Investment climate: U.S. flags urgent reforms for growth

The U.S. State Department recently released its 2025 Investment Climate Statements for each country. The statement on Sri Lanka is, once again, an eye-opener.

Mephedrone detected in Sri Lanka for the first time

Sri Lanka has detected the highly dangerous synthetic stimulant drug ‘Mephedrone’ for the first time, and a foreigner has been arrested.

Sri Lanka currently explores nuclear energy, IAEA notified

Sri Lanka informed the International Atomic Energy Authority at its General Conference in Vienna that the country is currently exploring nuclear power as a reliable, low-carbon energy source to diversify its energy mix and address the dual challenges of climate change and energy security, according to a statement from the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

High Posts Committee commended, but Foreign Ministry’s delays raise serious concern

Following Parliament’s High Posts Committee’s demonstration and its commitment to accountability by halting the nomination of H.M.V.B. Vijitha Bandara Herath to a diplomatic posting, citing grave allegations ranging from falsification of official records to the unlawful use of a government-issued passport.

Women more vulnerable to AI taking over human jobs than men: United Nations

Women’s jobs are more at risk from artificial intelligence (AI) than men’s, according to a new United Nations report. Nearly 28 per cent of women’s roles globally could be threatened by AI, compared with 21 per cent of men’s.

Underworld figure Nadun Chinthaka alias “harak kata” has been prevented from revealing bribe seeking cops - his father says

Nelson Mervin Wickramaratne, the father of Nadun Chinthaka, commonly known as Harak Kata claims that his son suspects that he is being unjustly held in detention under PTA to prevent him from revealing details of senior police officers and politicians who had sought bribes.

Only two out of five people are computer-literate in Sri Lanka

Only two out of five people are computer-literate in Sri Lanka in 2024, with 64.1 per cent of Sri Lankans unable to use a computer, according to statistics released by the Department of Census and Statistics. The Department said the

Girlfriend’s double life exposed: love triangle drama ends up at CID

A young woman has filed a complaint against one of her lovers, alleging that he had secretly recorded a video of her upper body and shared it with another man with whom she was also romantically involved. The complaint was

Archchuna agitated over introducing LGBTQ tourism

Jaffna District MP Ramanathan Archchuna was seen agitated over the decision to promote LGBTQ tourism in Sri Lanka, while calling it is absurd for the government to act against corporal punishment while promoting LGBTQ. He

Sri Lanka endorses project to promote LGBTIQ tourism

Sri Lanka Tourism has officially endorsed a project initiated by rights organisation EQUAL GROUND to promote and develop LGBTIQ tourism in the country.

Govt. compelled to control social media to avert hate speech, insults and provocation: Minister

Government is compelled to control social media with a view to preventing hate speech, insults and provocations through amending the Online Safety Act and by introducing new regulations, Minister of Public Security Ananda

Middle East countries eye Sapugaskanda refinery expansion; CPC seeks strategic partnerships

Some countries in the Middle East have taken a keen interest in investment in the expansion of the Sapugaskanda refinery, and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), which has now called for Expressions of Interest (EOI), will

DM article on Navy comes to limelight in Parliament

Daily Mirror story titled ‘Sri Lanka Navy struggles to meet modern maritime standards’ published on August 15 came into limelight in Parliament yesterday when SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa referred to it in order to highlight an issue pertaining to suppressing drug trafficking.

X-Press Pearl Local agent tells SC it lacks resources for first tranche payment

Sea Consortium Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, the local agent of the MV X-Press Pearl, has informed the Supreme Court through an affidavit that its directors and principal executive officers, on their own, lack the ability and resources to raise a sum of USD 250 million to make the first tranche payment required by the Supreme Court judgement delivered in connection with the X-Press Pearl disaster.

Archchuna wants Parliament’s public toilet to be open at night

Police officers on duty in Parliament face difficulties as the public toilet in the Parliament Complex is padlocked at night, Jaffna District MP Ramanathan Archchuna said yesterday.

Breast cancer claims three lives daily in SL- health officials

Sri Lanka sees approximately 15 new breast cancer cases daily, with around three women dying from the disease each day, health authorities revealed yesterday.

Bimal proposes Rs. 5,000 grant for school leavers to enjoy movies, beaches

Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake yesterday proposed that students who complete their Advanced Level examinations be granted Rs. 5,000 to engage in recreational activities such as watching a movie or visiting the beach.

Five Buddhist monks killed

At least five Buddhist monks were reported dead after a cable car broke and fell down at Na Uyana Aranya in Pansiyagama, Melsiripura, Kurunegala, hospital sources said. Initial investigations began at time this report went to press.

Young fans flock to see Women’s World Cup trophy

Schoolchildren gathered around the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Trophy, which was on public display outside the Colombo Lotus Tower yesterday.

MPs occupy official residences in Madiwela for nominal monthly rent of Rs.2,000

It was revealed yesterday that approximately 111 Members of Parliament are residing in official housing units at the Madiwela housing scheme, paying a nominal monthly rent of just Rs. 2,000.

Judge who issued arrest warrant on Wasantha Samarasinghe transferred: Dayasiri

Mount Lavinia District Court judge, who gave an order to arrest Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe and others, was transferred to Kesbewa District Court just after two weeks of the order, SJB MP Dayasiri Jayasekara alleged in Parliament yesterday.

Presidential Secretariat upholds rejection of RTI request on President’s domestic travel costs

The Designated Officer at the Presidential Secretariat has upheld the Information Officer’s earlier decision to reject an information request made by a YouTuber under the Right to Information (RTI) Act regarding the expenditures incurred for domestic travel and accommodation by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake during the past 12 months.

“You are talking like an idiot’’ – Archchuna clashes with Police again

MP Ramanathan Archchuna clashed with police after being asked to remove his car, which was reportedly parked illegally near the Fort Railway Station.

Safety of high-rise buildings questioned in Parliament

Safety of high-rise buildings in Colombo and its suburbs came to the limelight in Parliament yesterday with an opposition MP asking whether local bodies have the firefighting capacity in an emergency situation.

Govt. keeps mum on politicians linked to underworld

In the wake of public pressure to reveal names of politicians said to have been linked to underworld and the drug network, the government yesterday said disclosing the names of politicians divulged by suspects during interrogations

Quack arrested after 20 years of posing as medic

A 54-year-old man who had allegedly been posing as a doctor for nearly two decades was arrested in Egoda Uyana, Moratuwa on Saturday.

Three Pakistanis arrested for robbing driver

In what appeared to be a rare tactic employed in robberies, three Pakistani nationals have been arrested for allegedly robbing a lorry driver of Rs.90,000 after rendering him unconscious using a chemical-laced Rs. 5,000 currency note.

NMRA breaks silence on decade-long delay in cancer treatment machines

The National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) confirmed that a decision has been reached regarding the long-delayed procurement of five Linear Accelerator Radiation Therapy Machines, with an official announcement to be made in due course.

Govt. heading for one-party rule, let’s defeat it: Sajith

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has requested all the opposition parties to unite in resisting what he describes as a growing effort by the current regime to establish a one-party system in Sri Lanka.

CEB unions reject gazette

Ceylon Electricity Workers’ Union (CEWU) General Secretary Prabath Priyantha has warned the government that the union does not recognise the extraordinary gazette declaring all electricity-related services as essential. He said the trade union action will continue until justice is ensured for CEB consumers.