A series of explosions rocked a military ammunition depot on the edge of Sri Lanka’s capital into Monday, sparking huge fires and forcing thousands to flee as debris fell into populated neighbourhoods.

A fire has erupted at the Salawa Army base in Kosgama.

For seven years, the ethnic Tamil housewife has waited for news of a son who vanished near the frenzied end of Sri Lanka’s quarter-century-long civil war.

The Finance Ministry has ruled out the provision of concessions to vehicle importers who have protested against the imposition of a heavy tax from last week.

The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) executive board has approved a three-year $1.5 billion loan to support Sri Lanka’s economic reform agenda, the global lender said on Saturday.

Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake yesterday outlined the importance of having a strong National Government with a consistent set of policies towards building a more resilient national economy.

Refugee activists have called on the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu to ease restrictions on Sri Lankan refugees living in guarded camps after police intercepted a group who had escaped and were attempting to migrate to Australia.

Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe slammed Government MP Chatura Senaratne for his disparaging verbal criticism of the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA).

The National Transport Commission (NTC) yesterday said it will not allow any extra charge or charges to be imposed on bus commuters as charges of fuel wastage during delays in traffic jams.

Sri Lanka’s Monetary Board on Thursday recommended the central bank provide more information about bond auctions after repeated allegations that it had been raising funds via local bonds at higher than market rates.

A possible Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SLSFTA) is being studied, with both countries keen on pursuing the deal, Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) has said.

An extra percentage would be charged from private bus passengers taking into consideration the cost of fuel wasted due to delays caused by traffic congestion, from July 1, said Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) Chairman Gemunu Wijeratne yesterday.

Sri Lanka will gradually stop sending house maids abroad, mainly to the Middle East, due to rights abuses, social costs and a local labour shortage, government spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said on Wednesday.

Government has taken steps to remove all garbage mountains in the areas inundated by floods including Kolonnawa within three days.

Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said, at a media briefing yesterday, that there were one million three wheelers registered in the country. He said the import tax on them was increased in order to control their numbers.

China announced on Tuesday it would fund the construction of a Sri Lanka-China friendship village to house families affected by the recent natural disaster.