Pegasus spyware used to ‘snoop’ on Indian journalists, activists

Telephone numbers of some 40 Indian journalists figure in a “leaked list of potential targets for surveillance” and forensic tests were said to have “confirmed that some of them were successfully snooped upon by an unidentified agency using Pegasus software”, The Wire, an independent news website, reported on Sunday night

Another batch of Pfizer vaccines brought to SL

Another batch of 60,000 doses of ’’Pfizer’’ vaccine manufactured in the US, brought to the country this morning, the Airport Duty Manager said.

UNP ready to work with ex-members

The United National Party (UNP) says its doors still remain open and it stands ready to work with former members who joined the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB).

All party conference a positive step: Ruwan

The all party conference which was summoned by the National Movement for Social Justice is a positive step as such a move to form a common platform is what people want today, UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene said yesterday

5.6 million Sinopharm doses expected within two weeks

Mass inoculation against Covid -19 will gather pace further with the arrival of 5. 6 million doses of Sinopharm vaccines within the next couple of weeks, Daily Mirror learns

SL races against time to vaccinate population as Delta warns to cause havoc

Sri Lanka is presently one of the highest countries in the world, administering COVID-19 vaccinations per day, with over 300,000 vaccines administered daily as medical experts warn that the Delta variant will cause havoc in weeks ahead if the population remains unvaccinated.

Ketagoda turns down offer to be a diplomat

Former Parliamentarian Jayantha Ketagoda has turned down an offer to be appointed as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Australia

Death of 16 year old girl at Badiudeen’s residence: JMO says girl was raped

Residents of the area yesterday staged a protest compelling the authorities to hold a formal investigation into the death of a 16 year old girl at former Minister Rishan Badiudeen’s residence who had died of serious burn injuries. The victim J.Ishalini was a resident of Diagama West in Agarapathana

46 more die of COVID-19: Death toll surges to 3,779

A total of 46 more COVID-19 related deaths that occurred yesterday (17) were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services today increasing the death toll in Sri Lanka to 3,779.

FUTA urges Govt. to restructure KDU to serve its intended purpose

While claiming that a military institution was not a suitable place to provide higher education to civilians, the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) today called on the government to restructure the existing Kotelawala National Defense University to serve its intended purpose of providing higher education and training to officers of the tri-forces.

Gammanpila denies fuel shortage claim

Minister of Energy Udaya Gammanpila yesterday dismissed recent media reports, which stated that the country is on the verge of facing a fuel shortage following an oil tanker was diverted from Sri Lanka due to foreign currency issues.

57mn cubic meters sand required for development projects between 2021-25: Amaraweera

With the scheduled 13 development projects between 2021 and 2025, a total volume of 57 million cubic meters of sand will be required, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.

Four more animals suspected to be COVID positive: Wildlife State Minister

Four animals, two chimpanzees and two orangutans were suspected to have infected with COVID virus at the Dehiwala zoo, Wildlife Protection State Minister Wimalaweera Dissanayake said.

Mother, child die after kite-string entangles motorcycle

A 35-year old woman and her one-and-a-half year old child have died, leaving her husband and another child injured in a bizarre accident when the motorcycle in which they were travelling skidded off the road after a nylon string of an abandoned kite entangled with the motorcycle.

Police probe theft in Kochchikade church after CCTV footage goes viral

The Fore Shore Police initiated an investigation into a theft inside the St. Anthony’s Shrine in Kochchikade in which a woman robbed money from a female while she was praying.

SLFP to keep its distance from Opposition: Amaraweera

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) will not take any decision in support of the Opposition in the no-confidence motion against Minister Udaya Gammanpila, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.

Proposal to include wildlife, wildlife conservation in school syllabi: Minister

A cabinet proposal had been made to include Wildlife and wildlife conservation as a subject in the school syllabus, Wild Life Minister C.B. Rathnayake said.

Brother in law of drugs smuggler ’Ran Malli’ arrested with Rs. 13.9Mn

A 30-year old suspect, the brother in law of underworld figure ’Ran Malli’ who is operating from Dubai, had been arrested with Rs. 13.9 million in cash buried inside a house at Hiripitiya in Pannipitiya.

Makandure Madush’s associate shot dead by STF in Seeduwa

An accomplice of the deceased drug trafficker and underworld figure Makandure Madush who is linked to a number of crimes including six murders died after being shot by the Special Task Force in Seeduwa, Police said.

Duminda Silva appointed Housing Development Authority Chairman

Former MP Duminda Silva, who was serving a death sentence over the killing of Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra but was released from jail on a special presidential pardon last month has been appointed as the Chairman of the National Housing Development Authority.

Rishad Bathiudeen hospitalised

MP Rishad Bathiudeen who is being detained by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID)I has been hospitalised.

31 more die of COVID-19: Death toll surges to 3,733

A total of 31 more COVID-19 related deaths that occurred yesterday (16) were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services today increasing the death toll in Sri Lanka to 3,733.

962 more COVID-19 recoveries reported

A total of 962 more COVID-19 patients recovered and were discharged from hospitals bringing the total number of recoveries in Sri Lanka to 255,833, the Health Ministry said.

KDU will be brought under UGC after removing obstacles in the UGC Act: Prez

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that the obstacles existed in the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act will be removed and the Kotelawala Defence University will be brought under its purview.

US Secretary of State says US committed to global vaccination drive

Secretary of State of the United States Antony Blinken said his country is proud to lead the global fight against COVID-19 by sharing 1.5 million Moderna vaccine doses with ‘ Sri Lankan friends’.

Probe finds she was brought to the house at age of 15

It was revealed that the girl working at the house of former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen in Borella, who died of burn injuries, was brought to the house as a domestic helper when she was 15 years old.

Govt. will deal with openness and transparency regarding human rights issues: Dinesh

The government will deal with openness and transparency regarding the issues of human rights and reconciliation, Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena assured the activists of the civil organisations and NGOS of the country.

Stalin and Nagamuwa released from quarantine centres

Ceylon Teachers Union General Secretary Joseph Stalin, Frontline Socialist Party Politburo Member Duminda Nagamuwa and several others who were detained in quarantine centres were released yesterday.

Students arrested for theft had their own pornography inside stolen computer

Following an arrest of three boys of leading schools in Horana in connection with breaking into several shops, the police had found a number of pornographic videos recorded by them inside a stolen computer.

41 more die of COVID-19

A total of 41 more COVID-19 related deaths that occurred yesterday (15) were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services today increasing the death toll in Sri Lanka to 3,702.