Air navigation fees for international flights to be revised from Feb.1

Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal today to revise air navigation fees for international flights flying over the Colombo Flight Information Region, effective from February 1.

LG Polls: Introduce e-voting to cut down costs - SJB

Samagi Jana Balwegaya (SJB) today called for the introduction of electronic voting (e-voting) system for the coming local government election in order to cut down costs.

Basil seeks divine help before launching SLPP campaign

Former Minister Basil Rajapaksa visited the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy to seek divine blessings prior to launching his party’s election campaign.

CEB collects over Rs.75mn from illegal electricity connections, frauds

The Electricity Board had collected Rs 75 million through fines through raids on fraudulent electricity connections in 2022, CEB Additional General Manager Eng. K. A. K. Kolonne said citing a report filed by CEB.

Millennium City Case against ASP Kulasiri Udugampola: Request for accused’s acquittal rejected

A request made by former police officer ASP Kulasiri Udugampola that he be acquitted and released from the Millennium City safe-house case, without calling defence evidence was today rejected by Colombo High Court.

Major Ajith Prasanna gets 4 years RI for contempt of court

Retired Major Ajith Prasanna was today sentenced to four years rigorous imprisonment by Supreme Court in connection with a contempt of court.

IMF confirms India’s assurances on Sri Lanka debt needed for bailout

India has committed to help ease the debt burden of its crisis-stricken neighbor Sri Lanka as part of a possible International Monetary Fund-supported program, the IMF said on Monday.

Egg price revisions through price formula in future: DAPH

The price revision on eggs would be made through a pricing formula, and that will be taken as a collective decision of the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) and the Department of Animal Production and Health (DAPH), DAPH Director General Dr. Hemali Kotalawala said.

Suspended imprisonment on accused turned to death penalty

The Court of Appeal today converted the sentence on a woman accomplice of the LTTE woman suicide bomber who committed suicide at the Kollupitiya Police station in 2004, from two years suspended imprisonment to death sentence.

PUCSL to expedite CEB tariff proposal subject to Electricity Act

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has taken a unanimous decision to expedite the Ceylon Electricity Board’s (CEB) tariff proposal in accordance with the Electricity Act 2009.

First CC meeting tomorrow

The newly established ‘Constitutional Council (CC)’ would meet tomorrow to decide on the re-establishment of the independent commissions and key appointments in the government and the judiciary, Secretary-General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake told Daily Mirror yesterday.

Immigration nabs 15 Thai women illegally working in Colombo spas

Department of Immigration Emigration yesterday and last week nabbed 15 female Thai nationals for illegally engaging in Colombo and suburban massage parlours violating their visa conditions in Sri Lanka.

Rain above 75mm likely today: Met. Dept.

There could be heavy showers above 75 mm in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-Western provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts during the afternoon or night, the Meteorology Department said.

Ten tanks to be ready for development in February

Asserting that the work on the Trincomalee oil tank farm is well in progress, Lanka Indian Oil Company (LIOC) said ten tanks would be ready for development after the area is cleared of woods very soon.

Sanjeeva Dhammika and Ananda Palitha arrested for threatening PUCSL members

The Kollupitiya Police has arrested Secretary of Electricity Users Association Sanjeeva Dhammika and Convener of Samagi United Trade Union Alliance Ananda Palitha on charges of threatening two members of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL).

National inflation eases for third straight month in December to 59.2%

Sri Lanka’s countrywide consumer prices, measured by the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI), eased in December for the third month in a row, reflecting that the prices are continuing on their disinflation path after they peaked in September.

Sri Lanka’s tea production hits 26-year low in 2022

Sri Lanka’s tea production, as expected, declined by 48 million kilos or 16 percent in 2022, compared with 2021, on the back of the fertiliser issue and disruptions faced in the middle part of the year.

Tourist arrivals in first three weeks of January top 70,000

The tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka in the first three weeks of January have topped 70,000, indicating the island nation’s tourism industry is firmly on the recovery path.

PUCSL members call for probe

Two members of Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka ( PUCSL) including Deputy Chairman Udeni Wickremesinghe and Member of the Commission Professor Mohan Samaranayake had requested the Ministry of Finance and the defence authorities to probe the incident of alleged storming of civil activists into the PUCSL office on St. Anthony’s Road, Kollupitiya last Sunday (22)

Stakeholder nod for collective agreement to resolve chicken and egg situation

Sri Lanka’s poultry and chicken industry stakeholders have expressed willingness to reach a collective agreement for the advancement of poultry and egg,

PUCSL unveils four-steps to uninterrupted power supply until end of A/L exam

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) today requested the consumers to minimise consumption to support uninterrupted power supply for the students who are appearing for the Advanced Level examination.

Treasury gets Rs.3bn from SLBFE: Minister

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) today handed over a sum of Rs. 3 billion to the Treasury, the largest contribution ever made from the Bureau’s surplus last year.

Magistrate says cause of death yet to be determined by court

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today informed that the cause of death into the death of businessman Dinesh Schaffter has not yet been determined by the court.

Comprehensive training programs for air pilots, air traffic controllers imperative: Minister

A comprehensive training program should be expedited to train air pilots and air traffic controllers, transport minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said.

HRC requests Energy Ministry, PUCSL to ensure no power cuts during A/L exam

The Human Rights Commission(HRC) has written to the Secretary of the Ministry of Power and Energy and the Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka, to instruct the Ceylon Electricity Board to refrain from scheduling power cuts at any time during the period of the Advanced Level Examinations, from January 23 2023 to February 17, 2023.

Hasaranga, Ranaweera in ICC T20I teams of the year

All-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga and left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera were the only Sri Lankans named in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) men’s and women’s teams of the year respeectively, announced today.

Cabinet approves provision of free textbooks for new school term

The cabinet approval has been granted to carry out the procurement activities related to providing free textbooks to school students for the 2023 new school term, the Education Ministry said.

Gas prices likely to increase by next month

The retail prices of domestic gas cylinders, including 12.5 kg, could be raised between Rs. 500 and Rs. 750, a senior official of Litro Gas Lanka Ltd said.

Constitutional Council to meet next Wednesday

A meeting of the Constitutional Council will be held next Wednesday (25) at 9.30 am, Chief of Staff and Deputy General Secretary of the Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera said.

Public sector salaries to be paid on time: Minister

State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya assured today that salaries of public sector employees would be paid on the 25th as usual without any delay.