Gazette issued declaring several services as essential public services

A special Gazette notification (2336/78) has been issued declaring several services as essential public services.

Domestic debt optimization not finalized yet: Semasinghe

Claiming that the process of domestic debt optimization has not been finalized yet, State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe said the government is fully committed to ensuring the stability of the banking and financial sector.

SLPP can win election even if held today: Prasanna

The Sri Lanka Podujana Preamuna (SLPP) will not allow the implementation of anything which is distructive. Therefore no one should be afraid of monsters created by the opposition, Chief Government Whip Prasanna Ranatunga said today.

Kings to begin LPL title defense against Strikers on July 30

Jaffna Kings will open their third Lanka Premier League title defense against the Colombo Strikers at the R. Premadasa Stadium on July 30, in what will be a rematch of last year’s final.

Woman dies after ritual, exorcist arrested

An exorcist (kapuwa) who had performed a ritual on two women and a man in Dasgiriya, Laggala, was arrested after one of the women died due to a sudden illness.

University student falls to death from Bambarakanda waterfall

A 24-year-old university student died after falling from the Bambarakanda waterfall yesterday, police said.

Cloudy skies over Northern, North-Central and Eastern Provinces

The Forecasting Division of the National Meteorological Centre said today that cloudy skies will prevail over the Northern, North-Central and Eastern provinces.

Shooting injures two in Minuwangoda

Two persons who were travelling on a motorcycle were shot at by a group of unidentified men who were travelling in a car near Bastian Mawatha in Minuwangoda last night.

Wijeya Newspaper’s Rishini Weeraratne wins ’Leadership in Digital Media Award 2023’

Rishini Weeraratne from Wijeya Newspapers Limited, has been awarded the prestigious ‘Leadership in Digital Media Award 2023’ at the Top 50 Professional and Career Women’s Global Awards 2023

Attempt to increase coconut oil price: NMCRP

The National Movement for Consumer Rights Protection (NMCRP) today claimed that a group of people who claim to be traditional coconut oil producers are paving the way to increase the price of coconut oil in the local market.

Inter School Rugby: S. Thomas’ beat Wesley, Dharmaraja stun Trinity College, St. Peter's eke out win over Royal

S. Thomas’ College held off a last-minute charge from Wesley College to get their hands on the Oliver Goonethilake Shield and open their Dialog Inter School Rugby League campaign with a 19-13 win, while Dharmaraja College stunned Trinity College and St. Peter’s pulled off an invaluable win over Royal College.

Russian airline co-pilot found dead in Katunayaka hotel

A co-pilot of the Russian national carrier Aeroflot airline was found dead in a hotel at Katunayaka, Police said..

Sri Lanka qualify for World Youth Netball Championships

Sri Lanka qualified for the Youth Netball World Cup, after beating Hong Kong 46-32 to take third place in the Asian Youth Netball Championships in South Korea today.

Indian national arrested at BIA for fraud over housing unit in Slave Island

An Indian national was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department’s Katunayake unit for a fraud of over USD 300,000, while he was trying to go overseas through the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).

NIA files chargesheet against 13 in India, Sri Lanka for attempting to revive LTTE

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a charge sheet against 13 people, including 10 Sri Lankan nationals and three Indians, in connection to its probe into the illegal drugs and arms trade case relating to attempts to revive the activities of Sri Lankan Tamil separatist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in India and Sri Lanka, the agency said on Friday.

Increase in unidentified virus spreading among pups in Central Province

An identified virus disease that used to spread among pups only in the Central Province is now at risk of spreading to other provinces as well, Veterinarian Dr. Upul Sagarathilaka said.

Pramitha appointed acting Defence Minister

State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon has been appointed as the Acting Defence Minister till President Ranil Wickremasinghe returns from the United Kingdom and France completing his foreign visit.

President leaves for UK, France on official visit

President Ranil Wickremesinghe left the island for an official visit to the United Kingdom (UK) and France early this morning.

Proposal to issue teaching license to private tuition teachers

A Parliamentary Committee has proposed to provide a teaching license to private tuition teachers and give them professional recognition.

Education sector to get digitised: Minister

In relation to the program of digitization of government and other services implemented by the government, plans have been drawn to implement the digitization of the part belonging to the education sector, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said.

Sri Lanka yet to take final decision

The government is yet to confirm whether it will forge ahead with the proposal by Russia to invest in a nuclear power plant, an official said.

Age limit for ordaining Buddhist monks mulled

The Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, in collaboration with the Mahanayake Theras of three Chapters, has sought to introduce an age limit for ordaining young children as monks.

Pakistan FM blames ’geopolitics’ for stalled IMF loan package as economic crisis worsens

Pakistan’s Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has blamed geopolitics for a stalled IMF loan package and said that global institutions wanted the cash-strapped country to default like Sri Lanka and then take part in the negotiations.

Air pollution triggered heart diseases visible in Sri Lanka : Expert

Air pollution has increased the risk of heart disease in Sri Lanka like elsewhere in the world, a top cardiologist said.

Sri Lanka can emulate 1996 World Cup winning team, says Maheesh Theekshana

Sri Lanka might be embodying the spirit of its 1979 team, having to qualify for this year’s Cricket World Cup, but spinner Maheesh Theekshana believes it could be the first step in emulating the heroics of the 1996 team that beat Australia to win the sport’s marquee tournament instead.

Inter-School Rugby: Vidyartha College beat Science College

Vidyartha College Kandy edged Science College Colombo 26 points to 19 in the Dialog Under 19 Inter-School Rugby Tournament at the Bogambara Stadium in Kandy.

Vehicles imports cannot be allowed yet: Siyambalapitiya

Import of vehicles cannot be allowed at this moment under the prevailing economic situation, State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said today.

Driver arrested for sending nude pics to female officer

A driver who is working for a ministry was taken into custody by Veyangoda police today for sending pornographic pictures and exposing his person on video calls through WhatsApp to a retired Administrative Officer of the ministry.

Strike by pharmacists cripple dispensing medicines at Hospitals

Due to an ongoing strike launched by the Government Pharmacists’ Association, issuing of medicines at government Hospitals across the country has come to a standstill, sources said.

Two killed, one injured in head-on collision

Two individuals were killed and another seriously injured when a Navy staff bus collided head-on with a lorry at Malida on the Giridara-Delgoda road this morning, Police said.