SriLankan Airlines is all set to expand its operations in Kerala. The airline is likely to add one more flight to Thiruvananthapuram during the coming winter schedule. MORE...
Thursday, August 31, 2023
Sinopec officially begins fuel operations in Sri Lanka with discount offer
Sinopec, a Beijing-based leading international petroleum company, has officially kicked off its business operations in Sri Lanka, commencing fuel supply at its first filing station on the island established in Mattegoda, Colombo. MORE...
South Africa building fire leaves at least 52 dead, over 40 injured
At least 52 people have died after a fire broke out in a block of flats in Johannesburg, South African authorities say. MORE...
No-confidence motion to be moved against Public Security Minister?
A no-confidence motion will be moved against Public Security Minister Tiran Alles if he fails to establish a safe and secure environment in the country, says MP Lalith Ellawala. MORE...
President attends grand Randoli Perahera of Kandy Esala festival
The final Randoli Perahara of the esteemed Esala Perahara festival of Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy paraded the streets on Wednesday night (Aug. 30), bringing the festival to a successful draw. MORE...
Prevailing showery conditions expected to enhance during next few days
The Department of Meteorology says there is a possibility of enhancing the prevailing showery condition in south-western part of the island during 01, 02 and 03 of September. MORE...
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
Person in Colombo District diagnosed with bacterial infection at Galle Prison
A patient diagnosed with the meningococcal meningitis bacterial disease, which caused the deaths of several inmates at the Galle Prison, has been identified in the Colombo District. MORE...
Tax raised, permit system scrapped for wheat flour imports
The government has done away with the permit system for importing wheat flour, State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said today (Aug. 30). MORE...
Navy brings ashore ailing Indian aboard cruise vessel MV Empress
The Sri Lanka Navy on Tuesday (Aug. 29) helped bring ashore an Indian national who had suddenly fallen ill aboard the cruise vessel MV Empress off the eastern coast of Sri Lanka. MORE...
Youth arrested with over 3kg of Ice in Mannar
The Police Special Task Force (STF) has arrested a youth who was in possession of a large consignment of crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as Ice. MORE...
Showery condition in southwestern areas likely to continue - Met. Dept.
Prevailing showery condition is expected to continue in southwestern part of the island over the next few days, the Department of Meteorology said in its weather forecast today (Aug. 30). MORE...
President receives blessings from Malwatta, Asgiri chief prelates
President Ranil Wickremesinghe has called on the chief prelates of the Malwatta and Asgiri Chapters this afternoon (Aug. 29). MORE...
Tuesday, August 29, 2023
Maithripala Sirisena confident of holding office of President again
Former President Maithripala Sirisena states that he is confident in serving another term in office as the President of Sri Lanka. MORE...
Sinopec says evaluating invitation to build refinery in Sri Lanka
Asia s top refiner, Sinopec Corp, is not interested in acquiring Shell s refinery or petrochemical plant in Singapore although it is keen on participating in a shale gas project in Saudi Arabia, the Chinese company s president said on Monday. MORE...
Bus strike on Colombo Fort-Katunayake expressway route called off
The Colombo-Katunayake expressway private bus operators have called off their strike action last evening (Aug. 29), Ada Derana learns. MORE...
Showers to occur at times in parts of the island
The Meteorology Department says showers will occur at times in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts. Several spells of showers will occur in Kandy and Nuwara Eliya districts. MORE...
Monday, August 28, 2023
Sri Lanka-Thailand free trade pact slated for 2024
Thailand and Sri Lanka expect to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) in early 2024 as the two parties aim for three more rounds of talks this year to conclude the negotiations, according to the chief of the Trade Negotiations Department. MORE...
Agri. Minister calls for report on claims that highly hazardous pesticides being used in Sri Lanka
Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera has called for an immediate report regarding the alleged use of internationally banned pesticides within Sri Lanka, from the Secretary of the Agriculture Ministry. MORE...
Court order issued preventing protesters from entering several areas in Colombo
The Colombo Fort Magistrate s Court has issued an order preventing several political party representatives including Duminda Nagamuwa, Mujibur Rahuman, Prof. Charitha Herath and others from entering several areas in Colombo on Monday (August 28). MORE...
CBSL issues special notice to public on get rich quick schemes
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has informed the general public that the CBSL does not collect taxes from the people on any occasion. MORE...
Second phase of second school term begins
The second phase of the second school term for the 2023 academic year in all government and government-approved private schools commenced today (Aug 28). MORE...
Libya suspends foreign minister after meeting with Israeli foreign minister
Libya s prime minister suspended Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush on Sunday and referred her for investigation after Israel said its Foreign Minister Eli Cohen had met her last week despite the countries not having formal relations. MORE...
Showery condition to enhance in south-western part of the island
The Department of Meteorology says showery condition is expected to enhance to some extent in the south-western part of the island in the next few days starting from today (28). MORE...
Sunday, August 27, 2023
Sun directly over parts of Sri Lanka tomorrow- Met. Department
The Department of Meteorology announced that on the apparent southward relative motion of the sun, it is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka during August 28 to September 07 this year. MORE...
Bhutan cuts daily tourist fee by half to lure more visitors
The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan is to halve the $200 daily fee it charges tourists in an effort to boost a sector still struggling to recover a year after the end of COVID-19 restrictions. MORE...
Sri Lanka approves request to dock Chinese research ship Shi Yan 6
The Ministry of Defence has granted approval for the Chinese geophysical and seismic survey vessel Shi Yan 6 to carry out research on Sri Lankan waters with the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA). MORE...
800,000 beneficiaries to receive “Aswesuma” benefits tomorrow
The welfare benefits board will disburse the “Aswesuma” welfare benefits money related to the month of July to the banks on Monday (Aug 28), the State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe said. MORE...
Suspect arrested over defrauding money promising Canadian visa
The Colombo Crimes Unit has arrested the main suspect in connection with an incident of defrauding millions of rupees promising to grant visa to travel to Canada. MORE...
Legal action against individuals and organizations involved in pyramid schemes - State Minister
The State Minister of Finance, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya says that legal action will be taken under the Penal Code against the organizations and individuals who are carrying out or involved in Pyramid schemes. MORE...
Construction of Kandy Multimodal Transport Terminal to commence this year
Minister of Transport Bandula Gunawardena says that the construction work of the Kandy Multimodal Transport Terminal, which has been proposed to be built in 07 years, will commence before the end of this year. MORE...
Saturday, August 26, 2023
Belarusian leader Lukashenko says he warned Wagner chiefs to watch out
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that he warned Russia s Wagner mercenary chiefs Yevgeny Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkin to watch out for possible threats to their lives, and insisted that Wagner fighters would remain in Belarus following the apparent deaths of their...
Bus topples and crashes as group of assailants attempt to attack
A privately-owned bus plying from Mawanella to Colombo has veered off the road and crashed into a tree in Molagoda, Kegalle after a group of club-wielding assailants tried to attack its driver and conductor. MORE...
Two main suspects in murder of 37-year-old in Dodangoda arrested
The two main suspects in the murder of a man in Dodangoda have been arrested by the Kalutara Division Crimes Unit. MORE...
Offshore Wind Roadmap for Sri Lanka launched
Offshore Wind Road Map for Sri Lanka was launched on Friday (Aug. 25), which provides a strategic analysis of the offshore wind development potential in the country, considering the opportunities and challenges under different offshore wind growth scenarios. MORE...
At least 13 killed, over 100 injured in Madagascar stadium stampede
At least 13 people, including seven children, were killed on Friday in a crowd stampede at a stadium in Madagascar s capital Antananarivo, according to the Red Cross and a local member of parliament. MORE...
STC says will continue to import eggs
The government will continue to import eggs as the move helped ease the shortage in the local market, the State Trade Corporation (STC) says. MORE...
5th round of Sri Lanka-Thailand bilateral political consultations next week
The 5th Round of Bilateral Political Consultations between Sri Lanka and Thailand will be held on 28 August 2023 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Colombo, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says. MORE...
CBSL issues order slashing interest rates on lending products
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has issued an order reducing the interest rates on lending products of all licensed commercial banks with effect from August 25. MORE...
Friday, August 25, 2023
Court orders arrest of suspects linked to housemaid s custodial death
The Colombo Magistrate s Court on Friday (Aug. 25) ordered the arrest of all suspects linked to the death of a housemaid named R. Rajakumari, who died while in the custody of Welikada Police. MORE...
Ex-constable arrested with over 3kg of heroin
A former police constable has been arrested while in possession of a large consignment of heroin, Ada Derana learns. MORE...
Putin breaks silence over Wagner boss Prigozhin s reported death
Vladimir Putin has broken his silence over Yevgeny Prigozhin s reported death - some 24 hours after the Wagner chief s private jet crashed. MORE...
Special meeting between railways chief, electrical technicians on recent issues
A special discussion is scheduled to take place between the railway electrical technicians and the General Manager of Railways today (Aug. 25) over certain recent issues that led to trade union actions. MORE...
Showers or thundershowers expected in some areas later today
Showers or thundershowers will occur at a few places in Uva provinces and in Ampara, Batticaloa and Polonnaruwa districts in the evening or at night, the Meteorology Department says. MORE...
Thursday, August 24, 2023
Newly constructed Polpitiya-Hambantota transmission line connected to national grid
The newly constructed Polpitiya-Hambantota 220kV transmission line has been connected to the national grid, upon completion of its preliminary work. MORE...
Japan s Fukushima nuclear plant begins releasing treated radioactive wastewater into sea
The operator of the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant says it began releasing its first batch of treated radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean on Thursday — a controversial step, but a milestone for Japan s battle with the growing radioactive water stockpile....
Supplementary Medical Service trade unions on 24-hour strike
The trade unions affiliated with five professions of Supplementary Medical Service have launched a 24-hour token strike this morning (Aug. 23). MORE...
Central Bank sets maximum limits on pawning, credit card interest rates
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) says its Monetary Board has decided to impose caps on interest rates on pawning facilities, pre-arranged temporary overdrafts and credit cards for all licensed banks. MORE...
Central Bank maintains policy interest rates at current levels
The Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka 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 11.00 per cent and 12.00 per cent, respectively. MORE...
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Clothes worn by Schaffter at the time of death to be handed over to expert committee
The Colombo Magistrate s Court has ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to obtain the clothes worn by late businessman Dinesh Schaffter at the time of his death, which are currently in the custody of the Department of the Government Analyst, MORE...
