The Meteorology Department says several spells of showers may occur in Eastern, Uva and North-Central provinces and in Mullaitivu district.

Weather forecast issued at 05.30 a.m. on 27 February 2023 by Department of Meteorology Several spells of showers may occur in Eastern, Uva and North-Central provinces and in Mullaitivu district. Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts during the afternoon […]

BBC reported that the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority have announced a joint commitment to take immediate steps to end a surge in violence. The move has emerged from rare talks in Jordan, also attended by US and Egyptian officials. The meeting agreed to support confidence-building steps and “to work towards a just and […]

The World Health Organization says that the Cambodia International Health Regulations (IHR) National Focal Point (NFP) reported one confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus on 23 February 2023. A second case, a family contact of the first case, was reported the next day. An outbreak investigation is ongoing including determining […]

demands to know why UNP submitted nominations By Shamindra Ferdinando SJB mayoral candidate for the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) Mujibur Rahuman yesterday denied President Ranil Wickremesinghe having asked him not to quit Parliament to contest the forthcoming local government polls. MP Rahuman resigned on 01 Jan.  The former Colombo District MP said so in response to […]

The Ministry of Power and Energy has sought expressions of interest (EOIs) for the establishment of a petroleum refinery and associated products processing centre in Hambantota. The Ministry has invited EOIs from eligible investors, consortiums or joint ventures to express their interest for the establishment of an export-oriented petroleum refinery and associated product processing centre […...

By Norman Palihawadane Four policemen were being questioned over an incident of a wanted suspect fleeing their custody at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake on Saturday evening, police said. Police Media Spokesperson, SSP Nihal Thalduwa said that an inspector, a sergeant and two constables, on duty, when the wanted suspect escaped, had been […]

Police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse a JVP-led NPP protest yesterday at the Ibbanwala Junction, Colombo.The NPP supporters gathered at the Viharamahadevi Park, marched to the Lipton Circus, demanding that the local government elections be held. As the protest march started, police barricaded the roads near the Hospital Square, Pittala Junction, Union […]

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena would not resign under any circumstances, his office said yesterday. A senior spokesperson for the PM, told The Island that there was absolutely no basis for speculation of the Premier’s resignation. The official denied as baseless claims that PM Gunawardena was under pressure to quit.The PM’s Office was reacting to reports that Gunawardena […]

A retired Indian Ambassador (never posted to Sri Lanka) sent me these two quotations by Nehru. “My greatest challenge has been how to make a modern nation of a people steeped in religiosity” and at the tail end of his career he was asked, ‘What has been your greatest success?” He answered, “to have taught […]

Belarus and Sri Lanka have explored the possibilities of developing business contacts, BelTA learned from the National Centre for Marketing of Belarus, agency reports said. Representatives of the National Centre for Marketing held an introductory meeting with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (Sri Lanka). The parties have agreed on steps to raise awareness of companies […]

BY Norman palihawadane A 30-year-old suspect taken into custody by the Katunayake Police over organized crimes was shot dead at Maduwa, on Friday. The suspect had led a team of investigators to a house at Maduwa to recover a cache of weapons hidden by him, police said, claiming that the victim had taken a grenade […]

It would be a tired truism to say that our country is passing through one of the most trying periods since Independence, 75 years ago. All of us have (or should have) formulas to pull us out of this seemingly interminable rut. Waste, corruption, profligacy, poor planning, inefficiency, idiotic prioritization and many more stick out […]

by Prof. R.P. Gunawardane A very interesting article, ‘Ceylon’s first university in memory and imagination’, by Ernest Macintyre in The Sunday Island of 12 February 2023 describing the life at University of Ceylon, Peradeniya Campus in fifties prompted me to write about the life at Peradeniya Campus in the next decade, the nineteen sixties. Macintyre […]

Monday 27th February, 2023 Our honourable MPs found themselves in floods of tears on Friday, lamenting as they did, in Parliament, what they called the degeneration of the Buddhist monastic order due to the misconduct of some ‘radicalised’ monks. It was a sad sight to behold! The cause of their lamentation was an unruly protest […]

TNA MP M. A. Sumanthiran PC said on Saturday President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s claim that the local government elections had not been officially declared was absurd because the Election Commission had followed the proper procedure and nominations had been accepted. Addressing a news conference in Jaffna, Sumanthiran said that the Treasury had released about Rs. 100 […]

I write this opinion in the good hope that the relevant authorities will consider the proposal which will benefit the lottery buyers. During 1990’s lottery known as “Lotto” was very popular among many because it gave the opportunity to mark numbers of one’s own choice. This was, much to the disappointment of many, discontinued for […]

Colombo and Jaffna are likely to feel the effect of any powerful earthquake happening in the Himalayan range, as predicted by Indian geologists, geologist Prof Athula Senaratne said on Saturday. If India experiences a quake of magnitude 8, it would be felt in Colombo and Jaffna, Prof Senaratne told reporters. Two years ago, a quake […]

By Norman Palihawadane Five women were nabbed during a raid conducted on a brothel, which had been operating under the guise of a massage centre near Galle Road in Colombo 03.Among the suspects is the manager of the brothel. The other suspects are from Henegama, Willimbula, Pitipana, Homagama, Dehiattakandiya, and Thummodara.The Police said that the […]

At least 59 people died, including 12 children, when a wooden sailing boat carrying migrants to Europe crashed against rocks near the southern Italian coast early on Sunday, authorities said.

India, G20 president, will showcase its success in the digital economy and may offer conditional help to other countries to further advance their own digital economy and payments infrastructure, Business Standard has learnt. The host may also hold advanced discussions with G20 partners and multilateral institutions on reducing the sovereign indebtedness of poorer nations in […]

BBC reported that at least 58 migrants, including a baby, have died and dozens more have survived after their overloaded boat sank in rough seas off southern Italy. The vessel reportedly broke apart while trying to land with about 150 people aboard near the coastal town of Crotone in the Calabria region. Many bodies have […]

In a high-pressure game which saw nerves from both sides, South Africa fell short  by 19 runs. Truth be told, this was a game of high-intensity cricket, fitting of a grand finale. The pressure was immense, and Australia, more skilled and adept at handling big-match temperament – this was their seventh straight final – came […]

Australia won the Women s T20 World Cup for the sixth time when they beat South Africa by 19 runs in the final at Newlands on Sunday.

A 60-year-old has been remanded until 08 March after being arrested on charges of molesting a group of girls at an orphanage in Rakwana, Ratnapura.