Former Minister Manusha Nanayakkara appears before bribery commission

Former Minister Manusha Nanayakkara appeared before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption today to provide a statement.

Sewwandi fled by boat, spent three weeks in India before reaching Nepal

Police investigations have revealed that Ishara Sewwandi, the main suspect in the murder of organized crime figure Ganemulla Sanjeewa, fled Sri Lanka by boat from Jaffna and spent about three weeks in India before travelling to Nepal by road, spending nearly Rs. 6.5 million on her escape.

Limited export base restrains Sri Lanka from fully benefiting from EU’s GSP+ scheme

Sri Lanka’s limited export diversification and narrow production base have constrained the country from fully capitalizing on the benefits of the GSP+ (Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus) trade facility with the European Union (EU), Daily Mirror learns.

Sri Lanka’s wildlife parks face dual threat of overcrowding and neglect, audit reveals

Sri Lanka’s lucrative wildlife tourism sector, a cornerstone of its economic recovery, is facing a critical challenge of imbalance.

EV demand fades amid Customs fiasco

Amid the government’s push to promote electric vehicles (EVs) as a key step toward reducing air pollution and advancing renewable energy, public interest in EVs is reportedly declining, the Electric Vehicle Owners Association (EVOA) has warned.

New plantation sector wage hike plan lacks economic logic: PA

Plantation companies yesterday pushed back against President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s bid to raise estate worker wages, warning the move has no firm economic logic and would saddle the sector with an additional Rs. 13 billion burden per year.

Bangladesh garment factory fire kills at least 16

At least 16 people have died after a huge fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the toll could rise.

Wanninayake files writ petition to prevent arrest

Attorney-at-law Gunaratne Wanninayake yesterday (14) filed a writ petition before the Court of Appeal, seeking an order to prevent his arrest before being produced in court, in connection with an incident involving a police constable at the Mount Lavinia Court premises.

Madagascar military says it has seized power

A Madagascar army colonel says that the military has taken charge of the African island nation after parliament voted to impeach President Andry Rajoelina.

Navy recovers major drug haul off southern coast

The Sri Lanka Navy has confirmed that 51 packages discovered floating in the seas off the southern coast contain crystal methamphetamine (‘ice’), hashish, and heroin.

Govt. to promote brown sugar among general public

The government has taken steps to promote the use of locally produced brown sugar among the general public, aiming to strengthen and sustain the country’s domestic sugar industry, the Government Information Department said today.

Over 2,900 Sri Lankans depart for jobs in South Korea this year

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) announced that 2,927 Sri Lankans have left for employment opportunities in South Korea so far this year.

Nine killed in fire at garment factory in Bangladesh

At least nine people were killed and several injured after a fire consumed a garment factory and a chemical warehouse in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka on Tuesday.

’’Fully utilize funds without returning them to Treasury’’: Prez to officials

The President instructed officials to fully utilize the financial allocations provided for this year’s development projects without returning them to the Treasury, stressing that failure to do so would not only hinder development but also result in wastage of public funds.

Over 60% of casino players gamble online

It has been revealed that more than 60 percent of casino players in Sri Lanka engage in online gambling making it nearly impossible for authorities to impose and collect taxes.

Colombo stock market extends gains amid renewed investor optimism

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) continued its upward momentum today, supported by renewed investor sentiment and sustained buying interest across key sectors. Following yesterday’s mixed performance, both the All Share Price Index (ASPI) and the S&P SL20 advanced, reflecting improved market confidence

LBA holds International Business Networking Meeting

The inaugural session of the International Business Networking Meeting, organized by the Lanka Business Alliance (LBA) was held recently at the Galadari, Colombo.

US updates travel advisory for Sri Lanka

The U.S. Department of State has issued a travel advisory advising its citizens to exercise increased caution when travelling to Sri Lanka due to unrest, terrorism, and landmines.

Three police teams deployed to arrest lawyer Gunaratne Wanninayake: Police

Three police teams have been deployed to arrest attorney-at-law Gunaratne Wanninayake, who was involved in a confrontation with a police constable at the Mount Lavinia Court premises, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) F.U. Wootler said today.

Education Ministry issues circular on Grade 6 admissions

The Ministry of Education has issued a new circular regarding the admission of students to Grade 6 based on the results of the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination.

Chinese President meets Harini Amarasuriya in Beijing

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday, during her visit to China to attend the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women.

Cabinet nod to import Ponni Samba

The Cabinet has granted approval for importers to bring in up to 520 metric tonnes of Ponni Samba rice per importer without the need for import permits.

Google to invest $15bn to build AI data hub in India

Google’s parent company Alphabet will invest $15bn (£11.29bn) to build an AI data hub in southern India’s Andhra Pradesh state.

Easter Sunday attacks: Writ against Nilantha Jayawardhane fixed for support

A writ petition filed seeking an order to conduct a credible investigation and take appropriate action against Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawardane for his alleged omission and serious dereliction of duty that led to the Easter Sunday bombings in 2019 was fixed for support by the Court of Appeal.

Motor Traffic services running normally, no disruptions

The Department of Motor Traffic announced that all services are proceeding normally without any disruptions, dismissing recent media reports of a technical glitch halting the services of several government institutions.

Police confiscate assets worth Rs. 3.9 billion from organized criminals

Police Media Spokesperson ASP F.U.K. Wootler said that assets valued at Rs. 3,902 million belonging to organized criminals have been confiscated following investigations carried out between 2021 and 2024.

Increased rainfall forecast in coming days due to atmospheric disturbances

The Meteorology Department warned of a high possibility of increased rainfall in the coming days as the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is currently influencing the weather over the island.

Hats off to PUCSL for blocking power tariff hike: Sajith

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa today lauded the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) for blocking the 6.8 per cent power tariff hike proposed by the government.

Former Navy Commander Ulugetenne granted bail

Former Navy Commander Nishantha Ulugetenne, who was in remand custody in connection with the disappearance of a youth from Pothuhera, was granted bail by the Kurunegala Magistrate’s Court today.

’’Bus Lalith” arrested in Dubai over criminal charges

Lalith Kannangara, widely known as “Bus Lalith,” a member of a criminal gang, has been arrested in Dubai.