India’s financial crime agency has provisionally frozen 30.84 billion rupees ($350.87 million) in assets linked to Reliance Anil Ambani Group as part of a money-laundering investigation, a government source said on Monday. The case involves loans taken by the group, owned by the younger brother of billionaire Mukesh Ambani, from India’s YES Bank between 2017 and 2019 in excess of $568.86 million. Investments made with the funds delivered no returns. The Enforcement Directorate has now blocked any transactions from taking place on residential units and land parcels across Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai, including industrialist Anil Ambani’s family residence in Mumbai,…
The Sri Lankan Report
A Sri Lankan national has been arrested for the possession of a stock of Kush narcotics valued at over Rs. 21 million. The suspect had arrived in the country from Thailand via Chennai, India, and was found to be carrying approximately 2.7 kilograms of Kush narcotics, which were seized by customs officers. According to Sri Lanka Customs, the 28-year-old male was arrested by officials from the Narcotics Control Unit (NCU) of Sri Lanka Customs. He was apprehended at the Katunayake International Airport, where the narcotics were discovered concealed within his luggage. The suspect has been handed over to the Police…
Concluding his budget speech, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the government will ensure justice for every rupee of taxpayers and vowed to create a society where everyone is afraid to take bribes. Emphasizing that this Government will not tolerate corruption among its ranks, the President said those who attempt to receive bribes should be afraid. The President says the liberalization of motor vehicle imports, which opened on 01 February 2025, is expected to deliver a bulk of the revenue gains for the year 2025. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has announced that the government has decided not to pursue the Imputed…
As part of the “Waari Mahima – Ape Urumaya” (Our Irrigation, Our Heritage) national irrigation programme, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation K.D. Lal Kantha inaugurated the new Ihala Kaniyama water control structure and culvert bridge in Nawagiri Aru, Batticaloa. Built at a cost of Rs. 45 million, the project will enable cultivation of an additional 500 acres, allowing farmers to plant three crops a year, including paddy and supplementary crops, in response to longstanding farmer requests. Minister Lal Kantha said the government is working toward achieving full food self-sufficiency by 2028, ending the import of rice varieties such…
ECONOMYNEXT – The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) closed 0.54 percent higher on Monday, CSE data showed. The broader ASPI rose 123.47 points to end at 22,928.31; while the more liquid S&P SL20 moved 0.62 percent, or 38.49 points to close up at 6,252.40. Top contributors to the ASPI were Senkadagala Finance Company (up 169.75 rupees at 849.00), Bukit Darah (up 108.00 rupees at 1,136.75), John Keells Holdings (up 0.30 rupees at 21.40), Commercial Bank (up 2.25 rupees at 207.25) and Dialog Axiata (up 0.80 rupees at 29.80). Market turnover marginally rose from 5.6 billion rupees to 5.7 billion while share…
ECONOMYNEXT – Nirmalan Nagendra has been appointed chief executive officer of Serendib Land PLC, with effect from November 1. He has over 30 years of expertise in the global hospitality industry, and in financial administration, the company said in a stocks exchange filing. A brief profile of Nagendra follows: Mr. Nirmalan Nagendra has over 30 years of expertise in the global hospitality industry, with extensive experience in financial administration across five-star hotels in the USA, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Singapore. As a Director of Finance, he has developed a strong reputation for business acumen and strategic leadership. From…
The Galaha police have initiated a formal investigation of the death of a female student of Bellwood Aesthetic Studies Institute in Gampola whose body was found hanging from roof of a hostel on Saturday evening(01)
Six companies have been given the green light to cultivate cannabis and had been given 66 acres for the project, a prominent monk said over the week end.
There is proposal to extend school hours until 4.30 pm, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya revealed over the week end.
IHPL T20 league collapses overnight in Srinagar; Chris Gayle, Thisara Perera leftThe Indian Heaven Premier League, a private T20 cricket tournament in Jammu and Kashmir, collapsed overnight after its organisers allegedly fled Srinagar without paying players, umpires, or hotels, officials and participants said Sunday. Former West Indies star Chris Gayle, Sri Lanka’s Thisara Perera, and New Zealand’s Jesse Ryder were among several foreign players who took part before the event abruptly shut down. The league, run by the non-profit Yuva Society in collaboration with the J&K Cricket Association, had promised to promote youth cricket and tourism in Kashmir. But by…
It is an ancient belief that Adam was the first human on Earth, and he was sent down by God because he disobeyed His command. While Adam asked for forgiveness, some believe that God also wanted him to begin humanity on Earth. Although Adam was shocked, God decided to send him to a place that had the closest resemblance to Heaven.
Despite Sri Lanka’s impressive progress in hygiene and sanitation, more than 13,000 families still defecate in open areas such as forests and beaches, according to the Department of Census and Statistics.
Wildlife Department and area officials have launched a joint operation on Nov. 2 to relocate wild elephants from villages in the Mahailuppallama area to a designated wildlife reserve, following daily intrusions that have endangered lives and damaged property. The initiative, which includes the activation of an electric elephant fence, aims to protect both residents and wildlife after a series of incidents involving elephant crossings in populated areas. Officials said elephants have repeatedly entered several villages in recent days, destroying crops and, in previous cases, causing fatalities. Local officials, in coordination with area residents, decided to drive the elephants out of…
The Sri Lankan Rupee has depreciated slightly against the US Dollar today (03), compared to last Friday. According to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the buying rate of the US Dollar has increased from Rs. 300.61 to Rs. 300.70. Meanwhile, the selling rate of the Sri Lankan Rupee has also increased from Rs. 308.10 to Rs. 308.19. However, the Sri Lankan Rupee has appreciated against a basket of foreign currencies, while it has depreciated against Gulf currencies. (Newswire) The post Today’s CBSL official exchange rates appeared first on Newswire.
Four leading building contractors have been debarred from participating in tenders for periods of between three years and six months by the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development. According to the Sunday Times, the companies blacklisted last week are M/s Consulting Engineers & Contractors (Pvt) Ltd (three years), M/s V.V. Karunaratne & Company (one year), M/s HOVAEL Construction (Pvt) Ltd (one year), and W.K.K. Engineering Company (Pvt) Ltd (six months). The companies are also debarred from entering into any new contracts or subcontracts under the purview of the Ministry. The report further states that, according to a Cabinet paper,…
Deputy Minister Madura Seneviratne says the Ministry of Higher Education has launched a probe into the death of a student from the University of Vavuniya recently. Speaking to Newswire, he said the ministry has launched a probe through the University Grants Commission, while the university has also launched an internal probe. “As of now, the postmortem reveals that the cause of death is due to extensive vomiting as a result of alcohol. The exact cause of the alcohol consumption is uncertain. Investigations are underway to ascertain this,” he said. Deputy Minister Madura Seneviratne further said that if the death is…
A special discussion on the potential and challenges of initiating and sustaining the ornamental fish production industry in the Northern and Eastern Provinces was held under the aegis of Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic Resources, and Ocean Resources, Ramalingam Chandraseker, at the Haritha Ornamental Fish Production Farm located in the Padukka area in Colombo. The event was attended by P.K. Kolitha Kamal Jinadasa, Secretary to the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic Resources, and Ocean Resources, along with entrepreneurs from the ornamental fish sector, industry experts, and several relevant officials. During the occasion, Minister Ramalingam Chandraseker stated that the ornamental fish production industry…
A stage actor who had pretended to be a relative of the Mahanayake of the Malwatta Chapter, Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera, has been arrested. According to reports, the suspect had also pretended to be Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera on a phone call with the Police. The suspect is accused of having obtained a National Identity Card (NIC) at the Kundasale Pradeshiya Sabha by threatening the officials, claiming to be a relative of Ven. Sumangala Thera. Officials from the Kandy headquarters arrested the suspect, who is a 40-year-old resident of Digana and a stage actor.…
Young Sri Lankan racing professional Yevan David recently made history as he became the first ever Sri-Lankian Formula 3 driver set to race for the AIX Racing team in the upcoming 2026 season. Newswire caught up with Yevan for a quick chat on chasing F1 dreams, and life in the fast lane. The post In the Hot Seat: Yevan David on Racing and F1 Dreams appeared first on Newswire.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has raised concerns over a building project at the historic Peliyagoda Vidyalankara Pirivena that has remained incomplete for nearly two decades, despite repeated allocations of public funds. Speaking at the “Yelasiya Abiman” 150th anniversary celebration held at the Kelaniya Vidyalankara International Buddhist Conference Hall on Sunday (2), the President said the construction, which began in 2005, has yet to be completed due to inefficiencies and neglect within the State mechanism. He noted that a large section of the building remains unused, with issues such as missing copper wiring, lack of electricity, and deterioration of walls, despite…