Author: Buzzer Editorial

All services at the Department of Registration of Persons (ID Office) have been temporarily suspended following an unexpected breakdown in the computer system at its main office, the department stated.Accordingly, all services, including the one-day service for issuing National Identity Cards (NICs), have been disrupted owing to this.The department said that steps are currently being taken to restore the system.

Russian Deputy Minister of Energy, Roman Marshavin, who is currently on a visit to Sri Lanka, has agreed to supply refined fuel to Sri Lanka during discussions with Sri Lankan officials, according to an official.The Managing Director of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), Mayura Neththikumara stated that the quantity and specific orders will be decided during further discussions scheduled for tomorrow.

The Colombo Fort Magistrate has ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to produce the former Head of the State Intelligence Service, Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay, who is currently in CID custody under detention orders, before the court on April 22.The order was issued by Colombo Fort Magistrate Isuru Neththi Kumara when the case was taken up before court today (26), Ada Derana reporter said. The Magistrate informed the court that although the suspect is currently being detained and interrogated in connection with the investigation, he has been named as a suspect in the case and must therefore be produced before…

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the schedule for the senior men’s international home season, with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup champions set to host West Indies, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and Australia across formats. A total of 22 international matches will be hosted across 17 cities in what promises to be an action-packed calendar.The home season will commence in September, with India hosting West Indies for a white-ball series comprising three ODIs and five T20Is.India will then take on Sri Lanka in December in the shorter formats featuring three ODIs and three T20Is. The new…

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is scheduled to meet with visiting Russian Deputy Energy Minister Roman Marshavin this evening (26) at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo, with discussions centering on strengthening bilateral cooperation in the energy sector.Talks are expected to focus on enhancing collaboration between Sri Lanka and the Russian Federation, including potential partnerships in fuel supply, energy security and long-term cooperation, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said. Deputy Minister Marshavin, who is on an official visit to Sri Lanka, was welcomed upon arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) by Deputy Minister of Economic Development Nishantha Jayaweera, Russian Ambassador to Sri…

The Inspector General of Police, Priyantha Weerasooriya has issued guidelines to be followed when arresting suspects in relation to offences committed under Section 3 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act.It is reported that the relevant notification has been communicated in writing to all police officers, including all Senior Deputy Inspectors General.According to the provisions of the Act, an individual may only be arrested after examining whether a statement or expression incites war, or promotes discrimination, hostility, or violence, thereby amounting to advocacy of national, racial, or religious hatred.The Inspector General of Police has further stated…

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has firmly denied that any negotiations are taking place between Tehran and Washington to end the ongoing conflict, dismissing US claims of diplomatic engagement as posturing.No direct talks“There are no ongoing talks with the US,” Araghchi said in comments carried by state-run Press TV. He clarified that while Washington is sending messages through various mediators, “exchange of messages via mediators does not mean negotiations.” The distinction suggests Iran is rejecting the notion of formal diplomatic engagement despite reported back-channel communications.Accusation of weaknessAraghchi characterized US talk about negotiations with Iran as “an admission of defeat.” He…

The Hambantota District Ceylon Teachers’ Association has strongly condemned a request from the Zonal Education Office of Tangalle seeking an explanation for teachers’ absence from a recent meeting held in Tangalle.The Zonal Education Office of Tangalle requested an explanation regarding the absence of teachers at a meeting held on March 15 at the Tangalle Urban Council, which was chaired by Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya.In this regard, the Zonal Director of Education of Tangalle has sent a letter to all school principals.Accordingly, reasons for not attending the relevant meeting must be submitted by today (26).

A delegation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is scheduled to arrive in the country today (26).The IMF team will remain in Sri Lanka until April 9 to hold policy discussions with the aim to complete the combined Fifth and Sixth reviews under Sri Lanka’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) Arrangement.This was confirmed by the Director of the Communications Department of the IMF, Julie Kozack.During the visit, the IMF delegation will hold discussions with Sri Lanka authorities on economic policies, and the potential impact of the Middle East conflict on the economy.Following the IMF team visit, an updated assessment of Sri…

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday warned that the war in the Middle East has spiraled “out of control.”Antonio Guterres urged an immediate halt to hostilities, called on Iran to stop attacking its neighbors, urged the US and Israel to end the war, and stressed that diplomacy remains the only path out of the crisis.Speaking at the UN headquarters in New York, he said the conflict has exceeded even the worst expectations and risks triggering a global catastrophe.“Just hours into the outbreak of the war in the Middle East, I warned that the fighting risked triggering a chain reaction that…