News Room : Former Speaker Used 9 Vehicles, Spent Rs. 3.34 Million on Fuel in 9 Months
Leader of the House Bimal Ratnayake presented several expenditure reports to Parliament today, detailing vehicle and fuel usage by various officials, including former Speakers, during their tenure. According to the report, 70 staff members were stationed at the Speaker’s official residence until November 2024. From 1 January 2024 to 24 September, the former Speaker used nine vehicles and spent Rs. 3.34...
News Room : Dilith Questions President Dissanayake’s Foreign Travel Expenses: “Was it on the Footboard?”
MP Dilith Jayaweera has raised doubts about the foreign travel costs of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, as revealed in Parliament, calling the figures unrealistic. Commenting on the figures disclosed today, which showed a significant reduction in presidential travel expenses, Jayaweera questioned how the President managed to visit three countries for just Rs. 1.8 million. “The Prime Minister claims foreign travel costs...
News Room : PM Reveals Massive Rs. 3.5 Billion Spent on MR’s Foreign Trips, with Rs. 1.1 Billion in 2013 Alone
Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya made a special revelation in Parliament today (27) regarding the expenses incurred on foreign trips by former presidents. According to the figures presented, the total expenditure on overseas travel during their respective terms was as follows: Mahinda Rajapaksa (2010-2014): Rs. 3,572 million Maithripala Sirisena (2015-2019): Rs. 384 million Gotabaya Rajapaksa (2020-2022): Rs. 126 million Ranil Wickremesinghe (2023-2024): Rs. 533 million Anura...
News Room : Iraj Weeraratne Files Complaint Over Online Harassment Targeting Family
Popular artist Iraj Weeraratne arrived at the Welikada Police this morning (27 February) regarding alleged online harassment directed at his family by an individual. Weeraratne had previously lodged a complaint over the matter and provided a statement today as part of the ongoing investigation. In his complaint, he stated that the individual in question had been continuously targeting his parents and...
News Room : Ranil Wickremesinghe to Discuss South Asia’s Challenges in New Delhi
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe is set to depart for New Delhi today (27) to deliver a keynote address on global issues. The speech will take place at the Bharat Mandapam on Friday (28), with diplomats and distinguished guests in attendance. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott are also...
News Room : Indonesia to support Clean Sri Lanka initiative – The Island
UNHRC Session in Geneva: The JVP/NPP government has expressed its willingness, at the UNHRC in Geneva to initiate talks on setting up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate acts of violence caused by racism and religious extremism, Addressing the High-Level Segment of the 58th Regular Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath...
News Room : An initiative to bring light into the lives of Galle residents – The Island
By Ifham Nizam For decades, many rural communities in Sri Lanka have struggled with an unreliable power supply, outdated infrastructure, and slow responses from authorities. However, a new initiative aims to change this narrative, bringing hope to thousands in the Galle District who have long been in the dark—both literally and figuratively. Speaking to The Island Financial Review, Dr. Chathura Welivitiya,...
News Room : FSP Criticizes Budget 2025, Claims Tax Burden on Family Increased by Rs. 8,200
The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP), a breakaway faction from the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), has strongly criticized the National People’s Power (NPP) government’s 2025 Budget, accusing it of raising the tax burden on an ordinary family by Rs. 8,200 compared to the previous year. At a press conference held at the FSP Headquarters in Nugegoda on Monday (25), the party’s...
News Room : Mother and Brother of Fugitive Accomplice in Ganemulla Sanjeewa’s Murder Remanded
The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has ordered the mother and brother of a fugitive female suspect linked to the murder of underworld figure Sanjeewa Kumara Samararatne, also known as “Ganemulla Sanjeewa,” to be remanded until 7 March 2025. The suspects, Sesathpura Devage Samanthi and her younger brother, Pinpura Devage Chamidu Thiwanka Weerasinghe, were arrested by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) on...
News Room : Police Thwart Assassination Attempt on Kehelbaddara Padme’s In-Laws in Retaliation for Ganemulla Sanjeewa’s Murder
The Police have successfully thwarted an attempt to assassinate the parents of the wife of underworld figure “Kehelbaddara Padme” in what appears to be retaliation for the murder of notorious underworld figure “Ganemulla Sanjeewa.” According to police, two young men suspected of plotting the attack were apprehended while allegedly surveilling the house of Kehelbaddara Padme’s wife in Pannala. At the...