News

BIA & MRIA on standby for emergency landings – CAASL

Published

3 weeks ago

June 24, 2025

editor

The Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) and the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) are kept on standby for any requests by civil airlines for emergency landings, the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) has said.
The CAASL said the decision has been taken due to the current volatile situation in the Middle East region.

Several countries namely Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait closed their respective airspaces yesterday (June 23) following airstrikes by Iran targeting the Al Udeid US military base in Doha.

As a result, airlines were compelled to reroute flights.

5 SriLankan flights diverted

Meanwhile, 05 SriLankan Airlines flights were also diverted to Muscat (Oman), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), and Dubai (UAE) on Sunday due to the prevailing situation.

The CAASL has said all precautionary measures will be taken to ensure the safety of Sri Lankans and other passengers using SriLankan Airlines.

BIA flights from 2 ME destinations halted

Meanwhile, BIA officials have also confirmed that Qatar Airways and Jazeera Airways flight operations between the BIA and 02 Middle Eastern destinations have been suspended as of 5.00 a.m. today (June 24).

The Officer-in-Charge of BIA has said that both Qatar Airways and Jazeera Airways, operating from the State of Kuwait, have temporarily halted their services.

Accordingly, flights from BIA to Doha in Qatar, and Kuwait City, Kuwait, have been suspended until further notice.

News

SJB establishes control of Seethawakapura UC

Published

7 hours ago

July 15, 2025

editor

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has established control of the Seethawakapura Urban Council.

At the council’s inaugural meeting held today (July 15), SJB candidate Sunil Jayaratne was elected Chairman through a secret ballot.

Ajith Wijayamuni Zoysa, who ran as an independent, secured the post of Deputy Chairman.

News

SL delegation leaving for US this week for tariff talks

Published

7 hours ago

July 15, 2025

editor

A Sri Lankan government delegation is scheduled to leave for the United States this Friday (July 18) to negotiate a further reduction in the tariffs imposed on Sri Lankan exports to the US, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said.

The Foreign Minister made this statement while speaking to the media following an event held in Colombo today (July 15).

A recent announcement made by the US President on July 09 saw the reduction of reciprocal tariff tariffs to 30% from the initially imposed 44%.

The new 30% tariff is scheduled to take effect on August 1, 2025.

Related News :

Sri Lanka hit with 30% US tariffs

US trade tariffs : GoSL to continue talks

News

Laws against shooting of wild jumbos, to be tightened

Published

13 hours ago

July 15, 2025

editor

A meeting was held today (July 15) at the Ministry of Environment with officials from the Department of Wildlife Conservation, aimed at tightening laws against the shooting of wild elephants.

The discussion was chaired by the Minister of Environment – Dr. Dammika Patabendi, along with the Deputy Minister of Environment – Anton Jayakody.

Noting that incidents of elephant shoots are regularly reported to the Department of Wildlife Conservation, the Minister instructed the Director General of the Department to take the necessary steps to strictly enforce the law against such acts.

The discussion also focused on strengthening the process of punishing offenders by updating laws related to the killing of wild animals. It also emphasized enforcing strict laws against the illegal construction of electric fences on private lands, which often harm elephants.

To help reduce human-elephant conflict, the Ministry and the Department are working together on long-term, positive solutions. Accordingly, elephant fences are being built in districts with frequent elephant encounters.

Furthermore, multi-purpose officers have been recruited for the maintenance of these fences and the involvement of civil defense personnel is also being considered.

The Department of Wildlife Conservation announced that a special media briefing will be held in the coming days to inform the public on these initiatives.