Police investigate poisoning of family of four

A police investigation has been launched into the poisoning of a family of four -- a husband and wife and their two children -- in the Rambukkana police area this morning.

Will turn SLTB into profitable institution by 2025: Bandula

A programme is underway to turn the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) into a profitable institution by 2025, Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Bandula Gunawardena said.

Three-wheelers used to rob people in rural areas: Gemunu

The Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) claimed that people in rural areas are being robbed by three-wheelers when transporting passengers, and therefore it is needed to assign single-door buses.

Little-known senator sworn in as Pakistan caretaker PM

Little-known senator Anwaar ul Haq Kakar was sworn in Monday as Pakistan’s caretaker prime minister to see the country through to an election due in months.

Rugby World Cup 2023 schedule announced

The 2023 Rugby World Cup gets under way on 8 September with France taking on New Zealand in a mouth-watering curtain-raiser in Paris.

Reveal names of those from whom advice was sought: SJB MP

Amidst the decision of Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana to be firm on his ruling on the motion of the Domestic Debt Restructuring (DDR) process, the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) came out with more questions, calling him to reveal the names of the experts from whom he had sought advice from.

Funds not granted by Ministry of Sports yet for Asian Games Rugby

Sri Lankan Sevens Rugby players are caught in the dark as the Asian Games Sevens tournament outfit tour to China is in major doubt as no funds being released to date for the tour from the Ministry of Sports which is estimated over 20M rupees.

Court imposes overseas travel ban on cricketer Sachithra Senanayake

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today issued an order directing the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration to prevent former national cricketer Sachithra Senanayake from leaving the country.

Niger’s coup leaders say they will prosecute deposed President Mohamed Bazoum

Niger’s military says it will prosecute deposed President Mohamed Bazoum for treason, hours after a group of senior Islamic scholars said the country’s coup leaders are open to diplomacy to resolve their standoff with West Africa’s regional bloc.

Sri Lankans among 160 illegal migrants detained by Polish authorities

Sri Lankans were among 160 illegal migrants who were detained by the Polish border guards while attempting to cross from Belarus to Poland on Saturday, Sky News reported.

Titans sign Zadran, Das to replace departing Kiwis

The Galle Titans have signed Najibullah Zadran and Liton Das as replacement overseas players after their New Zealand duo of Tim Seifert and Chad Bowes left the squad today.

Deshabandu Thennakoon’s Facebook page hacked: Complaint filed with CID

Western Province Senior DIG Deshabandu Thennakoon has lodged a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) after his official Facebook page was hacked.

18 deaths in 24 hours in Maharashtra Hospital

Eighteen patients have died in the last 24 hours at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalwa in Thane, civic commissioner Abhijit Bangar said.

Six arrested over killing of man accused of raping underage girl

Six individuals, including two women, have been arrested in connection with the murder of a man in Kopai, who was accused of sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl.

Medical negligence claims life of newborn at Anuradhapura Hospital

In another case of negligence in the health sector, a baby that dropped to the floor of the delivery room at the moment of delivery due to the fault of medical staff, died yesterday at the Intensive Care Unit of the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital.

Seven hospitalised after Bambalapitiya accident

At least seven passengers were hospitalised after a private bus travelling from Colombo to Kataragama collided with a lorry arriving from Thummulla near Duplication Road at Bullers Junction in Bambalapitiya this morning.

Five Govt. Departments corrupt to the hilt: Minister

The volume of corruption at five state institutions - Sri Lanka Customs, Excise Department, Motor Traffic Department, Inland Revenue Department and Sri Lanka Railways - is so enormous that the state revenue can be increased by 50 percent by digitizing their activities to curb errant practices, a Minister said yesterday.

SL border control on high alert as surge of human smuggling cases thwarted at BIA

Sri Lanka border controlling authorities have put their sleuths on high alert at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) as a growing trend of human smuggling cases was seen in the last few weeks and having detected 102 such attempts this year from January 1st to date.

Over 70 medicines fail quality tests in 2023, majority from India

A total of 73 drugs have failed quality tests so far in 2023, according to the Medical Supplies Division of the Health Ministry.

SLT net loss tops Rs.2.1bn in 2Q as Mobitel’s subscriber base shrinks by 1mn

Sri Lanka Telecom PLC (SLT), the leader in fixed line telephony, reported losses in the June quarter (2Q23) amid weak top line performance, as its mobile arm Mobitel recorded revenue de-growth owing...

Tourism earnings surpass US$ 1bn milestone

Earnings from the tourism industry have crossed the US$ 1 billion mark with international visitors to Sri Lanka having spent US$ 219 million in July.

Jaffna lie in wait after big defeat to Titans

The winningest franchise in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) find themselves in a position they have not been in before, after a seven-wicket defeat to the Galle Titans left the defending champions Jaffna Kings waiting till the final day of the group stage to find out if they would progress to the play-offs.

Looking into possibility of holding O/L at Grade 10: Minister

The Education Ministry is looking out at possibilities of holding the GCE Ordinary Level (O/L) examination in the 10th grade, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said.

Ranjan succeeds in degree examination

Former MP Ranjan Ramanayake has successfully passed the second year examination in his Bachelor of Arts in Youth Empowerment and Development from the Open University of Colombo.

Indian couple travelling on forged passports arrested at BIA

An Indian couple who attempted to fly to the Netherlands on forged passports was arrested by the Border Surveillance Unit of the Immigration and Emigration Department at the Katunayake International Airport.

President aims two billion USD annual export revenue from gems, jewellery industry

President Ranil Wickremesinghe urged officials in the gem and jewellery industry to swiftly provide comprehensive plans for achieving the country’s objective of bolstering annual export earnings through enhancements in the gems and jewellery exports and re-exports.

Maui wildfires deadliest US blaze in a century as toll hits 89

The death toll from the Maui wildfires is now at 89, making it the deadliest US wildfire in more than a century.

IMF to conduct bailout review in September

The IMF will conduct the first review of the $2.9 billion bailout to Sri Lanka from September 11-19, state minister of finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said on Saturday and declared that the country has successfully fulfilled the nine conditions set by the global lender.

Import restrictions on vehicles used for public transport to be relaxed

State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said although the imports of vehicles has been halted due to the economic crisis, the import restrictions will be relaxed soon for selected vehicles used for public transport services and cargo transportation.

Why Govt not recovering Rs. 16 billion lost in sugar scam, asks Champika

United Republican Front (URF) leader Patali Champika Ranawaka asked today why the Rs.16 billion undue profit earned by seven importers in the 2021 sugar tax scam is not recovered by the government despite recommendations by two parliamentary bodies to do so.