A fire broke out onboard a cargo ship anchored in the port of Colombo this morning. A senior Sri Lanka Ports Authority official said that port staff, including the fire fighting unit, successfully brought the blaze under control. While the extent of damage to the ship has not yet been assessed, significant damage to both the cargo and the vessel has been reported

On October 16, 2024, the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau when testifying at the Public Inquiry into the Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral process and Democratic Institutions, publicly reaffirmed Canada's commitment to protecting Tamil Canadians from Sri Lanka's foreign interference in Canada.

With heavy inter-monsoonal rain beating the country, the election authorities have decided to work out extra plans along with the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) to conduct polling of the General Election next Wednesday without any impact from a possible disaster situation, an official said.

Ahead of the parliamentary election on November 14, the Election Commission has reiterated that all State and Private sector banks and financial institutions must grant leave to employees for voting without affecting their pay. This directive, based on Section 122 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, comes following complaints that some institutions have not adhered to this rule. The Commission calls on heads of these institutions to ensure that staff receive the necessary leave to cast their vote at their assigned polling stations.

The Ministry of Education has issued a circular requiring social media platforms like WhatsApp, Viber, and Telegram, used for educational activities in schools, to be continuously monitored by school authorities.

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) arrested 58 Sri Lankans in Narahenpita on suspicion of involvement in online financial fraud. The suspects are believed to have conducted fraudulent activities online, prompting a swift CID response. Further investigations are underway.

The government ruled out any plans to offer ministerial portfolios to EPDP leader former minister Douglas Devananda. NPP member Bimal Ratnayake told an election meeting in Jaffna that Devananda was misleading the people claiming that the President had agreed to offer him a ministerial portfolio.

The vehicle owned by Samagi Jana Sandanaya (SJS) National Organiser and national list nominee Sujeewa Senasinghe has been cleared by the government analyst as being genuine. Senasinghe told Daily Mirror that the vehicle was handed over to the government analyst yesterday and later released.

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe says despite the International Monetary Fund (IMF) having projected Sri Lanka’s growth to be moderate in 2024-25, at around 3%, it was at 4.4% at present. Speaking at a public event, the former President said that Sri Lanka’s growth has the potential to reach 5% next year.

Police reported the arrest of 11 election candidates for distributing leaflets, displaying posters, and staging protests to release suspects. 353 supporters were detained for election law violations. The silent period for the general election will start after campaigns end at midnight on 11 November.

The Education Ministry announced that all schools will close from November 13 in preparation for the parliamentary elections scheduled for the following day (November 14).

The government is considering obtaining the membership of the New Development Bank (NDB), a multilateral development bank established by the BRICS states, after failing to obtain BRICS membership due its decision not to grant new membership, Minister Vijitha Herath said yesterday.

The Election Commission (EC) has announced that postal voting for the 2024 General Election will end today (8). Voters who missed the initial voting days on 1 and 4 November were given special opportunities to cast their votes yesterday and today. According to Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake, voters can cast their postal votes at the District Secretariats in their workplace districts until the end of today.

The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) has decided to close its Narahenpita Head Office on Wednesday, November 13 and Thursday, November 14 due to the General Elections. DMT Commissioner General Nishantha Anuruddha Weerasinghe stated that the decision was taken as the office will be used as an election centre on these dates.

The public who have fallen victim to online financial scams through social media, such as WhatsApp, has been requested to inform the Police Computer Crime Investigation Division.

Former State Minister Lohan Ratwatte and his wife Shashi Prabha Ratwatte were further remanded till November 18 over the case involving an unregistered luxury vehicle. They were further remanded by Nugegoda Magistrate Ruvini Jayawardena after they were produced before the court this morning.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressed hope that Sri Lanka will receive the third tranche under the IMF Extended Fund Facility (EFF) by the end of January or early February next year.

Claiming that some opposition politicians are alleging that the government has failed to fulfil its promises, Minister Vijitha Herath said the manifesto of the National People's Power (NPP) was presented to be completed within five years and not within five weeks.

The Chief Colombo Magistrate's Court today ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident of publishing false information about President Anura Dissanayake’s health condition during the last Presidential election.

Sri Lanka’s official reserve assets rose to $6.46 billion in October 2024, marking a 7.9% increase from $5.99 billion in September, according to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL).

Republican Donald Trump claimed victory in the 2024 presidential contest after Fox News projected that he had defeated Democrat Kamala Harris, which would cap a stunning political comeback four years after he left the White House.