COLOMBO (News 1st); Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne unveiled the newly-erected war monument at the 4th Fast Attack Flotilla (4 FAF) Headquarters in the Naval Dockyard, Trincomalee today (30th September 2021). This War Monument will remain to be a symbol of the noble sacrifice of the fallen war veterans of the 4th […]
COLOMBO (News 1st); Showery condition is expected to enhance over most parts of the island during tomorrow and the day after tomorrow (1st and 2nd October) due to low-level atmospheric disturbance in the vicinity of Sri Lanka. Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in most parts of the island. Heavy showers above 100mm can […]
COLOMBO (News 1st); The Department of Motor Traffic said that the services of the Narahenpita and Werahera offices will re-commence from Friday (1), strictly adhering to the health protocols. The Department said an appointment should be made by calling 011 2 677 877 before visiting the premises. It added that the activities of district offices […]
COLOMBO (News 1st); Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa says that those who want to reveal the truth behind the #Datascam are being summoned to the CID instead of persons who committed the crime. Speaking to the media today (30), Premadasa said that the national database is something that should be protected, as it has sensitive information that […]
COLOMBO (News 1st); Approximately 30 prisoners at the Welikada Prison have launched a protest atop a prison building citing multiple demands. Prisoners held at the Welikada Prison have been staging protests from time to time seeking their release or to have their sentences reduced.
COLOMBO (News 1st); The ‘Critical Engagement, the climax of the joint multi-pronged tri-service Field Training Exercise (FTX) of the Army, ‘Cormorant Strike XI – 2021’ which executed its final amphibious mock attack capturing the simulated hostile bases in Kuchchaveli, off Trincomalee on Wednesday (29) with participants from foreign militaries, was witnessed by General Shavendra Silva, […]
COLOMBO (News 1st): The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is due to hold it’s 55th Annual Meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka next year. The meeting will be held from 02 to 05 May, 2022, after two consecutive years of holding the meeting virtually. ADB will hold its Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors under the theme ‘positioning a […]
COLOMBO (News 1st); Foreign Secretary of India, Harsh Vardhan Shringla is scheduled to visit Colombo in early October, the Hindu says citing official sources, as India and Sri Lanka seek to engage at high levels amid a perceived strain in ties. Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris also met with the External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on […]
COLOMBO (News 1st); Inter-Provincial travel restrictions will have to continue, though quarantine curfew is lifted on Friday (01), said Army Commander General Shavendra Silva. He said the Director-General of Health Services will issue the necessary guidelines that need to be followed when the Quarantine Curfew is lifted. “Sri Lanka has been successful in fully vaccinating […]
Inter-Province Travel Restrictions to Continue – Army Commander
COLOMBO (News 1st); India’s Adani Group signed a build-operate-transfer (BOT) agreement with its local partner John Keells Holdings PLC and the Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA) on Thursday (30 September), to develop the West Container Terminal (WCT) in Colombo. The signing event for the $700 million was held virtually, and 51% of shares of WCT […]
Adani Group signs agreement to develop West Container Terminal
COLOMBO (News 1st); A consignment of Pfizer vaccine doses was airlifted to the island this morning (30). This stock of vaccines, which was made available for Sri Lanka under the COVAX facility, contained 408,650 doses. State Minister of Pharmaceuticals, Supplies and Regulation Prof. Channa Jayasumana said that this is the largest consignment of Pfizer vaccines ever […]
COLOMBO (News 1st); Controller General of Imports and Exports Damayanthi Karunaratne says that permission has been granted to import white sugar from today (30). She stated that facilities have been provided to open letters of credit for this purpose. Sugar importation was previously banned for three months. Meanwhile, Rear Admiral (Retd.) Ananda Peiris, Chairman of the […]
COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Police said an investigation was launched with regard to the officers attached to the Criminal Investigations Department who acted irresponsibly by summoning newspaper editors and journalists, to record statements for an investigation. The investigation is taking place upon a directive given by the Inspector General of Police. Sri Lanka Police […]
#GarlicScam : Police investigating CID for summoning journalists
COLOMBO (News 1st): The Chairman of the Elections Commission, Attorney-at-Law Nimal Punchihewa has called on the Parliamentary Select Committee on Elections to amend the necessary laws and hold the Provincial Council elections expeditiously. Appearing at the committee yesterday (29), he also said that it is not appropriate to maintain Provincial Councils without people’s representatives. In addition, […]
Amend necessary laws to hold PC elections – Elections Commissioner
COLOMBO (News 1st): The State Ministry of Transport says that despite the curfew being lifted tomorrow (01), it has decided not to operate any trains for the next two weeks. State Minister Dilum Amunugama stated that bus services are also planned to only be operational in certain provinces. He said that these decisions were taken at […]
COLOMBO (News 1st); The Party leaders have decided that Parliament will convene from the 4th to the 8th of October 2021. This was confirmed by the Chief Government Whip.
COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Police arrested two more suspects in connection to the murder of a drug trafficker and underworld gangster named ‘Sunshine Sudda’. The suspects, identified as a 31-year-old tourism businessman from Mirissa and a 21-year-old three-wheeler driver from Mirissa were arrested for aiding and abetting in the crime. On the 3rd of […]
COLOMBO (News 1st): Samagi Jana Balawegaya Parliamentarian Manusha Nanayakkara has arrived at the Criminal Investigations Department to record a statement today (30). The Digital Forensics Division of the Criminal Investigations Department previously also sent summons to MP Manusha Nanayakkara for failing to respond to its inquiry over the comments made with regard to the #DataScam. The […]
COLOMBO (News 1st): The Navies of Sri Lanka and India discussed measures to be taken to prevent Indian fishing vessels from entering Sri Lankan waters and assaults and destruction of fishing gear of local fishermen by Indian fishermen. The Navies discussed several key points to curb smuggling across Indian waters and the entry of Sri […]
Indian and SL Navies discuss measures to curb fishermen assaults, smuggling
COLOMBO (News 1st); The validity period of all driving licenses, which were due to expire from 01 April 1 until 30 September, has been extended by one year, the Minister of Transport says. Accordingly, the Ministry of Transport has issued an extraordinary gazette notification stating that the validity period of all driving licenses which are due […]
COLOMBO (News 1st); The Consumer Affairs Authority issued an Extraordinary Gazette rescinding the Maximum Retail Price for rice.
COLOMBO (News 1st); JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake alleges the government is taking the side of the mafia. “The true nature of the President is now coming to light,” he said noting that the government’s charades on rice raids, rice database, and control prices are being exposed. He said the same goes for the Agriculture […]
COLOMBO (News 1st); Rear Admiral (Retd) Dr. Sarath Weerasekara, the Minister of Public Security has instructed the IGP to investigate the Criminal Investigation Dept as to why they carried out inquiries on journalists, related to the Garlic Scam case, despite being instructed not to do so. In the same Media Release, the Minister has handed […]
Minister instructs Criminal Investigations Dept to be investigated
COLOMBO (News 1st): TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran says that the decision to halt the GSP+ facility to Sri Lanka comes as the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) is yet to be repealed. ” They said that they have already made the decision to remove the facility. The PTA has not been repealed yet, but is […]
COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has announced the suspension of organic fertilizer imports from China. According to the Agriculture Ministry, this decision was reached after laboratory tests revealed the presence of harmful bacteria in the organic fertilizer samples. However, the government will ensure there is no shortage of fertilizer for the […]
COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Court of Appeal on Wednesday (29) ordered the Director-General of Wildlife to suspend the registration of 15 elephants released as per the orders issued by the Colombo Additional Magistrate’s Court and the Matale Magistrate Court. Applications were filed with the Court of Appeal challenging the orders to release the elephants […]
COLOMBO (News 1st): Sri Lanka Cricket will host the Pakistan ‘A’ team in October and November for two four-day games and three ODIs, Sri Lanka Cricket said in a release. The Pakistan ‘A’ team will arrive in the island on 21 October. The tour is due to take place in a Bio-bubble environment, Sri Lanka Cricket […]
COLOMBO (News 1st); In the latest twist to the controversial LNG deal signed between the Sri Lankan govt and the US company, the Minister in charge has said “he didn’t know” that the deal was to be signed. Gammanpila said the issue at hand is not the transfer of 40% of shares of the Yugadanavi […]
COLOMBO (News 1st); A group of Sri Lankan fishermen rescued four Somalian fishermen who were lost at sea for almost four months. Two Multi-Day fishing vessels that set out to sea from the Beruwal Fisheries Harbour in early September had come across the stranded Somalians in the Northern Seas. Thereafter, the two vessels had boarded […]
4 months lost at Sea: Somalians rescued by Sri Lankan fishermen (Special Report)
COLOMBO (News 1st): The Ministry of Health states that a new set of health guidelines will be issued on how the public should behave when the country reopens in the near future. Director General of Health Services, Dr. Asela Gunawardena stated that a new set of health guidelines is currently being prepared for the public to […]
(News 1st); North Korea fired a projectile off its east coast yesterday (28), which the State News identified as a newly developed hypersonic missile, is the latest in a series of new weapons tested by the isolated state. North Korea fired the missile towards the sea off its east coast, South Korea’s military said, as Pyongyang […]
COLOMBO (News 1st): A minor oil leak is being reported from the X-PRESS PEARL shipwreck, the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) said on Wednesday (Sept. 29). Based on calculations, less than 20 liters of oil leaks from the vessel daily, Attorney-at-Law Dharshani Lahandapura, the Chairperson of the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) told News 1st. […]
(News 1st): Lawmakers in Japan’s ruling party began voting for the next prime minister today (29), ahead of a General Election due in weeks. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership vote seems set to be a showdown between popular vaccine minister Taro Kono and consensus builder Fumio Kishida. Kono, 58, a U.S.-educated former defense and foreign […]
COLOMBO (News 1st): The Ports Authority has decided to hand over nearly 500 containers of sugar to Lanka Sathosa. Nihal Seneviratne, Vice President of the Sugar Importers’ Association stated that his association has agreed to provide the sugar containers to Sathosa. He also mentioned that these sugar consignments were imported to the country when a ban […]
Ports Authority to handover 500 containers of sugar to Sathosa
CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Friday (24) ordered the State government to ensure that no elephant is taken into captivity, except for treatment if found unable to support itself in the wild. The bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice PD Audikesavalu issued the orders on a petition filed by an activist, Rangarajan […]
COLOMBO (News 1st); A group led by a Chinese national closed down a walking path in Colombo Fort on Tuesday (28). The walking path stretching from the Secretariat halt to the entrance of the Colombo Port was closed down from opposite the Sri Lanka Customs Headquarters. This walking path was built in 2015. Following inquiries, […]
COLOMBO (News 1st): A total of 72,293 vaccine doses were administered in Sri Lanka yesterday (28). Accordingly, 5,119 first doses and 17,648-second doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, 28,770 first doses and 19,171-second doses of the Sinopharm vaccine, 1,491 first doses and 42-second doses of the Pfizer vaccine, and 32 first doses and 20-second doses of the Moderna vaccine […]
COLOMBO (News 1st): A report containing recommendations on recalling public servants for duty once the country opens, will be handed over to Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa today (Sept. 29), the Ministry of Public Services, Provincial Councils, and Local Government said. Discussions were held recently with several parties including Heads of State Institutions, Health, and Transport […]
Report on recalling public servants for duty to Finance Minister
COLOMBO (News 1st); The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has taken measures to release US $ 50 Million to two state banks to facilitate the release of essential goods that are held at the Colombo Harbour. Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal told News 1st that instructions were given to release more funds to the […]
CBSL releases US $ 50 Mn to facilitate release of essential goods
COLOMBO (News 1st); The Sri Lankan Health Ministry has announced an updated version of Quarantine Measures for Travelers visiting Sri Lanka.
COLOMBO (News 1st); Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay called on Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday (28). The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka said the meeting took place at Temple Trees and was to seek the Prime Minister’s guidance for developing bilateral ties in a number of areas of mutual interest.
(PICTURES) Indian High Commissioner meets Prime Minister for talks
COLOMBO (News 1st); The 2019 Easter Attacks was linked to a conspiracy to depose Former President Maithripala Sirisena, said SLFP General Secretary & State Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera. He told reporters that if authorities speak to the person from a foreign intelligence service who took away the motherboard of Zaharan Hashim’s mobile phone, it would be […]
Easter Attacks linked to conspiracy to depose Maithri – Dayasiri
COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Health Ministry announced that with effect from the 1st of October 2021, all fully vaccinated arrivals will no longer require an On Arrival PCR, if their departure PCR is negative. The Health Ministry said its Technical Committee had decided that foreign nationals who are not Fully Vaccinated will be permitted […]
Fully Vaccinated arrivals will not require On Arrival PCR, if departure PCR is negative
COLOMBO (News 1st); Harmful Bacteria has been detected in a fresh sample of Chinese Organic Fertilizer, said the Director General of Agriculture Dr. Ajantha De Silva on Tuesday (28). He told News 1st that samples from a Chinese company tested by authorities once again proved the presence of bacteria and he maintains the position to […]
Harmful Bacteria detected in fresh sample of Chinese Org. Fertilizer
COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka will re-open schools in phases from October 2021. Piyal Nishantha De Silva, the State Minister for Women and Child Development told reporters that upon receiving instructions from the Director-General of Health Services, schools will re-open in four phases. Phase One: Schools with less than 200 students with classes from Grades […]
COLOMBO (News 1st); The Central Bank states that there is a significant drop in export proceeds being brought into the country, by exporters. CBSL said that compared to the monthly average exports as reported by Customs (goods flow) of US dollars 985 million during the eight months ending August 2021, the monthly average repatriation of […]
COLOMBO (News 1st); The Criminal Investigations Department had summoned several Senior Journalists over a complaint made by Minister Bandula Gunawardena to the CID. The Criminal Investigations Department had informed the Senior Journalists to be present at 09 AM on the 30th of September at Investigation Unit 02 of the CID. However, Media Minister Dullas Alahappruma […]
CID summons journalists for reports on #GarlicScam; PM intervenes
COLOMBO (News 1st); The Software Engineer responsible for deleting files from the eNMRA database on the Lanka Government Cloud was arrested on Tuesday (28), by the Criminal Investigations Department. Sri Lanka Police said the Software Engineer of Epic Lanka Technologies was arrested after confirming that he had accessed the database and intentionally deleted the files. […]
The Department of Meteorology says showers or thundershowers are likely in parts of the Northern, North-central, Eastern and Uva provinces t...
