News

All government schools in the North-Central Province will remain closed tomorrow (20 January) due to adverse weather conditions, according to the Provincial Education Secretary.

The Governor of the Eastern Province has announced that all schools in the province will remain closed tomorrow (20) due to the prevailing adverse weather conditions.

The Ministry of Energy has issued a special announcement regarding the revision of electricity tariffs recommended by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) today.

Accordingly, it states that once the new electricity tariff revision recommended by the PUCSL is officially received, it will be implemented by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) following the advice of the Ministry of Finance.

The PUCSL today announced that it has decided to reduce electricity tariffs by an average amount of 20% overall with effect from midnight today (17) and that this is for the first 06 months of the year.

Former Minister Wijith Wijayamuni Zoysa has been taken into custody by the Walana Anti-Corruption Unit for allegedly possessing an illegally assembled truck, police reported.

The arrest took place following an investigation led by the anti-corruption authorities, who discovered that the truck in question had been assembled in violation of legal standards. Further inquiries into the incident are currently underway, officials added.

The former minister is expected to be presented before the relevant magistrate court as investigations continue.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, currently on a four-day state visit to China, met with the Secretary of the Communist Party of China for Sichuan Province, Wang Xiaohui this morning (Jan 17).

According to a President’s Office statement, Chengdu, one of the happiest cities in China, is the capital of Sichuan Province and a leading city where the blend of cultural heritage and development harmoniously flourishes, offering its residents a high quality of life.

During the discussions, both sides explored the potential to elevate economic, trade, cultural, tourism, and intergovernmental relations between Sichuan and Sri Lanka to new heights.

Sichuan’s significant achievements in various sectors, including energy, were acknowledged, and the President invited the Secretary of the Sichuan province to share their expertise and success stories with Sri Lanka.

President Dissanayake emphasized that Sri Lanka is currently on a path to economic stabilization under a transparent and investor-friendly administration.

He noted that the country is at a critical political turning point, with the current government empowered by a two-thirds majority granted by a united population from the north, east, west, and south. “The government is fully committed to meeting the expectations placed upon it by its citizens,” he said.

Additionally, the President underscored Sri Lanka’s attractiveness as a destination for Chinese tourists and extended a warm invitation to the people of Sichuan to visit the island and experience its exceptional hospitality.

Joining the discussions were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath and Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Bimal Rathnayake.

Veteran journalist and former Editor of the ‘Ravaya’ newspaper, Victor Ivan has passed away at the age of 75, family members confirmed to Ada Derana.

He had reportedly passed away while receiving treatment at a hospital, where he had been admitted for several months due to an illness.

A prominent investigative journalist, political critic, theorist and social activist, he was also an author of several books.

A Marxist rebel in his youth, Victor Ivan later became the Editor of the controversial Sinhalese newspaper ‘Ravaya’. He served as the Editor of the Ravaya for 25 years consecutively since its inception.

He entered the field of journalism in 1986, at a time when the country was in turmoil with the outbreak of violent youth insurrections.

“The Ravaya”, the monthly magazine that he launched soon became popular among the readers and turned out to be the magazine of highest demand at that time. He later upgraded the Ravaya magazine into a tabloid size weekly newspaper, committed to exposing the corruptions and wrongdoings taking place in the country.

Famous books authored by him include “Chaurya Rajina” in Sinhala on former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaranatunga and the period of her rule. The English translation of it was published under the title “The Queen of Deceit”. He also authored “Pansale Viplawaya”, which was translated into English titled “Revolt in the Temple-The Buddhist Revival up to Gangodawila Some Thera –”

Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Power and Energy and China’s Sinopec Corporation have signed an agreement to build an oil refinery in Hambantota with an investment of USD 3.7 billion.

The agreement was signed during President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s current state visit to China, marking the highest foreign investment secured by the government, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

The proposed oil refinery has a capacity of 200,000 barrels of oil, of which a significant amount is planned to be exported.

This massive investment received by Sri Lanka from China will contribute to the economic growth of the country as well as strengthening the livelihoods of the low-income people in the Hambantota area, and the entire Sri Lankan people very soon, the PMD said in a statement.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath, Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Bimal Ratnayake, Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong, and Sri Lankan Ambassador to China Majintha Jayasinghe also participated in this event.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said that it is the Government’s intention to provide justice to the people who are deprived of the same due to rewards and sponsorships.

She made this statement at the occasion of declaring the renovated Court of Appeal building to the public yesterday.

The renovations of the building were carried out by the expense of People’s Republic of China in the form of a total donation.

Dr. Harini Amarasuriya further expressed her gratitude to the People’s Republic of China for their generosity and support in providing justice to the people of Sri Lanka.

The Colombo High Court today sentenced Gampola Vidanalage Samantha Kumara, also known as "Wele Suda," his wife, and another woman to eight years of rigorous imprisonment each.

The sentences were handed down by High Court Judge Aditya Patabendige following a lengthy trial.

The trio was found guilty under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act for possessing assets worth millions of rupees, which were acquired through heroin trafficking.

In addition to the prison sentences, the court imposed fines on the convicts and ordered the confiscation of illegally acquired assets, including money and gold.

According to the MET Department, rainy condition is expected to continue further in Northern, North-central, Eastern, Uva and Central provinces.

Cloudy skies are expected over most parts of the island.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Northern, Eastern, North-central, Uva, Central and Southern provinces.

Very heavy showers above 150 mm can be expected at some places in Eastern and Uva provinces and in Hambantota district.

Heavy showers above 100 mm can be expected at some places in Northern province and in Matale, Nuwara-Eliya, Polonnaruwa, Galle and Matara Districts.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places elsewhere.

Fairly strong winds of (30-40) kmph can be expected at times over Eastern slope of the central hills and Northern, North-central, Eastern and North-western provinces and in Hambantota and Monaragala districts.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, China.

China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said "China and Sri Lanka have seen a deepening strategic cooperative partnership based on sincere mutual assistance and ever-lasting friendship and fruitful outcomes in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and multi-sectoral exchanges and cooperation, which have delivered tangible benefits to their peoples."

In response to an invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is currently on a state visit to China, visited the exhibition hall on the history of the Communist Party of China today (15).

Following this, President Disanayake visited the historic Prince Kung's Palace Museum in China.

Later, he paid his respects by offering flowers at the Mao Zedong Memorial, dedicated to the founding leader of the People's Republic of China.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, and Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation, Bimal Rathnayake, also participated in these events.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has arrived in the island, a short while ago, following the conclusion of his four-day state visit to China.

On the final day of his visit, President Disanayake held a meeting this morning with Wang Xiaohui, the Secretary of the Communist Party of China for the Sichuan Province.

Subsequently, the President toured the Dongfang Electric Corporation located in the Chengdu City, the capital city of the province of Sichuan.

Marking the conclusion of his state visit, President Disanayake also visited the Shanqi Model Village, which showcases sustainable rural development and revitalization efforts, as well as the National Science, Technology, and Agriculture Centre in Sichuan.

The delegation accompanying the President included the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath and the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation, Bimal Rathnayake, who participated in these engagements..

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake arrived at the Beijing International Airport today (14) on his first state visit to China at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

President Dissanayake was accorded a ceremonial welcome by the Chinese military, and he was formally received by China’s Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong.

The route taken by President Anura Kumara Disanayake was elegantly decorated on both sides with the national flags of both nations, symbolizing mutual respect and diplomacy, the President’s Media Division said.

During this state visit, the President is scheduled to participate in several key engagements, including field visits focused on technological and agricultural development, as well as initiatives aimed at poverty alleviation. The visit also includes high-level business meetings and discussions.

Furthermore, several Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation between Sri Lanka and China are expected to be signed during the visit.

The delegation accompanying President Dissanayake includes Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism Vijitha Herath, Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Bimal Rathnayake Ambassador of People’s Republic of China in Colombo Qi Zhenhong and Sri Lankan Ambassador Majintha Jayesinghe.