Harin, Sanath meet Danushka in Sydney

Tourism Minister Harin Fernando and former cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya, who are currently in Australia for a tourism promotion event, met Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunatilleke in Sydney.

No discussions held on any plans for digital services tax with SL: IMF

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has not discussed any plans for a digital services tax with the Sri Lankan authorities in the current programme, an IMF spokesperson said.

Applications called for 2024 Grade One admissions

The Instructions relating to the admission of students to Grade One for the Year 2024 in State schools had been released today, the Education Ministry said.

Pakistan’s Afridi eyes 100th wicket on Test comeback against Sri Lanka

Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi will have one eye on taking his 100th Test wicket when the two-Test series against Sri Lanka begins in Galle on Sunday.

Young woman dies after receiving two injections at Peradeniya Hospital

A young woman admitted to the Peradeniya teaching hospital last morning with a complaint of abdominal pain, died after being given two injections.

Only 382 companies from 105,000 registered Companies pay taxes

A Parliamentary Committee has revealed that only 382 companies out of the 105,000 registered limited companies in the country were paying taxes and the Inland Revenue Department had to face problems in tax collection as the data provided for the registration of companies in this country is not true.

Dimuth a doubt for first Pakistan Test

Sri Lanka’s 35-year-old Test captain and opening batter Dimuth Karunaratne is doubtful for the first Test match against Pakistan, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) sources said.

Measles infection cases at LRH increasing: Paediatrician

With the increase in the number of measles infections reported from the country in the past few days, consultant pediatrician at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children Dr. Deepal Perera said the infection could even cause sudden deaths.

Theekshana, Nissanka rise in ICC ODI player rankings

Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana and Pathum Nissanka made big gains in the ICC’s ODI player rankings, after making significant contributions to their team’s unbeaten run at the Cricket World Cup Qualifier which concluded on Sunday.

Is the Health Minister bluffing over drug shortage?

Despite Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella claiming on May 31 that there was a shortage of only 111 drugs as of May 30 and that this shortage was further coming down, a senior Health official on Tuesday revealed that a total of 270 drugs are in shortage at present.

Govt. to take over neglected paddy lands in WP: Minister

The government has decided to take over cultivable paddy lands that are left uncultivated in the Western Province (WP) by amending the Govijana Development Act, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.

Victims up in arms over Maithripala & co. delay to compensate

Claiming that those whose negligence caused the Easter Sunday attacks in 2019 had shown no remorse by compensating them as ordered by court, several family members of the victims of the attacks who spoke to the Daily Mirror made a fresh call for justice for their lost loved ones.

NMRA to probe leading private hospitals in Colombo

Following a series of public complaints received the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) is to start probing several leading private hospitals in Colombo for billing its patients with exorbitant rates for common drugs, which has maximum retail prices.

Saddharathana Thera ordered to refrain from using foul language

While ordering to release Ven. Rajangane Saddharathana Thera on bail for allegedly making statements that harm religious co-existence in the country, the Colombo Fort Magistrate yesterday imposed a bail condition preventing the suspect thera from making any statements using foul language.

SVAT scheme termination contingent on effective refunding mechanism

The tax policy advisory of the Finance Ministry has given assurance to the business community that if there is no proper refunding mechanism in place, the removal of the Simplified Value-Added Tax (SVAT) scheme may not take place in January 2024, the National Chamber of Exporters (NCE) said. The assurance was given by Finance Ministry Tax Policy Advisor W. Thanuja A. Perera, the NCE said in a press relea

T-bill yields see spike; 3-month rise most

Despite the 2 percent policy rate cut last Thursday, the Treasury bill yields experienced a rebound at yesterday’s auction, after a significant drop in response to the parliamentary approval for the Domestic Debt Optimisation (DDO) programme the previous week.

New Director General of Sports appointed

Dr. Shemal Fernando has been appointed as the new Director General of Sports, the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs announced.

SL Navy sizes over 08kg of gold along with two suspects

The Sri Lanka Navy sized about 08kg and 450g of gold, attempted to be smuggled via sea, during a special operation mounted in the Wannimundalama lagoon area near Kalpitiya today.

Re-convening dissolved LG bodies a violation of constitution: AG

Attorney General in a letter addressed to the Secretary General of Parliament had informed her that the proposed private member Bill which seeks to re-convene the dissolved local government bodies is of the opinion that clause 2 of the legislation is inconsistent with articles 3, 4, 12(1) and 14(1) of the constitution and that it has to be enacted with a special majority and through a referendum.

No minister or Cabinet has authority to override law: CEJ

While condemning the statement made by Cabinet spokesman Bandula Gunawardena, the Center for Environmental Justice (CEJ) today said no minister or Cabinet has the authority to override the law.

Wage disparities to be eliminated in education sector within next two months: Minister

A decision was taken to eliminate wage disparities in all services in the education sector within the next two months, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said.

Sri Lanka win two bronze medals on opening day of Asian Athletics C’ships

Sri Lanka’s Gayanthika Abeyrathne and Dilhani Lekamge won bronze medals on the opening day of the Asian Athletics Championships 2023, which began in Bangkok, Thailand today.

Jayantha Ketagoda’s Private Member Bill challenged in Supreme Court

Executive Director of the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) Rohana Hettiarachchi today filed a Special Determination petition in Supreme Court, challenging the constitutionality of the private member’s bills presented to Parliament by SLPP MP Jayantha Ketagoda to re-convene the dissolved Local Government Authorities without holding elections.

DMT allows tuk-tuks to modify at a cost

The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) today granted permission allowing three-wheelers to have certain appliances fitted to trishaws, such as decorations, etc., DMT Commissioner General Nishantha Anurudda Weerasinghe said.

Stripping, assaulting women despicable: Geetha

State Minister of Women and Child Affairs Geetha Kumarasinghe condemned the assault of two women who were stripped and recorded on video by a group of men after being discovered with a monk.

Woman killed, another injured in hit and run

A woman was killed and another injured in a fatal accident on the High-Level Road in Galawilawatta, Homagama last night, Police said.

Dead Lankan detainee’s family demands indictment of Nagoya immigration center officials

NAGOYA (Kyodo) -- The family of a Sri Lankan woman who died in 2021 while detained at a Japan immigration center on Wednesday urged prosecutors who had previously dropped the case to indict officials on charges of professional negligence resulting in death.

Import restrictions on 300 more essential goods to be removed

Steps will be taken to remove the import restrictions on 300 more essential goods soon, State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said today.

SriLankan Airlines employee acquitted after 12 years

Negombo Additional Magistrate Darshima Premarathne acquitted and released a former employee of SriLankan Airlines from the charges of aiding and abetting one John Benedict to leave Sri Lanka illegally.

Athapaththu, Samarawickrama record partnership guides SL Women to win over NZ Women

An unbeaten 80 from captain Chamari Athapaththu and 49 not out from Harshitha Samarawickrama set Sri Lanka Women up for a dominant 10-wicket win over New Zealand Women in the third and final T20I played in Colombo.