440 more COVID-19 patients recover

A total of 440 more COVID-19 patients recovered and were discharged from hospitals increasing the total number of recoveries in Sri Lanka to 580,220, the Health Ministry said.

Opposition boycotts Independence Day celebrations

The main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and a few other opposition political parties representing Parliament boycotted the 74th national Independence Day celebrations at the Independence square today.

IMF says it is ’ready’ to help Sri Lanka - if asked

The International Monetary Fund is ready to discuss ’’options’’ with Sri Lanka if the government asks for financial support, its mission chief for SRi Lanka told AFP on Thursday.

Freedom is not something that ends with victory: PM

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said freedom is not something that ends with the victory and it is something that should be won day by day.

Difficult times do not last forever: President

Claiming that difficult times do not last forever, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said today all the people have an enormous responsibility to build a positive attitude in the country to face the crises successfully.

UK Govt. takes ‘very seriously’ on allegations mentioned in ITJP report on SL

While claiming that the UK government takes ‘very seriously’ the allegations of torture and sexual violence in the report ’Sri Lanka: Torture and Sexual Violence by Security Forces 2020-2021’, compiled by the report by the International Truth and Justice Project, Britain on Wednesday said that they have already raised serious concerns around the deteriorating human rights situation in SL.

Importers ask for US $ 175-200Mn monthly for essential food items

Ahead of the festive season, the importers of essential food commodities have sought a meeting with Secretary to the President Gamini Senarath to make sure that US $ 175-200 million is released every month to avert a shortage.

Over 8,000 Dengue cases so far for 2022

Sri Lanka have reported over 8,000 cases of Dengue for the year 2022 out of which 7,702 cases were reported in the month of January.

Police acted differently on probe on egg attack and Ragama uni incident: Tilvin

Claiming that the police had acted in different ways in two similar incidents of egg attack on JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the attack on Ragama Medical Faculty undergrads, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) yesterday called on the police to conduct a proper investigation on the egg attack as well.

Orders placed to import RAT kits: Health Ministry responds to claims

While saying that there is no acute shortage of Rapid Antigen Tests kits at present, COVID-19 Coordinator Dr. Anwar Hamdani said orders have been placed to import more RAT kits from countries like India and Japan.

480 Army officers, 8034 other rankers promoted on Independence Day

A total number of 480 Officers including 7 Senior Brigadiers and 8034 other ranks of the Sri Lanka Army to be promoted to their next rank in view of 74th National Independence Day.

Bid to smuggle 500 kg ganja into Sri Lanka under poultry feed busted in India; six arrested

Around 500 kg of ganja reportedly being smuggled into Sri Lanka was seized on Tuesday in Nagapattinam, India. The police arrested six persons in connection with the incident.

U.S. announces killing of ISIS Leader in raid

U.S. President Biden said Thursday that a U.S. raid in northwestern Syria killed ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi.

PUCSL warns of action against CEB over power interruptions

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) would take action against the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) in accordance with the provisions of the Electricity Act if the CEB imposed any power cuts in the future.

Rosy sends Letter of Demand to Pushpika

Mayor of Colombo Rosy Senanayake has sent a Letter of Demand through her lawyers to Mrs. Sri Lanka Pushpika De Silva over several defamatory allegations made by Mrs. Sri Lanka targeting Rosy Senanayake during an interview on YouTube recently.

Massive fire destroys thinner factory in Avissawella

A fire broke out at a paint and thinner factory at Dunkolahena in Avissawella this evening, destroying the factory.

29 A/L exam centres for COVID-infected, quarantined candidates

Twenty-nine examination centres have been established for 2021 (2022) GCE Advanced Level (A/L) candidates who have contracted the coronavirus and for those who are under quarantine, the Examinations Department said.

Suranga Lakmal signs two-year deal with Derbyshire

Just a day after announcing that the upcoming tour to India will be his last assignment in international cricket, Sri Lanka pacer Suranga Lakmal has now signed a two-year deal with the County side Derbyshire.

197 inmates to be released under Presidential pardon

A total of 197 prisoners are to be released from prisons island-wide tomorrow on presidential pardon to mark the 74th Independence Day, Prisons Spokesman Chandana Ekanayake today said.

Nine foreign nationals held for smuggling 200kg of heroin

Nine foreign nationals aboard a foreign multiday fishing trawler were taken into the custody by the Sri Lanka Navy in international waters south off Sri Lanka while they were dumping around 200 kg of heroin into the sea.

Writ petition against A/L exam time table dismissed

A writ petition filed seeking an order cancelling the timetable released for the GCE Advanced Level (A/L) examination scheduled to be commenced on February 7 was today rejected by the Court of Appeal.

Arundika Fernando quits

State Minister Arundika Fernando has resigned from his ministerial portfolio after his son was arrested over the clash at the Ragama Medical Faculty.

Yugadanavi power plant cases re-fixed for February 7

The Fundamental Rights petitions filed challenging the legality of the agreements on Yugadanavi power plant were today re-fixed for February 7 by Supreme Court.

Childhood cancer up to 750 a year; early referral will help cure, says Paediatrician

About 750 children are being reported with cancer annually from the country compared to the 500 recorded four or five years ago, Consultant Paediatrician Dr Deepal Perera said.

Cardinal will not take part in Independence day celebrations

Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith is to boycott independence day celebrations tomorrow as a protest against the shortcomings in the investigations carried out on the Borella Church hand grenade case and the Easter Sunday bomb attack, member of Colombo Archdiocese Communication Unit Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando told journalists today.

Minister Amaraweera tests Covid-19 positive

Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has tested positive to Covid-19.

Cabraal says IMF advice is for technical assistance programme, nothing more

Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal was quick to set the record straight with regard to Sri Lanka’s intention to reach out to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for assistance.

SF unaware of weapons purchased from North Korea, BR reverts his statement

Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa put his foot in his mouth this week when he made a startling revelation to a Sinhala newspaper stating that during the height of Sri Lanka’s civil war, Sri Lanka had purchased weapons from North Korea using dollars sourced from the Black Market, a statement which the army is clearly unaware of.

SL sees sharp increase in booster rollout as doubts cleared

Health authorities have observed a dramatic increase in the number of people getting the booster dose over the last few days, as misconceptions regarding the booster shot are getting debunked.

State Minister Arundika's son arrested over attack on Ragama Medical faculty undergrads

The son of State Minister Arundika Fernando has been arrested for assaulting the students at the Ragama Medical Faculty.