Category: Local News

The Police Sergeant who was arrested for making a statement to the media while among protesters at Galle Face while in uniform, has been granted bail today (April 15).

Issuing of fuel for vehicles will be limited at filling stations from 1.00 pm today, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) said.

The chairman of Litro Gas Company Thishara Jayasinghe has resigned from the post.

The Police headquarters states that it has decided to take disciplinary action against the Police officer who had attended the protest at Galle Face Green (Gota Go Gama), he has been taken in for questioning by the Police Special Investigations Unit.

Veteran actor and comedian Bandu Samarasinghe has been appointed as Sri Lanka’s Consular General in Milan, Italy, sources said.

Sri Lankans shared milk rice and oil cakes to celebrate their traditional new year on Thursday opposite President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s office, where they camped out for a sixth day demanding his resignation over the worst economic crisis in memory.

Life usually stops in Sri Lanka’s capital during April’s holiday period, but with an economic crisis derailing traditional home celebrations, Colombo’s city centre is instead teeming with frustrated crowds.

Sri Lanka needs between $3 billion to $4 billion this year to pull itself out of an unprecedented economic crisis and plans to start talks with the International Monetary Fund for help, Finance Minister Ali Sabry said.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday said that it supported Sri Lanka’s plans to engage in “collaborative dialogue” with creditors, a day after the country unilaterally suspended external debt payments amid a severe economic crisis.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in his message to mark the dawn of the New Year said the government is already putting into action the future plans needed to avoid the hardships people had to face unexpectedly in challenging times.

Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa says the New Year, a festival that teaches the lesson of fertility, dawns this year trapping citizens in many dilemmas.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said all must resolve to overcome the challenges confronting us with understanding.

Sri Lanka was downgraded deeper into junk by Fitch Ratings, which said the nation’s decision to suspend payments on its foreign debt has kicked off a sovereign default process.

India is willing to commit up to another $2 billion in financial assistance to Sri Lanka while also supporting the island nation with food and fuel

Sri Lanka has received emergency funding of USD 10 million from the World Bank for purchasing medicinal drugs, the Ministry of Health has said.

Former Minister Wimal Weerawansa said that if Sri Lanka wants some form of stability, the Prime Minister and the Government must resign paving the way for a new administration.