LG bodies: Government needs Rs.135 million monthly to upkeep 8689 members

According to local government ministry sources, Rs.135 million needs to be set aside monthly to pay the salaries of 8689 members elected to the local government bodies.



UNP will rule for next 20-30 years, promises PM

A UNP which will rule for the next 20-30 years and not just five, was the promise UNP Leader and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe made to his supporters as the party commemorated May Day at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium yesterday.



Sri Lanka approves $500 million LNG plant near Hambantota port

Sri Lanka’s state-run investment body has approved a $500 million liquefied natural gas plant by China Machinery Engineering Corp near a Chinese-controlled port and industrial zone.



Malaysia foils smuggling of 131 Sri Lankan immigrants

Malaysian police have intercepted a tanker with 131 Sri Lankans believed bound for Australia and New Zealand, smashing a large human smuggling ring that has been operating for a year.



Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) on digital innovations

Technology is gradually silencing people who are decrying the unwarranted delays when dealing with commercial banks and primary dealers in various legal and monetary transactions. Thanks to various system applications, such as the Blockchain Technology, that seems to be the way forward for many countries.



Leading gangster Dileepa killed in a shootout with STF

A leading underworld gangster Dilip Rohana Rodrigo alias Dileepa was killed in a shootout with the Special Task Force (STF) personnel at Mailapitiya in Kandy yesterday.



Lost medal of Dr. Lester James Peiris found inside private bus

The Lifetime Achievement Award presented to late Dr. Lester James Peries from India, which was reported missing from his residence few days ago, has been found on an overhead rack of a Kollupitiya-Kaduwela private bus, Police said.



I am ready to take on any challenge – Minister Fonseka

Minister Sarath Fonseka who took over the reins of the Ministry of Wildlife and Sustainable Development this week said he would not yield to political pressure when it came to wildlife policies.



Rs. 1 billion building rent for 5-year-period for use by parliament; Speaker denies responsibility, points finger at government

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has rejected newly appointed Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaaweea’s claim that the Agriculture Ministry, situated at Rajamalwatte, was shifted to a building at Rajagiriya on a request by parliament.



Sri Lanka to sign deals with Total, Schlumberger for seismic study

Sri Lanka will sign agreements with French oil and gas major Total and a subsidiary of U.S. firm Schlumberger for a seismic study off its east coast to evaluate any prospective oil resources, a top official said on Friday.



Milk powder prices to go up

The price of milk powder will increased by midnight today, the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) said. Accordingly the price of 400 grams will be increased by Rs. 20 and 1 kilogram will increase by Rs. 50.



Sri Lanka targets more tourist arrivals from Middle East

Sri Lanka plans to attract more tourists from the Middle East by conducting promotion campaigns, a minister said on Thursday.



Twitter urges all users to change passwords after glitch

Twitter Inc urged its more than 330 million users to change their passwords after a glitch caused some to be stored in readable text on its internal computer system rather than disguised by a process known as “hashing”.



President orders to interdict his Chief of Staff and STC chairman

President Maithripala Sirisena has ordered to interdict his Chief of Staff Dr I.H.K. Mahanama and the Chairman of the State Timber Corporation P. Dissanayake, who were arrested by the Bribery Commission, with immediate effect.



Investigations continue into stolen awards of late Dr. Lester

The Golden Peacock Award & the Lifetime Achievement Silver Medal of Late Dr. Lester James Peries was stolen yesterday. These prestigious awards of the Late filmmaker were stolen while on display next to his mortal remains during his funeral service.



Cambridge Analytica: Facebook data-harvest firm to shut

Cambridge Analytica, the political consultancy at the centre of the Facebook data-sharing scandal, is shutting down.