Mar 26 (DM) The Govt expects to remove the economic targets from the Economic Transformation Act (ETA) and bring in a new state-owned enterprises (SOE) and public-private partnership (PPP) law, Senior Advisor to Prez Duminda Hulangamuwa said. He said that the govt is expecting to amend the ETA by removing the economic targets mentioned in the first chapter of the Act and also remove the Office for Int'l Trade & National Productivity Commission. more..

Mar 26 (MB) In July 2023, heavy rains continued in southern Sri Lanka for days, soaking the lush greenery of the village of Hapugala in Galle. Amid the downpour, journalist and naturalist Sajeewa Wijeweera received an unexpected call — not from the wild, but from just across his garden. His wife, Sirangika Lokukaravita, had spotted something strange emerging from the wet soil: a vivid red mushroom with a bulbous base, bizarre and more..

Mar 26 (AD) Case filed by Bribery Commission against former Minister Johnston Fernando and two others was taken up for hearing once again before the Colombo High Court toda. The case has been filed by the Bribery Commission, alleging that the trio caused financial losses to the govt by unlawfully engaging the employees of the Cooperative Wholesale Establishment (CWE/Lanka Sathosa) in political activities during Fernando’s tenure as the Minister of Cooperatives and Internal Trade. more..

Mar 26 (NW) Popular musician Iraj Weeraratne appeared before the Cyber Crimes Division of the CID this morning, following a summons issued to him. Speaking to the media, Iraj said he believes the CID summoned him over a recent video he published on his YouTube channel on March 25, in which he made several allegations against Sudath Thilakasiri. He claimed that his video exposed what he described as a fraudulent request made in relation to donations for Temple of the Tooth more..

Mar 27 (DM) The sale of substandard, unhygienic food in unregulated food establishments is not a new phenomenon in SL. But the fact that many such establishments continue to operate in broad daylight is quite concerning given the fact that it makes people vulnerable to various non-communicable diseases and food-borne illnesses. In SL, the Food Act, No. 26 of 1980, is the primary legislation governing food control, aiming to ensure the availability of safe, wholesome, and more..

Mar 27 (TM) Projections made by entities like the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) predict marine vessel traffic, especially maritime freight transport, will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 3.6% through to 2050. They also predict that air cargo will see the most rapid growth by mode, and all transport lanes will face major challenges. As such, the sea lanes that ply Indian Ocean Region and traverse SL’s littorals will see a threefold increase by 2050. more..

Mar 27 (SO) Katchatheevu is a small, uninhabited island between India and SL in the Palk Strait. Though it spans just 1.15 square km, it has a rich history shaped by colonial rule, diplomatic agreements and strong cultural ties. For generations, fishermen from Tamil Nadu (India) and northern SL have used its waters for their livelihood, making it a neutral meeting point. Island’s name comes from the Tamil words Katchal (barren) more..

Mar 27 (CT) The relationships between Sinhalese Buddhists in the south and Northern Tamils were already fragile and seemed extremely unstable. Suspicion on both sides of the racial equation grew exponentially brittle in the wake of the Sinhala Only Bill passed during the Bandaranaike regime in the mid fifties. Recruitment to govt service was based on one’s ethnicity rather than on pure merit of educational qualifications. Sinhalese political leaders envied highly educated Tamils and more..

Mar 27 (Island) Former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has reportedly said Sri Lanka’s economy still needs intensive care, and much more remains to be done to ensure its full recovery. He has emphasised the need for the incumbent govt to tread cautiously on the economic front and secure foreign investment to sustain growth momentum. He has been critical of the manner in which prospective foreign investment in the power and energy sectors is handled under the current dispensation. more..

Mar 27 (Island) On the morning of 21 March, 2025, a Chinese-built K-8 jet trainer aircraft of the SL Air Force (SLAF) crashed at Wariyapola. Fortunately, the two pilots ejected from the aircraft and parachuted down to safety. A team of seven has been appointed to investigate the accident. Their task is to find the cause behind the cause, or the root cause. Ejecting from an aircraft usually has physical and psychological repercussions. The crew involved in the crash are the best witnesses, more..

Mar 27 (DM) Sri Lankans are generally impatient by nature. We have paid the price for this; mostly at elections. And the individuals who have capitalised on this nature are the politicians. But is there scope to change this nature in us? There is an advertisement carried on the television about how short-lived dreams of migrating can be when one tries to reach Australia by boat. And the final catch-phrase in this advertisement is don’t be in a hurry to make your last journey. more..

Mar 27 (TM) After decades of stalled projects, SL is once again pushing forward with plans to tap into its vast offshore oil and gas reserves, valued at an estimated $ 267 billion. As the country is yet to recover from the severe economic crisis it experienced a few years ago and as a solution to mounting debt, Govt is moving to finalise contracts for exploration in the Mannar Basin. However, concerns persist over whether this will be more..

Mar 27 (GV) UK govt has announced sanctions on 3 top former war time military commanders and a former LTTE commander accused of serious human rights violations and abuses such as extra judicial killings, torture and sexual violence. The sanctions aim to seek accountability for war crimes and to prevent a culture of impunity. Financial sanctions involve the freezing of monetary and non-monetary assets (e.g. property or vehicles) and ensuring that no assets are made available to them. more..

Mar 27 (CT) The govt’s recent decision to revise rooftop solar feed-in tariffs has sparked widespread debate, with industry experts, politicians, and concerned citizens questioning the wisdom of such a move. While energy policy must evolve in response to changing market conditions, any changes should prioritise long-term sustainability, economic stability, and fairness. Unfortunately, the proposed reduction in solar tariffs threatens to undermine the very progress SL has made in its more..

Mar 27 (ST) When 32-year-old teacher Sajeewanie (name changed) borrowed Rs. 5,000 from an online quick loan agency for her wedding, she did not expect it to destroy her life. A mere week after she took the loan, she owed the agency Rs. 6,900 (with interest). To pay them back, she started taking out more loans from other online agencies at exorbitant interest rates. When she couldn’t cover the entire amount she owed, more..

Mar 27 (FT) Indo-Lanka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ILCCI) of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce hosted a discussion with Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe, on SL’s industrial growth plan and Indo-Sri Lanka trade and economic cooperation. The event, brought together key stakeholders to explore the Government’s economic vision and growth strategies. ILCCI President M. Raghuraman, welcomed Deputy Minister more..

May 27 (Island) A visit to Cargills Food City Pelawatte last weekend would have been a unique experience for any shopper. The Food City outlet was home to several small local businesses, all eager to showcase their products to the extensive customer base of Cargills. This event, called Cargills Village to Home, is a unique programme initiated by Cargills to support small businesses by connecting them directly to the market. The 32nd edition of the programme held on March 22nd and 23rd, more..

Mar 27 (ST) An infrared camera that uses artificial intelligence is being tested on a train on the Batticaloa railway line to detect elephant intrusions onto tracks in a collaboration between the Railway Department and the University of Peradeniya. A research engineer will handle the equipment throughout the trial run to collect vital data, which will be used to improve detection accuracy over time. It will perform its core functions while the data are collected. more..

Mar 27 (FT) Hayleys Group, Sri Lanka’s largest and most diversified conglomerate, has launched the 2nd edition of the Hayleys Lifecode – its pioneering Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) roadmap, strengthening its commitment to strategically embedding ESG principles across its business. The refreshed framework reflects the Group’s evolving sustainability priorities and the significant progress made since the inaugural edition in 2022. more..

Mar 27 (FT) The Monetary Policy Board on Tuesday (25) decided to keep the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at 8.00% at its meeting. The Board arrived at this decision after carefully considering the developments, both domestically and globally. The Board remains confident that the prevailing monetary policy stance will ensure that inflation will move towards the target of 5% while supporting growth of domestic economy. more..

Mar 27 (AD) President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently received the letter of credence from the newly appointed Ambassador of SL to Ukraine, Ms. Hasanthi Urugodawatte Dissanayake. The Head of State congratulated the Ambassador on the start of her diplomatic mission in Ukraine and expressed hope for the intensification of cooperation between the countries, according to the Ukrainian President’s Office. In his conversation with the Ambassador of SL, Prez Zelenskyy noted more..

Mar 27 (DN) The National Senior Weightlifting Championship which has confirmed the participation of many national and international medalists will be held from March 29 to April 02 at the Gallella National Sports Complex in Polonnaruwa. The Sri Lanka Weightlifting Federation, the organizers, have taken steps to organise the National Junior Men’s and Women’s Championships as well as the National Youth Championship for Boys’ and Girls’ in parallel with this tournament. more..

Mar 27 (TM) Taking into account the frequent incidents of foreigners driving three-wheelers without proper driving licences and documentation, Traffic Police HQ has warned that those who allow such individuals to operate three-wheelers without valid licences will face legal consequences. Police Media Division stated that the rising trend of foreign nationals, both male and female, driving three-wheelers in SL has become a serious issue. more..

Mar 27 (DM) A total of 6.8 million Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TINs) have been issued so far for the citizens in the country, making it easier for them to obtain govt services, Inland Revenue Commissioners Association President M.A. Priyanka said. Addressing the media at the annual conference and election of the Inland Revenue Commissioners Association, he said a digital identification code will be given to every citizen in the country to make it easier for them to receive govt services. more..

Mar 27 (Island) Fueling the next generation of tech innovators, HUTCH is revolutionizing industry-academic collaboration through its Future Connect initiative. By partnering with SLIIT, HUTCH is not just providing students with real-world exposure it is reshaping how undergraduates engage with networking, cloud infrastructure, and data communication technologies through hands-on, immersive learning experiences. The first session of the Future Connect Program, more..

May 27 (CT) Colombo Fort Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura ordered SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa to appear in the Magistrate Court when notice is issued in connection with the Krrish deal case. FCID informed the Magistrate yesterday that the investigation into the alleged Rs 70 million misappropriation by Namal Rajapaksa through the Krrish deal has not yet been completed. This submission was made in response to the order issued by the Magistrate on the previous more..

Mar 27 (DN) A spirited 200th-ranked Sri Lanka put up a fierce fight against 97th-ranked Thailand but ultimately fell to a narrow 0-1 defeat in their AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifier Third Round match at the packed 40,000-seater Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand last night. The decisive moment came in the 44th minute when Thailand’s forward Patrick Gustavsson found the net, sending the home crowd into jubilation. The goal came after a well-placed cross from more..

Mar 27 (DM) Under a prisoner exchange agreement signed between Kuwait and SL in 2007, a group of 32 out of 104 SL prisoners serving sentences for drug-related offenses in Kuwait's Central Jail who were released, arrived at the BIA. This marks the first implementation of the agreement in history, with the prisoners transported on a special flight from Kuwait. These Sri Lankans had been arrested by Kuwaiti security forces more..

Mar 27 (FT) The Govt dismissed speculation that Senior Economic and Financial Adviser to the Prez, Duminda Hulangamuwa has been selected as the next Treasury Secretary. His remarks came following rumours gaining traction after Hulangamuwa’s appearance on a talk show on Monday (24), where he acknowledged discussions about the possibility of taking up the role. When asked about the appointment, Hulangamuwa responded: “There is a discussion, let’s see what will happen.” more..

Mar 27 (AD) The former Opposition Leader of the Central Provincial Council, Chanaka Ailapperuma, who was arrested for allegedly soliciting and accepting bribes in exchange for govt jobs, has been remanded in custody. Accordingly, the suspect is accused of demanding bribes of Rs. 200,000 and Rs. 150,000 under the pretense of providing govt jobs. The CIABOC further stated that the former Opposition Leader of the UNP, Chanaka Ailapperuma, was arrested by more..

May 27 (Island) DPF MP Mano Ganesan said that new Trump administration may expect SL to increase imports from the US and US cotton fabric raw material could be one such possible import. Ganesan said so after meeting US Ambassador Julie Chung on Tuesday. Ganesan represents SJB in the current Parliament. Claiming that he had a productive meeting with Ambassador Chung, Ganesan said that US accounted for 23% of SL’s annual exports, valued at $16 bn but more..

Mar 27 (ST) A new Statistics Act along with SL National Strategy for Statistics Development is being worked on by the Dept of Census and Statistics (DSC) in a bid to disseminate data accurately to policymakers. The DCS operates under the Statistics Ordinance and the Census Ordinance, which govern the conduct of censuses and surveys on households and establishments. However, traditional data collection methods are increasingly insufficient for meeting current demands for more..

May 27 (TM) Govt's recent decision to revise the tariff paid per unit of electricity generated by rooftop solar panels could harm over 600 to 700 active solar panel businesses in SL and jeopardise the livelihoods of around 20,000 employees working in this sector, warned Electricity Consumers' Association (ECA). ECA General Secretary Sanjeewa Dhammika claimed that the reduction in tariff could result in those who have installed more..

May 27 (AD) Chief Incumbent of the Mihintale Raja Maha Viharaya, Ven. Walawahengunawewe Dhammarathana Thero, says that he will withdraw from all organizational activities related to this year’s State Poson Festival. Thero stated that his decision was prompted by pressure from archaeological authorities, which has hindered his involvement in the management of the Mihintale sacred site. He emphasized that the ongoing interference had compelled him to step away from more..

Mar 27 (AD) The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval for the execution of the Timely Food Package programme, which aims to provide essential food items at a concessionary price during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year season. Minister Nalinda Jayatissa stated that this initiative aligns with the 2025 Budget proposal by President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Under this programme, a Timely Food Package valued at Rs. 5,000 will be made available for just Rs. 2,500. more..