The main suspect in the incident where six people died from consuming illicit liquor has been arrested by the Wennappuwa Police. According to the Police, the suspect is a 47‑year‑old resident of Galawatta, East Bandirippuwa. The post‑mortem examinations of five victims were conducted at the Chilaw Hospital, which revealed that the deaths were caused by alcohol poisoning. The post‑mortem of the sixth victim is scheduled to be carried out today (08 Jan) at the Chilaw Hospital. Meanwhile, eight other individuals who fell ill after consuming the illicit liquor are receiving treatment at hospitals in Negombo and Peradeniya. Investigations into the…
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ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves rose to 6.8 billion US dollars in December 2025, up 791 million dollars from November, official data show. November data was revised up slightly to 6,034 million dollars. In December Sri Lanka got budget support loans from the Asian Development Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Sri Lanka repaid some debt from collected dollars. The central bank provided some dollars to the government to settle loans for cash and also repaid its own dollars. (Colombo/Jan08/2026)
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s rupee opened at 310.12/18 to the US dollar in the spot market Thursday, weaker from 310.05/15 the previous day, dealers said, while bond yields opened marginally high. A bond maturing on 15.03.2028 was quoted at 9.13/18 percent. A bond maturing on 15.09.2029 was quoted at 9.67/69 percent. A bond maturing on 01.07.2030 was quoted flat at 9.75/80 percent. A bond maturing on 15.03.2031 was quoted at 9.90/10.00 percent, down from 9.95/10.00 percent. A bond maturing on 01.10.2032 was quoted at 10.35/40 percent, up from 10.32/40 percent. A bond maturing on 01.11.2033 was quoted at 10.50/60 percent,…
The Naval and fishing communities are warned not to venture into the deep and shallow sea areas around Sri Lanka from today (08 Jan) until further notice, due to the depression over the Bay of Bengal. According to the Met Department, the depression over the Bay of Bengal, located southeast of Sri Lanka, was centered about 490 km southeast of Pottuvil, at 11:30 pm yesterday and is expected to move west-northwestwards and towards the eastern coast of the island during the next 24 hours. This system is likely to intensify further into a deep depression during the next 12 hours. …
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Namal Rajapaksa has emphasized the urgent need for stronger regional cooperation in South Asia, highlighting India’s central role in ensuring long‑term peace and stability. Speaking on recent global and regional security developments, Rajapaksa noted that political turmoil in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, often fueled by extremist elements, underscores the importance of collective action. “In recent years, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka have experienced periods of political turmoil, marked by public unrest and changes in government. At times, these disruptions have been supported and promoted by extremist elements. Addressing these challenges requires a collective…
There were nervy moments in the chase, but Australia get over the line to wrap up a 4-1 Ashes series victory The post World Test Championship (2025-2027) Points table appeared first on Newswire.
Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage has emphasized that no destruction of the forest will be permitted during the development of the Diyagama Sports Complex. Minister Gamage further stated that development must be carried out while minimizing environmental impact. He added that steps will be taken to promote the natural forest ecosystem surrounding the sports complex as an “Eco-friendly Tourism” zone. The Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports made the remarks after inspecting the Diyagama Mahinda Rajapaksa Sports Complex on Wednesday (07 Jan). Member of Parliament Aruna Panagoda, members of the Maha Sangha, government officials, and environmental…
The Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) has requested Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama to grant permission to refer Ishara Sewwandi, the main suspect in the murder of underworld figure Ganemulle Sanjeewa, to the Government Analyst for a facial examination. After her arrest in Nepal, Sewwandi was being questioned in custody by the Colombo Crimes Division. According to the Lankadeepa newspaper, the request was made to the court while presenting suspects Nandakumar Thakshi, who is said to resemble Sewwandi, and Ajith Kumar, accused of assisting Sewwandi flee to India. Considering the matter, the Chief Magistrate informed that since Sewwandi is still…
The Department of Irrigation says the Department of Meteorology has forecast heavy rainfall in river basins located within the Uva, Eastern, Central, North Central, and Northern Provinces. The department says, as such, there is an increased risk of flooding in the river basins of the districts of Ampara, Batticaloa, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Trincomalee, Vavuniya, and Jaffna. Accordingly, residents living in low-lying areas along river valleys and in close proximity to rivers within the said districts are advised to remain vigilant. (Newswire) The post Irrigation Dept. warns of flood risk in several river basins appeared first on Newswire.
A Cessna 208 Amphibian (4R-CAE) operated by Cinnamon Air crash-landed in Gregory Lake, Nuwara Eliya today. Both pilots were safely rescued and no passengers were on board. The accident took place as the aircraft was arriving to transport a group of tourists, the operator said. The post Seaplane Crash at Gregory Lake appeared first on Newswire.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the United States would withdraw from dozens of international and U.N. entities, including a key climate treaty and a U.N. body that promotes gender equality and women’s empowerment, because they “operate contrary to U.S. national interests.” Among the 35 non-U.N. groups and 31 U.N. entities Trump listed in a memo to senior administration officials is the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change – described by many as the “bedrock” climate treaty which is parent agreement to the 2015 Paris climate deal. The United States skipped the annual U.N. international climate summit last…
ECONOMYNEXT – Investments worth 1.2 billion US dollars already approved, are expected to start construction in 2025 and there are 732 million dollars of other investments awaiting approval, Deputy Minister of Industries, Chathuranga Abeysinghe said. The Port City had a pipeline of investments amounting 3.9 billion dollars and 1.2 billion dollars of projects had already been approved, Abeysinghe told parliament. About 732 million in investment applications were awaiting approvals, he said. The Parliament passed amendments to the Port City Law, which reduced tax holidays to below 15 years, based on the level of investment. Officials of the Colombo Port City…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka has passed amendments to the law governing Colombo Port City, limiting tax holidays to 15 years for billion dollar investments and shorter terms for smaller investments, which are based on predetermined rules, Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Anil Jayantha Fernando said. “Earlier very long tax holidays up to 25 years were given without pre-set criteria,” Minister Fernando told parliament on Wednesday. “We have introduced criteria based on investment volume and the number of jobs created.” Primary businesses of strategic importance have been classified as : A – billion dollars, B- 500 million dollars, C-100 million…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka has been warned of a tropical weather system that will intensify into deep depression on November 7 and move parallel to the island’s eastern coast, bringing heavy rains and somewhat strong winds. Shortly before midnight on November 7, the system was in the Bay of Bengal, about 490 kilometres east-southwest of Pottuvil, Sri Lanka and 640 South East of Trincomalee and moving at a speed of 15 kilometres an hour, the Indian Meteorological Office said in tropical weather outlook for the Indian Ocean region. “It is very likely to intensify further into a deep depression during…
Ray Jayawardhana, an astrophysicist and provost of Johns Hopkins University, will become the next president of Caltech — one of the nation’s wealthiest and most elite universities — as it enters a second year of challenging terrain amid Trump administration cuts to scientific research.
A Colombo Crimes Division officer today requested the Chief Magistrate to issue an order referring the 15th suspect, Ishara Sewwandi, to a forensic examiner for a facial examination.
A woman accused of leasing a property belonging to another person to a third party was today sentenced to one year of simple imprisonment by Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama.
The programme to provide compensation for fully damaged houses and to construct new homes for families affected by the disaster will commence on January 9 in Anuradhapura and Kurunegala, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said.
The President’s Media Division, in collaboration with the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat, is compiling a National Visual Chronicle documenting the impact of Cyclone Ditwah on Sri Lanka and the subsequent recovery process.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) has launched an investigation into an incident involving a Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft operated by Cinnamon Air, which attempted to land at the Gregory lake in Nuwara Eliya.