Newsfirst.lk English

Newsfirst.lk English Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Newsfirst.lk English, Colombo.

13/01/2026

Cyclone Ditwah Shook Us, But Didn’t Break Us: 700,000 Families Affected. 50,000 Homes Planned

13/01/2026

Sniper Rifle Drama: Two Army Commandos Arrested Outside CID, Later Released

13/01/2026

Victory or Retreat?: Wimal Ends ‘Harini Go Home’ Satyagraha

13/01/2026

China Powers Sri Lanka’s School Uniform Drive: 11.48 Million Meters of Fabric to Dress Sri Lanka’s Future

13/01/2026

Sri Lanka’s Gem Heritage Shines Bright: Gem Industry Glitters as Visitor Numbers Surge

13/01/2026

Grade 6 English Module Reforms Postponed to 2027: CID and Ministry Investigations Prompt Major Curriculum Decisions

COLOMBO (News 1st); An incident was reported last Sunday where two men in civilian clothing were arrested near the Crimi...
13/01/2026

COLOMBO (News 1st); An incident was reported last Sunday where two men in civilian clothing were arrested near the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters in Colombo while carrying a sniper rifle wrapped in black cloth.

Initially, their identities could not be confirmed, but later it was revealed that they were members of the Sri Lanka Army.

Yesterday, the two suspects were produced before the Fort Magistrate’s Court and released after the court considered submissions made by the Army.

The arrests took place near the CID building, close to the Harbour Master’s office and the port gate, where suspects usually report to the CID under court orders.

At the time, a large number of suspects were present at the CID premises.

CID informed the court that the weapon found in their possession was an AI-AW type sniper rifle.

The men, dressed in civilian attire, had the weapon wrapped in black cloth and carried no identification documents.

CID further stated that intelligence reports suggested a possible plan to target senior CID officials using sniper rifles, which led to the immediate arrest of the two men.

Following investigations and statements from multiple parties, CID submitted a detailed report to the court yesterday.

An Army legal officer told the court that the suspects were Army Commando soldiers engaged in a hostage rescue rehearsal inside the port premises.

He explained that they were returning from special training and had entered through an alternate route because the main gate was closed, leading to their arrest.

The Army also confirmed that the soldiers had authorization to carry the sniper rifle.

However, CID requested court approval to continue investigations into the weapon and obtain mobile phone analysis reports of the suspects.

The Magistrate ordered their release but stated that further directives regarding the weapon would be issued later.

13/01/2026

🔴LIVE : News 1st: Prime Time English News - 9 PM | 13.01.2026

13/01/2026

YES 101 VISUAL RADIO | “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” National Programme Launched Today

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Cabinet announced that two full days have been allocated in Parliament for the debate on the no-...
13/01/2026

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Cabinet announced that two full days have been allocated in Parliament for the debate on the no-confidence motion brought by the Opposition against Education Minister and Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The debate is scheduled for January 22 and 23, with the possibility of extending the discussion if required.

“We have already set aside January 22 and 23 for this debate. At present, two days have been allocated, but if necessary, we are ready to extend it further. Our expectation is to hold this discussion thoroughly. If the Opposition insists on this motion against the Prime Minister, it gives us the opportunity to present the truth about the education reforms to the people of this country,” said Cabinet Spokesperson Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa on Tuesday (13).

COLOMBO (News 1st); Former MP Wimal Weerawansa ended his ‘Harini Go Home’ Satyagraha, a protest he launched demanding th...
13/01/2026

COLOMBO (News 1st); Former MP Wimal Weerawansa ended his ‘Harini Go Home’ Satyagraha, a protest he launched demanding the resignation of Education Minister and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya.

Weerawansa announced the decision after the government confirmed that Grade 6 curriculum reforms will be postponed until next year.

On Monday morning, Weerawansa and a group of supporters began the Satyagraha outside the Ministry of Education, vowing to continue until Harini Amarasuriya stepped down.

When asked what his next move would be if she refused, Weerawansa responded:

“We will decide at that moment and inform you. What I can assure is that we will take this struggle to victory.”

On Tuesday, following the Cabinet’s announcement to delay reforms, Weerawansa declared the protest a success.

Meanwhile, a separate group arrived at the protest site to oppose Weerawansa, reminding him of past controversies.

Police intervened to prevent clashes, urging protesters to move back and end the demonstration peacefully.

Protesters, however, insisted they would not leave until the Satyagraha concluded.

Eventually, Weerawansa and his group wrapped up the protest later in the day, bringing an end to two days of political drama outside the Education Ministry.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced an ambitious housing initiative that promises...
13/01/2026

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced an ambitious housing initiative that promises dignity and security for thousands of affected families.

"Approximately 700,000 families have been affected by this disaster in one way or another. We need to build more than 20,000 new houses," the President stated, outlining the scale of the challenge.

These homes will be constructed under the 2026 national budget plan, which already included a target of 31,000 houses. The President highlighted that even 16 years after the end of the war in 2009, many families in the North remain in temporary shelters. "For them, we allocated Rs. 500 million to build 2,500 houses," he said.

In addition, a community-driven housing program for economically challenged villages aims to build 10,000 houses this year, bringing the total target to over 50,000 houses in 2026.

The recovery effort has received global attention, with the World Bank supporting a preliminary estimate of USD 4.1 billion. Currently, identified projects amount to USD 2.8 billion, with more to follow.

Address

Colombo
0000

Telephone

+94114792700

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Newsfirst.lk English posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Newsfirst.lk English:

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram