Lithuanian Trucking Co. to recruit 600 drivers at 1mn LKR monthly salary

A leading transport service in Lithuania plans to recruit 600 truck drivers for its trans-Europe services and sought Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena’s intervention for a speedy training process for selected drivers.

Police on Valentine’s duty; Parents urged to be vigilant of minors’ whereabouts

The Police are on high alert for illegal activity such as organizing parties through Facebook targeting minors and youth on Valentine’s Day, Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said.

Sepal Amarasekara further remanded till February 21

Popular Sri Lankan YouTuber Sepal Amarasinghe was today ordered to be further remanded till February 21 by Colombo Chief Magistrate Prasanna Alwis.

Chamari Athapaththu among most-prolific overseas stars went unsold in WPL

On a day when INR 59.50 crores were spent on 89 players in the inaugural Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction and 10 Indian women get crore-plus deals, Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu was among several big names that went unsold in Mumbai on Monday.

Suspect who stole magistrate’s car arrested

The suspect who stole the luxury car belonging to the Kuliyapitiya Additional District Judge Amila Sampath Ariyasena was arrested at Oliamulla in Wattala, police said.

China, U.S. to participate in first meeting of new debt roundtable on Feb. 17

Officials from China, India, Saudi Arabia and Group of Seven nations will participate in a first virtual meeting of a new sovereign debt roundtable on Friday, the International Monetary Fund said on Monday, confirming an earlier Reuters report.

Saudi Arabia to send its first woman into space

A Saudi Arabian woman will reach space for the first time a few months from now, if all goes according to plan.

Two soldiers arrested over death of woman during raid in Borella

Two soldiers were arrested by the Borella Police after a woman was shot dead when a weapon of a soldier misfired during a raid at Dematagoda last night.

South Asia’s first ever aircraft dismantling yard in Mattala

South Asia’s first-ever aircraft dismantling yard is to be established at the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) soon, officials said.

Suspect who steals magistrate’s car demands Rs. 500,000 to return it

The suspect who stole the luxury car belonging to the Kuliyapitiya Additional District Judge which is valued at Rs.6 million has telephoned the magistrate and demanded a ransom of Rs. 500,000 to hand over the car and documents in the car.

’Chocolate mixed with cannabis for Valentines Day’ - Ayurveda Dept. to take legal action

The Ayurveda Department said today that legal action would be taken against the company that manufactured and released chocolates mixed with cannabis, Dr. P. Tharanga of the Ayurveda Department said.

Have no doubt about Prabhakaran’s death; SL Army responds

While refuting the claim by Tamil nationalist leader Pazha Nedumaran who said that LTTE Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran was alive, the Sri Lanka Army said that there is no need to have any doubt regarding Prabhakaran’s death.

Deep Jungle Festival held in Elephant Corridor - Tourism Ministry says no approval granted

The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) and the Tourism Ministry, today denied providing approval for the staging of the Deep Jungle festival on the outskirts of Habarana from Feb.17 to Feb.20 which was advertised as a ’major tourism festival’ by its organizers.

Man rapes teenage girl: Complainant elopes with suspect while case pending in court

A 14-year-old girl who had been raped by a 55-year-old man is alleged to have eloped with the suspect while the case against him was pending.

Nepalese business tycoon visits SL to discuss investment opportunities

Nepali billionaire Binod Chaudhury paid an official visit to Sri Lanka and held discussions on potential investment opportunities with a key focus on distribution, retail, leisure, financial services and manufacturing.

Govt. to provide 10kg rice each FOC in March, April: Siyambalapitiya

Approximately 3.9 million families in the country live expecting help from the government, and therefore, the government has decided to provide them with 10kg of rice each free of charge in the months of March and April, Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said.

Mathews called up for first England Lions unofficial ODI

Former national cricket captain Angelo Mathews has been called up to the Sri Lanka ’A’ squad that will face the England Lions in the first unofficial ODI on Wednesday.

Manusha assures to digitize foreign employment sector

Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara assured digitizing the foreign employment sector to avoid procedural delays in hiring local workers for jobs in Oman.

LTTE leader Velupillai Prabakaran is alive, claims Pazha Nedumaran

Tamil nationalist leader Pazha Nedumaran on Monday claimed that LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) chief Velupillai Prabhakaran was alive and that he was announcing this with the LTTE chief’s consent.

CID on standby to send team to Indonesia to probe billionaire Onesh Subasinghe’s murder

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) will send a team to Indonesia to probe and assist in the investigation into the death of billionaire businessman Onesh Subasinghe who was found dead in a serviced apartment in Jakarta recently if required.

Woman pulled alive from rubble in Turkey after a week; death toll passes 33,000

Rescuers pulled a woman alive from the rubble of a collapsed building in Turkey on Monday, broadcaster CNN Turk reported, a week after a major earthquake struck Turkey and Syria killing more than 33,000 people.

Moneragala tremors could be a worrying factor if it repeats

Recent tremors in Moneragala could be a worrying factor if it repeats and if the magnitude is increased, a leading Geologist in the country said today.

Hong Kong Company invests US$ 3.5 mn in bra cup manufacturing in SL

A Hong Kong-based company, Grand Gain Industrial Ltd. (GG), specialized in the development, manufacturing and sale of polyurethane foam cups for the bra industry, has invested US$ 3.5 million in the recently declared open BOI-approved fully-fledged bra cups manufacturing facility in Rambukkana.

Railway strike called off

Trade Union action launched by the Sri Lanka Railways Engine Drivers’ Union this morning has been called off after discussions with relevant authorities.

EC urges not to sabotage LG polls

The Election Commission (EC) is in a struggle to carry out its essential and urgent election duties as the Treasury has given only Rs. 100 million to the EC in spite of demanding Rs. 770 million for its day today tasks, Chairman of the Commission, Nimal Punchihewa charged yesterday.

Indo - Lanka fisheries crisis License system for fishing in SL waters, Minister refuses bottom trawling

In response to a proposal for the introduction of a license system for fishing in Sri Lankan waters to resolve the India - Sri Lanka fisheries crisis, Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda said he refused to allow the use of trawling nets no matter what .

Harshitha half-century leads Sri Lanka to second victory at T20 World Cup

Harshitha Samarawickrama made a composed half-century to guide Sri Lanka to a seven-wicket win over Bangladesh at Newlands in Cape Town on Sunday for their second successive victory at the Women’s T20 World Cup.

January foreign reserves end up above US$ 2bn, first time in about a year

Sri Lanka’s external reserves surpassed two billion dollars in January, reflecting gradual improvement in the foreign exchange conditions....

Tourism off to encouraging start as January income tops US$ 160mn

Earnings from tourism trade continued its months-long ascent in tandem with the encouraging arrival numbers, which topped over 100,000 in January, a feat which became possible after almost a year.

Ceylon Chamber requests China’s financing assurances to unlock IMF funding

While acknowledging and appreciating the financing assurances provided by Sri Lanka’s creditors thus far towards achieving International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board approval for the envisaged bailout package, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said it was looking forward to similar assurances from China.