Local Government (LG) Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners have been summoned to the Election Commission today (Jan. 31), says Nimal G. Punchihewa, the Chairman of the Election Commission. MORE..
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
YouTuber Sepal Amarasinghe further remanded
Sepal Amarasinghe, the YouTuber who was recently arrested over his defamatory comments about the much-venerated Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy, has been further remanded. MORE..
President directs public servants to refrain from using credit services
President Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed all pubic officers to refrain from obtaining goods and services on credit basis. MORE..
Sri Lanka creditors seek clarity on local bonds for debt talks - report
Holders of Sri Lanka s foreign bonds want more clarity on the nation s local-currency debt before they sit down for formal restructuring talks, according to people familiar with the situation. MORE..
Monday, January 30, 2023
LG polls- Election chief says all relevant documents sent to be gazetted
The Chairman of the Election Commission says that all relevant documents received from District Returning Officers to hold the Local Government Election on March 09, have been sent to the Government Printer to be gazetted.
Over 4,000 dengue cases reported in January 2023
The Epidemiology Unit has observed a rapid increase in the number of dengue cases reported within this year. MORE..
Russian athletes cannot be allowed at Olympics - Zelensky
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says that allowing Russia to compete at the 2024 Olympics in Paris would amount to showing that terror is somehow acceptable. MORE..
Large-scale female drug dealer Disco arrested
A large-scale drug trafficker, by the name of Dharmakeerthi Udeni Inuka Perera, alias Disco , has been arrested by the Police Special Task Force yesterday (29 Jan.) while in possession of drugs and sharp weapons. MORE..
TNA to boycott 75th Independence Day celebrations
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has decided to boycott the Independence Day celebrations this year. MORE..
Very heavy showers expected in parts of the island
The Meteorology Department says the well-marked low pressure area over the southeast bay of Bengal is likely to move west northwestwards towards the eastern coast of Sri Lanka on 01st of February. MORE..
Sunday, January 29, 2023
Death threats to Election Commission members- Police say phone calls made from abroad
Sri Lanka Police says investigations have revealed that the death threats to the members of the Election Commission via phone calls have been carried out from a foreign country. MORE..
Ibrahim Solih wins Maldivian Democratic Party presidential primary, gets ticket
Maldivian President Ibrahim Solih won the presidential primary election of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on Saturday, reported avas.mv. MORE..
Tyre Nichols death- Outrage in US after footage of brutal police assault on motorist revealed
Footage of a traffic stop that has seen five ex-Memphis police officers charged with murder shows them kicking and punching a motorist for several minutes as he cries out for his mother. MORE..
Saturday, January 28, 2023
Trains on Coastal Line delayed due to derailment
A locomotive engine has derailed near the Kalutara South railway station this afternoon, the Ada Derana correspondent says. MORE..
US envoy meets Sri Lanka navy commander
The Ambassador of the United States to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung met with the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera at the Navy Headquarters in Colombo yesterday (27 Jan.). MORE..
SLPP ready for any election - Mahinda Rajapaksa
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa claims that the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) is ready for the upcoming 2023 Local Government LG) election. MORE..
Two new ministerial secretaries appointed
An Extraordinary Gazette was published yesterday (27 Jan.), pertaining to the appointment of two new secretaries to two ministries.
Special traffic plan in Colombo for Independence Day rehearsals
A special traffic plan is in place near the Galle Face Green and adjacent areas for five days, in view of the rehearsals for the 75th Independence Day celebration. MORE..
Seven people shot dead at synagogue in Jerusalem
Seven people have been shot dead at a synagogue in East Jerusalem, the most killed in an attack of this kind for years. At least three more people were injured. MORE..
Naval, fishing communities advised not to venture into sea areas
Showers or thundershowers will occur at a few places in Western, Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces and in Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts during the afternoon or night, the Department of Meteorology says. MORE..
Friday, January 27, 2023
CEB earned over Rs. 100bn after electricity tariff revision Patali
MP Patali Champika Ranawaka has revealed that the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has earned a sum of Rs. 108 billion within the first three months of implementing the new electricity tariff. MORE..
Kerala cannabis worth over Rs. 16 Mn seized in northern waters
Sri Lanka Navy seized two large consignments of Kerala cannabis with a wet weight of more than 49kg in separate operations conducted in the seas off Jaffna on Wednesday. MORE..
Former top FBI official arrested in U.S. while returning from Sri Lanka
A former top FBI official in New York has been arrested over his ties to a Russian oligarch, law enforcement sources told ABC News Monday. MORE..
Mother and two children dead in house fire
A house fire in Anuradhapura has claimed the lives of a mother and two children. MORE..
Several areas to receive fairly heavy showers of about 50mm
Showers will occur at times in Eastern and Uva provinces and in Matale district, the Department of Meteorology says. MORE..
Introducing modern technology essential to transcend digital economy - President
President Ranil Wickremesinghe has pointed out that the industrial education and training opportunities in Sri Lanka should be improved by introducing modern technology required to surpass the new industrial technology and digital economy of the fourth and fifth industrial revolutions. MORE..
HRCSL to go to courts if uninterrupted power supply provided during A'L exam
The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has warned that it would seek legal action if the relevant authorities fail to provide an uninterrupted power supply while the 2022 G.C.E. Advanced Level is taking place.
Thursday, January 26, 2023
Japan working hard to help Sri Lanka top Japanese finance diplomat
Japanese Vice Finance Minister for International Affairs, Masato Kanda, has assured that Japan is closely coordinating with international organizations, such as the Paris Club and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to ensure the participation of non-Paris Club members in Sri Lanka s debt restructuring plan. MORE..
China s EXIM bank gives Sri Lanka debt extension
China s Export-Import Bank of China (EXIM) has provided Sri Lanka with a debt extension, China s foreign ministry said on Thursday, confirming a Reuters report earlier this week. MORE..
At least 16 dead in gas leakage incidents in Pakistan
At least 16 people, including children, have died due to gas leakage incidents in the past week in Quetta city of Pakistan s southwestern Balochistan province. MORE..
Sri Lanka thanks India for giving assurances to IMF for USD 2.9B bailout package
Debt-ridden Sri Lanka on Wednesday (Jan. 25) thanked India for issuing the necessary guarantees sought by the IMF that would help Colombo to unlock the USD 2.9 billion bailout package. MORE..
All-party conference to be convened this evening
An all-party conference will be convened today (Jan. 26) at the Presidential Secretariat, under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe. MORE..
Showers expected in several areas
Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in the Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts during the afternoon or night, the Meteorology Department reported. MORE..
Grade 5 Scholarship Exam- district cut-off marks released
The Department of Examinations has released the District Level cut-off marks of the 2022 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination. MORE..
Wednesday, January 25, 2023
CEB collects over Rs. 75 Mn in fines for electricity connection fraud
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) says it has collected more than Rs. 75 million from fines levied on those who unlawfully altered electrical installation and electricity meters to avoid paying for the energy consumed. MORE..
Vehicle used in Gampola ATM robbery found with driver tied inside
The van used by the suspects who stole an ATM from a private bank has been found abandoned in Peradeniya with its driver tied inside the vehicle, the police reported. MORE..
CBSL holds policy interest rates at current levels
The Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has decided to maintain the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) of the Central Bank at their current levels of 14.50% and 15.50%, respectively. MORE..
Thieves steal ATM machine from bank in Gampola
Four masked suspects have completely dismantled and removed an ATM machine from a private bank on the Kandy Road in Gampola last night, police said. MORE..
Fowzie Gazetted to fill in vacant Parliamentary seat
A.H. M Fowzie s name was Gazetted this morning (25 Jan.), so as to fill in the vacancy created following former Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Mujibur Rahman s resignation. MORE..
New Zealand s Chris Hipkins sworn in as prime minister
Labour leader Chris Hipkins was sworn in as New Zealand s prime minister in a formal ceremony on Wednesday, following the resignation of outgoing Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern last week. MORE..
Update on coal procurement- Two more shipments expected in Jan.
Minister of Power Energy Kanchana Wijesekera says 10 of the 33 coal cargos required for the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant have been unloaded thus far. MORE..
Tuesday, January 24, 2023
New members to be appointed to several independent commissions
New members for several independent commissions including the Election Commission are expected to be appointed by the Constitutional Council. MORE..
EC convenes meeting with reps of political parties, independent groups
The Election Commission has convened a meeting this morning (Jan 24) with the representatives of all political parties and independent groups contesting in the upcoming local government (LG) election. MORE..
Sanjeewa Dhammika and Ananda Palitha arrested
The Convenor of the United Trade Union Alliance, Ananda Palitha and the Secretary of the Electricity Consumers Association, Sanjeewa Dhammika have been arrested by Kollupitiya Police. MORE..
Fairly heavy showers expected in several provinces
The Meteorology Department says showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts during the afternoon or night. MORE..
Egg and poultry stakeholders urged to unite
Senior Advisor to the President on Food Security Dr Suren Batagoda has urged all those involved in the production of egg and poultry to unite for the sake of the industry s advancement. MORE..
Dayasiri to go to CID over LG election nomination forgery
General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), MP Dayasiri Jayasekara, is expected to lodge a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over the illegal use of his signature during the recent submission of nominations for the upcoming Local Government (LG) election. MORE..
Monday, January 23, 2023
Special announcement on public sector salary payments for January
State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya has issued a special announcement regarding the salary payments of public sector employees for the month of January. MORE..
Kelanitissa plant resumes power generation
Electricity generation activities at the Kelanitissa Power Station have resumed, just days after it was shut down due to a shortage of Naphtha. MORE..