Plans are afoot to introduce online payment portals for all 341 local government bodies starting next year, State Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Janaka Wakkumbura says.

Russia has claimed that US sanctions levied against the Arctic LNG 2 project undermine global energy security.

Police seized properties worth Rs.55 million including an SUV and a plot of land belonging to the infamous drug trafficker Kudu Roshan FF from Ja-Ela area.

Over 1,400 persons have been arrested during 24-hour police operations ending at 12-30 a.m. today (28 Dec.), says the Public Security Ministry.

DMDK founder-leader and popular yesteryear Tamil actor Vijayakanth died in Chennai, India on Thursday (28 Dec.), following an illness. He was 71 years old, Indian media reported.

The All-Ceylon General Ports Employees Union says it has called off the work-to-rule campaign which was scheduled to be launched today (Dec.28).

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered its military, the munitions industry and the nuclear weapons sector to accelerate war preparations to counter what he called unprecedented confrontational moves by the U.S., state media said on Thursday.

Weather forecast issued at 05.30 a.m. on 28 December 2023 by the Department of Meteorology Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Central, Sabaragamuwa and Western provinces and in Galle and Matara districts during the morning. Showers or thunder showers will occur at times in Eastern and Uva provinces and in Hambantota district […]

Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Eastern and Uva provinces and in Hambantota district, the Department of Meteorology says.

Procurement of fake Immunoglobulin: The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probing procurement of fake Immunoglobulin by the Health Ministry has asked Deputy Director of the National Hospital Dr. Rukshan Bellana to make a statement and furnish evidence he has in respect of the racket. Dr. Bellana, who is also the President of the Government Medical Officers’ […]

The Foreign Ministry announced yesterday (27) that Heart to Heart International, US, has so far donated medicines and equipment worth approximately Rs 15 bn. The Ministry said that this included the 9th consignment to be dispatched from the US soon. The latest donation includes an appropriate volume of – (1) Amlodipine besylate which is used […]

By Rathindra Kuruwita Attorney-at-Law, Manoj Gamage, who represents former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, is a board member of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA), the health sector unions have said, claiming that there is a conflict of interest. Thus, Gamage had no right to represent Rambukwella over allegations that he, too, bears responsibility for the […]

38th death anniversary of Dr E. W. Adikaram falls today By Professor J.B. Disanayaka It happened about sixty years ago. I was just a lad of seventeen, studying in grade eleven at Ananda College. As I walked past the small playground in the centre of the primary school premises, I caught the sight of a […]

Outgoing New Zealand High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Michael Appleton yesterday (27 Dec.), met with TNA leader R. Sampanthan. Taking to ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), Appleton said that several matters of concern were discussed at the meeting, including political developments in the North and East. They also discussed the approaches adopted by both New Zealand and […]

by Rex Clementine   Given the huge strides that India have taken in cricket these recent years, you sensed that this was the best opportunity for Rohit Sharma’s side to win a first ever Test series in South Africa. Although India have an excellent record in Australia in recent years, a series win in South […]

A 25-member Korean volunteer group, sent through the Korea International Cooperation Agency, (KOICA) is here. Having arrived in Sri Lanka on Nov 20, 2023, the group has been divided into three teams and tasked to carry out volunteer work, related to the social sector, for a period of four months, at Kelaniya, Homagama and Galle. […]

By Dinasena Ratugamage Jaffna District MP C.V. Wigneswaran has said he is willing to contest the next presidential election next year. Retired Supreme Court Justice Wigneswaran, elected on the Tamil People’s National Alliance (Thamizh Makkal Tesiya Kootani) ticket, told the Jaffna-based media that he would contest the presidential poll if all Tamil political parties reached […]

By Shamindra Ferdinando Samagi Jana Balawegaya spokesperson Mujibur Rahuman yesterday (27) said that ruling SLPP leader Mahinda Rajapaksa owed an explanation why his party continued to protect President Ranil Wickremesinghe. The SLPP conveniently ignored an opportunity to force an early parliamentary election by defeating President Wickrtemesinghe’s Budget for 2024. The former Colombo District par...

Thursday 28th December, 2023 Venal public officials who collaborate with corrupt politicians to misappropriate public funds and strike corrupt deals at the expense of the state coffers do so at the risk of being thrown to the wolves in case of their rackets being laid bare. When two officials were arrested in the act of […]

The Middle East conflagration has been brought very close to South Asia by a suspected drone attack a couple of days back on an Israel-linked chemical tanker headed for India, off the latter’s coast. The attack comes close on the heels of similar reported strikes on international tankers in the Red Sea, which have compelled […]

Three days after registering their maiden ODI win in New Zealand, Bangladesh once again made history in Napier, this time with their maiden T20I win on these shores. Opting to bowl first on what Jimmy Neesham felt was a “naughty little wicket” at the halfway mark, Bangladesh restricted New Zealand to 134/9, thanks to five […]

Two late wickets notwithstanding, Dean Elgar’s maiden century at his home ground – Centurion – paved the way for South Africa’s dominant display with the bat on Wednesday. The hosts took an 11 run lead over India, with only five wickets down on a second-consecutive day which was abruptly cut short due to weather conditions […]

President Ranil Wickremesinghe addressing those present at the centenary celebration of Badulla Guruthalawa Muslim Central College this morning (27), extended an open invitation to all political parties again, urging them to join hands in achieving a prosperous and united Sri Lanka, irrespective of party affiliations. The President emphasized his commitment to safeguarding the rights of […]