Sri Lanka moves from Oman to Switzerland for cooking gas supply

Raising questions on the award of gas supply tender to a new company based in Switzerland, opposition MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake yesterday revealed that the new move could create a gas shortage within three months.

Victoria, Randenigala and Rantambe reservoirs start spilling over

Victoria, Randenigala and Rantambe reservoirs started spilling over last morning

Police warn public against misuse of 119 emergency hotline

Sri Lanka Police have raised concerns over the misuse of the 119 emergency hotline, which is dedicated to reporting crimes, emergencies, and urgent public safety information.

Historic Mihintale Vihare structures at risk due to heavy rains

The Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) has warned that two structures at the historic Mihintale Viharaya are at risk of collapse and subsidence following recent heavy rains.

Passenger bus comes under attack during fierce battle between wild elephants

A fierce fight between two wild elephants on the forest road near Singha ulpotha in Kebithigollewa caused tense situation on Tuesday, as a private bus carrying garment factory workers came under attack and was forced off the road.

RW ready to advise the government on disaster management: Thalatha

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe is ready to provide advise on disaster management to the government if needed but neither him nor others in the UNP intend to take up any position, United National Party (UNP) General Secretary Thalatha Athukorala said yesterday.

MP Shantha Pathma Kumara denies allegation that he had engaged in an illegal plantation

NPP MP Shantha Pathma Kumara yesterday denied the allegation that he had engaged in an illegal plantation which is called Mal Wagawa in local language. “The news circulated over social media is false. I vehemently condemn this campaign carried out against me,” he said in his Facebook Post. The MP said he had received phone calls from many persons after the news item was circulated.

Police raid NPP MP’s illegal plantation MP Pathma Kumara should make a statement on the raid

Referring to the report that police had raided an alleged illegal plantation which is called mal wagawa in local jargon belonging to NPP Ratnapura District MP Shantha Pathma Kumara few days ago, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Ajith P. Perera yesterday said the former should publicly state the reason for the police raid.

Road and bridge recovery after cyclone could take up to two years: RDA

Recovery efforts for roads and bridges damaged by Cyclone Ditwah are expected to take up to two years in some areas, particularly in the Central and Uva Provinces, due to challenging terrain and landslide risks, Road Development Authority (RDA) Director General K.W.Kandambi said.

Three wild elephants rescued after falling into Maduru Oya

A herd of three wild elephants that fell into the ZD Main Canal in Maduru Oya in the early hours of yesterday morning were rescued and released into the Dambagaha Ulpatha Forest Reserve by wildlife officers from the Pimburaththewa

Woman allegedly stabs husband to death over breakfast dispute

The Valaichchenai Police say a woman has allegedly stabbed her husband to death after he asked her to prepare ‘pittu’ for breakfast at their home in Vahaneri, Batticaloa, yesterday morning.

Cyclone Ditwah causes Rs. 5.6 bn loss to Water Board

Cyclone Ditwah has incurred an estimated loss of approximately Rs. 5.6 billion to the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, a Parliamentary committee was informed by the relevant authorities.

Vegetable prices surge as Cyclone Ditwah damages crops

Cyclone Ditwah is continuing its effects to date, as it was reported that the disaster has created a shortage of some vegetables, a prominent member of the Manning Market Traders’ Association said yesterday.

Over 31,000 livestock dead in Polonnaruwa following recent disaster

More than 31,000 animals in livestock farms have died in the Polonnaruwa District due to the recent natural disaster, according to a survey conducted by the Polonnaruwa District Secretariat.

25 Sri Lankans rescued from cybercrime centres in Myanmar

Twenty-five Sri Lankan nationals who had been trafficked to cybercrime centres in Myawaddy, Myanmar, were rescued and repatriated to Sri Lanka.

Court of Appeal upholds 14-year jail term for father in minor daughter abuse case

The Court of Appeal yesterday affirmed the 14-year sentence of rigorous imprisonment imposed by the Hambantota High Court on a father convicted of committing grave sexual abuse against his own daughter.

Rains return as country battles to recover from Ditwah

Showery weather has returned to several parts of the country, with the Meteorology Department warning that rain will continue over the Northern and Eastern regions during the next few days under the influence of an Easterly

Schools in Central Province face no landslide risk: NBRO confirms

An assessment carried out by the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has confirmed that no schools in the Central Province are at risk of landslides, despite recent adverse weather conditions.

Six Thai women arrested in Kollupitiya brothel raid

Six Thai women were arrested after police raided a brothel allegedly operating under the guise of a spa in Kollupitiya.

Ven. Galboda Gnanissara Thera still in our lives: Ven. Kirinde Assaji Thera

Late Chief Incumbent of the Gangaramaya Temple, Ven. Galboda Gnanissara Thera, remained closely associated with bhikkhus and dayakas throughout his life, and it is still difficult to fathom that he is no longer with us, even two years after his demise, the current Chief Incumbent, Ven. Kirinde Assaji Thera said.

Group posing as CID officers hunting me: SJB MP

Whilst revealing that a group identified as CID officers are hunting for him, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Mujibur Rahman yesterday said he will request Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne to take action to ensure his protection.

No government aid and no officials for Walapane landslide victims, 18 days on

Survivors of a deadly landslide in the Napatawala village in Walapane say no government aid has reached them and no officials have visited, 18 days after Cyclone Ditwa triggered the disaster that buried five homes and killed a woman.

SL could face economic crisis by New Year 2026, UNP warns

Sri Lanka could face an economic crisis by the Sinhala New Year 2026, fuelled by Cyclone Ditwah as it has been predicted by Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, United National Party (UNP) Deputy General Secretary Harin Fernando said yesterday.

Kandy Deputy Mayor’s daughter among 27 arrested

Twenty-seven persons, including the 26-year-old daughter of Kandy Deputy Mayor Ruwan Kumara of the National People’s Power, who were arrested with narcotics following a police raid on a party organized through social media in Teldeniya, were released on bail.

Coconut industry hit by Cyclone Ditwah

The Coconut Cultivation Board has urged the public to provide necessary information following severe damage to the coconut industry caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

SC to hear fmr. Moscow Defence Attache’s son’s FR on university admission

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a Fundamental Rights petition filed by the son of the former Defence Attaché to Moscow, challenging the decision of the University Grants Commission decision to not accept his application to local universities.

Permit mandatory for transporting sand deposited in cultivated lands

The Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) has announced that obtaining a permit is mandatory for transporting sand accumulated in cultivated lands and paddy fields following recent landslides and floods caused by heavy rainfall.

Safety concerns mount for females in evacuation centres after Ditwah

Conditions in evacuation centres set up following Cyclone Ditwah have raised serious safety concerns, as overcrowding and the lack of privacy increase the risk of violence against vulnerable groups, particularly adolescent girls, elderly women, and women with disabilities, humanitarian agencies point out.

Blood sample of Asoka Ranwala sent to Govt. Analyst

The blood sample report of former Speaker and NPP MP Asoka Ranwala, who was involved in a road accident in Sapugaskanda last week, has been sent to the Government Analyst’s Department (GAD) for official analysis to determine whether he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident, the Daily Mirror learns.

Young woman who digitally created another young woman’s nude images fined

The Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama yesterday imposed a compensation order of Rs. 50,000 and a fine of Rs. 5,000 on a young girl, after she pleaded guilty to digitally altering several photographs of a young woman