Plans afoot to increase direct flights between SL and India

Plans are in place to increase direct flights between India and Sri Lanka in the near future as interest in the island nation as a tourist destination from the neighbouring giant is on the rise, said the Ministry of Tourism yesterday.

Tax experts shed light on upcoming Special GST on selected sectors

Clearing some ambiguities surrounding the enforcement of the Special Goods and Services Tax (SGST), a government official said the proposed tax would only apply to identified sectors and would come as a composite tax in place of the multiple taxes such as Excise duty and the Value Added Tax and other levies.

CID summons Fr. Cyril Gamini again

Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando has been summoned to appear before the CID again tomorrow, police said.

TNA MPs forced away from meetings with diaspora groups in Canada

TNA Parliamentarians M.A Sumanthiran and Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, who are presently in Canada, were driven away from a meeting held with a group of Tamil diaspora, who branded them as ’traitors’ alleging the diaspora wanted a separate Tamil state in Sri Lanka.

Origin of COVID patients detected at present unknown: Health officials

It has been impossible to recognize the origin of the COVID-19 patients who are being detected at present in the country, Health officials said today.

Haul of Kerala Ganja worth over Rs. 6 mn recovered in seas off Ariyalai

A stock of 229 kg of Kerala Ganja worth over Rs 6 million hidden in a dinghy boat was recovered by the Navy early this morning in the seas off Ariyalai area in Jaffna.

US-made communication box washed ashore near Mannar Army camp

A box containing communication equipment was found on the beach near the Mannar Army camp last evening (20), the Mannar Police Special Task Force (STF) said.

Colombo-Kandy train service to commence from tomorrow

The Colombo-Kandy train service which was suspended due to inclement weather will resume from tomorrow (22).

Suspicious death of man at a hotel in A’pura

The Anuradhapura Police have commenced investigations after body of a man who died suspiciously found at a hotel at Walawwatta in Anuradhapura yesterday.

Two suspects arrested with 7,990 explosive sticks imported from India

Two suspects have been arrested with 7,990 sticks of emulsion type explosives weighing over 998 kg, which was illegally imported from India and were hidden in a house in Mannar.

Explosion at Cinnamon Gardens building due to gas leak: Govt Analyst confirms

The Government Analyst has confirmed that a gas leak has caused the explosion at a building in Cinnamon Gardens on Reid Avenue, Colombo 7 this morning, Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said.

Provide three square meals to people before making roads: Geetha

Something must be done to help the poor people who could only afford only one meal a day before constructing and carpeting roads, ruling party MP Geetha Kumarasinghe said today.

Take over Malwana mansion; bring back millions disclosed by Pandora Papers: Anura tells Govt.

The Government should take over unclaimed Malwana mansion, money disclosed by Pandora Papers and money defrauded through airbus deal just as the Finance Minister proposed to transfer Rs. 8.5 billion earned by Perpetual Treasuries Limited in Central Bank Bond scam to the Treasury, National Peoples’ Power (NPP) MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today.

Sri Lankan woman, mother and two children killed in Bexleyheath fire

A Sri Lankan woman, her mother and two young children have died in a house fire in Bexleyheath, England.

Explosion reported at McDonald's at Cinnamon Gardens building

An explosion has taken place at a building at Cinnamon Gardens on Reid Avenue, Colombo 7, Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said.

Common Opposition alliance will be in place next year: Ruwan

A common opposition alliance will be in place next year as there will be a political turnaround, UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene said yesterday.

Austria imposes full lockdown, Germany may follow as COVID grips Europe

Austria will become the first country in western Europe to reimpose a full COVID-19 lockdown, it said on Friday as neighbouring Germany warned it may follow suit, sending shivers through financial markets worried about the economic fallout.

Kamala Harris in charge of the US while Biden goes under anesthesia

US Vice President Kamala Harris will be in charge of the country for a brief period on Friday morning when President Joe Biden goes under anesthesia for a colonoscopy being conducted as part of his annual physical.

No illegal arrest of intelligence officers at Millennium City: SF

There was no illegal arrest of intelligence officers at the Millennium City, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka told Parliament today.

SL Deputy High Commissioner seeks goodwill and connectivity with Tamil Nadu

Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka for Southern India Dr. D. Venkateshwaran, paid a courtesy call on Governor of Tamil Nadu  R. N. Ravi, at the Raj Bhavan and discussed building up goodwill and increased connectivity between Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu.

Third dose rollout for those above 20 with comorbidities to commence tomorrow

The fully vaccinated immunocompromised and highly vulnerable comorbid individuals to get Pfizer as their third dose from tomorrow (20), the Health Ministry said.

Pfizer may be harmful; import other vaccines: Prof. Tissa Vitharana

Virology expert Parliamentarian Prof. Tissa Vitharana today requested the Government to reduce importing Pfizer vaccine and focus more on other vaccines saying that Pfizer vaccine could be harmful to people.

Over 800,000 LP gas cylinders to be released this week: LITRO Head

More than 800,000 gas cylinders will be released into the market this week to meet the heavy demand for gas, Sales and Marketing/Corporate Affairs of Litro Gas Lanka Ltd. Director Janaka Pathirathna said.

Health DG’s approval mandatory for closure of school

The approval for final decision with regards to closure of a school due to a COVID related issue, should be obtained from Director General of Health Services.

Vistara Airlines resumes New Delhi-Colombo flights

Vistara Airlines resumed its flight operations to Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) from New Delhi today after temporarily halting its services due to the global COVID pandemic, Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited Marketing and Corporate Communications Department said.

Former Govt. intentionally postponed PC polls: GL

Claiming that the previous Government intentionally and tactfully postponed the Provincial Council election, Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris said today the Government was trying its best to pass new laws required to conduct PC polls soon.

Exceeding cabinet of Ministers contrary to constitutional provisions: Engineer challenges legality of Cabinet

An engineer today filed a Fundamental Rights petition in Supreme Court challenging the legality of the incumbent Cabinet as it has reached its threshold of 30 cabinet of Ministers, as mandated in Article 47 (1)(a) of the Constitution.

No injustice to consumers due to removal of price control: Minister

While asserting that no injustice has been done to the consumers due to the removal of control price on essential commodities, Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna said today that the prices of several items have come down after the removal of price control.

Another Delta sub lineage detected in Sri Lanka

Another sub lineage of Delta variant has been detected in Sri Lanka, Director of the Department of Immunology & Molecular Medicine at Sri Jayewardenepura Dr. Chandima Jeewandara said today.

COVID-19: ’’Ball is now in your court’’, Health Minister tells people

While saying that the Government has done its best having taken steps to combat COVID-19, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said it is the people who should do the rest