Oct 8 (DM) One man has found the guts to speak out against a monopoly in rugby as some schools are causing heartburn and promoting the win-at-any-cost syndrome. Zahira College’s Chairman of Board of Governors, Fouzul Hameed, has issued a passionate warning against what he described as a growing school rugby mafia, accusing a handful of elite schools of monopolising the sport, poaching players, showing no ethics, no values and focusing only on winning trophies - destroying more..

Oct 8 (Island) Election Commission of SL (ECSL) has been named the Electoral Commission of the Year at the 2025 Int'l Electoral Awards Ceremony held in Gaborone, Botswana, on Friday (3). The award was accepted by Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Rathnayake. The annual awards recognise outstanding contributions to promoting democratic integrity and excellence in electoral management across the globe. In selecting the recipient, the awards committee more..

Oct 8 (FT) People’s Tower, the new head office building of People’s Bank, was ceremonially declared open yesterday at No. 374, Dr. Colvin R. de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 2, under the patronage of the CB Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe, and the Treasury Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma. For over 64 years, People’s Bank has been deeply committed to the development of the nation by providing financial facilities to the public and making an unparalleled contribution to more..

Oct 8 (TM) Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekara alleged that Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake and Speaker of the Parliament Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne have violated the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act by presenting false information to the Constitutional Council (CC) with the intention of deceit. He expressed these concerns in a letter addressed to the Speaker through which he raised a question of privilege. more..

Oct 8 (DM) SL designer Chathuri Samaraweera’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection shined at the Paris Fashion Week, making it the first time that a SL designer has presented their collection at the international event. Calling it a proud moment for SL in international fashion, SL Embassy in France congratulated Chathuri, Founder & Artistic Director of ANAYA Collection, for showcasing her beautiful womenswear collection at an official sideline show of the Paris Fashion Week 2025. more..

Oct 8 (AD) Speaker of the Parliament, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, today (7) endorsed the certificate on the Convention against Doping in Sport (Amendment) Bill. The Second Reading Debate on the Convention against Doping in Sport (Amendment) Bill was held from 11.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. today, and the Bill was passed without a division and amendment. Bill was presented to Parliament for First Reading on Sept 12, by Minister of Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage. more..

Oct 8 (FT) SL’s economy is expected to grow by 4.6% in 2025, supported by a modest rebound in industry and steady growth in services, before slowing to 3.5% in 2026, according to the World Bank’s latest SL Development Update. The report, launched yesterday in Colombo, warns that the recovery remains fragile and heavily dependent on the country’s ability to implement deep and sustained reforms. more..

Oct 8 (FT) SL enters the period of 2025-2030 at a critical juncture, having emerged from its severe economic crisis in the recent past. SL’s economic landscape once in the brink of collapse in the aftermath of the 2022 crisis has demonstrated a remarkable turnaround, yet the path to sustained growth is weighted with significant challenges. Though the country achieved a swift rebound through decisive policy measures, a strategic roadmap with deep structural transformation is imperative to establish more..

Oct 8 (FT) The amendments to SL’s Children and Young Persons Ordinance (CYPO) and the push for a new comprehensive Compact Act are being hailed as long-overdue reforms, aligning the nation with international child rights conventions. Yet, beneath the veneer of progress lies a profound anxiety: will these rights-centric laws, particularly the outright ban on corporal punishment and the shift toward rehabilitation, inadvertently dismantle the traditional mechanisms of discipline more..

Oct 8 (AD) The price of a 22-carat gold sovereign in SL has surpassed Rs. 300,000 for the first time today. As of 3:30 p.m., the price of a 22-carat gold sovereign in the Colombo Pettah market has risen to Rs. 303,400, up from Rs. 290,500 recorded yesterday. The price of a 24-carat gold sovereign, which stood at Rs. 314,000 yesterday, has now climbed to Rs. 328,000, according to traders at the Pettah market. Meanwhile, gold pushed through US$ 4,000 an ounce to hit a record today, more..

Oct 8 (NF) National Police Commission has clarified that no final decision has been made to delegate its powers to the IGP regarding appointments and transfers of senior officers. Responding to inquiries from News 1st, the Commission stated: “Currently, appointments, promotions, removals, and transfers from Station Masters up to Senior Deputy Inspectors General are handled by the National Police Commission. The IGP is responsible for ranks from Constable up to Police Inspector.” more..

Oct 8 (AD) Minister Bimal Rathnayake has announced that commuters will be able to pay bus fares using bank-issued credit and debit cards on buses equipped with ticket-issuing machines with effect from 30 Nov 2025. Minister revealed this while delivering a statement in Parliament today. “It’s a well-known fact that people are being cheated through bus tickets, which is the main reason the bus industry in Sri Lanka is not financially viable,” he said, more..

Oct 8 (DM) The eight-year-old boy who was critically injured in an incident at the Colombo Swimming Club has passed away. The child, identified as Master Arlan, had fallen into a swimming pool during a private birthday party held at the club. He had been on life support for several days after suffering severe brain injuries. His father, Prasad Panagoda, later filed a complaint with the police, alleging negligence by the club and its staff, claiming that no lifeguard was present more..

Oct 8 (NW) The govt has introduced a new Ministerial Results Framework for 22 line ministries and affiliated institutions, covering the period 2025–2029, to strengthen results-based management in the public sector. Prepared by the Dept of Project Management and Monitoring of the General Treasury, the framework aligns with the current administration’s policy objectives and aims to ensure that development goals are achieved within the designated timeframes of each ministry. more..

Oct 8 (DM) The country is at risk of facing power cuts and potential instability following the Electricity Engineers’ Union’s decision to suspend all work regulations from 4:15 p.m. yesterday, intensifying its ongoing trade union action, Samagi Joint Trade Union Alliance Convener Ananda Palitha warned. Palitha said the decision was not taken arbitrarily but after formally notifying all relevant authorities in writing. He added that the letters clearly outlined more..

Oct 8 (EN) Sri Lankas foreign reserves were US$ 6,243 million in Sept 2025, up 77 million US dollars from a month earlier, but reserve have been stagnant for 11 months, official data show. Sri Lanka’s central bank has cut rates, amid warnings that flexible inflation targeting is a spurious statistical doctrine that rejects classical economics and a note-issue bank that has obligations to provide reserves cannot cut rates on a historical inflation statistic. more..

Oct 8 (NW) The second edition of the Matara Festival for the Arts (MFA) will be held at the Matara Fort from 12–15 December 2025. The arts festival, which aims to revitalize and rebuild Matara City, will feature several artists, musicians and speakers across the exhibitions, concert evenings, learning sessions, workshops, and community markets to be held. This year, the festival will work with the Matara Zonal Education Office to provide guided tours to 2200 Matara students. more..

Oct 8 (DM) The newly established sperm bank at Castle Street Hospital for Women in Colombo has produced encouraging results with ten women successfully conceiving through the facility’s services, hospital officials said. Hospital Director Dr. Ajith Danthanarayana said that the initiative marks a major breakthrough in addressing infertility among SL couples and individuals. “The sperm bank, which was launched recently, has already registered over 150 men as sperm donors. more..

Oct 8 (NW) UN-Habitat, together with National Water Supply & Drainage Board (NWSDB), has officially launched a new project in SL entitled: Safe and Resilient Water Supply for Western Cities – Integrating Climate Resilience into Water Safety Plans of the Ambatale Water Supply Scheme. This project is funded through a US$469,232 (LKR 142 million) grant from Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)’s trust fund, IRAF, with financial support from the Govt of India. more..

Oct 8 (AD) The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) marked a major step in institutional modernization with the launch of its new Case Tracking System at the CIABOC Auditorium today (7). The ceremony was graced by Azusa Kubota, Resident Representative of the UNDP; Kamoshida Naoaki, Minister at the Embassy of Japan; Professor Chathura De Silva, more..

Oct 8 (TM) Long-overdue election of office-bearers to Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) for the term 2025-237 is set to kick off finally this afternoon at 3 pm, at the Duncan White Auditorium of the Ministry of Youth affairs and Sports, with its outcome likely to be a foregone conclusion. Ex-SL skipper and flanker Pavithra Fernando and former head of the sport’s local governing body and crack number eight Lasitha Gunarathne, are the two major protagonists in the contest for the top post (President). more..

Oct 8 (DM) The new vehicle number plates will include seven safety features and six features have already been accredited by the Moratuwa University, Minister Bimal Ratnayake said today. He told Parliament that the Moratuwa University has informed that they have no capacity to accredit the seventh feature and that assistance of an international lab needs to be sought for its accreditation. Minister said the matter with regard to issuing number plates have reached the final stage of more..

Oct 8 (AD) A total of 38 women were imprisoned along with their infants during the first eight months of 2025, PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated. Responding to a question, PM said that 38 children are currently residing inside prisons alongside their imprisoned mothers. Among these children, there are 15 boys and 23 girls, she added. PM noted that childcare centers have been established within the women’s prison wings to look after children more..

Oct 8 (DM) Having played in the most competitive franchise cricket league in the world - the Indian Premier League (IPL) even before his debut for SL national team, Matheesha Pathirana was primed to be the next big thing in SL pace bowling history, but fast forward two years he finds himself in a situation where he'd be incredibly lucky to be included in the squad for TWO World Cup. Pathirana who wasn't regularly featured for SL in the last few months, made a comeback in the tour to Zimbabwe but more..

Oct 8 (EN) The removal of the Simplified Value Added Tax (SVAT) scheme will trigger a cash flow crisis across the entire rubber sector, SL Association of Manufacturers & Exporters of Rubber Products (SLAMERP) said, urging the govt to rethink policy. “The move will trigger a cash flow crisis across the entire rubber value chain, from smallholder farmers and SMEs to large-scale exporters, with damaging repercussions for livelihoods, supply chains and SL’s foreign exchange inflows,” SLAMERP said. more..

Oct 9 (TM) The heart-wrenching reports of 38 mothers who are incarcerated for various crimes and behind bars with their infants is a reality Sri Lanka needs to address diligently. The number of such mothers and children behind bars was revealed yesterday by PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who told the Parliament that of the 38 infants behind bars, 15 were boys and 23 were girls. She revealed that from 1 Jan to 31 Aug 2025, a total of 425 women had been imprisoned in Sri Lanka. more..

Oct 9 (Island) If tourism is being considered as a serious industry, then the criteria should be based on income generation. Like for example, 10 persons paying $1000, instead, as at present, 1000 persons paying $10. Counting numbers, like politicians counting votes, will not sustain an industry. Nor will hiding behind YouTubers praising Sri Lanka as the best destination, meaning the cheapest destination, where one could exist for as little as $10 per day, be of any value. more..

Oct 9 (TM) Sri Lanka stands at a critical juncture as its population rapidly ages, presenting profound challenges and opportunities for the nation’s social, economic, and health systems. On the International Day of Older Persons, 1 Oct, experts, policymakers, and community leaders gathered to reflect on the growing needs of the elderly – a demographic projected to constitute 25% of Sri Lanka’s population by 2050. more..

Oct 9 (DM) Sri Lanka’s 200-year-old postal service now stands at a turning point as the govt is keen to ensure that it doesn’t incur any losses or become a burden to the Treasury in future. This is why the govt has allocated a sum of USD 7 million to modernise postal services in the country. According to Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa, this allocation was made despite postal services being a burden on state finances. However, despite various hardships in carrying out duties, more..

Oct 9 (GV) It has been over 40 years since Free Trade Zones (FTZs) were established in conjunction with the open economic policy. Although they initially offered numerous concessions to both foreign and local investors, the past few years have not brought significant benefits to the workers. Workers in FTZs face a range of problems including wages that fail to keep pace with the rising cost of living, excessive working conditions with constant production targets, uncertainty about job security and more..

Oct 9 (CT) The investment climate in SL continues to face several bottlenecks, the 2025 US Dept of State Investment Climate Statement on SL said last week, noting that while the country has made progress in recovering from the 2022 economic crisis, significant structural, regulatory, and institutional challenges remain, particularly highlighting flaws at the Board of Investment (BOI). Report said that BOI, which is supposed to more..

Oct 9 (ST) It was a mind-boggling discussion! When the Sunday Times Business Club (STBC) on Monday organised a panel discussion on the Anti-Corruption Act No. 9 of 2023 and its impact on the private sector, the presentations by Ms. Sankhitha Gunaratne and Ms. Michelle Handy, two senior researchers from Verité Research, were excellent but surprisingly there were few questions from the audience. Why? “Maybe we were confused. We had always attached bribery and corruption to more..

Oct 9 (Island) Former Army Commander Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka is in the news again. He has launched a propaganda offensive to vilify the Rajapaksa family as a bunch of traitors who cut secret deals with the LTTE even at the height of the Vanni war. He has claimed that during the final phase of the war, the then Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa declared a ceasefire in a bid to allow Prabhakaran and other LTTE seniors to escape; the army went ahead and eliminated the LTTE leadership, more..

Oct 9 (CT) The image of a child behind bars should trouble any society’s conscience. Yet in Sri Lanka today, 38 infants and toddlers live within prison walls, growing up in spaces meant for punishment, not childhood. PM Harini Amarasuriya’s disclosure in Parliament that 38 women are imprisoned with their children is not just a statistic but a moral reckoning. That prisons have childcare centres for mothers and children under five shows some compassion. The PM’s assurance that more..

Oct 9 (CT) World Bank’s latest SL Development Update could not have been clearer: the country is still failing to attract meaningful private investment. Despite a gradual macroeconomic recovery and a wave of reform talk, the reality on the ground remains bleak. Investors are hesitating, projects are stalling, and bureaucracy seems to be winning over business. Unless govt moves from announcements to action, time will soon run out. The most glaring problem lies in land management. more..