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Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thero and others arrested over Trinco Buddha statue incident further remanded

Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thero and others arrested over Trinco Buddha statue incident further remanded

Four Buddhist monks, including Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thero, and six other individuals who were arrested and subsequently remanded for allegedly violating coastal conservation laws by placing a Buddha statue at the Trincomalee Bodhiraja Viharaya have been further remanded. MORE..

| January 19, 2026  4:29 pm
Railway station masters threaten to launch trade union action over several demands

Railway station masters threaten to launch trade union action over several demands

The Sri Lanka Railway Station Masters’ Union has threatened to launch a trade union action citing several unresolved demands. MORE..

| January 19, 2026  4:23 pm
Trump justifies threats to take over Greenland, citing Nobel Peace Prize snub

Trump justifies threats to take over Greenland, citing Nobel Peace Prize snub

US President Donald Trump told Norway’s prime minister he no longer needed to think “purely of peace” after failing to win the Nobel Peace Prize, in a message published Monday. MORE..

| January 19, 2026  4:12 pm
Govt keen to promote cashless economy and introduce digital IDs

Govt keen to promote cashless economy and introduce digital IDs

Extensive discussions have been held at a review meeting at the Presidential Secretariat pertaining to the progress of projects planned by the government to promote a cashless economy in Sri Lanka, including the digitalisation of government institutions, promotion of QR transactions and the completion of the digital identity card project. MORE..

| January 19, 2026  4:10 pm
Search operation launched to locate two missing fishermen

Search operation launched to locate two missing fishermen

Two individuals, who set out for fishing in a boat early this morning (19) from Wella, Chilaw have been reported missing, police stated. MORE..

| January 19, 2026  3:41 pm
Special traffic plan in Colombo in view of Sri Lanka-England cricket series

Special traffic plan in Colombo in view of Sri Lanka-England cricket series

A special traffic plan will be in place in Colombo during the upcoming Sri Lanka-England cricket matches to be played at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium. MORE..

| January 19, 2026  3:12 pm
Japan PM Takaichi to dissolve parliament Friday and call national election

Japan PM Takaichi to dissolve parliament Friday and call national election

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said she will dissolve parliament Friday and call a national election to seek voter backing for increased spending and a new security strategy expected to accelerate Japan’s defence build up. MORE..

| January 19, 2026  2:57 pm
Three arrested over circulation of video abusing woman on social media

Three arrested over circulation of video abusing woman on social media

An individual has been arrested by the Bureau for the Prevention of Abuse of Children and Women in connection with a video circulating on social media depicting a woman being abused. MORE..

| January 19, 2026  2:52 pm
China’s population falls for fourth straight year

China’s population falls for fourth straight year

China’s population fell for the fourth straight year in 2025 as its birth rates sunk to a record low, despite the government rolling out a spate of incentives to boost them. MORE..

| January 19, 2026  2:44 pm
Public to be notified on ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund’ donations through its website

Public to be notified on ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund’ donations through its website

The official website related to the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” national programme has been launched under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. MORE..

| January 19, 2026  2:19 pm
Grama Niladhari officers withdraw from disbursement of Rs. 5 million cyclone relief grant

Grama Niladhari officers withdraw from disbursement of Rs. 5 million cyclone relief grant

The Grama Niladhari Trade Union Alliance has decided to withdraw from the process of disbursing the Rs. 5 million government grant allocated for residential properties that were partially damaged as a result of cyclone Ditwah. MORE..

| January 19, 2026  1:56 pm
NGJA revises taxation method for imported rough gemstones to support industry

NGJA revises taxation method for imported rough gemstones to support industry

The National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) has announced a revision to the taxation methodology for importing rough gemstones, aiming to provide relief to industry stakeholders and support the country’s goal of achieving $1 billion in annual gem export earnings. MORE..

| January 19, 2026  1:37 pm
Baladaksha Mawatha flyover declared open

Baladaksha Mawatha flyover declared open

The Baladaksha Mawatha flyover was declared open to the public today (19). MORE..

| January 19, 2026  1:21 pm
Parents stage silent protest near Edu. Ministry demanding Grade 6 reforms

Parents stage silent protest near Edu. Ministry demanding Grade 6 reforms

A group of parents has launched a continuous silent protest this morning (19) in front of the Ministry of Education, urging the immediate implementation of the recently suspended proposed education reforms for Grade 6 students. MORE..

| January 19, 2026  1:08 pm
Decline in air quality observed across several areas; CEA advises caution

Decline in air quality observed across several areas; CEA advises caution

The Media Spokesperson for the Central Environmental Authority (CEA), Dr. Ajith Gunawardena says that a decline in air quality has been reported in multiple parts of the country. MORE..

| January 19, 2026  1:05 pm
Death toll in Karachi mall fire jumps to 11

Death toll in Karachi mall fire jumps to 11

Firefighters in Karachi began searching on Monday for more than 60 missing people after a massive fire destroyed a shopping mall in Pakistan’s most populous city, while the death toll from the disaster rose to 11. MORE..

| January 19, 2026  12:53 pm
Parliamentary Sub-Committee reviews execution of principal transfers in national and provincial schools

Parliamentary Sub-Committee reviews execution of principal transfers in national and provincial schools

The implementation of transfers of Principals in National and Provincial Schools and related matters, together with the existing human resource shortages in schools, has been discussed recently at the meeting of the Parliamentary Sub-Committee. MORE..

| January 19, 2026  12:36 pm
Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards 2026: Colombo among best food cities; Galle in top 5 honeymoon destinations

Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards 2026: Colombo among best food cities; Galle in top 5 honeymoon destinations

Sri Lanka has received significant international recognition in the “Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards – Best of the Best 2026”, with Colombo and Galle being named among the world’s top destinations under two categories, marking a major boost for the country’s tourism and hospitality industries. MORE..

| January 19, 2026  11:54 am
President to chair special discussion on exposition of sacred Buddha relics from India

President to chair special discussion on exposition of sacred Buddha relics from India

A special discussion regarding the exposition of the Sacred Relics of Buddha, which will be brought down from India, will be held on January 21, under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, according to Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa. MORE..

| January 19, 2026  11:51 am
Factory explosion in China kills two, injures 84

Factory explosion in China kills two, injures 84

A huge explosion at a factory in northern China has killed two people and injured 84 others, with eight people still missing, state media reported. MORE..

| January 19, 2026  10:39 am
Foreign-made pistol found in abandoned water tank in Keselwatta

Foreign-made pistol found in abandoned water tank in Keselwatta

A foreign-manufactured pistol has been discovered from an abandoned water tank within an apartment complex in the Keselwatta area. MORE..

| January 19, 2026  9:25 am
Chile fires kill at least 18 as firefighters battle extreme heat, winds

Chile fires kill at least 18 as firefighters battle extreme heat, winds

Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe in two regions in the south of the country on Sunday as raging wildfires forced at least 20,000 people to evacuate and left at least 18 people dead. MORE..

| January 19, 2026  9:03 am
Govt commits to global best practices for child and caregiver well-being: Minister

Govt commits to global best practices for child and caregiver well-being: Minister

The Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Saroja Savithri Paulraj, stated that the government has undertaken numerous initiatives to strengthen Early Childhood Development (ECD) and care. MORE..

| January 19, 2026  9:03 am
PM Harini departs for World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos

PM Harini departs for World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya departed Sri Lanka earlier this morning (19) to participate in the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, the PM’s Office said. MORE..

| January 19, 2026  8:06 am
19-year old arrested for aiding and abetting Kaduwela shooting incident

19-year old arrested for aiding and abetting Kaduwela shooting incident

Another individual who had allegedly aided and abetted the shooting incident that occurred on January 01, 2026 in Menikagara Road, Koratota, Nawagamuwa, in the Kaduwela area, has been arrested. MORE..

| January 19, 2026  7:57 am