Category: Local News

Suspect arrested over a ransom remanded

The suspect arrested for allegedly attempting to threaten and obtain a ransom of Rs. 500,000 from Anuradhapura District Parliamentarian Ishak Rahman, has been remanded till the 5th of Match.



Tolls for new extension of Southern Expressway gazetted

Toll charges for the newly constructed Matara-Mattala-Hambantota extension of the Southern Expressway have been gazetted.



‘Sinkhole’ company wins BIA terminal contract

A Japanese construction company that built a subway which later collapsed and was also found guilty of bid-rigging is set to construct the second terminal at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).



Maximum retail price for imported big onions declared

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has set a maximum retail price for imported big onions.



3 suspects arrested over Constable’s murder

Another suspect has been arrested over the abduction and murder of a Constable attached to the Kadawatha Police in Bulugoda, Verahera.



US travel ban on Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva based on unverified allegations, unfair – Ambassador Perera

Reiterating that the controversial travel ban imposed on Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva hadn’t been based on independently verified information, but on the much-disputed OISL Report of 2015 and other organizations. Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Washington Rodney Perera on Thursday, Feb 20, urged the United States to verify the authenticity of its sources of information.



Defence Ministry to submit a new Cabinet paper to solve pension issues of disabled soldiers

Defence Ministry will submit a new Cabinet paper to solve existing issues related to pensions and allowances to disabled persons of armed forces and the police, soon.



Fire in Muthurajawela reserve destroys many acres of mangroves

A fire that has erupted in the Muthurajawela nature reserve has caused heavy damages to the mangrove lands and biodiversity surrounding the environment.



Permanent appointments for Samurdhi Officers

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa says his aim is to eradicate poverty with the creation of a people-centric economy.



Immediate ban of the Burqa recommended

The Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security has proposed to immediately ban attire such as the burqa, and suspend registration of political parties on ethnic and religious basis.



Body of missing constable found from Werahera

The body of the police constable (37), who was reported missing from Kadawatha area since last Sunday (16), has been found in Werahera, Pannala.



Ex-District Judge gets 16-year RI over bribery offences

Former Homagama District Judge Sunil Abeysinghe and his then-security officer have been sentenced to 16-year rigorous imprisonment for accepting a bribe of Rs. 300,000 back in 2013.



Appeals Court orders not to arrest Judge Gihan Pilapitiya without a court order

The Court of Appeal today issued an order not to arrest interdicted High Court Judge Gihan Pilapitiya, without a magistrate’s court order.



Sainthamaruthu Gazette notification withheld

Co-cabinet spokesman Minister Bandula Gunawardena stated that the cabinet has decided to temporarily withhold the gazette notification naming Sainthamaruthu as a separate local government area.



Possible sets of drugs for coronavirus treatment

A group of scientists led by Dr. Sameera R. Samarakoon at the Institute of Biochemistry Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Colombo has recently discovered a possible sets of United States’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drugs which can be used as prophylactic treatment for COVID-19 by using computer-based drug designing methods.



Iraj’s appointment to Sri Lanka Tourism still pending

The appointment of popular artiste Iraj Weeraratne as Digital Marketing Consultant to Sri Lanka Tourism is still pending, with Cabinet awaiting approval from respective agencies.