Category: Local News

A ten acre privately owned land in Siyambalapitiya was donated by Venerable Mavikande Ratanapala Thera to support the Government programme to build new houses for people whose homes were damaged by cyclone Ditwah, with the deeds officially handed over at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (January 07).

A Technical Officer attached to the Welisara Sub Office of the Wattala Pradeshiya Sabha was arrested yesterday (January 07), over allegations of soliciting and accepting a Rs 50,000 bribe in exchange for approving a building plan, following a complaint made by a resident of the Ragama area.

Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that the programme to provide compensation for fully damaged houses and to construct new homes for families affected by the disaster will commence on January 9, 2026, in Anuradhapura and Kurunegala.

The National Digital Motor Insurance Card was officially introduced yesterday (January 07) at the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, marking a major step toward modernizing Sri Lanka’s insurance sector and enabling motorists to access insurance details digitally through their smartphones.

The Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army, General Upendra Dwivedi, arrived in Sri Lanka, yesterday (January 7) for a two-day official visit and paid a courtesy call on Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), at his office in Colombo.

The indicative USD/LKR spot exchange rate quoted by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has crossed the Rs. 310 mark for the first time since February 29, 2024.

A seaplane that was preparing to land at Gregory Lake in Nuwara Eliya crashed into the lake at around 12:30 PM today (January 7).

A group of companies led by John Keells Holdings has donated 400 million rupees to support people affected by the disaster caused by Cyclone Ditwah, with the funds given to the government’s “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” fund for relief and recovery work.

India’s Chief of the Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, arrived in Sri Lanka this morning (January 7), for a two-day official visit that focuses on strengthening defence cooperation, expanding training ties, and discussing regional security.

Dialog Axiata PLC has pledged LKR 420 million to the Government’s Rebuilding Sri Lanka initiative to restore critical hospital infrastructure and refurbish ICT laboratories in more than 20 schools affected by Cyclone Ditwah.

Airport Police have arrested a 43 year old Chinese national over the theft of a wallet containing US dollars 10,000 belonging to a Thai Buddhist monk who arrived in Sri Lanka from Bangkok on the morning of January 06, 2026.

Prison sources say that former ministers Douglas Devananda and Johnston Fernando, who were ordered by court to be remanded, along with Johnston Fernando’s two sons, are currently being held at the prison hospital of Mahara Prison.

Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today (January 06) warned that the growing drug menace has become a national disaster and called on all citizens to take responsibility to protect future generations, stressing that social wellbeing is as important as physical development.

The Government of Sri Lanka is planning a new system to allow private sector employees to receive their Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) as a monthly pension instead of a one-time payment, Deputy Minister of Labour Mahinda Jayasinghe told Parliament today (January 06).

Five people have died in the Thambaravila area of Wennappuwa after consuming liquor suspected to be illicit alcohol.

Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that, within the prevailing financial constraints, budgetary allocations for 2026 have been made by identifying national priorities, and emphasized that it is the responsibility of all Ministry Secretaries and public officials to utilize these funds with maximum efficiency for the benefit of the people.