Ranil arrives at Bribery Commission

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe appeared before the Bribery Commission and is testifying at the moment, his office confirmed.

SL must chart its own path in tourism: SLTDA chief

Sri Lanka must forge its own path in global tourism rather than attempting to compete with high-volume travel destinations such as Thailand and Malaysia,

Illicit cigarette market surges nearly 20% to 1.16 bn sticks in 2024

Illicit cigarettes continued to erode the tobacco monopoly of Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC, with a significant 19.6 percent Year-on-Year (YoY) growth and soaring to 1.16 billion sticks in 2024.

Devotees’ unclaimed luggage to be handed over in Kandy

The Civil Security Department is set to launch a programme to hand over uncollected luggage left behind by devotees who attended the exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic at the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy, the Central Province Chief Secretary’s Office said.

Appointments for CT, MRI scans at National Hospital cancelled

The Picture Archiving and Communication System (PAC System) at the National Hospital has been out of service for the past two weeks leading to the suspension of appointment scheduling for CT and MRI scans, sources said.

Over 600 tonnes of garbage in Kandy

Devotees who visited Kandy during the exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic have haphazardly disposed more than 600 tonnes of garbage into the environment by 12.00 noon yesterday.

China to send top Minister to SL amid trade roiled by Trump’s tariffs

In the wake of Sri Lanka trying hard to mitigate the impact from the chaotic announcement of reciprocal tarrifs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao is expected to visit Sri Lanka in June in a bid to foster trade links, an informed source said.

Sri Lanka not ready to host SAG 2026 – NOCSL

The 15th South Asian Games (SAG) in 2026 is in doubt due to the current political crisis between rivals India and Pakistan.

Five injured in lightning strike at Basawakkulam Lake

Five people were admitted to the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital after being injured by a lightning strike while bathing in the Basawakkulam Lake, the Anuradhapura Headquarters Police said.

Moldovan tourist drowns in Habaraduwa Hotel pool

A 36-year-old Moldovan national who was staying at a tourist hotel in Liyanagoda, Habaraduwa died after drowning in the hotel’s swimming pool, the Habaraduwa Police said.

Gradual increase in 2024 A/L pass rate: Exams Dept.

The Examinations Department today announced that the pass percentage of the 2024 GCE Advanced Level (A/L) Examination has shown a gradual increase compared to previous years.

Treasury will earn highest ever revenue in 2025: President

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today that the Treasury will record 2025 as the highest ever revenue generating year in Sri Lankan history.

Kandy faces disease risk after Tooth Relic exposition

The Public Health Inspectors’ Union has warned that Kandy is at risk of spreading serious infectious diseases because the city cannot handle the large number of people coming for the exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic.

Nine people killed after car plows into crowd at Vancouver Filipino festival

A driver plowed a car into a crowd at a street festival celebrating Filipino heritage in Vancouver on Saturday night, killing at least nine people and injuring others.

President pledges international cricket stadium to north

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said an international cricket stadium will be constructed in the north.

Titanic survivor’s letter sold for £300,000 at auction

A letter written by a Titanic passenger days before the ship sank has been sold for a record-breaking £300,000 ($400,000) at auction in the UK.

Images of Pope Francis’ tomb released

Images of Pope Francis’ tomb at the Santa Maria Maggiore church in Rome have been released.

Man falls to death off 60-foot pole while acting Hindu cultural drama

A man who demonstrated the main character of a drama (Ponnan Sangar), which depicted the Hindu culture, fell to death off a 60-foot pole in Nanu Oya this morning.

Acting IGP assigns Police team to support probe into Tennakoon

The Acting Inspector General of Police has appointed four officers, including an Assistant Superintendent of Police from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), to assist the three-member committee investigating the suspended Inspector General of Police, Deshabandu Tennakoon.

Kandy MC labourers given special opportunity to worship Sacred Tooth Relic today

Steps have been taken to provide a special opportunity for the labourers of the Kandy Municipal Council, who continuously engaged in the cleaning of Kandy city, to venerate the Sacred Tooth Relic today.

Court bans protest near exam centres

The Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court issued an order prohibiting several individuals from entering or remaining near examination centres where competitive exams are being held today (April 27) for graduate recruitment to supplementary health service courses.

Huge blast at key Iranian port kills 14 and injures more than 750

At least 14 people have been killed and 750 injured in a massive explosion at one of Iran’s key ports, authorities say.

Govt under pressure to announce Sri Lanka’s stand in case of Indo-Pak war

The government is under pressure from the opposition to declare Sri Lanka’s position in the event of further escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan.

Veteran singer Saman De Silva passes away

Veteran singer Saman De Silva, a renowned and much-loved Baila artist, has passed away at the age of 69, family sources confirmed.

India’s threat to suspend water sharing treaty with Pakistan offers lessons to SL seeking energy connectivity- Gammanpila

India’s threat to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan offers valuable lessons for Sri Lanka to reconsider the energy sector connectivity with India, former Minister Udaya Gammanpila said yesterday.

Over 150,000 students qualify for university entrance

A total of 177,588 students who passed the 2024 GCE Advanced Level (A/L) examinations have qualified for university entrance, the Examinations Department announced.

2024 A/L exams results to be released tonight

The results of the 2024 G.C.E. Advanced Level (A/L) examinations will be released tonight, the Examinations Department announced.

61 Kandy schools to reopen from Monday after closing for Sacred Relic exposition

The 61 schools in the Kandy zone that were used as lodgings for security forces personnel during the special exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic at the Dalada Maligawa will reopen on Monday (28).

Homagama Police track down New Year’s street racers

Following an investigation by the Homagama Police, two cars involved in a street race on the High Level Road during the inauspicious time at dawn on New Year’s Day were identified, police said.

WFP runs out of food stocks in Gaza as border crossings remain closed

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has depleted all its food stocks for families in Gaza.