Bonuses, allowances and benefits of employees of loss-making CPC and CEB scrapped

The loss-making state-owned entities in the power and energy sector will not receive incentives and will see limitations in their pay upgrades going forward.

Police say they have not fired expired tear gas on protesters

Expired tear gas canisters are not being used by Sri Lanka Police to disperse the protesters because police cannot expect better results from outdated tear gas canisters, police said.

CID team to leave for Madagascar to repatriate underworld criminals ’’Harak Kata’’ and ’’Kudu Salidu’’

A team from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is scheduled to travel to Madagascar to bring two notorious underworld criminals Nadun Chinthaka Wickramaratne alias ’’Harak Kata’’ and Salindu Malshitha Gunaratne alias ’’Kudu Salidu’’ who were arrested by the security authorities in Madagascar recently.

LPL season 4 likely to be played in July-August

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) are targeting the months of July and August to conduct the fourth season of the Lanka Premier League (LPL), with the intent of that period becoming the permanent window for the tournament moving forward.

Stepmom assaults girl while her father is abroad: Woman remanded

A 39-year-old woman was arrested by the Ragama Police over the brutal assault of a 17-year-old girl in Ragama, Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said.

Military groups with sticks to control protesters could be Avant-Garde para-military: AKD

The military groups that came carrying weapons and sticks (Kurundu Polu) to control protesters could be para-military maintained by the Avant-Garde, National People’s Power (NPP) MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today.

Namal appointed Chairman of Oversight Committee on International Relations

SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa has been appointed Chairman of the Oversight Committee on International Relations, Parliament media unit said.

PUCSL Chairman files FR challenging recent electricity tariff hike

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) Chairman Janaka Ratnayake today filed a Fundamental Rights (FR) application challenging the electricity tariff hike.

Lawyer disbarred by Supreme Court for professional misconduct

The Supreme Court today ordered to remove a lawyer from the position of the Attorney-at-Law after he was found guilty of professional misconduct.

Changing fuel QR quota day to Tuesdays saves Rs. 30 mn monthly: Minister

The decision taken to change the weekly top-up day for the National Fuel Pass QR Quota to Tuesday midnight would save at least Rs.30 million monthly.

Gazette issued by District Returning officers to conduct LG polls on April 25

The District Returning officers of respective districts have issued gazette notifications to hold the Local Government election on April 25, 2023 as per the Local Authorities Elections Ordinance, the Elections Commission announced today.

Shortage of medicines to end in two weeks: Keheliya

The shortage of medicines in Sri Lanka will end in two weeks, Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella informed Parliament today.

Three years rigorous imprisonment for stealing commode

A suspect who stood charged with stealing a toilet commode and retaining the stolen goods was sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs. 3,000 by Galle Chief Magistrate Isuru Nettikumara.

Sri Lankan Rupee depreciates against USD

The Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) has depreciated against the US Dollar (USD) today compared to yesterday’s buying and selling rates of the Central Bank.

Sri Lanka in control of first Test, New Zealand on 162 for 5

Sri Lanka were rewarded for a day of disciplined bowling, chipping away at the New Zealand batting and leaving the hosts 193 runs in the red with five first innings wickets in hand at the Hagley Oval today.

Govt. requests not to act on SC interim order on LG polls

State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe requested Deputy Speaker to advise relevant authorities not to proceed and take any action on the interim order given by the Supreme Court with regard to the Local Government election until the Parliamentary Committee on Ethics and Privileges concludes its hearing on the privilege issue raised by MP Premanath C Dollewatte.

Indian quake expected in March will not have huge threat to SL

The Daily Mirror had an interview with Athula Senaratne, Senior Professor of the Geological Department, University of Peradeniya on the effects Sri Lanka could experience in the event the predicted earthquake-expected to read 8 magnitudes in the Richter Scale- in North India’s Himalayan region does happen.

People will attack protesters soon: Diana

State Minister Diana Gamage was engaged in a showdown with SJB MP Thushara Indunil Amarasena in Parliament yesterday where the former said SJB MPs will not remain in the House for long.

Rupee appreciation affects Colombo Tea Auction negatively

The Colombo Tea Auction yesterday saw a mini storm brewing as substantial quantities went unsold amid the sharp appreciation of the rupee against the US dollar.

Lots at Colombo rubber auction go entirely unsold

For the first time in history, the lots at the Colombo rubber auction went entirely unsold this week.

US$/LKR exchange rate likely to remain at 300-325 range in the near-term: StanChart

The US dollar-rupee exchange is likely to remain at Rs.300-325 range in the very near term, while up to US$ 1 billion inflows are expected into the country’s foreign exchange reverses over the next six-month period following the approval of the US$ 2.9 billion bailout package by the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), according to Standard Chartered Bank (StanChart).

March first week tourist arrivals cross 30,000 mark

Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka crossed the 30,000 mark during the first eight days of March, bringing the cumulative arrivals for the year to-date to 241,270.

Japan extends US$ 6.6mn to Sri Lanka for critical food and nutrition assistance

The Government of Japan has extended an additional US$ 6.6 million to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to provide critical food and nutrition assistance to over one million Sri Lankans.

CSE becomes second best performing stock market in the world

Due to combined effects of recent steep appreciation of the rupee and upturn in market performances, the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) has become the second-best performing stock exchange in the world just behind Laos, according to Bloomberg.

Inflation could come down faster than earlier forecast, says Central Bank Governor

Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe says inflation is likely to come down faster than earlier forecast, even by the Central Bank, and Sri Lanka could achieve the 4-6 percent preferred inflation band by early part of the fourth quarter of this year.

59% families in SL unable to meet food requirement: Report

Fifty-nine (59) percent of families of the total population in Sri Lanka have not been able to meet the required level of food due to the declining food production and inflation in 2022, it was revealed at an international seminar, held in Dubai recently.

Xi Jinping begins historic third term as China’s president

China’s leader Xi Jinping has secured a historic third term as president from the country’s rubber-stamp parliament.

Cloudy skies over the southern half of the country: Met. Dept.

Cloudy skies are expected over the southern half of the country, the Meteorology Department said a while ago.

Suspect arrested with 700 counterfeit notes of Rs. 5,000

The Special Task Force of Police (STF) has arrested an individual from Trincomalee for printing Rs. 5,000 counterfeit notes during a raid at Devipuram in Pudukuduirippu.

Sri Lanka out for 355 after stubborn tail foils New Zealand

Sri Lanka were all out for 355 in the first innings against New Zealand on Friday after their last four wickets added 50 runs on the second morning of the first Test.