Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama on Monday (22) ordered former Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa to be further remanded until September 30. The ruling came as the court considered a bail application filed on Rajapaksa’s behalf in connection with charges under the Public Property Act. The Magistrate determined that there were insufficient grounds to release him […]
In one of the largest anti-narcotics operations in recent history, Sri Lankan authorities have seized nearly 600 kilograms of heroin and crystal methamphetamine (ICE) during coordinated raids across the southern region. Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala hailed the breakthrough, stressing the government’s intensified crackdown on criminal networks that have long operated under political protection. […]
Colombo, September 22, 2025 – A fresh weapons discovery in Middeniya has raised new concerns over the reach of organized crime in Sri Lanka, with investigators once again encountering the notorious “K.P.I.” marking. Police recovered two gold-colored T56 magazines, 115 rounds of T56 ammunition, a hand grenade, and a damaged 9mm pistol from a house […]
In a landmark step to strengthen child protection, the Ministries of Justice and Women & Child Affairs, with support from the EU and UNICEF, unveiled a transformative child-friendly justice model in Kandy. The initiative introduces a coordinated, child-sensitive system—from reporting violence to sustained care—addressing long-standing gaps in Sri Lanka’s justice and protection framework. Key reforms […]
Sri Lanka has restarted work on the long-delayed Kadawatha–Mirigama section of the Central Expressway, with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake inaugurating the project on Tuesday (17). The 37-kilometer stretch, abandoned for more than three years, is being revived with a Rs. 229.5 billion investment — a mix of concessional financing from China’s Exim Bank and local […]
The Walasmulla Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday (17) granted police approval to detain and interrogate Sampath Manamperi for seven days in connection with a major narcotics investigation. Manamperi, who surrendered to the court through his attorneys, is suspected of links to the recent seizure of chemical substances believed to be used in manufacturing “Ice” (crystal methamphetamine). […]
Two organized crime suspects Backhoe Saman and Thambili Lahiru were produced before the Walasmulla Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday (17). The pair, who are currently detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), remain in the custody of the Western Province North Crimes Investigation Division. Police said the court appearance was linked to a red notice […]
Trump administration announces framework agreement, with Oracle’s Larry Ellison tipped as likely buyer The Trump administration and China have reached a framework deal to keep TikTok operating in the United States, officials confirmed Monday. The agreement ends years of uncertainty over the app’s future and clears the way for a possible meeting between President Donald […]
COLOMBO (News 1st): The Colombo Permanent Trial-at-Bar High Court has indicted former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and 11 others in connection with the distribution of unapproved antibody vaccines within Sri Lanka’s hospital network. The indictments stem from a high-profile investigation into the alleged circulation of unauthorized or substandard vaccines, which were reportedly distributed without proper […]
Sri Lanka’s final group-stage clash against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup has effectively become a knockout, with all three Group B teams — Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan — still in contention for a Super Four spot. According to cricket analyst Krishna Kumar, the qualification picture is as follows: Qualification Scenarios