Author: Buzzer Editorial

With the Rs. 10 price reduction on a kilogram of wheat flour, the bakery owners have agreed on a price reduction of Rs. 10 per loaf of bread, according to the Ministry of Trade.

Deputy Minister of Economic Development Prof. Anil Jayantha says that although the government’s intention was to provide tax concessions on essential goods, multiple limitations arose when presenting the 2025 Budget.Speaking during TV Derana’s current affairs program “360°”, the Deputy Minister emphasized that not everything can be achieved in a single budget.“We fully acknowledge that everything cannot be done in one budget. In our policy statement, we did not promise anything specific for the first budget. The first budget serves only one specific role in our broader journey. Policies are extensive, but actions must follow timelines. A vision does not necessarily…

The Colombo High Court has served indictments against Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa.The indictments have been handed over before Colombo High Court Judge Manjula Thilakaratne this morning (18) over alleged misappropriation of Rs. 70 million provided by Krrish Company for development of rugby in Sri Lanka.Later, the High Court Judge has ordered Rajapaksa to be released on two surety bails of Rs. 10 million each and a cash bail of Rs. 100,000.The judge also fixed the pre-trial of the case for 27 March 2025.

A Delta Airlines plane flipped upon arrival at Toronto’s Pearson Airport and ended up on its roof Monday, injuring 17 people.The airport confirmed on X that an “incident” occurred with the Delta flight from Minneapolis and that 76 passengers and four crew are accounted for. The accident happened at about 2:15 p.m. and flights at the airport, which handles more passengers than any other Canadian airport, were grounded for around two and half hours. Two runways will remain closed during the investigation.“We are very grateful there was no loss of life and relatively minor injuries,” Deborah Flint, CEO of Greater…

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) states that it has implemented immediate and long-term measures to strengthen grid stability following the nationwide power failure on February 9, 2025.Issuing a statement clarifying the cause of the power failure and future actions to be taken as long-term grid stability solutions, the CEB acknowledged the inconvenience caused to the public during the nationwide power failure that occurred on February 9, 2025, at 11.13 a.m. and assured the public that immediate and long-term corrective actions are underway to prevent future occurrences.Cause of the Power FailureA system-wide failure was triggered by a disturbance at the 33kV…

Pope Francis is being treated for a “complex clinical situation” and will remain in hospital for as long as necessary, the Vatican has said.The 88-year-old was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Friday to undergo treatment and tests for bronchitis.On Monday, the Vatican said the pontiff has a “polymicrobial infection” of his respiratory tract, which has required a change in his treatment.A later update added that the Pope was “proceeding with the prescribed treatment” in a stable condition and did not have a fever. He also undertook some work and reading while in hospital on Monday.“Pope Francis is touched by…

Singapore’s opposition leader has been convicted of lying to parliament while helping a fellow party member to cover up a false witness account, in a case that could disqualify him from running in upcoming national elections.Pritam Singh, 48, secretary-general of the Workers’ Party, was found guilty on Monday on two counts of lying to a parliamentary committee that was investigating a fellow MP.The conviction is a blow to the south-east Asian nation’s struggling political opposition, which is seeking to challenge the overwhelming dominance of the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) in elections expected within months.The PAP has ruled the wealthy city-state since…

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies, presented his maiden full budget aimed at developing the country in a way that enables it to repay debt when repayment commences in 2028 today (17).According to the Head of State, the budget deficit for the fiscal year 2025 is estimated at Rs. 2,200 billion, which is 6.7 as a percentage from the GDP.The total expenditure for next year will be Rs. 7,190 billion, which is 21.8% of the country’s GDP and the total revenue and grants will be Rs. 4,990 billion (15.09%).In…

Serendib Flour Mills, together with Prima, the leading flour manufacturers in Sri Lanka, have collaborated with the Ministry of Trade to support the government’s cost of living reduction initiatives.Accordingly, both companies have agreed to reduce bread flour prices by Rs. 10 per kilogram effective tomorrow (February 18), specifically targeting the bakery industry to enable reductions in bread and bakery product prices.“During 2024, we implemented an initial reduction of Rs. 10 per kilogram in bread flour prices. While the earlier reduction did not translate to lower bread prices, both institutions have now stepped forward with an additional Rs. 10 per kilogram…

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake outlined a series of cost-cutting measures aimed at managing public expenditure as part of the 2025 budget proposals. Delivering 2025 Budget Speech in Parliament, the President emphasized the government’s commitment to financial discipline, particularly in reducing unnecessary spending by public representatives. Among the key reforms, the President assured a comprehensive review of allowances and benefits provided to the Members of Parliament. As part of this effort, the insurance coverage for public representatives, previously set at Rs. 1 million, will be reduced to Rs. 250,000. To further reinforce fiscal responsibility, the Cabinet has been limited to 21 ministers, setting an…