The Central Bank yesterday ordered the licensed banks to surrender 25 percent of the foreign currency they receive from a variety of sources on a weekly basis, raising the hitherto prevailed requirement of 10 percent and 20 percent in certain cases.

In what is seen as the latest move to extend relief to the pandemic-affected borrowers, the Central Bank has asked the banks to extend the pause on the recovery actions on loans and leases till March 31, 2022.

The Sri Lanka Television Broadcasting Digitization Project is to be officially launched tomorrow afternoon, the Mass Media Ministry said

The flight operations of Sakurai Aviation Ltd have been suspended with immediate effect until the investigations conducted into the recent emergency flight landings are completed, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Director General said.

The Sri Lanka Railway Station Masters’ Union (SLRSMU) has decided to withdraw from transporting fuel, cement, and flour from today with immediate effect.

A decision has been taken to temporarily close down the Sri Lanka High Commission in Abuja, Nigeria; the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Frankfurt, Germany; and the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Nicosia, Cyprus; with effect from December 31, th

Fifty percent of the public do not come forward to get their booster doses assuming there is no risk of COVID presently in the country, Public Health Officers’ (PHI) union Head Upul Rohana said.

To bring about co-existence between communities, politicians need to be rehabilitated, ’One Country, One Law’ Presidential Task Force Head Ven. Galagoda Atte Gnanasara Thera said.

Former MP Ranjan Ramanayake who is serving a prison sentence for contempt of court, told MP Harin Fernando that he expects to be freed in the new year to initiate his higher studies. 

A private light aircraft of Sakurai Aviation Cessna 172 has made an emergency landing in the Dagonna area, Kimbulapitiya this afternoon, the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLFA) Spokesman said.

Discussions between the government and the Railways General Manager (GMR) failed today and the Sri Lanka Railway Station Masters’ Union (SLRSMU) has decided to continue with the current trade union action.

Following the recent increase in fuel prices, the transport ministry is planning to increase the minimum bus fare to Rs. 16 for the first section, a senior official in the ministry said.

After a year of visible strain in its ties with Colombo, New Delhi may finally have some reason for cheer. In a month’s time, Sri Lanka will ink the long-dragging deal with India to jointly develop the Trincomalee oil tank farms — a coveted proje

The Kegalle Divisional Crime Bureau has arrested a suspect in connection with hijacking a number of vehicles which were initially reserved for hiring after intoxicating drivers.

In the midst of various controversies and conflicts in the power and energy sector, almost all the trade unions of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) that represent nearly 25,000 employees have come together to form a trade union collective under one

Secretary to the President, Dr. P. B. Jayasundara has tendered his resignation letter to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, following objections raised by the cabinet of ministers who have urged him to step down, but the resignation is yet to be accepted

The Government is ready for political horsetrading to replenish its numbers in parliament if any allied party deserts it, Chief Government Whip Highways Minister Johnston Fernando said yesterday.

Health authorities have predicted that a another wave, which would be triggered by the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus, could be witnessed in the country in future.

Sri Lankans may be brimming with hope to welcome 2022 looking past all the hardships brought about by the pandemic and mishandling of its economy, but one may have to practice some self-restraint in having any optimism as the country is carrying forw

The Central Bank last week decided to extend the worker remittance incentive scheme, which offered an additional Rs.10.00 for each dollar converted, through January 2021 from an earlier end date set at December 31, 2021.

The government plans to takeover the unutilised land plots of the Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) in six months by re-enacting the Revival of Underperforming Enterprises and Underutilised Assets Act, according to Labour Minister Nimal Siripala d

The STF raided a large scale cannabis cultivation, grown illegally on 2 acres of land in the vicinity of the Veheragala Maha Ela in Lunugamvehera National Park and seized 18,815 cannabis plants weighing over 1,481kgs.

Following mounting criticism on social media as to why Defence Ministry clearance was sought for Sri Lankan nationals to marry foreigners, the government said this was due to increasing reports of foreigners arriving in Sri Lanka to reside here on sp

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Nobel Peace prize laureate who helped end apartheid in South Africa, has died aged 90.

The Registrar General’s Department has issued a circular making a Security Clearance Report mandatory in the event of a marriage between a Sri Lankan citizen and a foreigner.

The four police officers attached to the Thirukkovil Police Station who were shot dead by a Police Sergeant, were promoted to their next rank by IGP Chandana Wickramaratne today.

Two suspects were nabbed with 571 kg of Kerala marijuana (ganja) smuggled from India, worth Rs. 150 million at Kovalam in Karainagar, Jaffna midnight yesterday.

The upper house of parliament on Friday unanimously passed a resolution condemning the recent lynching of Sri Lankan national factory manager, Priyantha Kumara, in Sialkot by a mob accusing him of committing blasphemy.

Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga has instructed the authorities to take steps to lift the restrictions imposed by the Wildlife Department on boat owners who takes passengers for whale wathing in Mirissa.

The government will spend Rs. 85,000 million next year targeting rural development, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.