Author: Buzzer Editorial

The operational profit of the Airport & Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited has increased by 78% in the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period in the previous year.In the first six months of 2024, the company recorded an operational profit of Rs. 9,049 million, whereas in the same period of 2025, the profit rose to Rs. 16,133 million, according to the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation.The Ministry stated that a total of 32,423 flights were handled during the first half of 2025.With the upcoming tourist season, the Ministry said the Airport and…

Former Minister Rajitha Senaratne has filed a motion before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court, seeking a temporary suspension of the warrant issued for his arrest in connection with an investigation conducted by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). The motion was taken up before Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali Jayatunga today (18). However, the Chief Magistrate noted that such a request can only be considered when the Bribery Commission, the complainant in the case, appears in court. Accordingly, the court did not issue any order regarding Senaratne’s request.

The number of tourists who have arrived in Sri Lanka so far this year has exceeded the 1.5 million mark, according to Minister of Tourism Vijitha Herath.A total of 1,500,656 tourists visited Sri Lanka as of 3:00 p.m. today (18), the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) data shows.The SLTDA added that a total of 132,368 foreign nationals entered Sri Lanka in the month of August.According to latest SLTDA figures, the highest number of tourists have arrived from India which totals to nearly 300,000.Furthermore, more 100,000 visitors have arrived from both the United Kingdom and Russia in 2025.

US President Donald Trump said reclaiming Crimea or entering NATO were off the table for Ukraine, as President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Washington for Monday talks aimed at ending the war with Russia.Zelensky, who has repeatedly rejected territorial concessions, will meet Trump in Washington on Monday, accompanied by European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and other leaders.The meeting comes on the heels of a summit between Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, which failed to yield a ceasefire breakthrough but produced promises from both leaders to provide “robust security guarantees” to Ukraine.Zelensky was not invited to…

Police have stated that the firearms discovered inside a bag abandoned on the roadside in Thunadahena, Korathota, Kaduwela were not real guns.The contents of the bag, which included three T-56 assault rifles and five browning-type pistols were confirmed to be fake.However, authorities verified that the T-56 rifle magazine found alongside them is genuine.The discovery was made earlier today (18) and the weapons were handed over to the Nawagamuwa Police.

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has rejected the bail application filed by the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Okkampitiya Police, who was arrested in connection with soliciting a bribe of Rs. 40,000 from a businessman.The complaint was heard today before Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali, and the attorney representing the suspect stated that his client’s daughter is sitting for the 2025 GCE Advanced Level (A/L) examination and therefore requested that the suspect be released on bail as a special consideration.Meanwhile, the officials from the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) opposed the bail request, stating that investigations into the…

A ‘hartal’ called in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, demanding justice for the recent death of a 32-year-old man in Mullaitivu and based on several other demands, has reportedly been unsuccessful.Although several political groups, including the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK), had called for the hartal, our correspondent reported that government institutions and schools in the Northern Province were functioning as usual.While some trade associations had expressed support for the hartal, a number of other trade associations issued statements saying they would not support it.Meanwhile, in certain areas of the Batticaloa District today (18), many business establishments, public markets, private…

The strike action initiated by the Postal and Telecommunications Officers’ Union, together with the United Postal Trade Unions’ Front (UPTUF), will continue for the second consecutive day today (18).According to union representatives, the strike is based on 19 key demands. These include the payment of overtime allowances for postal officers and opposition to the directive requiring officers in administrative and accounts offices to record attendance using fingerprint machines.The strike commenced at 4.00 p.m. yesterday (17) at the Colombo Central Mail Exchange and escalated into a continuous, island-wide strike covering postal and administrative offices from midnight onwards.As a result, all postal…

Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security, and Cooperative Development, Wasantha Samarasinghe, claims that certain groups are attempting to artificially create a shortage of ‘Keeri Samba’ raw rice in the country.Speaking after a ceremony held in the Anuradhapura area, the Minister said that while there is no general shortage of rice in the market, there is a concern specifically regarding the ‘Keeri Samba’ variety.“If there is any issue in the rice market at present, it is only the shortage of Keeri Samba. Therefore, if we decide to import, it will be limited to a substitute variety for Keeri Samba. No final…

A team of officers from the Minuwangoda Police Station, acting on information received, conducted a search of a residence near the Minuwangoda Hospital today (15) and arrested a suspect who was found in possession of multiple firearms, ammunition and sharp weapons.The items recovered from the house include:• 1 T-56 assault rifle • 1 magazine for the T-56 firearm• 14 rounds of T-56 ammunition• 1 pistol and 1 magazine• 9 rounds of 2.5 mm ammunition• 9 rounds of 9 mm ammunition• 2 firearms (pistol and revolver type)• 3 swords• 2 knivesThe arrested suspect is a 45-year-old resident of the Minuwangoda area, said…