Kala Keerthie Iranganie Serasinghe turns 96

Iranganie Serasinghe (nee Medeniya), the doyenne of Sinhala cinema, celebrates her 96th birthday today. Considered a living example of values, culture and discipline, Mrs. Serasinghe has inspired the younger generation to play a more dignified role in the field of arts.

GSMB Chairman denies COPE revelation

Responding to the allegation leveled against the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) during the recent Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) meeting that GSMB seeks minister’s approval for issuance of licenses, GSMB Chairman R. Sanjeepan clarified that applications related to mining and exploration activities are never sent to the Minister for his approval.

Govt. expects income tax files to increase five-fold to one million by end of this year

Facilitated by recent tax reforms, the government expects income tax files to increase by nearly five-fold from 205,200 to one million boosting the country’s income tax revenue and enhancing the direct and indirect tax ratio to 40 percent vs. 60 percent by end of this year, which would pave the way for a potential Rs.400 billion cut in indirect taxes.

Digital Promotion Agency to be set up for collection and monitoring of public data

President Ranil Wickremesinghe this week announced plans to establish a Digital Promotion Agency aimed at developing computer applications for the collection and monitoring of data from various government entities in the country.

Tea exporters concerned over government’s move to abolish SVAT scheme

Sri Lanka’s tea exporters yesterday expressed “deep concerns” over the government’s decision to abolish the Simplified Value-Added Tax (SVAT) system as they fear the move will create cash flow difficulties for them among several other issues.

Cummins sparks India collapse in WTC final

Australia captain Cummins, in his 50th Test, removed key batsman Rohit Sharma as the fast bowler sparked India’s second-day slump at The Oval.

Chinese suspect deported under special security

The Chinese national who had arrived in the country with two forged passports has been deported to China today under Sri Lankan police security, Public Security Minister Tiran Alles said.

Govt. to import 176,000 hatching eggs from Netherlands instead of parent hens

The Agriculture Ministry is ready to import 176,000 hatching eggs instead of parent hens to solve the current shortage of chicken meat and eggs in the country, National Livestock Development Board (NLDB) Chairman Prof. H.W. Cyril said.

Arrest of MP Ponnambalam - Police have done nothing wrong: Alles

Police officers have done nothing wrong in arresting MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam as he was holding a meeting near a GCE Ordinary Level examination coordination centre, Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles said today.

Hundreds of kaputas fall dead in Puttalam town causing alarm

In a disturbing turn of events, hundreds of kaputas (crows) were found dead in Puttalam town recently, resulting in the government veterinary surgeons launching an immediate investigation into the cause of deaths.

Government signs fuel agreement with RM Parks and Shell

The government has signed an agreement with United States based RM Parks Inc. in collaboration with Shell PLC for a long-term contract to enter the Sri Lanka petroleum business today.

Anti-Corruption Bill to be taken up for debate on June 21

The new Anti-Corruption Bill is scheduled to be taken up for debate in Parliament on June 21, the Communications Department of Parliament said.

CoA allows Western Hospital to perform kidney transplantation surgeries

The Court of Appeal (CoA) has issued an interim order suspending the directives given by the Director General of Health Services to temporarily suspend kidney transplantation surgeries at the Western Hospital.

Legal action against fuel station owners who fail to maintain min. stocks

Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera today advised taking legal action against the fuel station owners who failed to maintain the minimum stocks of fuel within the sheds.

Sri Lanka now eligible to access ADB’s concessional financing

Sri Lanka will be able to speed up its efforts in reviving its economy as it has obtained much-awaited approval from the Asian Development Bank (ABD) to access concessional financing.

Prices of mobile phones, accessories still high: ACCOA

The All Ceylon Communication Owners’ Association (ACCOA) said they are unable to pass on the benefits of the appreciation of the rupee against the US dollar through the sale of mobile phones and accessories.

83,309 overseas tourists visited during May: Immigration Dept.

A total of 83,309 tourists from various parts of the world visited the country during the month of May, the Immigration and Emigration Department said.

Sabaragamuwa Governor resigns

Governor of the Sabaragamuwa Province Tikiri Kobbekaduwa has decided to resign from his post with effect from Saturday(10).

I never approve everything done by my father: Sajith

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said he never approves everything done by his father, former President Ranasinghe Premadasa, merely because he was his father.

Retired Major Ajith Prasanna jailed for another six months

Retired Major Ajith Prasanna was today sentenced to six months of rigorous imprisonment by the Court of Appeal in connection with a contempt of court application filed in 2019.

Mahela Jayawardene to travel to Zimbabwe for ICC Cricket World Cup qualifiers

Former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene, who is a Consultant Coach for the national cricket team, will travel with the team to Zimbabwe where Sri Lanka is set to play its Cricket World Cup qualifying matches.

Ali Sabry denies giving his official residence to Gotabaya

Foreign Minister Ali Sabry refuted claims that he had provided an official residence to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and said it should be inquired from those who had provided it.

Danushka Gunathilaka to face rape trial in Australia

Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka will stand trial on a rape charge stemming from an alleged incident which occurred while he was in Australia to play in the Twenty20 World Cup last year.

Judges express dissatisfaction over two appointments to High Court by Prez

The Judicial Service Association of Sri Lanka (JSASL), the sole organization representing all the District Court judges and Magistrates in the country has expressed its dissatisfaction regarding the President’s decision to appoint former Assistant Secretary General of Parliament Tikiri Jayathilaka and Senior State Counsel Nayani Nirmala Kasthuriratne as High Court judges.

Govt. to grow mandarin oranges locally: Minister

Although oranges are cultivated in many districts in the country, the Agriculture Ministry has decided to provide the necessary financial allocations for the cultivation of mandarin oranges in the lower areas of the Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Badulla districts.

Mahendran’s appointment as CB Governor legal: Semasinghe

The appointment of Arujna Mahendran as the Governor of the Central Bank in 2015 has been legal and constitutional, State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe told Parliament.

Harsha appointed COPF Chair violating Standing Orders: Sajith

MP Harsha de Silva’s appointment as the chairman of the Public Finance Committee (COPF) is welcome, but it is a bad precedent as it violates Standing Orders, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament today.

GCE O/L exams end today, battle against dengue to begin

The GCE Ordinary Level (O/L) exams end today (8), and with that the dengue mosquito elimination programme will be conducted in all examination centres, the Examinations Department said.

Detection of Monkeypox cases: Don’t panic, says Epidemiology Chief

In the wake of the detection of two fresh cases of Monkeypox yesterday (07) including a 15-day-old baby, Head of the Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry, Dr. Samitha Ginige urged people not to panic over the disease as there is no threat to the society.

GR gets new luxury state bungalow in Colombo 07

Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who was forced out of office in June last year has been allocated a new luxury bungalow sponsored by the State situated in Stanmore Crescent which is usually assigned to the Foreign Minister, Daily Mirror learns.