News Room : Madagascar Women Trafficked to SL and Forced into Prostitution
Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanka S. Bodaragama yesterday (11) ordered that a Madagascar woman accused of trafficking fellow citizens and forcing them into prostitution in Sri Lanka be remanded until 25 September. The suspect was arrested by the Police Anti-Human Trafficking and Investigation Unit and produced in court on allegations that she lured women from Madagascar by promising them employment opportunities...
News Room : EFL hauls govt. to court over Wilpattu ‘illegalities’ – The Island
The Environmental Foundation (Guarantee) Limited (EFL) has filed a writ application in the Court of Appeal, challenging what it described as blatant government-sanctioned violations inside Wilpattu National Park. The case seeks an urgent halt to religious festivals, construction, and unrestricted pilgrim access around the Pallekandal Church in Block V of the park. EFL senior management told The Island that recent...
News Room : Police Announce New Fees for Public Services
The Sri Lanka Police has issued a revised fee structure for services provided to the public. Obtaining a Police Clearance Report for overseas travel and related real-time services will now cost Rs. 5,000. Fees for broadcast permits will depend on duration: up to six hours will cost Rs. 500, six to twelve hours Rs. 1,000, and more than twelve hours Rs....
News Room : Prasanna Ranatunga Withdraws Appeal Against Suspended Prison Sentence
Minister of Urban Development and Housing Prasanna Ranatunga today (11) withdrew the appeal he had filed before the Court of Appeal, seeking to overturn his conviction and suspended prison sentence in a case filed for threatening a businessman and demanding a bribe. The appeal was taken up before a five-judge bench comprising Mayadunne Corea, Kumaran Ratnam, Sashi Mahendran, Damith Thotawatta, and...
News Room : Mahinda and Shiranthi Vacate Wijerama House
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has vacated his official residence located at Wijerama Road in Colombo. He will return to Carlton House, Tangalle.
News Room : SC Clears Way for Case on Namal Rajapaksa’s Wedding Electricity Use
The Supreme Court today (11) granted leave to proceed with a petition filed against SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa’s unpaid electricity bill of over Rs 2 million for his 2019 wedding. The decision was delivered by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Justice Achala Wengappuli. Petitioners’ attorneys told the Court that electricity had been used to illuminate a 1.5 km route to...
News Room : When Will Former Presidents Return Their Official Residences?
Under the provisions of the newly enacted Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Act, former presidents are now required to return the official residences previously allocated to them. Former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena, and Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga currently occupy state-owned residences. However, under the law passed yesterday (10), they are no longer entitled to this privilege. Reports indicate that Mahinda Rajapaksa is expected...
News Room : South Africa beat England and the rain to leave Cardiff 1-0 up
Don’t read too much into it, but South Africa took the lead in the three-match T20I series against England after winning a game initially reduced to nine overs a side by batting for 7.5 and then defending an adjusted five-over target. Wet conditions in Cardiff stalked the match throughout as play began two hours and 20 minutes after the scheduled...
News Room : Asia Cup 2025: Kuldeep bags four as India demolish UAE in 17.4 overs
It took just 106 balls for India to begin their defence of the Asia Cup with the most comprehensive of wins. It took them just 79 balls to bowl UAE out, and just 27 to chase down their target. UAE’s 57 was the lowest total any team had achieved against India in T20Is. India’s 4.3-over chase was their quickest in...
News Room : No Provision to Remove Fmr Presidents’ Security – Lakmali Hemachandra
NPP Colombo District MP Lakmali Hemachandra has stated that there is no provision in the law to withdraw the security of former Presidents, rejecting claims circulating on social media. “Many false claims are being spread regarding this process. It is being said that we are removing the security of former Presidents. But there is no such clause in this law....