News
Lifting of ban on vehicle imports in August depends on country’s foreign exchange situation
By Saman Indrajith
State Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya told Parliament yesterday that a final decision regarding the lifting of the ban on vehicle imports would be taken in the second week of August.
The Minister said that lifting the ban on vehicle imports depended on the country’s foreign exchange situation and after meeting the people’s priority needs first. The government hopes to commence vehicle imports from August under a special programme that will not cause any issues to the country and public transport vehicles, goods transport vehicles, and private vehicles would be imported under the regulations.
He said that though the Cabinet had approved the import of 1,000 vehicles (250 buses and 750 vans) to be used in the tourism sector, none have been imported so far.
Minister Siyambalapitiya said the IMF has also been notified regarding the import of vehicles. The IMF has been informed that after August vehicle imports would be commenced in a certain order.
He said that it has been proposed that the imports be allowed for public transport services, alternatives used for other transport services, normal vehicles, and then luxury vehicles, he said.Minister Siyambalapitiya said that the committee appointed in this regard met on July 04 and is expected to submit their report to the Cabinet within a month.
The Otter Aquatic Club, Colombo 7 will host its annual Bak Maha Ulela on April 25, 2026, with a full day of festivities to mark the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.
The celebration will feature traditional games, cultural activities, creating a vibrant atmosphere for families and friends to enjoy together. Organisers invite everyone to take part in this joyous occasion.
Three Sri Lankan leopard cubs that were born at the Singapore Zoo on Jan 1 have now made their public debut at the facility.
The two males and one female, born to mother Yala and father Asanka, are the first of their species yo be born at the Singapore Zoo. The last successful birth in Singapore was recorded at the Night Safari three decades ago.
The triplets, which are the pair’s first litter, are among around 80 Sri Lankan leopards in zoos worldwide.
The species is listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, with fewer than 800 individuals estimated to remain in the wild.
Visitors can now see the triplets at the Wild Africa exhibit, said the Mandai Wildlife Group in a statement on April 16.
The cubs can be found in the exhibit with their mother daily until mid-May and, subsequently, every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
Yala with her cubs in their nest box, a month after their birth on Jan 1. (Straits Times)
A leopard cub investigating a piece of meat suspended from a tree – one of the several enrichment items in the Wild Africa exhibit designed to keep the cats mentally and physically stimulated. (Straits Times)
Mandai Wildlife Group curator Anand Kumar said it took nearly three years and close collaboration across continents to bring together a compatible pair of Sri Lankan leopards.
(Straits Times)
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-zoos-first-sri-lankan-leopard-cubs-make-their-public-debut?ref=top-stories
The Sri Lanka Navy has seized a local multi- day fishing trawler, it’s four man crew together with a consignment suspected to be narcotics off the Southern Coast of the island.
The vessel is presently being escorted to the Dikowita fisheries harbour for further investigations and legal proceedings.
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