Severe lightning alert for Colombo and four other districts

The Meteorology Department has warned that thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning are likely to occur in parts of Colombo, Kalutara, Galle, Matara and Ratnapura districts.

Presidential Secretariat declines RTI disclosure on 68 vehicles

The Designated Officer of the Presidential Secretariat has rejected a request made under the Right to Information (RTI) Act seeking vehicle number details of 68 vehicles handed over to the Secretariat following the conclusion of the tenure of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Ondansetron samples to be sent for global testing

Complying with the request made by the Indian company which manufactured Ondansetron injection in question, local health authorities have decided to send samples of the withdrawn injection batches to a World Health Organisation (WHO)-accredited laboratory for international testing, Daily Mirror learns.

Fined for destroying artefacts

A group of three suspects who had been arrested by Ethimale Police and produced before Siyambalanduwa Magistrate Dinushka Rosan Anuruddha Samaraweera for causing damage to an archaeological site and destroying nine ancient rock pillars were fined Rs. 200,000 when they pleaded guilty to the charges.

President assures to uphold financial discipline in rebuilding programme

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today that the government will strictly uphold financial discipline while taking responsibility for each rupee donated for the rebuilding initiative.

Online appeals open for grade 6 admissions for 2026

The first round of appeals for admission to Grade 6 for the year 2026, based on the 2025 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination results, can be submitted online from January 12 to January 25, the Education Ministry said.

Trump briefed on military and covert options for Iran, reports

President Donald Trump has been briefed on a wide range of covert and military tools for use in Iran, two Department of Defense officials told the BBC’s US partner, CBS News.

CID arrests two suspects in Rs. 50 Mn textile scam

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested two suspects in connection with the fraudulent theft of textile raw materials valued at nearly Rs. 50 million from a private factory in Kilinochchi.

Namal accuses Minister Lal Kantha of spreading religious hatred

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser and MP Namal Rajapaksa has accused Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation Minister K.D. Lal Kantha of spreading religious hatred and insulting Buddhism and the Maha Sangha, claiming the Minister’s recent remarks violate the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act No. 56 of 2007.

Search for bodies still continues but hampered due to rain

Search for those who are missing as a result of the cyclone Ditwah is still continuing, but operations have been hampered due to rain that is prevailing in the respective areas, state officials said yesterday.

National housing programme–2026 to be launched in Jaffna on Jan 16

The National Housing Programme–2026 will be inaugurated in Jaffna on January 16 under the theme “A Place to Belong, A Beautiful Life,” Deputy Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply T.B. Sarath announced.

Online scams doubles in a year, police increase crackdowns

In the wake of online scams doubling in a year with thousands of individuals becoming victims, Sri Lanka Police have increased crackdown on such frauds carried out by both locals and foreigners.

’’A Cloud over the Sun’’

’’Sooriya Bala Sangramaya’’ (Solar Energy) programme launched around 2016-2017, introducing net-metering and other schemes, boosted by Asian Development Bank funding and leading to rapid capacity increases and milestones in the country.

Construction companies seek to bring down 7,500 labour force from foreign countries

Claiming that there is an acute shortage in labour force in the construction industry, Secretary to the Ministry of Housing, Construction and Water Supply Kumudu Lal Bogahawatta said yesterday leading construction companies had sought permission from the Ministry to bring down some 7,500 labour force from foreign countries.

Police warn of rising extortion racket involving secret video recordings

Police said complaints regarding video recording of sexual relations of married women and their paramours, and young men and women, to extort them under threat of sharing the videos on websites have been increasing.

Veteran Journalist Iqbal Athas passes away at 81

Veteran journalist and defence analyst Iqbal Athas passed away this morning at the age of 81 following a brief illness.

Schoolteacher accused of fraud, claims she too was a Facebook scam victim

A woman arrested by the Financial Crimes Branch of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and remanded over allegations of defrauding people of several hundred thousand rupees through threats and deceit, told the Colombo Chief Magistrate that she herself had fallen victim to an online scam while working as a Facebook-based worker.

SMEs hit by Covid, Easter Attack fall from frying pan to fire

Small and medium-scale enterprises affected by the Easter Sunday attacks have fallen from the frying pan into the fire due to the banking sector’s failure to implement recommendations made by the Ministry of Industry, according to the Joint District Entrepreneur Organisation.

Average tourist spending falls in Sri Lanka

Average tourist spending in Sri Lanka has dropped to US$ 148 a day from US$ 181 in 2018, despite a rise in arrivals, with government authorities now planning for the development of upmarket tourism, an official said yesterday.

U.S. Ambassador pays farewell call on President

U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung paid a farewell call on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake ahead of her departure from the country on 16 January, marking the conclusion of her tenure as the United States’ top diplomat in Colombo from 2022 to 2026.

Apple, Google strike Gemini deal for revamped Siri in major win for Alphabet

Apple (AAPL.O), will use Google’s Gemini models for its revamped Siri coming later this year under a ‌multi-year deal that deepens the tech giants’ alliance in the artificial intelligence era and bolsters Alphabet’s position in the race against OpenAI.

US Supreme Court to weigh transgender athlete bans

The US Supreme Court on Tuesday wades into the hot-button issue of transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports.

Alonso leaves Real Madrid, Arbeloa appointed as coach

Real Madrid said on Monday coach Xabi Alonso has left the Spanish giants by mutual consent, to be replaced by Alvaro Arbeloa.

Sri Lanka records 67,762 tourist arrivals in early January 2026

Sri Lanka welcomed 67,762 tourists between January 1 and January 8, 2026, according to provisional figures from the latest tourism performance summary, indicating a relatively slow start to the year.

Australian Captain Announces Retirement

Australia captain Alyssa Healy said on Tuesday she will to retire from cricket in March after the team’s home series with India, ending a storied career.

Motor traders push to scrap used vehicle tax break

Sri Lanka’s oldest automotive industry body has stepped up pressure on the government to dismantle what it calls a deeply flawed tax concession on used vehicle imports, warning that the policy is eroding state revenue, distorting competition and undermining foreign exchange discipline.

Mattala Airport accumulates Rs.39bn in losses as govt. pivots to new PPP model

Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) has accumulated a staggering Rs.39.3 billion in net losses over the past six years, a recent audit revealed, as the government moves to scrap a previously arranged management handover to an India-Russia joint venture, in favour of a new public-private partnership (PPP) model.

Maha Sangha seeks action on Minister’s statements

The National Sangha Conference Chairman Venerable Liyanwala Sasanarathana Thera, has warned that the government will soon face serious consequences if it fails to take appropriate action against Minister K.D. Lal Kantha over alleged derogatory and insulting remarks directed at the Maha Sangha.

Welimada district court registrar remanded

Registrar of the Welimada District Court, who is alleged to have accepted a bribe of Rs. 500,000 to hand over possession in a land case in accordance with a District Court judgement, was ordered to be remanded till January 27 by Colombo Additional Magistrate Liyan Warusawithana yesterday.

UNP seniors participate in Sajith’s birthday celebration

Senior members of the United National Party (UNP), including Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene and National Organiser Sagala Ratnayake, participated in a religious ceremony held at the Gangarama Temple in Hunupitiya to mark the birthday of Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa today, indicating that a political alliance between the UNP and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) may be on the cards.