Father who raped 14-year-old daughter sentenced to 12 years rigorous imprisonment

Colombo High Court sentenced a father who pleaded guilty to raping his 14-year-old daughter to 12 years of rigorous imprisonment. As the accused admitted to the charge before court, the sentence was imposed without any

United States, Sri Lanka signs MoU formalising defence partnership

The United States and Sri Lanka signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formalising the defence partnership between the Montana National Guard, the U.S. Coast Guard District 13, and the Sri Lanka Armed Forces under the

LTL Transformers (Pvt) Ltd Honoured at the Sri Lanka National Quality Awards 2023

LTL Transformers (Pvt) Ltd was proudly recognised as an Award Winner at the Sri Lanka National Quality Awards (SLNQA) 2023 under the Manufacturing (Medium) Category, at the ceremony held at Cinnamon Lakeside, Colombo,

SL Coast Guard seizes massive haul of Kendu leaves

The Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) seized a significant consignment of Kendu leaves, weighing over 1,530 kilograms, off the Wellamankara sea area in Wennappuwa on November 14, the SL Coast Guard said.

Plans to send healthcare team on motorbikes until 1990 reaches location

A ten-year plan has been formulated for the Suwa Seriya ambulance service, which includes a mechanism to send a healthcare team on motorbikes to the location until the ambulance reaches, as the ambulance takes some time due to

Killed by wild elephant

A retired soldier of Kuruketiyawa in Navagattegama had been trampled to death on Wednesday night by a wild elephant frequenting the lonely road through the jungle. The victim Weerasinghalage Janaka Karunananda (46) was a father of two children and he had retired from the Army after a service of 22 years.

Remembering the JVPers who were killed!

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake addresses his supporters at the 36th Ill Maha Viru Commemoration held at the Viharamahadevi outdoor arena yesterday in memory of the members of the JVP who were killed and disappeared.

Govt. intensifies crackdown on illegal fishing and maritime crimes

In a decisive move to curb rising incidents of illegal fishing and maritime poaching in Sri Lankan waters, top government and security officials convened a high-level meeting to strengthen enforcement and coordination efforts.

Sri Lanka invites Pope Leo XIV to mark 50 years of diplomatic ties

Sri Lanka has extended an invitation to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to undertake an official visit to the country, reaffirming the deepening friendship between Sri Lanka and the Holy See as both nations mark 50 years of diplomatic relations, the Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism Ministry said.

Two more NPP-controlled local councils face budget defeats

The 2026 annual budget proposals of two local councils controlled by the National People’s Power (NPP) were defeated yesterday (13) by a single vote. At the Dodangoda Pradeshiya Sabha, the budget presented by Chairman Nilusha Kavirathna de Silva was defeated by one vote during the monthly council meeting. Twelve NPP members voted in favour, while 13 Opposition members representing the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (S

Pakistan assures maximum security for SL cricket team as players decide to stay

Pakistan has assured maximum security for the Sri Lankan national cricket team who are presently in Islamabad for an ongoing ODI series after concerns were raised by some Sri Lankan players over their safety.

Rs 1.4 billion scam involved in awarding tender for import of cabs: Opposition MP

A scam worth Rs 1.4 billion is involved in awarding the tender to import cabs, SLPP MP D. V. Chanaka told Parliament yesterday. “The specification of the tenders have been prepared to ensure that a certain company is awarded the tender to import cabs as per the budget proposal which President Anura Kumara Dissanayake came out in his budget speech. The commission for one cab is said to be Rs 1 million. Therefore, the full value of the commissio

Nurse dies during childbirth at Peradeniya, newborn safe

An unfortunate incident occurred at the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital when a 37-year-old nurse Isuru Nadeeshani Dissanayake from Kandy National Hospital passed away while giving birth to her third child. Hospital sources confirmed that the newborn is in good health.

Leopard killed and teeth removed

The carcass of a leopard had been found last morning at the Buduruwagala forest reserve in Wellawaya by Wildlife officers’

Dambulla Council opposition protests low onion prices with onion garlands

In a striking protest against the low prices of big onions, members of the joint opposition in the Dambulla Pradeshiya Sabha attended yesterday’s monthly council meeting wearing garlands made entirely of onions.

Successful operation to drive wild elephants back to forests in Hambantota

Efforts to drive wild elephants back into designated wildlife zones from villages in the Hambantota District are being carried out successfully, minimising the impact on local communities, according to District Secretary Bimal Indrajith de Silva.

40th anniversary celebration of the Arthur C.Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies

Minister of Science and Technology Krishantha Abeysena and ACCIMT Chairman Prof. Chandana Jayarathna pay tribute by garlanding a portrait of Sir Arthur C. Clarke during the 40th anniversary celebration of the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies in Colombo on November 12, 2025. An exhibition will be held on November 12 and 13, 2025, to commemorate the institute’s 40th anniversary.

Why Montessori teachers failed to do it: Minister responds to Sajith on state revenue collection

Refuting claims of opposition leader Sajith Premadasa that the government has collected record state revenue by overly taxing people, Minister Anura Karunathilake said no new tax was imposed in 2025 and that state revenue was collected due to proper management of existing taxes and by strengthening the tax net.

1,000 Sri Lankan children await heart surgery

More than 1,000 children in Sri Lanka are currently on waiting lists for life-saving heart surgeries but a new partnership between the Ministry of Health and the Rotary Club of Colombo West aims to bring hope to some of them.

Ninnada’s 20th anniversary celebrated in grand style

The awards ceremony and the celebration of Ninnada’s 20th anniversary took place in grand style at the Temple Trees on November 7, with former Chairman of the Election Commission Mahinda Deshapriya gracing the occasion as the

NPP controlled Kandeketiya Pradeshiya Sabha budget defeated

The budget for 2026 of Kandeketiya Pradeshiya Sabha was defeated by four votes yesterday.

Coconut Cultivation Board to destroy 5,000 trees in Matara to curb disease

The Coconut Cultivation Board (CCB) has announced that it will cut down and destroy 5,000 coconut trees starting yesterday (11) in the Matara District to contain a rapidly spreading disease affecting coconut plantations.

Court extends interim order preventing arrest of ex-Army Intelligence Officer

The Court of Appeal yesterday further extended its interim order preventing the arrest of a former member of the Army Intelligence Service without obtaining the advice of the Attorney General, in connection with a CID investigation on

Mysterious death of student hours before A/L exam

A 19-year-old schoolgirl who was due to sit for the G.C.E. Advanced Level examination yesterday(10) was found dead in her bed early last morning at her home in Ihala Arawwala, Dambulla, police said.

Polythene ban has no impact on industry, sales intact: Small Industries Association

The All Ceylon Small Industries Association says that the government’s decision to prohibit the free distribution of polythene bags, including shopping bags, has not affected the local polythene industry or its production.

Suspect who raped and impregnated an underage girl arrested

A suspect who had raped and impregnated an underage girl and went into hiding was arrested yesterday after more than a year by Monaragala Division Crime Investigation Unit.

PC accused of assaulting lawyer was transferred on disciplinary grounds, Court told

The Court of Appeal was informed yesterday that the police constable allegedly involved in the assault of a lawyer at Mount Lavinia court premises had been transferred to the Mount Lavinia Police Headquarters Station from the Kesbewa Police Station on disciplinary grounds, prior to this incident, in accordance with the Public Service Commission Procedural Rules.

Kollupitiya Jumma Mosque conducts Free Medical Camp

The Kollupitiya Jumma Mosque successfully carried out its second consecutive year Free Medical Camp at the Mosque premises recently.

German businessman donates eye glasses

A leading businessman from Germany Gudrun Jessnitz and his wife Detlef Jessnitz on a visit to Sri Lanka celebrated their 55th marriage anniversary in Sri Lanka. They donated 200 spectacles for low income individuals and handed them over to the founder of Aluthgama Bo Sevena Buddhist Centre Ven. Beragama Sumana Thera to be distributed.

UN, int’l. organizations and Govt. destroying our children

International organizations such as the UN Family Planning Agency and the Sri Lankan government is out to destroy local schoolchildren by misleading them in the guise of providing them sex education, Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said yesterday.