COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Health Ministry issued fresh guidelines that will be in effect from the 1st to the 15th of December 2021.
Sri Lanka issues new guidelines to be followed from 1st to 15th Decembe...
Tuesday, November 30, 2021
President appoints committee to probe gas explosions
COLOMBO (News 1st); President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed a committee to investigate the reasons for the recent domestic gas explosions reported from many parts of the country. The President’s Media Division said the committee is expected to inquire into these incidents...
“Fair Play Award” for SL at World Military Wrestling Championship
COLOMBO (News 1st); The Sri Lankan Team under the leadership of Air Commodore Udula Wijesinghe was adjudged as the winners of the “Fair Play Award” at the recently concluded 35th CISM World Military Wrestling Championship held in Teheran, Iran. The Sri Lankan Team was made...
EU & UNODC gift narco detection machines to Navy
COLOMBO (News 1st); Deputy Head of Mission Europe Union, Thorsten Bargfrede and representatives of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) handed over 04 Portable Backscatter X-ray Machines to Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne at the Navy Headquarters...
Multiple gas explosions, including at a local government member residence
COLOMBO (News 1st); More than a dozen gas explosions were reported on Monday (29) and Tuesday (30) from several parts of Sri Lanka. Galle: The gas cooker in a house located in Imaduwa, Galle exploded on Monday (29) night while the residents were preparing dinner. No injuries...
Bill to be presented to legalize hemp (Kansa) exports
COLOMBO (News 1st); A bill will be presented to Parliament within the next three months to legalize the exports of Hemp (Kansa), said Sri Lanka’s State Minister of Indigenous Medicine Promotion, Rural and Ayurvedic Hospitals Development, and Community Health. Sisira Jayakody...
Manju Lalith to replace Mahinda Samarasinghe in Parliament – Elections Commission
COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Elections Commission has decided to appoint Manju Lalith Warna Kumara to the Parliamentary seat left vacant following the resignation of Mahinda Samarasinghe. A statement noted that the Elections Commission reached the decision on Tuesday (30)...
Ministerial Consultative Committee to meet on Gas issue
COLOMBO (News 1st); An emergency meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Trade will be held tomorrow (01) at 09.00 am in Parliament. The Committee will take into account the concern regarding the use of gas cylinders.
Ministerial Consultative Committee to...
Mirrisa: Where have all the Whales gone?
COLOMBO (News 1st); Whale Watching Boat operators in Mirissa, a coastal village in Southern Sri Lanka complain that there are no more whales in the deep seas of the coast. The seas off Mirissa in Sri Lanka became internationally famous as one of the few locations in the world...
A Radical Shift Needed
COLOMBO; Most people in Sri Lanka are fully aware that a growing number of the republic are protesting and publicly complaining of a myriad problems. To be fair Sri Lanka’s economy has always remained a little over the danger zone and it would be safe to say it has been for...
NO Lockdown during festive season – Cabinet Spokesperson
COLOMBO (News 1st); There will be no lockdown during the festive season, said Joint Cabinet Spokesperson & Minister (Dr) Ramesh Pathirana on Tuesday (30). Speaking to reporters at the weekly Cabinet Media Briefing, the Minister said that a majority of the country’s population...
Sajith calls for Criminal Inquiry into gas explosions
COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa on Tuesday (30) requested the parliament to call for a Criminal Investigation into the incidents of exploding gas cylinders, reported from across the country. He requested that the CID conduct a Criminal Investigation...
Cabinet green light to import 200,000 MT of rice from Myanmar
COLOMBO (News 1st); The Sri Lankan Cabinet of Minister has granted approval to import 200,000 Metric Tonnes of rice from Myanmar on the basis of a Government to Government agreement. The agreement between the governments of Sri Lanka and Myanmar would see that a Metric Ton...
CEB launches investigation into Power Outage
COLOMBO (News 1st): The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has launched an investigation into the power outages reported in various parts of the island on Monday night (Nov. 29). The General Manager of the Ceylon Electricity Board was instructed to conduct the investigation in...
Malaria likely to spread in SL through imported cases
COLOMBO (News 1st): People in Sri Lanka are more likely to contract Malaria from foreigners, the Anti Malaria Campaign at the Ministry of Health said on Tuesday (Nov. 30). People arriving in Sri Lanka, from overseas should be tested for Malaria immediately, if they show any...
Former Minister Sirisena Cooray passes away
COLOMBO (News 1st); Former Minister Sirisena Cooray passed away on Tuesday (30) morning, while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Colombo. He was the Mayor of Colombo from 1979 to 1989 and was elected from Colombo to Parliament in the 9th parliamentary election in...
Monday, November 29, 2021
Power Outage experienced across many areas
COLOMBO (News 1st); Most parts of Sri Lanka are experiencing power cuts. A spokesperson for the Ceylon Electricity Board told News 1st that a technical issue experienced on the transmission cables from Kothmale to the Biyagama Grid Sub-Station was the cause of the power outage.
Power...
News 1st wins multiple awards at 2020 State Television Awards at BMICH
COLOMBO (News 1st) News 1st bagged multiple accolades at the 2020 State Television Awards held on Monday (29). Rajendran Kogulnath won the award for the Most Outstanding Tamil Cultural Program. Rajalingam Thrishano won the award for the Most Outstanding Tamil Sports Program....
Cops given instructions on probing exploding gas cylinders
COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Police said it has commenced investigations into incidents of exploding gas cylinders. Police Spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa told News 1st that the Inspector General of Police had issued specific instructions to the DIGs and top-ranked officers,...
Multiple gas cylinder explosions in 24 hours
COLOMBO (News 1st); Five more incidents of domestic gas cylinders exploding were reported in the past 24 hours. Hatton : On Monday (29) morning a gas cylinder at a small restaurant along the Colombo – Hatton Road exploded. The restaurant owner said a fire was first witnessed...
Arjuna Ranatunga decides to leave the UNP; Conveys decision to Ranil Wickremesinghe
COLOMBO (News 1st); UNP Member of Parliament Arjuna Ranatunga has decided to leave the United National Party with effect from Monday (29). He had communicated his decision to leave the UNP to the Leader, Secretary, Deputy Leader, and the Assistant Leader of the United National...
‘I did not give Maithripala Sirisena specific intel on Easter Attacks’ – Former SIS Chief
COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Former State Intelligence Service Chief & Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawardena told the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar that NO definite intelligence information was given to then-President Maithripala Sirisena, who was overseas at the...
Steps taken to face Omicron, says Namal; Sajith propose for PCR on all passengers
COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa told the Parliament on Monday (29) that the Government has taken all necessary measures to prevent the new COVID-19 variant ‘Omicron’ from entering the country. “The health sector was mobilized and the necessary...
233 gas explosions since 2015 & No SLSI standard for gas composition – State Minister
COLOMBO (News 1st); State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna told the Parliament on Monday (29) that a total number of 233 incidents of gas cylinder exploding were reported from January 2015 to October 31st, 2021. Commenting on the recent incidents of exploding gas cylinders, the...
Omicron poses “very high” global risk, world must prepare -WHO
(Reuters) – The Omicron coronavirus variant is likely to spread internationally, posing a “very high” global risk of infection surges that could have “severe consequences” some areas, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Monday. The U.N. agency urged its 194 member states...
Former Ambassador Dr. Weerasinghe recognized by Russian Foreign Ministry
COLOMBO (News 1st); Dr. Saman Weerasinghe, General Secretary, Sri Lanka – Russia Friendship Society, Adviser to the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Former Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation was awarded a Medal from the Ministry of Foreign affairs of the Russian...
Sri Lanka in talks with SpaceX for world’s most advanced broadband internet system
COLOMBO (News 1st); The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) announced that it initiated a preliminary engagement with SpaceX in exploring the introduction of Starlink Internet Services in Sri Lanka. TRCSL said the first round of discussions was positive...
No power cuts despite claims of fuel shortage – Energy Minister
COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila on Monday (29) assured there will be no power cuts despite claims of a fuel shortage in the country. Responding to MP Ranil Wickremesinghe’s concerns of Sri Lanka not having sufficient foreign exchange for fuel,...
Only genomic sequencing can detect Omicron, Important to take measures to prevent entry
COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Deputy Director-General of Public Health Services said the Omicron COVID-19 variant that is spreading across the world can only be detected by genomic sequencing. He warned that the variant could spread in Sri Lanka, while the genomic sequencing...
Japan bans entry of foreign visitors as omicron spreads
Japan announced on Monday (29) it will suspend entry of all foreign visitors from around the world as a new coronavirus variant spreads, prompting an increasing number of countries to tighten their borders. “We are taking the step as an emergency precaution to prevent a worst-case...
FRs against Yugadhanavi share transfer fixed for 16th,17th December
COLOMBO (News 1st); The Fundamental Rights applications filed with the Supreme Court against the transfer of shares of the Yugadhanavi Power Plant will be taken up for consideration in the presence of a five-judge bench led by the Chief Justice, on the 16th and 17th of December...
Sri Lanka’s Police Chief in court to provide evidence in Easter Attacks case
COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Police Chief, C. D. Wickramaratne appeared at the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar on Monday (29) to provide evidence in the 2019 Easter Attacks case. On 26th November Court issued a summons on Inspector General of Police C. D. Wickramaratne...
(VIDEO) Crocodile walks into Sampur Police Station
COLOMBO (News 1st): A crocodile had walked into the Sampur Police Station on Sunday (29). Police officers scrambled to ensure that the people were not harmed and the crocodile was captured and released to the wild. With the assistance of the Trincomalee Wild Life Office rangers,...
Moratuwa Uni to submit report on Gas Cylinders
COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan authorities have decided to call for a report from the University of Moratuwa with recommendations to address the incidents of exploding gas cylinders. State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna told News 1st that the report will be obtained considering...
Two men arrested for shooting and murdering man in Weeraketiya
COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Police arrested two men wanted for murder on 27th November 2021. Police said that the suspects had shot and stabbed a man in the Weeraketiya Police Jurisdiction on the 20th of November 2021. Police first arrested a 29-year-old male from Debokkawa...
Sunday, November 28, 2021
Exploding Gas Cylinders : Samples sent for tests & some seek divine protection
COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Consumer Affairs Authority said that 15 samples from various areas were obtained in order to test the quality of gas distributed in the country. At the same time, more incidents of LP Gas cylinder exploding were reported. Kalmunai : An LP Gas...
Sri Lanka should be ready to face Omicron, warns SLMA as many countries impose travel bans
COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Medical Association has warned that the country needs to brace for itself as there is guarantee that the new COVID-19 Omicron variant can be prevented from breaching borders. SLMA President Dr. Padma Gunaratne warned there efficacy concerns...
Ella – Passara Rd closed due to a landslide
COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan Authorities decided to close down the Ella – Passa Road after a landslide was reported close to the 16th kilometer post on Sunday (28). The Director General of the Road Development Authority said that the decision was also made due to rocks and...
Body of missing man found in Mahaweli River; Car recovered by divers
COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan authorities have found the person missing after a car fell into the Mahaweli River in Ilukmodara, Kandy on Saturday (27) night. The body was found on Sunday (28) afternoon after the car was recovered by divers from the riverbed. Two other people...
Bread prices increased by Rs. 10/-
COLOMBO (News 1st); The Price of a loaf of bread increased by Rs. 10/- with effect from midnight (28) said the All Ceylon Bakery Owners Association.
Bread prices increased by Rs. 10/...
Kinniya Tragedy : Death toll increases to seven as six-year-old girl dies on Sunday (28)
COLOMBO (News 1st); Another six year old girl, injured following the Kinniya Ferry Disaster earlier this week, passed away on Sunday (28) morning. Accordingly, the death toll from the ferry disaster increased to seven. On the 23rd of November 2021, a ferry transporting approximately...
Short eats and Kottu prices increased from Monday (29)
COLOMBO (News 1st) Restaurant Owners in Sri Lanka have decided to increase the prices of shorteats and Kottu with effect from Monday (29). Prices of short eats (Rolls, Vegetable Rotti, Egg Rotti, Parata etc) will be increased by Rs. 5/- & the price of a kottu willbe up...
Sri Lanka taking steps to prevent Omicron from entering the country
COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka has decided to expedite the process to detect the new COVID-19 variant. Dr. Chandima Jeewandara, the head of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology at Sri Jayewardenepura University speaking to News 1st said the new variant can be detected...
Sri Lanka reports Wheat Flour Shortage; Wholesale price up by Rs. 17/- per kilo
COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka is reporting a wheat flour shortage from multiple areas. Traders, bakery owners, and the people are complaining of a shortage of wheat flour at present. Traders in Pettah say wheat flour prices were increased by 17 rupees a kilo as the supply...
Army produced organic fertilizer handed over to ‘Lak Pohora’
COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Army handed over another consignment of 91,000 kgs of organic manure, produced by troops serving under the Security Force HQ-East, to government-owned ‘Lak Pohora’ Ceylon Fertilizer Company Ltd on Saturday (27). “To be in consistent with the government’s...
Minor Flood warning for areas around Maha Oya
COLOMBO (News 1st); The Irrigation Department has warned that a Minor Flood may be experienced in the low-lying areas in the Maha Oya River Basin. This warning is especially for the Marandagolla, Nalla, Diwuldeniya and Welihinda villages in the Giriulla Divisional area. There...
