Diana Gamage’s citizenship case reserved for judgment

A writ petition filed seeking an order declaring State Minister of Tourism Diana Gamage is disqualified to be a Member of Parliament since she is a British citizen was today reserved for judgment by the Court of Appeal.

Indian ships in Colombo to take part in SLINEX -23

Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kiltan and INS Savitri arrived at the Colombo port today to take part in Sri Lanka–India Naval Exercise (SLINEX) -23.

Duty-free allowances for migrant workers to increase from May 1: Manusha

The Labour and Foreign Employment Ministry announced today that the ministry had decided to increase the duty-free allowances for goods purchased at the airport duty-free complex by migrant workers depending on the amount of money they had remitted, Minister Manusha Nanayakkara said.

Person nabbed with ivory ornaments, tiger oil vial: Wild Life Dept.

A team of officers attached to the Western Wildlife Zone arrested a suspect in possession of several ornaments made of ivory and a vial of tiger oil.

‘Nekath Seettuwa’, the auspicious times for New Year presented to President

Following customs and traditions, the ‘Nekath Seettuwa’, the table of auspicious times for this year’s Sinhala and Tamil New Year, was presented to President Ranil Wickremesinghe by Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Vidura Wickremanayaka and the Department of Cultural Affairs at the Presidential Secretariat, a statement from the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

LITRO gas price to reduce from tomorrow

The prices of 12.5kg domestic LITRO gas cylinders will be reduced by at least Rs. 1,000 from midnight tomorrow, LITRO Lanka Chairman Muditha Peiris said

Price of fresh chicken may go up: Poultry farmers

The All-Island Poultry Farmers’ Association (AIPFA) said today that the price of fresh chicken would increase during the upcoming holiday season.

Police use water cannons on IUSF protesters in Colombo

The Police used water cannons to disperse a group of students from the Inter University Student’s Federations (IUSF) who were marching towards the University Grants Commission (UGC) a short while ago.

Agriculture Minister is lying, 40% reduction in paddy harvest this season, charge Trade Unions

Anuradha Tennakoon, chairman of the National Agricultural Union charged that the Agriculture Minister is lying about this season’s paddy harvest and alleged that the President is being misled with false reports.

Committee probing Football Federation issues finalises report

The five-member Committee appointed to look into administrative and financial issues of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) is to hand over its report to the Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe tomorrow.

Will not reduce local milk product prices: Local dairy producers stand firm

Local dairy producers say they will not reduce the prices of local milk products despite the appreciation of the Sri Lankan rupee against the US dollar.

Sri Lanka mulls buying Russian oil & fertilizers

The Sri Lankan government is seeking Russian cooperation in multiple sectors, namely, tourism, air traffic, and locomotive construction, besides eyeing crude from Moscow.

Supermarkets cheating public by mixing brown with white sugar: Canteen owners

Head of the All Island Canteen Owners’ Association (AICOA) Asela Sampath charged that supermarkets are engaging in fraudulent practices to cheat customers by selling brown and white sugar mixed together.

Country’s inflation rate will drop to single digit by December: Siyambalapitiya

By December the country’s inflation rate would be brought down to a single digit from the previous level, said Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya.

Navy recovers Rs. 67.5 mn worth ICE seas off Talaimannar

The Sri Lanka Navy has recovered over 4kg of Crystal Methamphetamine, known as ICE, floating in the sea during a special search operation conducted in the Sand Dune Sea area of Talaimannar yesterday.

Sanath to lead new Cricket Technical Consultative Committee

Former national cricket captain Sanath Jayasuriya has been appointed as the Chairman of a Technical Consultative Committee for Sri Lanka Cricket by Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe.

Attempt to overpay Rs. 68 Mn to buy three medicines: Ravi Kumudesh

Some officials attached to the Health Ministry are working to approve a bid that is ten times more expensive than the price currently available in the market for three essential medicines which were advised to be purchased by the Asian Development Fund, the President of the Federation of Health Professionals, Ravi Kumudesh said.

Public transport arrangements before and after New Year

The main passenger transportation service providers in the country today claimed that all arrangements have been made to provide transport facilities without any problems for the coming festive season.

Elections Commission hopeful of holding LG polls: Punchihewa

The Elections Commission (EC) is keenly awaiting a discussion with Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardana to take a final decision on the conduct of the repeatedly postponed Local Government (LG) polls, EC Chairman, Nimal G Punchihewa said yesterday.

Powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake hits Papua New Guinea

A powerful earthquake measuring 7.0 has struck Papua New Guinea, seismologists and residents say. Only few details were immediately available but there is no threat of a tsunami.

Children admitted to a girl’s school using forged documents

It has been found out that more than 180 children had been admitted to a girl’s school in Kandy by using letters on which the signature of the Central Province Additional Education Director had been forged.

Proposed agency succeeding BOI to be modelled after GCEC

Addressing the ambiguity concerning the future of the Board of Investment (BOI), the government assured that the proposed Agency for External Trade and Investment succeeding the BOI would be established....

SEC urges auditors to ensure improved accuracy and compliance of listed entities

In a bid to have a strongly functioning stock exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) called on the auditors to step up efforts to ensure improved accuracy of financial reports and compliance....

Inflation shows some stickiness but could accelerate downtrend with fuel price reduction

Inflation showed some stickiness in the recent couple of months as the ease in prices slowed down notably reflecting the next leg of decline in prices could take longer.

Sinister move to get SJB MPs to cross over –Sajith

Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa alleged that there is a sinister move to buy over MPs from his party the Samagi Jana Balawegaya ( SJB).

Dawoodi Bohra Community host Muslim representatives for Iftar

The Dawoodi Bohra Community in Sri Lanka, on Saturday, hosted an Iftar and dinner ceremony for several Muslim representatives to commemorate Islam’s holiest month of Ramazan. The event comprised of recitations of the Quran and Islamic hymns, followed by a traditional Bohra cuisine.

Issuing liquor licences not halted but will be issued more scientifically: Siyambalapitiya

Issuing of liquor licences has not been stopped, assured State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siambalapitiya.

Prices of bakery products except bread can be reduced if egg provided at Rs. 35 each: Bakery owners

If the price of an egg is reduced to Rs. 35, the price of bakery products other than bread can also be reduced, the All Ceylon Bakery Owners’ Association (ACBOA) said.

Patali Champika to launch new political party

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Patali Champika Ranawaka, who later functioned as an independent member, is to form a new political party next month.

President launches island wide program to plant 3M jackfruit trees

The first phase of the program to plant three million jackfruit trees across the country, under the theme ‘Guwan Hamuda Herali Perali’, was launched today at the Anuradhapura Air Force Base under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.