Buddhist monk shot dead at temple in Gampaha

A 45-year old Buddhist monk Kalapaluwawe Dharmarathana Thera has been shot dead with a T-56 weapon at a temple at Malwathu Hiripitiya in Gampaha yesterday. Police said four unknown persons who arrived in a car claiming that they were officers of the Criminal Investigation Department carried out the shooting. The incident

Government U-turn resolves doctor dispute over allowance

The government’s abrupt decision to suspend the circular on increasing the Disturbance, Availability and Transport (DAT) allowance for doctors yesterday sparked concern among health professionals, leading to a threat of an indefinite strike. Howe

Transfer vehicle ownership to avoid complications in fine issuance via CCTV identification

If vehicle ownerships are not transferred to the active user, the charge sheets will be sent to the address of the previous vehicle owner

2024 intermediate class admissions Apply directly to respective schools, excluding grades 1, 5, 6, and A/L

It was also informed that the Education Ministry will not issue admission letters for schools

Online Safety Bill debate House unanimous on regulating social media but differs on how to do it

The debate on the Online Safety Bill which is seen as a controversial piece of legislation got underway in Parliament yesterday with almost all MPs from both sides agreeing that social media should be regulated while disagreeing on how to get about it. Claiming that soc

IT professionals for the people launches SMS ‘e-Referendum’ on Online Safety Bill

While expressing grave concerns raised by critics that, by imposing imprisonment and fines against ill-defined ‘prohibited statements’, the Online Safety Bill may cripple opposition election campaigns, silence journalists reporting on corruption, and may severely impact the IT industry, the IT Professionals for the People (IT4P) has launched an SMS ‘e-referendum’, allowing citizens to use a s

Former President Maithripala’s daughter’s house in Battaramulla burgled

The husband of the former President’s daughter discovered the break-in upon returning home and promptly notified the police

Substandard human immunoglobulin scam NMRA, CID seize computers, medicine samples from infamous plant in Seeduwa

The search operation lasted for about five hours before the plant was sealed off again by the NMRA officials

Anti-Terrorism Bill creates separate legal regime: SJB

Filing a special determination petition in the Supreme Court, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) General Secretary alleged that the proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill would create a separate legal regime to other penal statutes in respect of similar co

New ITAK leader commemorates dead LTTE cadres as first task

Jaffna District MP S. Sridharan who was elected as leader of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) first visited Kanakapuram cemetery yesterday and commemorated the deceased LTTE cadres. Mr. Sridharan who succeeded Mr. R. Sampanthan as the party leader is a die-hard apologist of the LTTE.

Beliatta slaughter: Yukthiya operation nothing but a farce: SJB

Many SJB MPs call for the arrest of top drug dealers through Yukthiya

UN experts call on Sri Lanka to suspend ‘Yukthiya’ operation

Says the current context of severe repression against suspected drug offenders is deeply worrying

Rs.5.5 Trillion government assets undocumented, warns MP

Emphasises that even routine expenditures contribute to the undocumented assets

Manslaughter in Beliatta

Initial investigations into the manslaughter of five individuals, including the leader of the ‘Ape Jana Bala Party,’ Saman Perera, who were killed in a shooting in Beliatta, revealed that the underworld gang led by Kosgoda Sujee may have orchestrated the shooting in retaliation for a murder in Tangalle. Acting IGP D

Yukthiya not driven by personal agenda: Deshabandu

Despite criticism from several organisations including the UN regarding potential human rights violations during the ongoing countrywide crackdow

Controversial monk ‘Vishwa Buddha’ expelled from monkhood

The monk, who was arrested once again by the CID was remanded till January 26 by the Gangodawila Magistrate

Changing IMF agreement under a SJB government is a mere slogan : State Minister

At a time when the country was in trouble, the agreement made with the IMF was good and not bad for the country and the economy

NPP tightrope between rhetoric and reality

It is common for political leaders of all hues to fine-tune their speeches with rhetorical language as a vote catching, crowd pulling exercise

Catholic Church to declare those who died in Easter Sunday attacks as saints: Cardinal

The Catholic Church is to declare those who died in the Easter Sunday attacks as saints, Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said over the weekend. Speaking during a service at St. Sebastian’s Church, Kandana, Cardinal Ranjith said the first step towards this move will be taken on April 21 this year when the country commemorates the fifth anniversary of the Easter Su

Yukthiya should aim to arrest major drug dealers : SF

There is no point in arresting hundreds of ordinary people without arresting main drug traffickers in Sri Lanka

Police arrest three hospital staffers over assault on Onco Surgeon

The Galle Police arrested three minor hospital staff members including a female over the alleged assault on Krishantha Perera, the Onco Surgeon at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital.

Residents warned of fraudulent calls

An organized gang has been operating in various areas of the country, defrauding people by making telephone calls and posing as police officers, attempting to extort money, the police said yesterday.

Govt. move to pass Online Safety Bill this week Narrow effort to win elections by suppressing public’s right to expression – Media, TU, Civil Society collective

We firmly believe a President who was not elected through a public mandate and a parliament consisting of rejected public representatives does not have a moral right to pass repressive legislation and impose new laws

Carrots, beans and leeks can be supplied at Rs. 300 to Rs. 350 a kilo, if imported : Minister

Imported eggs were increased by Rs. 8 from today due to the increase in VAT and other taxes

Tamil Nadu Siva Sena to construct replica of Thirupathi Kovil in Chilaw

The temple is proposed to be constructed on a plot of land attached to the Munneswaram Kovil in Chilaw. They intend to seek the Sri Lankan government’s approval for the same

Murky reasons for milk production drop in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s dairy industry is facing a major crisis, with around 14,000 small-scale farms shutting down and milk production declining sharply as revealed yesterday by the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) in Parliament.

Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir gears up for inauguration with symbolic stone from Sri Lanka

A stone taken from the stream flowing near Seetha Amman Kovil in Nuwara-Eliya where Seetha was kept in captive by Ravana according to epic Ramayana, is also enshrined in the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, India to be inaugurated on January 22.

Police vow stringent action against SI in shooting incident

Police said the 59-year old Sub-Inspector and a Constable had chased behind the lorry and pulled it over for a spot inspection where the Sub-Inspector’s firearm had discharged

NPP not expecting to legalize prostitution: Harini will amend laws to protect their rights

Sex workers who were subjected to exploitation were further harassed due to some laws

JVP, CPA challenges constitutionality of Anti-Terrorism Bill

The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) and its Executive Director, Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu has filed a special determination petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Constitutionality of the bill titled “Anti-Terrorism”. The bill was published in the gazette notification on September 15, 2023 but was only tabled in the Parliament on January 10, 2024.