A foreign national was killed after being struck by a bus while crossing at a pedestrian crossing on York Street within the Colombo- Fort Police Division on Thursday (20).

Police said the bus, which was traveling towards Pettah, collided with the victim as he attempted to cross the road. 

The injured man was rushed to Colombo National Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries shortly after admission.

Authorities confirmed that the identity of the deceased foreign national has not yet been established.

The bus driver involved in the accident has been taken into custody, and the Fort Police are conducting further investigations. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Railways has announced the commencement of the train service between Colombo Fort and Talaimannar, starting today (24).

Train No. 5003 will depart Colombo Fort at 3:50 pm daily and reach Talaimannar at 10:28 pm, while Train No. 5004 will begin its return journey from Talaimannar at 4:10 am the following day, arriving at Colombo Fort at 10:44 am.

The service will stop at major stations including Gampaha, Kurunegala, Maho, Anuradhapura, Medawachchiya, Mannar Town, and Talaimannar Town. 

However, until renovation work at Anuradhapura New Town station is completed, the train will not halt there.

The train will feature two air‑conditioned first‑class compartments with reserved seating. 

Passengers can book seats online via seatreservation.railway.gov.lk or at stations with reservation facilities. (Newswire)

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A tense situation arose in front of the Colombo Fort Railway Station today (25) during a protest organized by the ‘Jana Aragalaya’ movement.

The tense situation occurred following a confrontation between the protesters and the Police.

The protest was staged over several issues, including against the conditions under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme and the high cost of living in Sri Lanka. (Newswire)

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The renovated Colombo Central Bus Stand at Fort was officially handed over to the public today, following modernization work carried out with the support of the Sri Lanka Air Force.

The project, which included the refurbishment of two platforms, was completed at a cost of Rs. 424 million.

According to officials, the upgraded facility has been designed to provide improved services across three levels. 

The ground floor will function as the main bus terminal, and the second floor will serve as rest areas for drivers and conductors, while the third floor has been allocated for administrative and operational services. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Police has intensified its campaign against narcotics with a series of raids and public awareness activities to mark Drug Prevention Week, which commenced on March 1, 2026, under the national theme “Country Together – Quit.”

On the instructions of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasooriya, officers of the Colombo Central Division conducted a community awareness drive on March 3, 2026. 

Led by several senior Police officers, Police personnel distributed awareness leaflets and displayed stickers on three‑wheelers around Bastion Mawatha, Fort, in Colombo. 

The campaign highlighted the confidential short code 1818. The 1818 hotline is a dedicated service enabling the public to share information on drug‑related activities with police.

The Police noted that small but timely tips received through the hotline have already led to several successful large‑scale drug raids.

They further urged the public to join hands in eradicating drugs from the country, encouraging those affected by addiction to seek rehabilitation services for a dignified and healthier life.

The public with information on drudg-related activities is requested to call the 1818 hotline. (Newswire)

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A 35-year-old bus conductor has been arrested in connection with the assault of an individual in the Galle Face area in Fort, of which a video has been widely circulated on social media.

According to the Police, the video shows a person being assaulted by a group using a wooden pole.

Investigations into the video have found that the assault was carried out by a conductor of a private passenger transport bus and another person, following a dispute over the bus ticket with a passenger who was travelling in the bus.

Accordingly, a team of officers from the Fort Police Station arrested the conductor of the relevant bus while at the Fort bus stand yesterday (03). The suspect is a 35-year-old resident of Panadura.

The arrested suspect, who was produced before the Fort Magistrate’s Court today (04), has been remanded until November 14. 

Further investigations are being carried out by the Fort Police. (Newswire)

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Cabinet approval has been granted to call investment proposals for the plot of land identified as Charmers Granaries, located at Olcott Mawatha in Colombo Fort, belonging to the Urban Development Authority (UDA) and to lease it on a 99-year basis. 

The Charmers Granaries, located at Olcott Mawatha in Colombo Fort, with an extent of 09 acres and belonging to the UDA, is situated within the Integrated Mixed Development Zone of the Development Plan prepared for the Colombo Municipal Council Area for the period 2022-2031. 

It has been identified that this land is suitable for disposal on a lease basis for the implementation of financially, environmentally, and socially high-potential mixed development projects, including residential, health, office and industrial, commercial, educational, customer service centres, tourism, recreational, and other activities. 

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Urban Development, Construction, and Housing to call for investment proposals from interested investors to lease this land on a 99-year basis based on the current valuation of the Government Chief Assessor. (Newswire)

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Trains between Colombo – Fort and Maradana have been delayed, Sri Lanka Railways announced today.

According to the department, the delay is caused due to a technical issue on the railroad switch at the Fort Railway Station.

The department further said that as a result, all trains travelling towards Maradana have been halted, causing delays. (Newswire)

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Human skeletal remains have been found at the centre aisle of the roundabout near the old Secretariat in Colombo -Fort.

According to reports, the skeletal remains were found during excavation activities by a private firm involved in the construction linked to the Colombo Port City highway.

The skeletal remains were found nearly 06 feet below by workers engaged in excavation activities on Saturday. 

Following the discovery of the skeletal remains, the excavation activities had been suspended and the Police had been informed in this regard.

The location has been provided with Police protection, while a magisterial inquiry has been scheduled. 

Investigations are launched into the incident by the Colombo Harbour Police. (Newswire)

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The services of the driver of the train that collided with Platform 1 at the Fort Railway Station on Monday (Apr 15) have been temporarily suspended.

According to Lankadeepa newspaper, Deputy General Manager of the Railway N. J. Idipolage said an investigation has been launched into the accident.

Idipolage further said that a final decision on the employment of the train driver would be taken following the conclusion of the probe. 

The accident had occurred last afternoon when a train plying from the Fort Railway Station to Chillaw was preparing to commence its journey.

The train had entered platform 1 but had failed to halt at the designated spot due to the driver being unable to stop the train and had gone on to crash onto the platform. 

No persons had been injured in the accident, while the front of the train and the platform had sustained damages. (Newswire/ Pics- Accident1st)

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Twenty-nine (29) persons were arrested for their involvement in the protest march carried out by the ‘Jana Aragala Viyaparaya’ (People’s Struggle Movement) today.

The Police said the arrested group included 02 monks and 03 women.

Five Police officers are also reported to have sustained injuries during the protest march. 

''මූ මට ගැහුවා. ඕකව ගන්න.''
ජන අරගල ව්‍යාපාරයේ විරෝධතාවයට පොලීසියෙන් කඳුළු ගෑස් pic.twitter.com/AYqHQxtjjy

— BBC News Sinhala (@bbcsinhala) March 20, 2024

The protest, which commenced near the Fort Railway Station, was staged over several issues, including the high prices of goods and foreign agreements by the government.

The Police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protest march as it reached Colombo-Fort. (NewsWire)

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The Police have fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse a protest march near Colombo – Fort today. 

It is reported that the protest march was carried out by the ‘Jana Aragala Viyaparaya’ (People’s Struggle Movement).

The protest was staged over several issues, including the high prices of goods and foreign agreements by the government.

The protest march, which commenced near the Fort Railway Station, was dispersed by the police as it reached Colombo-Fort. (NewsWire/ Image – file pic)

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The Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court today issued an order to seal 05 eateries that were found to be selling food unfit for human consumption in the Fort area.

The eateries on Olcott Mawatha, Fort were found during a recent special inspection carried out by Public Health Inspectors (PHI) of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC).

The raids were conducted on the directives of the Chief Medical Officer of Health of the CMC Dr. Ruwan Wijayamuni.

Following the presentation of facts to the court, the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court ordered the closure of 05 eateries that were found to be in the worst condition. (NewsWire)

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The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has raided several eateries selling food unfit for human consumption.

The riads were conducted by officials of the CAA at several eateries in the Fort area. 

The eateries were found with food kept in an unprotected manner in unhygienic surroundings and the use of unclean utensils. 

Several of the products used for food preparation were also found to be expired. 

The CAA warned that legal action will be initiated against any eatery found to be preparing or selling food unfit for human consumption. (NewsWire)

The Consumer Affairs Authority raided eateries in Pettah that were selling food unfit for human consumption pic.twitter.com/ziiGf3XNPW

— NewsWire (@NewsWireLK) May 16, 2023

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