The Department of Meteorology says that an increase in rainfall is expected in the Northern and Eastern provinces starting tomorrow. This is due to the low-pressure area currently existing over the Bay of Bengal, which is moving west-northwestward and is expected to reach the southern Bay of Bengal near the Sri Lanka-Tamil Nadu coastline by…
Deputy Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni announced today in Parliament that the use of children under the age of 12 in commercial advertisements will be suspended starting January 1st. Dr. Wijemuni further confirmed that steps have been taken to enforce the relevant gazette notification.
“We remind the government and the representatives in the legislature that it is important to adopt a transparent and inclusive process of policy and law-making that is proportionate and responsive to the needs of the people. Dialogue and communication with the sovereign people of this country will deepen legitimacy and public trust in governance,” says…
The interim budget since the formation of the new government will be presented to Parliament today. The purpose of this is to approve new provisions for services for the financial year 2025. The debate on the interim budget will take place in Parliament today and tomorrow.
The liquor manufacturing license issued to W.M. Mendis & Co. Limited will be suspended from today (December 5) due to their failure to pay Rs. 5.7 billion in excise taxes and surcharges, the Excise department said. Accordingly, as per the provisions Excise Ordinance Act, the Commissioner General of Excise has ordered to suspend the liquor…
In recent years, South Asia has experienced notable shifts in female labour force participation (FLFP), with significant variations across countries. India, for instance, has seen a remarkable increase in women’s workforce participation, rising from 22% to 40.3% over six years. This growth has been driven by policies promoting diversity and inclusion, alongside economic developments that…
Over 4,000 wild elephants have died in Sri Lanka over the past 14 years, highlighting an escalating human-elephant conflict fuelled by illegal activities and habitat loss. The grim statistics were shared by Sameera Weeratunga of the Udawalawe Elephant Research Project on Friday (29), following the death of the tusker Deega Danthu 1, who was fatally…
Dr. Asoka Ranwala has endorsed three Bills per the provisions of Article 79 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka. The Speaker had informed the House that in terms of the provisions of Article 79 of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, the Speaker of the Ninth Parliament had endorsed the certificate…
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal to allow the import of rice without import control permits until 20 December, 2024. Cabinet Spokesman, Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said that the Cabinet considered the advisability of temporarily lifting the existing restrictions on the import of rice, in view of the current shortages of rice, including…
The air quality levels have dropped in several cities across Sri Lanka, the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has said. In Colombo, the air quality is forecasted to range between 108 and 116, while Jaffna and Polonnaruwa are expected to record even higher levels, between 112 and 120 within the day. Other cities, including Kurunegala,…
