Mar 11 (EN) Sri Lanka’s central bank bought US$ 70 million in Feb 2025, after private credit and state enterprise credit eased in Jan 2025, official data showed, in an increase from January. The January the central bank bought US$ 47.3 million and sold US$ 35 million. In February, purchases increased to US$ 78 million and sales fell to US$ 8 million. CB printed around 100 billion rupees in the last quarter of 2024, to operate a single policy rate with excess liquidity (an abundant reserve system) more..

Mar 11 (ANI) Kumar Sangakkara rolled back the years with a scintillating century to guide Sri Lanka Masters to a commanding nine-wicket victory over England Masters and propel the Islanders to the top of the points table in the International Masters League (IML) 2025 in their final group stage match on Monday. The loss also ended England Masters' hopes of qualifying for the knockouts of the tournament, although they are left with one more game in the competition. more..

Mar 11 (DM) The highly-awaited Invest SL Capital Market Investor Forum 2025 is set to take place on Mar 27 and 28, in Colombo, to woo foreign investors. To be held at Shangri-La Colombo, the event is hosted by the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), in collaboration with Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) and stockbroker industry. The forum, featuring high-ranking officials, including govt policymakers, regulators, representatives of leading listed companies and stockbroker firms, more..

Mar 11 (FT) Labour Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando stated that steps have already been initiated to look into the ratification of the ILO Convention No. 190 on eliminating violence and harassment in the world of work for Sri Lanka. He made this statement while responding to the Motion at the Adjournment Time moved by MP Rohini Kumari Wijerathna representing the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus on 8 March, in line with International Women’s Day, more..

Mar 11 (NW) PM Harini Amarasuriya stated that the 2025 budget of the present govt has allocated the highest amount ever in the history for education and the Ministry of Education has introduced a 5-pillar plan for the proposed education reforms. PM made these remarks in Parliament on March 10 during the budget debate on expenditure allocation for the Ministry of Education. “Today, we are represented by fourteen members who more..

Mar 11 (NW) A new training program aimed at educating police officers about the LGBTQ+ community has been launched at the Katana National Police Training Institute with the support of Embassy of the Netherlands. The initiative seeks to enhance awareness among law enforcement officers about the rights and protections afforded to LGBTQ+ individuals under SL law. Police officers are expected to intervene appropriately in any challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, more..

Mar 11 (DN) For the first time in Sri Lanka a Holland based investor Peter Van Tilburg with a consortium of SL entrepreneurs would be developing Sri Lanka’s first floating hotel in Dehiowita, Avissawella. Tilburg who was the former owner of a boat building yard in Rotterdam, Holland said that he has already purchased land for this purpose and I have signed an MoU with three local investors who are ready to pump in the capital of around Rs. 400 million. We hope to commence the project mid this year more..

Mar 11 (FT) The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) President and Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA) Chair, Simon Bittlestone will be visiting Sri Lanka from 19 to 21 March. During his visit, Bittlestone will attend a number of engaging events with members, candidates, tuition partners, corporate partners, and state officials. His engagements during the visit to SL will include: Speaking to C-Suite executives to share more..

Mar 11 (CT) In a powerful address to Parliament, NPP MP Kaushalya Ariyaratne shed light on the ongoing challenges facing schools, where poor infrastructure and neglected resources continue to affect the quality of education. From substandard buildings to unsanitary conditions, Ariyaratne painted a grim picture of how thousands of students remain vulnerable due to inadequate facilities. “There are low-quality buildings in ten schools in the Kaduwela area alone,” MP noted, more..

Mar 11 (DM) The 6-member squad, accompanied by 3 officials, was set to arrive in Serbia in time for the Sport Entry Check and Official Draw on March 8. However, despite extensive efforts by the Boxing Association of SL (BASL) to secure the necessary approvals, team was ultimately unable to board their scheduled flight and had to return home on Monday. A key challenge in the visa process stemmed from absence of a Serbian emb more..

Mar 11 (DN) As a pioneering step towards reducing the monthly electricity bill of Rs.4.4 million by 50%, the Peradeniya Uni will connect solar panels installed on the rooftops of the Medicine, Engineering and Arts Faculty buildings to the national power grid today (10). There is a proposal to change entirely to solar power for its electricity needs under Uni’s Centennial Development Plan. The solar power systems installed at the Engineering, Arts and Medicine Faculties more..

Mar 11 (DM) Flight UL 404 to Bangkok took off with an inspiring crew in the cockpit as SriLankan Airlines operated the journey with an all-female team. Led by Captain Madini Wijesinghe, 8-member crew showcased their skill and professionalism, highlighting the airline’s commitment to empowering women in aviation on the International Women’s Day. The flight, which carried 130 passengers, took off from BIA in Colombo and arrived in Bangkok, marking a significant milestone in the airline’s more..

Mar 11 (AD) Sri Lanka has been named one of the countries with the lowest terror threats in the world, according to the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2025. 12th annual GTI report, released on Wed, ranked SL 100th among 163 countries considered in the index. However, with a GTI score of zero, SL shares the lowest spot on the index with 63 other countries. Report indicates that SL has significantly improved, dropping 64 spots more..

Mar 11 (FT) The US has a persistent trade deficit with Sri Lanka. Despite almost universal agreement among economists that trade deficits, especially between two countries, are not meaningful, President Trump believes otherwise. As he assumed office, he asked his officials to investigate and remedy persistent US trade deficits. Sri Lanka-US trade shows a deficit of $ 2.6 billion following an increase of 6.3% in 2024. Sri Lanka was responsible for 0.28% of the total US trade deficit. more..

Mar 11 (FT) One of my favourite childhood stories was thoppi velenda (The hat seller and the monkeys). For those unfamiliar with this story, it’s about a group of mischievous monkeys that grabbed hats from a hat seller as he slept under a tree, and wouldn’t return them despite the hat seller’s shouting and stone-throwing. Then the hat seller had a brilliant idea—he took off his own hat and threw it on the ground. The monkeys, being natural imitators, did exactly the same; more..

Mar 11 (SLN) Rear Admiral Princely Liyanage (Retd) achieved a remarkable feat on 09 Mar 25 by qualifying to establish 02 Guinness World Records for continuous walking on a manual treadmill over a 24-hour period. His remarkable achievements included qualifying to be recognized for multiple records: walking an impressive 94.30 km in 12 hours, surpassing the previous Guinness World Record of 68.04 km and by walking 174.08 kilometers in 24 hours on a manual treadmill. more..

Mar 11 (AD) GMOA has called on the govt to immediate steps to apprehend the suspect responsible for the alleged rape of a female doctor of the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital within tomorrow. The GMOA has also warned that if the suspect is not arrested within tomorrow, they will initiate a strike across the entire North Central Province. Earlier today, doctors at the A'pura Teaching Hospital commenced a strike demanding the immediate arrest of the individual who more..

Mar 11 (EN) At least 87 foreign projects have resumed under the new govt after being halted, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake said as the island nation declared that it is out of bankruptcy. Soon after SL declared bankruptcy, all the bilateral lenders suspended their ongoing projects in SL due to sovereign debt default. The island nation finalized debt restructuring by end 2024, declaring that it has come out of bankruptcy. more..

Mar 11 (PMD) A meeting between President Anura Kumara Disanayake and officials of the Excise Department was held today at the Presidential Secretariat. The discussion focused on addressing the current challenges faced by the Excise Department and achieving this year’s revenue targets. A key point of the discussion was the integration of the department’s operations with the Inland Revenue Department to enhance efficiency and fairness in tax collection. more..

Mar 11 (NW) The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) has initiated legal action against a tuition teacher accused of assaulting students. According to the NCPA, the tuition teacher had failed to comply with a summons issued related to a video widely circulated on social media about the incident. The video shows the tuition teacher using corporal punishment on his students, as well as instructing a female student to hit a male student with a cane. When inquired in this regard more..

Mar 11 (AD) An open warrant has been issued against former IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon by the Matara Magistrate’s Court, upon the request of the CID. CID informed Matara Magistrate’s Court today that a total of ten suspicious locations across the island had been inspected, and intelligence officers had been deployed to eighteen other locations in an effort to arrest the former IGP. more..

Mar 11 (DM) A Colombo Magistrate ordered the Borella Police to arrest all perpetrators whoever responsible for the death of Baby Hamdi following a kidney surgery at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital, Borella. Magistrate Harshana Kakulawela ordered the Police to arrest whoever or in whatever capacity they may be, the perpetrators who are responsible for the death of baby Hamdi. The Magistrate made this order to the Borella Police on considering the submissions of counsel Y.L.M. Yoosuf more..

Mar 11 (AD) Cabinet has decided to grant the policy consent for the expeditious completion of the function of preparation of the draft bill to amend the Industry Promotion Act, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. He said that it has been noted that the provisions of the Industry Promotion Act No. 46 of 1990 existing at present are not sufficient to compile industry policies that enable fulfilling the contemporary requirements in the fields of technical, trade, skills & environment in industry sector. more..

Mar 11 (DM) The suspect who sexually assaulted a lady doctor at the Anuradhapura Teaching hospital is found to be an army deserter, Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala told Parliament today. Responding to a question raised by the Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, the Minister said Police have found out the where abouts of the suspect and an operation is underway to arrest him. "Five police teams have been deployed to investigate and arrest the suspect," he said. more..

Mar 11 (AD) Chief Incumbent of Kiri Vehera in Kataragama, Ven. Kobawaka Dhamminda Thero, has left the CID after recording a statement that lasted for around seven hours. Thero arrived at the CID this morning to provide a statement. On Monday, Basnayake Nilame of the Ruhunu Kataragama Devalaya Dishan Gunasekara recorded a statement at the CID for nearly three hours about a house built by Ven. Soratha Thero of Kiri Vehera inside the Kiri Vehera premises during more..

Mar 11 (NF) On Sept 21, 1995, the Batalanda Prez Commission of Inquiry was established, revealing numerous details about the torture chamber operated at the Batalanda housing complex during the 1988/90 period. Survivors of torture identified the houses used for their mistreatment before the commission. These details are clearly documented in the commission's report. House 2/2 in the complex was used by more..

Mar 11 (AD) Former Provincial Council Member Sanjaya Siriwardena has been arrested with a T56 assault rifle, two magazines, 130 rounds of ammunition, and a 12-bore firearm that were hidden on a plot of land belonging to him in Attanagalla, the police said. Furthermore, the police have launched an investigation to locate several T-56 assault rifles and ammunition that he claims to have hidden. Further investigations are being conducted headed by Assistant Superintendent of Police more..

Mar 11 (PTI) A group of over 100 Myanmar Rohingya refugees on Monday staged a protest opposite the UN office and demanded a permanent solution to their plight. Activist Rukii Fernando of a local group assisting them said the group, which arrived in 2022, were calling for immediate assistance, including food and housing. “This group of 123 Rohingyas have been housed with friends and well wishers at Panadura (a Colombo south suburb)," Fernando told reporters. more..

Mar 11 (DM) Considering requests from various departments and affiliated bodies of the Ministries to fill vacant posts, the Cabinet has granted approval for the relevant Ministries and institutions to proceed with 5,882 recruitments, as recommended by the committee. Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said that the proposal, forwarded by the PM, sought approval for the respective Ministries and institutions to make these recruitments. more..

Mar 11 (DM) Supreme Court today issued notices to former President Maithripala Sirisena, requiring him to show cause for his failure to pay the compensation awarded to the victims of the Royal Park murder case. President's Counsel Sanjeeva Jayawardena appearing for the petitioner informed court that the former Prez had failed to pay the Rs. 1 million compensation ordered by the Supreme Court last year. Considering the facts presented, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, more..

Mar 11 (CT) Opposition MP V. Radhakrishnan has expressed hope that the NPP Govt will support his proposal to employ Indian teachers in Tamil medium schools in the estate sector. He also urged the Govt, in Parliament, to take steps to complete the development work of schools that was halted during previous administrations, using the financial provisions allocated for education. MP recalled that during his previous tenure as Minister, he had proposed bringing teachers from India to more..

Mar 11 (DM) A house built in Kataragama for former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa has prompted an investigation by the CID. Dishan Gunasekara, the Basnayake Nilame of the Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devalaya, was questioned by CID officers yesterday regarding the property. Gunasekara clarified that the house, which had been constructed in the area, was built by an individual named Wimalaratne and funded by the former Chief Incumbent of the Kataragama Kiriwehera Temple. more..

Mar 11 (DM) In a bid to attract over 40% of the country’s illicit liquor drinkers into a much safer drinking culture the Dept of Excise is mulling to introduce a new quarter bottle with a lesser strength of arrack for an affordable price to match Kasippu. Following the initial green light received from the COPF last Friday to introduce a less strong and less expensive alcoholic beverage for the underprivileged consumers, the authorities have started carrying out research into the matter. more..

Mar 11 (FT) SL’s tourism sector is facing a growing challenge as tensions between local taxi mafias and app-based ride-hailing operators escalate. In the past 12 weeks, more than 30 incidents have been reported where local taxi groups allegedly harassed or obstructed app-based drivers for transporting passengers in certain areas. Several of these incidents included not just vandalism and causing damages to vehicles but also physical injuries more..

Mar 11 (DM) Cabinet Spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa was careful not to mention former Minister Tiran Alles' name despite numerous questions from journalists about potential links between former IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon and former Minister Alles. When asked whether there was credible information that the house of Alles was searched in this regard, he said he was not aware and that police has searched all the known places. "I think he will be arrested at any time," he said. more..