Nov 6 (TM) A suspect was arrested with a cache of weapons including an AK-47 type firearm, a pistol and ammunition during a special operation carried out by the STF in the Embilipitiya area on Monday (4). The operation was carried out according to information received from the Police Special Bureau. Accordingly, a suspect was arrested with an AK-47 assault rifle with one magazine and bullets, a nine millimetre pistol with one magazine and bullets, two swords and a dagger.
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Four Customs officials sentenced to 35 years for largest bribery scandal in SL’s history
Nov 6 (DM) Four former senior Customs officials found guilty in connection with the largest-ever recorded bribe nabbed by the Bribery Commission, were sentenced today to 35 years of rigorous imprisonment by the Colombo High Court. The Director General of the CIABOC filed indictments against former Assistant Customs Superintendent Upali Perera, Customs Superintendent Wasantha Wimalaweera,
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Russia’s Azur Air resumes seasonal flight operations to Sri Lanka
Nov 6 (NW) Russian charter airline, Azur Air, has resumed seasonal flight operations to Sri Lanka for the 2024/2025 winter season. According to the AASL, the first flight arrived at the Katunayake Airport today with 332 passengers. The flight was welcomed by a celebratory water cannon salute upon arrival at the Katunayake Airport by the AASL and the passengers were warmly welcomed with a traditional Kandyan dance performance organized by Sri Lanka Tourism.
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China to build 1,996 low income houses in Sri Lanka with grant
Nov 6 (EN) Cabinet of Ministers has approved the construction of 1,996 low-income housing units, or flats, with money provided by the Chinese govt. Bids have been invited from 8 bidders nominated by the Chinese govt to implement the project. “The Chinese govt is funding it, and the construction will be granted to Chinese contractors,” Minister Vijitha Herath told reporters. “We will only be providing the land.” The contract for construction of 575 housing units at Moratuwa
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Donald Trump elected US president in stunning comeback
Nov 6 (Reuters) Donald Trump was elected president, capping a remarkable comeback four years after he was voted out of the White House and ushering in a new American leadership likely to test democratic institutions at home and relations abroad. Trump, 78, recaptured the White House on Wednesday by securing more than the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the presidency, following a campaign of dark
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Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act will not be changed: Minister
Nov 6 (DM) The govt will not change the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA), Minister Vijitha Herath said today. He said that any Act with regard to Islam or Buddhism will be amended only after consulting the respective religious leaders. Minister said the govt has not taken any decision to change the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act and no decision will be taken to that effect. "No need has arisen to change the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act at this juncture either," he said.
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Three arrested over murder of Kempitiya Walawwa owner
Nov 6 (AD) Three individuals, including the wife of a wealthy businessman, have been arrested in connection with the murder of the owner of Kempitiya Walawwa in Kegalle. The victim was found tied up and strangled to death on Oct 27. Later, police found his wife who had also been tied up. According to police, the murder was carried out with the intent to robbing cash and gold jewellery from the house however, they had only managed to steal Rs. 10,000 in cash & victim’s gold ring.
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ලෝක බැංකුවෙන් ප්රදා/ණයක්
Sri Lanka new govt backtracks on fuel pricing; continues same formula
Nov 6 (EN) Sri Lanka’s new govt is compelled to continue the same fuel price formula implemented under the previous govt, Cabinet Spokesman Vijitha Herath said, backtracking from the earlier stance. When the fuel prices were reduced last month, Herath said the fuel price formula was not used to compile the prices. “We are compelled to go with the price formula due to previous agreements,” Hearth said on Wednesday. “So now we are going ahead with the price formula.”
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Court to review injunction against e-passport purchase; Ex-Prez Ranil named respondent
Nov 6 (AD) Former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has been named as a respondent of the writ petition filed with the Court of Appeal challenging the previous govt’s decision to purchase passports from two foreign companies. Wickremesinghe has been named as a respondent of the relevant writ petition filed by Epic Lanka Pvt Ltd, through a motion submitted by the petitioning party, when the petition was taken up before the two-member Appeals Court judge bench comprising Justices
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Video: Dr. Shafi acquitted from all charges; vows action against those responsible
Nov 6 (NW) Doctor Shafi Sihabdeen of the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital, who was acquitted of all charges linked to his arrest and detention in 2019, says he will initiate legal action against those responsible for making false allegations against him for political propaganda. Dr. Shafi Sihabdeen said his family had severely suffered due to the incident and trial that took place for over 5 years. Extending his gratitude to lawyers,
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Nov 6 (DM) The govt today refuted curtailing security detail of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga as claimed by her. Minister Vijitha Herath told the media briefing to announce Cabinet decisions that Ms. Kumaratunga had been provided with security detail of 57 officials while stating that her security had not been reduced to 30 as claimed by her. He said certain former Presidents had been provided with security detail of some 180 to 100 security personnel.
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Police looking for suspect who posted false story on President AKD
Nov 6 (NW) Colombo Magistrate’s Court has ordered the CID to launch an investigation into the incident of a false report being published on the internet about Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake during the last presidential election. The incident is regarding the publishing of a false medical report on the Internet regarding the illness of the current Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake during the last prez election. Colombo Magistrate’s Court ordered the CID to conduct a comprehensive probe,
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Chabad House in Arugam Bay: Bringing Gaza home?
Nov 6 (FT) Last December, a group of ultra-religious Israeli soldiers turned a Palestinian home in the Gaza city of Beit Hanoun into a Chabad House. The structure at the centre of the Arugam Bay terror scare is also a Chabad House. Chabad House is not a synonym for synagogue. It is a religious space belonging to a particular Jewish sect, the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic Movement. Founded in the 18th Century among
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PM meets ICC anti-corruption chiefs, discuss advancing integrity in cricket
Nov 6 (NW) PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya recently met with key figures from the International Cricket Council (ICC) Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), including Sumathi Dharmawardena, President’s Counsel, the newly appointed Independent Chair of the ICC ACU, and Alex Marshall, (CBE, QPM) General Manager of Integrity and Human Resources, ICC. During the discussion, Alex Marshall noted SL’s progress in combating corruption in cricket over the past seven years, emphasizing the importance
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Businessman found dead under suspicious circumstances in Polonnaruwa
Nov 6 (AD) A businessman has reportedly been found dead under suspicious circumstances in the Muslim Colony area of the Polonnaruwa police division. Investigations commenced following a information received by the police about a man found collapsed on the ground last night. The man had already passed away by the time his son brought him to Polonnaruwa Hospital. The deceased, a 46-year-old resident of Muslim Colony in Kaduruwela, was identified as a
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කැබිනට් තීරණ දැනුම්දීමේ මාධ්ය හමුව
Central Bank defence of liquidity injections amid money printing controversy
Nov 6 (FT) A fresh controversy has erupted following reports that SL’s Central Bank (CBSL) injected nearly Rs. 100 billion into the banking system by 25 October. Given that money printing was the major cause of the country’s financial crisis, this news has sparked considerable attention. CBSL has defended its actions, arguing that these liquidity injections do not equate to money printing. CBSL asserts that these liquidity injections were necessary to address persistent imbalances among banks.
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Why Sri Lanka needs a strong, united parliament now more than ever
Nov 6 (FT) Just a few weeks ago, SL elected a new Prez, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, with high hopes for real, lasting change. But real change isn’t something a Prez can achieve alone. If we truly want to see our nation thrive, we need to come together in the upcoming General Election to build a strong, united parliament that supports the Prez’s vision: A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life. This isn’t just about filling seats in parliament; it’s about building a govt that’s capable of making
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Sri Lanka aims for 30% electricity rate cut
Nov 6 (TM) SL’s new govt expects to restructure the power sector to reduce the electricity rates by 30% in the next one-year period, Senior Consultant to President Prof. Anil Fernando said. He said that the govt has not officially announced that it won’t proceed with the state-owned enterprises (SOE) restructuring. “We 100% agree with the restructuring (of SOEs), we are doing it and we will clearly state how we are doing it,” he said.
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Adani-JKH terminal gets quay & yard cranes
Nov 6 (EN) A container terminal built by India’s Adani group and John Keells Holdings in Colombo Port has received the first batch of quay and yard cranes, the project’s SL partner has said. “The construction and installation works on the West Container Terminal (WCT-1) at the Port of Colombo is progressing well,” Krishan Balendra, chairman of JKH told shareholders in an interim report of the group. “The first batch of quay and yard cranes arrived in Sept 2024, following
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Migrants stranded on Diego Garcia offered move to UK
Nov 6 (BBC) Migrants stranded for years on the remote Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia will be offered the right to come to the UK, under a govt proposal. Around 60 SL Tamils have spent more than three years in a makeshift camp on the island, which hosts a secretive UK-US military base, after becoming the first people ever to file asylum claims there. The govt has previously opposed bringing the group to the UK and complex legal battles have been fought for years over their fate.
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Customs launch online tracking system for CusDec and containers
Nov 6 (DM) SL Customs announced the launch of its new tracking system for Customs Declarations (CusDec) and containers, which is available online for the public from today. The initiative is part of SL Customs' ongoing commitment to streamline services and support the efficiency of the nation’s trading ecosystem. This tracking system enables traders and stakeholders to monitor their cargo clearance processes
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NZ cricketers arrive in Sri Lanka
Nov 6 (DN) Nine members of NZ’s 15-man squad for the white-ball series (T20I and ODI) arrived SL on Nov 4 to participate in five matches (Two T-20s and three ODIs) and against SL to be played at Dambulla and Pallekele. Michael Bracewell, Josh Clarkson, Lockie Ferguson, Zak Foulkes, Dean Foxcroft, Mitch Hay (wicket keeper), Henry Nicholls, Tim Robinson, and Nathan Smith included for the first batch of players. The players will straight go to Dambulla and their training will commence from tomorrow.
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29 SL players register for IPL 2025 auction
Nov 6 (NW) The IPL player registration officially closed on November 4, 2024, with an impressive total of 1,574 players (1,165 Indian and 409 overseas) signing up to be part of the mega TATA IPL 2025. Player Auction, which will be held over two days on Nov 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The list includes 320 capped players, 1,224 uncapped players, and 30 players from Associate Nations. The detailed list is as below: Capped Indians (48 players), Capped Internationals (272 players)
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පත්තරේ විස්තරේ
7,000 have not engaged in campaigning: PAFFREL
Nov 6 (CT) Executive Director of the PAFFREL, Rohana Hettiarachchi, said it has been reported that out of the 8,000 election candidates, about 7,000 have not engaged in any campaign activities. He stated that according to election monitors islandwide, less than 1,000 candidates have conducted election campaigns. He also mentioned that apart from the candidates of five major parties, none of the other parties and independent groups have engaged in election campaigns.
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Appeal Court upholds four-year jail term for ex-deputy minister
Nov 6 (DM) Court of Appeal today upheld the four-year rigorous imprisonment sentence imposed by the Colombo High Court on former Deputy Minister Shantha Premaratne for soliciting and accepting a bribe in 2007. While affirming the High Court’s conviction and sentence, the two-judge bench of the Court of Appeal, comprising Justices Sampath Abayakoon and P. Kumararatnam, observed that the prosecution had proven the charges in the indictment against the appellant beyond a
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Legal action to be filed against those who defamed Ravi and Shani
Nov 6 (DM) Plans are afoot to file legal actions within the next few days against those who were involved in defaming former Rtd. Senior DIG CID Ravi Seneviratne (presently Secretary Ministry of Public Security) and Rtd. Director CID SSP Shani Abeysekera (presently Director Crimes SL Police). Those who were responsible in endorsing unreasonable recommendations against the said duo
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Sri Lanka wellness tourism in Brussels promotion event held
Nov 6 (DN) The SL’s Embassy in Brussels together with Siddhalepa Ayurveda Resorts and Spas organised an event titled A Journey of Healing and Rejuvenation, to promote SL’s wellness tourism sector and Ayurveda. The event held in Brussels was attended by over 25 leading professionals from the wellness tourism sector including outbound tour operators, travel agents, travel writers, journalists and enthusiasts recently. SL’s Ambassador to Belgium, Chandana Weerasena provided
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Ex-PUCSL Chief Janaka Ratnayake summoned over unpaid VAT
Nov 6 (FT) Colombo Additional Magistrate Bandara Ilangasinghe has ordered the issuance of summons to SL Public Utilities Commission (PUCSL) former Chairperson Janaka Ratnayake and his wife, Kumari Yasoda Silva, to appear before the court on 10 Dec. The order issued on Monday relates to the non-payment of over Rs. 3 million in Value Added Tax (VAT) owed to the Govt. The case stems from allegations that a computer service provider, managed by couple in Kirulapana area,
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වෙන්න ඕනෙම වැඩක්
Man nabbed for Rs. 5,000 note with Prez’s doctored image
Nov 6 (TM) CID has arrested an individual who is suspected to have circulated a doctored image of a fake currency note of the Rs. 5,000 denomination featuring an image of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake on it. Police said that the 38-year-old was arrested on Monday (4). The suspect, identified as a resident of Korathota in Athurugiriya, is employed as a salesperson, according to the Police. The suspect was remanded by the Kesbewa Magistrate following his arrest,
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Nov 6 (FT) Newly listed Digital Mobility Solutions Lanka, (PickMe) has reported a group’s revenue of Rs. 1.39 billion in the 2Q of FY 2024/25 an increase of 47% from a year ago. Company also announced a one rupee interim dividend for FY25. The company said the increase in revenue was driven by volume growth. Total movements facilitated on the platform during the second quarter of 2024/25 increased by 42% against the total movements recorded in the corresponding period of previous financial yr.
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MSMEs call on AKD for urgent debt recovery reforms amid economic shocks
Nov 6 (FT) Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Chamber of SL has issued an urgent plea to Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake for substantial reforms to the country’s debt recovery processes, particularly under the Recovery of Loans by Banks Act No. 04 of 1990. Chamber’s letter highlights how economic shocks and an aggressive debt recovery landscape are pushing many MSMEs to the brink of collapse,
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How Sri Lanka stunned everyone in the Hong Kong Sixes
Nov 6 (Island) When the team sheets for the Hong Kong Sixes hit the table, not a soul gave Sri Lanka a shot. Their squad didn’t boast any glittering stars, and it seemed every spectator, organizer, and sponsor had set their hearts on a blockbuster India-Pakistan final. After all, these two nuclear-armed neighbours rarely clash in bilateral series, so global events like this become a rare opportunity for fans to watch them go at each other’s jugular. But the SL selectors had pulled a clever rabbit
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