Anusha Pelpita to retire; Daya Ratnayake appointed Industries Ministry Secretary

The Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority General (Retired) Daya Ratnayake has been appointed as the Secretary to the Ministry of Industries.

Tension in Tirunelveli after three inluding two Lankan refugees hacked

Tension prevailed in parts of the Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu as the caste Hindus of Munneerpallam village hacked a Dalit youth and two Sri Lankan refugees on Wednesday night.

Travel restrictions to be lifted on Monday: Army Chief

The ongoing island-wide travel restrictions will be lifted at 4.00 am on Monday (21), Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said.

Man arrested for asking ’Dan Sapada?’ from Moratuwa Mayor

The Moratumulla Police has arrested a man who called and asked ’Dan Sapada?’ (’’Are you happy now?’’) from the Mayor of Moratuwa, Samanlal Fernando, who had returned from remand custody.

Roundworm diseases in dogs, cats become more common in children: Paediatrician

Roundworm disease found in dogs and cats, which is known as ’toxocariasis’, is getting more common among children these days, Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children (LRH) Consultant Paediatrician Dr. Deepal Perera said.

Oil spill spotted from vessel en-route to Haldia from Colombo Port

The fuel tank of a merchant vessel, that was en-route from Colombo Port to Haldia in West Bengal, developed a crack leading to 10 kilolitres of oil being spilled in the Bay of Bengal on Thursday, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) said.

UK marine experts to support Sri Lanka with X-press Pearl pollution response

The UK Government was providing marine pollution expertise to help respond to the impact on the marine life and coastal habitats of Sri Lanka following the X-press Pearl container vessel fire that started in May, the British High Commission said.

Highest number of infections found in Colombo yesterday: NOCPCO

The Colombo district had the most COVID cases yesterday, with 562, the National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) said.

Global COVID-19 death toll exceeds 4 million

Coronavirus-related deaths worldwide passed a grim milestone of 4 million on Thursday, according to a Reuters tally, as many countries struggle to procure enough vaccines to inoculate their populations.

India denies reports that Indian Navy physically attacked SL fishermen

The Indian High Commission in Colombo today denied media reports that a group of Sri Lankan fishermen were attacked physically by the Indian Navy, stating that it was blatantly false.

Egg prices likely to go up, faces danger of collapse: AIEPA

Due to the inability to continue with the egg production chain, there is a risk of rising the price of eggs in the future and there is a possibility of a collapse in the poultry egg farming industry, the All Island Egg Producers Association (AIEPA) said.

Extraordinary gazette issued on essential services

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has issued an extraordinary gazette declaring services provided by certain state institutions, Local Authorities and Co-operative Societies as essential services.

Port City: India tells SL to be “mindful”

India has told Sri Lanka to be “mindful” of its excellent bilateral cooperation following the recent developments with the Colombo Port City.

If GSP+ concession is withdrawn Sri Lanka faces danger

At a time when Sri Lanka faces the possible danger of losing its GSP Plus concession, economic experts warn that having to pay duty will make the country less competitive in the International market.

Ranil’s National List appointment a ploy to divide Opposition: SJB

One cannot become the Leader of Opposition with the support of 60 MPS from the govt. benches

Ranil wants Govt. to introduce voucher system

Government should come up with a voucher system to provide fuel or medicine to citizens of over 18 years, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe proposed yesterday.

Prices of essential commodities gone out of control: JVP blames Govt.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) yesterday charged that the Government had lost control over the sky-rocketing of prices of essential commodities such as vegetables and rice amidst the Covid pandemic.

Dematagoda area kept in isolation since last Saturday

The Dematagoda area where the Indian variant was detected today has remained in isolation since last Saturday (12), Regional Epidemiologist of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) Dr Dinu Guruge said.

Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convicts allowed to make video calls to SL, UK

The Madras High Court, on Thursday, allowed Nalini Sriharan and her husband Murugan, convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, to make video calls to Sri Lanka and London.

51 more succumb to COVID-19

A total of 51 more COVID-19 related fatalities that occurred yesterday were confirmed by the Director-General of Health Services today taking the death toll to 2,425.

X-Press Pearl’s wreck to be removed after South Westerly Monsoon season

The removal of the X-Press Pearl’s wreck from the seabed off Colombo, Sri Lanka, will start once the South Westerly Monsoon season ends, operator of the ill-fated vessel said

Online petition compares Jeff Bezos to Superman villain ’Lex Luther’

An online petition nearing 10,000 signatures — and growing — is suggesting Amazon founder Jeff Bezos should be denied re-entry to Earth when he launches for space in July.

Online petition compares Jeff Bezos to Superman villain ’Lex Luther’

An online petition nearing 10,000 signatures — and growing — is suggesting Amazon founder Jeff Bezos should be denied re-entry to Earth when he launches for space in July.

Every possible step will be taken to keep essential commodity prices stable: Minister

Every possible measure will be taken to keep the prices of essential commodities stable in the country, despite the global economic pressure, Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardana today said.

TNA meets Indian HC: Discuss devolution, development in North, East

A 5 member Tamil National Alliance (TNA) delegation led by MP R. Sampanthan today met Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay where they discussed Various aspects of devolution and developmental aspirations of the people in the North and East.

If Sinopharm second dose missed, go to Sugathadasa Stadium

The Public Health Department of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) today requested people, who had obtained their first jab of the Sinopharm vaccine at a CMC vaccination centre, to visit the Sugathadasa Stadium vaccination centre to get the second jab if they have missed it.

Indian variant detected from community for the first time

The Delta (B.1.617.2/Indian variant) has been detected from the community for the first time in Sri Lanka, Director of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine of Sri Jayewardenepura University, Dr. Chandima Jeewandara said.

Over 200 yr old De Soyza building collapses

The old De Soyza building, located on Malay Street in Slave Island, which was of archeological value, collapsed last night, police said.

FR petition filed against importing luxury SUVs for MPs

Former JVP Western Provincial Councillor Mahinda Jayasinghe today filed a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition in the Supreme Court seeking the court to rule that the decision to import 227 luxury SUVs for MPs was in violation of the Constitution.

Decision tomorrow on extension of islandwide travel restrictions

A decision will be taken tomorrow to decide whether the ongoing island-wide travel restrictions will continue or lifted, Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said.