Author: Buzzer Editorial

The Trump administration announced Tuesday it was expanding travel restrictions to an additional 20 countries and the Palestinian Authority, doubling the number of nations affected by sweeping limits announced earlier this year on who can travel and emigrate to the U.S.The Trump administration included five more countries as well as people traveling on documents issued by the Palestinian Authority to the list of countries facing a full ban on travel to the U.S. and imposed new limits on 15 other countries.The move is part of ongoing efforts by the administration to tighten U.S. entry standards for travel and immigration, in…

A police constable attached to the Dematagoda Police has been arrested in Dematagoda by officers of the Police Narcotics Bureau.The constable, in uniform at the time, was taken into custody with 200 grams of crystal methamphetamine (‘Ice’).The seized stock of drugs is reported to be valued at Rs. 2.5 million.

Naveed Akram, the surviving suspect in Sunday’s mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, has been charged with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder and one of committing a terrorist act, according to the New South Wales Police.The other gunman, his father Sajid Akram, 50, was killed in an exchange of fire with police at the scene.Fifteen people were killed and dozens of others were injured in the attack, which targeted Australia’s Jewish community at an event celebrating the first night of Hanukkah.It was the country’s deadliest shooting since 1996.Akram also faces 40 charges of causing grievous bodily harm…

The government has decided to extend the payment period for farmer pensions until December 31 considering the impact caused by the cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka.In an official statement, the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board announced that farmers can now collect their pension payments from relevant Post Offices or Sub-Post Offices on any working day throughout the month of December.Under normal circumstances, pensions for farmers are disbursed between the 9th and 15th of each month.This extension has been granted in consideration of the transportation difficulties faced by pensioners due to damage to access roads leading to post offices caused by…

Officials of the Government Translators’ Service Union met with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya at the Prime Minister’s Office to discuss several issues including salary concerns.According to the Prime Minister’s Media Division, attention was drawn to the prevailing salary issues within the Government Translators’ Service, including salary disparities between grades and existing vacancies.The Prime Minister stated that several challenges had arisen due to previous governments not implementing public service salary increases through a systematic and logical framework, and noted that discussions regarding salary disparities are currently underway.She further stated that a positive course of action is expected to be taken…

A foreign-manufactured firearm and a stock of ammunition have been recovered based on information revealed during the interrogation of an underworld gang member known as “Kehelbaddara Padme”, who is currently being held under a detention order.Officers of the Commercial Crimes Investigation Division of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) uncovered that a firearm and other property belonging to the suspect had been concealed in the country under the custody of another organized criminal who is currently overseas.Accordingly, a foreign-manufactured pistol, two magazines used for T-56 weapons and 267 rounds of live T-56 ammunition were recovered.The items were found hidden in a…

Investigations have been launched into a video circulating on social media that allegedly shows a man torturing and setting fire to a wild elephant in the Ambagahawala area of Seeppukulama, Mihintale, according to the Department of Wildlife Conservation.The Department stated that details surrounding the death of the elephant are scheduled to be presented to court today (17).Issuing a statement, the Department noted that the suspect responsible for setting fire to the elephant has not yet been apprehended.Wildlife officers attached to the Anuradhapura Wildlife Sanctuary, including the wildlife officer, are continuing investigations in collaboration with officers from the Military Intelligence to…

A special cargo flight carrying 69,000 kilograms of disaster relief humanitarian aid, valued at around EUR 500,000, arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake early this morning (17) from Germany and Luxembourg.The consignment, provided by the European Union, includes essential disaster relief items such as tents and emergency shelters, utensils for food preparation, mattresses and water purification equipment, said Ada Derana reporter.The Boeing 747-400 heavy cargo aircraft arrived at the BIA at 4:30 a.m. today, having departed from Leipzig, Germany.The Deputy Ambassador of Germany to Sri Lanka, Sarah Hasselbarth, a representative of the European Union, Pierre Tripon, and…

A decision has been taken to reopen all schools in the Uva Province on December 29, the Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Nalaka Kaluwewe said.Speaking during the Derana ‘BIG FOCUS’ program today (16), Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewe stated that the main reasons preventing the reopening of schools affected by recent floods are transportation difficulties and the operation of relief camps.Meanwhile, commenting on the matter, the Commissioner General of Examinations, Indika Kumari Liyanage noted that the postponed GCE Advanced Level examination is scheduled to be conducted over a further period of seven days.She explained that the examinations will be held from…

Sri Lanka Army troops attached to the Hanguranketha Divisional Secretariat (DS) Office for disaster relief duties handed over recovered personal belongings to a house owner whose residence was completely destroyed by a landslide.During clearing and search operations conducted on 14 December 2025, the troops recovered Rs. 300,000.00 in cash and jewellery valued at approximately Rs. 50 lakh from the debris of the affected house. The recovered valuables were carefully handed over to the rightful owner in the presence of residents in the area