IAI to upgrade the Sri Lankan Air Force’s Kfir aircraft

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) recently signed a contract, worth USD $50 million with Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defense to upgrade Kfir aircraft for the Sri Lankan Air Force.

Assault on wildlife officer: Court orders to arrest Army Major

Army Major and other army personnel, who were involved in the assault on a wildlife officer who was on duty at the Minneriya National Park and disrupting his duties, were ordered to be arrested and produced in Court by the Kekirawa Magistrate Saman Weraniyagoda.

India denies making any request to use Sri Lanka’s airspace

The High Commission of India denied media reports which state that authorities in Sri Lanka declined a request by India to use the Sri Lankan airspace for a Joint Military Exercise with a third country.

Death of sea turtles due to environmental damage caused by X-Press Pearl- AG

An expert committee appointed by the Marine Environment Protection Authority has revealed the death of sea turtles and other fish reported in recent weeks was due to environmental damage caused by the burning of the X-Press Pearl vessel, the Attorney General informed Court today.

Kanya D’Almeida wins 2021 Commonwealth Short Story Prize

A short while ago in an online ceremony the Commonwealth Foundation announced Sri Lankan author Kanya D’Almeida as the overall winner of the 2021 Commonwealth Short Story Prize.

47 more succumb to COVID-19: Death toll surges to 3,077

A total of 47 more COVID-19 related deaths that occurred yesterday (29) were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services today pushing the death toll to 3,077.

Death-row inmates call off hunger strike and protest

The hunger strike launched by several death row inmates of the Mahara and Welikada Prisons, have been called off after five days, the Prisons Department said.

Bread prices likely to increase by Rs.10: Bakery Owners’

If the government does not take action to control the wheat flour price hike, the price of a loaf of bread will be increased by Rs.10, the All Ceylon Bakery Owners’ Association (ACBOA) said.

Govt chirping away funds unnecessarily on bird park

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya ( SJB) today criticized the government’s project to construct a bird park in Battaramulla.

Alienation of state properties through Selendiva Investments Limited challenged in SC

A Fundamental Rights petition was filed in the Supreme Court today by an engineer, seeking an order to prevent the Treasury Secretary from taking any steps to sell, lease or alienate state properties, vested with Selendiva Investments Limited Company or any subsidiary of this company.

Etihad Airways: Flights suspended from Sri Lanka & three other countries

Etihad Airways, via its official website, announced yesterday the suspension of passenger flights from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka effective immediately until 21-Jul-2021, in line with UAE Government directives.

Arrivals from Middle Eastern countries no longer restricted: CAASL

Passenger arrival restrictions imposed on Middle Eastern countries has been lifted from today, the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka said (CAASL).

Health authorities on high alert on spread of Delta variant in the country

In the wake of some individuals who were found with the Indian variant known as Delta recently in the country leaving fears among people, health authorities said they have taken all precautionary measures to prevent a further spread of the Indian variant and urged people to cooperate with them.

Services in DMT now within a day: State Minister

Services such as obtaining driving licenses and transferring vehicle ownership would be available under the one-day service for anyone who visits the Motor Traffic Department (DMT) with a pre-booked appointment, Transport State Minister Dilum Amunugama said.

Colombo tops the list of total COVID cases reported yesterday

With a record number of 1,717 COVID positive cases, the Colombo district reported the highest number of 348 cases yesterday, the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) said.

DMT resumes services today at Narahenpita, Werahera

The Motor Traffic Department (DMT) has resumed its services at the Narahenpita main office and at the Werahera branch from today, DMT Commissioner General Sumith C.K. Alahakoon said.

Additional buses to ease congestion caused by train strike

Additional Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) buses have been assigned to facilitate the passengers who are affected due to the current train strike, SLTB Chairman Kingsley Ranawaka said.

Major beverage companies advised to forward PET bottle recycling plan within 2 weeks: Minister

The three large-scale beverage companies that manufacture soft drinks using Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) bottles have been instructed to come up with recycling plan within two weeks before banning them, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.

SJB, UNP, JVP became more terrified than Corona: Dilan Perera

The message of Basil Rajapaksa entering Parliament as a national list MP has instilled fear among the members of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), United National Party (UNP) and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). They are more scared than to coronavirus, SLPP National List MP Dilan Perera said.

20 wedding attendees quarantined in Panadura

Twenty persons including eight females who had attended a wedding ceremony at a home at Pallemulla in Panadura in violation of quarantine laws have been quarantined for 14 days at the same place.

Sinopharm first dose for 30-plus at CMC areas

The Colombo Municipal Council’s (CMC) Public Health Department today requested that people who are over 30 years of age to get their first Sinopharm vaccine at a CMC vaccination centre.

Exploiting 15-year-old girl: Mother, 16 others arrested

Seventeen individuals including the mother of a 15-year old girl have been arrested by the Police Children and Women’s Bureau in connection with sexually exploiting the girl for over three months.

Basil has already failed like Gota, Mahinda: Anura Kumara

Claims to bring Basil Rajapaksa to Parliament to develop the country proved that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has already failed, JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday.

Chinese employees working at ‘Tissawewa’ project not People’s Liberation Army:Defense Ministry

The Embassy of China in Sri Lanka has affirmed that the employees engaged in the ongoing project to remove silt in the ‘Tissawewa’ tank in Tissamaharamaya, are not members of the People’s Liberation Army and it is the respective overseas company’s overall uniform entitled to the staffers, the Defense Ministry said.

Covid Task Force acting on political needs rather than health needs: Nalinda Jayatissa

Former JVP MP Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa today alleged that the Covid Task Force has been irresponsible and was acting on political needs rather than on health needs.

Gradual decline in conducting PCR tests: GMOA

According to the daily report issued by the health Ministry, there is a gradual decline in conducting PCR tests, Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) Secretary Dr. Shenal Fernando said.

Risk of COVID clusters looms with opening of shopping malls in WP

With the opening of shopping malls and clothing stores in the Western Province, despite ordered not to, the risk of COVID-19 spread could be aggravated, Provincial Director of Health Service in the Western Province Dr. Dhammika Jayalath warned.

Atul Keshap to serve as Chargé d’Affaires at US Embassy in New Delhi

Former US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Atul Keshap, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, is set to serve as Chargé d’Affaires, ad interim,in New Delhi following the retirement of Ambassador Daniel Smith.

Delta variant to be dominant in another 10 weeks in SL: Medical experts warn

The medical experts have warned that the Indian variant known as Delta would be the dominant variant in the country in about ten weeks if proper measures were not taken at correct time.

Attention drawn to vaccinate students, academic, non-academic staff of universities: Minister

Following requests of University Vice Chancellors, the attention of the Education Ministry was drawn to provide COVID-19 vaccine to all students, including university academic and non-academic staff and this gives an indication that the universities will be opened soon, the Education Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris said.