Energy Minister assures to provide fuel stocks for electricity generation next week: PUCSL Chairman

Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila today assured the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) Chairman Janaka Ratnayake that he would provide complete fuel stocks for next week’s electricity generation.

I will resign if CDB vehicle involved in Ragama assault: Arundika

State Minister Arundika Fernando today said that he would resign from his post if a vehicle belonging to the Coconut Development Board (CDB) was involved in the assault of the Ragama medical faculty undergrads.

Suranga Lakmal retires

Former Sri Lanka Test Captain Suranga Lakmal has informed Sri Lanka Cricket that he will retire from all forms of International Cricket following the completion of the upcoming Sri Lanka Tour of India 2022, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said.

SL inks USD 500 MN Credit Line with Indian EXIM Bank to purchase petroleum products

The Export Import Bank (EXIM) of India and the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) signed a USD 500 million Line of Credit (LOC) Agreement for purchase of petroleum products today, the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka said.

Contact Grama Niladhari to ensure your name in 2022 Electoral Register

The Elections Commission requested people to contact the respective Grama Niladharis to include and ensure the name in the 2022 Electoral Register.

Six arrested over Ragama assault

At least six suspects were arrested in connection with the assault on three medical faculty students attached to the Ragama Medical Faculty, SDIG Ajith Rohana said.

All schools will be closed from Feb. 7

All government and semi-government schools will be closed from February 7, on account of the commencement of the GCE Advanced Level (A/L) examination.

Ape Janabala Party to withdraw letter expelling Rathana Thera from party membership

Ape Janabala Party today informed Supreme Court that it has taken a decision to withdraw the letter issued expelling Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera from party membership.

Attack on Ragama Medical Faculty undergrads: Minister orders probe

Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekara has directed the IGP to conduct a thorough investigation into the assault on three medical faculty students attached to the Ragama Medical Faculty last night.

Corruption case against Wimal fixed for trial

A corruption case filed against Minister Wimal Weerawansa was today fixed for trial by Colombo High Court. High Court Judge Nawaratne Marasinghe fixed the case to be taken up for trial on July 17.

Revision application seeking bail for Hejaaz Hizbullah reserved for Feb.7

The order regarding a bail application filed on behalf of Attorney-at-law Hejaaz Hizbullah was today reserved for February 7 by the Court of Appeal.

25 inter-provincial luxury bus services on 17 routes from Makumbura

While expanding the luxury bus service from Makumbura Multi-modal Transport Centre (MTC) to the expressway, 25 inter-provincial luxury bus services on 17 routes were launched from the MTC.

Three Ragama medical faculty undergrads injured in assault

Three medical faculty students have been hospitalized after a group of outsiders have attacked the hostel of the Kelaniya University’s Faculty of Medicine in Ragama last night.

4 kg of hashish worth over Rs.4 mn found in secret bunker of house

A 34-year-old man has been arrested by the STF with four kilos of hashish valued at Rs. 4 million during a raid at Mahawatta in Grandpass.

Another lock down cannot be ruled out: GMOA

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) said there would be a possibility of moving the country towards another lock down if the government, including all responsible authorities, did not take maximum effort to strengthen the COVID vaccination rollout and to extend the task across the country and simultaneously urging the people to adhere to health guidelines to curb the spread of another COVID wave.

Police raid unlicensed night club in Kollupitiya, 12 foreigners, 2 locals arrested

The Kollupitiya Police have arrested 14 suspects including 12 foreign nationals during a raid on an unlicensed night karaoke club in Kollupitiya last night.

Customs net two suspects attempting to smuggle foreign currency worth Rs.11mn

Two suspects were arrested with €46,000 (equivalent to Rs.11 million) while attempting to smuggle the currency to Dubai this morning, Customs Deputy Director (Legal) and media spokesman Sudatta Silva said.

Global Covid response generating masses of waste, WHO says

The amount of waste being generated by the Covid-19 pandemic is a threat to the environment and human health, the World Health Organization (WHO) says.

There must be a contingency plan for long term power generation: Dr. Ramesh Pathirana

Though President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the government were committed to use 70% of renewable energy for power generation by 2030, certain top officials of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and in the power and energy sector were not coming forward to meet that ambitious target, cabinet spokesman, Plantation Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said yesterday.

Parliament cluster growing

Whilst Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana has recovered from COVID-19, the number of staff members in Parliament who have contacted COVID-19 has risen to 27, a spokesman from the House media unit said yesterday.

Jan. tourist arrivals down 8% from Dec. 2021

Tourist arrivals to the country contracted from the numbers achieved in December despite several promotional efforts taken up by tourism authorities to promote destination Sri Lanka.

SL begins groundwork to borrow US$ 200mn from Pakistan

The government has commenced groundwork to secure US$ 200 million credit line extended by the Government of Pakistan while a US$1 billion credit line from India is expected to materialise next week.

Two die, three injured in head-on collision at Warakapola

Two persons including a seven-year-old child died and three others were injured when a CTB bus collided head-on with a three-wheeler in Thulhiriya in Warakaola police area this evening, Police said.

Dramatic increase in COVID-19 deaths

A total of 32 more COVID-19 deaths, which occurred on Monday were confirmed today bringing total number of fatalities to 15,473, the Government Information Department said.

Nine envoys present credentials to President

Nine new envoys comprising seven Ambassadors and two High Commissioners presented credentials to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the President’s House this afternoon (01), Presidential Media Division (PMD) said.

NPP accuses police of not conducting proper investigations

Claiming that the egg attack on JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake was a criminal offence committed by an organised gang, the Lawyers for National People’s Power today alleged that the police had not recorded even a statement from the two suspects arrested in connection with the incident.

Cabinet clearance for 25% Surcharge Tax Bill

The Cabinet has cleared the draft Surcharge Tax Bill, which would impose one-off 25 percent surcharge tax on individuals or companies with over Rs.2 billion income for the 2020/2021 financial year.

Power failures reported from several areas

Multiple areas in the country are currently experiencing power outages, our correspondents said.

Crocodile spotted in Pamunugama handed over to Wildlife Dept.

A crocodile that was spotted in the Pamunugama area has been handed over to the Wildlife Department officials.

SC determines it has no jurisdiction to hear Young Journalist Association’s petition

The Supreme Court has determined that it does not have jurisdiction to hear the Special Determination petition filed by the Sri Lanka Young Journalist’s Association challenging the constitutionality of the Personal Data Protection bill, since it has been filed out of time.