News Room : Tense Standoff at Weligama Apparel Factory as Workers Protest Withheld New Year Bonus
A tense situation unfolded at a privately-owned apparel factory in Udukawa, Weligama last night (8 April), as workers launched a protest against the management’s decision to withhold the Sinhala and Tamil New Year bonus. The unrest escalated when the factory manager was held hostage in his office by angry employees, shortly after he announced that the company would not be...
News Room : Govt. won’t extend suspension of ‘parate executions’ – The Island
The government would not extend the suspension of ‘parate executions’ that was now effective, Deputy Minister of Finance Harshana Suriyapperuma told Parliament yesterday. Suriyapperuma said so in response to a question raised by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, who asked about the government’s plans regarding a relief package to assist small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) struggling to repay loans. Pointing out that...
News Room : SL Olympians conduct tree planting programme
Sri Lanka Olympians, together with the Department of Forest Cotnservation, conducted a tree planting programme at the premises of D. S. Senanayake National School, Dambulla. Sri Lanka Olympians conduct a tree planting programme every year at a selected school in one province. Accordingly, this year’s event was successfully held with the participation of Olympians, students and a large number of enthusiasts...
News Room : Cabinet Spokesperson Disputes Deputy Minister Hewage’s Claim on Treasury Reserves
Cabinet Spokesman Minister Nalinda Jayatissa addressed the controversy surrounding Deputy Minister of Vocational Education Nalin Hewage’s statement about Sri Lanka’s Treasury reserves, revealing official figures during the Cabinet’s weekly media briefing on Monday. Jayatissa presented verified data from the Central Bank, outlining Sri Lanka’s official reserves from September 2024 to March 2025: September 2024: $5.99 billion October 2024: $6.47 billion November 2024: $6.45...
News Room : MP Archchuna’s Parliamentary Speech Blocked From Live Broadcast Following Suspension
Jaffna District MP Archchuna Ramanathan’s speech was blocked from Parliament’s live broadcast today, following a prior order by Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne. As Archchuna began speaking, viewers saw a notice on screen stating, “The live streaming is suspended by order made by the Hon. Speaker on March 19, 2025, against the Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna, M.P.” The Speaker announced that the MP’s...
News Room : Disguised SC Justices Catch Magistrate Off Guard, Trigger Immediate Suspension
In a rare and unexpected move, two Supreme Court judges who serve on the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) made a surprise visit to the Marawila Magistrate’s Court last week. This came after several complaints were made against the magistrate in charge, according to The Court Reporter. The visit carried out by Supreme Court Justices S. Thurairaja and Janak de Silva,...
News Room : 27-year-old Australian opener retires from cricket due to concussion
Former Australian Test opener Will Pukowski has retired from all levels of cricket at the age of 27. Pukowski has been forced to retire from professional cricket on the recommendation of a panel of experts. The batsman has suffered a series of concussions during his career due to blows to the head. The most recent episode of concussion occurred in March...
News Room : South Korea to hold presidential election on June 3 to replace ousted President Yoon
Leading contenders began casting their ballots on Tuesday as South Korea officially set a June 3 snap presidential election after the removal of impeached leader Yoon Suk-yeol last week. A power vacuum at the top of the government has hampered Seoul’s efforts to negotiate with U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration at a time when U.S. tariffs are escalating and growth...
News Room : IPL 2025: Kohli, Patidar and Krunal star as Royal Challengers Bengaluru end ten-year Wankhede jinx
In what is turning out to be a year of breaking jinxes, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium for the first time in ten years after they did the same in the corresponding fixture against Chennai Super Kings for the first time in 17 years at the Chepauk stadium. Even though RCB scored 221,...
News Room : Breakaway JVP faction decries Indo-Lanka MoUs as betrayal
… alleges Kanchana’s Electricity Act exploited to facilitate ‘deal’ with India The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) has alleged that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake entered into seven MoUs/Agreements with India without consulting Parliament or the Cabinet of Ministers. Accusing President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is the leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), as well as the National People’s Power (NPP), of...