News Room : British Woman Trapped in Sri Lankan Prison: “No Food, No Bed, No Rights”
A young British woman arrested in Sri Lanka on drug smuggling charges says she’s been left starving, sleepless and scared in a prison. Charlotte Lee May, 21, from Coulsdon in south London, was found with over 46kg of high-grade cannabis known as ‘Kush’ in her luggage at Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport last week. But from behind bars in the women’s...
News Room : New Auditor General Appointment Deferred Once More
The Constitutional Council has approved a six-month service extension for G.H.D. Dharmapala, who is currently serving as the Acting Auditor General. This approval was granted at the Council’s meeting held yesterday afternoon (22), following a recommendation made by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Since the retirement of the former Auditor General, the position has remained vacant for 44 days. The Constitutional Council did...
News Room : No Need for Panic: No New COVID-19 Variant Threat in Sri Lanka – Dr. Jasinghe
There is no risk of a new ‘COVID-19’ variant spreading in Sri Lanka, and the public should not be alarmed unnecessarily, said Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, Dr Anil Jasinghe. In a statement released based on data from the Epidemiology Unit, Dr Jasinghe acknowledged recent media reports highlighting a rise in COVID-19 cases in parts of...
News Room : Sum 41 music agent among those killed in San Diego plane crash
Prominent music agent Dave Shapiro is among those who were killed after a small plane crashed into a residential street in San Diego, according to his talent company. Shapiro was the co-founder of Sound Talent Group, whose clients include rock bands like Sum 41, Story of the Year and Pierce the Veil. Daniel Williams, former drummer for the metal band The...
News Room : Duckett, Crawley, Pope tons seal England’s day of dominance
Ben Duckett brought up his fifth Test hundred and first at his home ground at exactly a run ball. Zak Crawley got a first Test century since July 2023, 28 innings ago. Between them, they shared in England’s highest-opening stand at home since 1960. Ollie Pope added the trimmings with his third hundred in as many Tests at Trent...
News Room : A visa for bringing in expertise and expanding tourism – The Island
In this article, I introduce an idea which is simple to implement but is powerful and helps with building technical skills, strengthening the country brand and creating international opportunities for Sri Lankans. Furthermore, it can diversify and extend the country’s tourism revenue streams. The simple idea is to introduce a hassle-free visa for Internships, Volunteering, Expert Exchange Programs and Short-term...
News Room : SC Rules Police Violated Fundamental Rights of Jehovah’s Witnesses
The Supreme Court today (22 May) ruled that the fundamental rights of four followers of the religious denomination “Jehovah’s Witnesses” were violated by the Walasmulla Police when they were arrested “without any justifiable reason” while engaged in religious proselytising activities, BBC Sinhala reported. Accordingly, the Court ordered the then Officer-in-Charge of the Walasmulla Police Station, S.J.B. Suwaris, to pay compensation...
News Room : Complaint Filed with Speaker Against Dayasiri Jayasekara’s Parliamentary Behaviour
A complaint has been submitted to the Speaker of Parliament against MP Dayasiri Jayasekara, accusing him of violent and disrespectful conduct during the parliamentary session held on 20 May. The complaint was lodged by Minister Anura Karunatilake and MP Dharmapriya Wijesinghe, along with MP Dr Kaushalya Ariyaratne. According to the letter, Jayasekara disrupted proceedings by deliberately misrepresenting standing orders and...
News Room : Dunkley, Knight seal redemptive win as England outdo Matthews’ brilliant 100*
England turned the page on their T20 World Cup exit at the hands of West Indies with an eight-wicket victory in the opening match of their home series in Canterbury, despite a brilliant unbeaten century by Hayley Mathews. Of West Indies’ total of 146 for 7, their captain, Matthews, scored exactly 100 off 67 balls, leading an understrength batting line-up...
News Room : Israeli Opposition Leader Defends Remarks about Ministers ‘Celebrating’ Gaza Children’s Deaths
Israeli opposition leader Yair Golan sought late Tuesday (20 May) to defend remarks he made earlier that triggered a backlash, saying that when members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government “celebrate the death and starvation of children in Gaza, we must speak out.” Golan, the head of The Democrats party and a former deputy chief of staff of the...