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Gazette issued extending declaration of several services including electricity supply as essential service

Gazette issued extending declaration of several services including electricity supply as essential service

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has issued an extraordinary gazette notification extending the declaration of a number of services, including the supply of electricity and fuel, as essential services.

| February 1, 2026  11:46 am
India raises infrastructure spending to record 12.2 trillion rupees for 2026-27

India raises infrastructure spending to record 12.2 trillion rupees for 2026-27

India’s federal government will spend a record 12.2 trillion rupees ($133.08 billion) on infrastructure in the upcoming financial year that begins on April 1, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said during her annual budget presentation on Sunday. MORE..

| February 1, 2026  11:45 am
Israeli air strikes kill at least 32 Palestinians in Gaza

Israeli air strikes kill at least 32 Palestinians in Gaza

At least 32 people have been killed in a wave of Israeli air strikes across the Gaza Strip on Saturday, according to local authorities.

| February 1, 2026  11:28 am
State of Public Emergency in Sri Lanka extended

State of Public Emergency in Sri Lanka extended

The State of Public Emergency in Sri Lanka has been extended.

| February 1, 2026  11:28 am
Duo arrested with over 5kg of heroin in Bentota

Duo arrested with over 5kg of heroin in Bentota

Police have arrested two individuals for the possession of 5 kilograms and 105 grams of heroin during a special operation in Bentota. MORE..

| February 1, 2026  10:52 am
22-year old arrested with nearly 500g of ‘Ice’ in Aluthgama

22-year old arrested with nearly 500g of ‘Ice’ in Aluthgama

An individual has been arrested while behaving suspiciously near the Aluthgama Railway Station by the Kalutara Crimes Division. MORE..

| February 1, 2026  10:48 am
Traders oppose govt. move to transfer economic centres to new company

Traders oppose govt. move to transfer economic centres to new company

Owners of economic centre trade stalls have informed the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, Wasantha Samarasinghe, that they strongly oppose the government’s decision to transfer five of the country’s leading economic centres from their current administrative structure to a new establishment. MORE..

| February 1, 2026  10:02 am
PM Modi meets Arab leaders, says India backs Palestinians, Gaza peace plan

PM Modi meets Arab leaders, says India backs Palestinians, Gaza peace plan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who met the foreign ministers of Arab nations in New Delhi for the second India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Saturday, reiterated India’s “continued support” for the Palestinians and US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan. MORE..

| February 1, 2026  8:53 am
Two suspects arrested for aiding and abetting Dehiwala and Kohuwala shootings

Two suspects arrested for aiding and abetting Dehiwala and Kohuwala shootings

Two suspects have been arrested by the Western Province South Crime Division in connection with two shootings that occurred in the Dehiwala and Kohuwala areas. MORE..

| February 1, 2026  8:46 am
Asgiri Anunayaka Thero raises concerns over declining recognition of Maha Sangha, culture and history

Asgiri Anunayaka Thero raises concerns over declining recognition of Maha Sangha, culture and history

The Anunayaka Thero of the Asgiri Chapter, Venerable Wedaruwe Upali Thero, stated that there is widespread concern at present over the lack of proper recognition given to the Maha Sangha, culture, and history. MORE..

video | February 1, 2026  8:18 am
14 arrested for stealing ancient Buddha statue in Kahapathwala

14 arrested for stealing ancient Buddha statue in Kahapathwala

Mawathagama Police have arrested 14 suspects in connection with the theft of a Buddha statue of ancient value from a temple in Kahapathwala. MORE..

| February 1, 2026  7:39 am
Pakistan says 92 militants killed after attacks in Balochistan

Pakistan says 92 militants killed after attacks in Balochistan

At least 92 militants were killed on Saturday battling Pakistan’s security forces in multiple cities across the southwestern province of Balochistan, Pakistan’s military said. MORE..

| February 1, 2026  7:10 am
Fairly heavy rainfall expected in parts of the island today

Fairly heavy rainfall expected in parts of the island today

Showers will occur at times in Northern, North-Central and Eastern provinces and in Matale and Nuwara Eliya districts, today (01), the Department of Meteorology said. MORE..

| February 1, 2026  6:34 am
Fuel prices revised

Fuel prices revised

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (Ceypetco) has announced a revision of fuel prices effective from midnight today (31). MORE..

| January 31, 2026  9:48 pm
Two explosions reported in Iran - as Israel denies involvement

Two explosions reported in Iran - as Israel denies involvement

Two explosions have been reported in Iran as the regime denied a ‌military leader was targeted, amid heightened tension in the region. MORE..

| January 31, 2026  8:47 pm
Education system must be transformed to align with demands of modern world – PM

Education system must be transformed to align with demands of modern world – PM

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya says that in order to ensure the economic, social, and cultural security of the country, it is essential to develop quality human resources, and that education plays a vital role in achieving this goal. MORE..

| January 31, 2026  7:29 pm
India sends 10 more Bailey bridges to Sri Lanka to assist reconstruction

India sends 10 more Bailey bridges to Sri Lanka to assist reconstruction

As reconstruction efforts continue in the wake of cyclone Ditwah, India dispatched a consignment of 10 Bailey bridges to Colombo onboard INS Gharial to assist the restoration of critical connectivity. MORE..

| January 31, 2026  6:01 pm
3.6 magnitude tremor reported off Mullaitivu coast

3.6 magnitude tremor reported off Mullaitivu coast

A minor earth tremor measuring 3.6 in the Richter Scale has been recorded in the sea area off Mullaitivu, the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau said. MORE..

| January 31, 2026  5:02 pm
Armed extremists kill dozens in northeastern Nigeria

Armed extremists kill dozens in northeastern Nigeria

Armed extremists in northeastern Nigeria killed dozens of people earlier this week in separate attacks targeting a construction site and a military installation, security officials said Saturday. MORE..

| January 31, 2026  4:22 pm
GMOA to intensify trade union action from Monday

GMOA to intensify trade union action from Monday

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has decided to intensify its ongoing continuous trade union action from February 2 (Monday), following a lack of response from relevant authorizes regarding several of their key demands. MORE..

| January 31, 2026  3:29 pm
Advisory issued for severe lightning

Advisory issued for severe lightning

An ‘Amber’ advisory has been issued by the Department of Meteorology for severe lightning in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces, and in Galle and Matara districts. MORE..

| January 31, 2026  2:50 pm
Eight high-ranking police officers including DIGs transferred

Eight high-ranking police officers including DIGs transferred

Eight high-ranking police officers have been transferred with immediate effect, subject to the approval of the National Police Commission (NPC). MORE..

| January 31, 2026  2:13 pm
Indonesia landslide death toll rises to 49, agency says

Indonesia landslide death toll rises to 49, agency says

The death toll from a landslide a week ago in Indonesia’s West Java province has risen to 49, the country’s main rescue agency Basarnas said on Saturday, with 15 still missing. MORE..

| January 31, 2026  2:10 pm
Aviation Minister explains reason for removal of AASL chairman

Aviation Minister explains reason for removal of AASL chairman

Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation, Anura Karunathilaka, has stated that the removal of Harsha Abeywickrama from the position of Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited (AASL) was part of necessary administrative structural changes within the company. MORE..

| January 31, 2026  1:19 pm
Epstein files records released by US DoJ claims Bill Gates had extramarital affairs

Epstein files records released by US DoJ claims Bill Gates had extramarital affairs

The United States Department of Justice on Friday released emails in which the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein claimed that Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates had engaged in extramarital sex. MORE..

| January 31, 2026  12:59 pm