News Room : PM Says Government Committed to Breaking Barriers for Women in Business
Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya highlighted that while women play a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s economic and social development, structural barriers still restrict their full participation in the economy. “Our government is committed to breaking these barriers by fostering an inclusive economic environment where women can thrive as business leaders, entrepreneurs, and exporters,” she said. She made this statement at the...
News Room : US had productive talks with Putin over Ukraine war, Trump says – The Island
US President Donald Trump has praised talks held with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the US-proposed ceasefire deal in Ukraine as “good and productive”. This comes after Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff met in Moscow on Thursday evening, after which the Kremlin said it shared the US’s “cautious optimism” over a peace process. Trump said in a Truth Social post...
News Room : Cop had stolen 9mm police pistol and given it to rap artiste – The Island
By Norman Palihawadane and Hemantha Randunu Police officers from the Matara Division Criminal Investigation Unit recovered a 9mm pistol, a magazine, and 10 bullets from the home of rap artiste and television actor Shan Putha, located at Araliya Uyana in Meegoda, yesterday. The weapon and ammunition had been stolen from the Kotawila Police Station, in Matara, by a police constable, who is now...
News Room : They come, they shoot, they vanish – The Island
We have heard of power stations being retired when they outlive their efficiency and usefulness and/or become redundant or potentially dangerous. But Sri Lanka is planning to make some power plants take a break, as it were, during the weekends. It has been alleged that a plan is underway to curtail renewable power generation during the weekends because the...
News Room : Surveillance Failure: Anuradhapura’s CCTV System Has Been Inactive for a Year
The CCTV surveillance system installed to enhance security in Anuradhapura has been inactive for nearly a year, raising concerns about security. Although 47 cameras were set up under the system, none are currently operational, significantly impacting crime detection and law enforcement, officials said. The North Central Provincial Council initially installed CCTV systems in Anuradhapura, Habarana, and Polonnaruwa in 2017 at...
News Room : Sri Lanka’s Pekoe Trail Named Among TIME’s 100 Greatest Places to Visit in 2025
Sri Lanka’s Pekoe Trail has been named one of TIME magazine’s 100 greatest places to visit in 2025, earning recognition as a must-explore destination for travelers. The 186-mile trail, completed in March last year, transforms a 19th-century tea transport network into a breathtaking long-distance hiking route. Once a system of colonial-era dirt roads and railway tracks used by the British...
News Room : Breaking: Batalanda Commission Report Tabled in Parliament —What’s Next?
Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake tabled the Batalanda Commission Report in Parliament a short while ago. Tabling the report, Rathnayake stated that a Presidential Committee will be appointed to determine further actions based on the report’s revelations. He also said the report will be submitted to the Attorney General for legal advice. Additionally, Rathnayake announced that, at an appropriate time,...
News Room : Breaking: Batalanda Commission Report to Be Tabled in Parliament Today
The Government will table the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) report on Batalanda in Parliament today (14 March). The Cabinet has decided to present the Batalanda Commission report in Parliament, Cabinet Spokesperson Nalinda Jayatissa announced during the weekly press briefing on Tuesday (11 March). Responding to journalists’ questions, Jayatissa stated, “We will take measures regarding all accusations, but there is a...
News Room : Sri Lanka’s IT manufacturing pioneer EWIS Colombo marks historic milestone by exporting first locally manufactured laptops to Zimbabwe
In a significant achievement for Sri Lanka’s IT and electronics manufacturing industry, EWIS Colombo, the country’s first and only local computer manufacturer, has successfully exported the first batch of locally manufactured laptops to Zimbabwe. This milestone not only positions Sri Lanka as an emerging force in global IT hardware manufacturing, but also highlights EWIS’s commitment to innovation, quality and...
News Room : Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western Uva and Southern provinces during the afternoon or night – The Island
WEATHER FORECAST FOR 11 MARCH 2025 Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 11 March 2025 by the Department of Meteorology Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Northern, North-central, Eastern and Uva provinces and in Matale, Nuwara-Eliya and Hambantota districts and at several places elsewhere during the afternoon or night. Fairly heavy showers above 75mm can be expected at some places in...