Daughter of Lankan immigrants Australia’s highest-paid CEO; earns $315k a week

Australia’s biggest investment bank Macquarie Group chief executive Shemara Wikramanayake, the daughter of Sri Lankan immigrants who arrived in Australia with just $200 in their pockets now makes $315,000 a week as the nation’s highest-paid CEO.

EU strongly urges SL to lift forthwith import restrictions

The European Union (EU) strongly urged Sri Lanka to lift forthwith import restrictions preventing many European products from entering its market.

Cloudy skies over Northern, Eastern provinces; evening showers likely

While cloudy skies will prevail over the Northern and Eastern provinces, the National Meteorological Department predicts showers in the Northern, North-Central, Eastern, and Uva provinces, as well as Hambantota and Matale districts.

14-hour water cut from this evening: NWSDB

A 14-hour water cut would be imposed in several areas in Colombo this evening (9) from 4.00 pm to 6.00 am tomorrow (10) due to urgent pipeline repair work on the Ja-Ela road, the National Water Supply & Drainage Board (NWSDB) said.

Patients get sicker as health TU action enters third day

With the strike action by the trade unions attached to Health sector entering the third day, healthcare services across the country have been highly affected causing inconvenience to patients.

Rising number of SLPP MPs resort to using filth in Parliament

A rising number of ruling SLPP Parliamentarians are now resorting to using filth in Sinhala such as ‘P ***** ’ and ‘P ****** ’ in Parliament to stifle the opposition from raising their voice against the burning issues in the country as well as to prevent them from highlighting the corruption within the government.

Digambaram wants Rs 5,000 pay hike for estate workers

TPA MP P. Digambaram yesterday called for a Rs 5,000 salary increment to the estate workers saying everyone should be treated equally.

Modi likely to visit Sri Lanka in March, Jaishankar expected soon

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Sri Lanka in March, Foreign Ministry sources said. Sources said that Modi is likely to visit Sri Lanka to attend the BIMSTEC Summit.

Shameless act to levy 25 per cent tax from EPF: Ruwan

It is a shameless act to levy a 25 per cent tax from EPF and to use it for elections, UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene alleged yesterday.

Pope to support push for justice - Catholic Church prepared to seek international probe

Pope Francis has offered support to the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka in its fight for justice over the Easter Sunday attacks, Reverend Father Cyril Gamini Fernando said.

Foreign reserves fall to US$ 2.3bn despite swap, debt deferment

Sri Lanka’s official external reserves fell to US$ 2.36 billion by the end of January 2022 from US$ 3.14 billion by the end of December 2021, as the government settled foreign currency loans and funded essential imports, while taking receipt of a US$ 400 million currency swap and a US$ 500 million debt deferment from India.

Govt. expects surge in tourist arrivals this year: Dr. Ramesh Pathirana

The government expects a surge in tourist arrivals this year as Sri Lanka has been branded as a safe destination among the global tourist industry, co-cabinet spokesman, Plantation Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said today.

No govt. succeed by censoring media

No government has survived in the world by applying censorship on media or imposing laws to control them, Mass Media Minister Dallas Alahaperuma said today.

Govt. imposes 25% tax on EPF & ETF profits: SJB

The government for the first time in history of Sri Lanka has imposed a 25% tax on EPF and ETF profits, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Dr. Harsha de Silva said.

Uzbekistan Airways commences charter operations to (MRIA): AASL

Uzbekistan Airways, the flag carrier airline of Uzbekistan, will commence operations to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) tomorrow (9), the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited (AASL) said.

Due date of accepting applications for 2021 (2022) O/L extended until Feb.17

The due date for accepting applications from the candidates who are aspiring to sit for the 2021 (2022) GCE Ordinary Level (O/L) examination has been extended until February 17, the Examinations Department Commissioner General L.M.D. Dharmasena said.

Pushpika’s ‘2021 Mrs. Sri Lanka for Mrs. World’ title removed

Pushpika De Silva’s title as ‘2021 Mrs. Sri Lanka for Mrs. World’ has been denounced, National Director, Mrs. Sri Lanka for Mrs. World Chandimal Jayasinghe, announced.

SL to receive 400,000 RAT kits by next week: Prof. Jayasumana

While admitting that there was a shortage of Rapid Antigen Test kits in the country, State Minister Channa Jayasumana said today Sri Lanka would receive a consignment of 400,000 RAT kits within the next week.

Customs seize Rs.19Mn worth Kush, Cocaine at CME

A contraband of Cocaine and a fine variety of Cannabis called ‘Kush’ worth over Rs.19 million, which had been sent through five parcel mails from the United States, Canada and the Netherlands were seized by Customs officials at the Central Mail Exchange today.

135 seized Indian fishing boats auctioned in Jaffna

The Navy has auctioned 135 Indian fishing boats that were seized for poaching Sri Lankan waters in the recent months.

Two German women allegedly raped by locals in Kollupitiya and Tangalle

A Sri Lankan man has been arrested for allegedly raping a 32-year-old German woman at a hotel in Marine Drive in Kollupitiya.

SL imported US $ 611.53 worth plastics by 2020: Amaraweera

The United Nations COMTRADE Database has revealed that Sri Lanka had imported plastic goods worth US $ 611.53 million by 2020, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.

Members appointed to COPE, COPA

Members who were appointed to the Committe on Public Enterprises (COPE) and Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) were announced by Deputy Speaker Ranjith Siyambalapitiya today.

Large egg stocks stuck in warehouses due to gas, flour shortages cause price decreases: Egg Producers'

Egg prices have been reduced by a huge margin to clear the stocks which were stuck at warehouses due to the recent domestic gas shortage and wheat flour issues in the country, the All Island Egg Producers’ Association (AIEPA) said.

Sajith in battle with Champika to secure opposition leadership: Johnston

Heated arguments erupted in Parliament today between the government and the SJB with Chief Government Whip Johnston Fernando stating that the Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa has launched a battle with MP Patali Champika Ranawaka to secure his post in the House.

BC launches probe into PM’s private jet trip to Tirupati

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has launched an investigation into a complaint against Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa over his personal trip to the Tirupati Temple in India using a private jet last year.

People who get only 2 doses show a trend of being victims of Omicrone: GMOA

People who got only the two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are showing a trend of being victims of the virus and there is a clear resistance of getting the third dose due to misinformation spreading among the people, Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) Assistant Secretary Dr. Samantha Ananda said.

Trinco Oil Tank Farm agreement tabled in Parliament

The Agreement that was signed to develop the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm with Lanka Indian Oil Corporation (LIOC) was tabled in Parliament by Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila a short while ago.

Maldives police team in Sri Lanka over probe linked to Maldivian student’s death

Commissioner of Maldives Police, Mohamed Hameed has revealed that the Maldives Police Service (MPS) is also involved in the probe launched into the death of a Maldivian youth who was reported missing in neighboring Sri Lanka on Friday.

Samanmali alias ’’Poosi’’ arrested with over 1kgs of heroin in Dehiwala

The Special Task Force (STF) of Police has arrested a woman known as Sumedha Samanmali alias ’’Poosi’’, the wife of drugs trafficker ’Army Indika’ with over 1kgs of heroin in Dehiwala.