Police use water cannons to disperse protesters in Jaffna

Police used water cannons to disperse a group of university students from the Jaffna University and a group of parents of the disappeared, who staged a protest at Arasadi Junction in Jaffna today.

Pfizer bivalent COVID shots link to stroke: U.S. health authorities

A safety monitoring system flagged that U.S. drugmaker Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) and German partner BioNTech’s updated COVID-19 shot could be linked to a type of brain stroke in older adults, according to preliminary data analyzed by U.S. health authorities.

Let’s solve economic issues by working within one policy framework; Prez tells TUs

President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized the need of working within one policy framework by all while facing the economic difficulties the country is confronted with, President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

SL entry status quo remains unchanged; Keheliya contradicts Sri Lanka Tourism

Contradicting the statement issued by the Sri Lanka Tourism declaring new guidelines for inbound tourists, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said Sri Lanka entry status quo remains unchanged.

Foreign remittances increased to US$ 475.6 Mn in December 2022: Minister

Sri Lankan migrant workers’ foreign remittances have increased to US$ 475.6 million in December 2022 from US$ 325.2 million in December 2021, Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara said.

China’s Communist Party delegate arrives in SL

Chen Zhou, Vice Minister of the International Department, the Communist Party of the China Central Committee arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morning, the Chinese Embassy in Colombo said.

System needed to charge taxes for non-cash benefits starting from Prez: COPF

A system should be set up properly to charge taxes for non-cash benefits starting from the President, extending to all officials, Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) Dr. Harsha De Silva said.

Indigenous community to contest LG polls

A group of the Vedda Community under its leader Uruvarigelage Wannila Aththo has decided to contest the upcoming local election for the first time.

New ’Covid 19’ protocol, procedures issued for all inbound tourists

Sri Lanka Tourism has issued new ’Covid 19’ Protocol and Procedures for all inbound tourists.

Public Admin. Ministry Secy apologises to EC over his letter

Public Administration Ministry Secretary Neil Bandara Hapuhinne apologized to the Election Commission for issuing a letter to the Returning Officers asking them not to accept deposits from candidates for the Local Government Election.

Only a day’s govt. revenue needed for LG polls: AKD

Refuting claims made by the government that the Local Government elections could not be held due to the shortage of funds, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said it was totally unacceptable as only a day’s government revenue was required for the election.

A/L tuition classes prohibited from Jan. 17 midnight

Conducting coaching classes or tuition classes targeting the 2022 (2023) GCE Advanced Level (A/L) Examination will be prohibited from January 17 midnight, the Department of Examinations said.

Govt receives 70% school uniform fabric requirements from China

While completing 70 percent of the total school uniform fabric requirement for the year 2023, the Chinese government today handed over a donation of 8,862,990 meters of cloth to Education Minister Susil Premajayantha.

SIU Director informs Court he was threatened by Deshabandu Tennakoon

The Director of the Special Investigation Unit of the Police Department SSP Wickramasinghe today informed court that he was threatened by Senior DIG Deshbandu Tennakoon for reporting facts to the court regarding the investigations into the money recovered by protesters inside the President’s House on 9th July.

Mawanella PS Chairman arrested for accepting bribe

Chairman of the Mawanella Pradeshiya Sabha Samantha Steevan was arrested by the Bribery Commission officers today while accepting a bribe of Rs. 2 million.

Criminal case should be filed against Maithri and others based on SC ruling: AKD

While highlighting that a criminal case should be filed against former President Maithripala Sirisena and others for failing to prevent the Easter Sunday attacks based on the Supreme Court ruling, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today their legal team is studying the Supreme Court verdict and how the Attorney General was acting upon the verdict.

’’Court didn’t order me to pay, the order was for Maithripala,’’ Dudley Sirisena lashes out

Dudley Sirisena, brother of former President Maithripala Sirisena said today the Supreme Court had not ordered him to pay compensation to Easter Sunday victims but it was his brother Maithripala who had to pay the compensation.

SL envoy in Beijing asks for steps to attract Chinese tourists

Sri Lankan Ambassador in Beijing Dr. Palitha Kohona asked the authorities concerned to step up measures to attract Chinese tourists for the infusion of foreign exchange since China relaxed travel restrictions.

Funds for LG polls can be released only in installments: Treasury informs EC

Treasury officials have informed the Commission of Elections that it can only release funds for the local government election in installments, an official from the Finance Ministry on conditions of anonymity said today.

Power supply to Rupavahini disconnected for defaulting bill

The power supply to Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) has been disconnected for defaulting the electricity bill for the month of November, a CEB official said.

664 STF personnel promoted

It was announced that 664 Police Special Task Force (STF) personnel have been promoted to their next rank.

Australia withdraw from ODI series against Afghanistan in March

Australia’s men’s team has withdrawn from their one-day international (ODI) series against Afghanistan in March following further restrictions on women’s and girls’ rights imposed by the Taliban, Cricket Australia (CA) said on Thursday.

40% of Samurdhi recipients are not eligible to receive benefits

It has been revealed that nearly 40% of Samurdhi beneficiaries are not eligible to receive assistance under the scheme.

SL has taken positive result-oriented decisions in economic recovery: Semasinghe

State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe said that Sri Lanka has taken difficult but positive result-oriented decisions in economic recovery.

President discusses current debt issues with China’s Exim Bank

Chairman of the Export-Import Bank of China Wu Fulin held a video conference with President Ranil Wickremesinghe and exchanged views on bilateral cooperation and Sri Lanka’s current debt issues, Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka said.

New SL Govt. fails to reverse damaging policies of its predecessor-HRW

The change of presidents of Sri Lanka in 2022 did not lead to any improvement in the country’s human rights record, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2023.

President wanted us to partner for LG Polls – SLPP

With both parties defending the move to contest together in the upcoming Local Government Elections, the United National Party yesterday said they decided to form an alliance with the SLPP for the sake of the country while the SLPP said it was President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s decision.

Sri Lanka registers strong protest against Canadian sanctions

Foreign Minister Ali Sabry summoned the Canadian Acting High Commissioner Daniel Bood today and expressed the deep regret of the Government on the announcement of unilateral sanctions brought against four individuals including two former Presidents of Sri Lanka by the Government of Canada based on unsubstantiated allegations, the ministry said.

Committee on High Posts approves three new Ambassadors

The Committee on High Posts has approved the appointments of three new ambassadors to the Republic of Lebanon, the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Federal Republic of Ethiopia.

Apparent violation of Constitution to halt accepting deposits: AKD

It was a direct violation of the Constitution by the President to take a Cabinet decision to halt accepting deposits for the Local Government elections, National People’s Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday.