News Room : TISL welcomes positive intervention by IMF to ensure public access to asset declarations – The Island
Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has welcomed the introduction of a new Structural Benchmark in the IMF’s Third Review Agreement, which it states addressed gaps in implementing the Asset Declarations system under the Anti-Corruption Act of 2023. In a statement, the TISL said this is a significant step toward ensuring public access to asset declarations, a long-standing reform for which...
News Room : Janashakthi Life records over LKR 5 billion in profits for second consecutive year – The Island
Janashakthi Life, one of the fastest growing Life insurers in Sri Lanka has recorded a massive LKR 5.7 Billion Profit Before Tax for the period under review. This is the second consecutive year the company has surpassed the LKR 5 billion mark in PBT. Reflecting on the company’s achievements, Ravi Liyanage, Director / CEO of Janashakthi Insurance PLC, said, “Our...
News Room : Keheliya Instructed Us to Include Indian Company for Medicine Imports Without Evaluation, Officials Tell COPE
During a COPE session held in Parliament on 26 March under the chairmanship of MP (Dr.) Nishantha Samaraweera, it was disclosed that the former Minister of Health, Keheliya Rambukwella, had instructed the selection of ‘Savorite’ for importing these medicines through unsolicited proposals. The former Secretary to the Ministry of Health confirmed this directive to the committee. The Committee Chair noted...
News Room : China tells Philippines: Stop serving as other countries’ mouthpiece
China has issued a warning to the Philippines ahead of U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s scheduled visit to Manila this week, urging the Philippine government to “stop serving as other countries’ mouthpiece” and refrain from being used as “chess pieces” in regional power games. The familiar rebuke was delivered by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun at a press conference...
News Room : Vladimir Putin to visit India soon, preparations underway: Russian FM
Preparations are underway for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday. “(Russian) President Vladimir Putin has accepted an invitation for a visit from the head of the Indian government,” Lavrov was quoted as telling the Russian news agency TASS. “Preparations are currently underway for the Russian head of state to visit the...
News Room : Strong earthquake shakes Thai capital Bangkok
A strong earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale struck the Thai capital on Friday, shaking buildings. The afternoon quake struck at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers with its epicenter in neighboring Myanmar, Germany’s GFZ Center for Geosciences said, according to provisional reports. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. The greater Bangkok area is home to more than...
News Room : Breaking: Suspect in Anuradhapura Female Doctor’s Alleged Rape Identified in Court
The main suspect in the alleged rape of a female doctor at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital has been identified by the victim during an identification parade held this morning (28 March). The suspect, a 34-year-old resident of Galnewa, was arrested on 12 March during a joint search operation conducted by the Galnewa Police and the Anuradhapura Police Special Task Force....
News Room : Third Transport Sector Chairman under Minister Bimal Rathnayake Resigns
Dr Bandura Dileepa Vitarana, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Transport Commission, has resigned from his position. He has reportedly submitted his resignation letter to the Ministry of Transport. Dr Vitarana, who previously headed the National People’s Power’s Transport Committee, has now taken up a lecturing role at the Nawala Open University. The reason for his resignation has not been disclosed. Dr Vitarana...
News Room : Modi’s Visit to Sri Lanka: Dates, Delegation, and Schedule Announced
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Sri Lanka from 4 to 6 April 2025 on a State Visit, following his participation in the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Thailand. The visit comes at the invitation of Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and is expected to focus on strengthening bilateral ties and reviewing ongoing development projects supported...
News Room : Canada PM Mark Carney says old relationship with US ‘is over’
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that Canada’s old relationship with the United States, “based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation, is over”. Speaking to reporters in Ottawa after a cabinet meeting, Carney said Canadians must “fundamentally re-imagine our economy” in the face of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs. He said Canada would respond with...