Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe says the government will be taking necessary measures to raise the income of the working people and their life style while increasing exports revenues of Sri Lanka. Outlining the economic development measures, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe pointed out that after former President J.R. Jayawardena, the most gigantic development program has been initiated under the rule of President Maithripala Sirisena.

Speaking at the United National Party (UNP) May Day rally held at Campbell Park in Borella on Monday under the theme "May Day Rally of Winning People", the Premier said those who attempt to hinder the government's efforts towards the development of the country will not be allowed room to do so. Trade unions, people's organizations and affiliated organizations of the UNP have made a massive representation of its members at this year's May Day rally.

Addressing the rally, the Prime Minister briefed the challenges faced by the government due to the short-sighted policies of the previous regime. He requested the public to assist the government in its efforts to further develop the country this year. Outlining several UNP proposals aimed at enhancing the living standards of the people, the Premier said some 6000 items could be exported to Europe after gaining the GSP+ facility. He also outlined the details of the development projects scheduled to be launched in the near future. Several Western development projects have already been launched and new campaigns will be started to develop the economy in the North with the assistance of India, he said.

The premier stressed the need to implement massive tourism projects and industrialization of Sri Lanka. The present government has already launched most of these development programs. He said the people, who did not respect human rights and workers' rights and shot and silenced those who stood for the rights of the working class in the past, are trying to block the government's forward march and stop creating employment for youth, and increase income, as well as retard the country's development. "But we are not allowing them to do so," the Premier said. He said that if there are any problems, those should be solved through consultation, consensus and compromise.

The party presented several proposals at the May Day rally yesterday. Public Administration Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara read the proposals to the people. They included ending of political victimization, empowering and giving women more opportunities to engage in politics, providing employment to graduates and the youth, providing technology know-how to school children and ensuring a 13-year education and providing lands and houses to all citizens. UNP General Secretary Kabir Hashim, Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa, Ministers Rajitha Senaratne, Ravi Karunanayake, and Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka also addressed the gathering.

The Sri Lanka Army has decided to appoint a special investigation committee consisting of 07 senior officers chaired by a Major General to probe the accident that occurred during the Diyatalawa Fox Hill Supercross.

Vice Minister of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party, Sun Haiyan, is set to arrive in Sri Lanka today for a two-day official visit, as reported by The Thinakaran Newspaper.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that their Consular Affairs Division will be relocated to the new premises at the 16th floor of “Suhurupaya”, Sri Subhuthipura Road, Battaramulla with effect from May 02, 2024.

Two persons have died after police fired at a three-wheeler that was driving in defiance of orders to halt at Millawa in Moragahahena.

A 78-year-old man, Gopal Rao, of Bengaluru, Karnataka, died of a heart attack while he was swimming from Thalaimannar in Sri Lanka to the Dhanushkodi islet in Rameswaram, T.N., on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.

The National People's Power (NPP) has officially notified the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) yesterday that they are prepared to hold the proposed debate between NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa on one of the following days: May 7, 9, 13, or 14.

The Catholic Church is planning to present a proposal to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) through several foreign governments and international organizations to initiate an international investigation into the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks with a view to mete out justice to the victims of those attacks.

Seven individuals, including a child, lost their lives, and 23 others sustained injuries in a tragic accident at the “Fox Hill Super Cross 2024” racing event in Diyatalawa on Sunday (21). The casualties included four racing event officials serving as flag marshals and civilians who were spectators.

The latest iteration of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) training exercise – CARAT Sri Lanka 2024 will commence with participation by the United States Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and Sri Lanka Navy in Trincomalee today (22).

Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, who took up the position as the Acting Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) could lose his parliamentary seat, according to the party constitution of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), SLPP MP Tissa Kuttiarachchi said today.

Two racing drivers who participated in yesterday's Fox Hill Super Cross 2024 racing event have been arrested by the police over the accident which killed seven people. The arrested are a 36-year-old racer from Matara and 47-year-old from Mahakanda, Peradeniya.

Fmr Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India, Milinda Moragoda met with Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval last Friday (19) in New Delhi. Moragoda, the founder of the Pathfinder Foundation, was on a short visit to India and has had discussions with several senior government leaders and heads of think tanks

The Fox Hill Super Cross 2024 racing event, held in Diyatalawa, turned tragic as a race car veered off the track, resulting in the deaths of five individuals and leaving 21 others hospitalized with injuries.

There is a total shortage of 40,000 teachers in schools in the country, General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers' Union, Joseph Stalin said. Addressing the media, he said the shortage of teachers in schools is reported in the Western, Eastern, North-Central, Southern and Uva Provinces.

Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe was appointed as the Acting Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) by the Maithripala Sirisena faction.The appointment was made during an executive committee meeting held at a hotel in Kotte with the participation of former President Maithripala Sirisena.

Prayers were offered at the St. Anthony’s Shrine, Kochchikade, led by the Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, to mark the fifth anniversary of the Easter Sunday bomb attacks and in commemoration of those whose lives were lost in the terrorist attacks. Meanwhile, another mass was held at the Tewatta Church in Ragama.

A tense standoff unfolded outside the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) headquarters on Darley Road in Colombo 10, as a group attempting to enter the party building was met with resistance from the police.

Claiming that people will not vote as a gratitude for goods distributed by politicians, Minister Prasanna Ranatunge said people have already selected Ranil Wickremesinghe for Presidency as he can rescue the country from the economic crisis.

Nalini Kirubakaran, a 38-year-old at the rehabilitation camp for Sri Lankan Tamils in Tiruchi, became the first naturalised Indian citizen from the Kottapattu camp to vote in a general election on Friday.

The Catholic Church has not accepted proposals of the National Peoples Power (NPP) or the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) over the probes into the Easter Sunday attacks, Member of the Communications Committee of the Archdiocese of Colombo, Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando said today.