombo High Court yesterday ordered to acquit and release former Sabaragamuwa Provincial Councillor Muhandiramge Hasitha Samantha alias Sarpaya from a case filed against him for allegedly killing two individuals in 1999.

Jaffna International Airport to resume international flights from July 1

International flights at Jaffna International Airport are scheduled to resume on July 1, with plans to attract new commercial airlines operating into new destinations beyond India.

China-funded Lotus Tower stays idle in Colombo

The Colombo Lotus Tower, which was funded by China and was declared open in late 2019 by the then President Maithripala Sirisena, remains non-operational to-date in the heart of the Capital of Sri Lanka.

Essential, life-saving drugs in hospitals running out rapidly: GMOA

With the increasing number of patients in the country, the essential and life-saving drug categories in hospitals are running out rapidly, so now it has become a serious crisis, Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) Media Committee Member Dr. Prasad Kolabage said.

Govt. pharmacists contemplating TU action

The Society of Government Pharmacists (SGM) today warned the Health Ministry and said they will join a decision making process in collaboration with other trade unions in the health service, if the ministry does not take action to provide transport for health service professionals by Wednesday (22).

Dhammika Perera gives undertaking not to take oaths as MP until SC decides

Businessman Dhammika Perera through his lawyer today gave an undertaking before Supreme Court that he would not to take oaths as a Member of Parliamentarian or a government Minister until Supreme Court make an order regarding several Fundamental Rights petitions filed challenging his appointment as a MP.

Kusal Mendis becomes father for first time

Sri Lanka’s top order batsman Kusal Mendis has become a father for the first time.

President and PM must step down: Kiriella

The Gotabaya Rajapaksa – Ranil Wickremesinghe regime must stop forthwith further aggravating the misery of millions of families in Sri Lanka and step down immediately making way for Parliament to elect a new President, a Prime Minister and a cabinet under an all-party interim government, Chief Opposition Whip and senior vice president of the SJB Lakshman Kiriella said today.

Flights between China and Sri Lanka to increase

The frequency of flight commercial operations between China and Sri Lanka will increase, a statement from the President’s Media Division(PMD) said.

Free vocational training for children of workers: Manusha

The Labour and Foreign Employment Ministry has decided to provide free vocational training for the children of the local working community, targeting global job market.

Cannot afford to allow protesters to disrupt economic recovery: UNP

Claiming that a group of individuals surrounded the Finance Ministry and attempted to prevent the Finance Secretary from attending the IMF talks, UNP Working Committee member Dinuk Colombage said such groups cannot be allowed to disrupt the economic recovery efforts of the country.

French elections: Macron loses majority as French vote fragments

Less than two months after he was re-elected president, Emmanuel Macron has lost control of the French National Assembly following a strong performance by a left alliance and the far right.

Special mechanism for Health workers to obtain fuel: Keheliya

A special mechanism has been introduced for health staffers to obtain fuel during the present crisis situation where the health workers could obtain fuel at designated filling stations across the country on Fridays, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.

One lane from Lipton Circus to Fort blocked

One lane leading to Colombo Fort from the Lipton Circus was blocked due to a protest march by the Inter University Students Federation (IUSF).

President will martial this country out of this crisis - MR

Former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has extended his wishes to his borther President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on the latter’s birthday saying that “I have every assurance that he will martial this country out of this crisis.”

Take legal action against those who gave order, instead withholding bowser permits: Bowser Assn.

The Power and Energy Minister should have taken legal action against the man who was behind giving order to issue fuel from the bowser, instead of withholding the permit of the bowser crew who issued fuel on their way to filling station, the Ceylon Petroleum Private Bowser Owners Association (CPPBOA) said.

Dhammika Perera to be sworn as MP tomorrow

Business tycoon Dhammika Perera is to be sworn as a member of parliament before Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana,Parliament sources said today.