Grandfather arrested over rape

A 12-year-old schoolgirl suffering from a urine infection was examined by the doctors, to find that she had been raped at times for two years by her grandfather.

Cardinal calling the shots in military appointments, charges Opposition MP

There is a sinister move by the government to extend the term of the current army commander until January 2028 following the request of the Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, Opposition MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake charged.

Govt. silence masks Rs 31bn cyber heist

Over US$ 88 million and 4 million Euros have been siphoned from Sri Lanka’s state coffers due to severe institutional negligence, a loss masked by official state silence until a recent Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) report exposed the crisis, according to an analytical article by Independent Researcher Dr Sanjana Hattotuwa.

Economic crisis hits marriages, parenthood

Delayed marriage and childbearing among young people should be understood as responses to current economic and social conditions rather than a rejection of family life, Professor Manori Kaluthantiri Weeratunga said.

19 investors eye Mattala Airport

A total of 19 investment proposals have been received under the Expression of Interest (EOI) process launched to attract investors to utilize the resources of the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA), the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation said.

Drug peddler gets 76 calls from customers while in police custody

Indicating the heavy demand for illegal drugs, a drug peddler who was arrested by the Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) established at Kandakuliya in Puttalam has received 76 telephone calls from his customers who wanted to purchase Ice (crystal methamphetamine) within the first day he was detained at the RDF unit.

CMC faces political drama amid dengue outbreak

The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) is facing political turmoil amid a dengue outbreak, with two members resigning from the Finance Committee, saying they cannot work with Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazaar and the ruling party members.

Beira stinks, public support sought to clean it

Deputy Minister Eranga Gunasekara has warned that Beira Lake has become severely polluted after years of rapid urban development, stressing that restoring the iconic water body will require both public support and government

US $ 2.5Mn cybercrime: was there any agency involved; CID urged to find

While concluding that US $ 2.5 million loan repayment drama has been a fraud which is more or less a cybercrime, the report of the probe carried out by the parliamentary Committee on Public Finance (COPF) has called for a further

BASL urges President to fill eight vacancies in Superior Courts without delay

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to take immediate steps to fill the longstanding vacancies in the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, warning that the continued delay could

Judicial retirement age extension move creates discontent- Joint Opposition

Joint Opposition Convener Prof. G.L. Peiris said the government’s proposal to raise the retirement age of Supreme Court judges through a constitutional amendment would amount to a serious assault on the country’s cherished

Ban all tobacco product sales to those born after 2010- SLMA tells President

The Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) and the Expert Committee on Tobacco, Alcohol and Illicit Drugs have urged the government to introduce a “Tobacco-Free Generation” policy that would prohibit the sale of all tobacco

5,000 kidney patients stuck in surgery queue

More than 5,000 patients are currently awaiting kidney stone removal surgeries in Sri Lanka due to the high demand for treatment and limitations in healthcare facilities, health authorities said.

Old Bogambara prison re-designated as prison by Gazette

The Government has officially re-designated the Old Bogambara prison premises as a prison under the Prisons Ordinance through a Gazette notification issued by Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara.

Supreme Court upholds Rs.1 Mn copyright damages award to Tilvin Silva

The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal filed by former Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa, thereby upholding a High Court judgment awarding Rs. 1 million in statutory damages to Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) General Secretary Tilvin Silva over a copyright infringement dispute.

Sri Lanka becoming international illegal gaming hub: COPF Chief

Making what he described as staggering disclosures on online gambling, MP Harsha de Silva told Parliament yesterday that Sri Lanka is becoming an international illegal gaming hub after Myanmar and Cambodia.

Dengue puts PHIs in tight spot as frontline health workers fall ill

Amid a worsening dengue outbreak, frontline health workers engaged in dengue control efforts are facing increasing challenges as more Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) themselves contract the disease

Special Ayurvedic medicines developed to combat dengue virus: Ayurveda Medical Officers

The Government Ayurveda Medical Officers’ Association (GAMOA) has claimed that special Ayurvedic medicines have been developed to combat the dengue virus.

Negombo Prison declared crime scene, no longer suitable to house inmates

The prison authorities determined that the Negombo Prison premises, which were damaged during the recent prison unrest, was no longer suitable to house inmates.

Spa raided; Couple arrested for filming clients, selling sex videos online

A couple and five others were arrested after police raided a spa in Bandarawela that was secretly running a brothel — and found hidden cameras filming clients.

Ravi Seneviratne fined Rs. 2,500 after pleading guilty in road accident offence

The Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, retired Senior DIG Ravi Seneviratne, was on Thursday (9) fined Rs. 2,500 by Mount Lavinia Magistrate Kanchana Neranjala Silva after pleading guilty to a charge of failing to avoid a road accident in connection with a traffic incident that occurred on Marine Drive, Wellawatte, in 2023 while he was allegedly driving under the influence of liquor.

Sri Lanka to make fresh U.S. engagement to ensure child labour-free export supply chains

Sri Lanka is planning fresh engagements with the United States (U.S.) in a bid to avert new tariffs linked to child or forced labour, with the country’s export authorities seeking to demonstrate that it deals with the possible import of raw materials or intermediary goods tainted with such concerns for export industries, an official said.

1993 murder case finally sees justice

Eight men convicted of murdering a woman by assaulting her with sharp weapons and clubs and causing grievous injuries to two others were today sentenced to death by Colombo High Court Judge Buddhika Sri Ragala.

It could have been nipped in the bud. Only if we had been given orders – Prison officer to Minister

A prison officer told Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara yesterday that the Negombo prison unrest which claimed the lives of several prison officers and inmates could have been prevented had timely orders been issued to contain the situation.

Locally made firearm to scare animals out in the market

A locally made firearm turned out by a young man in the Wellawaya area to scare giant squirrels, monkeys and macaques causing crop devastation was sold in Badulla town to the public.

Special police protection for 454 persons

Special police protection is being provided to 454 persons, including former MPs, former IGPs, retired judges, chief incumbent monks of several temples, a Bishop and a former First Lady, Parliament was informed yesterday.

Dengue vaccine has 90% effectiveness against type 2 virus – Expert

Consultant Paediatrician and Founder Clinical Head of the Centre for Clinical Management of Dengue & Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever in Negombo, Dr. Lakkumar Fernando, said an internationally approved dengue vaccine could

No casualties among foreign inmates in Negombo prison clash: Authorities

Prison authorities have confirmed that no foreign inmates sheltered at the Negombo Prison were injured or killed in the recent clashes. Officials said there were no casualties among foreign prisoners, including inmates from India and Australia, following the incident.

SRI LANKA’S NEXT IMF DECISION MUST BE ABOUT TRANSFORMATION, NOT ANOTHER RESCUE

Sri Lanka is once again approaching a consequential economic debate. As the present programme with the International Monetary Fund moves towards its concluding stages, the country will inevitably have to confront a difficult question:

Reforms introduced in 2023 led SL to be upper middle-income earning country: Harsha

Whilst highlighting that economic reforms made in 2023 had led Sri Lanka to a higher middle-income earning nation, opposition MP Dr Harsha de Silva said the task that lies ahead is to maintain that level.