News Room : Mini polls finally within sight!
Friday 14th February, 2025 Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne is scheduled to announce the Supreme Court (SC) determination on the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill in Parliament, today. He was expected to do so last week, but he stated that he had not received any communication from the apex court, by that time, regarding its determination in question. The Opposition...
News Room : It is crucial to uphold respect for the diverse cultural traditions across the world as we strive to build a global community founded on sustainable values-...
President Anura Kumara Disanayake addressing the World Governments Summit 2025 in UAE on 12th February 2025 said that it was, crucial to uphold respect for the diverse cultural traditions across the world as we strive to build a global community founded on sustainable values. Full text of the President’s speech: “Esteemed state leaders, distinguished delegates representing various organisations, honoured guests, members...
News Room : Open verdicts returned on deaths of two foreigners
Post-mortem examinations on 24-year-old British national Ebony McIntosh and 26-year-old German tourist Nadine Raguse were conducted on Monday (10). They died while staying at the Miracle Colombo City hostel in Colombo on 01 February. According to the police, the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) returned an open verdict, and forensic samples were sent to the Government Analyst’s Department for further analysis...
News Room : How USAID influenced Sri Lanka – The Island
While the country was rapidly heading for an unprecedented political, economic and social crisis, then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in the first week of June 2021, received Director of the USAID Sri Lanka Office, Reed J. Aeschliman, at the Presidential Secretariat. Among those present were Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy Martin Kelly, USAID Programme Director Chistopher Foley,...
News Room : Govt. urged to make its stance clear on longstanding grievances of Northern communities and upcountry estate workers – The Island
The People’s Struggle Alliance (PSA) on Monday urged the JVP-led NPP government to make its stance clear on the longstanding grievances of Northern communities and upcountry estate workers. Addressing a press conference in Nugegoda, PSA’s Youth for Change Convener Lahiru Weerasekera accused the current administration of exploiting the struggles of these marginalized communities, just as its predecessors had done. Weerasekera questioned...
News Room : Williamson powers New Zealand home, Breetzke’s record 150 in vain
New Zealand have qualified for the Pakistan Tri-Nation Series final after completing the third-highest successful chase in Lahore to beat an under-strength South Africa by six wickets. The result means the next match, between Pakistan and South Africa in Karachi on Wednesday, is a knockout. Kane Williamson and Devon Conway, both back in New Zealand’s ODI squad for the first...
News Room : Fair weather will prevail over most parts of the island. – The Island
WEATHER FORECAST FOR 09 FEBRUARY 2025Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 09 February 2025 by the Department of Meteorology Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Badulla districts during the morning. Mainly fair weather will prevail over most parts of the island. Fairly strong winds of (30-40) kmph can be expected...
News Room : President undertakes third foreign visit – The Island
Retired Judge of the Supreme Court Justice Buwaneka Aluwihare, PC, has been appointed Chairman of the high level task force on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT). The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has issued the following statement that dealt with the new mechanism: “Sri Lanka’s third Mutual Evaluation on the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing...
News Room : Substation emergency, high solar energy generation blamed for countrywide power failure – The Island
by Ifham Nizam Yesterday’s countrywide power outage, which lasted over four hours was triggered by an unexpected failure in the 33 kV bus bar at the Panadura grid substation, according to the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB). The disruption, combined with reduced power demand on Sunday and increased solar energy production, had led to a system instability, CEB engineers said. The CEB...
News Room : Hambantota Intl Port expands bunkering with new HSFO facilities – The Island
By Shamindra Ferdinando The National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa yesterday (09) renewed his call for a thorough investigation into US intervention in the 2022 so-called Aragalaya project that forced President Gotabaya Rajapaksa out of office. The former Cabinet Minister said the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led Jathika Jana Balawegaya couldn’t side-step the issue against the backdrop of new US administration’s...