President establishes Task Force for Green Agriculture

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has established a Presidential Task Force for Green Agriculture.



Maha season begins; but farmers are not in the field

Friday heralded the beginning of the Maha season according to the agrarian calendar; but a majority of the farmers across the country were not in their paddy fields sowing seeds but were on the streets demanding organic fertiliser which the Government has promised to deliver.



Central Bank looking at proposal to permit dollar-paid vehicle imports

The central bank is looking at a proposal to allow persons who can pay in foreign exchange to import vehicles and pay taxes in hard currency, Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said last week.



Samagi Jana Balawegaya Chairman Sarath Fonseka pledges to defeat government

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Chairman Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka yesterday pledged to build up a giant political force to defeat the government and called for people’s support for the same.



Two cops injured in stabbing attack by drug addict

Two police constables have been stabbed by a drug addict when they attempted to question him in the area of Modara last night (October 16).



Athuraliye Rathana Thero expelled from ‘Ape Janabala’ Party

Venerable Athuraliye Rathana Thero, member of ‘Ape Janabala’ Party (Our Power of People Party), has been expelled from the party.



Samagi Jana Balawegaya regrets how teacher issues are handled by Government

Samagi Jana Balawegaya Parliamentarian Patali Champika Ranawaka says it is regrettable that the government has not been able to provide a stringent solution to teacher principal salary anomalies.



No immediate hike in fuel prices – Udaya

Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa has told Minister of Energy Udaya Gammanpila that the Treasury is not in a position to assist the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC). However, there would not be a fuel price hike in the short term, the Minister of Energy told the media yesterday.



Islandwide broadband coverage by end 2022

Plans are afoot to complete 100% broadband coverage in 10 districts before the end of this year under the ‘Communication to the Village’ National Programme and to provide broadband coverage islandwide covering the remaining districts before the end of 2022, says Director General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka, Oshada Senanayake.



JVP warns of US intervention due to gas supply deal

The JVP says the United States will have the opportunity to deploy a permanent vessel near the Port of Colombo due to the agreement to transfer the ownership of gas supply to the Kerawalapitiya Power Plant to an American firm.



Basil Rajapaksa discharged from Divi Neguma funds misappropriation case

Colombo High court discharged Minister Basil Rajapaksa and former Director-General of Divineguma Kithsiri Ranawaka over Divineguma funds misappropriation case in 2015.



Interprovincial travel restrictions strictly imposed until October 21

Sri Lanka has decided to extend the existing inter-province travel restrictions to 21st October.



Highland milk powder prices increased

The Chairman of MILCO Company has stated that the prices of Highland milk powder has increased with effect from today (15).



There are sufficient jobs in the private sector – Nimal

Minister of Labour Nimal Siripala de Silva says youth will not lose job opportunities as there are many jobs in the private sector.



Potassium chloride fertiliser is organic – Agri Ministry

The 30,000MT of potassium chloride fertiliser imported to Sri Lanka from Lithuania is a type of fertiliser of mineral origin certified by the Director General of Agriculture, the Ministry of Agriculture said yesterday (14).



Grant Agrahara Insurance to COVID employees at home – Prime Minister

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday instructed officials to prepare a method for providing compensation through the Agrahara Insurance Fund to Government employees infected with COVID-19 and are being treated at their homes.