Weather forecast issued at 05.30 a.m. on 30 December 2023 by the Department of Meteorology Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Sabaragamuwa and Western provinces during the morning. Several spells of showers will occur in Northern province and in Anuradhapura and Kandy districts while showers or thundershowers may occur at several places […]

The Pathfinder Foundation has formed a Study Group of Experts to develop a blueprint and framework aimed at doubling Sri Lanka’s economic growth rate through accelerated economic integration and infrastructural connectivity with India. The framework document is expected to be formally launched in March 2024. Most economic forecasts place Sri Lanka on an average growth trajectory of 3% per […...

One of the key factors that contributed to the exodus of medical specialists from the state sector is the disparity of the total remuneration received by the state medical specialists when compared to parallel grades in the government sector, the Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) says. There was always a shortage of medical specialists in […]

The Pay as You Earn (PAYE) tax registrations have increased from 41,636 in 2022 to 242,679 in 2023, Commissioner of the Department of Inland Revenue A. M. Nafeer said during a press conference at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) on Thursday (28). Nafeer said that in 2022, 73,444 companies were registered with them, and the […]

Saturday 30th December, 2023 Sri Lankans are gripped by an anticipatory dread of another surge in the cost of living owing to the crippling effect of enhanced VAT and the expansion of its application. Hardly a day passes without people being shown on television cursing the government for the untold suffering it has inflicted on […]

Court requested to prevent his elevation to post of police chief By A.J.A. Abeynayake Four persons, including the Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, filed separate petitions in the Supreme Court yesterday (29) against the appointment of Deshabandu Tennakoon as the Acting IGP. The other petitioners are three victims of the Easter Sunday carnage, representatives […]

People can seek redress from the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) or the judiciary if their properties suffered any damage during the continuing ‘Yukthiya’, anti-narcotics operation, Minister of Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms, Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe says. However, he said that policemen did not visit houses for inspection according to their whims […]

By Rathindra Kuruwita There is no reason for the people to panic about alleged reports of the spread of COVID and other respiratory diseases, the Ministry of Health has said.Dr. G. Wijesuriya of the Ministry said yesterday that they were testing people who visited government hospitals on a daily basis. “It has been reported that […]

Sri Lanka was witnessing a surge in dengue with over 10,000 cases reported in December alone, the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) said in its latest update on Friday. The NDCU said 10,590 cases were reported in December, an increase from 7,995 cases reported in November.In October 4,010 cases were reported, and in September the […]

The banking sector has recovered less than 0.5% of total loans with the help of Parate execution, the governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said on Friday (29) at a press conference in Colombo. Dr. Weerasinghe said that a previous Supreme Court decision had prevented banks from using Parate laws […]

Under 19 Cricket    by Reemus Fernando     Ananda College and D.S . Senanayake College won first innings points in their Under 19 Division I tournament matches which were hampered by rain on Friday. While Ananda reduced Zahira to 96 runs in reply to their 309 for six wickets declared, D.S. Senanayake restricted S.Thomas’ to […]

Rahmanullah Gurbaz cracked his maiden T20I century, helping Afghanistan to 203 and eventually a 72-run win in the first T20I against UAE in Sharjah. The hosts were never quite in the chase after being reduced to 56 for 4 in the first ten overs. Gurbaz’s knock of 100 came off just 52 deliveries, with seven […]

South Africa has filed a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) alleging that Israel is engaging in “genocidal acts” in Gaza. The UN court confirmed the proceedings concerning alleged violations of Israel’s obligations under the Genocide Convention. Israel has strongly rejected the allegation, calling it “baseless”. “Israel rejects with disgust the blo...

Over 10,000 cases of dengue infections have been recorded in the month of December alone, bringing the total number of infections reported in 2023 to 87,078.

China has named Dong Jun as its new defence minister, two months after his predecessor was officially sacked. Dong, a former navy commander, takes over from Li Shangfu – who was last seen in public in August. Mr Dong’s appointment was announced by China’s top legislators at a Standing Committee meeting of the National People’s […]

Chathurika  Priyanthi representing the Sri Lanka Navy set three (03) national records at the National Weightlifting Championship 2023 on Thursday (28). Competing in the 87kg senior women’s weightlifting event,  Priyanthi set national records in both snatch (90kg) and clean and jerk (113kg), while achieving the highest total weight (203kg) lifted by any female athlete in […]

Mount Maunganui had a solid Friday turnout to start off the year-end weekend, but rain had the final say in the second T20I between New Zealand and Bangladesh after only 11 overs of action. It was an even contest with New Zealand at 72 for 2 in 11 overs, with Bangladesh crawling back after Tim […]

Russia has launched the biggest air attack on Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Ukrainian military told CNN, with an unprecedented number of drones and missiles fired at targets across the country, killing at least 26 people and injuring more than 120 others.

All train operations on the upcountry line have been disrupted after a mound of earth collapsed onto the railway track.

The lane towards Matara on the Southern Expressway has been blocked for traffic due to a road accident.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his wishes to South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeolh on Sunday as both countries celebrated 50 years of diplomatic ties. He further emphasised that India and South Korea have mutual respect, shared values and growing partnerships PM Modi took to his social media X, and said, “We are celebrating 50 […]

One in four iPhones could soon be manufactured in India as Apple joins a growing list of companies seeking to reduce their reliance on China. The tech giant is aiming to build more than 50 million phones in India annually within the next two to three years, according to the Wall Street Journal. Despite the […]

The Ministry of Finance has announced that, in accordance with the 2023 budget provisions approved by Parliament, the Treasury has disbursed the required funds for all invoices certified by government agencies until December 15, 2023. This marks a unique occurrence, as 2023 stands out as the only year in the past 25 years where all […]

There were moments sprinkled all over Day 4 when it looked like Pakistan were capable of taking the game by the scruff of its neck, but a relentless Pat Cummins put a swift end to that in the final session while becoming the first Test captain to pick 10 wickets in an MCG Test. Pakistan […]