Supreme Court Rules Diana Gamage Ineligible for Parliamentary Seat

In a groundbreaking ruling today, the Supreme Court declared State Minister Diana Gamage ineligible to hold a parliamentary seat due to her non-citizenship status in Sri Lanka. Consequently, Gamage will lose her position as a Member of Parliament.

The three-judge-bench of the Supreme Court included Justices Gamini Amarasekara, Kumuduni Wickremasinghe, and Janak de Silva.

Funeral of Dr. Nalin De Silva in USA tomorrow

The funeral of Dr. Nalin De Silva will take place in the United States tomorrow at 1.00 pm, according to the wishes of his family.

Dr. De Silva was a distinguished figure in the realms of theoretical physics, philosophy, and political analysis. He died on May 1 while visiting his son in the US. He was 79. A number of organizations led

Chaos at BIA as Indian Company Takes Over On-Arrival Visa Process

Last night, chaos erupted at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) following a contentious transition in the on-arrival visa issuance process to an Indian company. This move, fraught with controversy, saw the Indian firm imposing an additional $25 charge, contrasting with the smooth management of the process by the Immigration and Emigration Department over the years.

Victory for Plantation Workers: Minimum Daily Wage Hiked

A gazette notification has been released, officially raising the minimum daily wage of tea plantation laborers to Rs. 1,700. The announcement came from Labour Commissioner General H.K.K. Jayasundara, following a directive from the Labour Minister, as confirmed by the Commissioner General of Labour.

Furthermore, it was specified that any public or state objections to this decision must be submitted before noon on May 15.

Fuel Prices Slashed Starting Tonight

 The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has reduced its fuel prices with effect from tonight.

Accordingly, a litre of Lanka Petrol 92 Octane Euro 4 (Rs. 371) has been reduce by Rs. 3, and its new retail price will be Rs. 368.

A litre of Lanka Petrol 95 Octane Euro 4 (Rs. 440) has been reduce by Rs. 20, and its new retail price will be Rs. 420.

Online Safety Bill passed in Parliament

 Sri Lanka’s Online Safety Bill, which seeks to regulate online content, was passed in Parliament with amendments on Wednesday (24), amidst objectios from opposition politicians and activists who allege the new law will muzzle free speech.

Accordingly, the Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena informed the House that the Online Safety Bill was passed in the Committee Stage with amendments.

Supreme Court Declares Duminda Silva Pardon Unlawful

 Sri Lanka's Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that the presidential pardon granted to former MP Duminda Silva by ex-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was unlawful.

Silva, alongside four others, was convicted in 2016 by the High Court for the 2011 murder of politician Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra.

Protest against religious conspiracies

The New People’s Front held a peaceful protest today (07) near the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court demanding the implementation of the law against religious conspiracies and protesting over several recent incidents of statements made allegedly harming religious harmony.

Harsha de Silva appointed new COPF chairman

Sri Lanka main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Harsha de Silva has been appointed as chairman of the parliamentary Committee on Public Finance (COPF) following a proposal by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, de Silva’s office confirmed.

The development follows months of controversy around the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) allegedly blocking de Silva’s appointment to the post, despite the president having agreed to it.

Fixed range for fuel price as Sinopec enters

The government will introduce a floor and ceiling price for fuel with the launch of business operations by Sinopec, a leading international petroleum company, in the country shortly, a top source said.

Sinopec has already signed the agreement to distribute fuel in Sri Lanka. Sinopec will be allocated 150-dealer operated fuel stations in the country. Besides, two other foreign fuel companies will be allowed to operate in the country later. Currently, the state-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and Lanka Indian Oil Company are the only fuel distributors in the country.

Man sentenced to 110 years in prison for sexual assault

The Balapitiya High Court has sentenced a man who was found guilty of serious sexual assault on his eleven-year-old daughter to 110 years in rigorous imprisonment. The verdict was delivered by Balapitiya High Court Judge Ranga Dissanayake yesterday (June 05). 

The defendant, a resident of the Korakeena area of Uragasmanhandiya, had been found guilty of sexually assaulting his own daughter on multiple occasions since 2008.

Freedom Pride Parade held in Colombo

Freedom Pride Parade The LGBTQ community of Sri Lanka paraded the streets of Colombo today and took part in a cultural ceremony to voice their rights and concerns, themed the ‘Freedom Pride Parade’. A group of participants clad in various colourful attires took part in the parade from Nelum Pokuna round-about and proceeded through Green Path to Kollupitiya. 

Virus spreading among pigs detected in the Western Province

The Western Provincial Department of Animal Production and Health said the viral disease spreading among pigs has been detected in four farms in the Western Province. Provincial Director KK Sarath said taking pigs out of farms where the disease is present is prohibited. He said this viral disease has been reported in Sri Lanka before, and there is no risk of it spreading rapidly. He added that there is no risk of the virus spreading to humans.

Sri Lankans living abroad can apply for passport online

Officials of the Immigration and Emigration Department who participated at the Sectoral Oversight Committee on International Relations chaired by Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa stated that Sri Lankans living abroad will be able to apply for a new passport or renew their passport online with effect from June 1st.

Higher fuel quotas from Wednesday

The weekly fuel quotas will be increased from midnight on Tuesday (30), Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera announced yesterday. The weekly quota for three-wheelers (registered) increased from 10 to 15 litres, other three wheelers from 8 to 14 litres, motorcycles from 7 to 14 litres, buses from 60 to 125 litres, cars from 30 to 40 litres, land vehicles from 25 to 45 litres, lorries from 75 to 125 litres, quadric cycles from 6 to 14 litres, special purpose vehicles from 30 to 45 litres and vans from 30 to 40 litres.

Millions Allocated for Former Presidents in 2023

-Millions continue to be allocated for past heads of state in 2023 with a bulk of it going towards the maintenance of their state homes and vehicles

-The state has to allocate for 4 past Presidents, namely Chandrika Kumaratunga, Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena and Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Hema Premadasa, wife of the late Ranasinghe Premadasa also gets a budget allocation under this category

Over 150,000 child porn materials uploaded from Sri Lankan IP addresses

While a special Police unit was established at the Children and Women Bureau in order to monitor pornographic video footage and photographs related to children in 2021, according to the latest reports, it has been found that a total of 152,811 child sexual abuse related materials have been uploaded from Sri Lankan internet protocol (IP) addresses in the same year.

They were plotting to kills us - Wasantha Mudalige

The Convener of the Inter-University Students' Federation Wasantha Mudalige attended a media briefing for the first in 167 days on Thursday (2).

At this media briefing, he made certain startling revelations about what he experienced during his detention.

According to Wasantha Mudalige he was arrested by a police officer identified as ASP Mahinda Wiloarachchi from the Peliygaoda Special Police Unit.

‘Kanjipani’ Imran sneaks into Tamil Nadu-The Hindu

Notorious underworld gangster Mohamed Najim Mohamed Imran alias ‘Kanjipani’ Imran sneaked into Rameswaram days after his release on bail by a court in Sri Lanka, police sources said on Saturday, The Hindu news agency reported.

The Tamil Nadu intelligence has sounded an alert to senior police officers across the State to mount vigil along the coastal districts and look for him and his associate who landed along the Ramanathapuram district coast on December 25, 2022.

Thilini Priyamali released from prison

The large- scale financial fraudster, businesswoman Thilini Priyamali, was released from prison a short while ago.

Accordingly Priyamali, who was in remand custody over financial fraud, was released from prison today (27 Dec.) after fulfilling her bail conditions, Prisons Commissioner General and Spokesman Chandana Ekanayake said.