Australia beat England by two wickets to win 1st Test

Australia beat England by two wickets to win a thrilling first Ashes Test at Edgbaston on Tuesday.

Mahinda Kahandagama remanded for alleged Rs.7mn fraud

Former Colombo Municipal Councilor Mahinda Kahandagama was today ordered to be remanded till June 22 by Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court for allegedly defrauding Rs.7 million.

Continuous SriLankan flight delays a serious issue in sending workers to Korea: Manusha

Due to the continuous delay of SriLankan Airlines flights, sending workers for Korean jobs has become a serious problem, Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara said.

Price of bread, other bakery items will be reduced by Rs. 10 from tonight

The All Ceylon Bakery Owners’ Association (ACBOA) has decided to reduce the price of a 450g loaf of bread and other bakery items by Rs. 10 with effect from midnight today.

Time restrictions for musical shows revised

The time restrictions imposed to end musical shows at 10 p.m. has been revised, Minister of Tourism Harin Fernando said.

Parliamentary Budget Office Bill passed with amendments

The Parliamentary Budget Office Bill presented for the establishment of the Parliamentary Budget Office was passed today with amendments and without a vote.

Debate on Anti Corruption Bill likely to be postponed

The debate on the Anti-Corruption Bill which is to be taken up for debate tomorrow is likely to be postponed, sources said.

Govt. assures no haircut on domestic debt

The government today assured that there won’t be any haircut on domestic debt in the process of the proposed domestic debt restructuring and gave an assurance that no injustice would be caused to depositors, EPF, ETF beneficiaries or Pension funds due to domestic debt restructuring.

Dengue Prevention Assistants to be absorbed into permanent cadre: Keheliya

Steps will be taken to absorb the Dengue Prevention Assistants to the permanent cadre, though the Department of Management Services has objected to making them permanent, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said today.

Sri Lanka to open WTC campaign against Pakistan

Sri Lanka will open their 2023-2025 World Test Championship campaign against Pakistan, in a two Test home series.

Death of Dinesh Schaffter: Court calls for Govt. Analyst’s reports

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today issued an order directing the CID to obtain the Government Analyst’s reports on the productions referred to him by court regarding the investigations into the death of businessman Dinesh Schaffer.

Validity period of driving licenses extended for two years: Comm. Gen.

The Motor Traffic Department (DMT) has decided to extend the validity period of driving licenses for two years.

Anaesthetic drug which killed two children still in use, alleges Sajith

The substandard anaesthetic drug that is said to have caused the deaths of two children at the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital are still in use despite the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) assurance that the stocks would be recalled, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa alleged today.

Thai-gifted Sak Surin will be brought back to SL after treatment: PM

The Thai-gifted elephant Plai Sak Surin, also known as Muthu Raja, planning to be taken back to Thailand, will be brought back to Sri Lanka after necessary treatment in Thailand, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardane said today.

Madushanka, Wellalage and Arachchige sent to Zimbabwe as ’stand-by options’

Sri Lanka have sent three players, left arm fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka, left arm spinner Dunith Wellalage and all-rounder Sahan Arachchige, as stand by ’options’ to the squad at the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe.

Rupee has become a ping pong ball; Gammanpila attacks CB top officials

The responsibility of the Central Bank is to stabilize the rupee and not allow it to fluctuate, MP Udaya Gammanpila said.

RW meets Commonwealth Secretary-General in UK

President Ranil Wickremesinghe met the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, during his visit to the UK and discussed the digitisation programmes within the Commonwealth.

Direct flights between Seychelles, Colombo begin tomorrow

Air Seychelles will launch direct flights between the Republic of Seychelles and Colombo from tomorrow, the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited (AASL) said.

Sri Lanka to benefit from UK’s Preferential Trading

The UK is implementing what it called ‘one of the most generous preferential trading schemes’ in the world and Sri Lanka is one of 65 countries benefiting from it, according to a statement from the British High Commission.

48-hour free animal clinic to eradicate rabies

A 48-hour no-sleep animal clinic will be launched at the Anuradhapura Municipality as the first step of the pilot project to eradicate rabies from the country by humane means.

Titanic tourist submersible goes missing with search under way

A massive search and rescue operation is underway in the mid Atlantic after a tourist submarine went missing during a dive to Titanic’s wreck on Sunday.

Local tech start-up unveils SL’s first virtual influencer ‘Chubs’

Sri Lankan tech start-up CreativeHub Global has introduced the country’s first ever virtual influencer named ‘Chubs’.

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Service - a den of political appointees

In recent years, Sri Lanka’s foreign service has made questionable and disappointing appointments especially to some of the key countries, resulting in an entire collapse of the foreign service system.

New sustainable niche strategy launched to re-energise tourism sector

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) recently launched a sustainable niche strategy to “re-energise” the tourism sector.

Banks call for urgent development of insolvency regime as loan defaults soar

Sri Lanka Banks Association (SLBA) representing all commercial banks in the country yesterday stressed the urgent need for the development of an effective insolvency regime in response to the sharp rise in loan defaults in the country.

Duleep Mendis coached Oman shock Ireland

Cricketing minnows Oman, coached by former Sri Lanka captain Duleep Mendis, pulled off a massive upset by beating Ireland by five wickets in their opening World Cup qualifier in Bulawayo on Monday, the Gulf sultanate’s first-ever victory over a Test nation in an ODI.

Doctor takes head-on approach to resolve official matter

A doctor attached to the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital, who sustained serious injuries in his head in an assault by another doctor, has been admitted to a ward in the same hospital, the Police said.

Harassed by parents; boy flees home

A 15-year-old boy who sneaked out from his house to escape harassments of his parents, were taken charge of by the Hatton police when he was liotroing at the Hatton railway station in the early hours of last morning.

Three arrested with over 1,227 kgs of Cannabis

Three persons have been taken into custody along with 1,227 Kgs of Cannabis during a raid on a house in Embilipitiya.

Drug bought through Indian Credit Line suspected to have caused two deaths

The anaesthetic drug suspected to have been the cause of two deaths that occurred at the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital has been received through the Indian Credit Line, Sri Lanka’s top drug regulatory body said.