’Yet to decide if I will re-contest Presidency’ - Ranil says

With a Presidential Election scheduled for next year, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said he had still not made a decision if he would re contest the presidency as his focus presently was to terminate Sri Lanka from bankruptcy.

VAT exemption removal sparks fears of increased power and energy costs

The proposed removal of Value-Added Tax (VAT) exemptions has raised concerns about the potential application of VAT on power and energy from January of next year.

Budget 2024 likened to a ‘fairy tale’ amid unrealistic revenue targets

President Ranil Wickremesinghe openly recognised the 2024 budget as an election-oriented one, though calling it different from previous election budgets.

Appeal Court to deliver crucial verdict on retirement age of specialists

In a highly anticipated decision, the Court of Appeal will announce its ruling on the early retirement of medical specialists on November 17.

Gruesome recovery: head of elephant found

The head of a wild elephant, which had been separated from its trunk, was found in Kirindi Oya by the locals.

Those not fit to be MPs can be removed according to latest Bill drafted: Wijeyadasa

Those who are not fit to be MPs can be removed once the proposed Parliament Standards Bill is enacted, Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said yesterday.

Government bets on economic turnaround to bring additional revenues in 2024

While the increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) is expected to do the heavy lifting for the government to reach its revenue targets next year, officials also appear to be betting on the turnaround of the economy from a contraction to a growth, and the normalisation of imports.

Chennai Customs official’s strict actions decrease gold smuggling activities in SL

Sri Lanka has seen lower gold smuggling movements in the past few weeks, especially at the country’s main international airport, as a result of the strict actions of an honest Indian Customs official currently based in Chennai airport, local Customs officials said while praising him.

SLC rebuked for its weak processes

The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) rebuked Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for following weak processes in performing its activities.

India faces familiar NZ hurdle in WC semis

India has looked invincible in the tournament. They have a clean sheet of nine wins and are just two wins away from laying their hands on the World Cup for the third time.

Man abducts 7-year-old girl as hostage, demands meeting with ex-girlfriend

A 7-year-old girl was abducted by a man from a residence in Moragahahena where he later used the child as leverage to force his former girlfriend to meet him.

Platinum makes history with first-ever pre-departure session

Platinum Immigration Solutions (Pvt) Ltd, known for its expertise in immigration services, organized a pre-departure session, the first-ever event of this nature, to assist about 50 individuals who are preparing to embark on their Canadian journey.

Low-pressure area forms over South-east Bay of Bengal

Naval and fishing communities are advised not to venture out to sea as a low-pressure area has formed over the southeast Bay of Bengal adjoining Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Meteorology Department said.

Missing bodies of family of four in Balangoda recovered

The bodies of a family of four who had gone missing after a landslide buried their house in Balangoda have been recovered.

President brought country out from dark ages: Ravi

With the presentation of the 2024 budget, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has brought Sri Lanka out of the dark ages to some extent, but it is not an easy journey, former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said.

Contempt of Court cases against Treasury Secretary dismissed

The Supreme Court today dismissed two contempt of court applications filed against Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana.

CAA's 22,000 raids during past 10 months earn Rs. 222 Mn revenue

A total of 22,000 raids have been conducted during the past ten months, and cases have been filed against 19,000 offenders. The reports of the government analysts are to be received for the remaining incidents, and soon after receiving the reports, cases will be filed against them, Director of Consumer Affairs and Information at the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) Asela Bandara said.

Badulla-Colombo train service distrupted due to earth mound collapsing on tracks

The Badulla-Colombo train service has been disrupted this afternoon due to the collapse of an earth mound on the railway line between the Haliela and Uduwara stations on the up-country line, the Railways Department said.

Sports Minister refutes PMD report on Cabinet decision for Interim Cricket committees

Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe refutes the President’s Media Division (PMD) report, asserting that there were no discussions or Cabinet directives regarding future appointments to interim committees.

Mahinda, Gota, Basil and others responsible for economic crisis -SC

The Supreme Court today held that several respondents including former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa and former Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal are responsible for economic crisis in the country.

CEB introduces e-billing system to more consumers

While marking the discontinuation of the conventional practice of issuing printed paper bills, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is implementing the CEB e-billing system for their consumers in many areas, CEB media spokesman and Engineer Noel Priyantha said.

Cabinet takes charge of SLC’s future interim committee appointments

Amidst the recent dispute between President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe over the appointment of an interim committee for Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the Cabinet has decided that any future interim committee appointments for SLC must receive Cabinet approval.

Nepal bans TikTok

Nepal has banned China’s TikTok because its content ’’was detrimental to social harmony.

Magnitude 6.1 earthquake hits Indian Ocean: No threat to Sri Lanka

An earthquake of magnitude 6.1 hit the Indian Ocean on Wednesday, the US Geological Survey said.

Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee Chief exposes conspiracies behind cricket

Chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee Pramodya Wickramasinghe pointed fingers at certain individuals vying for power in the Sri Lanka Cricket Board, brokers involved in match-fixing and those attempting to secure spots in the national team as contributors to the challenges faced by Sri Lankan cricket.

SriLankan Airlines launches self check-in and self-bag-drop services at BIA

SriLankan Airlines said today that they have advanced their passenger services at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) with the introduction of self-service check-in and self-bag-drop services.

Approval granted for export-based strawberry cultivation project

Since there is a high demand for strawberries in the world market, the Agriculture Ministry has approved a project to grow strawberries for export.

Another Court of Appeal judge declines to hear SL Cricket case

Court of Appeal judge Dhammika Ganepola also recused himself from hearing the controversial cricket case.

Court of Appeal President declines to hear SL Cricket case

Court of Appeal President Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne, who was at the centre of the controversy surrounding the issuing of an interim order against Sri Lanka Cricket’s interim committee appointed by the Sports Minister, recused himself today from hearing the case.

Sports Minister’s motion to be heard today before Court of Appeal

A motion application filed by Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe requesting the Court of Appeal to revoke its previous interim order issued against the Sri Lanka Cricket Interim Committee is to be taken up for support today (14).