Customs seized illict fags worth Rs.487mn

Officers attached to the Revenue Supervision Division of the Sri Lanka Customs Department today seized an illegally imported contraband of cigarettes worth Rs. 487 million.

Dinesh Schaffter’s mysterious death questioned in Parliament

Whilst questioning on the investigations carried out on the death of businessman Dinesh Schaffter, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Eran Wickramaratne today said no foreign investor would come to Sri Lanka if justice is not meted out to the late businessman’s family.

BoI to sign Mannar, Pooneryn Wind Projects with India’s Adani today

The Board of Investment (BOI) will issue a letter of approval to India’s Adani Group to construct a 250 Mega Watt and 100 Mega Watt wind projects in Mannar and Pooneryn today evening, the Daily Mirror learns.

Public in Padukka begin raising funds to hold LG Polls

A group of people in Padukka have initiated a scheme to raise funds to hold the Local Government Elections.

Sri Lanka’s debt to be discussed among G 20 finance ministers in India

Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring process is to be discussed among finance ministers and Central Bank Governors of the Group of 20 (G 20) when they meet tomorrow in Bengaluru, India, Daily Mirror learns.

SL won’t get international support if LG polls put off: Vijitha

Sri Lanka would not get any international support such as IMF bailout and GSP+ facility if the government attempts to postpone the Local Government elections, National People’s Power (NPP) MP Vijitha Herath said today.

IHP SLOTS Voting Intentions January 2023: NPP/JVP-SJB running neck-and-neck: No party dominates

The latest Sri Lanka Opinion Tracker Survey (SLOTS) polling in January 2023 shows the NPP/JVP and SJB running neck-and-neck nationally in General Election voting intentions amongst likely voters at 32% and 31% each respectively. Both are well ahead of the SLPP, UNP and SLFP, but neither clears more than one-third of voters, and the difference between them is within the margin of error.

Court orders protesters out of Colombo Fort area

The Fort Magistrate has issued an order preventing a group of protesters from engaging in protests in the Fort Police area from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today.

RW says IMF deal will be presented to Parliament

President Ranil Wickremesinghe today said that the agreement reached with the IMF would be presented to Parliament and the House could decide whether to pass or reject it.

3.3 magnitude tremor recorded in Buttala

A minor 3.3 magnitude tremor was recorded a short while ago at the Buttala- Wellawaya area, the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) said.

Failure to prevent Easter Sunday attacks: Judgment on Maithri’s appeal fixed for March 1

Colombo Civil Appellate High Court today fixed for March 1 to deliver its judgment regarding an appeal filed by former President Maithripala Sirisena who challenged the District Court’s decision to reject his request that he be discharged from several civil lawsuits filed by the victims of Easter Sunday attacks.

Network marketing is important to Sri Lankan economy: Economic analyst

Direct selling or network marketing could be used as a device to eliminate poverty in Sri Lanka, Economist Dr. Sarath Ranathanga said.

Plans afoot to bring SIS information under CIA official as in 2001: Wimal alleges

Plans were afoot to bring the decision making with regard to the intelligence information of the State Intelligence Services (SIS) under an official of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States just as in 2001, Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa said today.

New COPE, COPA members appointed

New members of Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) and Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) were announced today in Parliament.

UNP expels 1137 LG members from party

UNP working committee yesterday decided to expel some 1137 of its local government members who have decided to support other parties.

Ports, aviation, water board, electricity, education, health, banking to protest today

Thousands of professionals attached to the Ports Authority, Civil Aviation, Water Board, Electricity, Education, Health, and Banking sectors have threatened the government that they will come to the Colombo Fort today to protest against the burden put on people.

No vehicles imported after 2021; Siyambalapitiya

Rejecting the statement made by an opposition MP, State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said yesterday that no vehicles had been imported for state ministers.

Absconding criminal from Sri Lanka caught in TN

A Sri Lankan Tamil, who illegally migrated into Tamil Nadu after escaping from criminal charges in Sri Lanka, was apprehended by the police at Mandapam refugee camp in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday. Following an inquiry, Mandapam law and order police booked the man under the Passport Act on the same day.

IMF remains hopeful of Sri Lanka securing all financing assurances soon to unlock funding

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) remains hopeful of Sri Lankan authorities securing financing assurances

Mainly fair weather over the island; few showers in EP: Met Dept.

In a weather forecast for today, the Meteorology Department said mainly fair weather would prevail elsewhere over the island and a few showers would occur in Eastern Province (EP).

Prez says SL completed all 15 tasks required for bailout, now up to IMF

After months of struggle and challenges, Sri Lanka has been successful in fulfilling the 15 tasks set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and now awaits for the verdict if enough has been done to unlock the bailout, the government said.

SEC appoints veteran banker Faizal Salieh as new Chairman

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) yesterday announced the appointment of veteran banker Faizal Salieh as its Chairman.

National inflation eases to 53.2% in January; but impulses still persist

Inflation measured by the national prices eased in January from a year ago continuing the months-long streak of disinflation, but the price....

Death of Onesh Subasinghe: If you don’t let me go, I will kill you - servant overhears Onesh’s wife

The CID informed Colombo Chief Magistrate Prasanna Alwis that the maid who worked at businessman Onesh Subasinghe’s house in a statement had said she heard Subasinghe’s wife saying to him “I can’t eat Sri Lankan food. I can’t stay here. I want to go back to my country. If you don’t let me go, I will kill you.”

Kandy SC to pull out?

Kandy Sports Club, fresh from winning their eighth consecutive Rugby League title, have indicated that they are likely to pull out from the Clifford Cup knock-out tournament after their request for the Nittawela ground to be used as for their home games was turned down by Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR).

Five arrested for breaking into Indian visa application centre in Colombo

Five suspects including a female sanitary worker of the Indian visa application centre at the Philip Gunawardena Mawatha in Colombo have been arrested over the theft at the visa centre recently.

Digital voting system should be introduced for future polls: Digital Citizen Assn.

A digital voting system should be introduced in the country as soon as possible, as it would benefit the country in numerous ways, including a significant cost reduction when conducting polls, the Sri Lanka Digital Citizen Association (SLDCA) said.

SJB’s request for debate on LG election dismissed

The request made by the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) for a debate on the local government election (LG) was dismissed at today’s party leader’s meeting, Parliament sources said.

QR code would be canceled in three or four months: Kanchana

Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said that the QR code system introduced under the National Fuel Pass portal would be canceled in three to four months and the country would be able to provide fuel continuously under normal conditions.

Writ petition against Sri Ranga and office bearers of FFSL fixed for argument

The writ petition filed by former President of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) Jaswar Umar Lebbe seeking an Order in the nature of a Writ of mandamus directing the Sports Minister and Ministry Secretary and sports authorities to conduct a fresh election of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka was today fixed for argument on March 8 and March 24 by the Court of Appeal.