News Room : Samanalee Fonseka Denies Claims Linking Her to State Vehicle
Actress Samanalee Fonseka has strongly rejected social media posts that circulated using her photograph without consent, accompanied by what she described as “baseless and defamatory claims.” In a Facebook post, Fonseka clarified that the black Mitsubishi vehicle with state number plates, shown in the widely shared images, does not belong to her nor has it ever been assigned to her...
News Room : Investigate Impartially if Thajudeen Was Wronged – Namal Rajapaksa
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Namal Rajapaksa has strongly criticised certain investigating bodies, accusing them of fabricating evidence to please the current government and politicising legal proceedings through media briefings. Rajapaksa alleged that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has repeatedly attempted to satisfy the government by producing false testimonies. He singled out the conduct of the Police Media Spokesperson,...
News Room : From November, Shoppers Will See ‘Polythene Levy’ on Their Bills
The Supreme Court was informed today (1) that a levy will be imposed on single-use polythene products from 1 November 2025. During the hearing of Fundamental Rights petition SCFR 220/21 filed by the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ), the Attorney General, representing the state and the first to fifth respondents, announced that the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) Board had taken...
News Room : Good News for Lankan Students: Australia Eases Visa Evidence Rules
The Australian Department of Home Affairs has revised the evidence levels used to assess student visa applications, according to updates noted on the PRISMS system. Although these levels are not officially published, they play a key role in determining the documentation required under the Simplified Student Visa Framework (SSVF). Current Country Evidence Levels Based on information shared within education and immigration networks,...
News Room : US Government Shutdown: Embassy in Colombo Issues Service Update
The United States government has entered a partial shutdown after lawmakers in Washington failed to pass a spending bill before the deadline early Wednesday (01), leading to the suspension of many federal operations. In response, the US Embassy in Sri Lanka announced via X (formerly Twitter) that its account would not be updated regularly during the shutdown, except to share...
News Room : WWC 2025: Amanjot, Deepti rescue India after batting scare
In the end, India got everything they could have wanted out of the opening match of the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025. While the result will no doubt be the most important factor – a comfortable 59-run, DLS-adjusted win – they will be pleased that every member of their batting unit was tested and that most of them were...
News Room : Middeniye Kajja’s Role in Thajudeen Murder: Wife’s Statement to Police
More than a decade after the death of national rugby player Wasim Thajudeen, police have confirmed that notorious underworld figure Arun Vidanagamage, widely known as Middeniye Kajja, was part of the group allegedly responsible for the killing. Acting Police Spokesman SSP Minura Senarath said Kajja’s wife had recognised him in CCTV footage examined by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). According...
News Room : Spike in Human Trafficking Cases: 168 Victims Identified in SL in 2024
The 2025 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, released by the US Department of State, has revealed that Sri Lanka identified 168 victims of human trafficking in 2024 — a significant increase compared to 95 victims reported the previous year. According to the report, the victims included 102 men, 59 women, and seven children. Of these, 19 were exploited in sex...
News Room : I Protect SLPP as Devānampiyatissa Protected Buddhism – Tissa Kuttiarachchi
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Anuradhapura organiser Tissa Kuttiarachchi says he is committed to safeguarding the party’s policies just as King Devānampiyatissa protected Buddhism. Speaking to party supporters in Perimiyankulama, Anuradhapura yesterday (29), Kuttiarachchi said the district was entrusted to him after Shehan Semasinghe and Chandrasena distanced themselves from the party following their association with Namal Rajapaksa. “Some say no one...
News Room : Prasanna Ranaweera Granted Bail After Four and a Half Months
Former State Minister Prasanna Ranaweera, who had been in remand custody for over four and a half months, was today (30) granted bail by the Gampaha High Court. He was accused of preparing forged deeds and selling a state-owned land in Kiribathgoda. Ranaweera, who had been evading arrest in connection with the case, surrendered to court on 7 May and...