Money found at President’s House: Police yet to record a statement from Gota despite a court order

It was transpired before Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court that despite a Court order, police have so far failed to record a statement from former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa regarding ongoing investigations into the sum of Rs. 17.8 million recovered by protesters inside the President’s House on 9th July.

Hundreds flock to Colombo over fake job opportunities in Turkey

A tense situation was reported at the JR Jayawardena Center in Colombo today after hundreds of job seekers around the country gathered at the center following a fake Turkey job interview published on social media.

All SJB MPs to extend their support in discussion with China and India to achieve SL objectives: Harsha

Whilst stating that it is not clear whether the IMF will accept the letter given by China agreeing to grant a debt moratorium to Sri Lanka, the Samagi Jana Balwegaya (SJB) today offered active support in discussion with China and others to achieve Sri Lanka’s objectives,

Excise Dept. ordinance should be amended to suit present situation: Siyambalapitiya

The Excise Department ordinance should be amended to be compatible with the current situations, Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said.

TID probes recovery of high explosives in a lorry in Bingiriya

Two suspects who were arrested while transporting high-powered explosives in a lorry at Vilattawa in Bingiriya were handed over to the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) to determine whether they were involved in any terrorist activities or posed a threat to national security.

No power cut until end of A/L exam: HRCSL

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) said today that the parties that gathered at the HRC had agreed not to impose power cuts until the end of the Advanced Level Examination from today.

CC to call applications for new members of independent commissions

The Constitutional Council which met today with Speaker at the chair decided to call for applications from suitable persons for the independent commissions such as the Election Commission, the Public Service Commission and the National Police Commission.

CEB suffers continual loss resultant of politicians’ stupid decisions: PUCSL Chairman

The reason for the total loss incurred so far by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) was owing to stupid decisions taken by the politicians, Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) chairman Janaka Rathnayaka said.

Against high cost of living

The Joint Trade Union Alliance today staged a protest in front of the Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital, demanding the government to take immediate action to bring down the high cost of living. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Central Bank employees protest...

A group of employees from the Central Bank temporarily quit work and engaged in a trade union action today, alleging that the pay-as-you-go tax has been increased unfairly. Employees attached to five trade unions of the Central Bank were off from their duties today from 9.00 am until afternoon, and gathered in a hall near the bank’s auditorium and engaged in trade union action. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Free lunch program for school children at risk as govt. fails to pay suppliers

No payments have been made for nearly four months to the suppliers involved in providing lunch to school children, the Ceylon Teachers’ Union General Secretary Joseph Stalin alleged today.

Happy to allow NSSC appoint the next cricket selection committee: SLC

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said it would be happy to allow the National Sports Selection Committee (NSSC) of the Ministry of Sports to appoint the next cricket selection committee, if the NSSC would also take responsibility for the failures and successes of the national team.

IRD’s Rs. 10bn software for tax collection not functioning properly: COPA reveals

It was revealed at the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) that the Revenue Administration Management Information System (RAMIS), which is established for tax revenue collection in the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) at a cost of Rs. 10 billion was not functioning properly.

Uni. teachers declare ’black week protest’ against arbitrary tax policies

The University Teachers’ Association (UTA) today declared a ’’black week protest’’ against the government’s move to heap a burden on people by imposing an arbitrary tax policy, UTA Secretary and Senior Lecturer of Sri Jayewardenapura University, Sujeewa Hettiarachchi said.

Kurunegala MC spends Rs. 60 mn just to remove stone

The Kurunegala Municipal Council has spent a colossal amount of Rs. 60 million to remove a stone at a construction site where a building was being constructed for a Maternity and Child Clinic whereas the approved cost was Rs. 9.3 million, an audit report has revealed.

Dr. Shafi’s FR petition fixed for May 16

The Fundamental Rights petition filed by Dr. Shafi Shihabdeen, who was at the centre of the controversy surrounding the alleged sterilisation of female patients was today fixed for support by Supreme Court.

’Homosexuality not a crime’: Pope Francis

Pope Francis criticized laws that criminalize homosexuality as “unjust,” saying God loves all his children just as they are and called on Catholic bishops who support the laws to welcome LGBTQ people into the church.

IMF tells govt. to tax all those who earn above Rs.45,000 per month

Government spokesman, Minister Bandula Gunawardana said yesterday that the IMF has instructed the Sri Lankan government to tax all those who draw a salary or a monthly income of over Rs. 45,000 but this proposal has not been accepted by the government.

China donates 1.55 mn injections to SL

China has donated a consignment of 1.55 million syringes of the Recombinant Human Erythropoietin Injection (Epiao) to Sri Lankan Hospitals, the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka said.

Kusal, Dushmantha among key players to play against England Lions before NZ tour

The Sri Lanka Cricket Selectors have decided to play 14 players including Kusal Janith Perera and Dushmantha Chameera as and when needed during the upcoming games against the England Lions Team, as part of their preparation for the Sri Lanka Tour of New Zealand.

Chief Inspector hospitalised, claims SSP assaulted him

A Chief Inspector of the Kebithigollewa Police had been admitted to Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital following an alleged assault by an SSP, Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said.

Misty weather...

Misty weather is seen blanketing Padukka and Homagama this morning after 100mm of rain in the Western Province yesterday. Motorists on the Colombo- Avissawella road are inconvenienced by visibility issues caused by the prevailing misty conditions. Pix by Nisal Baduge

Gulf-based migrant workers to be given exposure to Arabian culture

A discussion was held this morning about providing adequate preliminary training in Arabic culture and language for skilled and unskilled Sri Lankan workers who are leaving for gulf countries for jobs.

Indian diamond heiress’ Eight-year-old daughter becomes a nun

Eight-year-old Devanshi Sanghvi, the daughter of a wealthy Indian diamond merchant renounced the world and became a nun, the BBC reported.

CBSL maintains policy interest rates at current levels

The Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, at its meeting held yesterday decided to maintain the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) of the Central Bank at their current levels of 14.50 per cent and 15.50 per cent, respectively.

Govt. detached from people’s aspirations cannot bring in economic recovery: AKD

Any government which was detached from people’s true aspirations cannot bring in economic recovery through measures such as imposing taxes, National People Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday.

NSC rejects names put forward for SLC selection committee

The National Selection Committee (NSC) of the Ministry of Sports has rejected all ten names proposed by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for its new national cricket selection committee, it was reported ye

Thisara Perera to play Legends League in Qatar

Former Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera is all set to play in the Legends League Cricket (LLC) tournament in Qatar, it is learnt.

President confers ’Sri Lankabhimanya’ honour on Karu Jayasuriya

An extraordinary gazette notice has been issued informing that President Ranil Wickremesinghe has decided to confer the title Sri Lankabhimanya, Sri Lanka’s highest national award on former Speaker Deshabandu Karu Jayasuriya.

Fowzie becomes an MP

A. H. M. Fowzie has been appointed as a Member of Parliament from Colombo to fill the vacancy created by M. M. Rahuman who resigned from Parliament to contest for the Mayor of Colombo.