Sri Lanka on Thursday said it will expand its aviation sector by allowing five new companies to operate domestic flights in the island country.

Sri Lanka on Thursday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving a grant of USD 22.8 million for running free emergency ambulance service in the island nation. India had given a grant of USD 22.8 million – USD 7.6 million in first phase in 2016 and in second instalment USD 15.2 million this year – to Sri Lankan government to run free ambulance services.

Perpetual Treasuries Limited (PTL) owner Arjun Aloysius and its CEO Kasun Palisena have been further remanded till 5th of July, by the order of the Fort Magistrate.

Following the announcement that the United States withdrew from the United Nations Human Rights Council, the US Ambassador in Colombo Atul Keshap has met with Sri Lankan officials to assure them continued support to fulfill commitments in the UNHRC resolution.

The International Monetary Fund urged Sri Lanka to let its rupee keep sliding and not intervene further to bolster the ailing currency as it fell to historic lows.

China Merchant Port Holdings Limited (CM Port) yesterday released the final tranche of US$ 584 million for the Hambantota Port, completing the US$ 976 million investment. This marks the single highest ever Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) received by Sri Lanka to date.

Two Australian nationals, a woman and her daughter were killed and another three including two Australians were injured when a van crashed into a lorry near the 65 km post at Kurundugahahetekma on the Southern Expressway this morning.

The Director General of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) said that they are ready to provide required technical assistance in utilizing satellite technology to reduce the impact of climate change on the country’s rice production.

Students of the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) are unhappy over the delay by the President to respond to their request for a meeting.

Homagama Magistrate’s Court today postponed the hearing of the appeal made by Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera till 2 p.m June 22.

Outgoing UN Human Rights High Commissioner Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein yesterday commended Sri Lanka and several other countries for hosting at least five visits by thematic mandates in the last five years.

Excerpts from an interview with Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam: