News Room : Brits ton in vain as Rana five-for scripts India’s thrilling win
India defended 276 – their third highest-score against South Africa – in dramatic fashion to record successive wins in the Sri Lanka tri-series. South Africa were fairly comfortable on 170 for 2 after 33 overs chasing 277 and Tazmin Britts had scored her third ODI hundred and was anchoring their effort. With the required run-rate a touch above six...
News Room : Batalanda report sent to AG
The Presidential Commission report on the Batalanda detention facility has been sent to the Attorney General. The Presidential Media Division (PMD) said that the Commission report had been forwarded to the AG on the instructions of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake as the government decided to act on the findings. The Parliament debated the report on 10 April. The government called...
News Room : Batalanda Commission Report Submitted to Attorney General – PMD
The much-anticipated Batalanda Commission report has been formally handed over to the Attorney General, the President’s Media Division (PMD) announced today (29 April).Minister Bimal Rathnayake, during the first day of the parliamentary debate on 10 April on the report, revealed that steps would be taken to hold accountable those implicated in the findings. Minister Rathnayake further stated that the government...
News Room : Jude Shramantha Jayamaha No Longer in Singapore, SC Expresses Dissatisfaction with Extradition Efforts
Jude Shramantha Jayamaha, who was convicted in the high-profile Royal Park murder case and later released under a presidential pardon by former President Maithripala Sirisena after receiving the death penalty, is no longer in Singapore, according to information provided by Singaporean authorities to the Sri Lankan government. This was revealed by the Attorney General’s Department during a hearing on Tuesday...
News Room : Govt to Limit Cabinet Media Briefing Access to Accredited Journalists
The government is considering limiting physical attendance at the weekly Cabinet media briefings to journalists who possess the media ID issued by the Department of Government Information. Cabinet Spokesperson Nalinda Jayatissa, speaking at today’s (29 April) media briefing, said the move is aimed at streamlining the format and improving the clarity of the sessions. He clarified that the primary objective of...
News Room : No shortage of vehicles; 7,000 units imported: Importers
The Vehicle Importers Association of Sri Lanka (VIASL) confirmed yesterday that there is no shortage of imported vehicles in the country and that nearly 7,000 new vehicles have already been imported to both the Hambantota and Colombo ports. Addressing the media, VIASL Chairman Prasad Manage denied reports of a decline in imported vehicle sales, saying that nearly 75 percent of...
News Room : Massive Power Outage Hits Spain and Portugal, States of Emergency Declared
Spain and Portugal have declared states of emergency after a massive power outage disrupted daily life across the Iberian Peninsula. Traffic lights failed, airports faced chaos, and public transport systems shut down. Portugal’s grid operator said the blackout also affected parts of France. Authorities are still investigating the cause. Spain’s Interior Ministry declared emergencies in several regions, while Portugal’s Prime...
News Room : Child damages €50m Rothko painting in Dutch museum
A child has damaged a painting worth millions of pounds by the American artist Mark Rothko at a museum in Rotterdam. A spokesperson for the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen said it was considering the “next steps” for the treatment of Rothko’s Grey, Orange on Maroon, No. 8. The damage occurred during an “unguarded moment”, a museum spokesperson told the Dutch media...
News Room : IPL 2025: 14 year old Suryavanshi, shatters records to keep Rajasthan Royals alive
In his third IPL match, the 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi brought down to their knees seasoned pros from the best bowling unit in the tournament, some of whom have been playing for longer than he has lived. The youngest T20 centurion, among the youngest handful centurions in all representative cricket, the second quickest century in the IPL in 35 balls, joint-most...
News Room : Trump tariffs and their effect on world trade and economy with particular reference to Sri Lanka – Part II – The Island
(Part VIII of this article appeared yesterday) Reflections on Perplexity in Sri Lankan Foreign Policy (1990-2024) Since the end of the Cold War, the three geopolitical spheres of Sri Lanka have been significantly shifted. At the same time, the internal politics and the economy have also faced intense volatility, moving from war to a post-war environment. However, Sri Lanka’s foreign policy...