News Room : Forgery Suspected in Presidential Pardon to Financial Fraud Convict; CID Launches Investigation
The recent controversy surrounding the release of a financial fraud convict from Anuradhapura Prison under the Presidential Pardon for Vesak Poya Day has revealed a serious irregularity: the convict’s name was not included in the official list of pardoned prisoners approved by the President, the President’s Media Division (PMD) confirmed in a statement. Amid widespread public outrage, the PMD stated...
News Room : Strike by Supplementary Health Staff Winds Down, Lab Professionals Remain Defiant
The strike launched by the Joint Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine (JCPSM) came to an end at 8:00 a.m. today (7 June), with four of its five affiliated unions deciding to withdraw from the industrial action. JCPSM General Secretary Chanaka Dharmawickrama said the decision was taken in light of the inconvenience caused to patients by the nationwide strike. However, he...
News Room : Relief Flight Dispatched After SriLankan Plane Grounded in Indonesia Due to Technical Fault
A special relief flight, UL 302, departed from Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) to Medan International Airport in Sumatra, Indonesia, to transport 101 passengers and crew members from SriLankan Airlines flight UL 306, which was grounded due to a technical fault. The Singapore-bound flight UL 306, which left BIA in Katunayake on the evening of 5 June, was forced to make...
News Room : Backlash Against Govt Over Presidential Pardon for Financial Fraud Convict on Vesak Poya Day
The government is facing a backlash following the release of a convicted financial fraudster from Anuradhapura Prison under a presidential pardon granted on Vesak Poya Day. According to a report submitted to the High Court by prison officials, the convict had been released on the religious holiday after being granted a presidential pardon. Taking this official notification into consideration, the High...
News Room : Gotabaya and BNS Should Be Named as Suspects in Rs. 27.6 Million Flood Project Misuse Case, Court Told
Former Defence Ministry Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Bathiya Jayakody and Santhush Weeraman should be named as suspects in a case involving the misuse of public funds. The case concerns the Weras Ganga project, launched to control flooding in Colombo, where Rs. 27.6 million allocated for the project was allegedly spent on ceremonial events during its initial phase—without following any formal...
News Room : Trump confirms China trip after ‘very good’ call with Xi
Donald Trump has said he will visit China after speaking to its leader Xi Jinping over the phone. The US president said he had reciprocated with an invite to the White House during the “very good talk” – though such a trip has not been confirmed by either side. Thursday’s call is the first time the two leaders have spoken since...
News Room : Govt. threatens to introduce maximum retail price for salt
The government yesterday warned that it would introduce a Maximum Retail Price (MRP) for salt within the week if attempts to inflate prices continued.Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe said the government’s decision to allow salt imports was solely intended to address the current domestic shortage, and not to facilitate price hikes or profiteering by importers. Speaking at a media briefing, Minister...
News Room : Lose Yourself… in a USD109 Million Lawsuit: Eminem Sues Meta
Eminem’s music publishing company, Eight Mile Style, has filed a massive lawsuit against tech giant Meta, accusing it of copyright infringement for the unauthorised use of over 200 of the rapper’s songs across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Filed this week, the lawsuit alleges that Meta made 243 of Eminem’s songs available in its in-app ‘Music Libraries,’ allowing users to incorporate...
News Room : Woman Sentenced to Prison for Attempting to Sell 2-Day-Old Baby
The Colombo High Court has sentenced a 46-year-old mother of three to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for attempting to sell her two-day-old infant for Rs 75,000. The verdict was delivered by Colombo High Court Judge Navaratne Marasinghe. In addition to the prison sentence, the court imposed a fine of Rs 20,000. The judge also ordered that if the fine is...
News Room : Train Accident Averted Thanks to Civilian’s Quick Thinking at Panadura
A train accident was averted this morning (5) thanks to the quick thinking and bravery of a civilian who risked his life to stop an oncoming train near Panadura railway station. Upon noticing a broken rail track on the coastal line between Panadura and Egoda Uyana, the man immediately removed his T-shirt, waved it above his head, and ran toward...