Rupee has slipped to record lows this week due to importer dollar demand.

According to currency dealers, the rupee hit a fresh low of Rs.157.40 against US dollar yesterday, surpassing the previous record low of Rs.157.30 recorded on Tuesday.

Commission on SriLankan to start recording evidence: President

The Presidential Commission appointed to investigate financial irregularities which had taken place at SriLankan airlines, will begin recording evidence within the next two weeks, President Maithripala Sirisena said.

USNS Mercy arrives in SL for Pacific Partnership

Service members of the US and partner nations participating in Pacific Partnership 2018 arrived in Trincomalee aboard the US Navy hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) today.

Ammonia tragedy a result of ignoring proper security methods: CEA

The recent tragedy in Crepe Rubber Manufacturing Factory at Horana where five people died due to an ammonia gas exposure on April 19, had been directly caused due to the lack of attention to the factory's safety programme, Director General of the Central Environment Authority (CEA) Hemantha Jayasinghe said.

SL citizens not among Toronto victims at present: MFA

Identified victims of the Toronto incident did not include any Sri Lankans at present, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today. Issuing a statement, the Ministry said it had seen news alerts and social media posts regarding a Sri Lankan woman who was a victim of the incident which took place on Monday.

Ammonia gas tragedy: Factory manager and lab controller re-remanded

The factory manager and the senior laboratory controller of the Horana Rubber Factory where five deaths were reported in the ammonia tank tragedy were further remanded till April 27 by the Horana Magistrate’s Court today.

Ministers not in favour of ban on pandals

The proposal made by the Minister of Buddha Sasana Gamini Jayawickrama Perera to the Cabinet yesterday banning Wesak Pandals and Danasalas was turned down by the Ministers severely objecting to the proposal.

No one has backbone to probe Gota’s abductions: Mervyn

The man behind the white van culture was former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and the FCID had no backbone to investigate into the person who gave orders to the white van abductions, Former Minister Mervyn Silva said.

Polls this year if approved by Parliament: EC

Elections Commission (EC) Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said today if Parliament approves the delimitation report on Provincial Councils within a month, then his office would be in a position to hold elections to six provincial councils this year.

Police liaising with Interpol to bring back Udayanga, Mahendran: Minister

Law and Order Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara today said that necessary action is already in place to bring in wanted, high profile individuals like Udayanga Weeratunga and Arjuna Mahendran back to the country, who have found refuge in foreign countries.

The 16 SLFPers vow to expose frauds in Govt.

Former Minister Chandima Weerakkody said today the 16 former SLFP ministers, state and deputy ministers who quit the yahapalana government would soon expose the frauds and misdeeds of the members of the government.

CCD to go ahead and remove illegal structures despite minister’s phone calls

The Coast Conservation Department (CCD) Director General Prabath Chandrakeerthi today told the Daily Mirror that Minister Faizer Musthapha had urged him not to go ahead with the decision to remove the illegal structures in Mirissa.

Scarcity of funds: Bond market likely to collapse, says Bandula

While claiming that the Central Bank of Sri Lanka lacked sufficient funds to pay back the Treasury bonds and bills before their date of expiry, MP Bandula Gunawardana said the bond market could collapse due to the prevailing situation.

Eastern Province doctors threaten work stoppage

Doctors attached to all Government Hospitals in the Eastern Province warned that they will launch a strike after Thursday (26) unless their demands were met.

Court re-issues arrest warrant against Jaliya Wickramasuriya

Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne today re-issued an open warrant against former Sri Lankan Ambassador to the US, Jaliya Wickramasuriya.The warrant was issued against the envoy over the case in which he had allegedly

IP Rangajeewa and Lamahewa re-remanded

Police Narcotic Bureau Inspector Neomal Rangajeewa and Prisons Department Commissioner Emil Ranjan Lamahewa, who were in remand custody over the Welikada Prison riots in 2012, were further remanded till May 8 by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today.

Int'l recognition needed for Cabinet posts: President

President Maithripala Sirisena has said that when appointing a Cabinet minister, the person selected must not only be acceptable locally but also internationally. This had transpired when the BBC Sinhala channel interviewed the President during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London.

Heavy traffic at Ceramic Junction

Heavy traffic was reported near the Ceramic Junction in Colombo due to a protest carried out by a group of unemployed graduates, Police said.

Inter-country adoption racket: SL adoptees to sue Dutch Govt.

Sri Lankan adoptees in the Netherlands are to hold the Dutch government liable for knowing about the adoption racket during the latter part of the 20th century but not taking action against it at that time.

Ranjan to take on corruption at SLC

Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake yesterday claimed he had been questioned by Anti-Corruption officials of the International Cricket Council as part of its investigations into allegations of corruption in Sri Lanka.   

Cost-reflective fuel pricing formula yet to be finalised

The cost-reflective pricing formula for petroleum has not been finalised yet and presenting it to the Cabinet will be delayed until next week since the key personnel in the Finance Ministry are attending the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Spring Sessions in Washington DC.

PM behind JVP’s proposal to remove executive presidency - PHU

While stating that the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) is against the proposal of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) to remove the executive presidency, General Secretary of the PHU Upul Wijesekara said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was behind the JVP’s proposal.

UNP politburo meeting today

The UNP politburo will meet today at Temple Trees to discuss the methodology to be followed when electing the main officer bearers and the names of those to be selected to these posts, a politburo member told Daily Mirror.

Van strikes pedestrians in Toronto, 10 killed

A rented van plowed down a crowded Toronto sidewalk Monday, killing 10 people and injuring 15 before the driver fled and was quickly arrested in a confrontation with police, Canadian authorities said.

Country can move forward only under a non-partisan President: Wijeyadasa

There is no point in forming national governments amidst a culture of levelling allegations against each other and it is more advantageous for the country to move forward under a non-partisan President, said former Minister MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe in Kandy on Sunday.

Removing executive presidency not effective when 13A remains: Wimal

The abolishment of the executive presidency is not a good move when the 13th Amendment to the Constitution remains as it is, National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa said.

29 injured in Norwood bus accident

At least 29 people were injured and admitted to the Dickoya Hospital after a passenger bus travelling from Hatton to Samimale veered off the road and plunged off a cliff at Newweligama in Norwood this evening, Police said.

Prorogation of Parliament: President signs second Gazette

President Maithripala Sirisena today signed a gazette mentioning that the next Parliamentary session would be convened at 2.15 pm on May 8, President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

GMOA to take TU action against KDU Bill

The GMOA today said it would join other anti-SAITM groups to launch trade union action if the government attempts to pass the proposed Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) Bill.

Let Sajith, Navin bat for party: Ranjan tells UNP hierarchy

UNPers such as Sajith Premadasa and Navin Dissanayake should be allowed to play a major role in running the party, Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake said today.