Jan 17 (ST) On Dec 31, the night skies over Galle Face Green were transformed into a spectacular symphony of fireworks and a mesmerising drone show, welcoming the new year. The event illuminated Colombo’s skyline with 400 drones, creating a breathtaking visual display visible up to 5 kilometres away. It captivated over 150,000 live attendees and reached more than 12 million Sri Lankans, showcasing Dialog’s commitment to innovation & embodying its brand promise, more..

Jan 7 (TM) Police reiterated that modifications and decorations to three-wheelers are only permitted if they adhere to the guidelines approved by the Dept of Motor Traffic (DMT). DIG Indika Hapugoda emphasised that any alterations to a three-wheeler must be recorded in the vehicle’s registration book without altering its original model. “This allows Police officers to easily verify approved modifications through the DMT, more..

Jan 7 (FT) A recent flare up by the uni students which appeared in the media is causing alarm about a possible new campaign to be started by student organisations against the establishment of private universities. This country has experienced such agitations over a long period of time emerging off and on. The agitators while opposing the setting up of any private university in the country categorically demonstrated their opposition to the KDU now engaged in higher medical education. more..

Jan 7 (AD) Two persons have been killed after an unidentified gunman opened fire at them at the Watarappala Road in Mount Lavinia, police said. Initially a 36-year-old man was shot dead and a 20-year-old person was injured in the shooting and hospitalized following the shooting incident. However, the injured youth had later succumbed to injuries after being admitted to the hospital. The 36-year-old victim of the shooting is a resident of Watarappala Road in Mount Lavinia. more..

Jan 7 (FT) As we all know, the Mahaweli Development Program was, for the most part, an outstanding success. Conceived in the 1960s, its first project, Polgolla Dam, was commissioned in the early 1970s by Sirimavo Bandaranaike. J.R. Jayewardene raised the game with the Accelerated Mahaweli Development Program, which saw the development of several multipurpose reservoir projects between the late-1970s and mid-1980s. In all, these projects increased the irrigated more..

Jan 7 (DM) Atampitiya Police are still continuing their investigation to locate a 16-year-old girl who has been missing since November of last year, police said. The investigation was initiated following a complaint from the girl's mother, who reported that her daughter, Kavisha Dewmani, had been missing since Nov 3, 2024. Kavisha Dewmani, who is fair-skinned and stands approximately 5 feet 2 inches tall, was last seen wearing a light green dress and had a minor cut on her left arm near more..

Jan 7 (DM) The beer consumers in SL are effectively paying over 70% of the retail price of beer purely in taxes, according to research by Jafferjee Brother Securities (JBS). The excise duties alone account for 47% of the retail price of a bottle of strong beer while the VAT make up 15.3% of the price. Additionally, the income tax adds a further 6%, Social Security Contribution Levy accounts for 2.4% and a tax on dividends adds 0.5%. more..

Jan 7 (AD) The Cabinet has greenlighted the signing of a protocol for the export of poultry products from Sri Lanka to China. Accordingly, it has been agreed to sign an agreement between the two countries, including inspection, quarantine and health requirements, to facilitate the export of poultry products from SL to China, with the intervention of the Chinese Customs Administration, in accordance with a specific procedure. The proposal related to purpose submitted by minister of agriculture, more..

Jan 7 (AD) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is scheduled to embark on an official visit to China from Jan 14 to Jan 17, 2025. This was confirmed by Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, in response to a question raised by a journalist during today’s (06) Cabinet press briefing. Furthermore, the Minister stated that Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath and Minister Bimal Rathnyake will accompany the President for the visit. more..

Jan 7 (DM) SL is exploring avenues to channel foreign earnings into local investments to boost its economy, with plans underway to empower the returning migrant workers to reinvest their hard-earned savings in the country. SLBFE announced the launch of a Rs.744.75 million entrepreneurship development scheme to encourage the returning migrant workers to pump their savings as investments in the country. more..

Jan 7 (FT) Deputy Minister of Tourism Prof. Euwan Ranasinghe convened a high-level meeting to address critical issues impacting local and foreign tourists at Sigiriya, one of the most iconic heritage sites. The discussion held at the Tourism Ministry brought together senior officials from various Govt bodies including the Tourism Promotion Bureau, Forest Conservation Dept, Urban Development Authority, Dambulla DS, Central Cultural Fund and Department of Archaeology. more..

Jan 7 (EN) SLPA said Colombo Port has handled 7.7 million twenty foot equivalent units (TEU) up 12.3%, with the agency’s own terminals seeing a 23 percent increase. SLPA’s Jaye Container Terminal and the deep water East Container Terminal handled 2.4 million TEUs in 2024, up from 1.9 million in 2023. China-backed Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT) had handled 3.3 million TEUs. South Asia Gateway Terminal (SAGT) of John Keells Holdings had handled 2.0 million TEUs. more..

Jan 7 (AD) PM Narendra Modi will visit SL within this year, the Indian High Commission in Colombo announced. However, the dates are yet to be decided by the two sides. “We are in the process of working out a propitious timing for the visit,” Santosh Jha, Indian High Commissioner, told reporters. Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake had extended the invitation to Modi during his two-day visit to New Delhi in mid-December. Dissanayake made India as his first destination after being elected more..

Jan 7 (DM) Four passenger flights scheduled to land at the BIA were diverted to MRIA and Thiruvananthapuram Int'l Airport in India this morning due to heavy smog reducing visibility. The affected flights included SriLankan Airlines UL-226 from Dubai (5 am), SriLankan Airlines UL-881 from Guangzhou, China, SriLankan Airlines UL-174 from Bangalore, India (5:05 am) which were diverted to MRIA, while Turkish Airlines TK-730 from Istanbul, Turkey (6 am) was diverted to more..

Jan 7 (EN) Sri Lanka can build reserves and repay debt even if vehicle imports go up to US$ 1.5 billion, CB Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe has said. In 2024 the central bank has projected that relaxing commercial vehicle imports would result in forex needs of about US$ 500 million and private vehicle imports may require another US$ 1 billion a year. “Even if vehicle imports cost US$ 1.5 billion, we can maintain reserves, and more..

Jan 7 (AD) The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will continue its financial and technical assistance to Sri Lanka without interruption, says the Senior Vice President of JICA, HARA Shohei. This assurance was revealed during a meeting held today at the Presidential Secretariat between Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake and HARA Shohei. During the discussion, attention was drawn to the on-going development work at BIA, which is being carried out under Japanese aid. more..

Jan 7 (DM) Religious activities at the Sabaragamuwa Maha Saman Devalaya in Ratnapura resumed this morning, following a two-day protest by the Kapuralas against the appointment of an Acting Basnayaka Nilame. The resumption of services came in response to pleas from local residents and traders, who had been adversely affected by the Devala’s closure. This protest marked a historic first for the Maha Saman Devalaya, as the Kapuralas halted more..

Jan 7 (AD) Minister Nalinda Jayatissa revealed the method of granting compensation to 17 patients who had developed complications after undergoing cataract surgery at the Nuwara Eliya District Hospital. Dr. Jayatissa stated that accordingly, a compensation of Rs. 1,000,000 each will be paid to 12 patients, Rs. 750,000 each to 2 patients, Rs. 700,000 for one patient and Rs. 250,000 each for 2 other patients. more..

Jan 7 (DM) A committee is currently probing MP Ramanathan Archchuna, and his fate will be decided based on its findings, Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne told Parliament today. Speaker provided this information after MP Archchuna inquired about a complaint he had made against Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, whom he accused of depriving him of his right to speak in the House. Chief Opposition Whip Gayantha Karunathillake said the Opposition is awaiting more..

Jan 7 (DM) Wildlife Dept's plan to use GPS technology to drive wild elephants from areas between Anuradhapura and Wilpattu has faced criticism, with experts arguing that GPS alone is insufficient to move the elephants. However, Supun Prakash, a representative from the Biodiversity Conservation and Research Circle, speaking with the Daily Mirror, raised concerns that GPS technology alone is not effective in driving elephants away. Accordingly, Prakash stated that more..

Jan 7 (EN) Sri Lanka should not deport a group of Rohingya asylum seekers who have arrived recently and such a move would be against the obligation of the country under international conventions, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said. “We have go to know that there is an attempt by the govt to deport them,” Premadasa told Parliament Tuesday. “I am requesting the govt not to make such an inhuman move. Turning them back is a violation of international human rights law. more..

Jan 7 (NW) The new Cabinet of Ministers has officially reaffirmed the country’s longstanding commitment to the One China Policy. This decision was confirmed following the submission of a report by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism during this weeks Cabinet meeting. Under this policy, Sri Lanka recognizes the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the sole legitimate government of China and acknowledges Taiwan as a province of China. more..

Jan 7 (DM) Admitting that there are unregistered doctors illegally practicing in the country, Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said today the govt will take legal action against them and requested people to inform of such individuals. He told Parliament that some medical practitioners tend to practice medical systems outside the medical system that they are registered with. Responding to a question by SJB MP Rohana Bandara, more..

Jan 7 (EN) Cabinet of Ministers has granted tax concession for airlines which will operate flights to the island nation’s international airports with more capacity aiming to boost tourist arrivals. The move comes as BIA is facing difficulties in accommodating all the arrivals. The tax concessions have been introduced by the Airport and Aviation Services (SL) (Private) Ltd with the objective of attracting international airline services for the Jaffna International Airport, more..

Jan 7 (DM) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed a High Commissioner and four Ambassadors to represent Sri Lanka in its diplomatic service. The appointments include W.G.S. Prasanna as High Commissioner-designate to New Zealand, R.S. Khan Azard as Ambassador-designate to Qatar, S.K. Gunasekera as Ambassador-designate to Russia, L.P. Ratnayaka as Ambassador-designate to Kuwait, and A.S.K. Seneviratne as Ambassador-designate to Egypt. more..

Jan 7 (TOI) Sri Lanka's 1996 World Cup-winning captain has voiced his apprehension regarding a proposed restructuring of Test cricket by cricket's dominant forces: India, England, and Australia. This restructuring involves a two-tiered system, prioritising matches between these three nations. This could potentially hinder the development of cricket in smaller cricketing nations, according to Ranatunga. more..

Jan 7 (DM) Inter-Provincial Private Bus Association (IPPBA) announced plans to launch an island-wide bus strike if a discussion with Transport Ministry officials does not take place today to address several issues. IPPBA President Sarath Vijitha Kumara said that the association disagrees with the government's decision to deploy plainclothes police officers to identify public transport buses violating road rules. He stated that the police are exerting undue pressure on the private bus service more..

Jan 7 (AD) Chairman of the SLBFE, Koshala Wickremasinghe emphasized that immediate actions will be taken to repatriate SL nationals who are illegally staying in South Korea after their visas expired. He mentioned that their details will be forwarded to the CID, and legal measures will be enforced. Wickremasinghe urged individuals with expired visas not to remain in South Korea unlawfully, as the future job quotas for Sri Lankans in the country will depend on the behavior of more..

Jan 8 (DM) Our PM apparently made a startling discovery recently. According to media sources, she urged a comprehensive investigation into the increasing trend of absenteeism among students pursuing A/L education.... The PM’s discovery of student absenteeism, brings to mind the legend of Rip Van Winkle. Rip Van Winkle was a character created by Washington Irwin who is described as the first American man of letters. Rip Van Winkle was a man with a habit of avoiding useful work. more..

Jan 8 (GV) I sense I’m standing on hallowed ground. A place searing with warnings, some heeded, many forgotten. Here the weight of history lays heavy on me, the solemn, searching, haunted visitor. I’ve never before felt this way in a toilet. It’s a dark, dank, claustrophobic space. Disused and broken, it emanates no smell. There was a time however when over 200 starved, broken, unclean, people used it for their daily bodily motions. A literal cesspit of ghastly stink, filth and disease. more..

Jan 8 (TM) In recent days, news media outlets have been commenting about an increased number of respiratory infections in China, due to a virus, that many would not have heard much about. They are referring to the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV). HMPV is a common respiratory Virus. It is a single stranded ribonucleic acid Virus and belongs to the family of Viruses called Paramyxoviridae. more..

Jan 8 (ST) That’s a hell of a thing to say about a national hero. Remember the prez and parliamentary elections since 2010 when Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa was hailed at election time and portraits and flags as tall and high as the Ruwanweli Seya were sprouting across the country calling on the people to place Mahinda Raja in his rightful place—the helm of the country. So now what do we hear, here and everywhere else, that Mahinda the Great is not worth an extra security guard or more..

Jan 8 (CT) It was on a day like today sixteen years ago, when my brother Lasantha Wickrematunge was murdered. Yes, 16 years ago. Lasantha’s children lost a father when they were still very young. We lost a brother and my father and mother had to bury their youngest child. How cruel was that? Animals do not kill their species. Horrible and cowardly men do that to their species. Often they get others to do the dirty, which is why it’s cowardly. Killers, though known to some investigators, are yet free. more..

Jan 8 (CT) Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease with epidemic potential, especially after a heavy rainfall, notes the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) while the WHO states that It is caused by a bacterium called Leptospira. Leptospira interrogans is pathogenic to humans and animals, with more than 200 serologic variants or serovars. Humans usually acquire leptospirosis through direct contact with the urine of infected animals or more..

Jan 8 (TM) The Govt has decided to expand the number of beneficiaries who will be provided relief via the State-run social safety net – Aswesuma. This, while a costly move, should be welcomed, if implemented properly. Improving the island’s social safety should be a key concern for the Govt as over the last five years, many Sri Lankans have suffered much and fallen below the poverty line. As such, a policy decision by the Govt in this respect must be commended. more..

Jan 8 (Island) On the eve of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Shavendra Silva’s retirement, Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal (retd.) Sampath Thuyacontha declared the NPP govt’s intention to review the armed force structures to ensure, what he called, optimal utilization of resources. AVM Thuyacontha also proposed to enhance the armed forces operational efficiency by implementing targeted recruitment and focusing on quality over quantity in personnel selection. more..