Sri Lanka will import 5,000 heads of high yield cattle from Australia in May to boost local daily production, a minster said on Saturday.

Chairman of the National Alcohol and Tobacco Authority Dr. Palitha Abeykone, in a report, states that, the annual tax income for the government through manufacture and marketing of narcotics is Rs 143 million and that the government spends Rs 212.6 billion on providing treatment to persons who fall ill due to drug use.

A Sri Lankan commission investigating possible irregularities in government bond sales recorded a statement on Friday by former central bank governor Arjuna Mahendran, who oversaw a controversial sale.

India today said it expects Sri Lanka to expedite the investigation into the killing of one of its fishermen given the “gravity and seriousness” of the issue.

Refugees who sheltered rogue National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden in Hong Kong are seeking asylum in Canada.

Registration of new pharmacies has been temporarily halted, Health Minister Rajitha Senarathne said.

President Maithripala Sirisena, who is on a state visit to Indonesia to attend the Indian Ocean Rim Association Leaders’ Summit, met with the Indonesian President Joko Widodo, yesterday (08).

The Sri Lankan rupee ended weaker on Wednesday on importer dollar demand, dealers said, a day after the International Monetary Fund urged the country’s central bank to rebuild foreign reserves while maintaining exchange rate flexibility.

MP Dinesh Gunawardane had been suspended for one week today by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya due to unruly behaviour during the Parliamentary sessions.

Agriculture Minister Duminda Dissanayake has admitted that his Ministry has been paying a monthly rental of Rs.21 million since April 2016 for the new building in Rajagiriya though still unoccupied.

Present government is very concerned about the security of the country, and the dignity of the war heroes, said the Minister of Regional Development Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has urged Sri Lanka’s central bank to rebuild international reserves, while maintaining exchange rate flexibility, and to be ready to tighten monetary policy if credit growth or inflation do not abate.

“We are in unanimous agreement that the sustainable existence of the humankind depends on the strength of the empowered women. That is why the sustainable development goals of the United Nations Organization prioritize the plan to empower all women and female children within next fifteen years.

Opposition Leader of Parliament R. Sampanthan sending a message to mark the International Women’s Day stated the contribution of women to the nation has been invaluable.

The Voice Against Corruption has called on the International Monetary Fund to influence the government to recover the money lost through the Central Bank bond scam before advising the government on the sale of its state assets.