Lanka snubs India, says ‘no’ to handing over of Palali Airport

After Nepal snubbing India by refusing to join military exercises in Pune, it was now the turn of another neighbour, Sri Lanka — deciding against giving control of Palaly Airport to India.



Wholesale price of sugar increased – importers

The wholesale price of sugar will be increased by Rs 15 per kilogram with immediate effect, according to the Sugar Importers’ Association.



Sri Lankan Rupee depreciates further

The Sri Lankan Rupee has further depreciated against the US Dollar as the selling price hikes up to Rs 167.14 per US Dollar.



Bus fare increased again by 4%

Minister of Transport Nimal Siripala de Silva says that bus fares will be increased by 4% with effect from midnight tomorrow (20).



Knife-wielding robber makes off with Rs 1.7 million from finance company

A man wearing a full face helmet had robbed Rs.1.7 million worth cash from a finance company at Chavakachcheri in Jaffna this morning.



No eye-witness or video clip to prove assassination plot Nalaka cannot be arrested – Samarasinghe

If the President’s life is in peril, this Government will take the action necessary according to the existing law, Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said yesterday (18).



House calls for arrest of DIG

UPFA MPs, yesterday, demanded that DIG Nalaka Silva be arrested over an alleged plot to assassinate President Maithripala Sirisena and former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.



Sri Lanka stops import of Iranian oil ahead of sanctions

Sri Lanka has stopped crude imports from Iran and is actively switching to other crude grades, as South Asian importers, including India, significantly restrict supply in anticipation of US sanctions against Tehran.



LP gas price to go up, milk powder to go down

The Cabinet had today endorsed a gas price hike of Rs.190 for a 12.5 kg cylinder of gas.



Sri Lanka rupee hits record low of 166.00 per dollar – sources

The Sri Lankan rupee fell 0.5 percent and hit an all-time low of 166.00 per dollar on Tuesday, weighed down by higher dollar demand from importers amid reluctant greenback sales by exporters, market sources said.



Airports Authority of India to develop Palali airport

State-owned Airports Authority of India (AAI) will prepare a detailed project report for development of Palali airport in northern Sri Lanka.



Three elephants killed by train in Habarana

Three elephants including a young calf were killed after a herd was hit by the Batticaloa bound train while the elephants were walking across the tracks near the 127km post between the Habarana and Palugaswewa railway stations.



National Elections-UNP will take vital decisions soon: Akila

The United National Party (UNP) Working Committee will soon take vital decisions with regard to the national elections that are due in 2019 and 2020, Party General Secretary and Minister, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said yesterday.



I wanted the Tamil Tiger to lose – Jude Ratnam

Regarded as the first Tamil filmmaker to openly criticize the LTTE, Jude Ratnam says he is not surprised by the backlash but insists his film ‘Demons in Paradise’ can help foster reconciliation between the Tamil and Sinhalese community in Sri Lanka.



Two policemen killed in fatal crash at Galgamuwa

Two police officers were killed following a collision involving a motorcycle and a cab at the Galgamuwa town last night.



Sri Lanka to build £11 billion metropolis to double size of its capital, Colombo

Sri Lanka’s $1.4 billion (£1.07 billion) Port City development has elicited parallels to numerous major urban centres. At 665 acres, the project is about the same size as central London, but its design resembles that of cities like Hong Kong, Singapore, and Dubai.