SL’s aviation industry, airspace very secure: ICAO

Due to necessary measures taken to maintain Sri Lanka’s aviation safety at a very high level, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) announced that Sri Lanka’s aviation industry as well as its airspace are very secure.

Shammi Silva re-elected as SLC President

Incumbent President of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Shammi Silva was re-elected for a third term, running up to 2025, at the SLC Annual General Meeting today.

Businessman nabbed with gold worth Rs. 43 mn at Katunayake Airport

A local businessman was arrested at the Katunayake International Airport while he was attempting to smuggle a stock of gold worth Rs. 43 million into the country, Customs spokesman and Deputy Director (Legal) Sudatta Silva said.

Urgent investigations into death of housemaid in Singapore: SLBFE

The Sri Lankan Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) has been instructed to conduct an urgent investigation into the death of the Sri Lankan domestic worker who fell from an apartment in Singapore, its Chairman A.A.M. Hilmi Aziz said.

Man shot dead in Borella

A 53-year-old man was shot dead by two unidentified men near the Leslie Ranagala Mawatha railway crossing in Borella this morning.

U.S. underscores considering all voices on pending legislation including Anti-Terrorism Bill

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs (DAS) Afreen Akhter says the United States has invested in Sri Lanka’s economic recovery, a statement from the U.S. embassy said.

Prez gives authorities one month to present plan to accelerate digitalisation process

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has given the relevant authorities a timeframe of one month to present a plan to accelerate the digitalisation processes, so that there are no more delays in steering the way forward in this regard.

Sri Lanka registers strong protest with Canada over Justin Trudeau’s remarks

The Foreign Ministry summoned Canadian High Commissioner in Colombo Eric Walsh and registered Sri Lanka’s strong protest over Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s remarks on May 18 recognizing what he called a ‘Tamil genocide week.

India to withdraw Rs 2000 currency note from circulation

The Reserve Bank of India on Friday announced withdrawal of Rs 2,000 currency notes from circulation, and existing notes in circulation can either be deposited in bank accounts or exchanged by September 30.

Shammi Silva set to return for another term as SLC President

The incumbent Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) office-bearers are set to be re-appointed for another term when SLC conducts its Annual General Meeting tomorrow.

China overtakes Japan to become world’s biggest exporter of cars

China said that it has become the world’s biggest exporter of cars after overtaking Japan in the first three months of the year.

SL relies heavily on tourism to support its economy: Palitha Kohona

Sri Lanka also heavily relies on tourism to support its economy, said Dr. Palitha Kohona, the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to China.

Petition against exporting monkeys to China to be heard on May 26

The writ petition filed by animal rights organisations and animal rights activists challenging the proposed capture and exportation of 100,000 Toque Macaque monkeys to China was fixed for May 26 by the Court of Appeal.

Do not send children anywhere if they have cold-like symptoms

The influenza virus is spreading rapidly among children, and Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH) consultant pediatrician Dr. Deepal Perera advised parents not to send their children to schools, private classes, or child care centres if they suffer from high fever, cough, cold, or breathing problems.

Two units of Uma Oya Hydro Power Plant to be completed by September: Kanchana

Unit 1 and 2 of the Uma Oya Hydro Power Plant will be available for power generation to the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) from August 2023 and September 2023 respectively, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara said.

Monk remanded for abusing mistress’ daughter

A 62-year-old Buddhist monk who allegedly abused an eleven-year-old girl, who was the daughter of his mistress, had been remanded till May 30 by the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court.

Dengue caseload crosses 35,000 mark

The total number of dengue cases reported for 2023 has surpassed the 35,000 mark, according to the Epidemiology Unit.

Special programme to grant rupee appreciation benefit directly to people: Siyambalapitiya

The government is implementing a special programme to grant the benefit of the appreciation of the rupee against the dollar to the people, Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said.

Johnston Fernando and two others released from a corruption case

Former Minister Johnston Fernando and two others were today ordered to be released from a corruption case by the Colombo High Court.

Victory day promotions for over 400 Army officers and 3,348 other ranks

A total of 402 officers of the Sri Lanka Army (Regular and Volunteer Force) and 3,348 Other Ranks have been promoted to their respective next ranks by President Ranil Wickremesinghe coincident with the 14th National War Heroes’ Day also known as ‘Victory Day’.

People’s Bank, several State institutions get new heads

The Committee on High Posts has approved the appointments of two ministry secretaries and six chairpersons of state institutions, the Communications Department of Parliament said.

Magnitude 7.7 quake triggers tsunami warning in South Pacific

People across the South Pacific were told to avoid coastal areas due to the risk of tsunami waves following a 7.7 magnitude earthquake on Friday southeast of the Loyalty Islands in the French territory of New Caledonia.

If on-the-spot emission tests do not stop, we will refrain from operating private buses: LPBOA

If the Transport Ministry failed to stop the Random Emission Tests on the private commuter buses by flying squads, we would bring the country to a standstill without any prior notice one day,” Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association Chairman Gemunu Wijeratne told media yesterday.

Sri Lankan gets 22-year jail term for sexually abusing teenage girl in Tamil Nadu

A Sri Lankan Tamil, who was living alone in a house at the Sri Lankan Tamils Rehabilitation Camp at Mandapam, Tamil Nadu was on Thursday sentenced by the Mahila Court in Ramanathapuram to undergo 22 years of imprisonment after he was found guilty of sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl.

Distribution of textbooks almost completed: Minister

Over 95 percent of the text books have been distributed to schools around the country and the total distribution will be completed in another two weeks, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said.

Dinesh Schaffter’s body to be exhumed?

The five-member expert committee, comprising of specialist doctors, appointed to prepare a report on the death of businessman, Dinesh Schaffter, yesterday requested in writing to the Colombo Magistrate’s Court that the body of deceased Mr. Schaffter needs to be exhumed to find the cause of his death.

Canada locks horns with Sri Lanka after Trudeau’s statement

Hot on the heels of the 14th anniversary of the war victory,Sri Lanka is heading for a diplomatic battle with Canada once again after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a statement yesterday in recognition of what is called ‘Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day, the day when the war ended in Sri Lanka 14 years ago .

Wasantha Mudalige, seven others arrested

The convener of the Inter-University Student Federation Wasantha Mudalige and seven others were arrested last night during a protest held in front of the Kelaniya University.

Burhani Serendib School to host ’’Reshaping the Future with Artificial Intelligence’’

At a time when the world is adapting to Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Burhani Serendib School has organized an informative event, ’’Reshaping the Future with Artificial Intelligence’’ which will be held on May 20 from 3.30 p.m.

Rupee appreciates as CB takes breather from dollar purchases

Sri Lanka’s rupee further appreciated against the US dollar (US$) yesterday dropping below Rs.300 for the first time since April last year as the Central Bank (CB) took a breather from its dollar purchases to allow consumption to rebound.