65 elephants killed in 2021

The number of elephant deaths for 2021 jumped to 65 yesterday with four new deaths within 72 hours.



Opposition campaign to deceive masses must be countered – President

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Saturday said that attempts by the Opposition to mislead the people by making baseless allegations should not be allowed.



50 houses in Maligawatte damaged due to a fire

Close to 50 houses in Kajimawatte, Grandpass were damaged following a fire that erupted today morning (15), Sri Lanka Police said.



‘Hunger needs to be overcome before highways and high life’

The global economic crisis has affected all countries, but small economies like Sri Lanka are the worst hit. A recent nutritional study in Sri Lanka shows that the level of malnutrition has gone up to 18%, while the poverty level has reached 60%.



Sri Lanka to ban burqa, shut many Islamic schools, minister says

Sri Lanka will ban the wearing of the burqa and shut more than a thousand Islamic schools, a government minister said on Saturday, the latest actions affecting the country’s minority Muslim population.



Gazette on rehabilitating people arrested over extremist activities issued

An extraordinary gazette notification containing new regulations to rehabilitate the individuals who surrenders or is taken into custody over extremist activities has been issued on Friday (March 12).



TID arrests man for promoting Wahhabism & Jihadist ideology

The Terrorist Investigation Division has arrested a suspect named Rasheed Akbar in Dematagoda on several charges including spreading Wahhabism and Jihadi ideology in Sri Lanka.



Foreign Ministry conveys concerns about Sri Lanka flag doormat

The Foreign Ministry yesterday said Government concerns over the sale of the national flag being sold as a doormat on Amazon have been conveyed to both the Sri Lankan Embassy in China and the Chinese Embassy in Colombo.



MPs’ monthly benefits to increase

It has been decided to increase the monthly benefits granted to MPs, while each MP is also set to be provided with an insurance cover worth Rs 1 million.



AG receives remaining 22 volumes of PCoI report on Easter Sunday attacks

The remaining 22 volumes of the report compiled by Presidential Commission of Inquiry which investigated the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks were handed over to the Attorney General today (March 12), says the President’s Legal Director Harigupta Rohanadeera.



JVP files Fundamental Rights petition against alleged ‘sugar scam’

The JVP has filed a Fundamental Rights petition before the Supreme Court this morning over the loss of Rs.15.9 billion to the state through the reduction of taxes imposed on imported sugar.



JVP seeks Legal action over loss due to reduced sugar tax

The JVP will seek legal action against the government for the loss of Rs.15.9 billion through the reduction of taxes imposed on imported sugar.



Denmark, Norway and Iceland suspend use of AstraZeneca COVID vaccine

Health authorities in Denmark, Norway and Iceland on Thursday suspended the use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine shots following reports of the formation of blood clots in some people who had been vaccinated.



CID grills Opposition MP for 5 hours over comments on Easter Sunday attacks

Opposition MP Ashok Abeysinghe yesterday gave a five-hour-long statement to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over the controversial comments he made recently regarding the Easter Sunday attacks at a public function.



Withdraw invite to Myanmar Foreign Minister – Sajith

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa called on the Minister of Foreign Affairs Dinesh Gunawardena and the Government to withdraw the invitation made to the Foreign Minister of Myanmar, appointed by the military after the coup to participate in the Ministerial meeting of BIMSTEC.



Ranjan banned from having visitors for two weeks

Parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake, who pleaded guilty to posing for a selfie with Parliamentarian Harshana Rajakaruna, has been banned from having visitors for two weeks.