News Room : FIFA announces record prize money for winners of upcoming Club World Cup
The winners of FIFA’s first 32-team Club World Cup in the United States could earn a football record $125m as details of a $1bn prize money fund were finally published. FIFA said it allocated $525m in guaranteed fees for teams taking part in the June 14 to July 13 tournament, ranging from $38.19m to the top-ranked European team – likely...
News Room : MR Rejects UK Allegations, Calls for Defence of Former Military Leaders
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has categorically denied the UK government’s allegations of widespread human rights violations during Sri Lanka’s military operations against the LTTE and urged the incumbent government to stand by former armed forces personnel facing foreign sanctions. Issuing a statement on the UK’s recent decision to impose travel bans and asset freezes on former Chief of Defence Staff...
News Room : Govt: UK action complicates matters
Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath yesterday (26) told UK High Commissioner Andrew Patrick that unilateral action on their part would complicate the post-war national reconciliation process here. Sri Lanka’s position was made known to HC Andrew when he visited the Ministry. The following is the text of the statement issued by the Ministry yesterday: “The Ministry of...
News Room : Sri Lanka Decries UK’s ‘Unilateral’ Sanctions on Former Officials
Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism has responded to the UK government’s decision to impose sanctions on three former military commanders and a former minister. In a statement, the ministry acknowledged the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s (FCDO) press release, dated 24 March 2025, titled “UK Sanctions for Human Rights Violations and Abuses during the...
News Room : South Korea wildfire death toll rises to 16
Multiple wildfires raging across South Korea’s southeastern region have killed at least 16 people. Deadly wildfires swept through South Korea’s southeastern region on Tuesday, forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes and destroying neighborhoods, while hundreds of prisoners were transferred from prisons. As of 5 a.m. (2100 GMT) on Wednesday, four people had died in the wildfires that started in...
News Room : World’s longest-serving death row prisoner awarded $1.4 million after release
A Japanese man who was on death row for more than 40 years until his release last year has been awarded $1.4 million in compensation – roughly $85 for each day he was wrongly convicted, a court said Tuesday. Former professional boxer Iwao Hakamata, 89, was sentenced to death for the 1968 murders of four people despite repeated allegations by...
News Room : Sri Lanka gears up to host ASBC Asian Under-22 and Youth Boxing Championships – The Island
Under 19 Cricket Sri Lanka Under 19 batsman Sharujan Shanmuganathan hammered an unbeaten double century- his best batting performance in the school circuit- to propel St. Benedict’s to their highest total of the season in the Under 19 traditional cricket encounter at Kotahena on Tuesday. The Bens’ skipper cracked 17 fours and eight sixes in his unbeaten knock which powered the...
News Room : The people crown Lolc for ninth consecutive year – The Island
Orient Finance PLC has reported an outstanding financial performance for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2024, showcasing significant growth in key financial indicators compared to the corresponding period in 2023. The Company recorded a remarkable 161% increase in profit after tax, reaching Rs. 254.6 million compared to Rs. 97.6 million in the same period of the previous year. Net...
News Room : Sutheash Balasubramaniam Joins Ceylon Hotels Corporation Board
Sutheash Balasubramaniam has been appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director on the Board of Ceylon Hotels Corporation PLC. He is the Managing Director – Sri Lanka of BookingWhizz Ltd., England, and is currently pursuing professional certification in coaching, accredited by the International Coaching Federation. Balasubramaniam previously served as Managing Director of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Director/CEO of Hayleys Companies,...
News Room : Assets of Former Welikanda OIC Frozen
The Polonnaruwa Magistrate’s Court today (25 March) ordered the freezing of assets belonging to the former Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Welikanda Police, who is evading arrest after a warrant was issued against him in connection with a dairy cattle smuggling case. The court issued the order following a notification from the Anuradhapura Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau, which reported that the...