The Lanka Academic
July 16, 2019
Quaere Verum
Vol.19, No.197

Picture of the Day

Picture of the Day
Panama Beach East Coast
by: Dominic Sansoni
Top Stories

Top Headline

  • Garbage imported to Sri Lanka one year ago from UK

    Colombo (News 1st): On the very latest update on the import of garbage to Sri Lanka, the exporter - a company from the United Kingdom, is declared in the invoice as Vengaads Limited in London. … More…


  • Sri Lanka Plans To Build 90 Mini Solar Power Plants

    The Sri Lanka government is calling for tenders to build 90 Solar Power Plants with a capacity of 1 MW each, Power, Energy and Business Development Minister … More…


  • China’s Sinopec sets up fuel oil unit in Sri Lanka

    China Petroleum and Chemical Corp, known as Sinopec Corp, said on Monday it has set up a fuel oil company in Sri Lanka as it looks to supply fuel to ships … More…


  • MP Govt to build temple at Ramayana site in Sri Lanka?

    Ram Temple: The announcement of temple construction at Ramayana site was made by the Ex-CM of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The site proposed for the temple is located on Buddhist monastery premises in Divurumpola which is around 15 Km from Nuwara Eliya More…


  • Long Overdue: Breaking down the minimum age of marriage in Sri Lanka

    One of the most contested issues in the debate around reform of the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA) has been with so much resistance especially from conservative elements of the Muslim community. … More…


  • Sri Lanka stocks hit near 3-month high as foreign inflows surge; rupee slips

    Sri Lankan shares gained for the fifth straight session on Monday to hit a nearly three-month closing high, as foreign fund inflows hit a more than seven-year high … More…


  • India keeps eye on protests in Sri Lanka against US base plan

    NEW DELHI: India is keeping a close watch as protests grow in Sri Lanka over a proposed pact with the US, which could enable the setting up of an American military base … More…


  • Sri Lanka’s car-free day sparks debate over women’s safety

    NEW DELHI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - When Colombo’s mayor announced Sri Lanka’s congested capital would go car-free this Sunday to promote a “healthier” lifestyle. But no one appears to have anticipated the furious backlash from women in the city, who say cars offer them much-needed protection from sexual harassment on the streets and on public transport … More…


  • Sri Lanka blasts: Was Taj Samudra Colombo spared in April 21 attack? Hotel asked to provide guest list

    More than two months after blasts rocked three five-star hotels in Sri Lanka, it has now been alleged that one of the attackers was also present at another luxurious hotel, Taj Samudra Colombo, on April 21 but did not detonate the bomb … More…


  • Sri Lanka schools not teaching children actual history: Minister

    Sri Lanka’s schools are not teaching correct history, a government minister said giving credence a growing awareness that kids are being brainwashed with cherry picked historical accounts aimed at triggering nationalist hate through a centralized syllabus … More…


  • Sri Lanka clashes kill one; imposes nationwide curfew after mosques attacked

    One person was killed in Sri Lanka on Monday as police fired tear gas at mobs attacking mosques and Muslim-owned shops and imposed a curfew after the … More…


  • Sri Lanka blocks social media after anti-Muslim unrest

    Sri Lanka is temporarily blocking some social media networks and messaging apps, including Facebook and WhatsApp, it said on Monday after attacks on mosques and Muslim-owned businesses in the worst unrest since Easter bombings by Islamist militants … More…


  • IMF approves disbursement of USD 164.1 million for Sri Lanka

    On May 13, 2019, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed the Fifth Review of Sri Lanka’s economic performance under the program supported by an extended arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility … More…


  • Sri Lanka Bombings Threaten Long-Term Damage to the Economy

    COLOMBO, Sri Lanka—The aftershocks of Sri Lanka’s deadly Easter bombings could damage its fragile economy for years by sapping it of dollars and confidence … More…


  • Sri Lanka stocks fall for 6th session, rupee snaps 2 days of gains

    Sri Lankan shares extended falls into a sixth session on Thursday and closed at their lowest levels in six-and-a-half years, due to shattered investor confidence … More…


  • Suspected Assistant Director to Education Ministry under scrutinization

    COLOMBO (News 1st) - The police stated that investigations on an Assistant Director to the Ministry of Education who was allegedly believed to have maintained contact with a terrorist organization … More…


  • UPDATE : Person arrested with 1000 live rounds - Sri Lanka Latest News

    COLOMBO (News 1st) - A person was arrested with nearly 1000 rounds of live ammunition in Nawagamuwa. The police stated that the suspect was a 38-year-old retired member of the Sri Lanka Army. … More…


  • Lanka restricts 5-day national Vesak festivities to 2 days after Easter bombings

    The Sri Lankan government has restricted the five-day national Vesak festival celebrations to just two days citing the prevailing security situation in the country … More…


  • As Sri Lanka Travel Warnings Dampen Casino Lovers’ Mood, Goa Gaming Clubs Gear Up for Tourist Influx

    The Easter day serial bombings in Sri Lanka, which has crippled the tourism-driven island nation, is likely to divert most of the casino tourists to Goa, say industry sources. More…


  • Sri Lanka government survives no confidence vote

    July 11, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government on Thursday survived a no-confidence vote in parliament after a majority of legislators voted to support the government … More…


  • Sri Lankan authorities say all directly involved in bombings are dead or arrested

    COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Two bomb experts were among the suicide attackers who struck churches and hotels on Easter in Sri Lanka and all those directly involved in the bombings are either dead or under arrest, police said. … More…


  • 48 without visas deported from Sri Lanka: Overstayed their welcome

    COLOMBO (News 1st) - A total of 48 foreigners without valid visas have been deported from the country by the Immigration and Emigration Department. More…


  • 1116 military camouflage uniforms discovered at Seeduwa - Sri Lanka Latest News

    COLOMBO (News 1st) - Two individuals were arrested with 1116 military uniforms (camouflage) by the Seeduwa Police Division during a search operation … More…


  • Curfew imposed after religious tension rises in Negombo

    State schools reopen amid tight security after fighting broke out on Sunday between ethnic Sinhalese people and Muslims. More…


  • Lanka terror group linked to Easter bombings has over Rs 140 million cash, Rs 7 billion worth assets: Police

    The Islamic State-linked Sri Lankan extremist group National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ), blamed for the Easter Sunday bombings, has been found possessing more than Rs 140 million in cash and other assets worth over Rs 7 billion, police said on Monday. More…


  • Sri Lanka police discover suspected training camp for Islamist militants

    KATTANKUDY (Reuters) - Sri Lankan police on Sunday discovered a 10-acre camp in the eastern town of Kattankudy, where Islamist militants linked to the deadly Easter attacks are believed to have practiced shooting and bombmaking. … More…


  • Sri Lanka president: IS ‘chose Sri Lanka to show they exist’

    President Sirisena says the militants targeted a country which had ‘recently established peace’. More…


  • Guns outnumber guests at bombed Sri Lanka hotel as tourism takes a hit

    To get into the marble-floored lobby of the Cinnamon, visitors must pass through two security checks as a new X-ray machine scans bags. … More…


  • ISIS Used Bitcoin to Fund Horrific Sri Lanka Easter Bombings, Research Claims

    Bitcoin played a role in staging the Easter Sunday suicide bombing in Sri Lanka that killed 253 civilians, according to Israeli blockchain intelligence firm Whitestream. … More…


  • TVS Motor rises after launching 100cc motorcycle in Sri Lanka

    TVS Motor Company was up 1.60% to Rs 424.40 at 11:40 IST on the BSE after the company said it launched 100cc economy motorcycle, TVS Sport, in Sri Lanka… More…


  • CCTV: Sri Lanka terrorist fails to detonate bomb in hotel breakfast bar

    Video: Abdul Latheef Mohamed Jameel walks around a hotel’s dining area and eventually sits down, having failed to detonate his device. More…


  • Scientists in Pakistan and Sri Lanka bet their futures on China

    Researchers are turning to China for support and collaboration as their countries take centre stage in the Belt and Road Initiative. More…


  • Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara named new MCC president

    Ex-Sri Lanka batsman Kumar Sangakkara is named as the next president of Marylebone Cricket Club. More…


  • Roy Dias named coach of Sri Lanka A for India tour -

    Members of the Sri Lanka national selection committee will serve as team managers during their national, ‘A’ and ‘Emerging’ sides’ upcoming tours, Sri Lanka … More…


  • Cyclone ‘FANI’ moving away from Sri Lanka

    Colombo (News 1st): Cyclone ‘FANI’ over west-central and southwest Bay of Bengal and to the northeast of Sri Lanka, is located about 670 km northeast of of Trincomalee. The Meteorological Department noted that it is likely to move north-northeastwards moving away from the island towards the coast of Odisha in India More…


  • 25 suspects arrested in Akurana and surrounding areas

    Twenty-five suspects were arrested during these search operations which were conducted with the assistance of the police. Among the material seized by the police were fake number plates, birth certificates, and a suspicious motorbike. More…


  • Weapons cache discovered at Sammanthurai

    COLOMBO (News 1st) - Two hundred sticks of gelignite and several other weapons were discovered during a search operation conducted in a joint operation by the Sri Lanka Army, Police, and STF at Mal Ara area in Sammanthurai … More…


  • Two Indian Nationals Arrested Without Valid Visa In Sri Lanka

    Two more Indian nationals have been arrested by police in Colombo for violating Sri Lankan immigration laws during their stay in the country, authorities said. More…


  • Sri Lanka Reconsiders the Nature of Its Relationship With Saudi Arabia

    As Sri Lanka continues to deal with the fallout from the Easter terrorist attacks, the government is reportedly examining links to Saudi-exported Wahhabism … More…


  • Zakir Naik’s TV Channel Blocked In Sri Lanka After Terror Attack: Report

    Two of Sri Lanka’s major cable TV operators have dropped controversial preacher Zakir Naik’s Peace TV from their list of channels, media reports said, after the … More…


  • Sri Lanka attacks: Government admits ‘major intelligence lapse’

    An official says the government must answer for its failure to prevent the Easter Sunday bombings. More…


  • Sri Lanka attacks: IS ‘may be linked’, government says

    The scale of the attacks suggests that there was foreign assistance, Sri Lankan authorities say. More…


  • Sri Lanka attacks: Volunteers’ small acts of kindness for mourners

    Volunteers provide water, food and support to those mourning the bombing in Negombo, Sri Lanka. More…


  • Sri Lanka: Islamic State claims responsibility for attacks

    First burials take place as death toll following Easter Sunday bombings rises to 321. More…


  • Father of U.S. boy killed in Sri Lanka: Terrorists don’t know what they took

    The father of an 11-year-old boy, who was among at least 4 Americans killed in Sri Lanka’s attacks remembered his son as a “self-driven” world traveler, who … More…


  • Sri Lanka bombings ‘could have been prevented’ - PM

    At least 321 people, including eight Britons, were killed in a series of bombings at churches and hotels in Sri Lanka. More…


  • Sri Lankans Accuse Him of Wartime Atrocities. California May Decide.

    In the decade since Sri Lanka’s civil war ended, a former wartime defense chief has successfully dodged accusations of crimes against humanity. He may soon … More…


  • WHO declares Sri Lanka measles free - | English.news.cn

    COLOMBO, July 10 (Xinhua) – The World Health Organization (WHO) Wednesday said that Sri Lanka had successfully eliminated measles from the island … More…


  • Five takeaways from Sri Lanka’s CWC19 squad

    Sri Lanka made a bunch of surprise additions – and omissions – to their one-day international set-up in announcing their 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s … More…


  • Sri Lanka to offer free visas to tourists from 30 countries, including US

    The island nation off the southern coast of India plans to give away free visas to tourists from more than 30 countries. More…


  • China-donated frigate arrives in Sri Lanka

    The China-gifted frigate “P625” to the Sri Lankan Navy arrives in Colombo Port, Sri Lanka, July 8, 2019. More…


  • Blue Mountain Properties: Large scale scam?

    COLOMBO (News 1st) - Details about another scam similar to “Sakvithi” scam has come to light. Several institutions have commenced investigations into real estate agency Blue Mountain Properties. The company’s business activities include real estate, land sales, condominiums and property management … More…


  • Sri Lanka to slash airline charges to help boost tourism

    COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka’s government says it will decrease ground handling charges for airlines and slash aviation fuel and embarkation taxes to to help the country’s vital tourism industry recover … More…


  • Rain and cricket: When India and Sri Lanka shared the Champions Trophy after washout

    The India vs New Zealand World Cup 2019 semifinal was halted by rain on Tuesday. Since a minimum of 25 overs could not be completed in the Indian innings due to the bad weather, India and Sri Lanka were declared joint winners of the prestigious ODI tournament … More…


  • Sri Lanka on alert as Buddhist hardliners hold first meeting after Easter attacks

    Police lined the streets of the Sri Lankan highland town of Kandy on Sunday and the army was on standby as hardline Buddhist monks gathered for their first big assembly since Easter attacks by Islamist militants … More…


  • After Sri Lanka attacks, Muslims face boycotts and violence

    MINUWANGODA, Sri Lanka — The New Fawz Hotel was a bustling institution in this small Sri Lankan town. But after the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, customers stopped showing up. … More…


  • Wahhabism confronted: Sri Lanka curbs Saudi influence after bombings

    KATTANKUDY, Sri Lanka (Reuters) - Sri Lanka is moving to curtail Saudi Arabian influence, after some politicians and Buddhist monks blamed the spread of the kingdom’s ultra-conservative Wahhabi school of Islam for planting the seeds of militancy… More…


  • Doctor held for ‘sterilising’ women in Sri Lanka was framed: Probe

    COLOMBO: A Muslim doctor falsely accused of secretly sterilising Buddhist women in Sri Lanka remains in detention weeks after his arrest, despite investigators saying he was framed. … More…


  • Sri Lanka court suspends executions until October 30

    Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has issued a temporary injunction against the execution of four people, suspending President Maithripala Sirisena’s move to end a 43-year-old moratorium on capital punishment by hanging the drug convicts. … More…


  • Malinga’s Sri Lanka seeks to ruin India’s bid for top spot

    Lasith Malinga and Sri Lanka can make one last indelible mark on the Cricket World Cup. More…


  • Students ridiculed in Sri Lanka for using brand targeted in anti-Muslim boycott: official

    Students in Sri Lanka’s education system are being ridiculed and are facing ‘punishment’ for using stationary produced by a firm caught in an anti-Muslim boycott … More…


  • Sri Lanka wants ‘big brother’ India to help revive tourism

    Tourism minister assures that the island nation is now safe, announces travel packages discounted by up to 60 percent. More…


  • Sri Lanka could help Chinese manufacturers offset trade war impact

    Development minister leads high-level investment forum in Beijing, pointing to free-trade advantages to offset trade war pressures for Chinese factories. More…


  • Sri Lanka tourism limps back after bombings, figures show

    Colombo (AFP). Tourism in Sri Lanka suffered a huge blow after the Easter bombings that killed 258 people including 45 foreigners, but official figures Wednesday showed a modest recovery … More…


  • 90 pct of Sri Lanka’s live coral reefs dead: marine protection agency - | English.news.cn

    COLOMBO, July 3 (Xinhua) – Sri Lanka’s state owned marine environment protection authority on Wednesday warned that the country only had 10 percent of live coral reefs in its oceans as 90 percent had died due to pollution, illegal fishing methods and excessive climate change … More…


  • World Cup 2019: West Indies, Sri Lanka fined for slow over-rate

    West Indies and Sri Lanka have been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate in their last World Cup match in Durham which Sri Lanka won by 23 runs. More…


  • Sri Lanka hotel stocks rise as tourism recovers faster than expected, rupee gains

    Sri Lanka’s rupee opened strong at 175.9510 against the US dollar in the spot market on Wednesday while bond yields were steady and the stocks opened 0.22 percent higher … More…


  • Sri Lanka’s Gross National Income increases

    Colombo (News 1st): Sri Lanka has moved up to the upper-middle-income category from lower-middle-income category under the World Bank’s new country classification by income level … More…


  • We can beat India and end World Cup on a high: Lanka spinner de Silva

    Sri Lanka may be already out of the World Cup but the team’s off-spinner Dhananjaya de Silva believes they can end their campaign on a high with an upset win … More…


  • Sri Lanka and Malinga blow away England in World Cup shock

    Against all the odds Sri Lanka produced the result of the tournament with a stunning 20-run victory over England. More…


  • Sri Lanka’s New War | Sri Lanka bombings

    101 East investigates what led to Sri Lanka’s Easter attacks and whether they could have been prevented. More…


  • Facebook adds new limits to address the spread of hate speech in Sri Lanka and Myanmar

    As Facebook grapples with the spread of hate speech on its platform, it is introducing changes that limit the spread of messages in two countries where it has come under fire in recent years: Sri Lanka and Myanmar. … More…


  • Cricket World Cup: England’s Jofra Archer and Chris Woakes take early wickets v Sri Lanka

    England’s Jofra Archer and Chris Woakes remove Sri Lanka’s Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Perera as the hosts make early inroads at Headingley. More…


  • World Cup 2019: England vs Sri Lanka- Can the island nation stop the host?

    Sri Lanka is struggling to find its feet in the tournament, and going up against Eoin Morgan’s England will be a challenge. More…


  • Sri Lanka wins “Best Folklore Performance Award” at Seoul tourism fair

    The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau won the “Best Folklore Performance Award” at the SITIF for outstanding performances by the Olaboduwa Dancing Academy. The dancing team also had a chance to perform at the SITIF’s official luncheon on 07 June 2019. … More…


  • Customs revenue down by 30% – Min. of Finance

    COLOMBO (News 1st) - Finance minister Mangala Samaraweera states that Sri Lanka Customs revenue has dropped by 30% during the first 5 months of 2019. More…


  • Two sulking Muslim ministers in Sri Lanka return to government fold

    Two of the nine Sri Lankan Muslim ministers, who had resigned in the wake of growing anti-minority sentiments following the Easter Sunday bombings, returned to the government fold on Wednesday, days after the country’s chief Buddhist prelate urged them to reconsider the decision … More…


  • Railway trade unions to launch strike from midnight today

    Colombo (News 1st): Several railway trade unions have made preparations to launch a strike from midnight today. The strike is being launched due to the failure to implement a cabinet paper rectifying salary anomalies … More…


  • Sri Lanka vehicle registrations down in May 2019

    Jun 19, 2019 (LBO) – Vehicle registrations across the board slowed except for 2 wheelers, mini and light trucks during the period May 2019, a new report shows … More…


  • Sri Lanka top cop on the mat over sterilization scare

    ECONOMYNEXT – The senior-most police officer in the North-Western province is under investigation for attempting to cause racial hatred by planting reports of mass sterilization … More…


  • Lankan prez resumes Cabinet meeting after threatening to boycott over separate Lanka bombings probe

    Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Tuesday presided over a Cabinet meeting, days after he threatened to boycott it over Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s faction initiating a separate parliamentary probe … More…


  • Sri Lanka: Mother-to-child HIV and syphilis elimination, dengue update

    Sri Lanka health officials report that the country is planning to obtain validation certificate by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a country which has eliminated mother to child transmission of HIV and syphilis, according to the government news source. … More…


  • Sri Lanka’s Credit Cards Interest Rates Rise Steeply

    Commercial banks had increased the annualized interest rate on credit cards up to 32% from this month. To the latest figures released by the Central bank of Sri Lanka … More…


  • Ravana 1 launched into orbit

    COLOMBO (News 1st) - Ravana 1 satellite, a creation of two Sri Lankans and proudly bearing the Sri Lankan identity will be launched into the orbit today. More…


  • Sri Lanka’s Lanka Ceramic outsources sanitaryware production to China

    ECONOMYNEXT – Lanka Ceramic, the clay mining company that is part of Sri Lanka’s Royal Ceramics group, has said it has revived its sanitaryware business with production outsourced to China. … More…


  • Cricket: Sri Lanka warned after media no-show

    By Amlan Chakraborty MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) – Sri Lanka have been warned against a repeat of their no-show in the customary post-match news … More…


  • Bombed Catholic church in Sri Lanka attacks reopens

    COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka’s bombed Catholic church was reconsecrated Wednesday, June 12, with a prayer for a strong national leader to punish those responsible for the Easter attacks that killed 258 people. … More…


  • Sri Lanka attacks: India arrests man ‘linked to Easter Sunday bomber’

    He is the allegedly leader of an Islamic State militant cell, federal investigators said. More…


  • Why can’t other boards take a cue from SLC to tackle rain? | .com

    Year after year, SLC successfully hosts series in months afflicted by storms that unload lakefuls of water into their stadia. No full tour of Sri Lanka goes by without a rain interruption, and to watch Sri Lanka’s groundstaff - the fastest in the world - in action, is practically its own form of entertainment. … More…


  • Spanish investor to build cabana hotel near Sri Lanka’s Yala nature reserve

    ECONOMYNEXT – A Spanish investor is to build a hotel with 43 luxury cabanas close to the Yala nature reserve on Sri Lanka’s southeast coast, the Board of the Board of Investment said. … More…


  • Sri Lanka govt defies Sirisena to resume parliamentary probe into Easter blasts

    The Sri Lankan government on Tuesday began the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) investigation into the security lapses surrounding the Easter Sunday … More…


  • Cruise ships return to Sri Lanka as security improves

    ECONOMYNEXT - Cruise ships have begun calling at Sri Lanka’s ports as security improved and travel advisories are being lifted as authorities quickly arrested and shut down an Islamist terror network that had carried out the attack. … More…


  • World Cup 2019: Rain washes out Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka match in Bristol

    World Cup 2019: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka match was called off without a ball being bowled due to heavy rain in Bristol making it 3 washouts within a fortnight at … More…


  • Sri Lanka blasts: Prior warnings ignored by intelligence agency

    The police said the State Intelligence Service received repeated warnings of possible attacks and detailed a series of delays by all security agencies to act. More…


  • Sri Lanka auditor general drops debt to GDP bombshell

    Sri Lanka’s debt to gross domestic product ration is over 87 percent of gross domestic product and not 82.9 percent as claimed by the finance ministry, due to non-recognition of several liabilities, the island’s auditor general has said. … More…


  • Microplastics a key factor in Sri Lanka’s plunging fish stocks, survey shows

    Microplastics and overfishing are the leading causes of extensive marine pollution in Sri Lanka, a new survey has found. The survey showed that the island’s fish stock had dropped drastically by about 80 percent, in part due to high levels of microplastic contamination. More…


  • Pakistan, Sri Lanka share points in 1st washout at World Cup

    The Cricket World Cup had its first washout for 2019, with rain preventing any ball being bowled in the group match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. More…


  • Sri Lanka to ban chainsaws, timber mills: president

    Sri Lanka will ban imports of chainsaws and shut timber mills within five years to protect forests, President Maithripala Sirisena’s office said Friday … More…


  • Muzammil appointed as Western province Governor

    Colombo (News1st) - A. J. M. Muzammil was sworn in as the new Governor of the Western Province before President Maithripala Sirisena … More…


  • Aussie home minister lays wreath at bombed Sri Lanka church

    Australian Home Minister Peter Dutton has laid a wreath and offered condolences for the Easter Sunday bomb attacks in Sri Lanka on a visit … More…


  • Sri Lanka Signs US $ 4.5m Agreement for Luxury Resort

    Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment recently signed a 4.5 million US dollar investment agreement with Sundara (Pvt) Ltd, to develop a luxury hotel on the country’s south coast. The project is to be completed by 2020. … More…


  • Unofficial Test series: India ‘A’ completes 2-0 win over Sri Lanka ‘A’

    India ‘A’ picked up the three remaining Sri Lanka ‘A’ wickets in the first hour of the morning session to register a 152-run win in the second and final unofficial Test at KSCA Stadium here on Monday. … More…


  • Sri Lanka Muslim officials quit in solidarity with minister accused of Islamist ties

    Eight Muslim government officials in Sri Lanka quit their portfolios on Monday in solidarity with the industry minister accused by the opposition of supporting Islamist militants … More…


  • Sri Lanka Muslim gov’t leaders resign over allegations

    Sri Lankan Muslim politicians holding top government positions have resigned, saying they want to enable the government to investigate allegations against some of them on links to Islamic extremist militants. … More…


  • Sri Lanka blasts: Police chief blames president for failing to prevent Easter Sunday bombings

    Suspended Sri Lanka police chief Pujith Jayasundara has blamed President Maithripala Sirisena for failing to prevent the Easter bombings that killed 258 … More…


  • Sri Lanka mulling laws to regulate use of social media: report

    The Sri Lankan government is looking at imposing new laws to regulate the use of social media, the Daily News reported Member of Parliament Lasantha as saying … More…


  • Sri Lanka president says undecided whether to run in upcoming poll

    Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena said on Friday that he had not decided on seeking another term in an election that is due by year-end. More…


  • Sri Lanka Cuts Key Rate to Spur Growth After Terror Attacks

    Sri Lanka’s central bank cut its benchmark interest rate for the first time in more than a year to support the economy after the Easter Sunday terror attacks clouded … More…


  • Veteran actress Chithra Wakishta dies at the age of 83

    COLOMBO (News 1st): Veteran actress Chithra Wakishta passed away at the age of 83. Her relatives said that she passed away while receiving treatment at … More…


  • The man who might have stopped Sri Lanka’s Easter bombings

    Few realised before the attacks that Sri Lanka had a problem with Islamist militancy. One man who did was Mohammad Razak Taslim. More…


  • For Sri Lanka villagers, monkey business feeds off human actions

    The feeding of monkeys on religious and cultural grounds by communities in north central Sri Lanka is turning the animals into pests that raid kitchens and farms. More…


  • Sexism, slander, hatred: Sri Lanka’s culture of online abuse

    From politicians to members of the LGBTQI community, social media in Sri Lanka is a hotbed of harassment and hostility. More…


  • Sri Lanka Cricket World Cup guide: gameplan, key player and prediction

    Having lost 24 of their last 28 completed ODIs, expectations are low and prospects are bleak. More…


  • SL Army march from Anuradhapura launches today

    COLOMBO (News 1st) - A march of the war heroes commenced from Medawachchiya, Anuradhapura today(May 29). The march is held under the auspices of … More…


  • Sri Lanka feature Thirimanne believes power hitting not central to success 29 May 19

    With scores below 300 becoming increasingly rare in modern one-day international cricket, a new fan of the sport could be forgiven for thinking that big-hitting batsmen were the nucleus … More…


  • Eight petrol bombs, military camouflages seized

    COLOMBO (News 1st) - Seven persons were arrested under suspicion during a joint mission carried out by the Police and Armed forces in Dummalasooriya. More…


  • Sri Lanka stocks snap 2 days of falls; rupee edges lower

    Sri Lankan shares snapped two consecutive sessions of falls on Tuesday in high turnover, led by Hatton Plantations Plc, while the rupee closed slightly weaker. More…


  • Sri Lanka releases hard-line Buddhist monk from jail - ucanews.com

    Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera - a hard-line nationalist Buddhist monk - has received a presidential pardon after serving only a few months of his six-year term for contempt of court. More…


  • Sri Lanka in talks with India, Japan to build container terminal in Colombo

    Sri Lanka is in advanced talks with India and Japan to construct a container terminal at the port in Colombo, next to a Chinese terminal built as part of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative … More…


  • Struggling Sri Lanka head to World Cup with point to prove

    By Rohith Nair. (Reuters) - The side’s form in 2019 has been dire, losing eight games in series whitewashes by New Zealand and South Africa, More…


  • DNA Test Confirms Death Of Terror Group Leader In Sri Lanka Easter Blasts

    Sri Lankan authorities have confirmed through DNA tests that one of the two suicide bombers who died in the Shangri-La Hotel bombing during Easter Sunday attacks was Zahran Cassim, the leader of the local terror group National Thawheed Jammath (NTJ) … More…


  • Sri Lanka Central Bank Weighs Options to Support Economy After Terrorist Attacks

    Sri Lanka’s central bank will consider all options to support the economy in the wake of last month’s terrorist bomb attack, including reducing the reserve ratio … More…


  • Maldives asks Lanka to clarify claims made by army chief

    The Maldives has denounced Sri Lankan Army Commander Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake’s remarks about Maldivians traveling to Syria through Colombo … More…


  • Sri Lanka Parliament Official Arrested Over Links To Easter Sunday Blasts

    A Sri Lankan parliament official was among six people arrested for their alleged links to the banned terror group, National Thawheed Jammath (NTJ) … More…


  • Three persons arrested for photographing Vesak decorations

    COLOMBO (News 1st) - Three people were arrested for allegedly photographing Vesak decorations and temples near the Ratnapura town. The mother of the suspects noted that the children are innocent and their hobby was photography. … More…


  • Websites in Sri Lanka suffer cyber attack

    Several websites in Sri Lanka have fallen victim to a series of cyber-attacks. According to the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT), … More…


  • STF recovers ammunition during island wide raids

    COLOMBO (News 1st): The Police Special Task Force has discovered a variety of items in raids conducted islandwide. Three people have been arrested in a raid carried out in Beruwela by the officers of the Aluthgama unit of the Police Special Task Force. More…


  • Behind Sri Lanka’s Attacks

    Does the Sri Lankan government which is torn by a serious internal political division have the ability to deal with a new terrror threat and keep the country safe? More…


  • USA to support Sri Lanka in fight against terrorism

    Colombo (News1st) - Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Thilak Marapana met with his US counterpart Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington yesterday. More…


  • Easter Attacks in Sri Lanka : Terror and the Rise of Violent Extremism

    The terror attacks in Sri Lanka point to the fact that violent extremism has been spreading its tentacles, and has been breeding on existing sectarian fault lines … More…


  • Sri Lanka vows ‘maximum force’ against anti-Muslim rioters

    One man is killed as mobs target mosques and Muslim shops, weeks after the Easter Sunday attacks. More…


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