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Suspects remanded for setting fire to wild elephant in Mihinthale

Suspects remanded for setting fire to wild elephant in Mihinthale

The Anuradhapura Magistrate’s Court has ordered that the three suspects arrested in connection with the alleged torture and setting fire to a wild elephant in the Sippukulama area of Mihintale be remanded until December 24. MORE..

| December 18, 2025  4:56 pm
Police warn against misuse of ‘119’ hotline; Legal action against offenders

Police warn against misuse of ‘119’ hotline; Legal action against offenders

Sri Lanka Police says it has observed significant misuse of the ‘119’ emergency hotline by certain members of the public, prompting the need for greater public awareness and enforcement action. MORE..

| December 18, 2025  4:41 pm
EU provides over €2.35 mln humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka

EU provides over €2.35 mln humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka

The European Union (EU) has allocated a total of Euro 2.35 million of financial assistance to Sri Lanka. MORE..

| December 18, 2025  3:57 pm
Magistrate’s decision to reject plaint against Deshabandu was unlawful - Colombo HC rules

Magistrate’s decision to reject plaint against Deshabandu was unlawful - Colombo HC rules

The Colombo High Court has ruled that the decision of the former Colombo Chief Magistrate to reject a private complaint filed against then Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon was contrary to the law. MORE..

| December 18, 2025  2:32 pm
ADB mobilizes $40M emergency trade finance support for Sri Lanka following Cyclone Ditwah

ADB mobilizes $40M emergency trade finance support for Sri Lanka following Cyclone Ditwah

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched a $40 million emergency assistance facility under its Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program (TSCFP) to support Sri Lanka’s recovery from the devastation of Cyclone Ditwah. MORE..

| December 18, 2025  1:59 pm
Opposition seeks probe on failure to minimise damage from Cyclone Ditwah

Opposition seeks probe on failure to minimise damage from Cyclone Ditwah

A proposal seeking to establish a Parliamentary Select Committee to conduct a comprehensive review of the alleged lack of preparedness to minimise the damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah has been submitted to the Speaker of Parliament. MORE..

| December 18, 2025  1:33 pm
NBRO warns public to avoid unstable areas following heavy rainfall in Udadumbara

NBRO warns public to avoid unstable areas following heavy rainfall in Udadumbara

The National Building Research Organization (NBRO) has reported that the Udadumbara area in the Kandy District has received over 200 mm of rainfall, raising serious concerns over landslide risks in the region. MORE..

| December 18, 2025  12:44 pm
Over 93,000 tourists visit Sri Lanka in first two weeks of December

Over 93,000 tourists visit Sri Lanka in first two weeks of December

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has reported that over 93,000 tourists have arrived in the country during the first two weeks of December 2025. MORE..

| December 18, 2025  12:05 pm
Multiple reservoirs at full capacity; Downstream residents urged to stay alert

Multiple reservoirs at full capacity; Downstream residents urged to stay alert

The Mahaweli Authority has announced that the Victoria, Randenigala, and Rantembe reservoirs have reached spill levels due to the prevailing heavy rainfall. MORE..

| December 18, 2025  11:44 am
Speaker endorses certificate on three key Bills

Speaker endorses certificate on three key Bills

The Speaker of the Parliament, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne announced to the House today that he endorsed the certificate on three Bills yesterday (17). MORE..

| December 18, 2025  11:39 am
Ex-podcaster Dan Bongino stepping down as FBI deputy director

Ex-podcaster Dan Bongino stepping down as FBI deputy director

Dan Bongino has said he will leave his role as the FBI’s deputy director in January. MORE..

| December 18, 2025  11:27 am
Port workers among 5 arrested with illegally imported cigarettes worth Rs. 330 mln

Port workers among 5 arrested with illegally imported cigarettes worth Rs. 330 mln

The Excise Department’s Special Investigation Unit has seized a total of 2,030,000 sticks of illegally imported cigarette, estimated to be worth around Rs. 330 million, in the Wellampitiya area. MORE..

| December 18, 2025  11:11 am
Case against Namal Rajapaksa over ‘Krrish’ deal to be recalled in February

Case against Namal Rajapaksa over ‘Krrish’ deal to be recalled in February

The Colombo High Court today (18) ordered that the case filed against Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa in connection with the controversial ‘Krrish’ project deal be recalled on February 16, 2026. MORE..

| December 18, 2025  11:07 am
Disciplinary inquiry on several police officers over negligence in probing MP Asoka Ranwala’s accident

Disciplinary inquiry on several police officers over negligence in probing MP Asoka Ranwala’s accident

Sri Lanka Police have confirmed that several officers were found negligent in performing their duties regarding the road accident involving former Speaker and National People’s Power (NPP) Gampaha District Member of Parliament, Asoka Ranwala. MORE..

| December 18, 2025  10:49 am
Julie Chung praises Starlink, Microsoft, and MIT for disaster relief efforts in Sri Lanka

Julie Chung praises Starlink, Microsoft, and MIT for disaster relief efforts in Sri Lanka

US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, highlighted the support of American companies and institutions for Sri Lanka’s recovery efforts following Cyclone Ditwah. MORE..

| December 18, 2025  10:36 am
Two former Members of Parliament pass away

Two former Members of Parliament pass away

Former Anuradhapura District Member of Parliament Janak Mahendra Adikari and former Deputy Minister of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms, S. C. Muthukumarana, have reportedly passed away. MORE..

| December 18, 2025  9:27 am
Putin says Russia will take more land in Ukraine if Europe sinks peace moves

Putin says Russia will take more land in Ukraine if Europe sinks peace moves

President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday Russia would take more land in Ukraine by force if Kyiv and European politicians whom he cast as “young pigs” did not engage over U.S. proposals for a peace settlement. MORE..

| December 18, 2025  9:07 am
Supplementary sum of Rs. 500B to be presented to Parliament today

Supplementary sum of Rs. 500B to be presented to Parliament today

A supplementary estimate of Rs. 500 billion is to be presented to Parliament today (18) to restore the livelihoods of those affected by the sudden disaster situation. MORE..

| December 18, 2025  8:41 am
Three suspects arrested in connection with torturing and setting fire to wild elephant in Mihinthale

Three suspects arrested in connection with torturing and setting fire to wild elephant in Mihinthale

A total of three individuals have been arrested in connection with the alleged torture and setting fire to a wild elephant in Seeppukulam, Mihinthale, police said. MORE..

| December 18, 2025  8:02 am
Kuliyapitiya Crimes OIC transferred after assault video goes viral on social media

Kuliyapitiya Crimes OIC transferred after assault video goes viral on social media

The Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Crimes Division of the Kuliyapitiya Police Station has been transferred in relation to an allegation of assaulting a person. MORE..

| December 18, 2025  7:46 am
PM Harini appreciates timely assistance by China for disaster response efforts

PM Harini appreciates timely assistance by China for disaster response efforts

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya has expressed her appreciation for the timely assistance extended by the Government of China during Sri Lanka’s recent disaster response efforts. MORE..

| December 18, 2025  7:10 am
Level 3 landslide warnings issued to residents of seven DS areas in Kandy and Nuwara Eliya

Level 3 landslide warnings issued to residents of seven DS areas in Kandy and Nuwara Eliya

Level 3 ‘Red’ landslide warnings have been issued to residents of seven Divisional Secretariat areas in the Kandy and Nuwara Eliya districts. MORE..

| December 18, 2025  6:52 am
Heavy rains worsen conditions for displaced Gazans, UN warns

Heavy rains worsen conditions for displaced Gazans, UN warns

Heavy rains over the past week have compounded the already dire living conditions of the hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, UN agencies say. MORE..

| December 18, 2025  6:19 am
Fairly heavy rainfall above 75 mm expected in parts of the island today

Fairly heavy rainfall above 75 mm expected in parts of the island today

The prevailing showery conditions are expected to continue over the Northern and Eastern parts of the island due to the influence of the Easterly wave, the Department of Meteorology stated. MORE..

| December 18, 2025  5:55 am
Delhi restricts vehicles, office attendance in bid to curb pollution

Delhi restricts vehicles, office attendance in bid to curb pollution

Authorities in India’s capital Delhi rolled out strict measures on Wednesday in an attempt to curb pollution, including a ban on vehicles not compliant with latest emission control norms and regulating attendance in private and government offices. MORE..

| December 17, 2025  9:51 pm