Trade union leader Asela Sampath arrested

The Chairman of the All Island Canteen Owners’ Association, Asela Sampath was arrested for allegedly threatening officials attached to the Consumer Affairs Authority.



Port City to become Chinese Colony after enacting bill – JVP

The Colombo Port City will become a Chinese Colony after enacting the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill in Parliament which would authorise the Port City to function devoid of common law of the country, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said yesterday.



Customs officer arrested over false data entry to re-export areca nuts

An Assistant Superintendent of Sri Lanka Customs has been arrested for forging documents and re-exporting a consignment of dried Indonesian areca nuts to India as Sri Lankan areca nuts.



New Year brings fresh hopes and renewed determination – President

Welcoming the dawn of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year with fresh hopes and renewed determination to materialize them is a valuable tradition deeply rooted in our culture, states President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in his Sinhala and Tamil New Year message.



Public expected a dictatorial rule – Dilum

State Minister Dilum Amunugama says a main reason the government is being blamed is the President’s failure to carry out a dictatorial rule as expected by the public.



Sri Lanka signs USD 500 million loan agreement with China

The Government of Sri Lanka has signed a loan agreement of USD 500 million with the China Development Bank (CDB).



COVID Third wave expected in May – Health guidelines grossly violated: PHI’s slam public and authorities

Public health inspectors are expecting the coronavirus third wave to hit Sri Lanka in May after the general public grossly disregarded the health guidelines ahead of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.



US Ambassador cautions Sri Lanka’s China-backed Colombo Port City from turning into money-laundering haven

US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives, Alaina Teplitz on Saturday warned Sri Lanka of unintended consequences of ‘nefarious actors’ who may try to misuse a China-backed Colombo Port City’s easy business rules as a permissive money laundering haven amid concerns of tax leaks.



Six arrested with 13 kilograms of ICE

Six suspects, including two females, were arrested for possessing 13 kg of Crystal Methamphetamine (ice) by the officers of the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) in Niwandama in the Ja-Ela police area.



Government planning Provincial Council Election dates in 2021

Minister of Youth and Sports Namal Rajapaksa says the government aims to conduct the Provincial Council Election before the end of this year.



“Zahran Hashim and his group were not Muslims; they hijacked the name of Islam to commit these crimes”

The Muslims never called for separatism. The Muslims have been on the side of the nation for over 1,000 years in Sri Lanka as documented in the book of Dr. Lorna Devaraja titled, ‘The Muslims of Sri Lanka – One Thousand Years of Ethnic Harmony’.



Indian travel bubble excludes Sri Lankan tourists

India on Friday declared the creation of an “air travel bubble” with Sri Lanka and allowed ‘designated carriers’ to operate between the two countries until the resumption of scheduled flights.



“Discussion with the Village”: President appoints Task Force to achieve goals

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed a Presidential Task Force to effectively guide, pursue and review the realisation of objectives and needs of the people that the government seeks to achieve through the “Discussion with the Village” program.



Government to ban batik, handloom imports to help local industry

State Minister of Batik, Handloom Fabric and Local Apparel Products Dayasiri Jayasekera yesterday said the Government plans to ban the import of printed batik cloth rolls and handloom textiles to support the local industry.



Rs. 3.4 billion bill for New Diamond oil spill

Attorney General Dappula de Livera has submitted documents related to the marine pollution claim for Rs.3.423 Billion (19.022 Million USD) to the lawyers of the owners of the crude oil tanker ‘MT New Diamond’ vessel in respect of the oil spill.



Reveal companies that sell toxic food – SJB

The government should immediately publish a list of food items that contain carcinogens, national organiser of the SJB, MP Tissa Attanayake says.