Colombo Shopping Festival kicks off

The Colombo Shopping Festival, which is held every year targeting the seasonal holidays, kicked off today at the BMICH. The premium trade fair displays an array of products at special discounted prices. It will continue till Friday (23). Pix by Kithsiri De Mel

Lab experiment goes wrong in Pussellawa

Eight including three teachers and five students were hospitalized after a lab experiment went wrong at a school in Pussellawa.

10-hour power cut claim: Minister says TUs cannot act like terrorists

Rejecting the claim made by CEB Engineers Union President that there would be 10-hour-power cuts next year, Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said today that legal action will be taken against the said TU over the false statement.

No power cuts during festive season: Minister

Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara said there will be no power cuts on December 24, 25, 26, 31 and January 1.

Minister confirms electricity bills to go up from January

There should be a definite increase in electricity tariffs beginning from January in order to purchase the required coal shipments for the month, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said.

Student killed, 13 injured in Aranayaka bus mishap

A 14-year-old student was killed and 13 other persons were hospitalised after a bus skidded off the road and toppled at Selawa in Aranayaka this morning.

Three women waiting at bus halt to get Samurdhi die after van crashes into them

Three women aged 51, 54 and 61 were killed when a van crashed into a bus halt at Bedigamuwa Junction in Narammala this morning.

Elon Musk to quit as Twitter CEO when replacement found

Elon Musk has said he will resign as Twitter’s chief executive officer when he finds someone ’’foolish enough to take the job’’.

2,835 fishermen released from Sri Lanka since 2014: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that 2,835 Indian fishermen have been released from Sri Lanka since 2014.

17-year-old monk allegedly been forced to take poison

A 17-year-old novice monk of Hindagala Raja Maha Vihare in Peradeniya had been forced to take poison and pain killer drugs under death threat at dagger point and pushed into the nearby stream.

Dinesh Schaffter’s killers still at large

The police who are yet to make an arrest over the murder of Dinesh Schaffter, the director of Janashakthi Company, has questioned more than 30 persons including Schaffter’s wife so far and police said they would be able to arrest the killers soon by solving the mystery of the murder.

Solheim rules out mediator role between Tamil parties and Govt.

Former Norwegian peace negotiator Erik Solheim has ruled out playing the role of mediator between Tamil political parties and the Government, to push for a political solution for the national issue. Solheim had talks with Tamil political parties and others, including Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, in Colombo this week.

Chamber of Tourism and Industry calls on govt. to develop domestic air travel services

The Chamber of Tourism and Industry asserts the need to develop domestic air travel services to effectively compete with its regional peers. It pointed out that putting....

Draft Central Bank law gets Cabinet approval

The Cabinet of Ministers this week green lighted the draft of the new Monetary Law Act clearing the only remaining prior action required by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to unlock its US$ 2.9 billion....

Twin baby nilgais, four blue-and-yellow macaw chics born in Dehiwala zoo

Twin baby nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) and four blue-and-yellow macaw chics (Ara ararauna) were born at the Dehiwala National Zoo, National Zoological Gardens Deputy Director Dinushika Manawadu said.

Jacqueline requests travel permission from Delhi court

Jacqueline Fernandez appeared at Delhi’s Patiala House Court in connection with the conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar case.

No blockade for LG polls: Bandula Gunawardana

President Ranil Wickremesinghe nor the government, have any intention whatsoever to differ the Local Government (LG) polls and as such it is up to the Election Commission (EC) to hold a free and fair election, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardana said today.

Air quality in Kandy still at unhealthy level: Heath Ministry Secy

Due to high emissions of carbon dioxide (CO 2) and dust particles from vehicles and factories, and with the recent weather conditions, the air quality in Kandy district has gotten worse, Environment Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe said.

SL bank opens vostro account in India to conduct bilateral trade in INR: Indian HC

Sri Lankan bank has opened vostro account in India with State Bank of India to conduct bilateral trade in Indian rupee, Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka said.

Kanjipani Imran released on bail

Underworld gangster Mohommad Najim Mohommad Imran alias Kanjipani Imran who was in remand prison was released on bail by Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekunawela today.

Treasury should state whether the nation can afford an election: Navin

The Treasury should state whether it is possible to allocate the ten billion rupees needed for local government elections, UNP’s Navin Dissanayake said today.

Appoint school committees if necessary, to check school bags: Minister

The Education Ministry is advised to appoint a committee consisting of school teachers, student leaders, and school development society representatives, if it is necessary to check the school bags, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said.

Green light to establish office for “Sri Lankans living abroad”

The cabinet of ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs to establish the proposed “office for the affairs of Sri Lankans living abroad” under the Presidential Secretariat.

Cabinet nod to introduce new VISA categories for Colombo Port City

The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to the proposal furnished by the Minister of Public Security to take necessary steps to introduce three new VISA categories for Colombo Port City.

Gazette issued revoking import restrictions on 10 items

An extraordinary Gazette notification was issued yesterday revoking the import restrictions on 10 items with effect from today, State Minister for Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said.

Developing IT industry as major source to earn foreign exchange: Kanaka Herath

A comprehensive program has been launched to make the IT sector a major foreign exchange earning industry in the country, Technology State Minister Kanaka Herath said.

Grade 5 exam results will be released within next two months: Exam. Dept.

The results of the recently conducted the grade five scholorship examination for 2022 are to be released within the next two months, Examinations Department Commissioner General L.M.D. Dharmasena said.

Northeast monsoon condition gradually establish over the island: Met. Dept.

While establishing the northeast monsoon condition over the island, the low-pressure area over the South Bay of Bengal is likely to move slowly west-northwestward towards the coast of Sri Lanka during the next three days, the Meteorology Department said.

Guna and Ladiya among 9 Lankans arrested from TN over smuggling to revive LTTE

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested nine Sri Lankans from the special camp for Sri Lankan Tamil refugees at Tamil Nadu’s (TN) Tiruchirappalli over their alleged involvement in drugs and arms smuggling to revive the LTTE.

1st batch of school uniform cloth leaves Chinese port

The Chinese government announced yesterday that the first batch of more than three million meters of school uniform cloth for Sri Lanka has been freighted from Shanghai, China, the Chinese Embassy in Colombo said.