Category: Local News

2 Sri Lankans arrested for smuggling gold in Mumbai

The Indian Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Mumbai customs on Sunday arrested two Sri Lankan passengers for smuggling 25 gold bars from Dubai.



Hundreds feared buried in Sri Lanka rubbish dump landslide

Emergency workers looking for survivors after a massive rubbish dump collapsed in Sri Lanka suspended their search on Saturday night, having already extracted 19 bodies from the rubble and mud.



16 killed in Sri Lanka as massive mound of garbage collapses

At least 16 people were killed and more than 600 others fled their homes after a massive mound of garbage collapsed on part of a poor neighborhood near Sri Lanka’s capital during festivities to mark the local new year



Sri Lanka expecting increase in Chinese tourist arrivals in 2017

Sri Lanka is expecting a substantial increase in Chinese tourists this year as more resorts and hotels throughout the country are putting in place to cater to the Chinese market



Meetotamulla tragedy; death toll reaches 10

Nine more persons died while receiving treatment at the National hospital, following the Meetotamulla garbage dump collapse, bringing the death toll to ten, hospital sources said.



Homes damaged as part of Meethotamulla garbage dump collapses

A section of the Meethotamulla garbage dump has reportedly collapsed, completely destroying several nearby houses and damaging others in the vicinity.



Brings message of prosperity, unity to the nation: PM

Sinhala and Tamil New Year brings a message of prosperity and unity to the nation, acknowledging the role of the Sun in the agrarian society and its blessings towards a greater harvest, states Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in a Sinhala and Tamil New Year message.



Aluth Avurudda serves as a catalyst for fresh thinking: President

The customary rites and rituals attached with the “Avurudda”, based on the transition of the sun, depict the social connotation of the deep and subtle connection between man and nature in physical and spiritual facets since the origins of life on Planet Earth many ages ago, states President Maithripala Sirisena in a Sinhala and Tamil New Year message.



Colombo financial city looking to attract South Asian investors

A top official of the Colombo International Financial City (CIFC), also known as the port city project, says that they expect investments to the tune of $13 billion to start coming in from 2018 and that they target major investors from South Asia, particularly India.



Sri Lankan will keep ports unavailable for military activity, PM says

Sri Lanka will make sure no military activity is conducted at its ports, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said in Tokyo on Wednesday, as China invests heavily in roads and harbours on the island nation.



Johnston sacked SLFP reshuffles Kurunegala

The SLFP yesterday made some dramatic changes in its Kurunegala District party hierarchical order.



Health Minister accuses GMOA of trying to bring back Rajapaksa to power

Health Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne yesterday accused the GMOA of making various statements in a bid to bring back former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to power.



Sri Lankan rupee ends down on importer dollar demand ahead of new year

The Sri Lankan rupee edged down on Tuesday as importer dollar demand and dividend payments outpaced mild inward remittances, dealers said.



EU representatives to assess Sri Lanka’s GSP+ eligibility

A special representative group from the European Union (EU) has arrived in the country to assess Sri Lanka eligibility for the reinstatement of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+).



Spiritual leaders are instrumental in the reconciliation process – President

Spiritual leaders are the real messengers who connect the hearts of the people and strengthen reconciliation as wished by every religious philosophy, said President Maithripala Sirisena.



Premier leaves to Japan on state visit today

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe left to Japan on a state visit earlier today.