Author: Buzzer Editorial

Department of Immigration and Emigration at the airport is facing a critical situation with visa checks for arriving passengers, mainly due to the lack of an active Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system.A senior official from the department told the Daily Mirror that officials in the arrival lounge are struggling to verify passengers’ online visas previously submitted before suspension of online visa processing.Some passengers reported dif­ficulties with visa verification when boarding their flights.As a result, the department has decided to issue only on-arrival visas. Online visa checks upon passenger arrival have not returned to normal. However, on-arrival visas are not available for…

The Sri Lankan Rupee has appreciated slightly against the US Dollar today compared to Wednesday, according to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.Accordingly, the buying rate of the US Dollar has reduced from Rs. 297.50 to Rs. 297.01, while the selling rate has also dropped from Rs. 306.76 to Rs. 306.28. The Rupee has also appreciated against a basket of foreign currencies, including Gulf currencies.

Three upcoming Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna have been cancelled following a possible security threat.The shows, part of Swift’s Eras tour, had been due to take place on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at the Ernst Happel Stadium.On Wednesday, two people were arrested on suspicion of planning attacks inspired by the Islamic State group on large events in the Austrian capital.A statement from the organisers said: “Due to confirmation by government officials of a planned terrorist attack at the Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three planned shows for everyone’s safety.”

A routine police check escalated into a fatal confrontation on the Kotugoda – Seeduwa Main Road. A police officer’s duty firearm was discharged during a scuffle with individuals in a vehicle, leading to the death of a civilian.The incident occurred near the temporary police checkpoint at Kotugoda Maskade junction, where officers were inspecting vehicles. As they approached a car traveling from Seeduwa towards Kotugoda, the situation rapidly deteriorated. The occupants of the car reportedly attemped to seize control of the officer’s firearm, which subsequently went off.News 1st correspondent reports that one of the car’s passengers sustained critical injuries from the gunshot and…

magnitude 7.1 earthquake registering a lower 6 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale struck southern Kyushu on Thursday afternoon, triggering a tsunami advisory for Kyushu’s east and southern coast and the southern coast of Shikoku, the Meteorological Agency said.

Some Sri Lanka players currently in England for a three-Test series have raised concerns over security following widespread anti-immigrant riots in the country.Sri Lanka are scheduled to play a three-Test series in England starting on August 21 in Manchester. While the entire contingent has not made its way over to the UK, a few players and support staff have.According to an ESPNCricinfo report, those that have reached the UK have expressed concerns over their security amid nationwide anti-immigrant protests and riots.The report states that nine people – seven players and two support staff are currently in the UK, and have…

The Excise Department’s recent request for liquor companies to lower their prices has sparked significant backlash, with health professionals condemning the move as an encouragement of alcohol consumption.Speaking on the move, Dr. Sampath De Seram, Executive Director of the Alcohol & Drug Information Center (ADIC) in Sri Lanka, stated “The role of the Excise Commissioner should focus on recovering the arrears owed to the government, not on increasing alcohol consumption by asking companies to lower prices.”Further, Dr. De Seram revealed that the Excise department has not collected billions of rupees in arrears from alcohol companies.”As of June 30, 2024, the…

The 94th Battle of the Maroons between Ananda College and NalandaCollege was held at the SSC ground in Colombo on March 2nd and 3rd, ending in a draw.Subsequently, the “Maroons Salutation” event was organized on August 6th at the Eagles Ballroom of Waters Edge Hotel, Battaramulla. This event aimed to fund the Sports Development Funds of both schools and to felicitate and appreciate all the sponsors of the 94th Battle of the Maroons. During this program, organized by the Joint Organizing Committee of Battle of the Maroons, 30 million rupees were donated for the development of sports at Ananda & Nalanda College. This historic donation marks the first time such a significant amount has been given…

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP M.A. Sumanthiran believes the common candidate idea is a very bad one as it will make the Tamil cause weak.Taking to ‘X’, MP Sumanthiran said this was not an election one could use to send a message on Tamil issues.“This is not a referendum on the right of self-determination,” he further said.Meanwhile, in a recent televised interview, MP Sumanthiran revealed that the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) believed that a common Tamil presidential candidate was destined to fail.Stating that the common Tamil candidate will fare very badly in the upcoming elections, MP Sumanthiran said “This…

Former Member of Parliament P. Ariyanethran has been nominated as the Tamil Common Candidate for the upcoming presidential election in Sri Lanka.Ariyanethran was nominated by the ‘Tamil National Common Structure’, an alliance of Tamil political parties. The nomination comes after several Tamil political parties and civil organizations in Jaffna reached an agreement to field a common Tamil candidate for the upcoming Presidential Election. In July, an agreement in this regard was reached between Tamil People’s Alliance led by MP C.V. Wigneswaran, Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO) led by MP Selvam Adaikkalanathan, People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) led by MP Dharmalingam…