Woman injured in Wellawa shooting incident

A woman was injured following a shooting incident in the Wellawa area of Kurunegala early this morning (23).

North Korea’s Kim doubles down on nuclear buildup

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Tuesday doubled down on Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons buildup and confrontational stance toward Seoul.

UK considers forcing social media firms to prioritise trusted news

Britain is considering forcing social media companies to prioritise what the government called trusted news sources as part of its broader push ​to tighten regulation of the sector.

Cabinet approves measures to tackle illegal land grabbing in Eastern Province

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a series of measures proposed by the President to address illegal land grabbing, unauthorized land reclamation, and illicit coastal constructions in Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province.

Government removes second voter marking requirement

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal submitted by the President to remove the legal requirement for an “appropriate mark” on voters from all existing election laws.

Cabinet appoints special committees to combat looming El Niño climate crisis

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal presented by the President to urgently establish a special Ministerial Sub-Committee and a supporting Officials’ Committee to mitigate the severe impacts of the global El Niño climate phenomenon. Scientific forecasts have confirmed that the intensity and effects of El Niño are expected to impact Sri Lanka starting from the latter half of this year, elevating risks of unpredictable rainfall disrupti

Cabinet approves new circular for Grade 1 school admissions from 2027

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to introduce a new circular containing provisions and guidelines for the admission of children to Grade One in government schools, effective from the year 2027 onward. The proposal was presented to the Cabinet by the Prime Minister, in her capacity as the Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education.

President appoints commission to resolve public sector salary, pension disputes

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has issued an Extraordinary Gazette appointing a 15-member commission to recommend solutions to long-standing disputes concerning the salaries and pensions of government employees.

Tehran’s chief negotiator: Strait of Hormuz won’t return to pre-war status

Conditions in the Strait of Hormuz “will never go back to the way they were before the war,” Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf vowed on Monday.

Ma-del fishermen launch Satyagraha

Congo says confirmed Ebola cases rise to 1,048, including 267 deaths

The Democratic ​Republic of ‌Congo said late ​on ​Monday that confirmed ⁠Ebola ​cases in ​the country had reached ​1,048, ​including 267 deaths.

Over 500 GN divisions in 14 districts declared high-risk dengue zones

A total of 538 Grama Niladhari (GN) divisions across 14 districts have been declared high-risk dengue zones as Sri Lanka steps up efforts to control the rapid spread of the mosquito-borne disease.

MPs try to grab mace

Several Opposition MPs including Ajith P. Perera, Dayasiri Jayasekera and a few others tried to grab the mace but were stopped by Sergeant-at-Arms Kushan Jayarane and others who are in charge of Parliamentary security.

COPF questions discrimination of resident digital services providers

The Committee on Public Finance (COPF) Chairman Harsha de Silva today questioned the discrimination of resident digital services providers.

Parliament suspended over court vacancies debate

Parliament proceedings were temporarily suspended following a protest staged by the Opposition over its request for a debate on delays in filling vacancies in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.

Armed robbers break into Rural Bank, steal stash of gold jewellery

A group of three unidentified individuals broke into a Rural Bank in the Koralaima area of Moragahahena early this morning (June 23), fleeing with a cache of gold jewellery stored in the bank’s vault.

COPF approves VAT Amendment Bill with conditions

The Committee on Public Finance (COPF) has approved the Value Added Tax (VAT) (Amendment) Bill, subject to specific conditions imposed by the committee.

Iran, US finalise agreement on release of $12b in frozen assets

Ghalibaf said the agreement followed preliminary arrangements in Qatar and was formally signed in Switzerland, says Al Jazeera.

Iran leave note of thanks in LA locker room after draw with Belgium

Iran left a message in their SoFi Stadium locker room on Sunday thanking Los Angeles for its hospitality ​during the World Cup and saying they are leaving ‌with dignity after a 0-0 draw with Belgium kept alive their hopes of reaching the knockout stages.

High Court upholds Gnanasara Thera’s nine-month jail term

Colombo High Court Judge Manjula Thilakaratne today rejected the appeal filed by Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera and upheld the nine-month rigorous imprisonment sentence imposed by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court.

Questions raised over halted Wolbachia dengue project

Questions have been raised over the fate of Sri Lanka’s pilot project involving the use of Wolbachia bacteria to control dengue, with specialist Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa claiming that the initiative was discontinued despite its potential benefits.

Dengue passes 1,000 cases daily

Sri Lanka is experiencing an unprecedented surge in dengue infections, with more than 1,000 cases reported within a single day.

E. coli, coliform tests on 50 water sources under ’Thirasara Diyawara’ programme

Water quality tests were conducted on 100 water sources supplying 163 community water projects, while water samples from 50 selected locations were subjected to microbiological analysis to detect bacterial contamination, including Total Coliform and Escherichia coli (E. coli), under the government’s newly launched ’’Thirasara Diyawara’’ (Sustainable Waters) National Programme.

Pentagon seeks $80 billion from congress for Iran War amid peace talks

The Pentagon has told senators it needs roughly $80 billion, mostly to cover the cost of the US war against Iran, adding to what is already a sizable military spending boost being sought by President Donald Trump.

24-hour water cut in several Colombo suburbs from June 24

The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) has announced a 24-hour interruption to water supply in several areas due to essential maintenance work on the main water transmission line from Labugama and Kalatuwawa to Maharagama.

Sri Lanka risks losing GSP+ over slow progress into PTA reforms: Joint opposition question

Sri Lanka risks losing the GSP+ trade benefit, a special benefit enjoyed by Sri Lankan exporters for accessing markets in the European Union, because of the slow progress of reforms related to the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), Joint Opposition Convener Prof. G. L. Peiris said yesterday.

Infant allegedly tied to chair and beaten for crying- suspect remanded

A man accused of tying a nine-month-old infant to a chair and assaulting her with an umbrella handle and his hands for allegedly crying frequently was ordered to be remanded till July 3 by Colombo Additional Magistrate Lahiru Silva yesterday.

New Buddhist centre

Southwest Monsoon active but weakened by El Niño conditions

Sri Lanka is currently experiencing an active Southwest Monsoon with less vigour due to El Niño conditions, a senior official from the Department of Meteorology said yesterday.

At least 18 dead in France, including two children in hot car, as Europe bakes

At least 18 people died in France, including two children left in a hot car, as a ​heatwave hung over Europe, smashing temperature records in several cities on Monday.