May 31 (AD) SL Police is currently looking into the sudden influx of visitors to the city of Colombo today, DIG Ajith Rohana said. A census had been conducted regarding vehicles entering Colombo city since this morning. The census had been conducted in Maharagama, Mount Lavinia, Wattala, Kelaniya, and Peliyagoda from 6.30 am to 9.30 am. The census has revealed that there was no formality in the letters issued by more..

May 31 (SLN) The Navy rendered assistance to fix 04 inoperative sluice gates of Inginimitiya reservoir in Puttalam district on 28th May 2021. Due to a fault in the lifting mechanism of the sluice gates of the Inginimitiya reservoir, the distribution of drinking water as well as the supply of water to 6539 acres of land including 4600 acres of new land area for agricultural purposes during the Yala and Maha seasons has come to a standstill. Responding to a request made by the Department of Irrigation more..

May 31 (TM) Prez Rajapaksa today appointed members to the Colombo Port City Economic Commission. Accordingly, Gamini Marapana (PC) has been appointed as the Chairman of the Commission. The other list of member appointments is detailed below: S.R Attygale – Secretary to the Treasury; Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrema – Secretary, Ministry of Water Supply; Saliya Wickramasuriya – former BOI Chairman; Kushan Kodithuwakku – Managing Director, Orel Corporation; more..

May 31 (DM) Cabinet gave approval to remove a construction company named Olympus affiliated to former UNP Minister Daya Gamage from the construction of the Second Phase of the Central Expressway for their deliberate delay amounting to sabotage, Minister Johnston Fernando said. “The previous govt awarded construction contracts to cronies in its Cabinet. A construction company owned by former minister Gamage was more..

May 31 (DM) An Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) has been transferred for allowing to organise Kurunegala Mayor Thushara Sanjeewa's birthday celebration at the Kurunegala Police premises, Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said. Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police C.D. Wickremeratne ordered to initiate an inquiry on the birthday party held along with a Pirith chanting ceremony violating COVID-19 prevention regulations. more..

May 31 (CT) The Police arrested 914 individuals on 29 May for violating COVID-19 health guidelines and quarantine regulations, DIG Ajith Rohana said. He added this is the highest number of persons arrested within 24 hours since Police first began arresting those who violate quarantine regulations. A total of 17,300 have been arrested from 30 October 2020. On 29 May, 171 from Matale and 116 from Nikaweratiya were part of the total number of suspects arrested, DIG went on to say. more..

May 31 (FT) State Minister Ajith Nivard Cabraal on Friday defended the $ 250 million currency swap with Bangladesh, implying it wasn’t a disgrace for SL to enter into such an arrangement. “It is necessary for us to understand that there are investments and loans, both refer in most instances to the same thing (factor),” he said, responding to a question during a webinar titled The Colombo Port City: Angel or Devil? on 28 May. more..

May 31 (MNA) A special discussion between Iranian Ambassador and State Minister Piyal Nishantha De Silva was held in Colombo on Monday. State Minister of Sri Lanka Piyal Nishantha de Silva pointed to strengthening long-lasting and historical relationship with the Islamic Republic of Iran and said that Sri Lanka has established enhanced relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran in the fields of Investment, tourism promotion, and education, Daily News reported. more..

May 31 (CT) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa has inquired after the health of Opposition Leader, Sajith Premadasa, who has been infected with COVID-19 and is receiving treatment at a private hospital in Colombo. PM has called Premadasa to inquire after his health and asked the Opposition Leader if he needed anything. PM also wished the Opposition Leader and his wife Jalani Premadasa, who is also receiving treatment, a speedy recovery. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa had thanked PM more..

May 31 (EN) A message of unknown origin that had circulated among Narahenpita residents resulted in a large group of people gathering outside the Abhayarama temple in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on May 29, 30 demanding their second dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, chief incumbent Muruththettuwe Ananda Thero said. No government official had asked the public to go to the temple premises to receive their second more..

May 31 (EN) SL’s CCC+ sovereign rating has been confirmed by Standard and Poor’s with the rating agency said loose policies while boosting growth worsened debt and would also pressure the exchange rate. “While expansionary macroeconomic policies will provide relief to the economy, they risk further weakening the govt’s fiscal position and worsening the risks associated with the govt’s already high debt burden,” the rating agency said. “At the same time, domestic interest rates more..

May 31 (AD) A registrar of marriages from Oluvil has been arrested by the TID for allegedly providing accommodation to Zahran Hashim, the ringleader of the Easter Sunday attacks, and others on several occasions from 2017. The 55-year-old was arrested yesterday in the Oluvil area by officers of the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) in connection with the Easter Sunday terror attacks and events that had occurred before the bombings. The arrested suspect has been identified as more..

May 31 (EN) No decision has been taken yet to extend the ongoing movement restrictions in SL beyond June 07 but it may be decided at any point until then, Army Commander Gen Shavendra Silva said. He said that there is no truth to reports circulating on social media that the unofficial lockdown has been extended. Any decision regarding the restrictions will be informed to the public through an official press conference more..

May 31 (AD) CID is currently recording statements from the Captain, the Chief Engineer and the Deputy Chief Engineer of X-Press Pearl at a hotel in Wellawatte, DIG Ajith Rohana said. CID is to record statements today from the captain and chief engineer of MV X-Press Pearl over the fire onboard the ship, DIG Ajith Rohana said. He stated that the CID has taken charge of the investigations into the fire onboard the MV X-Press Pearl vessel, a Singapore-flagged cargo ship more..

May 31 (TM) The UNP stated today that the Party has filed a Right to Information application pertaining to the construction contract of the overhead highway from Athurugiriya to Kelaniya. The Attorney-at-Law representing the Party has requested for the following information – 1) Agreement between the SL Govt and the construction company. 2) Any document to show that if there was a calling for bids in respect of this award to the selected Construction Company. more..