SL condemns terrorist attack in UAE

The Government of Sri Lanka unequivocally condemned the terrorist attack on civilian facilities in UAE which resulted in deaths of several civilians.

Sri Lanka settles USD 500M sovereign bond

Sri Lanka has paid the USD 500 million sovereign bond that matured today (18), Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal said.

Grade 5 tuition classes banned from tonight, A/L classes from Feb. 1: Exam. Dept.

Conducting coaching or tuition classes targeted at the 2021 (2022) grade five scholarship examination and the 2021 (2022) GCE Advanced Level (A/L) Examination will be prohibited until both examinations are concluded, Examinations Department Commissioner General L.M.D Dharmasena said.

Over 2,700 suspicious temporary occupants residing in Colombo City: Police

Special operations have revealed that a total of 2,746 suspicious temporary occupants have been residing in the Colombo City limits and Police are to verify their identities, Western Province Senior DIG Deshabandu Thennakoon said.

Member of Parliamentary dance troupe tests COVID-19 positive

A member of the dance troupe which had arrived to perform for the ceremonious opening of the Parliament session today and a member of the House staff tested COVID 19 positive, sources told Daily Mirror.

Sri Lanka Tourism to get tough on ’Foreigners Only’ policy

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) today said stern action will be taken against tourist establishments who practice a ’Foreigners Only’ policy.

Massive fraud uncovered at Dehiwala zoo

A union attached to the National Zoological Gardens in Dehiwala, claiming themselves to be the ’’SLPP union’’, has scheduled to stage a protest today, saying that they are not getting a risk allowance of Rs. 5,000, sources said.

Green light to import electric vehicles in future : Prez

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that priority will be given to electric vehicles in the future when importing vehicles into the country and said that there will be no change to the government’s policy on green agriculture.

Will not allow human rights violations to take place: Prez

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, delivering the government’s policy statement in Parliament, said that he will not allow human rights violations to take place during his tenure and requested all politicians to refrain from provoking the public.

SL averts immediate default; calls to engage with IMF get louder

As Sri Lanka avoided an immediate debt default, averting a massive crisis, the country’s policymakers should now make use of the breathing space provided by the Indian credit lines to the tune of US $ 1.9 billion to engage with its creditors,

CB sells over US $ 400mn to defend rupee in Dec.

Sri Lanka had a tough time during December in defending the rupee against a probable free fall against the dollar, amid a deepening foreign exchange crisis,

Sialkot tragedy: $100,000, first salary, given to Sri Lankan manager’s widow

Special Assistant to the Pakistan Prime Minister on Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill Monday said that the first salary amounting to $1,667, committed by Rajco Industries for the next 10 years, had been transferred to the account of widow of Sri Lankan manager Priyantha Kumara.

President arrives in Parliament

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is currently delivering the government’s policy statement in his address in Parliament.

10 richest men in the world doubled wealth amid COVID pandemic

The world’s 10 richest men doubled their fortunes during the COVID-19 pandemic as poverty and inequality soared, an Oxfam study revealed yesterday.

Threat of a ’Port City cluster’ emerging

Huge crowds flocking to the newly opened Colombo Port City Marina Promenade has raised fears of a “Port City cluster” emerging.

Lion cub for public viewing from tomorrow at Ridiyagama Safari Park

A four-and-a-half month old female lion cub named ’Dora’ has been set for public viewing at the Ridiyagama Safari Park tomorrow, National Zoological Gardens Department Director General Shermila Rajapaksha said.

Hotel, room rates skyrocket due to increasing tourist arrivals: AASL head

While reaching a total tourist count of 46,942 for today, the country shows an increase in the number of tourists, Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (AASL) Chairman Upul Dharmadasa said.

CEB engineers fall sick tomorrow

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Engineers’ Union will launch a sick note campaign tomorrow as a mark of protest over what it called ‘unlawful’ actions by Chairman M.M.C. Ferdinando, an official said.

Notable rise in COVID cases in last week; cases expected to increase further

A considerable increase in COVID-19 infections has been noticed in last week raising concerns about the spread of highly transmissible Omicron variant in the country.

Popular songstress Neela Wickramasinghe passes away in Italy

President Sri Lankan Musicians Association Keerthi Pasqual told Daily Mirror that Ms Wickramasinghe died in Italy.

Omicron spread could swell in next two weeks: GMOA

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) today warned that there is a risk of rapid COVID-19 spread in the country due to the highly contagious Omicron variant.

President should intervene and ensure proper investigation: Ruwan

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa should intervene to ensure that a proper investigation is conducted on the grenade incident in Borella Church, UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene said today.

Rs. 2.8 Mn income within 12 hours after opening Central Expressway: Johnston

Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando today that an income of over two million rupees income was received within the first 12 hours of the opening of the second phase of the Central Expressway.

CEB to seek possibility of procuring fuel from LIOC: Minister

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) would initiate discussions with Lanka Indian Oil Corporation (LIOC) to procure fuel required for the next few days, Power Minister Gamini Lokuge said today.

Zoological Gardens Dept. receives record income during long weekend

The National Zoological Gardens Department today said they had received a record income of more than Rs.13 million last Friday (14) and Saturday (15), Department Director General Shermila Rajapaksha said.

Grade 5, A/L exams to go ahead as planned: Ministry

Some 340,508 children will sit for the 2021 Grade Five scholarship examination, and 345,242 candidates scheduled to face the GCE Advanced Level (A/L) examinations. The Grade five exams will be held on January 22 at 2,943 examination centres across the country, the Education Ministry said.

Catholic Church losing faith in govt, says Sajith

The Catholic Church is losing its trust in the incumbent government is not a good sign as far as the country is concerned, Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa said.

‘Menike Mage Hithe’ is BJP’s theme song in Uttar Pradesh elections

Sri Lankan singer Yohani de Silva’s “Menike Maga Hithe” which had taken the Indian music scene by storm, is now being used by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to boost the prospects of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the forthcoming Uttar Pradesh State Assembly elections.

No need for talks with Power Minister, we need dollars to buy fuel: Gammanpila

There is no need to have discussions with Power Minister Gamini Lokuge, but all we need is the dollars to issue the required diesel, Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila said.

Tax collectors to launch massive protest against special GST Act

In a move to express its displeasure over the new Special GST Act, the country’s top tax collectors of the Excise Department, Sri Lanka Customs and the Department of Inland Revenue will team up to launch a massive protest against the Ministry of Finance tomorrow.