SriLankan Airlines expects a spectacular increase in visitors from North Andhra and its neighbourhood with the launching of a direct flight from here to Colombo from July 8.

Indirect taxes account for 80 percent of the government’s tax income. This will be brought down to 60 percent within the next two years bringing tangible relief and benefits to the innocent and poor people, Finance and Mass Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera said.

Foreign Employment Minister Thalatha Atukorale has regretted the failure on the part of the government to have former President Mahinda Rajapaksa investigated through the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) for spending Rs 400 mn on a monument in memory of his parents put up in Tangalle.

Amnesty International calls on the Sri Lankan authorities to immediately implement the much delayed Office on Missing Persons.

Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) Convener Lahiru Weerasekara was taken into police custody today.

President Maithripala Sirisena says some politically indecent groups are trying to show the country that the government is acting to emasculate the free education by depriving the opportunities of the students of the medical faculties in government universities.

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) launched an islandwide strike today at 8 a.m.

At present, all the testing works of the Moragahakanda hydro-electricity plant, which will generate25MW hydro-power to the national grid, have been concluded.

A group of University students protesting against the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM), forcibly entered the Health Ministry premises yesterday.

Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera surrendered to the Fort Magistrate’s Court a short while ago. Recently the Court issued an arrest warrant against him for not appearing in Court.

Sri Lanka on Tuesday slammed a report by a special United Nations (UN) envoy, saying she has misled the international community on the judicial process currently followed in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena said on Tuesday that he would explore the possibility of getting some help from Bangladesh regarding disaster management and recovery.