Jan 31 (DM) SL’s Ishadi Amanda has made history by securing the title of First Runner-Up at the 40th Mrs. World pageant, held in Las Vegas, USA. Amanda, who was crowned Mrs. Sri Lanka World at the national finals in Colombo last month, represented SL in the competition. She was one of two Sri Lankans competing, with Nishi Ranathunga, who holds dual SL and NZ citizenship, representing New Zealand. Ranathunga, the reigning more..

Jan 31 (Island) Swarnalatha Abeykoon, a witness in a Colombo High Court case against the suspects of the attack on the then-Army Commander Sarath Fonseka in 2006, on Wednesday, identified that Durga, the LTTE suicide bomber involved in the attack, had been staying at the home of the second accused, Shanmugalingam Suriyakumar, whose house was located near her own. Under the direction of Senior Deputy Solicitor General Lakmali Karunanayake, Abeykoon explained that more..

Jan 31 (SLN) The Bangladesh Naval Ship (BNS) SOMUDRA JOY arrived at the Port of Colombo on an official visit today. Upon her arrival, the ship was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in accordance with time-honoured naval traditions. BNS SOMUDRA JOY is a 115.2m long Modified Hamilton Class High Endurance Cutter, commanded by Captain Md. Shahriar Alam. The ship is crewed by 274 naval personnel. To strengthen the camaraderie between the two navies, crew members of the ship more..

Jan 31 (CI) Australia's menacing attack was left frustrated after the final two sessions of day three were washed out as Sri Lanka had respite from a Galle surface starting to play tricks. The day started amid sunny conditions and 27 overs were bowled before rain cascaded on the ground out of nowhere just before lunch. There was no further play for the remainder of the day, with stumps called more than two hours ahead of schedule. more..

Jan 31 (Island) Colombo Crime Division (CCD) has arrested a key figure in the drug trafficking network controlled by underworld leader Gotha Asanka, who is believed to be operating from overseas. Suspect, identified as Amila, was arrested during a raid at Gothatuwa, along with heroin with a street value of over Rs. 60 million. Amila, who has been linked to contract killings and other violent crimes, is now under investigation by the police. The operation was carried out under the direct supervision of more..

Jan 31 (DM) Eleven accused who stood indicted with murder were found guilty and sentenced to death by Uva Province High Court Judge Prasanna Alwis. They had on May 29, 2024, clubbed to death a young man Bandula Tissera (23) of Galahagama in Uva Paranagama. Attorney General had indicted 13 accused. However, the first accused Senaka Ranjith Premaratne was acquitted. The seventh accused R.P.K. Pathirana had died during the trial before the high court and the 12th accused more..

Jan 31 (NW) National Youth Services Council Chairman Chinthaka Hewapathirana has reportedly resigned from his position. He was appointed to the post following Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s victory. His resignation marks the fourth departure of a state institution chairman under the new govt. On Jan 29, Lanka Transport Board Chairman Ramal Siriwardena also resigned, while Dr. Senesh Dissanayake Bandara recently stepped down as Chairman of the National Television Network. more..

Jan 31 (CT) Health Ministry announced that the Suwa Seriya ambulance service, which provides free emergency medical care across SL via the 1990 hotline, is set to expand under a new initiative aimed at improving efficiency and addressing operational challenges. Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, speaking during a visit to the Suwa Seriya Ambulance Service Headquarters in Rajagiriya, said Govt is committed to strengthening the service by addressing key issues, more..

Jan 31 (EN) SL’s 12-month consumer prices deflated 4% in December 2024, with the widely watched Colombo Consumer Price Index rising 0.5%, data showed. The CCPI at 192.6 points is now around levels seen in April 2023. SL’s central bank has run largely deflationary policy (mopping up inflows in the context of pegged exchange rate) since late 2022, and its effects started showing up in the balance payments more..

Jan 31 (CT) Govt Medical Officers’ Forum (GMOF) has warned the Health Ministry of a potential severe medicinal drug crisis within the next three months unless urgent measures are taken to restore order within the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA). GMOF criticised the continued dysfunction of the NMRA under its current CEO, who was appointed by the previous Govt. Despite multiple warnings from various stakeholders, Health Ministry has yet to take action to address the more..

Jan 31 (NW) Former Test cricketer Simon Katich believes the Sri Lankan finger spinners bowled too slowly during the first innings in Galle, arguing their lack of pace allowed Australia’s batters to use their feet. The average speeds of Prabath Jayasuriya and Nishan Peiris during Australia’s first innings were 80.8km/h and 83.4km/h respectively, which was considerably slower than Nathan Lyon (89.7km/h) and Matthew Kuhnemann (89.1km/h) in the series opener. more..

Jan 31 (TM) The faction led by Sudarma de Silva, whose objections raised in connection with his nomination to contest the post of vice president of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) at its AGM has been rejected, says that he is waiting for the intervention of the Sports Minister. When contacted, Sudarma de Silva said that if the Sports Minister does not intervene to mete out justice to him, he will institute legal action to seek redress in due more..

Jan 31 (DM) Former MPs from the parties not represented in Parliament are to back the Opposition parties in Parliament to get more slots in various committees in the House, Opposition MP Mano Ganesan said. He said that Opposition parties that are not represented in the House decided to support the parties which are represented in Parliament to get more slots in various committees. This decision, he said, was made during yesterday’s meeting which various parties had with former Prez more..

Jan 31 (DM) The gem businessman who had been facing political threats over a special blue sapphire valued at over USD 400 million was summoned to the Presidential Secretariat for inquiries last morning. Businessman Thushara Perera said that he had received the sapphire in 2017. He claimed that the inquiry focused on the political threats he had received over the sale of the gem. In 2018 Perera was kidnapped and held for ransom and later released in Puwakpitiya area of Avissawella. more..