Cabinet approves Friday to be declared a holiday for public servants

The Cabinet yesterday endorsed two key proposals to be implemented in the public service introducing a four-day work week for employees and five year no pay leave for those willing to migrate for foreign jobs, Daily Mirror learns.

Dhamma endorsed by Arahath Mahinda is like a road map for society: Ranil

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his Poson message said at this moment, the path of Dhamma endorsed by Arahath Mahinda is like a road map for a society that is looking to alleviate the political, socio-economic turmoil that has taken hold of the Sri Lankan state.

Poson Poya Day is of highest significance to Sri Lankan Buddhists: President

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in his Poson Day message, said unity, support and commitment of all are essential for the success of a people-centric goal.

Chinese, U.S. envoys meet in Colombo; pledge support to help Sri Lanka mitigate economic crisis

In a significant development, the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong met his U.S. counterpart Julie Chung in Colombo on June 13 and held discussions on “broad topics of mutual interest” and pledged support in helping the island nation mitigate its crippling economic crisis.

Australia’s Kane Richardson out of Sri Lanka series with injury

Australia suffered another injury setback on Monday as fast bowler Kane Richardson returned home with a hamstring problem ahead of the first one-day international against hosts Sri Lanka.

Organised liquor vendors trying to create monopoly: Excise Chief

The chief of the Department of Excise today claimed that a group of organised liquor vendors are trying to create a monopoly in the market by objecting the former to issue liquor selling licences to recognised supermarket chains, thus making an environment to sell their adulterated booze.

SJB to support restructuring CPC, SriLankan Airlines

Whilst stressing the need for restructuring key government institutions such as Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and national carrier SriLankan Airlines, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) today said it will support such restructuring processes.

Special transportation plans from Wednesday

With the recent increase in transport costs and bus fares following the fuel price increase, the transport minister has decided to introduce special passenger transportation plans from June 15.

SL has to wait till year end to obtain loan from IMF: Harsha

MP Dr. Harsha De Silva said that Sri Lanka will have to wait until the end of this year to obtain a loan from International Monetary Fund (IMF).

State media institutions get new Heads

New heads for state-owned media institutions including Rupawahini Corperation have been appointed by Media Minister Bandula Gunawardena.

Iranians to dispatch medicine & physicians to Sri Lanka

Pir-Hossein Kolivand, Head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has said that the society is ready to send medicine and physicians to Sri Lanka.

Resurgence of influenza cases - do you also have these symptoms?

Consultant Paediatrician at Lady Ridgeway Hospital Dr. Deepal Perera said that there’s a resurgence of influenza cases and that it is common among children.

Dr. Shafi donates arrears of his salary to purchase medicines for hospitals

Dr. Shihabdeen Mohamed Shafi, the doctor at the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital has decided to donate arrears of his salary amounting over Rs. 2.67 million for the purchase of essential medicines for hospitals.

PM to initiate dialogue with China to secure major assistance

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today said he would go for a dialogue with China to secure major assistance.

CEB Chairman resigns

The resignation letter of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Chairman Mr MMC Ferdinando was accepted by the Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera a short while ago.

Angelo Mathews wins ICC Men’s Player of the Month

Veteran Sri Lanka star Angelo Mathews has been voted ICC Men’s Player of the Month (POTM) for May 2022, becoming the first Sri Lanka player to win the POTM award since its inception in January 2021.

2,500 police personnel deployed for security in A’pura

Some 2,500 policemen have been deployed at religious places in Anuradhapura during the Poson week until June 19, Police said.

Muditha Peiris appointed Litro Chairman

Muditha Peiris has been appointed as the new Chairman of Litro Lanka Limited.

Expand railway network and encourage commuters to prefer train travel: Station Masters’ Union

Sri Lanka Railways Station Masters’ Union (SLRSMU) requested the Transport Minister to take immediate action to expand public transport network, namely trains, as people have gradually getting used to travel by train, instead using private vehicles.

Previous govts ruined LITRO by changing chairmen

Despite the impact of the country’s current dollar crunch, Litro Gas Lanka Limited is influenced by reckless governments that were in power in recent years changing the company’s chairmen as per their whims and fancies, BTL advertising manager Piyal Susantha Kolambahettige said.

Ganja mixed aphrodisiac ’madana modaka’ trending amongst youth: Snr. Prof.

Youngsters using cannabis mixed aphrodisiacs as an alternative to alcoholic spirits owing to its sky rocketing prices in the present economic crisis is becoming a dangerous trend, was the view of a senior academic of Sri Jayewardenepura University.

SL’s average household income makes shocking revelation about poverty level

Sri Lanka’s average monthly household income was estimated at Rs. 76,414 prior to the country’s economy fell deep into a recession and incomes deteriorated in the two years of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, according to Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) data.

Rhoda aims to put 100,000 electric smart bicycles on Lankan roads in five years

Sri Lanka’s first electric smart bicycle, Rhoda aims to put 100,000 electric smart bicycles on the roads within five years, gradually enhancing its production capacity.

One in 10 households had food security issues when country entered pandemic: DCS data

Nearly 10 percent of the population or close to two million Sri Lankans were already facing acute to moderate level food insecurity even before the country entered the pandemic, which precipitated into an all out economic collapse, the data showed.

Remittance income up in May from April signalling positive trend

Worker remittances to Sri Lanka recovered from April levels, but still stand significantly below what the country received a year ago, reflecting the lingering challenges facing the authorities in restoring confidence in getting expatriates to use the official banking channels more when repatriating their moneys, which will directly help to import food, fuel, cooking gas and medicines.

PM fails to present solution to economic crisis even after a month: Gammanpila

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has failed to put foward any plan to rescue the country from present economic crisis even after one month since his appointment, former minister Udaya Gammanpila said today.

Mattala Airport running at monthly loss of Rs. 10 Mn : Minister

Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) was running at a monthly loss of Rs. 10 million at present, Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva said.

Jaishankar to brief MEA Consultative Committee on Sri Lanka crisis

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will brief the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on External Affairs on June 18 over the ongoing crisis in Sri Lanka.

Daily Mirror journalist threatened at protest

Daily Mirror journalist Jamila Husain was threatened by a group of protestors at the protest in front of SLPP MP Dhammika Perera’s house today morning, obstructing the journalist from carrying out her duties.

Protest erupts outside Dhammika Perera’s house

Protestors gathered outside the house of business tycoon Dhammika Perera today morning, who recently was sworn in as a national list MP from the SLPP, replacing former minister Basil Rajapaksa.