A cigar-manufacturing plant in Co Roscommon, Ireland will close in May and move its operations to Sri Lanka with a loss of 38 jobs for the town of Ballaghaderreen in Co Roscommon, The Irish Times reported on Friday.

Two more bodies were recovered from the debris of the Meethotamulla garbage dump that collapsed on hundreds of houses, taking the overall death toll to 19, officials confirmed a short while ago.

At least one person was shot dead and three others injured following a shooting incident in the Mamadala area in Ambalanthota this evening, police said.

Sri Lanka is one of the most religious countries in the world as 99 percent of Sri Lankans who were questioned in a survey had said they feel religious, the Telegraph reported today. 

Rescue operations were underway at the Meetotamulla garbage site. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachi

The death toll at the Meethotamulla garbage dump has risen to 17 by this afternoon, the Police said. It said at least 13 people were injured in the mishap. 

The government today said that no more garbage will be dumped at the Meethotamulla site, where at least 17 persons were killed following the collapse of a part of the garbage mountain yesterday.

Oil anointing ceremonies were held throughout the country this morning. Picture shows oil anointing ceremony that was held at the Hunupitiya Gangaramaya Temple, Colombo. Pix by Samantha Perera  

Ten more persons died while receiving treatment at the National hospital, following the Meetotamulla garbage dump collapse, bringing the death toll to ten, hospital sources said.

The body of a 12-year-old boy who was buried under the pile of garbage at Meetotamulla was found by the rescue workers this evening, hospital sources said.

Taiwan will streamline the visa application process for visitors from South Asian countries including Sri Lanka and Southeast Asian countries, the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Taiwan has said on Wednesday.

A section of the Meethotamulla garbage mountain had collapsed this afternoon destroying a large number of houses and injuring several people, residents said. 

A 37-year-old Pakistani national who was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake last evening on charges of attempting to smuggle in 1.12 Kgs of heroin had been handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau at (PNB) the Airp

The Meteorology Department today warned navel and fishing communities to be vigilant because of the possibility of sudden roughness of the sea associated with sudden increase of wind speed up to 70-80kmph.

Up to 36 suspected Islamic State militants were killed in Afghanistan when the US dropped the largest non-nuclear bomb ever used in combat, the Guardian reported quoting the Afghan defence ministry on Friday.

Two men aged 30 and 32 were found stabbed to death at Elibichchiya in Pannala last night, Police said. A neighbour of the victims was arrested on charges of the killings. 

As the first post war Sinhala and Tamil New Year dawns in Sri Lanka we at Daily Mirror online wish you all a peaceful, prosperous and joyous Avurudu and Puthandu

South Asian nations are vulnerable to emerging infectious diseases such as Zika and Ebola, and their level of preparedness is inadequate to protect public health, The Hindustan Times reported quoting a new health analysis.

Days after Rajinikanth cancelled his trip to Sri Lanka to inaugurate a village following protests in Tamil Nadu, the village has been inaugurated on Wednesday, India Today reported.  

Alien life could exist within our solar system as NASA reveals Saturn's moon Enceladus has all of the ingredients for life after discovery of hydrogen gas, the Daily Mail reported a short while ago.

The Tamil Nadu police at Mandapam rescued a Sri Lankan woman and her three children stranded on a sand dune off the Dhanushkodi coast in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday morning, The Times of India reported.

The Public Health Department of the Colombo Municipality yesterday warned consumers to be cautious when purchasing sweetmeat during this Avurudu season.

A member of the Joint Opposition laments that the Bill titled “Foreign Exchange” deprives and abrogates the power of parliament to have full control over public finance.

Sri Lanka High Commissioner Ibrahim Sahib Ansar fears for his safety if he has to testify in the Sepang Sessions Court in an assault trial, the High Court in Kuala Lumpur heard.

Two persons were shot dead by an unidentified gunman in the Kothalawala area on the Malabe-Kaduwela main road this morning, police said.

Coming weeks will be crucial for Sri Lanka as important discussions could take place with the European Union in reviving the GSP plus status, government sources said.

Sri Lanka will make sure no military activity is conducted at its ports, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has said in Tokyo on Wednesday as China invests heavily in roads and harbours in the country, the Reuters reported.

The National Education Commission appointed to make policy proposals on education has proposed that the school education be truncated at Grade 12 and admit children to school at the age of 4+ as a move to minimise unruly behaviour among adult student

Issues of Sri Lankan Tamils need quick solutions but if the government fails in giving solutions, the people will feel fed up with this government as well, Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan has said in Vavuniya on Wednesday. 

Japan is to appoint a special representative to coordinate development activities in Sri Lanka, an official from the Japanese government has informed Prime Minister on Tuesday.