IMF assistance expected in March – President

Colombo (News 1st) – Royal College Colombo have won the 144th edition of the Battle of the Blues with a comprehensive 181 run win against S. Thomas' College Mount Lavinia.This is the 36th time that Royal College have won the Battle of the Blues.Royal, who were put into to bat first in the match held at the Colombo SSC ground, declared their 1st innings on 326 runs for the loss of 8 wickets.In reply, S.

#Arcturus variant has now been detected in at least 12 countries. Highest cases in India followed by the US, Brunei, Singapore and the UK. In India, there is a 281% increase in cases 17% increase in deaths over the past 14 days.

#Arcturus could succeed to wade through the ‘sturdy’ population immunity of Indians that successfully resisted the onslaught of variants like BA.2.75, BA.5, BQs, XBB.1.5, then whole world must be seriously worried!! pic.twitter.com/PZYuM7hD7Q Though XBB.1.16 is capable of turning off both innate & adaptive responses, I wud be surprised if it cud generate a major surge here. All will depend on how well population immunity would resist this at the backdrops of differentially imprinted immunity & its waning overtime! he also tweeted.  Meanwhile, Dr Randeep Guleria, former AIIMS director and the chairman of the Institute of Internal Medicine, Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Director-Medical Education at Medanta, and former AIIMS director said that the rise in COVID cases seems to be driven by the XBB 1.16 variant, but most cases are not severe, so there is no need to panic as of now.

Officials in Minnesota are monitoring the cleanup of a massive spill of radioactive water from a nuclear power plant just outside Minneapolis. About 1.5 million litres (400,000 gallons) of nuclear wastewater leaked from the plant back in late November, but the incident wasn’t made public until Thursday.

LANDOVER, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 27: Marcus Mariota #1 of the Atlanta Falcons drops back to pass against the Washington Commanders at FedExField on November 27, 2022 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Eagles have reportedly agreed to terms on a deal with a new backup quarterback for the upcoming season.According to reports, QB Marcus Mariota and the Eagles agreed to a one-year, $5 million deal that could be worth up to $8 million. Mariota, who spent last season with the Atlanta Falcons, is expected to serve as the backup to Jalen Hurts.

Gogglebox star Ellie Warner has given her fans a pregnancy update, revealing she's been diagnosed with a health condition. The Channel 4 star, 32, is expecting her first child with boyfriend Nat and has been keeping Gogglebox viewers updated with her pregnancy journey on the hit TV show. During Friday evening's episode, Ellie sat down with older sister Izzi to watch a new instalment of The Apprentice and shared that she'd been diagnosed with gestational diabetes.

Colombo (News 1st) – It is of "utmost importance" that the next Inspector General of Police of Sri Lanka "should be an officer whose service in the police force is exemplary and free of any blemish and able to restore public confidence in the Sri Lanka Police," stated the Bar Association of Sri Lanka in a letter addressed to President Ranil Wickremesinghe.The BASL letter has been issued in response to news that the office of the IGP is due to fall vacant on the 23rd of March, 2023."It is of utmost importance that the best possible appointment be made to that office" the BASL urged the President."During the last few decades there has been a serious erosion of public confidence in the Sri Lanka Police. The lack of independence, politicisation, police brutality, custodial deaths, lack of professionalism have all contributed to the erosion of public confidence in the Police.

Also Read: Getting less than 6 hours of sleep? How Covid-19 negatively impacted our sleep pattern With India reporting an uptick in covid cases over the last few weeks, the government has directed six states to examine the situation at micro level and maintain compliance like surveillance, testing and monitoring new and emerging covid clusters. Meanwhile, as per news reports, the new variant XBB 1.16 is likely to cause the next coronavirus wave.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Education Minister Susil Premajayanth said that from the 23rd of March school text books will be distributed to all students across all schools in the country.He was speaking at the school books and stationery distribution program named 'Divi Saviya' organized by the LOLC Holdings on Friday (17).The 'Divi Saviya' program organized by LOLC Holdings will distribute school books and stationery material to all students.Friday's (17) program took place at the Ganemulla Sri Sumangala Prime School, and it was attended by Education Minister Susil Premajantha.This event was also attended by Kithsiri Gunawardena, Chief Operating Officer of LOLC Holdings PLC and Gampaha Zonal Education Director P. D.

Colombo (News 1st) – The Bar Council of England and Wales in a press release stated that it hopes "parliamentary authorities in Sri Lanka will reconsider most carefully the appropriateness of questioning Supreme Court Judges before a parliamentary committee, and we similarly hope that the Sri Lankan government will consider most carefully whether it can be ever be right to encourage disobedience to court orders.”The release refers recent statements made by State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe and Premnath Dolawatte MP, referring to an ongoing case in the Supreme Court pertaining to the Local Authorities elections.The release, quoting the Chair of the Bar Council of England and Wales, Nick Vineall KC, said: “An independent judiciary is an essential and integral part of the rule of law.

Former reality TV star Josh Duggar has been handed nearly two months of additional jail time on top of his existing 12 and a half year sentence, as per prison records.Duggar, 35, was convicted of child pornography charges in 2021.Duggar’s extended sentence comes after he was caught with a contraband cellphone last month. As a result, the 19 Kids and Counting ex-castmate was reportedly placed in solitary confinement.

John Wick movies and HBO’s The Wire, has died at the age of 60.Reddick died “suddenly” Friday morning, his publicist Mia Hansen said in a statement, attributing his death to natural causes. His death was first reported by celebrity website TMZ.com.

PHILADELPHIA - Hours after a batch of recruits graduated the police academy to join Temple's police force, two incidents happened on campus that underscored the safety challenges facing the school. According to Temple police, a person with a gun was spotted by a security officer inside the cafeteria of Morgan Hall and was arrested by responding officers. Around the same time, police responded to a report of two individuals firing pellet guns at people near the intersection of Willington and Berks streets. Authorities have not reported any arrests. Temple University added eight new officers to its force on Friday.

MANHATTAN, New York - A civilian helped catch an armed suspect Thursday, who was fleeing from police in New York City. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of New York, the suspect, Jason Fleming, was arrested on March 16 after brandishing loaded weapons following a dispute in a crowded bodega in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood.Surveillance video shows Fleming, 39, outside the bodega pulling back his coat momentarily to reveal a rifle that had been swung over his shoulder.Police officers then approached the suspect after a witness called 911, and Fleming took off running down the sidewalk. In the footage, the citizen pushes the suspect into a nearby fence.

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GettyImages-1266078450 "There is a lot of disintegration of families, there is a lot of individualism, there is a lack of love, of brotherhood, of hugs and embraces," López Obrador said of the U.S. crisis. "That is why they (U.S.

A 55-year-old woman fought to get the gun away from her son and was shot herself after he killed two Edmonton Police Service officers who were responding to a domestic violence call in their home overnight Thursday.

Nature photographer Mathew Nichols spent a few chilly nights this winter in the woods of Washington's Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park, documenting the surreal formation of "hair ice" – also known as "needle ice" or "beard frost" – which can be found when cold conditions are just right.Nichols, who spends quite a bit of time outdoors, has seen these odd-looking branches that have icy needles protruding from the branch. How did they get there? You need the right kind of wood and the right kind of fungus."Hair Ice is caused by a fungus that lives within the decaying wood, and this fungus 'breathes' or releases its spores through the night, pushing the moisture harnessed within the wood out of the wood's pores, causing it to immediately freeze with contact of the below freezing temperatures," Nichols said.As the fungus' "breath" continues to freeze through tiny pores, long, thin strands of ice form, which in the aggregate, appear to look like hair.Nichols wanted time-lapse video to show how they form and melt, but this was no easy photo shoot."Hair Ice" grows on a dead branch in the woods of northwestern Washington in March.

PHILADELPHIA - Concerns about gun violence are mounting for residents in two Philadelphia neighborhoods where police say teens were injured in shootings that involved attempted car thefts. Carlian Burns lives near the intersection of 24th Street and Ridge Avenue where police say a 16-year-old old and an 18-year-old were shot during a suspected car theft Friday morning."It’s wild because something is always happening," Burns said. Both shooting victims were found by police and taken to Temple University Hospital where the 18-year-old who suffered multiple gunshot wounds was placed in critical condition. MORE LOCAL HEADLINESHours earlier, police in Philadelphia's Tacony section said a shootout erupted in broad daylight when the owner of a Toyota sedan caught two teens attempting to steal the car.An 18-year-old was shot multiple times in the exchange of gunfire with the vehicle's owner, who police say is licensed to carry a firearm and is cooperating with the investigation. The second suspect who was inside the driver's seat when the gunfight erupted managed to drive the stolen car about a block before he crashed and fled on foot, according to police. "I feel like we're living in the Wild, Wild, West right now, with no laws and no honor," Sherron Weeks said. A Philadelphia neighborhood is left shaken after police say a gun battle erupted in broad daylight between a car thief and the owner of the vehicle.She's experienced the violence plaguing North Philadelphia first-hand, telling FOX 29's Eddie Kadhim that she was attacked in her neighborhood over a month ago."They're hurting us around here, I just got stabbed in my head and my arm by a woman who took my coat right there on 23rd and Ridge," Weeks said. Rita Henderson from

PHILADELPHIA - A Philadelphia man is facing murder charges after police say he stabbed two people blocks apart in less than a week.DShawn Crawford, 28, was arrested Friday and charged with murder, attemper murder, aggravated assault, and related charges. Police believe on Feb. 24 Crawford stabbed a man in the head and body around 5:30 a.m.

NEW YORK - The Manhattan District Attorney's office has asked for a meeting with law enforcement ahead of a possible indictment of former President Donald Trump next week, according to a court source.According to the source, the meeting was requested Thursday and hasn't been set. The meeting is to "discuss logistics for some time next week, which would mean that they are anticipating an indictment next week," the source familiar with the planning said.Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung reacted to the news by ripping district attorney Alvin Bragg in a statement to Fox News Digital, calling his investigation a "witch hunt" and accusing him of being in the pocket of President Biden and "radical Democrats."NEW YORK PROSECUTORS SIGNAL TRUMP MAY FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES FROM STORMY DANIELS SCANDALFormer President Donald Trump greets guests following an event at the Adler Theatre on March 13, 2023 in Davenport, Iowa.

COVID-19 pandemic have been complicated by factors including the massive surge of human infections in the pandemic's first two years and an increasingly bitter political dispute. It took virus experts more than a dozen years to pinpoint the animal origin of SARS, a related virus. Goldstein and his colleagues say their analysis is the first solid indication that there may have been wildlife infected with the coronavirus at the market.

EASTON, Wash. - A Yakima man, his cousin and 10-year-old daughter died after troopers say a semi crossed the median and crashed head-on into their sedan Thursday on Interstate 90 east of Snoqualmie Pass. His wife and son were critically injured.A verified GoFundMe post identified the victims as Justin Poole, 40, his cousin Michaela Buckholt, 27, and his daughter, 10-year-old Chelsea, all of Yakima.Justin's wife, Nikki, and 6-year-old son, Maddox, were taken to Seattle's Harborview Medical Center for treatment of severe injuries. Maddox was intubated and required brain surgery, according to the GoFundMe."Nikki needs as much support as she can possibly get right now," JoeyLynne Stanelle Perry, a friend of the family wrote on GoFundMe.

FILE-A health worker takes a swab sample from a woman to be tested for COVID-19 at a testing site in Beijing on March 23, 2022. (JADE GAO/AFP via Getty Images) BEIJING - Genetic material collected at a Chinese market near where the first human cases of COVID-19 were identified show raccoon dog DNA comingled with the virus, suggesting the pandemic may have originated from animals, not a lab, international experts say.Other experts have not yet verified their analysis, which has yet to appear in a peer-reviewed journal.

Sam Thompson has shared that he is in hospital having tests after being struck down with an unknown illness.The Love Island podcast host, 30, shared that he was having tests done on his stomach as he shared a photo of himself in a hospital bed, sharing that he was undergoing a colonoscopy in the hopes of discovering what had been causing his health issues.The former Made In Chelsea star shared a photo to his Instagram story as he shared some insight into the procedure. Sam wrote: “This contraption round my waist tracks it as it goes through the stomach! Hopefully I'll figure out what's going on with my tummy." Not long after, Sam shared a video where he explained the video further, with girlfriend Zara McDermott, 26, seen by his side.

PHILADELPHIA - A North Philadelphia man has been sentenced to nearly a decade in prison for making illegal explosives that authorities say were used in multiple attempts to blow up ATMs back in 2020. David Perez, 37, was sentenced to 110 months in prison, three years of supervised released, and also ordered to pay more than $100K in restitution for making and illegally possessing the M-1000 style devices. Perez had previously pled guilty to making the devices for several years prior to his arrest in June 2021. Authorities say devices ‘consistent with those made by Perez’ were located at ‘numerous post-blast scenes.’ Multiple incidents apparently involved attempts to access ATMs with the explosives in the summer and fall of 2020. Perez also admitted to using one of the devices on July 4, 2020 in the courtyard of a Philadelphia Elementary School.

PHILADELPHIA - The woman charged in the deaths of two Pennsylvania State Troopers and a pedestrian on I-95 in March 2022 is set to stand trial after she turned down a plea deal, the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office confirmed to FOX 29. Jayana Tanae Webb was charged with third-degree murder, a charge that was dropped and later reinstated, homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, DUI and related charges in connection with the crash on March 21, 2022. Officials say the crash occurred just after 12:30 a.m. on I-95 in Philadelphia when Pennsylvania State Troopers Martin F.

UNITED KINGDOM - A man, who returned to the crime scene after murdering a father of two, has been sentenced to life in prison.The murder investigation was launched by Essex Police last July, after 44-year-old Adrian Ellingford was seriously assaulted at a residence in Chelmsford, England. Ellingford died as a result of multiple stab wounds.According to police, Marek Hecko, 26, approached the murder scene while "heavily intoxicated," carrying a bottle of brandy.

International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over alleged war crimes in Ukraine.The ICC said in a statement on Friday that Putin is allegedly responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of children, and that of unlawful transfer of children from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia since Feb. 24, 2022 – the day Putin ordered a wide-scale invasion in the neighbouring country.The ICC cited the charges under articles in the Rome Statute of the ICC.

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, Pa. - Officials with the Bensalem Township Department of Public Safety say an accidental fire inside a home left a man critically injured. Authorities say 911 dispatchers got a call from Thomas Risich, a 76-year-old man who lives on the 700 block of Kings Lane, about a fire in his living room. According to officials, Risich told dispatchers he was wheelchair bound and he was in a bathroom in the back of the home with no way to escape. Bensalem Police and firefighters from multiple agencies responded to the scene and saw heavy smoke coming from the home, per authorities. Firefighters were able to access the home through the back bathroom window, and they found Risich unresponsive on the floor. Authorities say he was removed through a bathroom window and transported to Jefferson-Torresdale Hospital before being airlifted to Jefferson Hospital, where he was placed in critical condition. Battalion Chief Rob Sponheimer conducted an investigation into the cause of the fire and it is believed the fire was accidental, likely caused by a faulty space heater, officials say. The investigation is ongoing.

THE HAGUE - The International Criminal Court said on Friday it issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes because of his alleged involvement in abductions of children from Ukraine.The court said in a statement that Putin "is allegedly responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of population (children) and that of unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation."It also issued a warrant Friday for the arrest of Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, the Commissioner for Children’s Rights in the Office of the President of the Russian Federation, on similar allegations.Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures during the congress of Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP), March,16,2023, in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Contributor/Getty Images) The court’s president, Piotr Hofmanski, said in a video statement that while the ICC’s judges have issued the warrants, it will be up to the international community to enforce them.

Brandon Miller #24 of the Alabama Crimson Tide dribbles the ball against Jalen Jackson #4 of the Texas A&M-CC Islanders during the second half in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images) BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Brandon Miller sat in a folding chair in a corner of the locker room facing an assemblage of reporters and video cameras.Alabama's freshman All-American fielded few questions about his worst game in crimson and white, not with all the off-the-court matters that have shadowed him and a team mounting a bid for the program's first national championship.Amid myriad distractions, the NCAA Tournament's top overall seed dispatched 16th-seeded Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 96-75 on Thursday in the opening round even with its best player going scoreless for the first time.RELATED: Alabama basketball player Darius Miles charged with capital murder in deadly shootingMiller, who politely but succinctly responded to questions about anything not related to the game, has been accompanied by a security guard provided by the university after facing threats since his presence at the scene of a fatal shooting was disclosed in court testimony."It doesn’t bother me," Miller said of the threats, which he forwards to university officials.

NEW YORK - An armed thief, dressed in a green sweat suit and wielding a knife, stole tens of thousands of dollars' worth of merchandise from a jewelry store in Brooklyn in a terrifying incident caught on camera.Security camera footage captured the crime inside the Melissa Joy Manning jewelry store in Cobble Hill. The thief's female accomplice watched the door as the thief calmly shoved jewelry into his knapsack and pockets before walking out of the store."It's horrifying, it's catastrophic.

An anti-abortion activists hold up a sign in front of the US Supreme Court building as as pro- and anti-abortion demonstrators protested in Washington, DC, on January 22, 2023, the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark court decision that was BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - The North Dakota Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a state abortion ban will remain blocked while a lawsuit over its constitutionality proceeds.The ban was designed to take effect once the U.S.

The “Satarawa Deepani” Felicitation Ceremony was held on Thursday (16) and it was held under the auspices of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.The “Satarawa Deepani” Felicitation Ceremony, was organized as per a concept of Minister Bandula Gunawardena.During the event, tributes were paid to a group of artists who had contributed to the artwork created by Bandula Gunawardena. Veteran artists such as Dharmasiri Bandaranaike, Parakrama Niriella, and Cyril Wickramage were presented with awards by the President in recognition of their contributions.Veteran artists such as Professor Ariyaratne Athugala, Kumara Thirimadura and Sarath Kothalawala were also appreciated during this event.The book “Subandhu Cinema Watha,” which chronicles the cinematic career of Bandula Gunawardena, was launched at the event. During the event,  “Pragna Bandhu” scholarships were awarded to students who are currently pursuing the G.C.E.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Ravindu Warnaranga also known as 'Booru Moona', a wanted criminal who escaped police custody and was evading capture, was arrested in Avissawella on Friday (17).Police Spokesperson & Attorney SSP Nihal Thalduwa told News 1st that 'Booru Moona' was wanted by authorities for a series of murders and other crimes.‘Booru Moona’ had attempted to fly to Dubai under a false name from the Katunayake Airport on February 24th, and he was arrested by Immigration Officers at the BIA, who then handed him over to the Airport Police.Thereafter, he had escaped police custody and a two monks along with another man were arrested by the Katunayake Police for facilitating the escape of the suspect.Moreover, a husband and wife duo who were arrested for providing accommodation to the fugitive ‘Booru Moona’ who escaped while in the custody of the Katunayake Airport Police,  were remanded.‘Booru Moona’ was identified as the shooter by detectives who investigated the incident where a owner of a restaurant was shot dead at point blank range in Hanwella on December 18th in 2022.

Protesters hold placards reading "Power is in the streets" and "No." during a demonstration a day after the French government pushed a pensions reform through parliament without a vote on March 17, 2023. (JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER/AFP via Getty Images) PARIS - Protesters disrupted traffic in Paris on Friday as angry critics, political opponents and labor unions around France blasted President Emmanuel Macron's decision to force a bill raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 through parliament without a vote.Opposition parties were expected to start procedures later Friday for a no-confidence vote on the government led by Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne.

PHILADELPHIA - Police are investigating a deadly triple shooting that erupted on the streets of Philadelphia late Thursday night. According to officials, the shooting occurred on the 5100 block of Leiper Street at 11 p.m. Authorities say responding officers found three gunshot victims on the street. A 27-year-old man, identified as Tsiahjard Richards, was shot multiple times in the stomach, back, torso and buttocks, police say.

FILE - People participate in an abortion rights rally outside of the Supreme Court. (Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images)SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Doctors in California who mail abortion pills to people in other states would be protected from prosecution under a new bill to be unveiled Friday in the state Legislature.The bill would not let California extradite doctors who are facing charges in another state for providing abortion medication.

DINWIDDIE, Va. - Video from a state mental hospital shows a Black Virginia man who was handcuffed and shackled being pinned to the ground by deputies who are now facing second-degree murder charges in his death, according to relatives of the man and their attorneys who viewed the footage Thursday.Speaking at a news conference shortly after watching the video with a local prosecutor, the family and attorneys condemned the brutal treatment they said Irvo Otieno, 28, was subjected to, first at a local jail and then at the state hospital where authorities say he died March 6 during the admission process.They called on the U.S. Department of Justice to intervene in the case, saying Otieno's constitutional rights were clearly violated.Irvo Otieno "What I saw today was heartbreaking, America.

The Covid-19 pandemic could settle down this year to a point where it poses a threat similar to flu, the World Health Organization has said.

COVID-19 worsens sleep patterns for 28% of people, and recovery does not guarantee improved sleep due to ongoing inflammation, respiratory issues, and sleep apnea. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on the sleep patterns of Indian citizens, according to a recent study by LocalCircles.

COLOMBO (News 1st); People's Bank on Friday (17) said that it had not received any direct or indirect requests or instructions from any state institution to close their accounts with People's Bank."We wish to strongly emphasize that People's Bank has always been a trusted partner for state organization in providing reliable banking service, including instances where such services were provided at the expense of profitability, in order to serve the country's best interests," said a statement.People's Bank issued this statement in order to clarify the misleading reports regarding State Institutions' Bank Accounts.It said that People's Bank is well-equipped to meet the financial needs of all Public and private Sector customers.On Thursday (16), it was reported that the Ministry of Finance had decided to open the bank accounts of government institutions, which were maintained only in government banks, in private banks.State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe stated that due to recent strikes, certain public services could not be provided due to the disruption of the services.He said that this new alternate security measure adopted in order to continue public services during such a situation.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe instructed the officials to speed up the Minipe Left Bank Canal Rehabilitation Project (MLBCRP), which has been delayed for over three years owing to various reasons, and to provide its benefits to the farmers before the next Maha Season.The President provided these instructions on Sunday (19) while joining an observation tour of the Minipe Anicut construction site.President Wickremesinghe, after inspecting the plan of the project, also inquired from the engineers about the operation of the project.The President also pointed out the possibility of obtaining the support of the students of engineering faculties in Sri Lanka for the future work of the project.The existing anicut is not sufficient to release water to the left and right bank canals when water is released twice a day from the Rantambe Hydro Power Plant during peak demand for electricity. Due to this, in order to provide more reliable and continuous water supply to Minipe agricultural lands, the Minipe Dam was raised by 3.5 meters and the renovation of the 74 kilometers-long main canal on the left bank of Minipe, was commenced.After the reconstruction of the Minipe Anicut, constant water supply to farmers will be ensured and the cultivation land on both sides of the left bank of Minipe could be cultivated without obstruction in the Yala-Maha Seasons while providing benefits to 15,000 farmer families.The cost of the project is Rs. 3,000 million and the construction work is carried out by China Gexhouba Group Company Limited (CGGC).Minipe Anicut, which was built in 1948, was last renovated in 1980.

The historic Temple of the Tooth Relic in the city of Kandy will host a Janaraja Perahara on February 19th, after 34 years.The procession has been organized to coincide with the 75th Independence Celebration, and it will be inaugurated under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.According to the Coordinating Officer and the Cultural Officer of the Temple of the Tooth Relic, the procession will begin from the Magul Maduwa premises at 6.30 pm on February 19th. It will parade along the Dalada Street, Yatinuvara Street, Kanda Street, Raja Street, and return to the temple, marking the end of the event.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has directed Power & Energy Minister & relevant officials to ensure uninterrupted power supply is made available for electricity customers once the PUCSL tariff revision is implemented.The President's Media Division also said that the President gave directives to provide concessions for low-income families and provide solar rooftop systems for religious places & government educational institutions when the new tariff revision comes into effect.The Ministry of Power and Energy said that power outages will not be imposed from Thursday (16), as the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka granted approval to the 66% electricity tariff hike.A source from the Ministry of Power and Energy speaking to News 1st said that a decision will be reached in the future with regard to those who are unable to settle their electricity bills.The Public Utilities Commission has approved a 66 percent hike in electricity tariffs with effect from Wednesday (15).It was with the agreement of the three members of the PUCSL except the Chairman of the Commission Janaka RatnayakeIn order to generate an additional income of Rs.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the government will not give into the demands of protestors.He noted that just, because certain groups strike demanding the removal of certain officials, the government will not remove anyone arbitrarily as there is a procedure that has to be followed and the government will follow the rules and act accordingly.He was addressing the launch of the Centre for Governance and Public Policy (C-GaPP) at the Sri Lanka Technological Campus (SLTC) Research University at the Trace City in Colombo on Wednesday (15).He said that the responsibility to address such issues rests to a large extent with the Universities. The President noted that even at the point of the new Centre for Governance and Public Policy (C-GaPP) being inaugurated at the Sri Lanka Technological Campus (SLTC) Research University, two strikes were in progress. One was staged at the Ruhuna University demanding the removal of the Vice Chancellor and another one demanded the removal of the General Manager of a state Corporation.President Wickremesinghe further stated that the removal of the General Manager is a matter of the government. “Just, because there is a strike we will not remove him.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The National Election Commission has informed the Political Party Secretaries that it will not be able to direct the ballot papers for Postal Voting tomorrow (15), as previously planned. This was revealed by the Secretaries of the Political Parties who met with the National Election Commission on Tuesday (14) morning.Earlier, Chairman of the National Election Commission Attorney Nimal Punchihewa speaking to News 1st said that the current state of affairs surrounding the election will be discussed at the meeting. Election Monitors were also summoned for this meeting.The Secretaries of the Political Parties  revealed that the National Election Commission is yet to decide on whether or not the Local Government Election will be held on the 9th of March 2023. They also noted that the National Election Commission is likely to face an issue concerning the Ballot Papers required for postal voting.Palitha Range Bandara, the General Secretary for the United National Party told reporters that the UNP has never called for a delay in elections."How can one even ask for funds from President Ranil Wickremesinghe, after he took over a country that was literally bankrupt," he told the media while leaving the National Election Commission premises.He said that based on the meeting with the NEC it is likely the election would be delayed."If the government says it does not have the funds, if the Government Printer says it cannot print the ballot papers without payment, it is the National Election Commission that needs to decide on the matter," he added.Ranjith Madduma Bandara, the General Secretary of the Samagi Jana Balavegaya told reporters that the National Election Commission had given an undertaking to go ahead with