More Ministers shuffled and sworn in

Under the Cabinet reshuffle, two more Cabinet Ministers and a State Minister were sworn in before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat today.

What led to Udaya and Wimal being sacked?

The Daily Mirror learns that the Rajapaksa brothers had for some time been contemplating removing the duo from the cabinet but when Udaya and Weerawansa had blasted Basil Rajapaksa at a convention held on Wednesday evening, that had been the last straw.

SC dismisses FR petitions on Yugadanavi power plant project

The Supreme Court today refused to grant leave to proceed with five Fundamental Rights petitions filed challenging the legality of the agreements on Yugadanavi power plant.

Dilum gets Transport

Dilum Amunugama was sworn in as the Minister of Transport in front of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa a short while ago.

Will discuss with stakeholders about resolving fuel crisis

Newly-appointed Energy Minister Gamini Lokuge said that once he assumes duties he will hold discussions with relevant stakeholders and take measures to resolve the fuel crisis.

Sacked ministers call Basil ’Ugly American’

Sacked Minister Udaya Gammanpila called Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa an ’Ugly American’ today and said he should take full responsibility for the economic debacle the country is facing.

11 constituent parties to decide whether to remain in govt. today

The eleven constituent parties of the government including Sri Lanka Freedom Party , National Freedom Front (NFF) and Pivithuru Hela Urumaya would decide whether to remain in the government or function independent in Parliament following a party leaders meeting today, MP Wimal Weerawansa said.

Vasu to stop functioning as a minister

Minister Vasudewa Nanayakkara said he would stop functioning as a minister until justice meted out to Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila, who were sacked from ministerial portfolios.

SJB calls for elections; takes to the streets

While expressing their views on removing ministers from their portfolios will not take Sri Lanka out of the present crisis, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) yesterday called for an immediate election so that the country could come out of this crisis.

Ragama assault incident: Arundika Fernando innocent, committe report says

The committee report on the incident that took place between two groups of students at hostel premises of Ragama Medical Faculty recently, has articulated that former State Minister Arundika Fernando has no involvement in the incident.

Wimal thanks President for sacking him

Sacked former Industries Minister Wimal Weerawansa a short while ago thanked President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for sacking him from his portfolio.

S.B replaces Wimal as Industries Minister

S. B. Dissanayake has been appointed as the Ministry of Industries by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Indian Oil Corp to supply fuels to Sri Lanka in 4-5 month deal

NEW DELHI: Indian Oil Corp (IOC), the country’s top refiner and fuel retailer, will supply 12-13 fuel cargoes to Sri Lanka to help the island nation facing an energy crisis, the Indian company said in a statement to Reuters.

SL student jailed over sexual blackmail of young girls in Australia

A Sri Lankan international student who convinced young girls to send him lewd images and videos before sending the content to their families and friends has been sentenced to 13½ years behind bars by Victoria’s County Court.

Udaya, Wimal removed

Informed sources told Daily Mirror that Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila and Industries Minister Wimal Weerawansa have been removed from their ministerial portfolios during a cabinet reshuffle a short while ago.

Cabinet reshuffle expected shortly

A cabinet reshuffle will get underway shortly at the Presidential Secretariat, informed sources said.

Tomorrow will also see a seven-hour power outage: CEB

The seven and-a-half an hour countrywide power cut that was imposed today, will be repeated tomorrow as well, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) said.

Britain says Russian column inches towards Kyiv, Ukrainian refugees top 1 million

Russia’s advance on Kyiv has made scant progress and Ukrainian forces still held Kharkiv and several other cities under attack, British military intelligence said on Thursday, a day after Moscow claimed to have captured the Black Sea port of Kherson.

IMF urges Sri Lanka to raise taxes, devalue currency

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned crisis-hit Sri Lanka on Thursday that its foreign debt was ’’unsustainable’’, and called for devaluation and higher taxes to revive the almost bankrupt economy.

Construction Associations to stop govt. construction projects

Considering the sudden price increase of building construction materials, the National Construction Association of Sri Lanka (NCASL) today said that all government construction projects, including the construction of 100,000 km of rural roads, would be stopped if the responsible authorities do not settle their extra bills, NCASL Chairman Susantha Liyanaarachchi said.

13 new High Court Judges appointed

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa handed over the appointment letters to 13 new High Court Judges at the Presidential Secretariat this morning, President’s Media Division said.

Health workers call off TU action for 10 days

The trade union action launched by 17 trade unions attached to the health sector has been temporarily called off for 10 ten days.

Wimal disappointed at Basil’s ’’stupidity’’

Claiming that Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa was maintaining stoic silence in the face of the unfolding crisis,National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader and Industries Minister Weerwansa yesterday charged that the ignorance of the Finance Minister could either be attributed to his stupidity or he deliberately wanted the crisis to be advanced to a disaster.

Russian athletes out of Paralympics in stunning about-face

In a stunning reversal, Russian and Belarusian athletes have been banned from the Winter Paralympic Games for their countries’ roles in the war in Ukraine, the International Paralympic Committee said Thursday in Beijing.

More than a million species of flora and fauna threatened with extinction globally

Based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Endangered Species, more than a million species of flora and fauna are said to be endangered in the world today, the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) said.

Man dies in police shooting during raid in Naula

A man in his thirties died when police opened fire during a raid in Naula area this morning.

Petitions against pardoning Duminda Silva fixed for May 31

Three Fundamental Rights petitions filed challenging the legality of the Presidential Pardon granted by President to former Parliamentarian Duminda Silva were today fixed for support by the Supreme Court.

Massive gas shortage from today; banks deny opening LCs

The two main gas importing companies, ’’LAUGFS’’ and ’’LITRO’’ today said they would not be able to import gas, as the local banks do not permit them to open Letters of Credit (LCs), which could eventually lead to a massive gas scarcity in the country.

SL abstains from resolution on Russian actions in Ukraine at UN General Assembly

Sri Lanka along with India, Pakistan and Bangladesh abstained from voting on the resolution passed by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that strongly criticized Russia’s action for invading Ukraine

14-hour water cut in many areas of Colombo

A 14-hour water cut will be in place in several areas in Colombo on Saturday (5) from 8.00 pm to 10.00 am on Sunday (6) due to essential distribution network improvement work, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) said.