Latest Sri Lanka News and Top Stories

The Vehicle Importers’ Association of Sri Lanka (VIASL) has raised concerns over a significant hike in vehicle import taxes, which could escalate to as high as 600% for certain vehicles.

R. Duminda Silva, who is serving a death sentence for the murder of Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, was transferred from the Welikada Prison Hospital to the National Hospital in Colombo due to a sudden illness, according to a senior official from the Department of Prisons.

A special gazette notification has been issued, detailing significant changes to the import tax structure for vehicles starting February 2025.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will undertake a State Visit to the People’s Republic of China from January 14 to January 17, 2025, at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

A meeting between Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), and the Defence Advisor of the High Commission of India, Captain Anand Mukundan, along with Assistant Defence Advisor Lieutenant Colonel Mandeep Singh Negi, took place yesterday (January 10) at the Deputy Minister’s office in Colombo.

R. Duminda Silva, who is serving a death sentence for the murder of Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, was transferred from the Welikada Prison Hospital to a regular ward on the evening of January 10, 2025.

A private bus traveling from Colombo to Passara met with an accident near the 10th-mile post area in Passara today (January 11) at around 6:30 AM.

Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Finance has announced an increase in the excise duty on liquor and cigarettes, effective midnight on January 10, 2025.

Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa addressed Parliament today (January 10) to refute a claim made by opposition MP Chamara Sampath Dasanayake.

Former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia, Udayanga Weeratunga, has been arrested by the Mirihana Police.

Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath addressed Parliament on January 9, 2025 stating that only two visa categories – E-09 and E-07 – are valid for Sri Lankans seeking employment or business opportunities in Korea.

High Court Judge Ranga Srinath Abeywickrema Dissanayake has been appointed as the new Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

The National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) has planned to reduce the prices of 90 types of medicines.

Deputy Minister of Labour Mahinda Jayasinghe announced in Parliament today (January 9) that the government is planning a significant salary increase for public sector employees in the upcoming budget.

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has sentenced the General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) organization, Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, to 9 months of simple imprisonment for making a defamatory statement about the religion of Islam.

The Appropriation Bill, also known as the budget for the year 2025, is scheduled to be presented to the Parliament of Sri Lanka today (January 9) for its first reading.