EDB, Foreign Ministry accelerate efforts to boost exports

The Export Development Board (EDB) and the Foreign Ministry are working closely together to increase the country’s export revenue and mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the export industry.

Vote on Account passed without vote being taken

The Vote on Account was passed in Parliament a short while ago without a vote being taken.

Permit holders allowed to purchase new vehicles with concessions

Vehicle permit holders are allowed to buy unregistered vehicles locally at the market price through authorized dealers in Sri Lanka with relevant tax concession, the Ministry of Finance announced.

Suspending me, an act of political victimisation: Matale Mayor

Mayor of Matale Duljith Aluvihare said suspending him from functioning in his post was an act of political victimisation and that it amounted to an excessive use of power on the part of the Governor, and that he filed a petition against it in the high court. He told the media that the government was misusing its two-thirds majority to victimise rival politicians.

Obtain Parliamentary approval for using state funds over past four months: AKD

While claiming that it was against the Constitution to spend money from the Consolidated Fund without parliamentary approval, National Peoples’ Power leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today, the government should present a special motion in Parliament with a two-third majority and obtain covering parliament approval for using funds of the Consolidated Fund between April 30 and August 20.

29-year-old mother blessed with quintuplets

A 29-year-old mother from Pepiliyawala gave birth to quintuplets (5 girls) this morning at the De Soysa Hospital for Women (Teaching), Colombo 08.

Speaker informs Prisons Chief to bring Premalal to attend Parliament

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardane informed Parliament today that Prisons Commissioner General has been instructed to bring Ratnapura District MP Premalal Jayasekara, who was sentenced to death, to attend Parliament sittings.

Japanese PM intends to step down

Sources close to the Japanese Prime Minister say he plans to step down to deal with a health problem.

Podi Lassi’s accomplice arrested with stock of weapons

The STF has arrested an accomplice of organized criminal Janith Madusanka de Silva alias ’Podi Lassi’ with a stock firearms and ammunition at a house at Wathugedara in Ambalangoda.

HC serves indictments on Rajitha, Rumi

Colombo High Court today served indictments on MP Rajitha Senaratne and former State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) Chairman Mohammad Rumi over the ‘white van’ press conference case.

4 DIGs among 21 senior police officers transferred

Twenty-one senior police officers including four Deputy Inspector Generals of Police (DIGs) have been transferred with immediate effect.

Prabhakaran ordered Rajiv’s killing: Solheim

Former Norwegian peace negotiator Erik Solheim, in a series of tweets, revealed that LTTE Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran had ordered the killing of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

O/L exam in January next year

The 2020 GCE Ordinary Level (O/L) Examination will be held in January 18 to 28 next year, Education Minister Prof.G L Peiris said.

Prison guard arrested with heroin at Borella

A prison guard attached to the Colombo Remand Prison had been arrested with 94 grammes of heroin in Borella last night.

Only Zahran’s or Ibrahim brothers’ arrests could have prevented attacks: fmr. SIS Director Jayawardena

Only the arrest of National Thowheed Jama’ath (NTJ) Leader Zahran Hashim or the Ibrahim brothers could have prevented the coordinated terror attacks which occurred on Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019, former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Nilantha Jayawardena yesterday informed the PCoI probing the Easter Sunday attacks.

Conman involved in racket arrested

A conman who had cheated an employee at a gold jewellery shop in Negombo by pretending to sell his pawned gold and later escaped with Rs. 300,000 stolen from the jewellery shop was arrested by the Negombo, Kochchikade police yesterday.

MPs appointed to committees can decide on chairpersons: PM

MPs appointed to the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) and the Public Finance Committee will be allowed to elect the respective chairpersons of these committees, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa told Parliament yesterday.

Sajith and Co. still considered UNPers

The Director-General of the Election Commission Saman Rathnayaka said that Sajith Premadasa and his team who withdrew from the United National Party and secured a win at the General Election by contesting from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya are still considered as members of the UNP.

Spotlight on exorbitant price of lunch in Parliament

The exorbitant price of lunch provided to new MPs during this week’s two-day workshop was the focus in Parliament yesterday with an MP stating that the report published in some media might create a wrong impression on the members.

Indian HC hosts a dinner for Cabinet ministers

Newly appointed Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay, as part of his engagement with Sri Lankan leaders, hosted the Cabinet ministers for dinner on Wednesday night.

Govt. to introduce new tax regime

The cabinet has given the green light to revise the tax policy, policy actions and introduce a new tax regime amending 54 tax related Acts for an accelerated economic revival in the post Covid 19 situation, co cabinet spokesman and Minister Udaya Gammanpila said yesterday.

54,000 Sri Lankans waiting to return but centres can take only 6,000

Despite some 54,000 Sri Lankans in the Middle East requesting the government to bring them home, Chief Epidemiologist of the Epidemiology Unit, Dr Sudath Samaraweera said the capacity in quarantine centres in the country has already exceeded its limits.

PCoI on Easter Sunday Attacks issues summons on more politicians

The Police Unit of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) probing the Easter Sunday attacks, today issued summons on a few more political figures to record their statements over the coordinated terror attacks.

SriLankan says flights continue to selected destinations despite global lockdown

SriLankan Airlines today said the airline continues to fly to selected international destinations including Italy – Milan, UK – London, Japan – Tokyo, Maldives – Male, Germany – Frankfurt, France – Paris and Australia – Sydney during the current global lockdown period.

Find lasting solution to human-elephant conflict within 2 years: Prez tells officials

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today instructed officials to come up with a lasting solution to the human-elephant conflict within two years and whilst taking measures to safeguard both elephants and humans.

I have technical evidence to prove my innocence: Fmr. SIS Director

Former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Nilantha Jayawardena today informed the PCoI probing Easter Sunday attacks that he has technical evidence to prove his innocence if any official was claiming that the SIS had not done its part properly with regard to the coordinated terror attacks.

PM says support of all MPs vital to revive economy

Opening the debate on the Rs. 1.6 trillion Vote on Account in Parliament today, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said that the support of the entire House was needed to revive Sri Lanka’s economy in line with its responsibility when it comes to finances.

‘Vistas of Prosperity’ will not be a reality: Champika

Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Patali Champika Ranawaka said today the government’s development plan ‘Vistas of Prosperity’ would not be a reality as the government would not have financial strength needed for Capital expenditure amidst the economic crisis the country was facing.

Truth behind Rajitha’s awards exposed: GMOA

The truth behind former Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne’s acts relating to receiving several international awards for what he had done to the country from 2015 to 2020 has now been exposed, Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) Secretary Dr Haritha Aluthge alleged.

Pregnant mother tests positive for Covid-19 in Kottapitiya

A pregnant mother, a returnee from the Middle East has tested positive for Covid-19 today while in self-quarantine in Arachchikattuwa, Kottapitiya, Chilaw General Hospital Director, K.P. Mallawarachchi said.