Passport queues to end in a month: Immigration Dept.

Although the root cause of the prevailing passport queues is due to the mismanagement of the previous governments, the Department of Immigration and Emigration (DIE) will commit to clear all queues before Sinhala and Tamil New Year in April, an official said.

AG or AG’s Department will not be abolished: Nalinda

The position of the Attorney General or the Attorney General’s Department will not be abolished with the establishment of the proposed Independent Prosecutor’s Office, the government said today.

Autopsies conducted on tourists who died in Sri Lanka; Exact cause yet to be determined

The post-mortem examinations of two foreign tourists who died while vacationing in Sri Lanka were conducted on Monday and the exact cause of death is yet to be determined.

Power cuts till Friday

Short power cuts are expected to be imposed in several districts of the island at least till Friday, February 14, till the Norochcholai Power plant is repaired and connected back to the main grid, sources from the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) told the Daily Mirror last night.

Monkey clash leads to island-wide power outage

A group of monkeys who entered the Panadura Power Station had ended up in a spat, interfering with the power grids, causing an islandwide power outage, sources from the Power and Energy Ministry said.

Police reveal charges against three suspects repatriated from Dubai

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers today repatriated three wanted criminals including Nadakandage Upali alias ’ Rotumba Upali’ from Dubai to Sri Lanka this morning.

NPP Govt. heading for political appointments to key overseas missions

Despite past criticism of politicisation of the Sri Lanka Foreign Service, the National People’s Power (NPP) government is in the process of making political appointments to head key Sri Lankan missions abroad, Daily Mirror learns.

Cabinet approves Lufthansa Technik for SriLankan Airlines engine repairs

The Cabinet has approved awarding the contract for repairing CFM 56-5B engines of SriLankan Airlines to Lufthansa Technik (LHT)/Hamburg for four years.

Namal calls for probe into USAID-funded projects in Sri Lanka

SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa has urged the government to launch an investigation into projects and grants operated under USAID in Sri Lanka.

’We are all warriors on the same battlefield’: President

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today that all the people are warriors on the same battlefield in the quest to attain comprehensive economic, social and cultural freedom.

Minister Ananda Wijepala’s Parliamentary seat challenged in court

A writ petition has been filed before the Court of Appeal seeking a declaration that Minister Ananda Wijepala is disqualified from serving as a Member of Parliament and is therefore not entitled to hold office as an MP.

Harry Jayawardena passes away at 82

Sri Lankan industrialist and businessman Don Harold Stassen Jayawardena, popularly known as Harry Jayawardena, has passed away at the age of 82.

British woman dies at Kollupitiya hostel

A 24-year-old British woman reportedly died after being admitted to a hospital following a sudden illness while staying at a hostel on R.A. De Mel Mawatha, Kollupitiya.

Gazette issued on new luxury tax rates on private motor vehicles

A Gazette Notification (2421/41) has been issued by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his capacity as the Finance Minister, announcing the new luxury tax rates on private motor vehicles imported into the country effective from today (February 1).

Super diesel price to increase by Rs 18

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has announced that the price of super diesel will increase by Rs 18, bringing the new price to Rs 331 per liter, effective from midnight tonight.

Over 3,000 Sri Lankans face US deportation orders

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) has announced that as of 24 November 2024, a total of 1,445,549 non-citizens are on ICE’s non-detained docket with final orders of removal.

Female hotel officer injured after alleged abuse by Polish tourists

A female Executive Public Relations Officer at a leading five-star hotel in Wadduwa has reportedly fallen ill after an incident in which she was allegedly abused by a group of Polish nationals.

Constitutional bar strikes government

A constitutional bar stands in the way of the government’s move to prune perks and benefits of former Presidents as observed by the committee appointed to look into it, an informed source said.

Container congestion shows no sign of easing off: Will it impact food imports?

With congestion in the release of import containers at Colombo still showing no sign of easing off any time soon, there is fear whether it will trigger an impact on essential food items being imported.

Gazette issued to resume vehicle imports

An extraordinary gazette notification has been issued today on the import of vehicles, by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, exercising the powers granted to him as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.

’Let’s wait and see what happens’: Ranil

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe in response to an inquiry about the shortage of red rice and the soaring prices of coconuts by a group of residents in Galle yesterday, said, ’’Let’s wait and see what happens.

No one needs to worry about those arrested getting bail soon: President

Claiming that no one should be worried about persons who are arrested being released on bail soon, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the objective of the government is not to keep suspects in remand prison but to file cases before the High Court.

Yoshitha Rajapaksa remanded

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son, Yoshitha Rajapaksa, who was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department, has been remanded until January 27 after being produced before the Colombo Additional Magistrate.

No political witch-hunt behind Yoshitha’s arrest: Govt.

Claiming that Yoshitha Rajapaksa was not arrested just because he is former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said today law is implemented if anyone had purchased lands or property illegally or in suspicious manner.

Adani denies cancellation of Sri Lankan Wind Power projects

The Adani Group has refuted reports claiming the cancellation of its 484 MW wind power projects in Mannar and Pooneryn, labeling them as “false and misleading.”

Mahinda Rajapaksa files FR petition over security reduction

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has filed a Fundamental Rights petition, challenging the government’s decision to reduce his security detail without conducting a thorough security assessment.

Govt. struggles with shortages in stock and data

Amidst several contradictory statements coming from the NPP government ministers over the ongoing rice shortage in the country, it has come to light that the government finds itself in a quandary since it has no accurate data on last year’s paddy production.

Government sets limits for ministerial staff, vehicles and expenses

The President’s Secretariat has issued a series of instructions to all Ministry secretaries outlining the facilities and services to be provided to Ministers.

Better if MR leaves his residence without waiting till asked to: Nalinda

It is better for former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to leave his residence without waiting till he is asked to do so, Cabinet spokesman Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said today.

Price drop in imported vehicles challenges market amid tax hike

There will be a price drop in certain vehicles, challenging the existing vehicle market prices, as vehicles are imported into the country following an increase in taxes, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath said.