Two women survive for days in earthquake rubble as death toll tops 24,150 in Turkey

Rescuers in Turkey pulled two women alive from the rubble of collapsed buildings after they were being trapped for 122 hours following the region’s deadliest quake in two decades, authorities said on Saturday.

Sri Lanka donates “Ceylon Tea” to earthquake victims in Turkiye

Sri Lanka has donated a consignment of “Ceylon Tea” to the victims of the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye, Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Another minor tremor reported from Wellawaya

A minor earth tremor of Magnitude 2.3 on the Richter scale was reported from Wellawaya around 3 am today, the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau said.

Financing assurances obtained by SL thus far inadequate to proceed with EFF: IMF

With the dawn of the new year, Sri Lanka made significant progress in obtaining financing assurances from its creditors to help unlock the International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout package; however, according to the multilateral funding agency, what the island nation has managed to bag so far is not enough.

ICCC 2023 brings over 100 climate change experts to SL

Over 100 climate change experts from across the world are in Sri Lanka this week to deliberate to explore how policies in this regard can be integrated within a sustainable development strategy.

Sri Lanka Women stun South Africa Women in T20 World Cup opener

Sri Lanka Women beat South Africa Women by three runs in the opening game of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Cape Town, on the back of a half-century from Chamari Athapaththu and a three-wicket haul for Inoka Ranaweera.

Islamic finance reaches 25-year milestone in SL

As Islamic finance has been in Sri Lanka for 25 years, the stakeholders of the industry launched this week a publication to commemorate the milestone reached by the non-conventional baking system in the country.

Government says only 2.6% of Sri Lanka’s total workforce subject to PAYE tax

The government insisted that only 2.6 percent of Sri Lanka’s total workforce of 4.64 million are subjected to the pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) income tax, with nearly half of the labour force receiving a less than Rs.30,000 monthly salary.

Wasantha Mudalige files complaint at HRC

Convenor of the Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF) Wasantha Mudalige filed a complaint at the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka against a minister and top security officials for violating activists rights.

Large Chinese delegation to visit SL

A large Chinese delegation comprising officials from Chinese government, Provincial governments and companies will visit Sri Lanka next month, Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong said.

28 passengers hospitalized after bus falls down precipice, 4 critical

At least 28 passengers were hospitalized when a bus fell into a precipice in Mahawanguwa area in Ratnapura on the Ratnapura-Siripagama Road this afternoon.

Local car dealers recall certain vehicles over airbags following Scientist’s death

Local car dealers have announced the recalling of certain vehicles with faulty airbags following the death of a leading Sri Lankan scientist last week.

Contempt of Court application by HRCSL against CEB Chairman dismissed by SC

A contempt of court application filed by the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) against Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board, the Secretary to the Ministry of Power and Energy and the Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation for their failure to comply with the settlement to provide uninterrupted electricity for A/L students during the exam period was today dismissed by Supreme Court.

Ruling party members nominated for COPF

Ruling party members of the new Committee on Public Finance have been appointed as per the announcement made by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene in Parliament.

ITAK’s petition against rejecting nominations for Maritimepattu Pradeshiya Sabha dismissed by SC

The writ petition filed by Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) seeking an order quashing the decision to reject its nomination papers submitted for the Maritimepattu Pradeshiya Sabha was today dismissed by Supreme Court.

13A or 13+ not a solution to ethnic problem: AKD

The 13th Amendment to the Constitution or 13+ would not be a solution to the ethnic problem, National People’s Power MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today.

Minor tremor reported at several places in Moneragala

A minor earth tremor of Magnitude 3 on the Richter scale has been reported from Buttala, Wellawaya and Handapanagala areas in the Moneragala District, the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) said.

SJB MP Fowzie attends debate on policy statement despite party decision to boycott

Newly sworn in SJB MP A. H. M. Fowzie, who participated in the debate on the policy statement of President Ranil Wickremesinghe despite his party’s decision to boycott the debate, said he will exercise his responsibility towards the nation.

Writ petition against holding LG Election postponed for Feb.23

A Writ petition filed by a retired Army Colonel seeking an order quashing the decision of the Election Commission to hold the Local Government elections was today postponed for February 23 by the Supreme Court.

SL planning to send military contingent with doctors, engineers to Turkey

The government is planning to send a military contingent consisting of doctors and engineers trained in UN humanitarian operations for humanitarian operations in Turkey which has been affected by the recent earthquake, the Prime Minister’s office said.

Lease paid for three SriLankan Aircraft which remain grounded due to engine failure

The SriLankan Airlines have to pay the lease for three Aircraft used by them, which have been grounded for some time due to an engine failure, Minister of Ports and Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva told Parliament today.

No necessity to issue order on EC to hold LG polls as EC given undertaking to hold elections: SC

The Supreme Court today observed that there is no necessity of issuing a writ of mandamus to hold the Local Government Election as the Election Commission has already given an undertaking to hold the Election in terms of the Laws.

’’We warned Gota cannot perform, it was Viyathmaga who brought him’’: Lanza

Despite our stance that former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa wouldn’t perform, the Viyathmaga group and people brought him to office, Government MP Nimal Lanza said today.

Heart to Heart International donates USD 6.9 mn cancer drugs to SL

The Heart to Heart International has obtained all necessary government approvals for the fourth in-kind donation of urgent medical aid, worth an approximate of Rs. 2.6 billion (USD 6.9 million), to the people of Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Embassy in the United States said.

SL still has US$ 3.2bn in external debt to settle this year despite standstill

Sri Lanka appears to be still having roughly US$ 3.2 billion worth foreign currency obligations to be settled this year even after announcing a debt standstill on selective debt last year until creditors agree to restructure them.

Station Masters threaten to launch trade union action

The Sri Lanka Railway Station Masters’ Union (SLRSMU) threatened yesterday to launch an immediate trade union action if the transport ministry fails to appoint a suitable person for the post of Railways Deputy General Manager (Commercial).

Japanese giant Mitsubishi Corp. to wind up Lankan operations next month

Japanese giant Mitsubishi Corporation has decided to wind up operations in Sri Lanka next month after being an integral part of bilateral ties and some of the country’s key infrastructure projects for nearly 60 years.

IMF Insists on creditor assurances to unlock $2.9 billion Sri Lanka bailout

The International Monetary Fund said its approval for a $2.9 billion loan to bail out crisis-riddled Sri Lanka will depend on the island nation securing assurances of debt relief from its bilateral creditors.

Japan asks Sri Lanka to make efforts to regain trust of Japanese companies

Japan stressed the need for Sri Lanka to make efforts to regain the trust of Japanese companies and to resolve the issues and concerns of Japanese companies in Sri Lanka for revitalization of their economic activities in Sri Lanka, according to the Japanese embassy in Colombo.

Sri Lanka hosts high-level event on Climate Action focusing on Green Economy

The Ministry of Environment and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) organised a high-level event on Strategies and Actions to Accelerate Sri Lanka’s Transition to a Green Growth Pathway on February 6.