Probe launched into men threatening app-based taxi driver

An investigation has been launched by the Police after a three-wheel driver of an app-based taxi service had been threatened by a group of thugs in a locality in Galle for transporting tourists.

Military called in to Colombo Fort

The Military has been called in to Colombo Fort after a tense situation erupted due to the protest march organised by the trade unions against the government’s tax policy.

Strike won’t put patients at risk: GMOA

The 24-hour token strike has been successfully launched across hospitals island-wide, Secretary of the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) Dr. Haritha Aluthge said.

President vows to appoint Presidential Commission to look into Political Parties

President Ranil Wickremesinghe said he would appoint a Presidential Commission to look into the Political Parties of Sri Lanka and submit a report regarding the methodology which they should implement.

Remittance outflow from Qatar contributes $600mn to Sri Lankan economy

The Sri Lankan expatriate community in Qatar, which is around 120,000, generates about $600mn in remittances to the South Asian nation’s economy, the country’s top diplomat in Qatar has said.

Tense situation near Parliament between Police and Buddhist monks

A tense situation was reported at the Polduwa Junction near Parliament a short while ago between the Police and a group of Buddhist monks.

Ready to take unpopular decisions to recover economic crisis: President

While saying he was not taking decisions seeking popularity, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said today he was ready to take unpopular decisions to recover the country from the economic crisis.

President arrives in Parliament

President Ranil Wickremesinghe arrived in Parliament a short while ago to inaugurate the 4th session of the 9th Parliament.

Turkey-Syria quake death toll passes 7,800

The death toll of a devastating earthquake in southern Turkey and Syria jumped to more than 7,800 people on Tuesday as rescuers worked against time in harsh winter conditions to dig survivors out of the rubble of collapsed buildings.

Sri Lankan graduates scamming Westerners via dating apps

In another human trafficking scheme, nearly 100 young Sri Lankan graduates, mostly men have been lured to work in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Laos, known as the home of Southeast Asia’s transnational organised crime networks.

Young teen hacks elder brother to death in Kalutara

A 14-year old teenaged boy was arrested after he allegedly hacked his elder brother to death in Palathota in Kalutara.

First vessel under port business promotion programme calls at ECT

MSC America, the first container vessel under the business promotions programme to attract new lines to the Port of Colombo (POC), called at the East Container Terminal (ECT) of the Port of Colombo yesterday.

ALFEASL says don’t fall prey to fake job scams and lose money

Referring to the recent incident of hundreds of people rushing to Colombo for a bogus foreign employment opportunity in Turkey, the Association of Licensed Foreign Employment Agencies Sri Lanka (ALFEASL) warned the public not to fall prey to such scams in the future.

Visa upbeat on Sri Lanka’s prospects for 2023 and beyond

Visa, one of the world’s biggest leaders in digital payments, sounded upbeat about Sri Lanka as it expects “great momentum” ....

SL to rebase inflation indices from January

The Cabinet has cleared the path for the Department of Census and Statistics (DSC) to update the Colombo Consumer Price Index.....

Hirunika and her mother urge SC to set aside Presidential Pardon granted to Duminda Silva

Former Parliamentarian Hirunika Premachandra and her mother Sumana Premachandra through their lawyers yesterday urged Supreme Court to set aside the Presidential Pardon granted to former Parliamentarian Duminda Silva for not following the provisions stipulated in the proviso to Article 34 (1) of the Constitution.

RW speaks to Turkish President; offers assistance

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has spoken to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a short while ago and extended his support for the people of Türkiye and offered assistance to the country.

Earthquake in Syria: No Lankans affected: Embassy confirms

The Foreign Ministry has confirmed that there are no reports of Sri Lankans affected by the earthquake in Syria.

Commissioner General files affidavit and urges SC to facilitate holding LG polls

In an affidavit to the Supreme Court, Commissioner General of Election Saman Sri Ratnayake stated that the Election Commission has faced great difficulty in taking necessary steps to hold the Local Government Election due to the failure of the Secretary to the Treasury and other relevant officials to release required funds for the conduct of the election.

SJB allies decide to participate despite decision of higher-ups

Some allies of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) have decided to participate in the opening sessions of Parliament despite the decision of SJB higher-ups to boycott the sessions tomorrow.

Paris Club members express commitment to negotiate debt restructuring with Sri Lanka

The Paris Club members have expressed their commitment to negotiate a debt restructuring with Sri Lanka in accordance with the comparability of treatment principle and with the goal of restoring debt sustainability, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said today.

Father and daughter drown after falling into Kumbukkan Oya while taking selfie

A man and his 12-year-old daughter drowned after they fell into the Kumbukkan Oya in Pulasthipura while taking a selfie today.

School uniforms will be distributed by March 15: Minister

Education Minister, Susil Premajayantha, said that necessary steps are being taken to achieve the goal of distributing uniforms to the students by March 15.

Only graduates from National University of Education will be recruited as teachers from 2028: Minister

After 2028, no one will be given teacher appointments except for Bachelor of Education graduates from the National University of Education, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said.

Will not permit removal of scrap metal from MV X-Press Pearl ship without tax payments: Siyambalapitiya

Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, State Minister of Finance, stated today that the ministry will not permit the removal of scrap metal from the ’’MV X-Press Pearl ship’’ without payment of applicable taxes.

Only Rs. 11 mn spent on Independence Day celebration: President’s Office

Disclosing the expenses of the Independence Day celebration, the President’s Office said the government spent only Rs. 11 million on the 75th National Independence Day celebrations this year.

Will resort to TU action if allowances curtailed: Govt Printer’s TU

Podujana Mudrana Sevaka Sangamaya (PMSS) of the Government Printing Department today said that they would resort to trade union action if their allowances and facilities were curtailed.

President accepts EC member Charles’ resignation

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has accepted the letter of resignation tendered by Member of the Election Commission P.S.M. Charles, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

SL to get 6,500 job opportunities from South Korea this year: Minister

Sri Lanka has received a quota of 6,500 job opportunities in South Korea this year, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) said.

Earthquake rescue work moves slowly as death toll nears 5,000

Overwhelmed rescuers struggled to save people trapped under the rubble as the death toll from a devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria approached 5,000 on Tuesday, with despair mounting and the scale of the disaster hampering relief efforts.