Author: Buzzer Editorial

Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa says the government is closely monitoring the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant that is spreading in several countries worldwide, including neighbouring India.Speaking at the weekly Cabinet media briefing held today (27), the Minister assured that while there is currently no critical situation in Sri Lanka, precautionary measures have already been initiated, particularly at the airports.“There have been some reports in Singapore and India. We are paying close attention to that. There has been no indication so far of a crisis like what we experienced in the past, but interventions are already underway at…

Certain groups are attempting to undermine the tourism industry by spreading false information via social media, Deputy Minister of Tourism Ruwan Chaminda Ranasingha said while clarifying reports of a purported ‘bikini ban in Arugam Bay.Addressing a press briefing, Deputy Minister Ranasingha stated that certain groups are attempting to disrupt activities of the government following the Local Government (LG) election.The Deputy Minister said various elements are attempting to sabotage the effort of the National People’s Power (NPP) to establish power in local government bodies with the support of the Muslim community and independent groups.Deputy Minister Ruwan Chaminda Ranasingha said, “We saw…

Over 30,000 premises with potential mosquito breeding sites have been identified during the special island-wide mosquito control program conducted from May 9 to 24, the Ministry of Health said.According to the Ministry, a total of 128,824 premises were inspected during the program, and 31,145 locations were found to have conditions conducive to mosquito breeding.In addition, 6,777 premises were identified as having active mosquito larvae. Red notices were issued to 3,916 individuals for maintaining mosquito breeding grounds.Legal action is being initiated against another 1,470 individuals, the Ministry stated.The Ministry of Health further urged the public to remain vigilant, noting that the…

The case filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) against former Minister Johnston Fernando and two others was taken up for hearing once again before the Colombo High Court today (26).The case has been filed by the Bribery Commission, alleging that the trio caused financial losses to the government by unlawfully engaging the employees of the Cooperative Wholesale Establishment (CWE/Lanka Sathosa) in political activities during Fernando’s tenure as the Minister of Cooperatives and Internal Trade.The hearing took place before Colombo High Court Judge Aditya Patabendige, during which evidence was recorded.Following this, the High Court Judge…

Former Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage, who is currently in remand custody, has been produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court by prison officials this morning (May 26).He has been produced before court in relation to a case filed over the importation of a shipment of substandard organic fertilizer during the previous government.

Pakistan’s cabinet on Tuesday promoted Syed Asim Munir, the country’s chief of army staff, to the rank of field marshal, following the country’s recent military conflict with India.That short but intense confrontation had brought the South Asian neighbours to the edge of their fifth war, as they launched missiles and drones towards each other over four days in early May.Ultimately, a ceasefire on May 10, announced by United States President Donald Trump, pulled the nuclear-armed neighbours back from the brink after they each targeted the other’s military installations in missile strikes earlier that day.Both New Delhi and Islamabad claimed wins in the conflict. And Pakistan’s…

A meeting between President Anura Kumara Disanayake and the Joint Association of Performing Artists of Sri Lanka was held at the Presidential Secretariat, on Sunday (25).President Disanayake praised the efforts of outdoor performance artists in reviving cultural engagement, particularly in rural areas where communities have been deprived of access to cultural life. He emphasised that alongside the government’s economic development programmes, enriching the cultural lives of rural citizens is vital to alleviating their hardships, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.The President stressed that cultural activities play a crucial role in fostering disciplined and socially responsible citizens. He also highlighted the…

The Department of Meteorology says that showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Nuwara-Eliya, Kandy, Galle and Matara districts today (26).Fairly heavy falls above 75 mm are likely at some places.A few showers may occur elsewhere, according to the Met Department.Strong winds of about 40-50 kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central, Southern and North-western provinces and in Trincomalee and Monaragala districts, it added.

Financial Stability Board (FSB) Regional Consultative Group for Asia (RCG Asia) met on 22 May 2025 in Colombo. Central Bank of Sri Lanka hosted the meeting for the second time, following the successful hosting of the RCG Asia meeting in April 2024.The meeting was co-chaired by Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, and Mr. Eddie Yue, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. Representatives from Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam participated in the meeting. Representatives from FSB,…

Russian forces launched a barrage of 367 drones and missiles at Ukrainian cities overnight, including the capital Kyiv, in the largest aerial attack of the war so far, killing at least 12 people and injuring dozens more, officials said.The dead included three children in the northern region of Zhytomyr, local officials there said.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on the United States, which has taken a softer public line on Russia and its leader, Vladimir Putin, since President Donald Trump took office, to speak out.“The silence of America, the silence of others in the world only encourages Putin,” he wrote on…