Category: Local News

Long delays in Sri Lanka’s post-war reconciliation is not without cost, and its government should implement measures to resolve outstanding issues, the United Nations said on Monday.

A shootout took place between the Police Special Task Force and a criminal gang in Henpitigedara, Diwulapitiya.

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has decided to immediately import 200,000 metric tons of rice.

Doctors from several countries including Sri Lanka are working for the ISIS healthcare service, claims a suspected Indian doctor working for the ISIS and recruiting youths for the terror group.

The Government has taken steps to grant Rs. 2,000 million as compensation to 17,000 families in the Kolonnawa DS division in the Colombo district affected by the 2016 floods to help uplift their lives. During the first phase of the programme, Rs. 271.6 million was distributed at Rs. 10,000 per family last year.

A continuing delay by China’s Exim Bank to extend a loan of US$ 1.1 billion (Rs 158 billion) to Sri Lanka has put on hold the first phase of the Central Expressway project. The project covers 37.09 kilometres and links up to the rest of the Central Expressway from Mirigama.

Sri Lanka will continue to work with the United Nations (UN) and other institutions by aligning the government’s policy strategy with the “Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Targets” to be achieved by 2030, Finance and Mass Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera said.

More than Rs.3,489 billion is required in the next two years for debt servicing, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament yesterday, also highlighting that the Government has put in place a prudent debt management strategy to overcome the unprecedented challenges in the fiscal front.

The Sri Lankan rupee ended marginally higher on Friday as selling of the U.S. dollar by banks on account of inward remittances surpassed early demand for the greenback from importers, dealers said.

A group of people, including a member of Northern Provincial Council K. Sivajilingam who recently protested in Jaffna hoisting black flags, met with President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat, yesterday (19th Oct.).

The Chief Prelate of the Malwatte Chapter rejected media reports which mischievously suggested that he opposed any Constitutional reforms, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday (19th).

MP Hirunika Premachandra was appointed by the Prime Minster Ranil Wickremesinghe as the UNP organizer for Ratmalana yesterday.

It has been reported that former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa returned to Sri Lanka earlier today (19), dispelling rumours of his impending arrest.

Colombo University Physical Science Department Prof. Chandana Jayaratne confirmed that the bright light and sound which was heard from the Southern Province (SP) this evening was because of an explosion caused by a meteor.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the government will never shrug off the responsibility vested upon it to revive the country’s economy.

Jain and Hindu believers celebrate Deepavali with the sacred light of truth that wins over the darkness of evil. The true meaning of Deepavali is found in overcoming lies with the truth, hatred with love, evil with goodness and defeat with victory.