Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka top 150k this year

Sri Lanka welcomed a total of 47,120 tourists in the first 20 days of December, already surpassing November’s arrival figures, which were the highest for the year.

Station Masters to refrain from transporting, accepting parcels, issuing tickets from midnight today: Union

The Sri Lanka Railways Station Masters’ Union (SLRSMU) has decided to refrain from transporting and accepting parcels and issuing tickets from 12.00 midnight today to avoid serious problems faced by station masters.

Three more cases of Omicron COVID identified in SL; seven cases so far

Three more new cases of Omicron COVID variant were reported today in Sri Lanka, COVID-19 Coordinator, Director of Technical Services of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Anwar Hamdani said.

Leading biz chambers jointly issue fresh warning to govt.

Leading business chambers in the country have issued a fresh warning to the government today that their membership might be compelled to relocate operations if the current detrimental economic condition continues.

CBK lauds Colombo Uni. Students’ denial to receive degrees from Ven. Muruttettuwe Ananda

While appreciating the moves by the graduates of the Colombo University at the recent graduation ceremony where they refused to receive the degree award certificates from the Chancellor Ven. Muruttettuwe Ananda Thera, former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge said today that it was the day when the democracy was upheld in the country.

Light training aircraft makes emergency landing in Beruwala

A light training Aircraft belonging to a private company (Sakurai Aviation) with an instructor & a trainee pilot on-board has made an emergency landing on a beach near Beruwala area this afternoon, Airforce spokesman said.

Two new ministry secretaries appointed

Anusha Palpita and D.M.L.D. Bandaranayake were appointed as new secretaries to the Mass Media and Agriculture Ministries respectively, the President’s Media Division said.

Special security plan in Colombo and suburbs during festive season

Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekera has instructed IGP Chandana Wickramaratne to take steps to strengthen the security of the people in and around Colombo during festive season.

17 new envoys present credentials to President

Seventeen newly accredited envoys to Sri Lanka including 11 newly appointed Ambassadors and six High Commissioners presented their credentials to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the President’s House last afternoon (21), President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

Power cuts are back: CEB

Power cuts could be experienced in several areas of the country today as the electricity generation capacity of the Norochcholai power plant is still incomplete, Power and Energy Development Director and Media Spokesperson Sulakshana Jayawardena said.

Banks instructed to offer extra Rs.10 for hard foreign currency conversions

Licensed banks have been asked to offer extra Rs.10 for foreign currency notes “held in hand”, as part of a broader incentive package offered to encourage the general public to channel all their foreign currency through the formal banking system.

Fresh shipment of organic fertiliser meeting Lankan standards expected

The government is expecting a fresh shipment of organic fertiliser that meets Sri Lankan standards, from China’s Qingdao Seawin Bio-tech Group after settling the US$ 6.7 million claim by the company.

National inflation hits all-time high in November on soaring food prices

Sri Lanka’s consumer prices at national level climbed double digits in November over the same month last year, touching the highest level since the statistics office began compiling the data for the broader price index in 2015 as the country has entered a period of elevated prices of food and other essential commodities such as cooking gas and fuel.

Colombo restaurants strive to maintain price stability amid cost escalations

As this week’s fuel hike has led to price escalations across the supply chain, the Colombo City Restaurants Collective (CCRC) said it would try its best to maintain the price stability of its plates.

Teenage girl dies of assault by her uncle and father

The Gampola Police launched an investigation after a 14-year old girl died as a result of assault allegedly by her uncle and father.

Man falls to death while trying to enter women’s hostel

A 30-year old man who was running away from security when he tried enter a women’s hostel died after fallen from a building in Maradana, police said.

Two killed in Southern Expressway accident

Two people aged 72 and 61 were killed when a bowser truck crashed into a tipper truck on the Southern Expressway this morning, Police said.

Health guidelines grossly violated

Health guidelines are being grossly violated during the last few days before Christmas and the New Year with some shopping malls in Colombo packed and public transport also accommodating passengers, more than the seating capacity.

No other option than a price hike of petroleum products: Dullas

The government has taken the difficult decision to increase fuel prices in the domestic market, well aware of the difficulties faced by the people, as there is no other option than a price hike of petroleum products, as the national economy is in a major crisis as never before, Co-Cabinet spokesman, Mass Media Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said yesterday.

I told foreign missions, donor agencies to go ahead and assist SL: Sajith

Whilst stating that representatives of donor agencies and those from.foreign missions have informed him that the Sri Lankan government had sought their assistance to get out of the exchange rate crisis, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday said he had told them to go ahead and assist Sri Lanka.

SL to export tea to Iran to settle outstanding oil payments

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Plantation Ministry of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Trade of the Islamic Republic of Iran to formulate a scheme for the settlement of a sum of US$ 250,925,169 outstanding from Ceylon Petroleum Corporation to National Iranian Oil Company by means of utilizing the said sum to facilitate the export of Ceylon Tea to Iran.

16,000 houses for IDP families within past three years

The Resettlement Ministry has allocated 16,000 houses for families of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) within the past three years, including 6000 houses sanctioned this year alone, the government’s special facilitator for North and East, Geethanath Cassilingham said.

Unfair to hike fuel prices when prices decline in global market: JVP

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said today that fuel prices have been increased at a time when the fuel prices in the world market was on the decline for the last two weeks and that it was an unfair move.

Hospitals hit as GMOA launches strike

The medical services except emergency services across the country were hampered due to the strike action launched by the Government Medical Officers Association today.

Change in gas composition results in gas related accidents

The main reason for the recent gas related accidents has been identified as the change in the composition of gas, Prof. Shantha Walpolage, the Chairman of the Committee appointed by the President to probe gas-related accidents, said.

7 involved in major social media scam arrested at JAIC Hilton

Seven suspects involved in various scams through the social media, have been arrested during a raid at the JAIC Hilton in Colombo, Police said.

Another cabinet reshuffle on the cards?

Rumors are rife that another cabinet reshuffle by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is on the cards, this will most likely happen upon the return to the country of Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, the Daily Mirror learns.

Bakery Owners’ Assn. to refrain from interfering with price hike

The All Ceylon Bakery Owners’ Association (ACBOA) today decided not to interfere with price increases of the bakery products parallel to the increase in the prices of commodities, including fuel day after day.

Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals LTD MD resigns

Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals LTD Managing Director M. Uvais Mohamed has resigned from his post, informed sources said.

Three-wheeler fares also increase

The fares for the first and second kilometers in a three-wheeler has been increased to Rs. 80 and Rs. 45 from today, the All-Island Three-Wheeler Drivers’ Union President Lalith Dharmasekera said.