Electricity bill should increase by a considerable percentage: CEB Chairman

The electricity bill should be increased by a considerable percentage, at least to pay the monthly salary of the employees, CEB Chairman M.M.C. Ferdinando said.

Farmers use pack bulls to transport produce

People in the rural areas of the Badulla District have reverted to ferry their paddy harvest using pack bulls because of the high fuel costs.

Prasanna Ranatunga sentenced to 2 years suspended imprisonment

Minister of Urban Development and Housing Prasanna Ranatunga was today sentenced to two-year imprisonment suspended for five years by Colombo High Court over an indictment filed by the Attorney General.

Indian businessman nabbed with Canadian dollars & Euros worth over Rs. 40Mn at BIA

An Indian national has been arrested by the Security officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for attempting to smuggle foreign currency worth over Rs. 40 million out of the country.

Another fuel price hike likely by mid-June: Ananda Palitha

There will be a fuel price increase again by mid June due to the increase in the crude oil price in the world market, Samagi United Trade Union Force (SUTUF) convener and media spokesman Ananda Palitha said.

Order issued suspending enjoining order against Russian Aeroflot flight

The Colombo Commercial High Court today issued an order suspending the operation of Enjoining Order issued against Russian Aeroflot flight.

CID yet to locate Johnston

Despite several teams being dispatched, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is yet to locate former Minister Johnston Fernando to be taken into custody in connection with investigations into the attack on peaceful protesters at Temple Trees and Galle Face on May 9.

Bangladesh considering providing potatoes to SL during ongoing crisis

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said yesterday that despite being a country with a huge population, Bangladesh may provide potatoes to Sri Lanka during this crisis.

Ranil and Karu reach consensus

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya have reached and agreement to work together on forming new Parliament committees.

No price hike; no distribution until Wednesday: LITRO

While refuting social media reports of gas price revision, LITRO Gas Lanka Limited said it has not yet decided to increase the prices of gas cylinders, a company spokesman said.

Printing money similar to giving high dose of sugar to diabetic

Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s repeated comments to the effect of the government having to rely on printed money to pay for essential government bills such as payment of salaries and pensions in the ensuing months, the former Central Bank Deputy Governor, Dr. W.A. Wijewardena likened it to giving sugar to a diabetes patient, to reflect the severity of the move in aggravating the current problems in the economy.

AG to make submissions to Court on Aeroflot matter

The Attorney General (AG) is scheduled to make submissions to the Colombo Commercial High Court on affected third parties including the country’s tourism industry following the enjoining order issued by the Court preventing the Russian Aeroflot flight from leaving the country.

Sri Lanka hopes for over US$ 1bn in foreign investment this year

Sri Lanka is aiming to attract well over US$ 1 billion in foreign direct investment this year, an official said on Friday, as the country wrestles with its worst financial crisis since independence in 1948.

Sri Lanka revises down tourist arrivals target for this year; expects US$ 800mn as earnings

With a fresh one-year tourism revival plan in place, Sri Lanka’s tourism authorities are now targeting 800,000-850,000 tourist arrivals and earnings of US$ 800 million for this year by focusing on key source markets through joint promotional efforts.

SLTB depots to supply fuel for tourism industry

The government plans to solve fuel shortages and power interruptions faced by the country’s tourism industry by setting up a new mechanism this week. The Minister of Tourism and Lands Harin Fernando announced that a special mechanism to provide fuel to the tourism industry would be unveiled today following discussions with the Ministry of Power and Energy.

At least 50 killed in massacre at Catholic church in southwest Nigeria

Gunmen attacked a Catholic church in southwest Nigeria during mass on Sunday, killing at least 50 people including women and children, according to a hospital doctor and media reports.

Only 20% of private buses will be in operation today: Gemunu

At least twenty percent (5,000 buses) of the total fleet of private buses will be in operation in the country owing to the unavailability of diesel, Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) chairman Gemunu Wijerathne said.

May face extra charges for waiting at BIA: Airport authorities

The Russian Aeroflot aircraft grounded in Colombo due to a court order may face extra charges for remaining at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for about six days, until the next court hearing scheduled on June 08, the airport authorities said.

LAUGFS gas increases LP gas prices

LAUGFS gas has increased prices of its domestic gas cylinders.

Probe begins on sexual abuse on minor employees by divisional secretary

A divisional secretary in the Nuwara Eliya district is alleged to have sexually abused the minor (male) staff.

Daughter raped by mother’s lover

A woman’s lover who raped her 15 year old daughter was taken into custody by the Buttala police today.

Two men restore eyesight after 16 years after schoolboy donates eyes

Two young men have restored their eyesight with the eyes of a 16 year old schoolboy of Galenbindunuwewa area who died in an accident.

Minister holds discussions with Russian Embassy and Russian Aeroflot

Discussions were held with the Russian Embassy and Russian Aeroflot in connection with the detention of an Aeroflot plane at the Bandaranaike airport, Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said.

Fridays to be ’work from home’ days for public servants: Minister

Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said today that steps will be taken to declare Friday, a day to work from home for public servants.

Bangladesh fire: 25 killed, hundreds injured in depot blast

A fire and a huge explosion have killed at least 25 people and injured hundreds more at a storage depot near the city of Chittagong, Bangladesh.

Aeroflot aircraft matter is private legal issue: PM informs Russia

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had informed Russian authorities that the issue with the Aeroflot aircraft is not an issue between two countries but a private legal issue.

Stalin assures of second shipment of essential commodities

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday assured Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner Milinda Moragoda that a second shipment of essential commodities was to be dispatched to the neighbouring country and a few more shipments were in line.

Veteran actress Sumana Amarasinghe passes away

Veteran actress Sumana Amarasinghe has passed away at the age of 73 at the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital last night.

Another youth killed in shooting incident

A 27-year-old youth was killed in a shooting incident at Panchaliya in Ahangama this evening, Police said.

Power cut schedule from June 6 to 12 announced

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has approved the power cut schedule from June 6 to 12, PUCSL Chairman Janaka Rathnayake said.