India and Sri Lanka on Monday agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in the defence sector, including Indian training of Sri Lankan military personnel, as foreign secretary Sanjay Mitra called on President Maithripala Sirisena.

The Ministry of Education has issued the Circular making the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination not compulsory, Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam says.

Veteran musician H. M. Jayawardena has passed away at the age of 69 years, a short while ago.

The newly constructed Matara -Beliatta railway extension vested with the public this morning. A passenger train from Matara reached the Beliatta railway station, marking its maiden journey.

The Government Nursing Officers’ Association says it will launch a 24-hour token strike at island-wide hospitals from 7am today.

Two more persons who were arrested with Makandure Madush in Dubai has been deported to Sri Lanka last night (07), stated the Police Spokesperson.

Public Enterprise, Kandyan Heritage, Kandy Development Minister and the Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella expressed his confidence that the United National Party (UNP) would win the next Presidential Election due to be held on either December 8 or 9, this year.

Sri Lanka’s economic growth is projected to grow by 3.6% this year and 3.8% next year from the 3.2% growth last year.

The Government’s foreign debt payments cost the country’s foreign reserves US$ 813.26 million last month (March) alone, latest official data showed.

The delegation of the United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) has visited the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka.

Minister of Power and Energy Ravi Karunanayake says the prevalent power crisis will be brought to end by the 10th of April.

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday said the Year 5 Scholarship Examination will be replaced with an examination which will be held in Grade 8.

Sri Lanka commemorated its National Cinema Day on Friday after the government designated April 5 as the day in tribute to late veteran film director Lester James Peries, the government information department said.

The third reading of the 2019 Budget was passed in Parliament with a majority of 45 votes.119 members voted in favor while 74 voted against.

Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank P. Samarasiri and Chairman of Perpetual Treasuries Ltd (PTL) Geoffrey Aloysius and Directors of PTL Pushyamithra Gunawardena, R. Hulugalla, and M. Surendran, who were in remand custody over Central Bank Bond Scam, were released on bail by the Courts today.

The Court of Appeal has rejected the appeal filed by Gampola Vidanage Samantha Kumara alias ‘Wele Suda’ over the death sentence imposed against him by the Colombo High Court.