Private secretary of Lohan Ratwatte found dead with gunshot injuries

The private secretary of former State Minister Lohan Ratwatte was found dead with gunshot wounds in a house in Katugastota today (October 20).



Sri Lankan President announces interim budget, promises salary hikes

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced plans to present an interim budget in December 2024, followed by a new budget in February or March 2025.



Mahinda and Ranil urged to return excess government vehicles

The Department of Government Information in Sri Lanka has announced that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has returned eight government vehicles that were previously in his possession.



Bomb hoax forces emergency landing of Colombo-bound flight at BIA

A Vistara flight from Mumbai to Colombo made an emergency landing at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Sri Lanka due to a bomb threat on October 19, 2024.



Are privileges necessary? President’s committee questions former Sri Lankan Presidents

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has requested former Presidents of Sri Lanka to submit written reports on their privileges and the necessity of these benefits to a three-member committee he appointed to review the entitlements of former Presidents, Ministers, and Members of Parliament.



Transport minister orders inter-provincial link for vehicle revenue license issuance

Transport Minister Vijitha Herath has instructed officials to link the Western Province with other provinces for the issuance of vehicle revenue licenses.



No new import levies on five goods, says Finance Ministry

Sri Lanka’s Finance Ministry has denied reports claiming that the government has introduced new taxes on certain imported goods.



IMF boosts support for low-income countries with new funding package

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has taken a significant step to support low-income countries by completing a review of its Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT) facilities.



Professor Kapila Seneviratne appointed as new UGC chairman

Senior Professor Kapila Seneviratne has been appointed as the new Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.



Sri Lankan egg traders urge pricing formula amid market price surge

Egg trade associations in Sri Lanka have requested the government to introduce a pricing formula to determine the price of eggs.



Johnston Fernando evades CID inquiry over unregistered BMW car

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has requested former Member of Parliament Johnston Fernando to provide a statement regarding an unregistered BMW car found in the Colombo Hilton parking lot.



Ranil urges voters to choose experienced leaders to tackle economic crisis

Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized the need for experienced leaders in Parliament to address the country’s ongoing economic challenges.



Keheliya Rambukwella Primary School renamed Kundasale Royal Primary School

Central Province Governor, Professor S.B.S. Abayakoon, approved the immediate renaming of ‘Keheliya Rambukwella Primary School’ in the Kundasale Division of the Wattegama Education Zone, Kandy, on October 16, 2024.



Tourist arrivals surpass 63,000 in early October amid seasonal slowdown

Sri Lanka welcomed 63,491 tourists in the first half of October, continuing a slowdown in arrivals ahead of the winter season, according to data from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).



Sri Lankan President calls for national plan to revitalize agriculture

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized the need for a long-term, unified national plan to reorganize Sri Lanka’s currently disordered agriculture sector.



U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung calls on Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary Sampath Thuyacontha

U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, made a courtesy call on Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retired), at the Defence Ministry in Sri Jayawardenapura, Kotte, today (October 16).