News

Ambulance drivers on strike today!

Published

2 years ago

January 9, 2023

editor

Around 7,000 ambulance drivers and other drivers in the health sector will be on strike today (09) over several issues including the increase in bank interest rates, Government Ambulance and Transport Drivers Association President W.D.Wijesinghe said.

The workers said the interest rate which was between 9 and 10 per cent for loans obtained from state banks had been increased.

Mr.Wijesinghe said the Health Ministry has been informed that patient care services would be interrupted due to the strike.

There are about 550 ambulances under the Ministry and about 1,150 are employed as ambulance drivers and other drivers in the health sector.

In addition, there are about 800 ambulances under the Provincial Health Ministries and more than 5,800 people work as drivers in the health sector.

The trade union had discussed the issue with Health Secretary Janaka Sri Chandragupta and Director General of Health Services Asela Gunawardena but the discussions had ended without a solution.

News

Nishantha Wickremesinghe remanded (Update)

Published

11 hours ago

June 27, 2025

editor

Former Chairman of SriLankan Airlines Nishantha Wickremesinghe has been remanded until July 01.

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(Previous News : June 27, 2025 4.41pm)

2 ex-heads of govt. institutions, arrested

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has arrested two former Chairmen on corruption charges.

Former Chairman of the Fisheries Corporation – Upali Liyanage and former SriLankan Airlines Chairman – Nishantha Wickremesinghe have been arrested in this manner.

However, Liyanage, who was produced before Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali Jayathunga, was released on three sureties amounting to Rs. 5 million.

News

Body of undergrad who went missing at Port City beach, found (Update)

Published

14 hours ago

June 27, 2025

editor

The body of the undergraduate who had gone missing at the Port City beach, has been found.

The body was found during a search by divers.

(Previous News on 27th June 2025 at 10.06 am)

Undergrad goes missing at Port City beach while snorkeling

A 24-year-old university student from Asgiriya, Gampaha, has gone missing yesterday morning (June 26) while swimming in the sea off the Colombo Port City beach.

According to the police, the student, a resident of Gampaha, was part of a group of students from the Universities of Colombo and Moratuwa who had visited the artificial beach and engaged in snorkelling.

The student failed to resurface, prompting a complaint to the Colombo Port Police.

Lifeguards later recovered the snorkeling gear believed to be belonging to the missing student.

A joint search operation involving Navy divers from the Colombo Port and Rangala Navy Division is currently underway. Further investigations are underway by the Colombo Port Police.