The blanket ban imposed by the Sri Lankan government to restrict indiscriminate use of polythene bags at groceries and retail outlets will come into effect from January 1, 2016. According to the government, the directive is aimed at minimizing the effect of the disposal of the polythene bags on public health and protecting the environment. The use of polythene bags with less than 20 microns will be prohibited from January 1. Violators will be fined up to Rs. 10,000 or face imprisonment according to a Presidential directive.

The legislation was brought in to combat the generous use of shopping bags and food wrappers in shopping malls and the home environment, resulting in its haphazard disposal polluting the environment. Sri Lanka Under section 23W of the National Environmental Act No. 47 of 1980 enacted the law banning the use of polythene of less than 20 microns in thickness in 2007 when President Maithripala Sirisena was the Minister of Environment. However, the law was not enforced.

While refuting claims by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe that his government had allocated funds required to increase public sector salaries, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that no such funds had been allocated.

A Fundamental Rights petition has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking an order preventing Ranjan Ramanayake from contesting the parliamentary election scheduled for November 14.

Claiming that Sri Lanka has come a long way in terms of undertaking reforms which have led to some hard won gains, the International Monetary Fund (IMF)said they could move fast towards the third review which will come up soon.

The Election Commission has decided to mark the voters' index fingers for this year's general elections, Commissioner General Saman Ratnayake announced. He said the elections are scheduled for November 14, 2024.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is set to hold a series of meetings with the High Commissioners of South Africa and New Zealand, along with the Ambassadors of Iran and Myanmar, as well as a delegation from the European Union today (25) at the Presidential Secretariat.

Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the security threats to Israeli nationals in the Arugam Bay area, Public Security Minister Vijitha Herath said.

Sri Lanka should get its foreign policy right in the wake of the escalating Middle East crisis, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Mujibur Rahman said today.

The Canadian government has issued a travel advisory urging travellers to exercise a high degree of caution in Sri Lanka due to demonstrations, the threat of terrorist attacks and crime, particularly in the Arugam Bay area.

Sri Lankan security forces have been alerted to a potential attack on Israelis in the Arugam Bay area by Indian intelligence agencies. According to intelligence information, the threat is believed to be targeted at foreign nationals.

Former Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara asked why the government did not take action to beef up security for foreign tourists in advance if it had received information on a possible threat on October 7, according to the statement made by Acting Chief of Police.