News Room : Appeal Court Order on LG Election for 18 Bodies Including CMC
The Court of Appeal has lifted the previously issued injunction preventing the conduct of the Local Government Election for 18 local government institutions, including the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), on 6 May. In a significant development, the court also ordered that the previously rejected nomination papers submitted for these local authorities be re-accepted. The ruling was delivered by a bench comprising...
News Room : People’s Bank Introduces Affinity Credit Card for Bandaranayake College OBA
People’s Bank has proudly unveiled a new Affinity Credit Card in partnership with the Old Boys’ Association (OBA) of Bandaranayake College, Gampaha. The official launch ceremony took place at the People’s Bank Head Office in Colombo 02. The event was attended by several distinguished guests, including Clive Fonseka, CEO/General Manager of People’s Bank; Kasun Gunarathne, Principal of Bandaranayake College and...
News Room : Suspension Announced for One-Day Passport Service
The Department of Immigration and Emigration has announced the temporary suspension of its 24-hour one-day passport issuance service on 15, 16, and 17 April due to the Sinhala and Tamil New Year holidays. During this period, token numbers for passport services will be issued only until 12 noon. Authorities have advised the public to take note of these changes and plan...
News Room : Appeal Court orders EC to accept 35 additional nomination papers – The Island
Sri Lanka’s controversial MoU on Defence Cooperation with India was unlikely to be taken up any time soon in Parliament in spite of the House Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection that has been assigned defence, authoritative sources told The Island. Of the seven SOCs only one was activated with the recent election of Dr. Najith Indika, MP, as the...
News Room : Party leaders’ meeting ends on positive note – The Island
Sri Lanka’s controversial MoU on Defence Cooperation with India was unlikely to be taken up any time soon in Parliament in spite of the House Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection that has been assigned defence, authoritative sources told The Island. Of the seven SOCs only one was activated with the recent election of Dr. Najith Indika, MP, as the...
News Room : Police Launch Pilot Project for Online Traffic Fine Payments
Sri Lanka Police has launched a pilot project enabling motorists to pay traffic fines online, marking a step forward in streamlining public services and promoting digital governance. The initiative allows drivers to settle traffic fines through the government’s ‘GovPay’ mobile application, which was introduced to facilitate digital payments for various public services. According to Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) for...
News Room : Jaffna – Palali Road Fully Reopens After 35 Years, But Under Tight Military Restrictions
After more than three decades, the road connecting Vasavilan Junction to Palali in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province has been officially reopened—but under heavy military restrictions that continue to limit civilian access to the surrounding areas. Despite the road’s reopening, original landowners remain barred from entering or resettling on their land. According to Jaffna-based journalist Kumanan who posted on X, formerly Twitter...
News Room : Kevili Table Costs Soar: Sweetmeats for Avurudu Now Over Twice as Expensive as in 2019
The cost of preparing a traditional kevili table for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year has risen by 7% in 2025 compared to 2024, making it more than double what it was in 2019, according to a report by Verité Research. The analysis revealed that ingredient prices increased by 7% between March 2024 and March 2025, largely due to sharp...
News Room : Daily Accidents Claim 30–35 Lives, Health Ministry Warns of Alarming Trend
Around 30 to 35 deaths linked to accidents are being reported daily, according to the Ministry of Health. Speaking at a media briefing held at the Health Promotion Bureau today, Dr Samitha Siritunga, a specialist from the Non-Communicable Diseases Unit, revealed that between 10,000 to 12,000 fatalities occur annually in Sri Lanka due to various types of accidents — a...
News Room : Sri Lanka’s Foreign Policy amid Geopolitical Transformations: 1990-2024 – Part IV
Sri Lankan Foreign Policy since the End of the Cold War By the end of the Cold War, Sri Lanka’s foreign policy priorities were predominantly shaped by its armed conflict with the LTTE, despite pivotal shifts in its regional and global geopolitical spaces. The significance of the country’s foreign relations was largely viewed through the lens of its strategic needs...