Coconut tree fellers will be prosecuted – Ramesh

In order to halt the wanton uprooting of coconut trees, legal action will be taken against those who fell coconut trees, Minister of Plantation Ramesh Pathirana said, during a meeting of the Consultative Committee of his Ministry.



Dinesh tells Parliament UNHRC resolution is illegal

Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena yesterday told Parliament that Sri Lanka will pursue domestic mechanisms aimed at bringing about reconciliation and lasting peace despite the resolution adopted by the UNHRC



Moody vows to shake up Sri Lanka, end ‘survival’ culture

Former Australian Test player Tom Moody Thursday asked lowly-ranked Sri Lanka to end its culture of merely “surviving” and vowed to shake up the national team ahead of the next World Cup.



COVID impact on economy will be felt for years – Ranil

Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe says the COVID-19 pandemic will not end in 2021 and its economic impact will be felt for years to come.



India temporarily halts Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine exports

India has put a temporary hold on all major exports of the AstraZeneca coronavirus shot made by the Serum Institute of India (SII), the world’s biggest vaccine-maker, to meet domestic demand as infections rise, two sources told Reuters.



Burqa ban still under discussion – Rambukwella

Co-Cabinet Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella, yesterday (24), said the proposal to ban the wearing of the Burqa is still being discussed in Cabinet.



Court decision on Ranjan’s seat on 31 March

The Court of Appeal has stated that the decision on whether to issue notice to the respondents of the writ petition filed by the imprisoned parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake for proceeding will be announced on the 31st of this month.



31st of July to be named National Sports Day

The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to name the 31st of July as National Sports Day.



Cabinet nod to purchase 7 million Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccines

Cabinet of Ministers has given the nod to purchase 7 million Sputnik V coronavirus vaccines from Russia, the Department of Government Information said today (March 24).



Public received intended relief – Cabraal

State Minister of Finance, Capital Market and State Enterprise Ajith Nivard Cabraal said, with the reduction of sugar tax to 25 cents the public received the intended relief.



Public concern over environment goes beyond politics: SJB

The Government has conflated concerns raised by youth regarding environmental damage with political criticism, charged Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Hesha Withanage yesterday, pointing out that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had taken a tough stance on deforestation and habitat loss in the lead up to the Presidential Election but had failed to follow through once in office.



U.N. rights office gets mandate to document Sri Lanka war crimes

U.N. human rights boss Michelle Bachelet was given a mandate on Tuesday to collect and preserve information and evidence of crimes related to Sri Lanka’s long civil war, which ended in 2009 with the defeat of the separatist Tamil Tigers.



Two including Police SI killed by speeding van in Rajagiriya

A Police Sub Inspector has been killed after a van rammed on to a group of officers who were inspecting vehicles in Rajagiriya this morning.



CBSL signs $ 1.5 billion 3-year currency swap deal with People’s Bank of China

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) and the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) yesterday entered into a three-year bilateral currency swap agreement worth $ 1.5 billion.



Kirielle asks President to visit his Hantane property and see if there has been any environmental damage

Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella yesterday said that he was ready to give a land belonging to him at Hantana for an environmetnal project of the state and extended an open invitation to the President, government officials and media to come and see for themselves or to hold an investigation on the ownership of the land.



Tamil Nadu leaders urge India to vote in favor of UN resolution against Sri Lanka

India’s DMK party president M. K. Stalin and other leaders on Sunday (March 22) urged Indian Central government leaders to support the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution against Sri Lanka.