Scott Morrison sworn in as Australia’s new PM

Treasurer Scott Morrison has been sworn in as Australia’s prime minister to replace Malcolm Turnbull after a Liberal Party coup.



Gamini Senarath, three others granted bail

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Chief of Staff Gamini Senarath and four others were granted bail by the Permanent High Court at Bar, over the case of misappropriating funds belonged to the Litro Gas Lanka limited.



Price of 12.5 kg gas cylinder increased by Rs.158

A decision was taken by the Cost of Living Committee to increase the price of a 12.5kg gas cylinder by Rs.158 with effect from tomorrow (25).



Sri Lanka to hold talks with Pakistan over deportation of drug convicts on death row

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena said on Thursday that he will initiate talks with Pakistan’s new Prime Minister Imran Khan over extraditing five Pakistani nationals who were on death row in Sri Lanka.



Bike gang vandalizes three houses in Jaffna

A bike gang had vandalized three houses in Jaffna, Kopai and Chunnakam yesterday, Police said.



Sri Lanka was not ‘forced’ to accept Chinese loans – envoy

Sri Lankan Ambassador to China Karunasena Kodituwakku on Wednesday strongly pushed back recent media reports criticizing Chinese investments in his country, saying that Sri Lanka was not forced to accept investments and loans from China and wants to continue cooperation with China under the Belt and Road (B&R) initiative.



No Singapore Waste will come to Lanka – Harsha

There is no risk of transporting Singapore wastes or e-wastes to Sri Lanka through the Singapore Free Trade Agreement, as Sri Lanka has signed and ratified The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal



Mahinda Rajapaksa to visit New Delhi next month

Former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa will visit New Delhi next month to attend a function organised by senior BJP leader Subramamaniam Swami.



Over 100 towns in Sri Lanka stop cigarette sales

Over 100 towns across Sri Lanka have boycotted the sale of cigarettes with the aim of making the country tobacco-free, the Health Ministry said.



Japan wants Hambantota to be military free

Japan wants Hambantota port to be “free of military activities”, visiting Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onedera has said.



Can’t elect a president if there are too many candidates – Duminda

If all parties put forward their own candidate to contest at the upcoming Presidential election, electing a Present could impossible, says Minister Duminda Dissanayake.



President rejects proposal to limit three-wheeler driver age

In a progressive move, President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday rejected the controversial Cabinet paper imposing an age limit on drivers of passenger three-wheelers, highly-placed Cabinet sources confirmed.



Sri Lanka renews search for investor for troubled national air carrier

The Sri Lankan government will renew its search for an investor for its national air carrier in the next three months through public call for offers, Adviser to the Finance Ministry Mano Tittawella said on Tuesday.



Japan offers to boost Sri Lanka security as China makes inroads

Japan has pledged to help strengthen Sri Lanka’s maritime security, authorities said Tuesday, as Tokyo tries to counter China’s strategic grip on the Indian Ocean island.



Ignoring railway crossing signals to cost drivers Rs.25,000

A Rs.25,000 fine will be imposed on errant drivers who ignore railway level crossing signals, Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said yesterday.



Mahinda’s brother Chandra Rajapaksa passes away

Chandra Tudor Rajapaksa, one of the brothers of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, passed away at the age of 70 in Tangalle today, family sources said.