Author: Buzzer Editorial

In relief to LGBTQ+ couples, Thailand has recognized same sex marriage and the law granting them the same rights as heterosexual couples has come into legal status on Thursday.Thailand passed the Marriage Equality Bill in June 2024 and it comes into effect on January 23 with the country becoming first in South Asia and third in Asia, after Taiwan and Nepal, to legalize same sex marriage.Hundreds of same sex couples have been queuing up in Bangkok to register their wedding today as BBC reports that around 311 same-sex couples will register their wedding in the capital.The Marriage Equality Bill, which had passed both the houses…

Former Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and his wife have been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over allegations of misusing funds amounting to over Rs. 6.1 million in 2014.Police Spokesman SSP Buddhika Manatunga said that the former minister and his wife were arrested by the CID this evening (22).The reason for the arrests, he said, was due to the then minister obtaining a sum of over Rs. 6.1 million from the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) under the guise of providing relief to the people displaced by floods in Bingiriya and Narammala areas in 2014, and instead using the funds…

Kandy Divisional Crimes Unit has arrested a 37-year-old suspect involved in an alleged major racket involving ‘e-Tickets’ sold for up-country trains including to Ella.The arrest took place on the evening of January 22, 2025, in the Suduhumpola area of the Kandy Police Division, the police said.The suspect, a resident of Suduhumpola area, was found in possession of 21 ‘Odyssey’ train tickets purchased online, Rs. 130,670 in cash believed to be proceeds from the illegal sales, 130 notepads documenting previous transactions, and a mobile phone. Police suspect the individual profited from reselling train tickets, targeting foreign tourists. The suspect has been handed…

The Deputy Minister of Health and Media, Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni says that the prices of medicines were significantly reduced through the creation of competition among pharmaceutical suppliers.He mentioned that in the past, only one supplier had been registered for the supply of certain medicines.As a result, due to the monopoly in the market, the government was forced to purchase these medicines at higher prices.Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni explained that, accordingly, the registration of new suppliers for medicines that previously had only one supplier was expedited.He further stated that about 2,800 pharmaceutical suppliers who had submitted registration applications were swiftly examined for…

Vice President for the South Asia Region of the World Bank Martin Raiser paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya at the Parliament of Sri Lanka to discuss the country’s key development priorities. The meeting centered on education, gender equality, and regional inclusivity, highlighting the needs to address national challenges and drive sustainable progress, the Prime Minister’s office said.A major focus of the discussion was enhancing access to quality education, particularly through the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector. Both parties emphasized the importance of aligning TVET with mainstream education to create diverse career pathways for…

The Government of Sri Lanka has decided to recommence the construction of Kurinchakerny Bridge in Kinniya facilitating transportation needs of thousands of people in the area.The Ministry of Finance said that USD 10.5 million has been allocated to recommence the construction of the bridge facilitating the transportation and business needs of approximately one hundred thousand residents in the Divisional Secretariat Division of Kinniya in Trincomalee District. The revised agreement in order to allocate the remaining funds of the Peradeniya Badulla Chankaladi Road Development Project was signed by Secretary to Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Mahinda Siriwardana and Director (Legal)…

The Ceylon Chamber of Coconut Industries has urged the government for permission to import 200 million coconuts with the next few months.President of the Ceylon Chamber of Coconut Industries Jayantha Samarakoon said that the major reason for the current coconut shortage is the spike in fertilizer prices.Speaking at a media briefing held at the National Chamber of Commerce Auditorium yesterday (21), he mentioned that the coconut imports are essential at this time to counter a severe shortage that threatens both domestic supply and export revenue.Samarakoon attributed the coconut shortfall to skyrocketing fertilizer prices, which have discouraged growers from adequately nourishing…

Immigration and Emigration Controller Harsha Illukpitiya, who has been remanded in custody on charges of contempt of court, has been produced before the Supreme Court by prison officials this morning (22).The Immigration and Emigration Controller was remanded in custody last September on charges of contempt of court by failing to implement the interim injunctions issued by the Supreme Court in relation to the Fundamental Rights petitions filed regarding the issuance of e-visas.The petitions are scheduled to be taken up before the Supreme Court today and Illukpitiya, who has been remanded in custody, has been produced before the court for that…

Leader of the House, Minister Bimal Rathnayake states that the existing Anti-Terrorism Bill would be upheld with great caution until a new legislation is enacted.Speaking in Parliament today (21), Rathnayake emphasized that the existing Anti-Terrorism Bill does not align with the government’s ambitions or policies.“The only thing to say about the Anti-Terrorism Bill is that it is not our ambition or policy. However, until a new bill is drafted, we must carefully enforce the existing law in the country. Since we are responsible for governing until new legislation is passed, this matter has already been addressed by the Minister of…

The indices of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) reached historic milestones today (January 21) as the All Share Price Index (ASPI) surpassed the 16,500-points mark and the S&P SL20 crossed 5,000 points for the first time in the capital market’s history.The ASPI increased by 224.01 points, closing at a new all-time high of 16,597.16 points, which is an increase of 1.37% compared to the previous close.Meanwhile, the S&P SL20 has gained 94.71 points to close at 5,056.74 points, also a new all-time high and an increase by 1.91%. The day has witnessed a turnover of over Rs. 8.31 billion with more…