The views and proposals of the National Alliance of Taxi Owners and Drivers were presented to the Sub-Committee on Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation in Parliament on Sept. 26. The meeting, chaired by Member of Parliament and attorney-at-law Lakmali Hemachandra, focused on strengthening the legal framework for the transport sector and ensuring fairness for all stakeholders, including drivers and passengers. The sub-committee noted that input from those directly engaged in the taxi industry is vital. Representatives of the alliance shared their concerns and agreed to submit detailed written proposals for future consideration. The discussion also addressed transportation needs of…
The Sri Lankan Report
Director of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, Kash Patel, gifted illegal firearms to New Zealand officials during his visit there earlier this year, police authorities said on Wednesday. Patel visited New Zealand in July to open a standalone intelligence office there. He is the highest-ranking official from US President Donald Trump’s administration to have visited the country. What was the gift? New Zealand’s Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said he received a “coin display stand featuring an inoperable plastic 3D-printed replica pistol” from Patel. “The advice of the Firearms Safety Authority was sought the following day and the gifts were…
A new three-storey medical ward complex built at a cost of Rs. 1 billion was declared open at the Darga Town District Hospital under the patronage of Health and Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa. The project was implemented under Chinese government assistance to upgrade 13 selected hospitals. The new facility consists of a 96-bed maternal and pediatric ward, a four-bed intensive care unit, general wards, and an outpatient department. The Health Ministry has also allocated Rs. 50 million to provide essential medical equipment. Minister Jayatissa said the complex fulfilled a decades-long need and would help ease congestion at Kalutara and…
The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) says 500 kilograms of counterfeit hair dye that were found during a previous raid were destroyed at the industrial premises of the INSEE Company in Puttalam last week (26). According to the CAA, the stock of counterfeit hair dye was destroyed under the supervision of the Additional Registrar of the Court, in compliance with the orders of the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court. The CAA further said that the market value of the goods exceeded Rs. 5.1 million, and the defendants incurred an additional expense of Rs. 2.1 million for their destruction. (Newswire) The post Over Rs.…
A draft bill to amend the Penal Code regarding the physical punishment of children has been submitted to Parliament by the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs. According to the Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Nalaka Kaluwewa, once parliamentary proceedings related to this proposed amendment are concluded, the Ministry will take steps to issue relevant guidelines or directives to schools, if such instructions are deemed necessary. The move comes after the Cabinet recently approved proposals for amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Penal Code to ban physical and psychological injuries caused by physical punishments in any…
The US government shut down on Wednesday, after congressional Democrats refused to support a Republican plan to extend funding for federal departments unless they won a series of concessions centered on healthcare.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested a suspect connected to a massive ‘Urumaya’ deed certificate scam that defrauded over Rs. 100 million from hundreds of victims in the Eastern Province.
The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has urged the public to report instances of food and beverages being sold at prices higher than the stated rates at restaurants where long-distance buses stop for tea. Reports can be made via the CAA’s “1977” SMS service.
The FF Extra Special Black Tea, presented by the New Vithanakanda Tea Factory and recognized by the Guinness World Records as the most valuable and expensive tea in the world, was successfully sold at an international auction. CEO Pubudu Gunasekara, who participated in the auction, arrived at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morning.
Homagama High Court Judge Navaratna Marasinghe sentenced a former Borella police officer, who had been indicted for sexually abusing a girl under the age of 16, to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment.
The Sri Lankan Police have released images of the cache of weapons that were found in the Weheragala Lake in Kataragama on Tuesday (30). According to the Police, the weapons found are; 214 magazines of T-56 38 drum magazines of LMG 11 magazines of MPMG 200 09 magazines of MPMG 100 06 magazines of T-81 01 drum of 12.7 (used in anti-aircraft weapons) with 100 rounds The cache of weapons had been found due to the water level of the Weheragala Lake receding. The Police said the location where the weapons were found falls under the Gonaganara Police Division. They…
The full potential of Russia–Sri Lanka bilateral trade and tourism cannot be realised because of U.S. sanctions, Russian Ambassador Levan Dzhagaryan said yesterday.
The Police have sought public assistance to find a Pakistani national wanted in connection with a large haul of heroin that was found off the coast of Sri Lanka in 2016. Seventeen suspects were arrested along with 111.82 kilos of heroin during a raid conducted by the Sri Lanka Navy and the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) in Sri Lankan waters in April 2016. Legal action was filed against the suspects, after which the wanted Pakistani national was released on bail in July this year, on bail conditions that he reports to the Police Narcotics Bureau every Sunday. The Police said…
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Namal Rajapaksa has called for an unbiased investigation into the death of the late ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen. MP Namal Rajapaksa urged the authorities to find information on all related details. Commenting on the identification of an individual by his widow in connection with the case, MP Rajapaksa said the authorities must ascertain where he was residing and with whom, and those he had associated with. “Without attempting to create a buzz in their political stages, the authorities must conduct a comprehensive probe if Thajudeen had faced an injustice. If not, this will be considered…
Despite the lapse of nine months since the signing of the MoU, the government is yet to finalise the proposed US $3.7 billion investment by China’s Sinopec for a refinery facility in Hambantota, the Daily Mirror learns.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who was on an official visit to Japan, arrived at Katunayake Airport this morning (10) after completing his trip, airport officials confirmed.
Commuters at Matara Railway Station have expressed frustration over the lack of announcements regarding train schedules.
Sridharan Niranjan, also known as ‘Tinker,’ who was deported from Dubai, was taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) this morning.
India’s flamboyant opener Abhishek Sharma has set a new rating points record for batters in the ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings after his Player of the Series effort in the Asia Cup held in the United Arab Emirates. The 25-year-old left-hander reached 931 ratings point, which is 12 more than the previous best rating of 919 attained by England’s Dawid Malan in 2020. Abhishek reached the landmark after his knock of 61 against Sri Lanka and finished the tournament with 926 ratings, 82 more than second-placed Phil Salt of England. Abhishek also had a score of 75 against Bangladesh this…
The Police have sought public assistance to arrest a woman wanted over the robbery of gold jewellery and other items worth Rs. 364,000 in the Rakwana area. According to the Police, a resident of Godakawela in Rakwana had filed a complaint with the Police in August, alleging that several items, including jewellery, had been stolen from her house. Police investigations have found that a woman who had been temporarily residing at the house had stolen the items. The suspect is reported to have fled the area. The public with information on the wanted woman has been urged to contact the…