lankanNews

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has raised stern concerns with the Chiefs of the Inland Revenue Department, Excise and Customs Departments over their failure to gather the required revenue for the country and has queried as to why only an estimated 500,000 tax files continue to be on the tax base when the actual number of files should be far higher.

One–fifth of Sri Lanka’s total landmass, particularly the areas in the central hills- is prone to landslides according to a study by the National Building Research Organization (NBRO).

Cabinet approval has been granted to increase Value-Added Tax (VAT) to 18 percent from the current 15 percent with effect from January 1, 2024, Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Bandula Gunawardana said this morning.

Newly appointed Health Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said he expects to make some crucial and timely changes in terms of policies and individuals in the health sector.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has assured a pay hike to all public servants from the budget 2023.

Responding to reports that Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) is to remove Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka from the post of party chairman, the party General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said they had not taken any final decision on the matter.

The Government is set to implement a new property tax starting from 2025, State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya disclosed.

A Gazette notification has been issued outlining the requirements for investors interested in carrying out duty-free retail trades or operating duty-free shopping malls within the Colombo Port City.

The recent rejection of the extension of service for Inspector General of Police C.D. Wickramaratne by the Constitutional Council has reportedly caused issues within the Sri Lanka Police administration amid escalating crime rates in the country.

One–fifth of Sri Lanka’s total landmass, particularly the areas in the central hills- is prone to landslides according to a study by the National Building Research Organization (NBRO).

Court of Appeal Justice Chamath Morais today recused himself from hearing three contempt of court cases filed against State Minister Sanath Nishantha over his alleged contemptuous statement.

Security surveillance has been beefed up islandwide to crack down on organized criminals, particularly in the Southern and Western Provinces, amid the escalating wave of killings and robberies across the country.

Security surveillance has been beefed up islandwide to crack down on organized criminals, particularly in the Southern and Western Provinces, amid the escalating wave of killings and robberies across the country.

The National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) which awaits collaborative research with the Chinese vessel ‘Shi Yang 6’ subject to approval by the Foreign Ministry said it had agreed for air-sea interaction survey with a focus on the water column of the Indian Ocean but not on the sea bottom given security sensitivity involved, a scientist said.

The Parliament’s Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security has recommended informing US Ambassador Julie Chung, urging her to refrain from making statements regarding the internal affairs of Sri Lanka in the future.

A new legislation will be introduced soon to ensure the proper standards of MPs, President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced today.

In accordance with the Constitution, the Presidential election is scheduled for next year, followed by the parliamentary election, President Ranil Wickremesinghe assured today despite reports that there will be Constitutional reforms instead.

A total of 168 rape cases of girls under the age of 16 have been reported in this country in September this year, MP Eran Wickramaratne said.

Newly appointed Health Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said he expects to make some crucial and timely changes in terms of policies and individuals in the health sector.

The Finance Ministry has issued the final notice to liquor manufacturers to pay their outstanding taxes before the end of this month.

The government has decided to accept the medical degrees awarded by internationally recognized universities as recognized medical degrees in Sri Lanka.

The Parliament’s Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security has recommended informing US Ambassador Julie Chung, urging her to refrain from making statements regarding the internal affairs of Sri Lanka in the future.

The Public Health Inspectors’ Union urged the public to exercise caution as there is a surge of three diseases due to the ongoing inclement weather conditions in the island.

The Bar Association, media institutions, advocacy groups, and more than 40 other petitioners challenged the Online Safety Bill in a two-day hearing before the Supreme Court judges Priyantha Jayawardhene, Achala Wengappuli, and Shiran Gunarathne last week.

A Sri Lankan-born Melbourne financial planner, Terence Rio Rienzo Nugara, accused of pilfering about $10 million from the superannuation funds of vulnerable clients, pleaded guilty in the County Court last month to 37 charges of obtaining a financial advantage by deception and two of theft, Australia’s The Age news agency reported.

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has received permission from the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) to increase electricity tariffs from today (20).

A new legislation will be introduced soon to ensure the proper standards of MPs, President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced today.

In accordance with the Constitution, the Presidential election is scheduled for next year, followed by the parliamentary election, President Ranil Wickremesinghe assured today despite reports that there will be Constitutional reforms instead.

Veteran all-rounder Angelo Mathews and seamer Dushmantha Chameera have been called up by the national selectors to join the World Cup squad in India as traveling reserves.

Israeli authorities have confirmed the death of Sri Lankan national, Anula Jayathilake who was previously reported missing, Sri Lankan Ambassador to Israel, Nimal Bandara said.

An international, high-speed passenger ferry service between Nagapattinam on the eastern coast of Tamil Nadu and Kankesanthurai in the northern province of Sri Lanka, has resumed as of Saturday, October 14, 2023, after a gap of nearly four decades.

With the tussle over appointing a new IGP escalating, C.D. Wickramaratne has been given a three-week extension as the IGP by President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Veteran all-rounder Angelo Mathews and seamer Dushmantha Chameera have been called up by the national selectors to join the World Cup squad in India as traveling reserves.

The Bribery Commission has informed the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court that it will not take further legal action into the sum of Rs. 17.85 million recovered from the President’s House on July 9, 2022.

President Biden suggested on Wednesday that Hamas was responsible for the Gaza hospital explosion that killed hundreds of Palestinian civilians. Speaking in Tel Aviv alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden declared his “outrage” over the blast at al-Ahli Hospital and echoed Israeli claims that it was done by Palestinian militants.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe is likely to make drastic changes in the higher up of the gov-ernment including in the cabinet and the defence ranks following the budget in November, the Daily Mirror learns.

At least 500 people have been killed in a bombing of a hospital in Gaza City, the Palestinian Health Ministry has claimed.

Israeli authorities have confirmed the death of Sri Lankan national, Anula Jayathilake who was previously reported missing, Sri Lankan Ambassador to Israel, Nimal Bandara said.

Expressing grave concern by the ongoing escalation of violence and military action in Gaza, Sri Lanka yesterday called for the immediate release of all hostages taken into Gaza.

In light of recent weather fluctuations, medical officials are cautioning the public about the potential spread of a viral infection.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited the Palestine Embassy in Colombo today (16) to stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine amidst the escalating conflict between Israel and Palestine.

The two Sri Lankan women, who were detained two days ago by Israeli and Jordanian border guards while illegally entering Israeli from Jordan will be sent back to Jordan, the Sri Lankan ambassador in Israel said.

A 36-year-old couple, husband and wife, have been arrested by the Kandana Police after a video showing a woman being assaulted in a private institution has gone viral on social media.

An international, high-speed passenger ferry service between Nagapattinam on the eastern coast of Tamil Nadu and Kankesanthurai in the northern province of Sri Lanka, has resumed as of Saturday, October 14, 2023, after a gap of nearly four decades.

With the tussle over appointing a new IGP escalating, C.D. Wickramaratne has been given a three-week extension as the IGP by President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

A Sri Lankan woman, identified as Nayana Dilrukshi, 45, from Gothatuwa, employed as a housemaid in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, shared her dreadful experience after her female employer caused her serious burning injuries using gasoline.

China has taken the front seat in Sri Lanka’s external debt restructuring process making a calculated move akin to a chessboard strategy, catching everyone off-guard, by entering a preliminary debt deal with the Sri Lanka authorities.

The Colombo Municipality’s (CMC) Health Department has taken precautionary measures to close classes of several schools to combat the spread of an eye disease called ’Conjunctivitis’’ within the city limits.

Earlier this year, Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) filed an intervention petition before the Supreme Court, seeking permission to intervene in Case No. SC/FR 168/2021, which was filed by the Centre for Environmental Justice seeking fair compensation for the victims of the X-Press Pearl disaster, a statement from TISL said.

The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka, in a fresh letter addressed to President Ranil Wickremesinghe has called for a local probe to clear certain shortcomings that are visible in the previous probes into the Easter Sunday bomb attacks.