Sri Lanka bids for Christmas tree record despite church snub

Cricket legend Arjuna Ranatunga announced Monday he was reviving his bid to build a record-breaking 100-metre tall Christmas tree in Sri Lanka’s capital despite opposition from the Catholic church.



Navy Commander in alleged fracas with protesters Defence Secretary calls for full report

Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi has called for a full report from the Navy Commander Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, regarding the controversial incident that took place on Saturday (10) at the Hambantota Magampura Harbour.



Government defending Navy action: Gota

Former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa commenting on the yesterday’s incident which took place at the protest held at the Hambantota harbour said the government was defending the Navy’s unlawful action.



Sri Lanka approves 2017 budged aims to raise revenue through taxes

Sri Lanka’s coalition government on Saturday won the final vote on its 2017 budget which aims to boost revenue and cut the fiscal deficit to 4.6 percent of GDP from this year’s 5.4 percent with a more than two-thirds majority.



Cocaine haul largest in South Asia

The 800kgs of cocaine detected at the Colombo Port yesterday morning (09) is the largest haul of cocaine detected in the South Asian region, Police said.



Japanese vehicle carrier, crew held at Hambantota port

Hambantota port workers held a Japanese vehicle carrier Hyperion Highway and its crew for four days in protest against the proposed agreement between the government and state owned China Merchants Port Holdings Company Ltd to operate the port as a public-private partnership.



Debate on COPE report will be given priority: Minister

State Minister of Finance Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana said the COPE report on the ‘Treasury Bond Issue’ would be taken up for debate on priority basis at the very first session of Parliament in 2017



Sri Lanka president cancels colonial-era order amid falling popularity

Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena on Thursday rescinded a colonial-era British order naming 19 nationals as “traitors” for leading a rebellion nearly 200 years ago, his office said



Sri Lanka to invite private investment in higher education sector

Sri Lanka would open up the higher education sector for private investment, an official said here on Wednesday.



Sri Lanka to ink JV with Chinese firm to develop southern port

Sri Lanka will take part in a joint venture with China Merchants Port Holdings Company Limited to develop a port in its south, where China has also been offered an investment zone.



U.N. rights watchdog calls on Sri Lanka to investigate torture

A U.N. rights watchdog called on Sri Lanka on Wednesday to investigate documented allegations of torture and rape of detainees by security forces and to rein in broad police powers.



Karuna Amman released on bail

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today granted bail to former Deputy Minister Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan, better known as Karuna Amman



Illnesses mentioned in Duminda’s diagnosis card false: Hirunika

The illnesses mentioned in the prison hospital diagnosis card of former Parliamentarian Duminda Silva are all false, said UNP MP Hirunika Premachandra.



Taxing telecom a tragedy!

Slapping higher taxes on data is a regressive move that could discourage ecommerce development in Sri Lanka, an expert said yesterday



First priority should be national security – Gotabaya

The first priority of a country should be the national security, former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa asserts.



LSEG Facility stamps investor confidence for Sri Lanka

The investment in Sri Lanka by London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) technology facility is a clear example of the investment confidence foreign countries have on Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said.