Author: Buzzer Editorial

The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to the proposal to continue the programme implemented to provide an allowance of Rs. 6,000 per child to purchase school stationery.Steps were taken in 2025 to provide an allowance of Rs. 6,000 per child to purchase school stationery for children from families entitled to the Aswesuma allowance through the Welfare Benefits Board and to pay an allowance of Rs. 6,000 for students studying in schools with less than 300 students who are not included in the Aswesuma Program but are entitled to the allowance, lay and monastic students studying in Pirivena and Seelamatha…

The U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka today announced an additional $2 million in U.S. humanitarian assistance to support communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah, bringing total U.S. assistance for the response to $4 million. This new funding builds on $2 million in U.S. assistance announced in December 2025 within 72 hours of the cyclone’s landfall, underscoring the United States’ commitment to providing timely, effective support to communities impacted by the disaster.“When Sri Lankans needed support, the United States responded,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “From Department of War early airlift and logistics expertise to $4 million in humanitarian assistance, we are supporting…

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to increase the festival advance granted for state employees to Rs. 15,000.In terms of the provisions of the Establishments Code on payment of festival advance to government servants, a state employee is eligible for a Rs. 10,000 advance in view of Thai Pongal, Ramadan, Sinhala and Hindu New Year, Vesak, Deepavali, and Christmas as well as for pilgrimages (Sri Paada pilgrimage and Hajj pilgrimage). Provisions have been given to recover the said advance in eight installments or if required earlier without interest. It has been proposed through the 2026 Budget to increase the…

The case filed against Ramith Rambukwella, the son of former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, on charges of allegedly acquiring assets through unlawful means, has been ordered to be recalled on February 11 for pre-trial conferences.The decision was announced when the case was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Mohamed Mihal, said Ada Derana reporter. During the proceedings, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) submitted several documents relevant to the case. Court directed that copies of the documents be presented to the defence. The High Court Judge further informed both parties that the pre-trial conference must be concluded…

The government will never use the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah as an excuse to reverse or halt its official programs, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has stated.The President made these remarks while participating in the inauguration ceremony of the national program “Rebuilding Sri Lanka”, which has been established to efficiently oversee the country’s reconstruction efforts.The President emphasized that although the country, which was already recovering from economic crises, had to face the cyclone, there was no need for the government to retreat or abandon its planned programs.“We are committed to confronting this disaster without discarding the policy framework we have…

US President Donald Trump on Monday said he had imposed a 25% tariff on goods from countries with commercial ties to Iran, a move that could put pressure on Tehran as anti-government protests enter a third week.Trump said on social media that the tariff was “effective immediately”, without offering details of what constituted “doing business” with Iran.China is Iran’s largest trading partners, followed by Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and India.The new tariff comes after Trump threatened to intervene militarily if Tehran killed protesters. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Monday that military options including air strikes were…

A total of 10 Tamil Nadu fishermen have been arrested for poaching in Sri Lankan waters this morning (13).The vessel carrying the fishermen was also taken into custody by the Sri Lanka Navy off the coast of Delft Island.They were arrested on charges of fishing while violating Sri Lanka’s maritime boundaries and were taken to the Karainagar Naval Camp.The arrested fishermen and the fishing vessel are to be handed over to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, after which they are scheduled to be produced before court.

Steps have been taken to increase the price of paddy starting from the upcoming season, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Namal Karunaratne stated.The Deputy Minister noted that a decision has also been taken to increase the prices of Samba and Keeri Samba varieties of paddy.However, Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne emphasized that there will be no increase in rice prices.Deputy Minister of Agriculture Namal Karunaratne stated;“We have already brought up the matter of revising paddy prices. Especially, the price of Nadu paddy remains at Rs. 120. The price of Samba paddy will be increased from Rs. 125 to Rs. 130, and Keeri…

The Parliamentary Secretariat has refuted news articles circulated in media under the headline “Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne has decided to take strict action regarding a group of employees using drugs, alcohol and cigarettes within the Parliamentary premises.”Issuing a statement, the Department of Communication of Parliament noted that the news articles have no basis and stressed that the Speaker has never instructed any official of Parliament to take strict action against such groups of employees.Additionally, the statement noted that reports claiming the Speaker issued such instructions after receiving information that certain employees, including those in the catering division, were secretly using…

Sri Lanka should seek to change the targets agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as part of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement, the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe noted.Speaking during TV Derana’s current affairs program 360° last night (12), Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said a discussion in this regard is expected to take place when a team of the IMF is due to visit later this month.The IMF team is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka this month to discuss the fifth review under the 48-month Extended Fund Facility.The CBSL Governor said…