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COLOMBO (News 1st): Veteran singer Indrani Senaratne passed away at the age of 83 due to a sudden illness. The singer passed away this evening (June 23) while receiving treatment at the National Hospital. She is the wife of the famous singer Sisira Senaratne. Veteran Singer...

Swiss win moves Vergne closer to second Formula E title

REUTERS: Jean-Eric Vergne took another step towards becoming the all-electric Formula E series’s first multiple champions by winning a Swiss ePrix that had to be stopped and restarted after a mass pile-up on Saturday (June 22). The Frenchman, starting from pole position, secured...

Security forces kill four militants in Indian Kashmir

REUTERS: Indian security forces killed four militants in a gunfight on Sunday (June 23) that ensued after they surrounded the holed up insurgents in Kashmir’s Shopian district. Local police said that they launched an operation in Shopian on Saturday (June 22) evening, in which...

Research to evaluate living conditions of children in orphanages

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Department of Probation and Child Care Services in affiliation with the Department of Census and Statistics have taken measures to evaluate the living condition of the children in orphanages islandwide. Director General of the Department of Probation...

335.7kg of beedi leaves recovered in Jaffna

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Naval personnel attached to the Northern Naval Command recovered 335.7kg of kendu leaves (Beedi leaves) packed in nine sacks in Paraithivu island, Jaffna on the 22nd. The stock of Kendu leaves were handed over to the Customs Office, Jaffna for legal...

Batticaloa campus: Manager of a state bank summoned

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Presidential commission appointed to look into fraud and corruption in state institutions during the past 4 years has issued summons on a manager in a state bank requesting to provide a statement to police regarding the Batticaloa campus. The commission...

Navy arrests four for using explosives for fishing

COLOMBO (News 1st): A group of naval personnel arrested four suspects aged between 27- 33 years who were engaged in fishing using explosives in Mannar yesterday (June 22). The suspects have been identified as residents of Mannar A dinghy, an outboard motor and 358kg of illegally...

Six arrested for treasure hunting in Balangoda

COLOMBO (News 1st): Six suspects who engaged in treasure hunting around the Bolthumbe Maha Saman Devalaya in Balangoda have been remanded till July 2nd. The Police said that the suspects include a Nilame of the devalaya, a Shaman and a monk. Investigations are currently underway...

4th Fast Attack Squadron commissioned as 4th Fast Attack Flotilla in Trincomalee

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The 4th Fast Attack Squadron of the Sri Lanka Navy was commissioned as the 4th Fast Attack Flotilla in Trincomalee. The grand commissioning ceremony was held under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena at the Naval Dockyard, Trincomalee....

18th and 19th amendments should be abolished-President

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The President states that the 18th and 19th constitutional amendments need to be abolished if a prosperous nation is to be rebuilt. President noted this at an event in the BMICH. 18th and 19th amendments should be abolished-Presiden...

Full-time counselling teachers for schools

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Ministry of Education has decided to attach a full-time counselling teacher to every school. Additional secretary of the ministry, M Ratnayake noted that no school has a full-time counselling teacher employed. He added that students who need counselling...

4 year old daughter and father drown in Kirinda

COLOMBO (News 1st) – A father and his 04-year-old daughter drowned when they were dragged into the sea by the strong currents in Kirinda, Yala. According to Police, the incident occurred when they had gone to the beach this morning. Police further noted that the mother...

Railway strike concludes ; token strike every Thursday

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The strike action launched by several trade unions of the Department of Railways concluded at midnight yesterday after 2 days. According to the convener of the Alliance of the Railway Operation Supervisory Officers’ Union Lal Ariyaratne,...

Youth dies in train accident

COLOMBO (News 1st) – A youth died last night in a train accident in Hikkaduwa. Police stated that the deceased was hit by a train travelling to Galle. The 24-year-old victim is a resident of the Gonupinuwala area. The remains of the deceased are currently at the morgue of Karapitya...

World Widows’ Day : Invisible Women- Invisible Issues

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Today marks International Widows day. According to the UN, over 258million people in the world are widows. Issuing a report on International Widows’ Day, the UN stated 1 out of every 10 widows is suffering from abject poverty. This year’s theme is “Invisible...

Landslide warnings in five districts

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The National Building Research Organization (NBRO) stated that 5 districts are facing risks of landslides due to prevailing rainy weather conditions. Senior Scientist of the landslide studies unit of the NBRO Dr. Wasantha Senadheera said the districts...

Nine dead in a plane crash in Hawaii

REUTERS: Nine people died in a plane crash in Hawaii on Friday (June 21) the Hawaii Department of Transportation said. Cellphone footage from the scene shows the wreckage of the plane by the side of the road, engulfed in flames. There appeared to be no survivors, the Department...

Roger Federer closes in on 10th Halle title

REUTERS: Roger Federer is just two matches away from winning a tenth title at the Halle Open after downing Roberto Batista Agut in three sets Friday (June 21). Federer advanced after surviving a mid-match scare to defeat Bautista Agut 6-3 4-6 6-4 and reach the last four for...

Mick Jagger back on stage following heart surgery

REUTERS: Mick Jagger swaggered back to the stage on Friday (June 21) in his first concert after undergoing heart surgery in April as the Rolling Stones kicked off a delayed North American tour. The veteran British band opened its No Filter tour in Chicago at the city’s 61,500...

President vows not to change decisions regarding the environment

COLOMBO (News 1st): President Maithripala Sirisena states that he will not change the decisions he took regarding the environment despite negative comments. The President made this statement while attending the “Polonnaruwa Buddhi Mandapaya” programme this morning (June 22)....

Strike causes Rs. 19 mn loss to railway

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Department of Railways has reportedly suffered a loss of Rs. 19 million due to the protest launched by railway employees. Railway Superintendent Dilantha Fernando said that the general income per day for the department is between Rs. 11 – 15 million....

Six Indian nationals attempt to smuggle Rs 3 Mn worth of gold

COLOMBO (News 1st): Six Indian nationals who attempted to smuggle a haul of gold to Chennai, India have been taken into custody by the Sri Lanka Customs at the BIA. Customs spokesperson, Sunil Jayaratne states that the value of the gold is Rs. 3 million. The suspects had tactfully...

Several police officers transferred with immediate effect

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Police Headquarters has taken steps to transfer several police officers with immediate effect. Police media spokesperson SP Ruwan Gunasekara said that the Senior DIG of the Western Province Nandana Munasinghe has been transferred as the Senior DIG of...

04/21 committee to end investigations next month

COLOMBO (News 1st): The investigations carried out by the special committee appointed to look into the 04/21 terror attack is due to end their probe by next month. Chairman of the committee Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri states that a comprehensive report will then be submitted...

Sluice gate of Laxapana reservoir opened

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) states that a sluice gate of the Laxapana reservoir was opened due to the prevailing heavy rains. The Centre urges the residents of the lower areas of the reservoir to be vigilant. Sluice gate of Laxapana reservoir o...

Teldeniya residents demand drinking water

COLOMBO (News 1st): A group of locals in Teldeniya staged a protest seeking for a solution for their prevailing drinking water issue. The protestors urged that the locals of several Grama Niladhari divisions belonging to the Teldeniya Elecotarate division face massive difficulties...

PM to be summoned before the committee probing 04/21 attack

COLOMBO (News 1st): The special committee appointed to probe into the 21st April terror attacks is due to summon Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe before the committee. The list of the people that the committee intends to summon in future for statements includes the name...

Strong winds to prevail over the coming days

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Department of Meteorology states that the prevailing windy condition over the island and showery condition in the south-western part is likely to continue during the next few days. Further, the department forecasts the possibility for the occurrence...

Train strike to be called off at midnight

COLOMBO (News 1st): The train strike launched by employees belonging to several grades of the railway trade unions is due to end by midnight today (June 22). The 48-hour strike action that was launched on June 20th was regarding the dysfunctional cabinet paper that was...

17 year old drowns in Katuneriya

COLOMBO (News 1st): A 17-year-old boy drowned in the Katuneriya, Marawila sea. The police said that three others had accompanied the person who drowned. The missing person is a resident of Lindula. 17 year old drowns in Katuneriy...

Two arrested with knives and foreign liquor

COLOMBO (News 1st): In a raid carried out in Horethuduwa, Panadura two suspects were arrested along with nine illegal knives and 32 bottles of foreign liquor. The police said that the raid was conducted with the Army from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm yesterday (June 21). The suspects...

Sri Lanka – Japan bonds grow stronger

Colombo (News 1st) During a meeting with Dr Hiroto Izumi, the Japanese Prime Minister’s Special Advisor, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said they made great progress in Japan-Sri Lanka economic cooperation. Issuing a statement, the Prime Minister’s office said he met with...

Amendments to land act: President adamant on safeguarding people’s rights

Colombo (News 1st) A discussion on amendments to the land act was held at the presidential secretariat yesterday. The meeting was chaired by President Maithripala Sirisena. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Ministers Dr Rajitha Seneratne, P. Harrison, Gayantha Karunathilake,...

Strategy to destabilize country started with the bond scam: Bellanwila Dhammarathana Thero

Colombo (News 1st): Ven. Bellanwila Dhammarathana Thero, Chief Incumbent of the Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya expressed the following views during a conference held in Colombo. “Today’s situation might change by tomorrow. We are living in such an unstable condition. Day...

Train strike steams ahead

Colombo (News 1st) The strike action launched by several trade unions of the Department of Railways from midnight yesterday, is still underway. Many trains that were due to operate last evening, were cancelled. The general public is facing inconveniences due to the ongoing...

What happened to the 04/21 committee interim report?

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Extraordinary Gazette notification banning the National Thawheed Jamaath, Jamathei Millath Ibrahim and the Vilayath As Seylani groups were passed in Parliament without a vote in parliament today (June 21). A debate on providing compensation to the victims...

Tourism sector employees stage protest due to dysfunctional loan schemes

COLOMBO (News 1st): Several employees of small and medium tourism industry engaged in a protest today (June 21) in Ethukala, Negombo. The protestors charged that their jobs are at risk due to the prevailing declining trend in the tourism sector following the 04/21 attacks....

“Government should take over Batticaloa campus” – MP Ashu Marasinghe

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education has unanimously recommended for the Batticaloa campus to be taken over by the government under emergency regulations. Speaking on the matter UNP MP Professor Ashu Marasinghe said that an agreement was signed...

Bathiudeen challenges Weerawansa: Prove link to terrorism

COLOMBO (News 1st): Directing an open challenge in parliament to MP Wimal Weerawansa, the Leader of the All Ceylon Makkal Congress Rishard Bathiudeen spoke on the statement made by MP Weerawansa against him on the 18th of this month. He claimed that the parliamentarian had...

First ever modern cable laying vessel built in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Colombo Dockyard delivered the first ever modern cable laying vessel built today (June 21). This ship is the biggest vessel both price-wise and length-wise and is the first ship of its class to be built here in Sri Lanka. The cable laying vessel is 113.1...

A hint on the UNP Presidential candidate

COLOMBO (News 1st): Speaking at an event held in Kahawatta yesterday (June 20), Minister Thalatha Athukorale said that they are all anticipating that Sajith Premadasa will emerge as the next president. She continued to say that no one should hold any doubts on the matter since...

Mujibur Rahuman not satisfied with 04/21 investigations

COLOMBO (News 1st): Speaking at a media briefing held at Temple Trees today (June 21), UNP MP Mujibur Rahuman said that they cannot claim that they are satisfied with the outcome of the ongoing investigations. He continued to say that since investigations are been carried out...

Promised compensation for 04/21 attacks delayed

COLOMBO (News 1st): The government claims that steps have already been taken to compensate the victims of the 04/21 attacks. However, the victims of the incident allege that the government has to date, not provided some of them with any sort of compensation. Crishentia Perera,...

Cardinal Ranjith visiting Rome recalls the terror attack two months ago

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith recalled the 04/21 attacks during his visit to Rome, yesterday (June 20). The Rome Reports News Agency reported that his Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith spoke to the journalists prior to the...

Remembering Micheal Jackson on his 10th death anniversary

REUTERS: Michael Jackson fans around the world are gearing up to mark the tenth anniversary of the death of the King of Pop. But almost 10 years after his sudden death, Jackson’s legacy has been under fresh scrutiny since the release of a recent documentary about alleged child...

Andy Murray marks a successful return with doubles win

REUTERS: Britain’s Andy Murray made a successful return to action after six months out following hip surgery as he partnered Feliciano Lopez to a first-round doubles win at the Queen’s Club championships on Thursday (June 20). The 32-year-old, five-times a winner of the singles...

Spain striker Fernando Torres retires from soccer

REUTERS: Spain’s World Cup winning striker Fernando Torres announced his retirement from football on Friday (June 21), bringing an end to a glittering 18-year career. Torres, who scored more than 100 goals across two spells at his boyhood club Atletico Madrid, also played for...

Train strike: Eight trains deployed for office travel

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Railway Control Room states that eight trains have been deployed for the office staff despite the ongoing train strike. Trains from Fort-Rambukkana, Fort-Polgahawela and Fort-Mahawa have been deployed. The train from Pettah-Chilaw, Maradana-Matara and...

AG requests for a tripartite judge bench for Welikada inmate shooting