The US government officially shutdown yesterday for the first time in five years after the Senate rejected a short-term spending bill to keep the federal government running. The shutdown began at 12:01 am (local time) after a few Republicans joined Democrats in blocking the crucial measure would have provided short-term funding for the Pentagon and other federal agencies, the foreign media reported. Responding to the situation in the US, the US Embassy in Colombo said in a tweet message,   

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (Ceypetco) has revised its fuel prices with effect from midnight today (May 31). The revised rates are as follows:

The results of the GCE Ordinary Level (O/L) examinations for the year 2023 is scheduled to be released by September, Examinations Commissioner Amit Jayasundara said.

The four suspects arrested in India on suspicion of maintaining links with terrorist groups are drug addicts and not religous extremists, Defence Ministry Secretary, General (Retired) Kamal Gunaratne said.

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has proposed to reduce the electricity tariffs by 10-20 per cent following its improved financial performance of first quarter this year, CEB sources revealed.

Health experts have raised concerns about the rising use of tobacco products among schoolchildren in Sri Lanka.

The National Transport Commission (NTC) and private bus associations announced today that bus fares could be revised only if diesel prices drop to Rs. 307 per litre.

The Examinations Department said it released the results of the 2023 (2024) GCE Advanced Level (A/L) examinations a short while ago. They said that the results could be viewed on www.doenets.lk/exam or www.results.exams.gov.lk

Following severe criticism that US Ambassador Julie Chung had interfered in discussing Sri Lanka’s election process with the Election Commission (EC) officials, the EC chairman R.M.A.L. Rathnayake defended the move saying that the discussion with Chung was a casual one.

The overall rate of inflation as measured by the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI) on a Year-on-Year basis has decreased to 0.9% in May 2024. According to the Department of Census and Statistics, the overall rate of inflation has decreased compared to the 1.5% recorded in April 2024. Food inflation has decreased to 0.0% in May from the 2.9% reported in April. Meanwhile, non-food inflation has increased to 1.3% in May from the 0.9% recorded in April.

A delegation of the National Peoples’ Power (NPP) has engaged in a discussion with the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha during which the latter provided a briefing on various bilateral initiatives between India and Sri Lanka.

Former US President Donald Trump has been convicted by the jury for falsifying business records in a case linked to paying off a former porn star. Trump is expected to be sentenced on July 11 but Trumps lawyers are also expected to appeal the decision.

Sri Lanka has again requested Canada not to repeat baseless allegations of genocide here. Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardane took up the issue when she met Canadian Deputy Minister for International Development Christopher MacLennan at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday (28)

Sri Lankan diplomats in Russia will engage with officials of the Russian Defence Ministry this evening, in "first steps" towards repatriating Sri Lankans in Russia, who have been thrust into the battlefront of its war against Ukraine.

The Election Commission has expressed strong dismay over any attempts to delay the upcoming Presidential and Parliamentary elections, insisting they proceed as scheduled.

A powerful western country remains concerned over Sri Lankan ex-soldiers joining the Russian military in the war against Ukraine, an informed source said.

A contempt of court application has been filed before the Court of Appeal against former President Maithripala Sirisena for allegedly disregarding an order made by the Colombo District Court regarding the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) chairmanship.

United National Party (UNP) General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara said today he will explain on Monday his proposal of extending the terms of the President and Parliament by two years.

A 52-year-old nun from a hostel in Kayts has been arrested on charges of assaulting a group of girls residing at the hostel. The arrest came following a complaint filed by the girls with the Kayts Police on Tuesday.

Chaos erupted among the political circles last evening after a statement was made by UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara, stating that a proposal would be brought to Parliament to postpone the presidential and parliamentary elections, with parliamentarians from all parties rejecting the move and calling for an immediate response from the President.

Sri Lanka has announced that Russia will now require clearance from the Sri Lanka Defence Ministry for issuing visit visas to ex-servicemen. This decision was made following a constructive meeting between Sri Lanka's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ali Sabry, and the Russian Ambassador to Colombo, His Excellency Levan S. Dzhagaryan.