News Room : Russia boosts defences near Japan amid US row over Asia Pacific – The Island
Russia has said that a division of its Bastion coastal defence missile systems has been deployed to Paramushir, one of the Kuril Islands in the north Pacific, some of which Japan claims as its territory. The move is part of a wider strengthening of Russia’s defences in its vast far eastern regions, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Wednesday, partly...
News Room : Lebanese take to streets as anger over economic meltdown grows
Aljazeera reported that Lebanese officers have fired tear gas at hundreds of people, mostly retired members of the security forces, who had gathered near government buildings in the capital to protests against deteriorating economic conditions. Crowds on Wednesday (22) gathered in the streets of central Beirut carrying Lebanon’s tricolour flags and logos of security forces. The protest was called for...
News Room : Public sector will stop engaging in business and open it to the private sector in the future – President
President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that due to the public sector engaging in business activities, the money that was available for the construction of 100 projects similar to the Mahaweli during the past decades, has been lost and noted that in the future, the public sector will stop engaging in business and open it to the private sector to create...
News Room : Technical Certificates of Completion for 64 out of 74 plots of Port City Colombo SEZ – The Island
Technical Certificates of Completion for 64 out of 74 plots of the Port City Colombo SEZ have been received by the Commission, a Colombo Port City Economic Commission semi-annual progress report for FY 2022 notes. A press release by the Commssion said: ‘The Colombo Port City Economic Commission (the Commission), the Single Window Investment Facilitator authorised to assist investors, businesses,...
News Room : Showers in Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva and Southern provinces and in Polonnaruwa district – The Island
Weather forecast issued at 05.30 a.m. on 20 March 2023 by the Department of Meteorology Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places over most parts of the island during the afternoon or night. Showers may occur in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts during the morning as well. Fairly heavy showers above 50mm are likely at...
News Room : SJB, JVP move SC against Finance Secy. for contempt of court – The Island
Chairman of the Uththara Lanka Sabhagaya (ULS) Wimal Weerawnsa, MP, has questioned the failure on the part of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) to protest against the recent clandestine visit here by Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director, William Joseph Burns. The Jathika Nidahas Peramuna (JNP) leader, Weerawansa, said that at the time he represented the JVP, the party always took...
News Room : IMF Executive Board approves US$3 Billion under the Extended Fund Facility arrangement for Sri Lanka – The Island
• The IMF Board approved a 48-month extended arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) of SDR 2.286 billion (about US$3 billion) to support Sri Lanka’s economic policies and reforms. • The objectives of the EFF-supported program are to restore macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability, safeguarding financial stability, and stepping up structural reforms to unlock Sri Lanka’s growth potential. All program...
News Room : Philadelphia will pay $9.25M to protesters over police use of tear gas and rubber bullets during 2020 unrest – The Island
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the city has agreed to pay a combined $9.25 million to hundreds of people teargassed, struck with rubber bullets, and detained by police during the 2020 racial justice protests after the police murder of George Floyd. In a settlement order signed Monday by U.S. District Magistrate Judge David R. Strawbridge, the city agreed to pay...
News Room : Showers in Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva, North-Central and North western provinces and in Trincomalee, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu and Mannar districts – The Island
Weather forecast issued at 05.30 a.m. on 20 March 2023 by the Department of Meteorology Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places over most parts of the island during the afternoon or night. Showers may occur in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts during the morning as well. Fairly heavy showers above 50mm are likely at...
News Room : House warned against move to summon SC judges – The Island
Treasury Chief given seven-day ultimatum By Shamindra Ferdinando The Freedom People’s Alliance (FPA) yesterday (20) said that the contentious move to summon judges of the Supreme Court before the House Ethics and Privileges Committee, this week, over an interim order could have disastrous consequences. Former Speaker Chamal Rajapaka heads the Ethics and Privileges Committee. Addressing the media, at Nawala, the ex-External Affairs Minister pointed out...