The 22nd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Inter-Sessional Meeting on Disaster Relief was held virtually earlier this week, hosted by Vietnam and co-chaired by Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Vietnam, and attended by 55 participants from ARF member countries.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Friday a $6 billion long-term military aid package for Ukraine  the largest to date  which will allow the US to purchase new equipment produced by the American defense industry for the Ukrainian military.

The Pentagon says it will “rush” Patriot air defence missiles and artillery ammunition to Ukraine as part of its new military aid package. The US will utilise $6bn (£4.8bn) for this purpose, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin revealed on Friday. Patriot air defence batteries are not included. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Patriots were “urgently” needed […]

Weather forecast issued at 05.30 a.m. on 27 April 2024 by the Department of Meteorology Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces during the morning. Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places over the coastal areas from Galle to Hambantota via Matara during the morning […]

During a raid carried out in Navinna area of Maharagama, the police have impounded a cache of heroin weighing 8 kilograms.

A 31-year-old man has been arrested on Friday night (26) for the possession of a large consignment of narcotic substances.

The National Water Supply Drainage Board (NWSDB) says a 14-hour water cut would be imposed for several areas in Colombo District on Saturday evening (27).

Two earthquakes, the largest a 6.1 magnitude, struck Taiwan s eastern county of Hualien on Saturday, the island s weather administration said, with no immediate reports of damage.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe received official handovers of generous financial contributions for the Children of Gaza Fund on Friday morning (26).

Trade Minister Nalin Fernando met with the Egyptian Ambassador Maged Mosleh on Friday (26) at the trade ministry premises.

The Meteorology Department says showers or thundershowers can be expected in parts of the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern, North-western and Uva provinces after 2 p.m.

By Rathindra Kuruwita The problems facing 17,000 families, affected by the negative environmental impacts of the Uma Oya project, have not yet been solved, Sajeewa Chamikara of the Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR) told The Island. In December 2014, a leak sprang up in its 15.2 km tunnel and due to that thousands of houses […]

By Saman Indrajith Those who are responsible for the Easter Sunday carnage should be given the death sentence instead of being fined, SJB MP Sarath Fonseka told Parliament on Friday (26). “A few months ago, a driver who was responsible for a serious accident was given the death penalty. Why are people, responsible for the […]

By Rathindra Kuruwita President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s past attempts to privatise medical education led to disastrous consequences, spokesperson for the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA), Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe said, commenting on the fee-paying medical degree programmes at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University. KDU will offer a paid medical degree programme to stude...

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2024 The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier began in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. Sri Lanka and Ireland won the opening two matches at Tolerance Oval and Zayed Cricket Stadium respectively. Sri Lanka overcame Thailand while Ireland defeated the hosts, United Arab Emirates (UAE), both winners recorded convincing victories […]

Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament yesterday that the differently abled people are not getting their 7,500-rupee allowance on time. He said that there are 1.8 million differently abled individuals in Sri Lanka and the government in February decided to increase the allowance they receive to 7,500 rupees. “However, these are not provided on time. […]