Author: Buzzer Editorial

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday arrested a key accused in the Sri Lankan human trafficking case who was on the run for the last three years.Seeni Aabulkhan from Sri lanka was nabbed from Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu, where he was hiding. A NIA investigation found that he, along with his associates, used to confine trafficked victims in a boat, before sending them to Mangaluru by train, car, and bikes, said an NIA release.“The case was originally registered by the Mangaluru City Police after searches led to the rescue of 13 Sri Lankan nationals from traffickers in June 2021. The…

The Country Boat Fishermen Association in Pamban has initiated an indefinite strike starting today, demanding that the central government immediately secure the release of 35 fishermen imprisoned in Sri Lanka on charges of poaching.Association President S.P. Rayappan, who is currently in New Delhi with a delegation to meet External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and other leaders, expressed his frustration to Indian media. Despite the central government’s strong protest to the Sri Lankan authorities and their request for the fishermen’s release, the recent arrests have caused significant disappointment and unrest among the fishing community.Rayappan further stated that it is particularly unfair…

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna’s Gampaha District MP Sudarshini Fernandopulle has announced her support for Samagi Jana Balawegaya Presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa in the upcoming presidential election. She made this declaration at a press conference in Colombo this morning (11).

Claiming that seven plantation companies have agreed to pay estate workers Rs. 1,700 per day, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said he will convene the Wages Board on Monday to discuss the matter.Addressing the Kandy District Plantation Labour Unions and Youth Leaders meeting today, he said he was ready to introduce special laws to enforce the decision, if necessary.

SLPP Presidential candidate Namal Rajapaksa met TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran today where the two discussed issues facing the North and East as well as the development of the districts if Rajapaksa secures victory in the September 21 Presidential Election, Geethanath Cassilingham, Politbureau Member of SLPP representing the Northern Province told Daily Mirror. Cassilingham said that Rajapaksa informed Sumanthiran that he was ready to work with the Tamil Parliamentarians from the North and East to address the grievances of the people in the area as well as provide livelihoods and a better future for the youth. Rajapaksa said irrespective of whether he secures…

Leader of the Sri Lanka Mahajana Party, MP Asanka Nawaratne, has announced that his party will support President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the upcoming Presidential Election.

The twin-engine turboprop was flying from Cascavel in the southern state of Paraná to Guarulhos airport in São Paulo city when it came down in the town of Vinhedo, Voepass airline says.Footage circulating on social media shows a plane descending vertically, spiralling as it falls.The ATR 72-500 was carrying 57 passengers and four crew. Local authorities say there were no survivors.Brazil’s President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, expressed solidarity with the families and friends of the victims. São Paulo’s state Governor, Tarcísio Gomes de Freitas, declared three days of mourning. The authorities said the flight recorders had been retrieved. ATR, the French-Italian…

The National Election Commission has announced plans to send special teams to monitor government institutions accused of violating election laws. This decision follows a surge of complaints alleging illegal activities by certain government departments and agencies.The commission has issued a stern warning that if directives to stop these violations are ignored, the special teams will be mobilized to conduct thorough investigations and enforce compliance with the law.In a related move, the secretaries of two ministries found to be in breach of election laws have been summoned before the Election Commission for questioning.Additionally, the Election Commission has reiterated the importance of…

The national poverty line, which sets the minimum income threshold required to meet basic needs, has nearly tripled over the past decade, according to a report released by the Department of Census and Statistics.In January 2024, the national poverty line reached Rs. 17,014, a significant increase from Rs. 5,223 in 2012/13. This steady upward trend saw the poverty line rise to Rs. 6,117 in 2016 and further to Rs. 6,966 in 2019. By January 2023, the line had nearly doubled again, reaching Rs. 15,970, the department noted.Among the districts, Colombo reported the highest poverty line at Rs. 17,608 in May…

Public Security Minister Tiran Alles has urged citizens to apply for passports only if absolutely necessary and advised those who can wait to delay their applications until October when new e-passports, meeting international standards, will be available.Addressing the media, Minister Alles emphasized that the introduction of the new e-passport, which complies with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, will significantly enhance Sri Lanka’s position in the Global Passport Index.The new e-passport, equipped with advanced security features, is set to be issued by the end of October and is expected to boost Sri Lanka’s passport ranking from its current 193rd position…