News Room : “Push the Bus Forward, Don’t Turn Back”: Abeysinghe Calls for Support to Continue Reforms
Deputy Minister of Industry and Enterprise Development, Chathuranga Abeysinghe, has strongly defended the current administration’s integrity and reform agenda, stating that the government has maintained a clean track record and is committed to building a new political culture. Speaking at a public meeting ahead of the Local Government Election, Abeysinghe questioned the intense criticism directed at the government despite its...
News Room : China’s bid to control Dalai Lama sparks global outcry
As the 14th Dalai Lama approaches his 90th birthday, tensions are rising over China’s efforts to assert control over the selection of his successor. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which has long oppressed religious practices, is now claiming the authority to decide the next Dalai Lama, a move critics see as a dangerous act of cultural and religious appropriation. The...
News Room : EU fines Apple, Meta as Big Tech crackdown continues
The European Union has fined major tech giants Apple and Meta €500 million and €200 million respectively, marking the first major penalties under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Introduced in 2023, the legislation aims to curb Big Tech’s dominance and promote fair competition. The fines follow a year-long investigation by the European Commission into whether the companies were complying with...
News Room : Man Who Murdered Woman and Left Body in Travel Bag Sentenced to Death
The Colombo High Court today sentenced to death the man convicted of murdering a woman and leaving her body in a travel bag at the Bastian Mawatha private bus terminal in Pettah in 2015. The crime, which shocked the nation at the time, occurred on 29 July 2015. The body of the victim, a 34-year-old woman from Vaddukoddai, Jaffna, was...
News Room : Postal Voting for Local Government Elections Begins Today
The marking of postal votes for this year’s Local Government (LG) elections begins today, 24 April, with over 648,000 eligible voters expected to cast their ballots by mail. Postal voting will be conducted over four designated days — 24, 25, 28, and 29 April — enabling eligible voters from various government institutions to take part in the democratic process. This...
News Room : Zimbabwe seal Sylhet thriller to complete first away Test win since 2021 – The Island
Zimbabwe beat Bangladesh by three wickets in an exciting finish on the fourth day of the first Test in Sylhet to go 1-0 up in the two-match series. It was Zimbabwe’s fifth overseas Test victory, which came after they completed their highest successful chasein the fourth innings. It was also their first win in the last 11 Tests and...
News Room : Three uncapped players in Athapaththu-led squad for tri-series – The Island
The uncapped trio of Malki Madara, Dewmi Vihanga and Piumi Badalge are among six changes to the squad that toured New Zealand earlier this year, as Sri Lanka named a 17-member squad for the upcoming ODI tri-series against India and South Africa starting April 27. There are recalls for veteran Inoka Ranaweera, as well as Hasini Perera and Hansima Karunaratne....
News Room : Court Imposes Travel Ban on Father and Son in Dan Priyasad Murder Case
The court on Tuesday imposed a travel ban on two suspects linked to the fatal shooting of Dan Priyasad in the Wellampitiya area, Colombo. Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kakunawela issued the order against Bandula Biyal and his son Madhawa Sudarshana, residents of Wellampitiya, preventing them from leaving the country amid an ongoing investigation. The Wellampitiya Police told the court that a...
News Room : Shani Abeysekara Appointed to Committee Investigating Easter Sunday PCoI Report
Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasooriya has appointed Senior Superintendent of Police Shani Abeysekara to the special committee reviewing the Presidential Commission report on the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, raising the number of members from four to five, according to Police Media Spokesman SSP Buddika Manatunga. The original four-member committee was appointed on Tuesday, 22 April, to examine the findings...
News Room : Pope Francis’ coffin arrives at St. Peter’s Basilica ahead of funeral
Pope Francis’ coffin has arrived at St. Peter’s Basilica, where he will allow Catholics to pay their respects ahead of his funeral on Saturday, which is expected to be attended by world leaders including US President Donald Trump. Bells rang softly as the coffin entered the basilica at 9:30 a.m. local time (3:30 a.m. ET) on Wednesday, and mourners in...