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.

India extends USD 1 Billion Credit Line for Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka signed an agreement with India to extend the USD 1 Billion credit line to import essentials for a period of one year.

Chennai Super Kings win fifth IPL title

The Chennai Super Kings claimed their fifth Indian Premier League (IPL) title with a five-wicket win on DLS (Duckworth/Lewis/Stern) over the Gujarat Titans, in a dramatic IPL final that spanned three days and ended at 1:35 a.m. this morning.

With ten runs needed off the last two balls, Ravindra Jadeja scored a six and four to take the Super Kings over the line to join the Mumbai Indians for the most IPL titles for a franchise.

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.

New Zealand declares a rarenational emergency due to Cyclone Gabrielle

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - The New Zealand government declared a national state of emergency Tuesday after Cyclone Gabrielle battered the country's north in what officials described as the nation's most severe weather event in years.