One lane of Pahala Kadugannawa area to be opened tomorrow

One lane of the Pahala Kadugannawa area on the Colombo-Kandy main road will be opened after 12 p.m. tomorrow, Kegalle District Secretary Mahinda S. Weerasooriya said.

Introducing changes to scholarship, O/L & A/L exam papers: Ministry

The Ministry of Education has decided to make some changes in the preparation of Scholarship, G.C.E. O/L and A/L examination papers.

Alleged discrimination against LGBTIQ community by police: Civil society activists seeks Court’s intervention

Ten civil society activists have filed a writ petition in the Court of Appeal challenging the ever-rising abuse, harassment and discrimination against individuals of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Questioning (LGBTIQ) community, at the hands of the Police.

SJB to proceed with mass protest despite ban: Madduma Bandara

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) is to go ahead with its planned mass protest on Tuesday November 16 despite the ban on mass gathering, party seniors said.

Vehicle import ban to continue for 6-7 months

The vehicle import ban, which has been in effect since March last year, is expected to continue for another six to seven months, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance SR Attygalle said.

Colombo Development Symposium presents the Future of the Sri Lankan Economy

The Colombo Development Symposium presenting, the Future of the Sri Lankan Economy will kick off in Colombo tomorrow with Secretary to the President Dr. P. B. Jayasundera delivering the keynote address, focusing on charting the country’s path forward following the reading of the National Budget for the year 2022.

COVID-19: Country is heading into a dark period?

With the number of cases and deaths showing a marginal increase day by day despite vaccination, Health authorities warn of a dark period ahead if the situation is not nipped in the bud.

You’re one of most important players in Lankan cricket history: Muttiah tells Mahela

Sri Lankan spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan has called his former teammate and the ICC’s latest Hall of Fame inductee Mahela Jayawardene one of the game’s ’’great thinkers’’.

Six arrested for digging gold buried during war in Mannar

Six suspects have been arrested for digging for gold suspected to be buried during the war in Mannar, police said.

Cache of ammo found in Dist. Judge’s land in Baddegama

A cache of live ammunition was recovered in a land belonging to the Elpitiya District Judge in Baddegama.

22 more COVID-19 deaths reported

A total of 22 more COVID-19 related deaths that occurred yesterday (12) were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services today pushing the death toll to 13,972.

Natural disasters claim 106 deaths so far this year: Chamal

A total number of 106 deaths have been reported due to natural disasters so far this year while the death toll due to natural disasters stood at 62 last year, National Security and Disaster Management State Minister Chamal Rajapaksa said today.

Mahela Jayawardene & two other cricketers inducted into ICC Hall of Fame

Mahela Jayawardene, Janette Brittin and Shaun Pollock have been announced as the newest inductees into the prestigious ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.

381 more COVID-19 patients recover

A total of 381 more COVID-19 patients recovered and were discharged from hospital increasing the total number of recoveries in Sri Lanka to 523,503 , the Health Ministry said.

Special raid in WP net over 600 suspects

A total of 628 suspects have been arrested in possession of drugs and illicit liquor during a 4-hour special raid conducted in the Western Province yesterday.

Special railway goods carriage to transport food crops: Minister

Steps were being taken to transport food crops such as vegetables by train to minimise damage in transit, Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said today.

Accomplice of ’Bloemendal Sanka’ arrested with Italian-made revolver

An accomplice of organized criminal Sanka Shirantha alias Bloemendal Sanka, had been arrested with an Italian-made revolver by the STF during a raid at Pannipitiya in Maharagama.

Revised excise levies announced

The Excise notification has been issued by Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa amending the excise duty with effect from November 13, as per the 2022 budget.

Budget nothing but a damp squib: Sajith

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa who commented on the budget said it was a budget with characteristics of Somalia. He said the budgetary proposals had been formulated in a manner that would drive the country down the path of disaster instead of resurrecting it from the present mess.

Govt. to seek foreign funding for green bond

The government plans to initiate talks with foreign parties to obtain green bond financing facilities to fund green ongoing projects, to meet the country’s climate commitments and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Govt. to transfer Rs.8.5bn from Perpetual Treasuries to Treasury

Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa yesterday revealed the plans to recover Rs.8.5 billion from the alleged perpetrator of the bond scam, Perpetual Treasuries, via a budget proposal.

Special Goods and Services Tax to come into effect from January

The Special Goods and Services Tax (GST), which was in the budget last year but wasn’t enforced due to the economic downturn caused by the virus resurgence, is set to come into force from January next year.

Govt. targets large companies to raise Rs.254bn in tax revenue

Eyeing a Rs.254 billion boost in the tax income, the government yesterday proposed to levy a one-off 25 percent surcharge on large companies, 3 percent increment on VAT charged on banks and financial services providers and a new social security levy on companies with over Rs.120 million in turnover.

Budget fails to address Dollar crisis: Eran

The budget has failed to introduce a solution to the mounting Dollar crisis which would badly hit Sri Lanka in the first quarter of 2022, SJB MP Eran Wickrameratne said.

No solution to rising CoL and dearth of essentials: JVP

No solution has been proposed in the budget to provide solutions to skyrocketing cost of living and scarcity of essential goods in the market, National People’s Power (NPP) MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today.

Sri Lanka Rugby envisioning a New Chapter

A high profile press conference by Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) to kick start preparations for the Asian Sevens Series Rugby Tournament 2021 was strikingly overshadowed a few hours later by the sporting sponsorship giant Dialog Axiata PLC with the unveiling of its partnership with the sports regional body Asia Rugby (AR) as the main sponsor of the Asia Sevens Series 2021 – Dubai edition.

Royal Turf Club looks to soar higher under new leadership

Lawyer Panduka Keerthinanda will take reigns of the Royal Turf Club (RTC) as its sixth President while former Committee Member Ryota Hakariya has been elected as Secretary.

Minister Basil Rajapaksa presents the 2022 Budget

The 2022 budget was presented in Parliament this afternoon by Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa.

One die when mounds of earth collapsed on pipe laying workers in Narahenpita

One person had died when a mound of earth fell on two workers who were laying underground water pipes on the main road near Polhena Junction on the Baseline Road in Narahenpita.

Basil arrives in Parliament

Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa will present the Budget Proposal for the year 2022 in Parliament today. Await latest updates