News Archive

State Department urges US citizens to leave Iran immediately

The U.S. government has issued an urgent advisory for American citizens to leave Iran immediately, according to a notice published Tuesday by the U.S. virtual embassy in Tehran. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  8:55 am

Uganda shuts down internet ahead of election, orders rights groups to halt work

Ugandan authorities cut internet access and limited mobile services across the country on Tuesday, two days before an election in which President Yoweri Museveni will stand for a contentious seventh term after four decades in power. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  6:45 am

Advisory issued for severe lightning

An ‘Amber’ advisory has been issued by the Department of Meteorology for severe lightning in the Western Province. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  2:39 pm

TV Derana awarded as Sri Lanka’s leading media brand at Superbrands 2025

TV Derana has been awarded as a premier national brand at the Superbrands 2025 Awards Ceremony held in Colombo. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  10:28 am

Denmark and Greenland to face Vance in high-stakes White House meeting

The Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers will meet U.S. Vice President JD Vance at the White House on Wednesday, as President Donald Trump reiterated his demand that Washington must take control of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  8:07 pm

22 killed, over 30 injured as crane collapse derails train in Thailand

A train travelling from Bangkok to Thailand’s northeast province was derailed after a construction crane fell on top of one of its carriages, killing at least 22 people and injuring at least 30, police said. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  10:57 am

Trinco Buddha statue incident: Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thero and others remanded

Four Buddhist monks, including Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thero, and five other individuals have been remanded until January 19 by the Trincomalee Magistrate’s Court for allegedly violating coastal conservation laws by placing a Buddha statue at the Trincomalee Bodhiraja Vihara on November 16, 2025. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  4:13 pm

Badulla District Labour Office receives bomb threat email

A bomb scare was reported at the Badulla District Labour Office this morning (14) following the receipt of an anonymous email warning of an explosive device within the office premises. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  3:07 pm

Imported milk powder prices to be reduced

Powdered milk importers have agreed to reduce the price of milk powder packets with effect from January 16, the Minister of Trade Wasantha Samarasinghe said. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  6:49 pm

US Ambassador Julie Chung pays farewell call on PM Harini

Outgoing US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, has paid a farewell call on Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya at Temple Trees today (14), marking the conclusion of her tenure in Sri Lanka. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  9:41 pm

Opposition Leader criticizes proposed electricity policy, calls for public consultation

Leader of the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa, has criticized the newly proposed electricity policy of the National People’s Power (NPP) government, stating that it unfairly impacts both consumers and the renewable energy sector, while disproportionately affecting low-income earners. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  12:57 pm

Education Ministry issues special announcement on 2026 school academic activities

The Ministry of Education has issued a statement regarding the conduct of school academic activities beginning from January 21, 2026. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  5:02 pm

US approves sale of Nvidia’s advanced H200 chips to China

The US government has given chip giant Nvidia the green light to sell its advanced artificial intelligence (AI) processors in China, the Department of Commerce said on Tuesday. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  8:08 am

Retired Navy Medical Assistant arrested for soliciting bribe

A retired Navy Medical Assistant has been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) in connection with accepting a bribe of Rs. 200,000. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  1:04 pm

Pakistan, Sri Lanka agree to promote religious tourism, boost cultural cooperation

Pakistan and Sri Lanka have agreed to expand cultural cooperation by promoting religious tourism, aiming to hold joint cultural exhibitions and heritage programs, according to an official statement on Tuesday. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  9:13 pm

Controversial Dilbert cartoonist Scott Adams dies aged 68

Scott Adams, the US cartoonist who wrote and illustrated the comic strip Dilbert, has died of cancer at the age of 68. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  9:32 am

Wimal Weerawansa appears before court after arrest warrant issued

Former Minister Wimal Weerawansa, against whom an arrest warrant was issued today by the Colombo High Court, appeared before the court a short while ago. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  12:21 pm

US to suspend visa processing for 75 nations next week, Fox News reports

The Trump administration is suspending all visa processing for visitors from 75 countries starting January 21, Fox News reported on Wednesday, citing a memo from the US State Department. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  9:56 pm

K-Pop sensation BTS announces return with new world tour

Chart-topping K-pop boy band BTS announced on Tuesday it will embark on a concert tour starting in April after the release of its first new album in more than three years. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  12:41 pm

Parliament to convene from January 20 to 23

Parliamentary business relevant to the second parliamentary week of January 2026 was decided at the meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business held today (14) under the Chairmanship of the Deputy Speaker, Dr. Rizvie Salih. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  8:43 pm

Motorists urged to exercise caution on expressways due to heavy fog

The Road Development Authority (RDA) has issued a warning to motorists, urging them to exercise heightened caution while driving on expressways due to the dense fog currently affecting several regions. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  11:20 am

Police intensify crack down on drunk, drug-impaired driving

Police have intensified measures against drivers operating vehicles under the influence of drugs, with a mobile laboratory now in operation to detect drug-impaired driving, according to Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police in charge of the Traffic and Road Safety Range, W. P. J. Senadeera. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  12:46 pm

Prevailing showery conditions to reduce from tomorrow

The prevailing showery condition over the island is expected to reduce from tomorrow (15), the Department of Meteorology stated. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  6:32 am

We choose Denmark over US, Greenland’s PM says

Greenland’s prime minister has said his people would choose Denmark over the US if they were asked to make such a choice “here and now”. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  7:50 am

Stock market’s ASPI records new all-time high

The Colombo Stock Exchange’s benchmark All Share Price Index (ASPI) hit a new all-time high of 23,708.70 points today (14), surpassing the previous record of 23,659.70 points set on 12 November 2025. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  3:47 pm

UK expected to approve ‘mega’ Chinese embassy in London despite objections

Britain’s government is expected to approve a “mega” Chinese embassy close to London’s financial district after years of controversy and political wrangling over the potential security risks it poses to the U.K. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  1:15 pm

SOC reviews amendment bills seeking to curb drug trafficking in high seas

The attention of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection has been drawn to the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill and the Judicature (Amendment) Bill. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  2:21 pm

Court postpones verdict in ex-MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala’s murder

The Gampaha High Court Trial-at-Bar has announced today (14) that the delivery of the verdict in the case pertaining to the murder of former Member of Parliament Amarakeerthi Athukorala has been postponed until 11 February. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  10:35 am

No electricity tariff revision for first quarter of 2026 - PUCSL

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has decided not to implement an electricity tariff revision for the first quarter of 2026 due to the failure of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to submit a formal tariff revision proposal within the due time. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  5:54 pm

Two killed in head-on motorcycle collision in Puttalam

Two individuals have died in a head-on motorcycle collision that occurred in the Attawilluwa area of Puttalam last night (13), police said. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  7:40 am

Arrest warrant issued for Wimal Weerawansa

The Colombo High Court has issued a warrant for the arrest of former Minister Wimal Weerawansa for failing to appear before the court in connection with a case filed by the Bribery Commission. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  11:28 am

Arrest warrant against Wimal Weerawansa recalled

The Colombo High Court today ordered the recall of the arrest warrant issued against former Minister Wimal Weerawansa after he appeared before the court through his legal counsel. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  2:17 pm

Police recover 11kg of ‘Ice’ and heroin from vehicle on Expressway; 2 arrested

Around 6 kg of Crystal Methamphetamine (“Ice”) and 5 kg of heroin were recovered, and two suspects along with their vehicle were taken into custody by the Expressway Highway Police at the Godagama–Palatuwa interchange on the Southern Expressway, police said. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  1:23 pm

Unidentified individuals torch Sarvajana Balaya party office in Jaffna

An unidentified group set fire to the Sarvajana Balaya Party office located in the Thavady area of Jaffna around midnight yesterday (13). MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  8:52 am

Sri Lankan husband admits murdering ex-wife in UK

A Sri Lankan-born husband has admitted stabbing his ex-wife to death on a quiet suburban street in Cardiff, Wales. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 14, 2026  5:48 pm

Outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung pays farewell call on President

Outgoing United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung has paid a courtesy call on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (12). MORE..

(0)Comments | January 13, 2026  9:34 am

Inauguration ceremony of Rebuilding Sri Lanka national program underway

The inauguration ceremony of the Rebuilding Sri Lanka national program has commenced at the Lotus Hall of the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), Colombo. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 13, 2026  10:57 am

Apple teams up with Google Gemini for AI-powered Siri

Apple plans to use Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence model to power its updated version of Siri, which is set to launch later this year, the two companies announced Monday. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 13, 2026  8:43 am

10 Tamil Nadu fishermen arrested for poaching in Sri Lankan waters

A total of 10 Tamil Nadu fishermen have been arrested for poaching in Sri Lankan waters this morning (13). MORE..

(0)Comments | January 13, 2026  7:52 am

Donald Trump announces 25% tariff on countries doing business with Iran

US President Donald Trump on Monday said he had imposed a 25% tariff on goods from countries with commercial ties to Iran, a move that could put pressure on Tehran as anti-government protests enter a third week. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 13, 2026  5:51 am

Senior Russian official says Greenland could vote to join Russia if Trump does not hurry

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said Greenlanders could vote to join Russia if US President Donald Trump did not move quickly to secure the Arctic island, Interfax reported on Monday (Jan 12). MORE..

(0)Comments | January 13, 2026  7:22 am

Veteran journalist Iqbal Athas passes away

Veteran Sri Lankan journalist and defence columnist Iqbal Athas has passed away at the age of 81. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 13, 2026  10:13 am

Two Russian nationals rescued after being swept away by strong currents at Ahungalla Beach

Two Russian nationals who went sea bathing at Ahungalla Beach were rescued after being swept away by strong water currents. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 13, 2026  7:09 am

Traffic congestion on Southern Expressway following accident

An accident along the Southern Expressway between the Kurundugahahetekma and Welipenna exits this morning has caused heavy traffic congestion. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 13, 2026  10:33 am

IOC instructs National Olympic Committee to hold AGM by end of April

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has instructed the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) to hold its Annual General Meeting /Elective General Assembly by the end of April. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 13, 2026  10:28 am

Oil prices gain on Iran supply disruption concerns

Oil prices edged higher on Tuesday, as heightened concerns surrounding Iran and potential supply disruptions outweighed the prospect of increased crude supply from Venezuela. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 13, 2026  8:58 am

Paddy prices to be increased from upcoming season – Dy Agriculture Minister

Steps have been taken to increase the price of paddy starting from the upcoming season, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Namal Karunaratne stated. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 13, 2026  8:20 am

Several spells of showers expected in parts of the island today

Several spells of showers are expected in the Northern, North-central, Uva, Eastern and Central provinces today (13), the Department of Meteorology stated. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 13, 2026  5:50 am

Suspect linked to criminal incident arrested with firearm in Thalahena

An individual linked to a criminal incident has been arrested with a firearm in Thalahena yesterday (12), police stated. MORE..

(0)Comments | January 13, 2026  6:41 am

‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ national programme launch today

The inauguration of ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ national programme will take place in Colombo today (13). MORE..

(0)Comments | January 13, 2026  7:35 am