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Five arrested for posting video insulting the President on social media
Five arrested for posting video insulting the President on social media
Five individuals have been arrested by Katana Police for allegedly directing verbal abuse towards President Anura Kumara Dissanayake near the Southern Expressway entry point in Mattala and subsequently posting the video on social media. MORE..
Twelve killed in China’s Hubei as firecracker store explosion triggers blaze
Twelve killed in China’s Hubei as firecracker store explosion triggers blaze
Twelve people were killed on Wednesday when a store selling firecrackers exploded and caught fire in China’s Hubei province, burning 50 square metres of the premises, state broadcaster CCTV reported. MORE..
Sri Lankan Muslims to begin Ramadan fasting tomorrow
Sri Lankan Muslims to begin Ramadan fasting tomorrow
Muslims in Sri Lanka will begin their Ramadan fasting at dawn on Thursday (19), after the crescent for the month of Ramadan was sighted in the country, this evening (18), the Colombo Grand Mosque confirmed.
Fishing licenses of local vessels deliberately disabling VMS to be suspended?
Fishing licenses of local vessels deliberately disabling VMS to be suspended?
A high-level meeting on combating illegal fishing activities was convened at the Parliament Complex, according to the Ministry of Defence. MORE..
Advisory for low-pressure area to the south-east of Sri Lanka
Advisory for low-pressure area to the south-east of Sri Lanka
The Department of Meteorology has issued an ‘Amber‘advisory for multi-day boats fishermen and naval community regarding the low-pressure area in the Southwest Bay of Bengal to the south-east of Sri Lanka. MORE..
Ex-Dy Secretary General of Parliament files writ petition seeking to nullify interdiction
Ex-Dy Secretary General of Parliament files writ petition seeking to nullify interdiction
Former Deputy Secretary General of Parliament, Chaminda Kularatne, has filed a writ petition before the Court of Appeal, seeking to nullify the decision to interdict him from duty without a fair inquiry, a reporter said. MORE..
| February 18, 2026 4:46 pm
Two brothers arrested over Akuregoda double murder remanded
Two brothers arrested over Akuregoda double murder remanded
The two brothers arrested in connection with the shooting and killing of a lawyer and his wife in Akuregoda have been remanded until March 04 by the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court today (18). MORE..
| February 18, 2026 3:34 pm
Takaichi reelected as Japan’s prime minister with a goal of pushing to the right
Takaichi reelected as Japan’s prime minister with a goal of pushing to the right
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi was reappointed Wednesday by Parliament to form her second Cabinet, following last week’s landslide election win that she hopes will allow a hard-right move to the country’s policies. All previous ministers are expected to be retained. MORE..
Maithree Wickremesinghe notified to appear before FCID on Feb. 20
Maithree Wickremesinghe notified to appear before FCID on Feb. 20
Maithree Wickremesinghe, the wife of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, has been notified to appear before the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) on February 20. MORE..
Saman Ekanayake granted bail
Saman Ekanayake granted bail
Former Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake has been granted bail by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court, said Ada Derana reporter. MORE..
| February 18, 2026 2:30 pm
Weather advisory issued for heavy rainfall in several areas
Weather advisory issued for heavy rainfall in several areas
An ‘Amber’ advisory has been issued by the Department of Meteorology for heavy rain in the Uva Province and Polonnaruwa, Batticaloa, Ampara, Matale and Nuwara-Eliya districts. MORE..
Quasi judge arrested over Rs. 5,000 bribery allegation
Quasi judge arrested over Rs. 5,000 bribery allegation
A Quasi Judge attached to the Koralaipattu (Central) Quasi Court in Valaichchenai has been arrested on allegations of accepting a bribe of Rs. 5,000. MORE..
Akuregoda murder suspects deleted phone data after shooting – Police
Akuregoda murder suspects deleted phone data after shooting – Police
The suspects arrested in connection with the Akuregoda double murder had deleted data from their mobile phones following the crime, police stated. MORE..
| February 18, 2026 1:05 pm
US says it ‘supports’ UK Chagos Islands deal
US says it ‘supports’ UK Chagos Islands deal
The US government has given its official backing to the UK’s plan to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and lease back an important military base. MORE..
President holds talks with US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor in Delhi
President holds talks with US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor in Delhi
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has met US President Donald Trump’s Special Representative for South and Central Asia and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor in Delhi this morning (18). MORE..
Low pressure system persists in Bay of Bengal; 128 mm rainfall in Batticaloa
Low pressure system persists in Bay of Bengal; 128 mm rainfall in Batticaloa
The highest rainfall of 128.9 mm was recorded from Batticaloa yesterday (17), the Department of Meteorology stated. MORE..
Vatican says it will not participate in Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’
Vatican says it will not participate in Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’
The Vatican will not participate in U.S. President Donald Trump’s so-called “Board of Peace” initiative, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s top diplomatic official, said on Tuesday while adding that efforts to handle crisis situations should be managed by the United Nations. MORE..
Water supply to several areas in Colombo disrupted due to pipeline breakdown
Water supply to several areas in Colombo disrupted due to pipeline breakdown
Water supply to several areas in and around Colombo has been disrupted today following a sudden breakdown in the main transmission pipeline from Ambatale to Dehiwala, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board has announced. MORE..
Upali Pannilage named in committee probing controversial release of 323 containers
Upali Pannilage named in committee probing controversial release of 323 containers
Minister Dr. Upali Pannilage has been appointed as a member of the Parliamentary Select Committee tasked with investigating the release of 323 containers without proper physical inspection. MORE..
Iran says ‘guiding principles’ agreed with US at nuclear talks
Iran says ‘guiding principles’ agreed with US at nuclear talks
Iran has said it has reached an understanding with the US on the main “guiding principles” to resolve their dispute over Tehran’s nuclear programme. MORE..
Govt. to obtain US$50 million from World Bank for Digital Transformation Project
Govt. to obtain US$50 million from World Bank for Digital Transformation Project
The government has decided to obtain the Special Drawing Rights (SDR) fund equal to US$ 50 million from the World Bank Group to implement the Sri Lanka Digital Transformation Project. MORE..
Christians to observe Ash Wednesday as Lent begins
Christians to observe Ash Wednesday as Lent begins
Christians across the world are preparing for Lent through prayer, fasting and community service as the 40-day period of reflection approaches. MORE..
Woman killed, child injured in Mahiyanganaya bus accident
Woman killed, child injured in Mahiyanganaya bus accident
A woman has been killed while a child sustained injuries in a road accident that occurred near the 48th milepost on the Mahiyanganaya– Diyatalawa road, police stated. MORE..
GMOA raises alarm over public and professional safety after lawyer’s murder
GMOA raises alarm over public and professional safety after lawyer’s murder
The brutal shooting and killing of a lawyer and his wife in Akuregoda last week has once again raised serious concerns regarding the safety of citizens and professionals in the country, the GMOA stated. MORE..
Peru’s Congress removes President Jose Jeri after 4 months in office
Peru’s Congress removes President Jose Jeri after 4 months in office
Peru’s Congress voted on Tuesday to censure the country’s interim president, effectively ending the brief tenure of Jose Jeri after just over four months in office. MORE..