Gota fires back at Cardinal, rebuts allegations

5 hours ago - 13     - 3784

In a scathing rebuttal of allegations by Malcom Cardinal Ranjith regarding the Easter Sunday attacks, former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said Cardinal Ranjith either glosses over the responsibility of, or expressly absolves the two parties actually involved in the terrorist strikes.

Sri Lanka weighs Open Skies amidst plans for national carrier privatization

24 Apr 2024 - 20     - 5743

Sri Lanka is in a dilemma to decide whether to adopt an open skies policy or not in the event of divestiture of shares of the national carrier ‘SriLankan Airlines’, a top official said.

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SL on alert on possible genocide allegations by Canada

18 Apr 2024 - 26     - 9685

Sri Lanka is still at a loss to thwart the efforts by a city council in Canada to construct what it called a Tamil genocide monument, and to counter the allegations by the Canadian politicians, an informed source said .

Tax payers poised to cough up Rs.45 Mn on another debate on Easter attack

17 Apr 2024 - 26     - 2618

Tax payers will have to cough up as much as Rs. 45 million as the cost of conducting yet another three-day parliamentary debate on the Easter Sunday attack for the fourth time, with uncertainty looming whether it will be a meaningless exercise with key questions unanswered once again.

Debt restructuring with bondholders hits a snag with disagreement on two areas

16 Apr 2024 - 15     - 5514

Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring process with private bondholders is stuck with two aspects of disagreement, whereas it is well underway with bilateral creditors, a top official said yesterday.

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Sri Lanka Navy brings ashore seized ICE, heroin worth Rs. 3.7 billion

14 Apr 2024 - 23     - 2796

The Sri Lanka Navy brought ashore the seized narcotics, including 179 kgs and 906 gms of Crystal Methamphetamine (ICE) and 83 kgs and 582 gms of heroin, which were seized yesterday in the seas approximately 133 nautical miles (about 246 kms) off Dondra, south of Sri Lanka.

SLPP to take disciplinary action against GL, others

12 Apr 2024 - 22     - 3134

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) is to take disciplinary action against MP Prof. G.L. Peiris and others who have signed an agreement with the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB).

Sri Lanka shows signs of recovery but must maintain reform momentum: ADB

11 Apr 2024 - 25     - 1919

The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) annual flagship economic publication, the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) April 2024, forecasts Sri Lanka’s economy to record moderate growth of 1.9% in 2024 and 2.5% in 2025 following 2 consecutive years of contractions.

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Xi calls for fair, transparent environment for investment in Sri Lanka

11 Apr 2024 - 27     - 2681

Chinese President Xi Jinping , in his recent meeting with Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, has reportedly stressed the need for ‘fair and transparent’ environment for Chinese companies to invest in Sri Lanka.

Ranil likely to contest presidential election under new symbol: Presidential advisor

09 Apr 2024 - 63     - 3920

Incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe is likely to contest the Presidential election under an entirely new symbol other than the elephant or flower bud, Senior Presidential Advisor and UNP senior Ashu Marasinghe said.

Sri Lanka hard-pressed against time to conclude agreements for debt restructuring

09 Apr 2024 - 3     - 2840

Sri Lanka is hard-pressed against time to reach agreements with creditors including bondholders before June, when the third tranche of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) extended fund facility is expected, Daily Mirror learns.

Presidential Debate on Daily Mirror and Lankadeepa! Will candidates accept?

07 Apr 2024 - 60     - 3566

The Daily Mirror and Lankadeepa extends an invitation to the three main Presidential candidates - Ranil Wickremesinghe, Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Sajith Premadasa for a LIVE presidential debate on their economic and political policies and their pledges in moving the country forward if they win the upcoming Presidential election scheduled to be held in October.

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Man killed in police shooting in Mawanella

07 Apr 2024 - 9     - 1820

A 53-year-old individual has died in a police shooting while attempting to resolve a dispute in Padiyadora in Mawanella last night.

Maithri under fire, Parliament to demand full disclosure on Easter Sunday attacks

06 Apr 2024 - 30     - 4464

Former President Maithripala Sirisena who is at the centre of controversy over his latest remarks that he is aware of the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday carnage will be forced to place all his cards on the table when Parliament takes up a fresh debate on the matter during the next sitting week.

Foreigners overstaying visas and doing odd jobs

05 Apr 2024 - 58     - 9519

Foreign nationals who overstay their visas and do various odd jobs to earn money continue unabated with the authorities concerned hamstrung with the lack of resources to curb them, an official said.

Sri Lanka’s economy shows signs of stabilization, but poverty remains elevated

02 Apr 2024 - 22     - 2237

Sri Lanka’s economy is projected to see moderate growth of 2.2% in 2024, showing signs of stabilization, following the severe economic downturn of 2022 while the country still faces elevated poverty levels, income inequality, and labor market concerns, said the World Bank’s latest bi-annual update.

Easter Sunday attacks

AG’s Department has done its duty, other institutions should act: Minister

01 Apr 2024 - 13     - 1826

The Attorney General’s Department has implemented the action recommended by the Presidential Commission which probed the Easter Sunday attacks while it is up to other institutions to act, Minister of Justice Wijedasa Rajapakshe told Parliament today.

’Spas’ face imminent closure amid HIV scare

29 Mar 2024 - 21     - 6055

On the heels of the massive raid conducted on ’Spas’ in the Negombo area resulting in the detection of two HIV cases, illegal spas and Ayurvedic spas that secretly offer prostitution services are facing imminent closure in many parts of the island, Daily Mirror learns.

Abans PLC clarifies: Local McDonald’s franchisee not under its umbrella

27 Mar 2024 - 35     - 10045

In an attempt to set the record straight, Abans PLC today said the local franchisee of the US fast food giant McDonald’s is not a part of its umbrella.

Arrest Maithri: Opposition MPs

23 Mar 2024 - 46     - 6899

Opposition MPs Mano Ganesan and Kavinda Jayawardene today called for the immediate arrest of former President Maithripala Sirisena and to interrogate him regarding the remark he made on Friday, stating that he is aware of the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday attacks.

Sri Lanka sees spike in tourist arrivals this year

20 Mar 2024 - 24     - 6029

Owing to President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s economic initiatives and the peaceful environment fostered within the country, the arrival of foreign tourists has risen, Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. Chairman Athula Galkatiya said.

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State Astrologers’ Committee refutes allegations of faulty auspicious times for New Year

18 Mar 2024 - 30     - 3940

Refuting allegations of faulty auspicious times during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, the State Astrologers’ Committee justified the designation of auspicious times for performing Sinhala New Year rituals at night, claiming that they wanted the most suitable time for the rituals despite practical difficulties.

Small elite group trying to stop the ’change’: Harini Amarasuriya

17 Mar 2024 - 73     - 5945

Claiming that the change of power is not going to be easy, NPP MP Harini Amarasuriya said a small elite group is doing everything in their power to stop the change from happening.

HRCSL directs Royal College to rectify wrong prefects’ appointments

16 Mar 2024 - 52     - 21435

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has directed Royal College, Colombo 7 to rectify the alleged wrong appointments made to the Prefects Council for 2024.

Keheliya seeks bail

15 Mar 2024 - 27     - 2827

Former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, currently held in remand custody in connection with the alleged import of substandard Immunoglobulin injections, has sought bail from the Colombo High Court.

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Migrated doctors return easing shortage concerns

12 Mar 2024 - 72     - 10251

Doctors who had previously left Sri Lanka for various reasons are now returning to the country, providing a hopeful alleviation of the ongoing shortage of doctors, the Health Ministry said.

SLPP expresses concerns over President’s direct dealing with individual MPs

11 Mar 2024 - 40     - 5428

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) is reported to have reiterated its concerns with President Ranil Wickremesinghe over his direct dealings with individuals of the party bypassing its hierarchy.

Gotabaya’s book is an attempt to paint image of innocence: National Unity Alliance

10 Mar 2024 - 60     - 5360

The book released by Gotabaya Rajapaksa on an alleged Conspiracy to Oust Him is the latest attempt by the “president who ran away” to paint an image of innocence,National Unity Alliance said.

Homicide of six Sri Lankans in Ottawa:

Funeral rites according to wishes of victims’ families: Foreign Ministry

09 Mar 2024 - 4     - 5285

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is in communication with the family members in Sri Lanka of the six Sri Lankans who were murdered in Ottawa, Canada and is facilitating their requests with the relevant Canadian authorities through the Sri Lankan High Commission while respecting their privacy.