PM officially declares 2022 as ’Navalar Year’ for Tamils

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, today declared 2022 as the ’Navalar Year’ after the ’Letter of Authorization for the Declaration’ was handed over by him to senior Hindu officials from the Department of Hindu Religious and Cultural Affairs.

Petitions against pardoning Duminda Silva: Hirunika and her mother seek SC fuller bench

Former Parliamentarian Hirunika Premachandra and her mother Sumana Premachandra have sought a fuller bench comprising five judges or more than five judges of Supreme Court to hear the Fundamental Rights petitions filed challenging the legality of the Presidential Pardon granted by President to former Parliamentarian Duminda Silva.

Supreme Court commences hearing into Yugadanavi power plant cases

The Supreme Court today commenced hearing into several Fundamental Rights petitions filed challenging the agreements on Yugadanavi power plant.

CA orders gas companies not to release gas cylinders without SLSI standards

The Court of Appeal today issued an Interim Order preventing Litro Gas and Laughs Gas Companies from releasing gas cylinders for domestic use without specific standards prescribed by Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI).

Police round up 33 more suspects in Silakot lynching case

Sialkot police on Friday claimed to have arrested 33 more primary suspects involved in the lynching of 49-year-old Sri Lankan factory manager Priyantha Kumara in the city.

HRC summons Litro and Laugfs chairmen

The two chairmen of Litro and Laugfs gas were summoned before the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka today.

Sarath Weerasekera in Dubai to discuss security cooperation

Discussions were held between Sri Lanka and Dubai over the threats to the region following the return of the Taliban to Afghanistan, the Public Security Ministry said.

Sri Lanka to shut down three overseas Missions

Sri Lanka is to shut three overseas Missions as part of moves to cut costs and save on much needed US Dollars, Daily Mirror learns.

More than 80% canteens, hotels to be closed due to gas issue

More than 80 per cent of canteens and hotels will be closed from tomorrow due to the shortage of domestic Liquid Petroleum (LP) gas, Chief of the All Island Canteen Owners’ Association (AICOA), Asela Sampath said.

More than 8mn lt. organic liquid, 300,000 MT organic fertiliser distributed among farmers

More than eight million litres of organic liquid fertiliser and 300,000 tons of organic fertiliser have been distributed among farmers, State Minister Shashindra Rajapaksa said.

Govt. permits planting coconut in uncultivated paddy lands: Amaraweera

The Cabinet grants permission for coconut cultivation on all paddy lands that cannot be cultivated, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.

Sri Lanka braces for massive Dengue outbreak

Health authorities are making a monumental effort to curb the spread of the dengue virus before it wreaks havoc in the country, officials said.

Lands in SL to be sold to foreign countries: SJB

More than 50 lands in Colombo city and elsewhere are to be sold out to foreign countries such as India, China and Switzerland to earn much needed foreign currency, Samagi Jana Balawegaya charged yesterday.

Medicinal drugs and medical equipment to be produced locally

An industrial zone for this purpose has been allocated at Oyamaduwa export processing Zone in Anuradhapura The Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals State Ministry has taken steps to produce all medicinal drugs and medical equipment that can be produced locally, State Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana said.

SL to ink MoU with Georgia for tourism promotions

Sri Lanka will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Georgia next month for the promotion of tourism, the Tourism Ministry said.

GCE A/L timetable for 2021 (2022) released: Exam. Dept.

The time table for the scheduled GCE Advanced Level (A/L) examination for the year 2021 (2022) has been issued today, the Examinations Department announced

Selling, displaying non-standard plugs in shops, online shops prohibited: PUCSL

The selling or displaying of non-standard plugs in shops and online shops is prohibited in the country, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) said

People hesitant to get COVID booster shots: Health DG

The Health Ministry has observed public hesitancy in getting the booster dose of COVID-19, Director General of Health Services Dr Asela Gunawardena said today.

Applications to answer sheet evaluators through online: Exam Dept.

The examinations department has decided to select the answer sheet evaluators for the grade five scholarship examination for the year 2021 (January 2022) through online method.

10,000 unqualified plumbers in our country: PUCSL Chairman

About 10,000 plumbers are providing services in the country and most of them do not hold any qualifications, Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said.

Come out of hiding places and tell the truth: Johnston to Gas Company heads

Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando today urged the chairmen and top officials of the gas companies to come out of their hiding places and tell the people the truth about the prevailing crisis.

Dr. Shafi Sihihabdeen reinstated; his salary arrears ordered to be paid

Dr. Shafi Sihihabdeen attached to Kurunegala Hospital who was sent on compulsory leave after being accused of performing illegal sterilisation operations has been reinstated, the Health Ministry said.

Three more Omicron patients detected in SL; four cases so far

Three new cases of Omicron COVID variant have been reported in Sri Lanka, Dr Chandima Jeewandara, the head of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology at the Sri Jayewardenepura University said.

Let Mahindananda pay Chinese Fertilizer Company: Anura slams Govt.

Claiming that the payment of US$ 6.7 million to the Chinese fertilizer company should not be made from the taxpayers’ money, JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today that it should be paid by the two Agriculture Ministers and the Chairpersons of the two Fertilizer Companies.

Probe launched after body of American national found in Tangalle

The Tangalle Police have launched an investigation into the death of an American man who was living alone in a two storey house at Seeni Modara in Tangalle.

Task Force appointed to study chemical pesticides, fertilizers

The government has decided to appoint a task force headed by the Director-General Health to study and submit a report on the effects of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, the Ministry of Agriculture said today.

Experts fear more Omicron cases may have entered Sri Lanka

Health authorities yesterday said they suspected that more people infected with the Omicron COVID-19 variant may be present in Sri Lanka especially since the country was welcoming tourists and Sri Lankan citizens back from countries such as UK, Europe and South Africa where Omicron had spread vastly.

Tea plants free of charge for next year’s cultivation: Ministry

The Plantation Ministry is to provide tea plants to everyone free of charge for next year’s cultivation.

High Court acquits former Magistrate Thilina Gamage from elephant calf case

The Colombo High Court today ordered to acquit and release interdicted Magistrate Thilina Gamage from a case filed against him for the illegal possession of an elephant calf.

Litro Company gives undertaking to distribute gas cylinders with CAA and SLSI standards

Litro Gas Company, the largest importer and supplier of LP Gas in Sri Lanka today gave an undertaking to Court of Appeal that it will distribute only LP gas cylinders with specific standards approved by the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) and Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI).