Bring down bank interest rates immediately

The Government Service Trade Union Collective (GSTUC) yesterday staged a protest in front of the Fort Railway station, demanding the government bring down the increased bank interest rates immediately. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

42 train services cancelled from tomorrow until further notice

Due to the absence of train-running staff, the Railway Department has decided to cancel 42 train services, including office trains and passenger services from tomorrow until further notice.

SJB goes before Supreme Court to proceed with LG Election

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) today filed a writ petition in Supreme Court seeking an order quashing Cabinet Decision

EC to summon Public Administration Ministry Secretary

Secretary to Ministry of Public Administration will be summoned and an explanation will be sought over his directive to District Secretaries not to accept deposits from candidates, Election Commission Chairman Nimal Punchihewa said.

GMOA declares ‘Black Week Protest’ against tax policies

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has decided to declare the ’Black Week Protest’ from January 23 as scheduled earlier due to the government’s failure to remove recent tax policies.

Man returning after dropping kids to school gunned down

A 50-year-old man who was returning after his two children were dropped to school was gunned down at Kalugalahena in Panamura this morning.

Court allows MR to travel abroad

The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s court today permitted former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to travel abroad from January 20 to January 31.

President wanted us to partner for LG Polls – SLPP

With both parties defending the move to contest together in the upcoming Local Government Elections, the United National Party yesterday said they decided to form an alliance with the SLPP for the sake of the country while the SLPP said it was President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s decision.

Kantale Sugar Factory bribery case: SC affirms conviction against Ex-President’s Chief of Staff

The Supreme Court today affirmed the conviction and sentence imposed by Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar against former President Maithripala Sirisena’s former Chief of Staff Kusumdasa Mahanama and former State Timber Corporation (STC) Chairman Piyadasa Dissanayaka in connection with controversial Kantale sugar factory bribery scam took place in 2018.

Sri Lanka registers strong protest against Canadian sanctions

Foreign Minister Ali Sabry summoned the Canadian Acting High Commissioner Daniel Bood today and expressed the deep regret of the Government on the announcement of unilateral sanctions brought against four individuals including two former Presidents of Sri Lanka by the Government of Canada based on unsubstantiated allegations, the ministry said.

Committee on High Posts approves three new Ambassadors

The Committee on High Posts has approved the appointments of three new ambassadors to the Republic of Lebanon, the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Federal Republic of Ethiopia.

Goods handling charges by rail wagon announced

The Railway Department today announced the charges for transporting goods using railway carriages.

Many heavy vehicle drivers use liquor, drugs while driving: NTMI

Around 10% of the heavy vehicle drivers have been found intoxicated while driving their vehicles while some others use drugs, the National Transport Medical Institute (NTMI) Chairman Dr. Shavendra Gamage said.

Foreign Ministry to summon Canadian envoy over sanctions

The Foreign Ministry will summon the Canadian envoy today to register its strongest protest over the issuing of targeted sanctions on four Sri Lankan officials including former leaders Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Did not want to run him out like that: Rohit on Shanaka

India captain Rohit Sharma on Tuesday said he did not want Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka ‘Mankaded’ after the batter had backed up too far on way to a gallant hundred in the first ODI here on Tuesday.

World Bank warns global economy could tip into recession in 2023

The World Bank slashed its 2023 growth forecasts on Tuesday to levels teetering on the brink of recession for many countries as the impact of central bank rate hikes intensifies, Russia’s war in Ukraine continues, and the world’s major economic engines sputter.

Commonwealth Secy General Stephen Twigg arrives

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Secretary-General Stephen Twigg arrived at the Katunayake International Airport on an official visit to the island.

SLPP ready to partner with JVP to save the country: Sagara

The SLPP was ready to form an alliance even with the JVP for the sake of the country, party’s General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam said yesterday addressing the media after paying for the Local Government elections in Anuradhapura.

Govt. to cut public expenditure by 5% as State coffers run dry

As State coffers have run dry owing to the steep contraction of the economy last year, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed all ministries to cut five percent of their allocated budgets for 2023 to manage limited funds by prioritising salary and pension payments to public sector employees.

Apparent violation of Constitution to halt accepting deposits: AKD

It was a direct violation of the Constitution by the President to take a Cabinet decision to halt accepting deposits for the Local Government elections, National People’s Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday.

Cabinet nod to further liberalise lubricant market

The Cabinet nod has been granted to further liberalise the country’s lubricant industry by calling for a fresh licensing round to allow new players to enter the market.

Shami runs out Shanaka at non-striker end, Rohit later withdraws appeal for SL captain to hit 100

Just when India’s meeting with Sri Lanka was heading towards an anticlimactic ending for the visitors, Indian pacer Mohammed Shami tried to outsmart Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka at the non-striker’s end with a clever run-out on Tuesday.

CEB, Ministry or Cabinet Ministers do not have authority to increase electricity tariff: Champika

According to the electricity board act and the Public Utilities Commission act, either the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), the Power and Energy Ministry, or the Cabinet Ministers do not have the authority to increase the electricity tariff, Former Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka today said.

Dasun Shanaka scores century in defeat as IND beat SL by 67 runs

Dasun Shanaka scored a century in a losing cause as Sri Lanka fell to a 67-run defeat to India in the first ODI in Guwahati on Tuesday.

Accept deposits: EC directs District Returning Officers

The Elections Commission has directed all District Returning Officers to accept deposits placed by political parties and independent groups for the Local Government election.

Two suspects involved in smuggling women to work in Oman nabbed

Two suspects involved in the smuggling of women to work in Oman on visit visas were apprehended today by officers from Sri Lanka’s Foreign Employment Bureau (SLFEB).

Five-year-old boy swept away as residents told to flee

A five-year-old has been swept away by floodwaters in California as the state’s death toll from a series of storms rises to 14.

Canada sanctions Mahinda, Gota

Canada has imposed targeted sanctions on four Sri Lankans including former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Letter issued refraining the accepting of cash deposits recalled: Public Admin. Sec.

The letter issued this morning to all regional secretaries asking them to refrain from accepting cash deposits for the local government elections had been recalled, the Public Administration and Home Affairs. State Ministry Secretary Neel Bandara Hapuhinne said.

District Secretariats ordered not to accept candidate deposits

Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government has informed all District Secretaries to refrain from accepting candidate deposits for the Local Government Election 2023 until further notice.