News Room : Environmentalist suspects organised killing of jumbos
Fifteen wild elephants had been killed last week alone, Chairman of Surakimu Sri Lanka Association, Ven. Pahiyangala Anadasagara Thera said on Thursday.About 400 elephants had died by 25 October this year, he said. “An organised group is behind these elephant deaths,” the Thera said.Anadasagara Thera said the organised group was backed by some senior politicians and public officials. (ST)
News Room : Four suspected human smugglers arrested – The Island
By Shamindra Ferdinando Alleging that attempts were being made to evict people from the Divulpothana village in the Batticaloa District, Ven. Ampitiye Sumanaratne thera, Chief Incumbent of Mangalaramaya, Batticaloa, has called for the immediate intervention of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) to protect the rights of the victims. In a four-page letter dated Oct. 23, 2023 handed over...
News Room : Why cricket needs more men like Bedi – The Island
Rex Clementine in Bangalore India is mourning the death of their former Test captain Bishan Singh Bendi, who passed away in Delhi at the age of 77. Bedi’s cricketing achievements are well documented. He was India’s highest wicket taker in Test match cricket before Kapil Dev went past his record. Bedi was also captain of the Indian team during some of...
News Room : No water tariff hike this year – Minister of Water Supply
Minister of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development Jeevan Thondaman, addressing media at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) today (24) reiterated that there won’t be another water tariff hike this year and a water tariff formula would be introduced in January 2024. He added that the National Water Supply and Drainage Board and the Asian Development Bank were jointly working...
News Room : The Maldives’ new president wants India out – The Island
Hamas says it offered to release two Israelis captured during its deadly raid but Israel’s government refused to take them. Israel described the claim as “mendacious propaganda”. Abu Obeida, a spokesman for the al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s armed wing, said that the mediator Qatar was told of the group’s intention to release the Israelis on Friday, the same day it freed...
News Room : Rafah border crossing opens, allowing only 20 aid trucks into Gaza – The Island
Hamas says it offered to release two Israelis captured during its deadly raid but Israel’s government refused to take them. Israel described the claim as “mendacious propaganda”. Abu Obeida, a spokesman for the al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s armed wing, said that the mediator Qatar was told of the group’s intention to release the Israelis on Friday, the same day it freed...
News Room : Xi meets Ranil – The Island
IMF staff and the Sri Lankan authorities have reached a staff-level agreement on economic policies to conclude the first review of the 48-month EFF-supported programme. Sri Lanka will have access to SDR 254 million (about 330 million U.S Dollars) in financing once the review is approved by the IMF Management and IMF Executive Board. Macroeconomic policy reforms are starting to...
News Room : President Wickremesinghe meets Chinese President Xi Jinping – The Island
Judith Raanan and her daughter Natalie have been released from Gaza, as confirmed by Israeli officials. Judith and Natalie were part of a large extended family caught up in the attack. They were in Israel to celebrate the 85th birthday of Judith’s mother, Tamar Raanan, and Natalie’s graduation from high school. They had planned to fly home to the US earlier,...
News Room : INS ‘Airavat’ arrives at port of Colombo
The Indian Naval Ship (INS) ‘Airavat’ arrived at the port of Colombo on a formal visit on Wednesday (18). The visiting ship was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in compliance with naval traditions. INS ‘Airavat’ is a 124.8m long, Landing Ship Tank – Large (LST – L) vessel manned by a crew of 170 and the ship is commanded...
News Room : An investment zone for the fishing industry will be established in Northern Province – State Minister
Minister of State for Fisheries Piyal Nishantha, during a press briefing held on Wednesday (18) at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) under the theme ‘Collective Path to a stable country’ announced the development of a specialized investment zone in the Northern Province, which will be tailored to the fishing industry. This strategic endeavour aims to attract investments related to the...