SL Copper Ceylon Bromley wins best restaurant at Curry Awards in UK

Sri Lankan restaurant Copper Ceylon in Bromley won the Best Restaurant award in the London Suburb category at Monday’s British Curry Awards.

Power cut schedule until tomorrow announced

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) today approved a two hour and 20-minute power cut until tomorrow (2).

15 percent of teacher’s pay spent on saree, study finds

15 per cent of a teacher’s salary is spent on purchasing sarees and related garments to conform with the Education Ministry’s dress code, a study found.

Colombo inflation decelerates to 61% in November amid easing of food prices

The annual headline inflation in Colombo district for November fell for the second consecutive month to 61.0 percent from 66.0 percent in October as food prices eased off, though the prices of services remained rather sticky.

Central Bank to soon begin diagnostic study on banks to identify cracks in asset quality, capital

The Central Bank will soon launch a study to identify the undue cracks in the banking sector asset quality and thereby its spillover effects into banks’ regulatory capital coming from the pandemic, which became more pronounced with the economic crisis.

Mein Schiff 5 becomes first cruise ship to dock at HIP this year

This year’s first cruise ship to dock at HIP was TUI’s Mein Schiff 5, which berthed at 8 a.m. yesterday and left for Pulau Penang Island, Malaysia at 8 p.m.

Listen to people, not just to technocrats to resolve issues in economy

Sri Lanka needs to listen more to what its people are saying, instead of paying heed to only technocrats, said senior economist Prof. Shantha Devarajan. By not paying attention to the call of citizens, the real problems of the national economy will not be solved, he cautioned.

Asalanka, Wellalage help Sri Lanka clinch thriller to level series

Sri Lanka won by 4 wickets against Afghanistan in the third and final ODI at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium to level the series.

200mn from Indian credit line for emergency health sector needs: Keheliya

The US dollars 200 million from the Indian credit line is to be used to fulfill emergency needs of the health sector, Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella told the ministry consultative committee today.

Kelani Valley railway time table to be amended from Dec. 5

There will be an amendment to the train timetable of the Kelani Valley railway line as of December 5, Railways Deputy General Manager (DGM) Gamini Seneviratne said.

No decision to increase electricity tariffs: PUCSL chairman

No decision has been taken for an electricity tariff hike, as news articles circulating regarding cabinet approval are insufficient to cover the loss of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said.

Final outcome of COP27 discouraging: Prez

President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the agreements reached at Climate Change Conference (COP 27) failed to place the nations of the world on a complementary and progressive course of redress, Presidential Media Division (PMD) said.

2hr 20min power cut until Dec.15, no night time Power cut in Southern and Ella Tourism zones

The Power and Energy Ministry will impose a two hour and twenty minutes island wide power cut which will continue till December 15.

Sensitive groups warned air pollutants from neighbouring countries blanket SL

Sensitive people are advised to exercise caution in this situation due to the presence of air pollutants generated in India and other neighbouring countries, according to National Building Research Organization (NBRO) Senior Scientist H.D. Sarath Premasiri.

Seeking public signatures to release IUSF, IUBF convenors

The Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) today distributed leaflets and collected public signatures in front of the Fort railway station for a petition demanding the immediate release of IUSF convenor Wasantha Mudalige and IUBF convenor Ven. Galwewa Siridhamma Thero and to abolish the PTA. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi

Separate rest area for local, foreign tourists coming to Yala

A separate rest area will be constructed for local and foreign tourists coming to Yala to rest during the day.

Remove taxes....

The Women for Rights Organization held a protest, demanding the government remove taxes on school equipment, including stationery, and reduce the cost of living, which had become a burden for people in the country. The protest was held at the Polduwa Junction, in Battaramulla. Pix Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

Thilini and Janaki further remanded: Borelle Sirisumana Thera and Isuru granted bail

Owner of Thico Group Private Ltd Thilini Priyamali and businesswoman Janaki Siriwardena were today ordered to be further remanded till December 13 by Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court in connection with alleged financial fraud incidents.

Mahapola allowance to be increased: Minister

Steps would be taken to increase the Mahapola allowance to facilitate the university students who are eligible for the scholarship, Trade Minister Nalin Fernando said today.

15-hour water cut in Colombo

Water supply will be interrupted from Friday (02) at 10.00 pm until 1.00 pm on Saturday (03) in Colombo due to an essential renovation project of the Ambatale Water Treatment Plant, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) said.

AG’s dept. delays filing case against Express Pearl: State Minister

Attorney General’s Department has delayed filing a case against the company that owned the ill-fated ship Xpress Pearl that caught fire while in Sri Lankan waters, State Minister Arundika Fernando told Parliament today.

Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin dies at age 96

Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin died on Wednesday at the age of 96 of leukaemia and multiple organ failure, Chinese state media reported.

Couple assaulted in Hikkaduwa, one dead

A 31-year old man was killed and his wife injured when a group of individuals travelling by motorcar had assaulted them with swords at Wewala junction in Hikkadua this morning.

Sri Lanka’s Debt to China Close to 20% of Public External Debt -Study

Sri Lanka owed Chinese lenders $7.4 billion - nearly a fifth of its public external debt - by the end of last year, calculations by the China Africa Research Initiative (CARI) published on Wednesday showed, an estimate higher than many others.

Staff Grade Officers circulars withdrawn with immediate effect

The two Government circulars issued in 2019 and 2022 stipulating a dress code for Staff Grade Officers had been revoked with immediate effect, Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils, and Local Government Ministry said.

At least 10,000 IT engineers migrated since the crisis: CSSL President

The brain drain has increased decisively due to the current economic crisis in the country, and at least 10,000 of the cream of ICT engineers have migrated since the crisis started, Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL) President Damith Hettihewa said.

US$ 200 Mn from Indian Credit Line to be used for emergency health sector needs: Keheliya

The US dollars 200 million from the Indian credit line is to be used to fulfill emergency needs of the health sector, Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella told the ministry consultative committee today.

World Bank assures continuous support to Sri Lanka: PM

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena held discussions with World Bank Country Director Chiyo Kanda and senior Strategy & Operations officials about the progress of ongoing projects and proposed future projects.

Several sections of Registration of Persons Act amended

While issuing an extraordinary gazette notification (2308/03), the government amended several sections of the Registration of Persons Act.

Qatar says worker deaths for World Cup ’between 400 and 500’

A top Qatari official involved in the country’s World Cup organization has put the number of worker deaths for the tournament “between 400 and 500” for the first time, a drastically higher number than any other previously offered by Doha.