Category: Local News

Hendavitharanage Selin Kumara alias ‘Thel Kumara’ has been shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Trincomalee this morning (11), police said.

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said the prices of fuel would be reviewed every two months and the prices would be changed accordingly.

Sri Lanka hiked fuel prices Thursday by up to 130 percent following pressure from the International Monetary Fund and its central bank to reduce the burden of heavy subsidies on its struggling economy.

The prices of fuel will be increased with effect from midnight today, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Rajitha Senaratne said a short while ago.

BBC journalist Azzam Ameen has been asked to report to the Cyber Crimes unit of the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) this morning (10) so that a statement could be recorded from him.

Sri Lankan parliament on Wednesday approved a new law to establish courts to handle cases related to bribery and corruption to speed up cases that have dragged on for years.

The railway union strike which was launched at 12 noon today was called off a short while ago after the government agreed to meet their demands.

The railway trade unions have decided to launch their strike action from 12 noon today (09), based on several demands including the failure by authorities to fulfill their promises on resolving railway workers’ issues.

The Colombo Fort Magistrate yesterday issued an order directing former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal to submit a report in court within seven days. This is pertaining to the financial transactions regarding Sri Lanka’s bid to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games (CWG).

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Tuesday urged his own coalition government and the opposition to end a power struggle in order to achieve ambitious goals including anti-corruption measures.

The construction of the Sengal Oya Irrigation Project will commence on May 10, according to the State Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources & Disaster Management, Palitha Range Bandara.

Two Sri Lankan women have been arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake for attempting to smuggle 1.1kg of gold worth Rs.10 million into the country.

The long-awaited and crucial deal on EAP Group, linked to the revival of ETI Finance and Swarnamahal Financial Services, has been struck with an investment commitment of $ 75 million (nearly Rs. 12 billion), of which around $ 35 million has been infused initially.

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday expressed his desire to continue in politics beyond 2020. “I will not retire in 2020,” the President emphasised, addressing a mammoth May Day rally organised by the SLFP led UPFA at Chenkaladi in the Batticaloa district.

According to local government ministry sources, Rs.135 million needs to be set aside monthly to pay the salaries of 8689 members elected to the local government bodies.

A UNP which will rule for the next 20-30 years and not just five, was the promise UNP Leader and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe made to his supporters as the party commemorated May Day at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium yesterday.