Govt. determined to bring road accidents to zero within 10 years: Transport Minister

The Government is planning to bring down the number of road accidents to zero by 2030, Transport Minister Gamini Lokuge said. He said so while addressing an event organised by the National Council for Road Safety at the Transport Ministry, to hand over monetary assistance for hit-and-run victims. Minister Lokuge said at

I’m analysing whether PCs are a burden to Govt.:State Minister Dr. Weeresekera

I am studying whether the Provincial Councils are a burden to the Government and whether the system should be abolished, Provincial Councils & Local Government State Minister Dr. Sarath Weerasekera said “We will have to

PCoI into Easter Sunday bombings Fmr Dir. SIS ended call sans detailed info: Ex-CNI Call disconnected abruptly

After receiving the reliable intelligence information from a foreign counterpart on April 20, 2019, about imminent coordinated terror attacks, former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director SDIG Nilantha Jayawardena called Chief of National Intelligence (CNI) Sisira Mendis, but in the middle of the conversation, the former SIS Director disconnected the call without providing detailed inform

Compliance with COVID-19 safety guideline by people reduced

While saying that people have taken the COVID-19 safety guideline for granted, Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera urged people to comply with COVID-19 regulations until risk factors are

13 mn copies of textbooks to be printed in 2021

The Education Ministry will print 13,890,000 copies of school text books in 106 subjects and related categories to be distributed among 4.2 million students in 2021 at a cost of Rs. 1.094 billion, Ca

President approves construction of slipway in Beruwala

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has approved the construction of a slipway in Beruwala to enable the launch of large vessels, the President’s Media Division said. He had given the approval at a meeting held to discuss the future plans of the State Ministry of Warehouse Facilities, Container Yards, Port Supply Facilities and Boats and Shipping Industry Dev

Talented youths lack financial backing: Arambepola

Youths in our country have talents and skills for inventions, new creations and new products but they lack financial backing and support to make their inventions and products commercially viable, Science, Technology and Research State Minister, Dr. Seetha Arambepola said yesterday. Minister Arambep

Ratmalana airport For flights to regional destinations

The Ratmalana Aiport will be used for flight operations with the Maldives and some destinations in the southern parts of India, Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said yesterday. He said

Premier lauds health care system in the country

The excellent heath care system of the country has helped to successfully control Covid- 19 pandemic in Sri Lanka. Hence, the government is fully committed to protect and further develop the free health service of Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said. Mr. Rajapak

Research book “Tabloid Paththara” to be launched

A Research Book “Tabloid Paththara” compiled by journalist Ajantha Kumara Agalakada will be launched on September 20 at 3.00 p.m. at the Divisional Secretariat Auditorium in Matara. The book launching ceremony will be presided by Editor in Chief of Lankadeepa and Director- Wijeya Newspapers Siri Ranasinghe. Professor Sunil Ariyaratne and veteran journalist Bandula Padmakumara will deliver special sp

Premalal appointed as Mayor of Kotte

I.M.B. Premalal was yesterday appointed as the new Mayor of Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte Municipal Council unopposed, following the election of the previous mayor to parliament. Since the

Drug racketeers arrested in Mannar

Four people including two females involved in a large scale drug racket were arrested with 52 kilos of cannabis and over 900 kgs of smuggled turmeric during a joint raid conducted by the Police

Road-worthiness of vehicles to be tested

No decision has been taken to discontinue the vehicle emission testing programme but a new test will be introduced as a road-worthiness test soon in the future, State Minister for Transport Dilum Amun

Legal action against those who feed wild elephants

The Department of Wild Life has requested drivers and passengers of vehicles which travel via the Buttala-Sella Kataragama road which cuts across the Yala National Park to refrain from feeding wild elephants known to frequent the road sides. As per a DWC off

Defence Secretary says not intimidated by death threats

Defence Secretary Rtd. Mjr.Gen. Kamal Gunaratne said he was not prepared to be intimidated by death threats from the underworld and that he had taken up the responsibility to create an atmosphere for the people to be free from fear

Rear Admiral Uthpala assumes office as Commandant Volunteer Naval Force

Rear Admiral Sanath Uthpala assumed office as the Commandant Volunteer Naval Force (VNF) at the VNF

Food unfit for human consumption destroyed

A large stock of food unfit for human consumption was destroyed by officials of the Ratmalana MOH office during raids on several hotels, supermarkets and several business establishments dealing with consumer goods. Chief PHI H.S.K

Govt. may try to woo SJB MPs to crossover: Eran

It is possible that the government may be wooing some MPs from Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) in the future, though there won’t be any immediate crossover, SJB MP Eran Wickramaratne said yesterday. Mr. Wickram

UNP WC meets today to discuss on leadership: Akila

The UNP Working Committee will meet today to discuss the new Leader and the office bearers, Party General Secreta

Swearing-in of MP Premalal Jayasekera Speaker should reverse his decision: UNP

The Speaker should reverse his decision to allow SLPP MP Premalal Jayasekara who has been subjected to a death se

HND holders stage protest

Union of Unemployed Higher National Diploma Holders staged a protest in Colombo yesterday demanding the government to solve their unemployment issue.

SL Mission organises ‘Flavours of Sri Lanka’ in Vienna

The Sri Lankan Embassy and Permanent Mission in Vienna, Austria together with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau organised ‘Flavours of Sri Lanka’, a promotional event to promoting Sri Lanka as a favoured destination at the prestigious Welt Museum in Vienna. A statement issu

First-ever Maritime Museum to be opened in Kalpitiya

Sri Lanka’s first-ever Maritime Museum to be opened in Kalpitiya by mid next year after the completion of skeleton structures of various marine animals, Senior Official of the Wildlife Conservation

SL welcomes more investments from China: State Minister

State Minister of Regional Cooperation Tharaka Balasuriya said the Sri Lankan government welcomes investments from China and will ensure that such investments are well protected, according t

People living in state lands directed to obtain clear titles

The Land Commissioner General’s Department, in an Extraordinary Gazette notification, yesterday requested the people to make applications in order to consider giving away clear titles for their land

Easter Sunday attacks - Recording of evidence at the PCoI (ACJU)Moulavi nabbed recording evidence at PCoI

Chairman of the PCoI yesterday ordered the Commission’s Secretary to take legal action through the Court of Appeal against the senior official of the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) and the Counsel who represented the particular individual who was nabbed while recording evidence being led at the PCoI probing the Easter Sunday attacks. The BAR as

CID directed to conclude investigation of Rs.170 Mn misappropriation

The Magistrate made this direction to the CID during the inquiry into cheating of two businessmen for Rs.170 million by promising to sell 25 kilos of gold alleged to have been kept in the vaults of

Senior journalist Zacki Jabbar found dead

Senior journalist Zacki Jabbar of The Island newspaper was found dead at his residence in Pelawatta, Battaramulla on Wednesday night, police said. It was reporte

Heavy rains cause flooding of roads in Gampaha

The road leading to Enderamulla from Ragama through Kurukulawa in Gampaha is seen flooded due to the torrential rains last morning.

Could supply major types of fertiliser to local market within three years: Govt.

President instructs officials to supply fertiliser without shortage for Maha season Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Economic Revival Basil Rajapaksa said, there will be a possibility of supplying several major types of fertiliser to the local market within the next three years.