Lawyers protest

A group of lawyers today staged a protest in Hulftsdorp condemning the Attorney General’s alleged interference with the judiciary. Pix Nisal Baduge

Three including hotel owner arrested for stealing Rs. 6 Mn from Russian tourists

A tourist hotel owner at Unawatuna, his son and another individual had been arrested by the Galle Division Crime Investigations Unit for stealing foreign currency valued more than Rs. 6 million belonging to a group of Russian tourists.

CA issues interim order preventing Sri Ranga, office bearers of Football Federation from carrying out functions

The Court of Appeal today issued an interim order preventing President of the Sri Lanka Football Federation Sri Ranga and its newly elected office bearers from carrying out duties and functioning as duly elected Office bearers of the Football Federation.

SL-Britain discuss on reconciliation and recovery

Discussions on current developments in Sri Lanka and the government’s plans for 2023 as a year of socio-economic stabilization, reconciliation and recovery were held between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom at the Foreign Ministry in Colombo on Tuesday, officials said.

200 mn coconuts destroyed by animals in 2022

Toque monkeys, monkeys, and giant squirrels had destroyed nearly 200 million coconuts by the end of last year, the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agricultural Research and Training Institute said.

Rafael Nadal suffers huge upset at Australian Open as injured Spaniard crashes out

Rafael Nadal limped out of the Australian Open today as he took a medical timeout before losing to world No.65 Mackenzie McDonald.

Seeking public sympathy...

Former President Maithripala Sirisena accepted the money collected from people on the streets by Sudaththa Thilakasiri, a YouTube social activist and actor, to pay as compensation for the Easter Sunday terror attack victims.

Maithripala accepts Rs.1,810 collected from begging

Former President Maithripala Sirisena accepted the money collected from people on the streets by Sudaththa Thilakasiri, a YouTube social activist and actor, to pay as compensation for the Easter Sunday terror attack victims.

400 foreign dignitaries invited for Independence Day Celebrations: State Minister

Some 400 foriegn dignitaries, including the Commonwealth Secretary General have been invited to attend the 75th Independence Day Celebrations, State Minister Ashoka Priyantha said today.

President tries to supress power of legislature: Opposition

President Ranil Wickremesighe’s decision to summon a meeting of party leaders today to discuss the Election Expenditure Bill in Parliament which came under fire from the opposition with Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and Jathika Jana Balawegaya (JJB) alleging that President is trying to supress the power of the legislature.

Election Commission gives undertaking to hold the LG Election

The Election Commission today gave an undertaking to Supreme Court that it has taken all steps to hold the Local Government Election in terms of Local Authorities Election Ordinance.

Train on Kelani Valley line derailed near Kosgama station

A train heading to Colombo Fort from Avissawella on the Kelani Valley line derailed this morning near the Kosgama railway station, railway department said.

Train derailed near Kosgama station

A train heading to Colombo Fort from Avissawella on the Kelani Valley line derailed this morning near the Kosgama railway station

Virat Kohli lauds Sri Lankan throwdown specialist ’Bawwa’ for giving Indian batters world-class practice

India batter Virat Kohli credited throwdown specialists Dayanand Garani, former Sri Lankan first-class cricketer Nuwan Seneviratne better known as ’Bawwa’ and D Raghavendra for making the batters look better with world-class practice through relentless deliveries.

Survey report on issues faced by indigenous community unveiled

A survey report on the issues faced by the indigenous community in Sri Lanka compiled by the Institute for Policy Alternatives was unveiled yesterday and Vedda Chief Uruwarige Wannila Attho with other people from the indigenous community participated in the ceremony. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

Fair weather will prevail; occasional thundershowers during afternoon: Met Dept.

Fair weather will prevail over the island, but occasional thundershowers in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, and Uva provinces and in Galle and Matara districts during the afternoon or night, the Meteorology Department said.

SL managed to save over US$ 1.2bn in forex through import restrictions

Sri Lanka was able to save over US$ 1.2 billion in foreign exchange in the first three months of restrictions on import of goods, State Finance...

Tea export earnings down 5% in dollar terms, but hit record-high in rupee terms amid sharp depreciation

Earnings from Sri Lanka’s tea exports contracted 5 percent Year-on-Year (YoY) or by US$ 65.7 million to US$ 1.259 billion in 2022 due....

Cabinet yet to receive PUCSL’s response on electricity tariff hike

The government yesterday claimed that the Cabinet of Ministers are yet to receive a response from the power regulator Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) on the Cabinet decision to increase electricity tariff with effect from 1st of this month.

Race Course murder: Probe reveals boyfriend murdered girl fearing she would love someone else

Initial investigations revealed that a science faculty student of the Colombo University was murdered by her fellow student at the Race Course Ground in Colombo yesterday, fearing that she would love someone else after breaking up the love affair.

Coal procurement; tender awarded to unregistered company in 2022: COPE

Tender to procure coal had been awarded to an unregistered company in 2022, says the report submitted by the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) in Parliament today.

World’s biggest sapphire remains unsold, bears more museum value than commercial

The world’s largest corundum blue sapphire cluster, ‘Queen of Asia’ recently discovered in Sri Lanka, remains unsold and has been brought into the country, National Gem and Jewellery Authority Chairman Viraj de Silva said.

Establishing National Animal Conservation academy and Zoological Garden Management: Minister

Plans are afoot to establish a National Institute on Animal Conservation and Zoological Garden Management by the Agriculture, Wildlife, and Forest Resources Conservation Ministry, which could edify the local and foreign students who are interested in it.

Debate on Regulation of Election Expenditure Bill postponed by one month

The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms has decided to postpone the second reading debate of the Regulation of Election Expenditure Bill by one months’ time on a request made by Members of Parliament, the Communications Department of Parliament said.

Tussle for candidacy leads SLFP to go solo in some areas at LG Polls

The tussle among party men to secure candidacy has resulted in Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the key ally of the newly formed Freedom People’s Alliance, deciding to go solo at the Local Government election in selected areas, a top source said.

Colombo Uni student arrested over woman’s murder at Race Course Ground

The police has arrested a Colombo University science faculty student, the suspect believed to be the boyfriend of the woman, who was found killed at the Race Course Ground in Colombo 7 this morning.

Ministers in the dark over possible massage laws? Keheliya quick to blame media

A day after the Ayurveda Department said that new laws would soon be drafted and presented to cabinet to prevent men from massaging women and women from massaging men in spas, two Ministers reacted in Parliament today saying no such laws had been drafted.

SL forces and U.S. Marines to hold joint training exercise

The U.S. Navy and Sri Lankan Marine Corps including Airforce and Navy will commence a joint military exercise in Colombo from Jan.19 to 26.

I have to pay Rs. 100 mn over no fault of mine: Maithripala

Former President Maithripala Sirisena said today he has had to pay a compensation of Rs. 100 million to victims of Easter Sunday attacks not because of his fault but because the officials appointed by him had not carried out their responsibility properly.

AG files contempt charges against Sanath Nishantha

The Attorney General has filed contempt of court charges in the Court of Appeal against State Minister Sanath Nishantha in connection with the alleged contemptuous statement made by him recently.