China key to Sri Lanka’s economic progress: survey

In an islandwide poll conducted for a leading business magazine in Sri Lanka, 72 percent of the respondents believe that China is key to Sri Lanka’s economic progress, local media reported on Friday.



President lay foundation stone for waste-based electricity plant

The naming of the Karadiyana Waste Management Project as the Mihisaru Viyamana Resources Management Centre, to streamline the solid waste management in the Colombo district and laying the foundation stone for the project, which aimed at generating electricity from garbage in the Western province



Private hospital charges to be regulated says minister

The government is now in the process of regulating private hospital bills because most private hospital charges are exorbitant, Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Dr Rajitha Senaratne said.



TRC Levy Removed, Duty on Vehicles Reduced

The Finance Ministry announced today that it would remove 10% TRC levy on Internet Services.



Mahinda is exacting a grand scheme of revenge – Mangala

Minister of Finance and Media Mangala Samaraweera stated that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is currently scheming to exact revenge on the general public who voted to oust him from power in 2015 through his attempts misrepresent acts of the current government.



UNP to mull no-faith motion against Wijeyadasa today

The Working Committee of the United National Party will meet this morning at Sirikotha and one of the items up for discussion is a Motion of No-Confidence against one of the party’s Cabinet Ministers, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe.



Sri Lankan rupee ends steady as bank dollar sales offset demand

The Sri Lankan rupee ended steady on Wednesday as dollar selling by banks in the latter part of the session offset the importer dollar demand, dealers said.



Arjuna Ranatunga renews calls to sack Thilanga Sumathipala

Minister Arjuna Ranatunga blamed Sri Lanka’s cricket board Tuesday for the squad’s crushing three-Test series whitewash on home soil against India.



Trials should be held on a day-to-day basis at a ‘Higher Court’: Rajitha

Trials should be held on a day-to-day hearing basis at a ‘Higher Court’ on the cases filed against top notch officials of the previous Rajapaksa regime, Minister Rajitha Senaratne said.



President instructs officials to complete proper waste management programme by December

President Maithripala Sirisena instructed the officials to complete the implementation of proper waste management programme in the nine provinces of the country by December, in accordance with the Government policy of providing a permanent solution for the garbage disposal issue of the country by next year.



Shiranthi and Rohitha arrive at CID, FCID

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s wife Shiranthi Rjapaksa and their youngest son Rohitha Rajapaksa arrived at the CID and FCID respectively this morning to give statements over two separate ongoing investigations.



Worst ever defeat – Dinesh Chandimal

Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal who has been playing for Sri Lanka since 2011 said that this is the worst series defeat ever he has been part of.



ICTA CEO and Managing Director steps down

The CEO and Managing Director of Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) Muhunthan Canagey resigned from his position yesterday.



Google adds voice recognition for Sinhala and Tamil

Google’s speech-to-text recognition has added another 21 languages including Sinhala and Tamil, the global internet giant announced today.



India To Sri Lanka: Forget China, We Want Your Empty Airport

An Indian company has emerged with a bold plan for taking over Sri Lanka’s struggling Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA). The proposal, which would see India pumping $205 million into the airport for a 70% share for 40 years, was approved by Sri Lanka’s Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and sent on to the country’s cabinet for review.



Special operations Room to gather crime information

The Police have opened a special 24 hour operations room with a hotline dedicated to gather information on any drug related or organised crimes at the STF headquarters.