First Randoli Perahera tonight

The procession is scheduled to leave Sri Dalada Maligawa at the auspicious hour of 7.26 pm

Magistrate rules it as a murder

Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekunawala yesterday ruled that the death of housemaid Rajakumari while being under arrest at Welikada Police is a homicide caused by assault with blunt weapons and ordered the Crime Investigation Department (CID) to arrest the suspects and to produce them in Court.

SL High Commissioner selected as election observer for Zimbabwe

Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Kenya Kana Kananathan, has been selected as an observer of Zimbabwe’s 2023 presidential and parliamentary elections, a source close to him said.

Thousands of penguin chicks killed by early sea ice break up

More than 9,000 emperor penguin chicks were probably killed as ice broke up early in Antarctica last year, in what scientists called a “catastrophic breeding failure.”

Arugam Bay to be transformed into high-income tourist destination

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has announced the swift implementation of a comprehensive plan to elevate the Arugam Bay tourist zone into a highly desirable destination for both local and international tourists, with the potential to generate substantial revenue.

Gammanpila stresses need for SL to join BRICS, writes to President

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya(PHU) leader MP Udaya Gammanpila requested President Ranil Wickremesinghe in writing to take steps for Sri Lanka to become a member of BRICS, an organized named after its original five members- Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa.

Availability of medicines now within reach for people

In a major development for Sri Lanka’s healthcare sector, the government has unveiled ‘Swastha’ an information management system, creating a platform for people to access the availability of drugs they wish to purchase.

Putin breaks silence over Prigozhin’s reported death

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his condolences to the family of Yevgeny Prigozhin on Thursday, breaking his silence after the mercenary leader’s plane crashed with no survivors two months after he led a mutiny against army chiefs.

Indian envoy to EU tipped for Sri Lanka as incumbent goes to Australia

After the superannuation of Indian Ambassador to Australia Manpreet Vohra this December, Indian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay is tipped to succeed him at Canberra, while Indian Ambassador to EU, Santosh Jha, is set to replace Bagalay in Colombo.

Shani discharged from Magistrate’s Court proceedings

Former CID Director SSP Shani Abeyesekara along with Sub Inspector Sugath Mendis and Nishantha Silva were today discharged from the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court proceedings.

SLTDA launches scheme to earn extra money for homeowners ahead of Asia Cup

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has launched a temporary registration scheme for homeowners in Kandy ahead of the upcoming Asia Cup tournament.

Man injured in shooting in Thalangama

A 44-year-old man was injured after he was shot at in Robert Gunawardena Mawatha, Korambe in Thalangama this morning.

Standing orders to be amended to expel MPs involved in malpractices

The ruling party is ready to confer with the Opposition to amend standing orders to expel MPs who commit various offences and tarnish the image of Parliament, Leader of the House Susil Premajaynatha said today.

Intelligence services reveal Catholic behind Kurundi unrest: Minister

Local intelligence services have identified a Catholic was behind the unrest situation that has been created in Kurundi, State Minister of Defense Premitha Bandara Tennakoon said yesterday.

Some members within Govt. craving for sports ministry: Roshan Ranasinghe

Claiming that he was facing various obstacles in delivering his duties, Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe said yesterday that some people within the government were craving for the position of the Sports Minister.

After Moon, India eyes Sun; Aditya launch in September

Just a day after the Chandrayaan-3 mission made a successful landing on the Moon, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for its next big adventure – the Aditya-L1 mission.

Power generation at risk: Hydroelectricity plummets to critical level

Power generation will be in a crisis unless it rains sufficiently by the beginning of October, an official said.

Hali Ela Water Source Reservation declared as Environmental Protection Area

The Environment Ministry has gazetted the land area consisting of 362 allotments of lands situated in the tea estates in the Hali Ela Divisional Secretariat as an environment protection area under the name ‘Hali Ela Water Source Reservation’.

Underwater explosion suspected as dead turtles found on shoreline

Around 20 turtle carcasses have washed ashore along the stretch of beach from Negombo to Kalutara within a span of just three days.

Historic Trump mugshot released in Georgia arrest for election plot case

Donald Trump has surrendered in Georgia on charges of plotting to overturn the state’s 2020 election results in an arrest that saw the first ever mugshot of a former US president.

Six-month ultimatum to wipe out underworld crimes

In the wake of escalating killings and robberies across the country, the police, in collaboration with the Special Task Force (STF), have launched special operations to crack down on organized criminals and individuals associated with them, with the aim of completely controlling organized crimes in the country within the next six months, Western Province Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon told Daily Mirror.

Immigration thwarts another attempt by man to leave for Canada on forged visa

Adding another to the list of recent arrests, the Department of Immigration and Emigration stopped a man who tried to leave the country with a forged Canadian visa on his Sri Lankan passport at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) on Wednesday evening.

CB imposes lending rate caps to drive interest rates down

The Monetary Board of the Central Bank yesterday slapped banks with administrative measures to reduce the notable spread between market deposit rates and lending rates despite the substantial easing in the policy interest rates.

Apparel exports continue downward spiral; face risk of losing market share

Sri Lanka’s apparel sector continues undergo distress and has now begun to lose its market share to competing nations, said the apex industry body, Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF).

3 Sri Lankans involved in gang wars, murder cases held in Bengaluru

The Bengaluru unit of the Central Crime Branch (CCB) Wednesday arrested three Sri Lankan nationals who illegally entered India through “the sea route”. The sleuths also held a resident of Bengaluru who gave the trio shelter at his apartment in Yelahanka.

Sports Minister to push for new SLC constitution through parliament

Whilst claiming that he is under threat for trying to resolve issues pertaining to cricket in Sri Lanka, Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe today said a new constitution will be introduced for Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) which will be given legal validity by Parliament.

Sri Lanka sees rise in forest fires due to hot weather

With the prevailing dry weather conditions in Sri Lanka, authorities have noticed an increase in forest fires. This is evident with the number of forest fire incidents reported recently, amounting to 123.

Illegal charcoal production factory operational in Thanamalvila

Several acres of forest area closer to the buffer zone of the Udawalawe Forest Reserve were deforested following an illegal charcoal production factory.

Delay in night mail and long distance trains tonight

There will be a delay in the operation of nightmail trains and long distance trains tonight due to a ongoing trade union action by the electrical technicians today, Railway Station Masters’ Union (RSMU) President Sumedha Somaratne said.

Extreme heat in eight districts can be felt on body

The temperature felt on the human body is expected to increase up to ‘Caution’ level at some places in the North-Central and Eastern Provinces and in Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Moneragala districts, the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Meteorology Department said while issuing a heat index.