Mar 12 (NW) The suspect arrested in connection to the rape of a female doctor at the A'pura Teaching Hospital is an individual who had been recently released from prison over another case. The suspect is a 34-year-old resident of Galnewa and had been living as a monk, after having deserted the military in the past. He was arrested in Galnewa this morning by a special team of the Galnewa Police Station. more..

Mar 12 (PMD) A meeting between President Anura Kumara Disanayake and officials of the Urban Development Authority (UDA) held today (12) at the Presidential Secretariat. The discussion focused on reviewing the UDA’s ongoing development projects and ensuring the effective utilization of budget allocations, with an emphasis on key priorities. This discussion extensively focused on strengthening the national economy through systematic urban development. more..

Mar 12 (AD) The token strike initiated by the GMOA in protest of the recent sexual assault on a female doctor will continue until 8 a.m. tomorrow, despite the main suspect of the incident being arrested. Secretary of the GMOA Sugath Sugathadasa confirmed the strike’s continuation after a discussion with the Minister of Health. “We are conducting this token strike from 8 a.m. today until 8 a.m. tomorrow. The strike will conclude tomorrow morning. We, as the GMOA, are resolute more..

Mar 12 (AD) The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) has expressed strong dissatisfaction towards the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) for appearing before the committee without prior preparation. Accordingly, the officials who were present were sent back with instructions to appear on a future date, after being duly informed and adequately prepared. This occurred during a meeting of the COPA held recently at the Parliament under the Chairmanship of MP Aravinda more..

Mar 12 (Island) Badulla District NPP MP Dinindu Saman alleged in Parliament that a project carried out in the Bogahapelessa Forest Reserve, located in the Mahalanda GN Division of Haldummulla had caused massive environmental destruction. MP alleged that the project had been carried out by a former Governor of the Uva Province. Responding to MP, Energy Minister Kumara Jayakodi said that an investigation was underway into illegal operation in the Bogahapelessa Forest Reserve. more..

Mar 12 (DM) The Fort Magistrate ordered the Bribery Commission to file a report before court on their investigations on March 26 over the Krrish Real Estate Funds misappropriation by Namal Rajapaksa. Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura made this order to the CIABOC in the case in which Namal Rajapaksa was allegedly charged for receiving funds from Indian real estate company Krrish Group, purportedly for the development of Rugby more..

Mar 12 (AD) The health condition of veteran actress Malini Fonseka, widely regarded as the Queen of SL cinema, is showing signs of improvement, hospital sources confirmed. Fonseka was admitted to a private hospital in Colombo a few weeks ago due to an illness. However, her family members stated this morning that she is recovering well. Meanwhile, her family strongly refuted rumors circulating on social media regarding her health, urging the public not to believe or share false information more..

Mar 12 (NW) Former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe was seen attempting to defuse tensions at an event involving a group of UNP members. Video footage of the event shows the UNP members attempting to share their grievances with the party leader. However, Ranil Wickremesinghe was seen asking them to remain quiet and seated, which prompted some UNP members to leave the event. Party sources said the matter was settled by party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe who intervened and more..

Mar 12 (DM) Credible information as to how public funds have been misappropriated from the entire Mahinda Rajapaksa official residence renovation project has now reached this newspaper, following the Right to Information Commission’s stern order to the contractor- Lanka Building Materials Corporation- to release the requested details to the Daily Mirror. As per the documents Rs. 421.93 million, out of tax payers’ monies, more..

Mar 12 (CT) The Cabinet has approved the appointment of a committee to study the impact of bus decorations and modifications on the safety of passengers travelling in passenger buses, and to submit a report with recommendations for appropriate action in this regard. Changes in vehicle design and modifications can be made with the prior approval of the Commissioner General of Motor Traffic, in accordance with orders issued under the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act. more..

Mar 12 (AD) Officers of the CID have conducted a search at the office premises of former MP Sagala Ratnayaka at Morawaka in Matara, as part of their efforts to locate former IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon. The search follows an open arrest warrant issued by the Matara Magistrate’s Court yesterday, directing authorities to immediately arrest Tennakoon wherever he is found and to produce him before the court. Meanwhile, a petition filed by Tennakoon before the Court of Appeal, more..

Mar 12 (EN) Newer types of gender discrimination and harassment of women are happening due to biased algorithms in online spaces, UN representative in SL Marc André Franche has said. “Newer threats, such as biased algorithms and programming inequalities, into online spaces are opening new arenas for harassment and abuse,” Marc André Franche said. Algorithms can be trained to reflect past narratives and social agendas. “At the current rate, it would take 134 years to more..

Mar 12 (DM) Chinese govt announced today that it will support the establishment and development of sports, including Tai Chi and Dragon Boat racing, in Sri Lanka. This decision was announced during a meeting between Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong and Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Sunil Kumar Gamage at the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Additionally, the Chinese govt pledged its support for SL’s sports and youth development, according to Ambassador Qi Zhenhong. more..

Mar 12 (AD) Police urges all school students, parents and old boys to enjoy the school Big Match season in a safe and honourable way. ASP F.U. Wootler stated that the police are very much concerned about the safety risks of high-speeding and drunken driving that leads to deaths and severe property damage during Big Match. vehicle parades. “We all know that vehicle processions are a very common tradition more..

Mar 12 (EN) The significance of the shipping and logistics sector in driving economic growth and trade efficiency between SL and Viet Nam was discussed at a forum held recently. “Both countries acknowledged the need for enhanced logistics and maritime connectivity, streamlined trade processes, and more robust engagement to maximize mutual benefits,” Export Development Board (EDB), which conducted the webinar, said. “The main objective of the program is to promote capabilities and more..

Mar 12 (AD) An overseas travel ban has been imposed on a teacher at a private tuition class who is accused of forcing students to kneel and assaulting them. National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) has stated that although the suspected teacher was summoned to appear before the NCPA yesterday for an inquiry, he had disregarded the notice and failed to appear. Accordingly, after informing the court, NCPA has taken steps to obtain an overseas travel ban against more..

Mar 12 (RNZ) An aspiring SL politician - who was sidelined because she was a woman - found her house surrounded by gunmen, and was also a victim of sextortion, a tribunal has heard. The 32-year-old has been granted refugee status in New Zealand. She said a prominent MP's associates suggested she should have sex with him to further her career and now held a grudge against her, after a friend posted on social media more..

Mar 12 (DM) The passenger who was arrested for allegedly attempting to sexually harass two SriLankan Airlines flight attendants, was released on two sureties of Rs. 100,000 each by Colombo Chief Magistrate Tanuja Lakmali today. The court also imposed a travel ban on the suspect. The passenger, who had travelled on a flight from Mumbai, India, to Katunayake, was taken into custody early this morning at the BIA by SriLankan Airlines security officers in coordination more..

Mar 12 (AD) Election Commission has issued a special notice to govt officials, security officers, and postal vote certifying officers who wish to cast postal votes and are qualified to do so. Accordingly, the deadline for submitting postal vote applications for the Local Government elections, originally set for midnight on March 12, has been extended to midnight on March 17. This extension was granted due to possible postal delays and requests made to the commission, it said. more..

Mar 12 (FT) Much research has been done by numerous experts on the future of the plantation industry involving tea, rubber and coconut. While very valuable strategic options have been provided and focus shifted to existing and emerging technology as a futuristic vision, critical grassroots activities have not been adequately addressed. Who will pluck the tea, tap the rubber and pluck coconuts in say 20 years’ time. How will they do it? A major, but yet unmet challenge exists with the tea, more..

Mar 12 (FT) In today’s fast-moving digital world, convenience is king. Consumers want freedom, flexibility, and the ability to switch to better products and services at will. Mobile Number Portability seems like a step in that direction giving users the ability to change telecom providers while keeping their number. On the surface, it sounds empowering. No more being tied to a single provider just because of a long-held number. No more hesitation about switching due to hassle of updating contacts. more..

Mar 12 (AD) GMOA has decided to launch an island-wide 24-hour token strike tomorrow in protest over the sexual assault on a female doctor at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital. The token strike is to commence from 8 a.m. today as decided during the executive committee meeting of the GMOA. Doctors and staff at the A'pura Teaching Hospital commenced a strike this morning demanding immediate arrest of the individual more..

Mar 12 (CT) Minister of Public Security, Ananda Wijepala, confirmed yesterday that the suspect involved in the alleged sexual assault of a female doctor at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital on the night of 10 March has been identified. The Minister revealed that the suspect was an army deserter and that five Police teams had been deployed to arrest him. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa raised serious concerns in Parliament regarding the incident, calling for immediate action. more..

Mar 12 (TM) Former Prez Maithripala Sirisena has paid the Rs. 1 million in compensation, which was ordered to be paid following the quashing of the Presidential pardon granted to the convict in the Royal Park murder case, his lawyers have informed the Supreme Court (SC). A three-Judge bench of the SC, which had previously considered the facts presented that the compensation had not been paid, issued an order yesterday (11) directing that notice be issued to Sirisena. more..

Mar 12 (TM) India’s Adani Green Energy has expressed its willingness to work with SL on proposed renewable energy projects on the same terms decided earlier, a source said. But Minister Nalida Jayatissa said a discussion on the deal is possible only after a price revision. Adani Group last month said it had decided to withdraw its wind power deals with SL, after Colombo’s recently elected govt demanded to lower the price. more..

Mar 12 (TM) The Ministry of Health stated that the existing laws are sufficient to prevent organ trafficking for transplantation and address any related incidents. Organ trade is the trading of human organs, tissues, or other body parts, usually for transplantation. According to the World Health Organisation, the organ trade is a commercial transplantation where there is a profit, or transplantations that occur outside of national medical systems. more..

Mar 12 (ST) SL govt is looking at alternative financing for a minimum of a dozen govt projects hitherto supported by USAID. The initiative comes in light of the recent US govt move to freeze foreign assistance, significantly impacting the nation’s development programmes a high official of the Finance Ministry said. At the time of the freeze, USAID funds were actively supporting five projects of Ministries of Justice and Finance (one each) and Ministry of Environment (two projects). more..

Mar 12 (Island) Canadian media reported that a SL woman had been shot dead and a man badly wounded inside a Markham home that police say was targeted and shot at multiple times in the last year. Shooting happened around 6:30 a.m. Friday at a residence on Solace Road, near Highway 48 and Castlemore Avenue. Officers who responded to the shooting found the two adults with gunshot wounds. Female victim has been identified as 20-year-old Nilakshi Raguthas, a relative of slain more..

Mar 12 (DN) Sri Lanka’s Electrical and Electronic manufacturing sector exports will see a growth of 15% this year reaching USD 500 million, said Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe at the launch of the Dvolt Electric products reinforcing Sri Lanka’s reputation as a rising leader in this space. “While the increase of Electrical and Electronic manufacturing is a commendable achievement, we must recognise that it represents only a fraction of what we can truly accomplish. more..

Mar 12 (TM) Ministry of Urban Development, Construction, and Housing is reviewing whether the compensation paid to more than 40 Parliamentarians for damages to their houses during the 2022 unrest aligns with the actual losses incurred. Minister Nalinda Jayatissa recently revealed in the Parliament that some 43 former MPs have obtained compensation of Rs. 1.2 billion for the damages caused to their houses & property more..

Mar 12 (DM) Central Bank has continued its foreign currency buying spree for the fourth consecutive year running, as they ended up being the net absorber of foreign currency in Feb 2025, extending from January. The CB had collected US$ 78.3 million in foreign currency from the domestic foreign exchange market in February but ended up with net purchases of US$ 70.3 million for the month due to little sales of about US$ 8.0 million which appears to have been made to support the currency. more..

Mar 12 (DM) Prez Dissanayake reaffirmed that the govt would not reintroduce import controls on vehicles, noting that US$ 150 million worth of Letters of Credit (LCs) have been opened since the liberalisation of vehicle imports. He emphasised that the govt closely monitors vehicle import data from the banking system on a daily basis. “As of 10 Feb, there were US$ 150 million worth of LCs were opened,” he said. Speaking at the 26th anniversary of the COYLE in Colombo, more..