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.

Hasaranga runs riot after batters fire in huge win for Sri Lanka

Wanindu Hasaranga picked up the first five-wicket haul in international cricket as Sri Lanka bowled out United Arab Emirates for 180 and win their opening match of the ICC Cricket World Cup qualifiers by 175 runs.

Lottery ticket price will increase to Rs.40 from July 6

The selling price of a lottery ticket will be increased to Rs. 40 from July 6, the National Lotteries Board (NLB) and Development Lotteries Board (DLB) said.

World Bank set to approve $700 mln for Sri Lanka next week -sources

The World Bank is likely to approve $700 million in budgetary and welfare support for Sri Lanka at its next board meeting on June 28, sources told Reuters, the biggest funding tranche for the crisis-hit island nation since an IMF deal in March.

Sri Lanka absent from SAFF Cup football for the first time

For the first in history, Sri Lanka will not be participating in South Asia’s main football tournament South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Cup 2023 which begins from Wednesday (June 21).

Road accidents kill over thousand in last six: Minister

With the increase in the number of vehicles operating on the road, a total of 8,875 road accidents were reported and 1,043 lives were lost due to accidents reported during the past six months. Most of these accidents were caused by buses, motorcycles, and three-wheelers, State Transport Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna said.

Court calls for investigation report

A case filed against nine Aragalaya activists including popular artiste Damitha Abeyratne, General Secretary of Ceylon Teachers Union Joseph Stalin and youth activist Rathindu Senaratne alias ‘Ratta’ for allegedly blocking the main entrance to the Magistrate’s Court, was today fixed for October 9 by Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court.

Top four fire to help Sri Lanka to 355 for 6 against the UAE

Sri Lanka’s top four batsmen found form, each scoring half-centuries to help their team to a score of 355 for 6 in 50 overs in their opening match of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers against United Arab Emirates in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

Kanchana promises electricity concessions by January

While the government admits that utility prices are high, Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera said that concessions will be granted after reviews.

Instructions given to reduce prices of bread, short-eats by Rs. 10: Trade Minister

Necessary instructions have been given to reduce the prices of bread and short-eats by Rs. 10, Trade Minister Nalin Fernando said.

Only social service, no politics for my family members: Sajith

Denying reports that his wife Jalani Premadasa will take up active politics, Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa said none of his family members will engage in active politics, though they will be engaged in social service.

Minister Prasanna Ranaweera’s home attacked; reports extensive damages

State Minister Prasanna Ranaweera’s house at Sarathchandra Dias Mawatha in Pamunuwila had come under attack on Sunday night (18).

Sri Lanka 133 for 1 after 25 overs

Openers Pathum Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne scored half-centuries, as Sri Lanka reached 133 for 1 after 25 overs in their ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers match against United Arab Emirates.

Pakistan warship, Indian submarine on Sri Lankan waters

Pakistan Naval Ship (PNS) ‘Tippu Sultan’ and ‘INS Vagir’ – a submarine of the Indian Navy arrived at the Colombo Port on formal visits.