Permission granted to kill some animals including monkeys, peacocks, grizzled giant squirrels: Amaraweera

Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said permission had been granted to kill monkeys, peacocks, grizzled giant squirrels, porcupines, wild boars and toque macaques as they destroyed crops.

No music after 10 pm - Court tells Deep Jungle Music Festival organizers

The Hingurakgoda Magistrate’s Court issued an order that bars the organizers of the controversial Deep Jungle Music Festival from playing loud music after 10 pm.

Three teens drown in sea off Matara

Three students who were bathing in the sea off Wellamadama in Matara this afternoon, had gone missing, police said.

Writ petition against holding LG elections for Matara Municipal Council dismissed by SC

The writ petition filed by an Independent Group seeking an order preventing the Election Commission from holding the local government elections in respect of Matara Municipal Council was today dismissed by the Supreme Court.

Magistrate orders five-member panel of Doctors to conduct autopsy on Dinesh Schaffter’s death

A Colombo Magistrate today ordered police to provide court a list of names of doctors to select a five-member panel of doctors to be appointed to conduct the post-mortem inquiry of leading businessman Dinesh Schaffter.

Lankan’s heart melts for Turkish quake victims, shelters one family with baby and five adults

The heart of a Sri Lankan lady living in Ankara, Turkey has melted for the victims of the deadly earthquake which killed as many as 35,000 people (the number expected to rise further).

If excessive smoke emitting vehicles spotted, inform us: DMT

The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) has requested the public to inform them of any vehicles which are emitting excessive smoke.

Postal voting for LG polls postponed indefinitely

The postal voting for the 2023 local government election was postponed until further notice, Election Commissioner General Saman Sri Rathnayake announced today.

Writ petition against electricity tariff revision dismissed by Court of Appeal

A public interest litigation filed seeking an order quashing Cabinet Decision approving the electricity tariff revision was today dismissed by the Court of Appeal.

Lalith Weeratunge and Cabraal granted bail

Former Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal were today ordered to be released on bail by Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court in connection with the private plaint filed by Ven. Thiniyawala Palitha Thera for allegedly paying a sum of US$ 6.5 million through the Central Bank to an American businessman named Imaad Shah Zuberi in 2014

IMF Extended Fund Facility expected in March: Prez

President Ranil Wickremesinghe said the IMF Extended Fund Facility is expected in March, President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

Protest near President’s House: Hirunika granted bail

National Organiser of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya Women’s Wing former MP Hirunika Premachandra and nine others were today granted bail by Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court for allegedly committing offences during a protest held in July last year.

Male cop arrested for taking video of WPC while taking shower

A constable attached to a police station in the Mount Lavinia Division had been arrested for recording a video of a Woman Police Constable (WPC) while she was taking a shower.

Israel agrees to recruit 2,000 female caregivers from SL this year

The Israeli government assured to offer 2,000 job opportunities for female caregivers from Sri Lanka, this year, the Labour and Foreign Employment Ministry said.

Fair weather over the island today: Met. Dept.

The Meteorology Department announced today that mainly fair weather would prevail over most parts of the country.

Dubai Jude’s accomplice arrested with heroin worth Rs. 50mn

An accomplice of organized crime gang leader ’Dubai Jude’ was arrested by the Police Special Task Force along with heroin worth Rs.50 million.

Latest electricity tariff hike sends shock waves through Sri Lanka

The move by Sri Lanka’s electricity regulator to approve another tariff hike sent shockwaves across the island nation yesterday, not sparing even the country’s largest gross export earner, the apparel sector.

Cricketer attacked for denying selfie

The car of a friend of cricketer Prithvi Shaw was attacked by a group of people after the batter denied them a selfie at a five-star hotel in Mumbai.

Communication service, charges to go up: Communication Owners’ Assn.

Due to a recent increase in the electricity tariff, the All Island Communication Owners’ Association (AICOA) has decided to increase photocopy and printout charges by Rs. 5.

Tourist arrivals cross 50k mark in first two weeks of February

Tourist arrivals to destination Sri Lanka have crossed the 50,000 mark for the first two weeks of February, reigniting hopes for a faster recovery in the tourism sector, which is a key source of foreign exchange to the dollar-starved economy.

I am not here to discuss a camp in Trincomalee - Top US defence officer

Visiting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the US Department of Defence Jedidiah P. Royal who called on State Minister of Defence Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon ruled out speculation that he was here to discuss a US military base in Trincomalee.

Man shot dead in Minuwangoda

A 30-year-old man died when he was shot at in Boragodawatta, Minuwangoda last night while riding on a motorcycle.

Samantha Power among those who might replace Malpass as World Bank chief

Samantha Power is among the names being floated by U.S. officials, climate change experts, and global development peers as possible candidate to replace David Malpass as the head of the World Bank, according to a Reuters news report.

Onesh’s Brazilian wife had threatened him on several occasions in SL

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) who are investigating the death of billionaire businessman Onesh Subasinghe who was found dead in a serviced apartment in Jakarta recently revealed that the businessman had been threatened with death on several occasions in Sri Lanka allegedly by his Brazilian wife.

Sri Lanka routed by Aussies, semi-final hopes still alive

Australian opening batters Beth Mooney and Alyssa Healy took the defending champions to a dominant 10-wicket Women’s T20 World Cup win against Sri Lanka at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Thursday.

High level US Defence delegation discuss regional security stability with SL officials

State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon and Defence Secretary Kamal Gunaratne today held discussion with the delegation led by U.S. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs (PDASD) Jedidiah P Royal over the matters of defence cooperation enhancement and regional security stability.

Convene Parliament immediately: Nidahas Janatha Sandhanaya informs PM

Around 35 MPs who have formed the ’Nidahas Janatha Sandhanaya’ (Freedom People’s Alliance) in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardene has informed him to make arrangements to convene Parliament immediately in order to discuss the crisis pertaining to local government elections

TISL takes Health Minister & others to court over purchase of medical supplies from India

Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) today filed a fundamental rights petition (SC/FR 65/2023) in the Supreme Court naming 47 Respondents, in relation to the steps taken by the Cabinet of Ministers, the Minister of Health, the Ministry of Health, and the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) to procure medical supplies from two Indian private companies.

Uninterrupted power supply at higher cost

After increasing the electricity tariff by 66%, the state banks gave their approval to get the essential loans and credit facilities to purchase the required fuel, furnace oil, coal, and naptha from the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said.

Bar welcome Justice Nissanka Banduala Karunarathne as President of Court of Appeal

Newly appointed Court of Appeal President, Justice Nissanka Banduala Karunarathne today said that his fervent expectation is to uphold the sanctity of the rule of law and to fearlessly defend the fundamental principle of “Equality before Law” without resorting to any form of discrimination when dispensing justice.