News Room : Trump Signs Order Declaring TikTok Sale Ready and Values it at USD 14B
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday declaring that his plan to sell Chinese-owned TikTok’s U.S. operations to U.S. and global investors will address the national security requirements in a 2024 law. The new U.S. company will be valued at around $14 billion, Vice President JD Vance said, putting a price tag on the popular short video app...
News Room : SL High Commission, NCC host round table discussion on future of Sri Lankan crafts in London
The Sri Lanka High Commission in the United Kingdom, in collaboration with the National Craft Council of Sri Lanka (NCC), hosted a RoundTable Discussion on the future of Sri Lankan crafts, bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders to explore opportunities and challenges facing the sector. Held at the Sri Lankan High Commission in London last week, the event drew...
News Room : Wildlife census only 50 percent reliable – The Island
Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne yesterday (25) informed the Houset that he was not in a position to accept the no-confidence motion submitted by the Opposition against Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General (retd.) Aruna Jayasekara by a group of MPs. He claimed parliament procedures did not provide for such a motion. The motion was signed by the Opposition Leader Sajith...
News Room : X-Press Pearl: SC Tells AG to Act After Company Refuses USD 1B Payout
Supreme Court has directed the Attorney General to explore legal action against a foreign shipping company accused of misappropriating compensation payments related to the MV X-Press Pearl maritime disaster, following the company’s refusal to comply with a court-ordered US$1 billion damages payment. In July, the Supreme Court ordered the Singapore-headquartered X-Press Feeders to pay an ‘initial’ US$1 billion within one...
News Room : B’desh EC’s Refusal to Grant Demanded Symbol Angers Students’ Party
In a politically charged atmosphere leading up to the February polls in Bangladesh, a fierce dispute has erupted between the student-led National Citizen Party (NCP) and the nation’s Election Commission (EC). The crux of the conflict lies in the EC’s refusal to grant the NCP its desired electoral symbol, the ‘shapla’ (water lily), a decision that has drawn sharp...
News Room : Manusha Summoned by CIABOC Over Israel Employment Issue
Former Labour Minister Manusha Nanayakkara has been summoned by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) to provide a statement regarding the investigation into the deployment of Sri Lankan workers to Israel. According to the commission, Nanayakkara has been instructed in writing to appear before the Bribery Commission tomorrow (26) at 9:30 a.m. Earlier, on 8 September, he...
News Room : Speaker Rules NCM Against Dy Minister Aruna Jayasekara Out of Order
Speaker of the House Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne today (25) informed Parliament that he cannot accept the No-Confidence Motion submitted against Deputy Minister of Defence Major General (Retd.) Aruna Jayasekara by a group of opposition MPs, citing parliamentary procedure. The motion, signed by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and 31 other opposition MPs, was ruled out of order. Opening today’s parliamentary sitting, Speaker...
News Room : Na Uyana Cable Cart Mishap Claims Seven Monks’ Lives
The death toll from the cable cart accident at the Na Uyana Monastery (Nā Uyana Āranya Senāsanaya) in Pansiyagama, Melsiripura, has risen to seven Buddhist monks. At least two of the victims are foreign nationals, whose bodies have been placed at the Gokarella District Hospital. The remains of the other monks have been taken to the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital. Reports indicate...
News Room : CBSL Governor Clarifies T-Bonds Investments in Asset Declaration
Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe stated that all assets belonging to him and his family members have been legally earned and duly declared under the declaration of assets and liabilities law. Responding to a journalist who questioned whether it was a conflict of interest for him to have Treasury Bond investments of Rs 45.6 million while serving as the...
News Room : CEB Trade Unions Suspend Planned Strike
Several trade unions of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) have decided to temporarily suspend the strike action scheduled for tomorrow (25) in protest against the proposed division of the CEB into four separate entities. The unions have been engaged in a work-to-rule campaign since 4 September, citing multiple demands. Union representatives said the decision to suspend the strike followed the government’s...