SriLankan Airlines is set to launch direct flights between Colombo and Ahmedabad, India, starting in April.&nbsp; Deputy Minister of Tourism Ruwan Ranasingha announced that the new service aims to make travel easier for Sri Lankans participating in religious pilgrimages in Gujarat. The direct flights will provide a convenient travel option, allowing devotees from Sri Lanka to visit Gujarat and engage in religious activities more easily.

Colombo- Ahmedabad direct flights to commence in April

From midnight today (11), the conduct of tuition classes, seminars, and workshops related to the 2025 G.C.E. O/L Examination is prohibited until the exam concludes.&nbsp; The Department of Examinations also announced that the printing and distribution of model question papers are banned during this period. The Commissioner General urged anyone violating these orders to report to the police or Examination Department.&nbsp; The O/L Exam is scheduled to be held from 17 to 26 February across 3,545 centres nationwide, with all arrangements finalized for smooth conduct.

Tuition classes targeting 2025 O/L exam banned from midnight

Suspects involved in the assault and murder of former ruling party MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala and his bodyguard have been brought before the Gampaha High Court Trial-at-Bar. The court is scheduled to deliver its verdict today (11).

Verdict today in MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala murder trial

Sri Lanka was deeply honored to host the sacred Devnimori relics of Lord Buddha for seven days, a period during which people from across the country gathered at the Hunupitiya Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo to pay homage and venerate these revered relics, according to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath. Minister Herath confirmed that the relics were officially returned to India following the successful conclusion of the week-long exposition.&nbsp; The event, which began on 5 February, drew large crowds including devotees, diplomats, and officials who came to honor the spiritual significance of the relics. During his visit to Sri Lanka, Mangubhai Chhaganbhai Patel, Governor of Madhya Pradesh, and Chowna Mein, Deputy Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, met with Minister Herath to facilitate the return process, underscoring the cooperation between Sri Lanka and India. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Minister Herath expressed his gratitude to the Government of India for its close collaboration in organizing what he described as a historic and meaningful event.&nbsp; Concluding the event this morning, Minister Herath emphasised that the exhibition further strengthened the bonds of friendship and mutual understanding, fostering peace and shared spiritual values between Sri Lanka and India.

Sri Lanka hosts and returns sacred Devnimori Relics of Lord Buddha

Prime Minister (PM) Harini Amarasuriya met with a delegation from the European External Action Service at the Prime Minister’s Office to discuss strengthening Sri Lanka’s partnership with the European Union.&nbsp; The leaders focused on expanding trade, investment, and economic cooperation. The Prime Minister also thanked the EU for its timely aid following recent cyclone disasters.&nbsp; Tomorrow, the 27th Session of the EU-Sri Lanka Joint Commission will be held in Colombo, bringing together senior officials to review governance, human rights, and development initiatives.&nbsp; The meeting aims to reinforce bilateral ties and identify concrete steps for future collaboration.

PM-EU delegation discuss ways to expand economic cooperation

Ten suspects, including Venerable Balangoda Kassapa Thero and three other monks, have been brought to court in connection with the placement of an unauthorized Buddha statue at Trincomalee Bodhiraja Viharaya.&nbsp; The suspects, who are currently in remand, appeared before the Trincomalee Magistrate’s Court today (11).&nbsp; The case was filed after the incident on 16 November, 2025, which allegedly violated coastal conservation laws.&nbsp; The Chief Prelate of Siyam Maha Nikaya has called on the President to release the detained monks, condemning the arrest as a serious offense against the Buddha Sasana.

Balangoda Kassapa Thero and others produced before court

The prevailing dry weather conditions across the island are expected to change from tomorrow (12), according to the Department of Meteorology. Mainly fair weather will continue to prevail, with the exception of a few showers in the Ampara, Batticaloa, Monaragala and Hambantota districts. Misty conditions can be expected in parts of the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva, North-central and North-western provinces, as well as in the Galle and Matara districts during the early hours of the morning, the Department added.

Dry spell to ease from tomorrow

Central Expressway: Committee to Probe Compensation Mess 

<ul><li>SLPP Gen. Secy. claims no knowledge of how individual MPs would react&nbsp;</li></ul> The main Parliamentary Opposition, the SJB, is yet to decide its position on the proposed repeal of Parliamentary pensions, with the Party saying that the matter will be discussed at its Parliamentary group meeting before a final decision is taken. Speaking to The Daily Morning, SJB General Secretary and Parliamentarian, Ranjith Madduma Bandara said: "The SJB Parliamentary group will discuss this and take a final decision." When contacted, the Opposition’s SLPP General Secretary, attorney Sagara Kariyawasam said the Party believes that certain benefits should be provided to MPs, stressing that effective governance depends on the participation of elected representatives. “As a Party, we are of the view that certain benefits should be given because governance is the most important thing in the country. If MPs don’t receive anything, why would they come and take part in governance? That is our view." However, he said they also admit the current NPP Government has an obligation to repeal Parliamentary pensions as it was a key promise made by the NPP ahead of the elections. "The public now expects the Government to follow through on that pledge. What people expect is happening, they should do it. Then, the people themselves will understand that what the Government did was not right." However, he said that he is unable to comment on how MPs representing the SLPP would react when the Bill is taken up in the Parliament.Attempts to contact several Illankai Arasu Tamil Katchi MPs proved futile.Early last year, New Democratic Front MP Ravi Karunanayake presented a Private Member’s Motion in the Parliament, proposing the abolition of the pension scheme for MPs. Speaking in Parliament at that time, he said that public trust in elected representatives was severely undermined, partly due to perceptions of unfair privileges enjoyed by politicians.However, the Collective of Retired MPs has urged political party leaders and MPs to amend the proposed legislation to abolish Parliamentary pensions, warning that a blanket repeal would severely affect former MPs who previously served in the State sector. In a letter addressed to party leaders and MPs, the Collective's Chairperson, former MP Ranaweera Pathirana, and Secretary, former MP Pemasiri Manage, noted that many elected MPs had resigned from the Government service in order to enter the Parliament. As a result, it said that several of them had forfeited their entitlement to Government pensions. "Some of these former public servants who later became MPs had completed less than 10 years of State service and are therefore not entitled to any Government pension, while others qualify only for a very small pension based on their years of service. Parliamentary pensions have, in many cases, been the primary means through which these former MPs supported their families." The Collective warned the complete removal of Parliamentary pensions would hence place such individuals in severe financial difficulty and could lead to the breakdown of their family lives. They further pointed out that most MPs who transitioned from the Government service are now over the age of 55 or 60, making it unrealistic for them to seek alternative employment or start new businesses at this stage of their lives.In this context, the Collective has requested that legislative amendments be introduced to safeguard the pension rights of MPs who previously served in the State sector, before the Bill is passed into law. They also called on the Parliament to ensure that any law abolishing Parliamentary pensions is not applied retrospectively, noting that this had been a recommendation made by a committee chaired by a Supreme Court (SC) Judge which looked into the matter.&nbsp;These views come ahead of the Second Reading of the Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill, which is scheduled to be taken up for debate in the Parliament on 17 February from 11.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The SC has determined that no provision in the proposed Bill is inconsistent with the Constitution, and that it can be enacted by the Parliament with a simple majority.

Colombo- Ahmedabad direct flights to commence in April

Tuition classes targeting 2025 O/L exam banned from midnight

Tuition classes targeting 2025 ...

Verdict today in MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala murder trial

Verdict today in MP Amarakeert ...

Sri Lanka hosts and returns sacred Devnimori Relics of Lord Buddha

Sri Lanka hosts and returns sa ...

PM-EU delegation discuss ways to expand economic cooperation

PM-EU delegation discuss ways ...

Balangoda Kassapa Thero and others produced before court

Balangoda Kassapa Thero and ot ...

Dry spell to ease from tomorrow

Dry spell to ease from tomorro ...

Central Expressway: Committee to Probe Compensation Mess

Central Expressway: Committee ...

Abolishing MPs’ pensions: SJB undecided; SLPP opposes

Abolishing MPs’ pensions: SJB ...

Tuition classes targeting 2025 O/L exam banned from midnight

Tuition classes targeting 2025 ...

Verdict today in MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala murder trial

Verdict today in MP Amarakeert ...

Sri Lanka hosts and returns sacred Devnimori Relics of Lord Buddha

Sri Lanka hosts and returns sa ...

PM-EU delegation discuss ways to expand economic cooperation

PM-EU delegation discuss ways ...

Balangoda Kassapa Thero and others produced before court

Balangoda Kassapa Thero and ot ...

Dry spell to ease from tomorrow

Dry spell to ease from tomorro ...

Central Expressway: Committee to Probe Compensation Mess

Central Expressway: Committee ...

Abolishing MPs’ pensions: SJB undecided; SLPP opposes

Abolishing MPs’ pensions: SJB ...

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Tuition classes targeting 2025 O/L exam banned from midnight

Tuition classes targeting 2025 ...

Verdict today in MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala murder trial

Verdict today in MP Amarakeert ...

Bringing the news paper to your fingertips

Sri Lanka hosts and returns sacred Devnimori Relics of Lord Buddha

Sri Lanka hosts and returns sa ...

PM-EU delegation discuss ways to expand economic cooperation

PM-EU delegation discuss ways ...

Balangoda Kassapa Thero and others produced before court

Balangoda Kassapa Thero and ot ...

Dry spell to ease from tomorrow

Dry spell to ease from tomorro ...