Japan raises visa fees for foreigners for first time in 48 yearsJapan will raise visa fees for foreign nationals from next month, marking the first increase in nearly 50 years, authorities said.24m ago23-year-old woman found dead in Kandy; Relatives claim murder The body of a 23-year-old married woman has been discovered in her bedroom in the Warapitiya area in Kundasale, Kandy. 33m agoMandatory seat belt rule strictly enforced on expressways from todayThe National Council for Road Safety has announced that the mandatory seat belt law will be strictly enforced effective from today (20).2h agoMandatory seat belt rule strictly enforced on expressways from todayThe National Council for Road Safety has announced that the mandatory seat belt law will be strictly enforced effective from today (20).2h ago ‘Podi Menike’ train resumes Nanu Oya-Badulla journey after 7 monthsPassenger train services between Nanu Oya and Badulla stations on the Upcountry railway line resumed today (20) after being suspended for seven months due to the damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah. MORE..4h ago ‘Podi Menike’ train resumes Nanu Oya-Badulla journey after 7 monthsPassenger train services between Nanu Oya and Badulla stations on the Upcountry railway line resumed today (20) after being suspended for seven months due to the damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah. MORE..4h agoAustralia vows to rein in any H5N1 birdflu after confirming first caseAustralia will do all it can to curb any spread of H5N1 bird flu, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Saturday, as the first mainland infection was confirmed in a seabird a day after being detected in a remote southwestern region. MORE..5h agoAustralia vows to rein in any H5N1 birdflu after confirming first caseAustralia will do all it can to curb any spread of H5N1 bird flu, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Saturday, as the first mainland infection was confirmed in a seabird a day after being detected in a remote southwestern region. MORE..5h agoAt least five killed in Israeli strikes on south Lebanon despite ceasefireAt least five people were killed in Israeli air strikes and drone attacks in southern Lebanon on Saturday, Lebanese state media reported, just hours after a ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group took effect. MORE..5h agoAt least five killed in Israeli strikes on south Lebanon despite ceasefireAt least five people were killed in Israeli air strikes and drone attacks in southern Lebanon on Saturday, Lebanese state media reported, just hours after a ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group took effect. MORE..5h agoCPC reviewing possibility of ending QR code fuel quota systemThe Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) says it is further studying the possibility of removing the existing QR code fuel quota system, which was introduced to manage fuel supplies amidst global tensions. MORE..6h agoCPC reviewing possibility of ending QR code fuel quota systemThe Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) says it is further studying the possibility of removing the existing QR code fuel quota system, which was introduced to manage fuel supplies amidst global tensions. MORE..6h agoDeveloping human resources needed for ongoing construction activities remains a key challenge - PMPrime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya states that the Government has already allocated substantial funds for future development activities, including the restoration of areas damaged by Cyclone Ditwah. MORE..6h agoDeveloping human resources needed for ongoing construction activities remains a key challenge - PMPrime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya states that the Government has already allocated substantial funds for future development activities, including the restoration of areas damaged by Cyclone Ditwah. MORE..6h agoUPDATENEWS ALERT2025 O/L Exam: 11,790 students secure 9 A’s and 225,748 qualify for A/LsThe Commissioner General of Examinations A. K. S. Indika Kumari Liyanage announced that a total of 11,790 candidates have obtained ‘A’ passes for all subjects in the 2025 G.C.E. Ordinary Level (O/L) Examination. MORE..7h agoUPDATENEWS ALERT2025 O/L Exam: 11,790 students secure 9 A’s and 225,748 qualify for A/LsThe Commissioner General of Examinations A. K. S. Indika Kumari Liyanage announced that a total of 11,790 candidates have obtained ‘A’ passes for all subjects in the 2025 G.C.E. Ordinary Level (O/L) Examination. MORE..7h agoOne killed and several injured in train collision north of LondonOne person was killed and several others injured when two trains collided about 60 miles (100 km) north of London, British Transport Police said on Friday. MORE..8h agoOne killed and several injured in train collision north of LondonOne person was killed and several others injured when two trains collided about 60 miles (100 km) north of London, British Transport Police said on Friday. MORE..8h agoWoman killed, 1,700 evacuated in beach hotel fire in Dominican RepublicA woman was killed and nearly 1,700 tourists were evacuated due to a large fire at a hotel in the Dominican beach resort of Bayahibe, local authorities said on Friday. MORE..8h agoWoman killed, 1,700 evacuated in beach hotel fire in Dominican RepublicA woman was killed and nearly 1,700 tourists were evacuated due to a large fire at a hotel in the Dominican beach resort of Bayahibe, local authorities said on Friday. MORE..8h agoWith Lebanon ceasefire set, Trump envoy heads to Switzerland for U.S.-Iran talksIsrael and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon on Friday after an escalation in fighting there jeopardised the chances of an interim agreement on ending the war in Iran turning into a lasting Middle East peace deal. MORE..8h agoWith Lebanon ceasefire set, Trump envoy heads to Switzerland for U.S.-Iran talksIsrael and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon on Friday after an escalation in fighting there jeopardised the chances of an interim agreement on ending the war in Iran turning into a lasting Middle East peace deal. MORE..8h agoShowers expected in parts of the island Several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-Western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts today (20), the Department of Meteorology stated. MORE..9h agoShowers expected in parts of the island Several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-Western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts today (20), the Department of Meteorology stated. MORE..9h agoUPDATENEWS ALERTSuspect arrested while transporting over 6kg of ‘Ice’ in three-wheeler A 38-year-old man travelling in a three-wheeler has been arrested by the Special Operations Unit of the Gonahena Police Special Task Force (STF) in the Kandaliyadda Paluwa area of Ganemulla while transporting a stock of ‘Ice’ (crystal methamphetamine) narcotics ...MORE..9h agoUPDATENEWS ALERTSuspect arrested while transporting over 6kg of ‘Ice’ in three-wheeler A 38-year-old man travelling in a three-wheeler has been arrested by the Special Operations Unit of the Gonahena Police Special Task Force (STF) in the Kandaliyadda Paluwa area of Ganemulla while transporting a stock of ‘Ice’ (crystal methamphetamine) narcotics ...MORE..9h agoUPDATENEWS ALERTDominican national arrested with over 37kg of Hashish at BIAA 24-year-old Dominican national has been arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for attempting to smuggle a stock of Hashish weighing 37 kilograms and 675 grams into the country. MORE..10h agoUPDATENEWS ALERTDominican national arrested with over 37kg of Hashish at BIAA 24-year-old Dominican national has been arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for attempting to smuggle a stock of Hashish weighing 37 kilograms and 675 grams into the country. MORE..10h agoNEWS ALERTSri Lanka's javelin ace Rumesh Tharanga secures dominant win at Doha Diamond LeagueSri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage continued his impressive form to secure a dominant win in the men’s javelin throw competition at the Doha Diamond League 2026 in Qatar on Friday.12h agoNEWS ALERTSri Lanka's javelin ace Rumesh Tharanga secures dominant win at Doha Diamond LeagueSri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage continued his impressive form to secure a dominant win in the men’s javelin throw competition at the Doha Diamond League 2026 in Qatar on Friday.12h agoBREAKING2025 O/L Exam results releasedThe results of the 2025 G.C.E. Ordinary Level (O/L) Examination have been released online, according to the Department of Examinations. 18h agoBREAKING2025 O/L Exam results releasedThe results of the 2025 G.C.E. Ordinary Level (O/L) Examination have been released online, according to the Department of Examinations. 18h ago'Dubai Sudda' pleads guilty in court over foreign employment scam chargesThe suspect known as “Dubai Sudda,” or as Ranthatige Nishanka Priyadarshana, who was remanded for allegedly defrauding money from individuals by claiming he could secure jobs for them in Dubai and Moldova on tourist visas...18h ago'Dubai Sudda' pleads guilty in court over foreign employment scam chargesThe suspect known as “Dubai Sudda,” or as Ranthatige Nishanka Priyadarshana, who was remanded for allegedly defrauding money from individuals by claiming he could secure jobs for them in Dubai and Moldova on tourist visas...18h agoUK PM Starmer vows to fight any challenge after leading rival Burnham wins bigBritish Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Friday he would not walk away, vowing to fight any challenge from his leading party rival Andy Burnham and potentially ushering in a new bout of political instability. 18h agoUK PM Starmer vows to fight any challenge after leading rival Burnham wins bigBritish Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Friday he would not walk away, vowing to fight any challenge from his leading party rival Andy Burnham and potentially ushering in a new bout of political instability. 18h agoCentral Cultural Fund delivering its true objectives effectively now, says PMPrime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has stated that an allocation of Rs. 180 million has been made from the Central Cultural Fund for the conservation of Gallangolla Mulamaha Viharaya. 19h agoCentral Cultural Fund delivering its true objectives effectively now, says PMPrime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has stated that an allocation of Rs. 180 million has been made from the Central Cultural Fund for the conservation of Gallangolla Mulamaha Viharaya. 19h ago