Sep 9 (FT) Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath yesterday assured the UNHRC that the Govt is committed to reconciliation, human rights, and democratic reforms through national institutions, adopting a conciliatory stance towards international partners even as he firmly defended the country’s sovereignty against external accountability mechanisms. Speaking at the 60th session in Geneva in response to the report on SL more..

Sep 9 (DM) A private security officer, accused of allegedly video recording the vehicle carrying Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, was ordered to be remanded till Sept 10 by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga Bodaragama today. Police told the court that the incident occurred when the Chief Justice, accompanied by his security officers, visited his residence in the Gregory’s Road area of Colombo and returned. According to investigators from the Cinnamon Gardens Police, more..

Sep 9 (FT) SL settled $ 1.36 billion in external debt servicing in the first half of 2025, covering 55% of the $ 2.45 billion due for the full year, according to data from the Central Bank of SL (CBSL). This leaves $ 1.09 billion to be met in the second half of the year. Debt servicing accelerated in the second quarter, with total repayments of $ 952 million compared with $ 406.6 million in the first quarter. In Q2, principal payments amounted to $ 715 million and interest payments $ 237 million. more..

Sep 9 (DM) Looking at the politicians who panicked during the arrest of notorious organised criminal Mandinu Padmasiri, alias Kehelbaddara Padme, and his associates, shows the connections between drugs and the underworld, Mass Media and Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. He urged the media to examine the politicians who panicked during the arrest of underworld gangsters and drug dealers. more..

Sep 9 (DM) The Cinnamon Gardens police arrested a person and produced him before court over allegations of harassing a university girl in a passenger bus while seated behind her. A 27-year-old university student was allegedly harassed while travelling from Horana to Colombo in a private bus, when the suspect seated behind her discreetly pressed against her back on several occasions, police told court. The suspect was produced before court by the police following his arrest. more..

Sep 9 (FT) The Embassy of Japan has said that Ambassador Akio Isomata handed over infectious waste management equipment to 15 hospitals in the country at a ceremony at the Trincomalee General Hospital. The equipment has been provided under the Project for the Improvement of Infectious Waste Management, for which the Exchange of Notes was signed in April 2023 with a grant assistance of JPY 503 million (approx. $ 3.7 million) by the Govt of Japan. Under this project, more..

Sep 9 (DM) An individual travelling from Colombo to Welimada who fell asleep in the bus had missed the destination and alighted from the bus at an unknown area, only to be severely assaulted by the villagers who mistook him for a robber. Having seen the video footage of him being assaulted released to social media, he had committed suicide. The victim Ramachandran Puwaneswaran alias Murali (34), was a resident of Rothschild Estate in Pussellawa. Investigations revealed that his parents more..

Sep 9 (DM) Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne called on the public to closely observe the facial reactions of MP Namal Rajapaksa when responding to questions. “During his speech, when the camera zooms in, you can see him sweating, with fear showing in his eyes. Despite those expressions, MP Rajapaksa insisted he was not frightened,” he said. Deputy Minister further claimed that many issues are surfacing in connection with recent incidents. “If this country continues to move forward more..

Sep 9 (TM) In the wake of the Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL) observing that the continued involvement of regular Police officers at the Chemmani mass grave site is likely to prejudice the relevant investigations’ outcome, Ministry of Public Security stated that it is not practical to frequently rotate or assign different Police officers to the excavation. Minister Ananda Wijepala said that Police officers from nearby more..

Sep 9 (SO) Environment Ministry has stepped up protection in the country’s forest reserves after a direct call from President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for stronger measures against the rising number of elephant deaths, human–elephant conflict, and poaching. Environment Minister Dr. Dammika Patabendi said that the Cabinet has approved a proposal to provide new vehicles to the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) to strengthen patrols and monitoring operations. more..

Sep 9 (NF) NPP MP Sunil Ratnasiri dismissed allegations of political revenge in connection with the recent discovery of massive chemical stockpiles linked to methamphetamine production. He said the crackdown reflects the public mandate to hold wrongdoers accountable, not a political witch-hunt. “People told us not to let thieves roam free. That was part of the mandate we received,” Ratnasiri said, stressing that the chemicals used to produce crystal meth were imported in large containers, more..

Sep 9 (EN) SL’s state-run CPC has called expression of interest from private investors to expand its 50,000 barrels per day refinery into 100,000 barrels or to set up an entirely new one in the same premises. “This Development and Expansion Project represents a strategic opportunity to establish a long-term partnership within SL’s energy sector,” EOI document said. “It will help strengthen the country’s energy security, reduce dependence on imported refined petroleum more..

Sep 9 (DN) SL skipper Charith Asalanka said after the heavy defeat in the second T-20 our team staged a fine come back to win the game in grand style and this win is a morale booster before the Asia Cup. We were chasing over 190 to win the game and it was not an easy target but our batters were able to achieve that target. The openers laid a good platform and then Kamil Mishara and Kusal Janith built up the innings very well. It was not easy to score 10 to 11 runs an over in the middle overs but more..

Sep 9 (FT) SL’s tourism sector has registered nearly 37,500 arrivals in the first week of September, surpassing 1.6 million visitors so far in 2025—a milestone reached a month earlier than last year. Tourism stakeholders view the 1.6 million milestone as a confidence booster for the industry, which is targeting 3 million arrivals by the end of 2025. With half of the year’s target already achieved in just over nine months, they insist more..

Sep 9 (Island) At a time when Sri Lanka were desperately searching for anchors in their brittle batting line-up, Kamil Mishara rose to the occasion with a match-winning knock that sealed the third and final T20 International against Zimbabwe on Sunday. Chasing 193 in the decider after a collapse in the previous game, Sri Lanka were under the pump, but Mishara – in tandem with his fellow Royalist Kusal Perera – steered the ship home with eight wickets in hand. more..

Sep 9 (ST) Provincial Council elections will be held once the delimitation process is completed, Govt has informed the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in its written response to a report on the human rights situation in SL released by the office. This was in response to the Human Rights Commissioner’s observation that provincial council elections under the 13th Amendment have not been held since 2014. “In May 2025, the Govt made arrangements to hold more..

Sep 9 (DN) BB Gunasekara of Rahula College, Matara, produced a golden throw to light up the opening day of the 93rd Sir John Tarbat Senior Athletics Championship, in Diyagama, Homagama yesterday. The 17-year-old powered the discus 51.35 metres to smash the meet record in the Under-18 Boys’ Discus Throw final and win the gold medal. His performance set the tone for a day that saw four new meet records being established. In distance running, DL Achintha of Aloysius more..

Sep 9 (Island) It is popularly said in this country that if one kicks any wayside bush about a dozen public employees jump out. The state service is bursting at the seams thanks to numerous politically motivated recruitment drives under successive governments so much so that today there is one state employee for every 15 citizens! This extremely high state-official-to-citizen ratio has not benefited the public at all, as evident from their many complaints of lethargy, delays, etc., in state institutions. more..

Sep 9 (FT) Govt is preparing for a decisive round of talks with global online travel giant Booking.com later this week, as it steps up efforts to bring online travel agencies (OTAs) and digital accommodation platforms into the country’s regulatory and tax framework. Deputy Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe confirmed that representatives of Booking.com are expected in Colombo between 13 & 15 Sept, with discussions aimed at more..

Sep 9 (FT) Bar Association of SL (BASL) said it has signed a MoU to foster collaboration with the Computer Society of SL (CSSL). Under the MoU, CSSL commits to providing technical expertise to support BASL’s IT initiatives, digital transformation, and capacity-building projects. In return, BASL will extend its legal capacity-building creating a mutually beneficial partnership. This collaboration reflects a shared vision to integrate the strengths of both organisations, ensuring that BASL and more..

Sep 9 (FT) Minister Bimal Rathnayake and his delegation were received by the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and the Secretary General of Jeddah Chamber of Commerce, the oldest Chamber in Saudi Arabia, on 4 Sept at its headquarters in Jeddah. Addressing the Chamber, Minister highlighted SL’s strategic geographic location in the Indian Ocean and presented investment opportunities and proposals in ports, logistics and civil aviation sectors. more..

Sep 9 (ST) For Jaffna, a region long scarred by war and neglect, the promise of a state-of-the-art cricket ground feels like long overdue recognition. But beneath the ground-breaking ceremony and soaring rhetoric lies a familiar question–can SL afford another expensive white elephant, or is this truly an investment into healing and development? Cricket in Sri Lanka has always been more than just a sport. more..

Sep 9 (DN) West Indies under 19s recorded thrilling two wickets win with two balls to spare (DLS method) against SL under 19s to level the series 2-2 in their fourth youth ODI played at Coolidge cricket grounds Antigua on Sunday. SL Under 19s invited to bat first scored 182 all out in 39.3 overs while opener Dimantha Mahavithana top scored 34 in 53 balls with 3 fours and a six. Shaquan Belle was the most successful bowler taking 4 for 35 while Zachary Carter & Brendon Boodoo shared 2 wts each. more..

Sep 9 (DM) One would wonder if our politicians really want to eradicate crime, given the irresponsible statements they make about crime before the television cameras, irrespective of the party they are affiliated to. They always politicise the violent incidents or drug related incidents, implicating their political rivals or opponents. When a group religious fanatics went berserk on the Easter Sunday of 2019, killing nearly 300 people, in three churches and three star-class hotels, more..

Sep 9 (TM) SL’s law enforcement community has many allegations levelled against it. Growing out of a colonial Police foundation, and plunged into cold war era, counter-insurgency and anti-communist operations in the ’70s, the island’s mainstream law enforcement agencies have long been criticised for abuse of power, politicisation, inefficiency, collusion with criminal elements and acting with impunity. The ills and the merits of the domestic law enforcement agencies have been well discussed and more..

Sep 9 (ST) The hushed awe with which solemn reverence was paid to this UN-made law as it was placed on the statutory tabernacle of faith and worshipped thereafter as the iconic Act that would ensure religious and racial harmony not only in Lanka but all over the world has now been met with a cacophonous protest that it revolts freedom of expression. The good side of the Act is that it firmly puts the brakes on the spread of religious bigotry and minimises the hatred and more..

Sep 9 (TM) The Govt, which has now been in office for nearly a year and has been actively trying to engage with the international community to address long-standing human rights, reconciliation, and accountability issues, continues to come under criticism for its continued use of draconian laws. The Govt has stood its ground emphasising concerns about sovereignty, crime prevention, and ongoing reforms, which it claims necessitate the use more..

Sep 9 (CT) Mr. President, High Commissioner, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I speak to you on behalf of the Govt of SL at a time when my country has embarked on a historic journey towards transformational change. This journey is about democratic governance, human rights, inclusive economic growth and national unity. In March this year, 3 months after the NPP Govt assumed office, I addressed the High-Level Segment of this Council and outlined the clear vision of the Govt to more..

Sep 9 (CT) A major step towards SL’s movement towards energy sustainability took place with construction beginning for the Rividanavi solar power park, which takes place in line with the country’s push towards meeting 70% of its energy demand using renewable energy alone. It is laughable that SL, one of the smallest polluters in the world is minimising its greenhouse gas emissions with renewable energy projects when even reducing even 1% of emissions from more..

Sep 9 (SO) In his first year as Minister of Public Security, Ananda Wijepala has found himself at the centre of some of Sri Lanka’s most pressing debates, from tackling organised crime and drug networks to addressing police reforms, promotions, and allegations of political interference. In this wide-ranging interview, Minister reflects on recent high-profile operations, the challenges of depoliticising the police, and his vision for more..

Sep 9 (DM) Sudath Mahadivulwewa’s latest film direction My Red Comrade won the Golden Lotus Award for the Best Feature Film at the 7th South Asian Film, Arts and Literature (SAFAL) International Film Festival. The festival which celebrates South Asian film, arts, and literature, highlighting powerful stories, bold voices, and cinematic brilliance, awarded Mahadivulwewa’s second film direction which discusses about the loss of an artistic human being in a social backdrop more..

Sep 9 (Island) The recent historical record of the political centre-right is not particularly impressive. To define the centre-right in this contemporary period, it may be distinguished from the traditional conservatism of D.S. Senanayake, whose philosophy more closely resembled Stanley Baldwin’s One Nation conservatism than the neoliberal turn of his successors. The UNP was conceived as a liberal-conservative party. Senanayake and his contemporaries more..