Author: Buzzer Editorial

A strong earthquake killed at least 53 people in Tibet on Tuesday and left many others trapped as dozens of aftershocks shook the region of western China and across the border in Nepal.The official Xinhua News Agency said 62 other people were injured, citing the regional disaster relief headquarters.About 1,500 fire and rescue workers were deployed to search for people in the rubble, the Ministry of Emergency Management said.The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake measured magnitude 7.1 and was relatively shallow at a depth of about 10 kilometers (6 miles). China recorded the magnitude as 6.8.The epicenter was about…

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved granting compensation to 17 patients who had developed complications after undergoing cataract surgery at the Nuwara Eliya District Hospital. Minister of Health Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa stated this during today’s (07) parliamentary session.Speaking further, the Health Minister added: “A number of patients who underwent cataract surgery at the Nuwara Eliya General Hospital lost their eyesight, with some becoming completely blind. A committee headed by an Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Health was appointed to investigate the matter, and the report from that committee has been received.“Yesterday, the Cabinet decided that the government would provide compensation…

The total public debt outstanding as of December 31, 2023, has surpassed Rs. 29,150 billion, according to the government’s financial statement. The Auditor General’s Department indicated that this marks a 6.47% increase compared to the public debt as of December 31, 2022.In 2023, the government secured foreign loans amounting to Rs. 831,951 million, while an additional Rs. 7,541,282 million was obtained through treasury bills. In combination, the domestic and foreign loans acquired in 2023 represent a significant increase of 67.4% compared to the previous year.Accordingly, the per capita debt value has also raised in 2023, reaching Rs. 1,322,793, an increase of Rs.…

The Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe shared his perspective on the future of vehicle imports, during the ‘Derana 360°’ programme last night (6). Dr. Weerasinghe stated that the Central Bank had conducted an analysis between May and June 2024 to evaluate the necessity of allowing new vehicle imports, particularly as the economy shows signs of improvement. “We have not permitted new vehicle imports for the past five years. When the economy begins to recover, the country will inevitably require new vehicles. My recommendation is to allow the renewal of vehicle while maintaining the current value…

Two persons have been killed after an unidentified gunman opened fire at them at the Watarappala Road in Mount Lavinia, police said. Initially a 36-year-old man was shot dead and a 20-year-old person was injured in the shooting and hospitalized following the shooting incident. However, the injured youth had later succumbed to injuries after being admitted to the hospital. The 36-year-old victim of the shooting is a resident of Watarappala Road in Mount Lavinia.The motive behind the shooting is yet to be ascertained while Mount Lavinia Police are conducting further investigations to apprehend the suspects involved.

The Draft Bill for the amendment of the Local Authorities Elections Act to enable the cancellation of the nominations submitted for the 2023 polls and to call for fresh nominations has been gazetted.The draft bill is to be presented to the Parliament for approval on a later date. It is reported that the Draft Bill for the amendment of the Local Authorities Elections Act to cancel the nominations called for the 2023 Local Government Elections has been published in the Government Gazette as per the order of the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government.According to the said bill,…

India has detected its first suspected Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) case in Bengaluru in an eight-month old baby. Sources from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) said that the suspected case was detected through a private laboratory, and that the patient and its family have no travel history. “The case has come from Hunasanahalli in Bengaluru Rural district. The child has been admitted to the Bengaluru Baptist Hospital,” the source said, adding the child will be discharged today. HMPV is a viral respiratory infection that causes symptoms resembling the common cold. It spreads via droplets, direct contact, and possibly airborne particles. Symptoms range…

The brother of former Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara has been ordered to be remanded further until January 11, 2025, after being produced before the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court.The ex-Minister’s brother, Thisara Iroshana Nanayakkara, was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on December 28, 2025 in connection with a complaint related to alleged financial fraud.The arrest was made in the Bibile area, according to police. He was later produced before the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court where he was ordered to be remanded in custody until today (06).Police said that the arrested suspect, Thisara Iroshana Nanayakkara, has allegedly defrauded around Rs. 3…

The Sinhala Literature question paper for the Grade 11 term test in the North Central Province (NCP) has been confirmed to have leaked on social media, prompting authorities to take immediate action. The Education Secretary to the North Central Province, Sirimevan Dharmasena stated that as a result, the final term test, scheduled for today (January 6), has been postponed. As of this morning, the distribution of the compromised question paper was halted across more than 600 schools in the province. These schools span 30 educational divisions across eight zones, according to Dharmasena.The North Central Province Education Secretary further stated that the examination…

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has ordered the two individuals including former member of Western Provincial Council Salochana Gamage, who were arrested while accepting a bribe, to be further remanded in custody until January 17, 2025.The officers of the Bribery Commission arrested a businessman and the former Western Provincial Council member while accepting a bribe of Rs. 09 million from another businessman at Pita Kotte.This arrest was made based on a complaint lodged by a resident of the Madiwela area of Kotte, the Bribery Commission said.Subsequently, he was produced before Colombo Additional Magistrate and was ordered to be remanded until today…