Around 1,000 Russian tourists book air tickets to arrive in SL: Tourism Ministry

Around 1,000 Russian tourists have booked air tickets through Srilankan Airlines and are expected to arrive in Sri Lanka this month, the Tourism Ministry said.

Expert committee to formulate SL’s digital currency policy appointed

The Government Information Department yesterday announced the public and private sector experts, who have been appointed to the committee to formulate Sri Lanka’s national policy on digital banking, blockchain and crytocurrency mining.

Diana Gamage proclaims she is the actual SJB leader

Government MP Diana Gamage today said she is the actual leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and that those who claimed to be leader of the party today had taken it from her illegally.

Advanced PCR testing lab at BIA defunct now: AASL

The advanced PCR testing laboratory facilities established at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) premises to perform PCR tests are dysfunctional and unable to perform tests on tourists arriving in the country, Airport & Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited (AASL) Vice Chairman Rajiv Sooriyaarachchi said.

SL reiterates strong concern with Canada

Sri Lanka registered its strong concern with Canada regarding the Private Members Public Bill passed earlier this year in the Ontario Legislative Assembly including Sri Lanka’s objection to the unacceptable association of genocide into the past conflict, a statement from the Foreign Ministry said.

Deadly attack hits Kunduz mosque during Friday prayers

A suicide bomber has targeted a mosque in the northern Afghan city of Kunduz during Friday prayers, killing at least 50 people, local officials say.

Importers to announce price increase on imported milk powder on Monday

The decision on increasing the prices of the imported milk powder will be announced on Monday (11), the Milk Powder Importers said.

Sri Lankan found dead near Belarus-Lithuania border

The body of a 29-year old Sri Lankan was found near the Belarus-Lithuania border, the Belarus media reported.

If no solution to teacher- principal issue, waves of protests could add to COVID spread: GMOA

If the government fails to find an immediate solution to the teachers’ salary issue, it will result in waves of protests which could again contribute to the spread of COVID viral infection, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) said.

Ranil asks PM to intervene in CMC dispute

While stating that the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has gone into a crisis because of a dispute between the Council Members and the Municipal Commissioner, UNP MP Ranil Wickremesinghe today requested the Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to intervene to resolve the problem.

Find solution for teachers, principals salary issues before reopening schools: CTU

The Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) today urged the government to bring about solutions to the teachers and principals salary anomalies issue before the reopening schools on October 21. CTU Secretary Joseph Stalin said.

PM ready to talk to teacher-principal TUs before budget

The Government would arrange a meeting with the Prime Minister and all the relevant teacher-principal trade unions before the budget to discuss the solutions proposed in the budget next month, Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardane said.

All grades of Govt. schools to reopen by early November: Minister

The Government is planning to reopen all grades of Government schools by early November, State Minister of Education Reforms, Open Universities and Distance Learning Promotion Susil Premajayantha said today.

Inter-provincial travel ban further extended

The inter-provincial travel restrictions have been extended until October 21, the President’s Media Division said.

Bandula Warnapura in ICU due to heart complications

Sri Lanka’s first Test Captain Bandula Warnapura has been admitted to a private hospital in Colombo following heart complications.

Students aged 18 & 19 to be vaccinated from Oct. 21 at their schools- Army chief

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa instructed to commence vaccination of school children from October 21, Army Commander Shavendra Silva said.

Priority to import environment friendly electric vehicles to reduce air pollution: Amaraweera

The government is to give priority to import electric vehicles in the future as a measure to reduce air pollution in our country, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.

Nirupama and I have not left the country: Nadesan

Following reports that businessman Thirukumar Nadesan and his wife Nirupama Rajapaksa had fled the country to an undisclosed location following the allegations levelled against them in the Pandora Papers, Nadesan told Daily Mirror yesterday he and his wife were very much in Sri Lanka and had no intention of leaving.

September tourist arrivals more than double from Aug.

Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka more than doubled in September from August, with over 13,000 travellers entering the country in September making it the first time since the Covid-19 outbreak for the country to welcome over 10,000 visitors in a month.

Flour, milk powder, cement, LP gas control prices removed: Minister

The government removed the recently imposed price control over essential goods such as flour, milk powder, cement and domestic cooking gas, Co-operative Services, Marketing Development and Consumer Protection State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna said.

Govt. to deport all Nigerian nationals linked to on-line scam

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed the relevant authorities to immediately deport all the Nigerian nationals, who are held at the Mirihana Detention Centre on charges of on-line scams, informed sources said.

Five burn to death as fire envelopes house in Ragala

Five persons including two boys aged 11 and one year old were burnt to death in a fire at a house at Ragalawatta in Nuwara Eliya last night.

Govt. attempts to coverup claiming it happened before 1994: Opposition

The Government is attempting to sweep under the carpet, the incident where former parliamentarian Nirupama Rajapaksa and her husband Thirukumar Nadesan have been listed in the Pandora Papers,the Opposition yesterday alleged.

2022 Budget to be presented on November 12

Leaders of Political parties representing Parliament yesterday decided to have the Budget for 2022 on November 12 and to take up the third reading vote on December 10, 2021.

225 Chief Inspectors promoted as ASPs

A total of 225 Chief Inspectors of Police (CI)s have been promoted to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP).

GMOA to begin island wide token strike on Oct.13

Following a lengthy discussion by the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) central committee, it was decided to launch an island-wide four-hour token strike next Wednesday (13), until the currently published effective date of the 2022 Annual Transfer List is updated.

Indian Army Chief General Naravane to arrive in SL

Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane to arrive in Sri Lanka on October 12 for a five-day official visit, the Army said.

Diana Gamage expelled from SJB

SJB working committee which met today decided to expel Diana Gamage from the party.

Good Karma Hospital series 4 begins filming in SL

Amanda Redman - who portrays Dr Lydia Fonseca in the ITV drama - is ’’honoured’’ that the cast and crew have been able to return to Sri Lanka to shoot the Good Karma Hospital series 4, the next instalment of the six-part drama - which is set in southern India - amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Get ready to work under new normality: President tells District Secretaries

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has told the District Secretaries to be prepared to work with renewed energy under the new normality to overcome Covid-19 pandemic setbacks suffered in all the sectors during the last two years.