Sri Lanka News Papers – News Headlines from Colombo

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is scheduled to commence his official visit to Japan today (27), following the successful conclusion of his visit to the United States, where he attended the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Government is compelled to control social media with a view to preventing hate speech, insults and provocations through amending the Online Safety Act and by introducing new regulations, Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala told Parliament today.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday bomb attacks are continuing and advancing and that one or two former Army officials are expected to be arrested over the incident.

United States President Donald Trump announced on Thursday (Sep 25) new tariffs on pharmaceuticals, big-rig trucks, home renovation fixtures and furniture.

Nations Trust Bank PLC (NTB) shares closed up 22.72% yesterday, up Rs. 72.25 to Rs. 390.25, following Wednesday’s announcement of the bank’s proposed Rs. 18 billion acquisition of Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation’s (HSBC) Sri Lanka retail banking business, which marks one of the largest portfolio transfers in recent years and reflects the broader retreat of global banks from consumer segments in Asia.

Gampaha District SJB MP Prasad Siriwardana yesterday dismissed claims of rodents and unhygienic conditions in the Parliamentary kitchen, following his own inspection.

Sea Consortium Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, the local agent of the MV X-Press Pearl, has informed the Supreme Court through an affidavit that its directors and principal executive officers, on their own, lack the ability and resources to raise a sum of USD 250 million to make the first tranche payment required by the Supreme Court judgement delivered in connection with the X-Press Pearl disaster.

The Central Bank set the record straight this week on where they have to end up in the external reserves by the end of the year as reports circulating are carrying various numbers claiming what the Central Bank has to have by the year-end as part of the country’s agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is in New York to attend the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, met with UN Secretary-General António Gutierrez at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on 25th afternoon.

A multi-billion rupee government tender to supply vehicle number plates is mired in controversy after the two lowest bidders were disqualified on technical grounds, paving the way for the contract to be awarded to the highest bidder at a potential loss of over Rs. 500 million to the state.