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India-US trade deal stalled after Modi did not call Trump, Lutnick says
India-US trade deal stalled after Modi did not call Trump, Lutnick says
India’s trade pact with the United States was delayed because Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not make a telephone call to President Donald Trump to close a deal they were negotiating, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on Friday. MORE..
Landfill collapse kills 1 and leaves at least 38 missing in Philippine
Landfill collapse kills 1 and leaves at least 38 missing in Philippine
An avalanche of garbage and debris buried or trapped workers in low-slung buildings at a landfill in the Philippines, killing one person, injuring a dozen and leaving 38 others missing, officials said Friday. MORE..
Over 20,000 new houses to be built under post-disaster reconstruction efforts – President
Over 20,000 new houses to be built under post-disaster reconstruction efforts – President
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that between 20,000 and 25,000 new houses are expected to be constructed during the reconstruction activities following the damages caused by Cyclone Ditwah. MORE..
| January 9, 2026 1:13 pm
Decision taken to remove web links from education modules - PM Harini
Decision taken to remove web links from education modules - PM Harini
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has stated that the Academic Advisory Board of the National Institute of Education (NIE) has ordered that no web links be included in future modules prepared for the second and third terms under the government’s education reform program. MORE..
Speaker rejects motion to appoint select committee on Judicial Service Commission
Speaker rejects motion to appoint select committee on Judicial Service Commission
The Speaker of the Parliament, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, has declared that a motion submitted by 31 Members of Parliament on 21 November 2025, proposing the appointment of a parliamentary select committee to oversee the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), is out of order and unconstitutional. MORE..
Ex-Minister Douglas Devananda granted bail
Ex-Minister Douglas Devananda granted bail
Former Minister Douglas Devananda, who was arrested and remanded, has been granted bail by the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court. MORE..
Court amends bail condition for former Moratuwa Mayor Saman Lal Fernando
Court amends bail condition for former Moratuwa Mayor Saman Lal Fernando
The Colombo Magistrate’s Court today (09) ordered an amendment to a bail condition previously imposed on the former Mayor of the Moratuwa Municipal Council, Saman Lal Fernando, who is appearing in court as a suspect in a corruption case. MORE..
Post-disaster housing reconstruction project commences
Post-disaster housing reconstruction project commences
The project to construct new houses and provide compensation to those who lost their homes due to Cyclone Ditwah was inaugurated today (09) in Anuradhapura, under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. MORE..
Trump says he will meet with Venezuela’s Machado next week
Trump says he will meet with Venezuela’s Machado next week
U.S. President Donald Trump indicated on Thursday that Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was coming to Washington next week. MORE..
Deep depression changes direction; Rainfall risk in Central Highlands reduced
Deep depression changes direction; Rainfall risk in Central Highlands reduced
The National Building Research Organization (NBRO) says that according to the latest forecasts issued by the Department of Meteorology, the direction of the deep depression located in the Bay of Bengal to the southeast of Sri Lanka has changed... More..
Deep depression in Bay of Bengal moves closer to Sri Lanka
Deep depression in Bay of Bengal moves closer to Sri Lanka
The Department of Meteorology states that the deep depression in the Bay of Bengal, located to the southeast of Sri Lanka (at 06:00 a.m. on 9 January 2026, about 170 km east of Batticaloa), is very likely to move northwestwards towards the Sri Lankan coast between Pottuvil and Trincomalee by this evening (09). MORE..
Internet and phones cut in Iran as protesters heed exiled prince’s call for mass demonstration
Internet and phones cut in Iran as protesters heed exiled prince’s call for mass demonstration
Iran’s government cut off the country from the internet and international telephone calls Thursday night as a nighttime demonstration called by the country’s exiled crown prince drew a mass of protesters to shout from their windows and storm the streets. MORE..
Schools in landslide-prone areas of Badulla District to close early today
Schools in landslide-prone areas of Badulla District to close early today
Administrators of schools in landslide-risk areas of the Badulla District have been permitted to close schools at 11.00 a.m. today, or earlier if necessary, according to the District Education Director. MORE..
Suspect arrested with T56 firearm detained for further investigations
Suspect arrested with T56 firearm detained for further investigations
The Balapitiya Magistrate’s Court has granted permission to the Meetiyagoda Police to conduct further investigations after issuing a detention order on a suspect arrested in possession of a T56 firearm and 16 rounds of ammunition. MORE..
Main suspect in Waikkala illicit liquor incident detained
Main suspect in Waikkala illicit liquor incident detained
The main suspect in the incident where six people died due to poisoning from illicit liquor in Waikkala, has been detained under a two-day detention order. MORE..
Highest rainfall recorded from Ampara during the past 24 hours
Highest rainfall recorded from Ampara during the past 24 hours
The highest rainfall recorded during the past 24 hours was reported from the Ampara area, measuring 38 millimetres, Director of Irrigation (Hydrology and Disaster Management) Engineer L. S. Sooriyabandara said this morning (09). MORE..
Venezuelan government begins releasing political prisoners
Venezuelan government begins releasing political prisoners
The Venezuelan government has begun releasing detainees considered political prisoners by human rights groups, in what officials described as a goodwill gesture. MORE..
US Senate votes to curb military action in Venezuela, Trump says oversight could last years
US Senate votes to curb military action in Venezuela, Trump says oversight could last years
The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday to advance a resolution that would bar President Donald Trump from taking further military action against Venezuela without congressional authorization, even as Trump said U.S. oversight of the troubled nation could last years. MORE..
Deep depression in Bay of Bengal likely to intensify further
Deep depression in Bay of Bengal likely to intensify further
The deep depression in the Bay of Bengal to the southeast of Sri Lanka (At 04:00 a.m. on Jan 9, 2026 located about 200 km South east of Batticaloa) is very likely to intensify further and move northwestwards towards the coast of Sri Lanka between Pottuvil and Trincomalee in the evening today (09), the Department of Meteorology said. MORE..
Govt formulating policy to ensure child protection in use of technology - PM Harini
Govt formulating policy to ensure child protection in use of technology - PM Harini
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has stated the government is in the process of formulating a national policy to ensure child protection in the use of technology. MORE..
Mahaweli Authority issues update on water levels of major reservoirs
Mahaweli Authority issues update on water levels of major reservoirs
The Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka has issued a special announcement on the current water levels of the Victoria, Randenigala and Rantambe reservoirs within the Mahaweli reservoir system. MORE..
Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake appointed Presidential Advisor on Maritime, Ports and Logistics
Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake appointed Presidential Advisor on Maritime, Ports and Logistics
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Dr Mahinda Parakrama Dissanayake as Advisor to the President on Maritime, Ports and Logistics, with immediate effect, according to the President’s Media Division (PMD). MORE..
Minor earth tremor reported in Ududumbara
Minor earth tremor reported in Ududumbara
A minor earth tremor measuring 2.2 on the Richter Scale has been reported in the Ududumbara area at 5.05 p.m. today (08). MORE..
Circular issued on providing Rs. 5 million for homes destroyed by Cyclone Ditwah
Circular issued on providing Rs. 5 million for homes destroyed by Cyclone Ditwah
A circular has been issued by the Defence Ministry with regard to providing Rs. 5 million to families whose houses were completely destroyed due to the impact of Cyclone Ditwah, for the purpose of rebuilding their homes. MORE..
Colombo stock market posts record trading day
Colombo stock market posts record trading day
The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) has posted a record trading day as daily turnover crossed Rs. 12.32 billion on Thursday (Jan. 08). MORE..