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SJB stages protest near Parliament; minor traffic congestion reported
SJB stages protest near Parliament; minor traffic congestion reported
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) staged a protest demonstration along the Parliament access road near Diyatha Uyana in Battaramulla, resulting in minor traffic congestion in the surrounding areas, said Ada Derana reporter.
GMOA strike continues for second consecutive day
GMOA strike continues for second consecutive day
The island-wide strike launched by the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) in hospitals continues for the second consecutive day today (10). MORE..
Russia’s Putin announces Orthodox Easter ceasefire, Ukraine’s Zelenskiy agrees
Russia’s Putin announces Orthodox Easter ceasefire, Ukraine’s Zelenskiy agrees
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a 32-hour ceasefire over a two-day period for Orthodox Easter and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Kyiv would abide by the measure. MORE..
Asia Pacific faces weaker growth and higher inflation from Middle East crisis, ADB warns
Asia Pacific faces weaker growth and higher inflation from Middle East crisis, ADB warns
Growth in developing Asia and the Pacific is expected to slow this year as the conflict in the Middle East disrupts trade and energy markets, the Asian Development Bank said on Friday, with the extent of the slowdown dependent on how long the crisis persists. MORE..
Parliament to debate no-confidence motion against Energy Minister today
Parliament to debate no-confidence motion against Energy Minister today
The no-confidence motion submitted by opposition Members of Parliament against Minister of Energy, Kumara Jayakody, is scheduled to be taken up for debate in Parliament today (10). MORE..
School holiday begins; Ministry announces second term schedule
School holiday begins; Ministry announces second term schedule
The Ministry of Education (MOE) has announced that the second phase of the first school term for government and government-approved schools concludes today (10). MORE..
Five students of private university arrested over student’s death at hotel in Homagama
Five students of private university arrested over student’s death at hotel in Homagama
Five students of a private university have been arrested by Homagama Police over the death of a 19-year-old students following a clash between students last evening after a New Year (Avurudu) festival. MORE..
Showers expected in parts of the island after 2pm
Showers expected in parts of the island after 2pm
The Department of Meteorology says that showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and Uva provinces and in Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts after 2.00 p.m. MORE..
Melania Trump denies ties to Jeffrey Epstein in rare public statement
Melania Trump denies ties to Jeffrey Epstein in rare public statement
US First Lady Melania Trump on April 10 denied that she had any relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and said she was not one of his victims, thrusting the Epstein matter back into the spotlight after her husband had sought to put it behind him. MORE..
Trump says Iran should not charge fees to tankers going through Strait of Hormuz
Trump says Iran should not charge fees to tankers going through Strait of Hormuz
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday Iran should not charge fees to tankers going through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blockaded since the start of the Iran war, causing the worst disruption to global energy supplies in history. MORE..
Former Iranian foreign minister dies of injuries sustained in airstrike – report
Former Iranian foreign minister dies of injuries sustained in airstrike – report
Iran’s former Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi has died as a result of injuries sustained during a US-Israeli strike earlier this month, according to Iranian media. MORE..
Kuwait says National Guard site, vital facilities hit by ‘hostile’ drones
Kuwait says National Guard site, vital facilities hit by ‘hostile’ drones
Kuwait said Thursday evening that a National Guard site and several vital facilities were targeted by “hostile” drones. MORE..
Trump says Iran’s handling of oil through Strait of Hormuz is ‘not the agreement we have’
Trump says Iran’s handling of oil through Strait of Hormuz is ‘not the agreement we have’
Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote on his social media site Thursday evening. “That is not the agreement we have!” MORE..
Sri Lanka repatriates 125 telecom fraud suspects to China
Sri Lanka repatriates 125 telecom fraud suspects to China
Sri Lankan police recently repatriated 125 individuals suspected of involvement in telecom fraud, who had been apprehended during earlier crackdown operations, to China, the Chinese Ministry of Public Security (MPS) said on Thursday. MORE..
Netanyahu authorizes direct talks with Lebanon in potential boost to ceasefire efforts
Netanyahu authorizes direct talks with Lebanon in potential boost to ceasefire efforts
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that he has authorised direct negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible”. MORE..
Trump urges Netanyahu to dial down Lebanon strikes amid Iran talks push: Report
Trump urges Netanyahu to dial down Lebanon strikes amid Iran talks push: Report
US President Donald Trump urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to scale back Israel’s strikes in Lebanon during a phone call, as Washington looks to keep its negotiations with Iran on track, according to NBC. MORE..
Sri Lanka reaffirms commitment to strengthening Nepal ties
Sri Lanka reaffirms commitment to strengthening Nepal ties
Sri Lankan Ambassador to Nepal Ruwanthi Delpitiya joined a courtesy meeting with Nepal’s newly-elected Prime Minister Balendra Shah at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers at Singha Durbar, Kathmandu on Wednesday. MORE..
Special bus services from Makumbura for festive season
Special bus services from Makumbura for festive season
Passengers travelling ahead of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year holidays are informed that additional bus services have been deployed from the Makumbura Multimodal Centre (MMC) in Kottawa. MORE..
Islamabad under security lockdown for US-Iran talks; two-day public holiday declared
Islamabad under security lockdown for US-Iran talks; two-day public holiday declared
Pakistan’s capital has been placed under tight security lockdown as it prepares to host the first round of direct negotiations between the United States and Iran, scheduled to begin on April 10, reported Pakistan’s state media on Thursday. MORE..
NDB fraud investigation currently underway - Central Bank chief tells CoPF
NDB fraud investigation currently underway - Central Bank chief tells CoPF
The Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) which met under the chairmanship of Member of Parliament Dr. Harsha de Silva has raised the alleged fraud at NDB Bank with the officials of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL). MORE..
British Airways cuts Middle East flights, shifts capacity to Asia and Africa
British Airways cuts Middle East flights, shifts capacity to Asia and Africa
British Airways said on Thursday it will cut flights to the Middle East when services resume, permanently drop Jeddah as a destination, while adding capacity to India and Africa, as heightened regional tensions disrupt schedules and weigh on demand. MORE..
Ministry urges schools not to burden parents with excessive event expenses
Ministry urges schools not to burden parents with excessive event expenses
The Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education says that there have been reports of excessive spending on events and various celebrations organized in schools. MORE..
Additional fertilizer subsidy announced for small tea estate owners
Additional fertilizer subsidy announced for small tea estate owners
The government has announced an additional subsidy of Rs. 5,000 per 50 kg fertilizer bundle for small tea estate owners, to be provided once this year under the QR code-based distribution system, according to the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure. MORE..
Extension of State of Public Emergency passed in Parliament
Extension of State of Public Emergency passed in Parliament
The motion to approve the extension of the State of Public Emergency under the Public Security Ordinance was passed in Parliament today (9) by a majority of 110 votes. MORE..
Govt has comprehensive plan to elevate living standards of farmers – President
Govt has comprehensive plan to elevate living standards of farmers – President
The National New Rice Festival, a traditional annual ceremony in which newly harvested rice from the Maha season is offered to the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, was held this morning (09) under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in the presence of the historic Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura. MORE..