Debt-stricken Sri Lanka is fast-tracking efforts to seal a stalled trade pact with Thailand in order to boost trade and tourism, and improve the foreign currency shortage that has led to its worst economic crisis, a government minister said on Tuesday.

A 44-year-old doctor serving in Badulla General Hospital has been arrested with 145 narcotic capsules in total that were intended to be sold to children, Sri Lanka Police said.

In an effort to make payment processes in public sector institutions convenient, the Technology Ministry has called on its officials to take immediate measures to make electronic payment facilities mandatory, a proposal made in the 2023 budget.

Sri Lanka Police have arrested 7 suspects who were involved in stealing an ATM machine from a private bank in the Gampola area.

Postal Voting for the 2023 Local Government Election was postponed indefinitely, said the National Election Commission of Sri Lanka today (February 14).

Sri Lanka’s Election Commission Chairman Nimal Punchihewa has informed Party General Secretaries that it will not be possible to distribute postal vote ballot papers from tomorrow (February 15) due to financial issues.

Sri Lankan YouTuber Sepal Amarasinghe who made statements defaming the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) further remanded until February 21, 2023.

Japan has agreed to grant 5 billion Japanese yen or approximately USD 38 million to ensure provisions to purchase fuel needed to maintain essential and emergency services in the health sector in Sri Lanka.

A 27-year-old youth who locked up Kuliyapitiya additional magistrate at his residence Madapatha, Piliyandala and stole his vehicle on Saturday (February 11) was arrested by Sri Lanka Police in Wattala.

Officials from China, India, Saudi Arabia and Group of Seven nations will participate in a first virtual meeting of a new sovereign debt roundtable on Friday, the International Monetary Fund said on Monday, confirming an earlier Reuters report.

Two Sri Lanka Army soldiers were arrested by Borella Police over the incident of a woman being fatally shot when a weapon misfired during a raid at Dematagoda last night (February 13).

The Government Printer has stated that if funds are not provided ballot papers will not be printed, the National Election Commission said on Monday (February 13).

President Ranil Wickremesinghe instructed the government officials to take the necessary measures to purchase a kilo of paddy at a guaranteed price of Rs. 100.

The Attorney General has filed a revision application on Friday (February 10) before the Colombo High Court requesting the nullification of the order issued by the Colombo Chief Magistrate to release Wasantha Mudalige from charges under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

Sri Lanka Railways says that due to a strike launched by the trade union of engine drivers, several trains scheduled for today (February 13) have been cancelled.

Sri Lanka’s external reserves surpassed two billion dollars in January, reflecting gradual improvement in the foreign exchange conditions in the domestic market which was made possible due to a slew of tightening measures and also due to the acceleration in the foreign currency inflows, recently.