Oct 9 (AD) Approximately 500 individuals submitted opinions and suggestions during public consultation sessions held in relation to the third electricity tariff revision proposed for this year, the Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) stated. The island-wide public consultation process began on Sept 18, starting with the Eastern Province, and was designed to gather feedback from all provinces. The final session took place yesterday at the BMICH, focused on the Western Province, more..

Oct 9 (NW) The IGP Challenge Trophy National Cadet Camp – 2025, which began on Oct 4 with the participation of 42 Boys’ teams and 21 Girls’ teams from over 500 schools across the country, will conclude tomorrow at the SL Police College Aluvihare Sports Grounds. This year’s National Camp brings together 1,575 cadets — 1,050 boys and 525 girls — along with 40 Senior Non-Commissioned Officers from the Police Cadet Division, showcasing the strength and more..

Oct 9 (CT) The Bribery Commission, yesterday, accused former Minister Manusha Nanayakkara, of abusing his official position to ensure agricultural jobs in Israel were given exclusively to his political supporters, bypassing the standard application process. The allegations were detailed during a Court hearing for an anticipatory bail application filed by the former minister. CIABOC informed Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court more..

Oct 9 (Island) The US Embassy in Colombo has recently congratulated two SL navy officers for completing training programmes in the US underlining deepening military cooperation between the two countries. The US Embassy hailed Lt Commander Kathriarachchige Kathriarachchi of the Navy, who was awarded the Outstanding International Student Award from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey, California. The embassy described the recognition as more..

Oct 9 (CT) Material and financial benefits worth Rs 97.6 million have been provided to 535 inactive nurseries under the 25 Million Tea Plantation Special Project, National Audit Office (NAO) has revealed. The National Audit Office said that 535 tea nurseries, which received material and financial benefits under the 25 Million Tea Plantation Special Project, were identified as inactive. The material and financial support, amounting to Rs 97,673,635, provided to these nurseries has more..

Oct 9 (CT) SJB MP S.M. Marikkar urged the Govt to reconsider an alleged move to ban aircraft from flying over the Parliamentary Complex, warning that such a decision could negatively impact SL’s tourism industry. MP Marikkar said he had received information that authorities were preparing to impose flight restrictions over the area surrounding Diyawanna Lake, where Parliament is located. “We have heard that there is a move to ban the flying of planes over the Parliamentary Complex. more..

Oct 9 (FS) Aitken Spence Plantation Managements PLC has announced a transformative agricultural initiative in Fiji, marking a new chapter in the island nation’s commercial farming sector. The project, which builds on a successful exploratory mission in 2024, aims to modernise farming practices, introduce sustainable agro-technologies, and strengthen Fiji’s food security and export potential. The initiative represents a strategic partnership between SL’s renowned plantation expertise more..

Oct 9 (NW) Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath accused previous govts of politicizing national issues and human rights for political gain, defending the govt’s decision to not request for a vote when the latest Human Rights Council Resolution on SL was adopted. Briefing Parliament on his recent visit to Geneva and engagements with the UNHRC, Herath said calling for a vote at the Council, given SL’s record & circumstances, more..

Oct 9 (DM) Minister Samantha Vidyaratna appeared before the Cyber Crimes Division of the CID today to lodge a complaint over online attacks directed at his child. Police sources said the minister’s complaint was linked to social media posts that began circulating following a statement made in Parliament by MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, which allegedly referred to the minister’s child. Minister Vidyaratna has requested the CID to take necessary legal action against more..

Oct 9 (NW) Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe has defended the participation of SL govt officials in the upcoming World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Policy Review in Geneva, following criticism over the composition of the delegation. WTO’s Trade Policy Review of SL is scheduled to take place from Oct 14 to 17 in Geneva. Representatives from multiple agencies—including the Dept of Commerce, Ministry of Finance, Central Bank, SL Customs, and BOI—are expected to attend, more..

Oct 9 (LeN) When investigators in Singapore first stumbled upon a string of suspicious bank accounts linked to a former SL diplomat, they never imagined it would unravel into one of the largest offshore asset scandals in the island’s history. But that single lead — a dormant account belonging to a former High Commissioner in Malaysia turn into Governor— has now exploded into a dossier containing the names of over more..

Oct 9 (N18) SL Navy on Thursday arrested 47 Indian fishermen, accusing them of illegally entering and fishing within SL’s territorial waters. The officials also seized five trawlers off the coast of Talaimannar in the island’s northern waters. Taking note of the situation, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. The arrests were made during coordinated patrol operations carried out in the Mannar and Delft sea areas late on Wednesday night. more..

Oct 9 (DM) The Daily Mirror article under the title Main conspirator behind Easter Sunday attacks identified, Kariapper quotes Ravi Seneviratna came to the limelight in Parliament today. SJB MP Kavinda Jayawardena, while referring to it said that the govt should make a special statement on the issue and clarify the correct situation. The disclosure by MP Nizam Kariyappar on the Easter Sunday bomb attacks triggered an argument in Parliament today where Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekera more..

Oct 10 (DM) In what appears to be an instance that shows policy incoherence and administrative disarray, the govt found itself entangled in controversy over its handling of an LGBTQ+ project. What began as an official endorsement of a tourism project based on LGBTQ+ rights turns into a hasty denial, with Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake and others making counter remarks after meeting with the members of the clergy, who protested the move over its impact on the cultural ethos of SL. more..

Oct 10 (TM) The Govt yesterday disclosed that 29 mobile phones have been recovered from multiple wards of the Boossa High-Security Prison following a search operation. The discovery was made during a joint search operation conducted by the Prison Intelligence and the STF. According to reports a mobile phone was also found in the cell of an inmate currently on death row, known by the alias Dematagoda Chaminda. Mobile phones were also discovered in the cells of more..

Oct 10 (SO) In SL currently, 61% of the entire population have access to pipe-borne water of which the majority of them are in the urban areas. A considerable number of those living in rural areas continue to rely on wells for their drinking, culinary, washing, bathing and laundry requirements, while others use water from reservoirs for domestic needs. Water sector faces considerable challenges to meet its target of providing water more..

Oct 10 (CT) The world observes World Mental Health Day 2025 today, with much emphasis placed on ensuring and prioritising mental health during humanitarian emergencies. As history bears witness, different types of crises can occur at any given time. Emergencies such as natural disasters, wars, and even public health emergencies such as pandemics can not only become a huge burden on the physical health sector but also affect the mental health and psychological well-being of both direct and more..

Oct 10 (CT) Since 1980s when SLMC entered the country’s political arena Muslim politics and Muslim culture began to develop a symbiotic relationship to strengthen the community’s identity politics. The fact that identity politics was the norm and not the exception at that time may be the justification for such an amalgam. Yet, even at that time the pre-SLMC Muslim leaders had the wisdom and foresight to avoid falling into that identity trap and were able to utilize their commercial tool of bargaining more..

Oct 10 (TM) Since 2019, male-to-male transmission has become the leading mode of HIV transmission in SL and given that anal sex carries the highest risk for HIV transmission, it is pivotal to direct targeted preventive measures toward men who have sex with men (MSM) within the 15-24-year age group. These concerns were raised and recommendations were made in an editorial on A silent surge of HIV infection among SL’s more..

Oct 10 (TM) When I pass the line rooms (living quarters of the plantation workers), the kids come after me every day and ask: “Teacher, when will our school start?” It is heartbreaking to realise that even in this civilised era, we cannot guarantee preschool education of these plantation kids. I console those kids by saying: “We will start soon.” For how long can I deceive these kids like this? In many estates, the preschools have been closed for many months due to the intervention more..

Oct 10 (CT) By not contesting the UNHRC resolution and vote on extending the term, which has become the ritualistic SL Accountability Project (OSLAP) by at least two more years, and at the same time opposing it otherwise, the incumbent Govt of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has done something that its predecessors since 2012 had not thought of doing. Just by ignoring the existence of the UNHRC mechanism, though not the UNHRC mechanism itself, the JVP-NPP dispensation has more..

Oct 10 (Island) PM Harini Amarasuriya, speaking in Parliament yesterday, paid a glowing tribute to the Election Commission (EC) of SL, which was recently named the Electoral Commission of the Year, at the 2025 Int'l Electoral Awards Ceremony held in Botswana. MP Ravi Karunanayake, who represents the UNP-led New Democratic Front, said the world’s best EC should be made to hold the delayed PC polls. His remark prompted the PM to remind him that declaring PC polls was not the EC’s call; more..

Oct 10 (FT) Spotlighting Colombo in the global architecture scene, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) International Conference 2025 kicked off yesterday, marking the second time Sri Lanka has hosted this prestigious event. The conference, themed The Art within Architecture, will be held from 9-11 Oct at Cinnamon Grand Colombo. Its inauguration gathered some of the world’s most celebrated architects, together with other influential local and international personalities, more..

Oct 10 (AD) His Eminence Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has stated that Sri Lanka should not become subservient to the conditions imposed by the IMF and foreign nations, emphasizing that such dependency undermines the country’s self-respect. He made these remarks while attending a thanksgiving service held at the Archbishop’s House in Colombo today (9), to mark the 20th anniversary of TV Derana. more..

Oct 10 (Island) Truth, media and technology are notions often discussed in a flippant manner as if their meanings and politics are beyond confusion even in the digital age. It will be useful to reflect upon all three as the adverse consequences of not paying heed to them are evident, but often unknown and taken for granted. I will not take for granted the notion of ‘Truth’ in the digital age. This is partly because I know nothing of it. When the idea of the truth is flagged in any discourse, more..

Oct 10 (ST) As SL edges toward the presentation of its 2025 National Budget, a growing section of its elderly population finds itself trapped in an unexpected financial bind. Govt’s decision to double the Withholding Tax (WHT) on interest income to 10% effective April 1, 2025, has begun tightening the noose around the life savings of thousands of retired citizens who depend almost solely on bank deposit interest to live. Inserted in the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Act No. 2 of 2025, more..

Oct 10 (FT) Business leader Dhammika Perera yesterday part sold his stake in Commercial Bank for Rs. 5.5 billion. The market saw 26.55 million voting shares of Commercial Bank done at Rs. 195 per share via 39 crossings. Overall, Commercial Bank saw 29 million shares traded for Rs. 5.68 billion, accounting for 43% of a whopping Rs. 13.3 billion turnover. Commercial Bank voting share closed the day at Rs. 203.25, up by 3% or Rs. 6.25. Stake in Commercial Bank is not strategic but more..

Oct 10 (FT) Central Bank of SL (CBSL) releasing its Financial Stability Review 2025 report yesterday said that despite the strong momentum in recent private sector credit growth, a widening private sector credit-to-GDP gap points to potential emerging risks in the financial system. The gap, which turned positive in mid-2024, has continued to widen through 2025 amid sustained credit growth. “This suggests a potential accumulation of systemic risk within the sector,” the CBSL said. more..

Oct 10 (ST) Standoff between CEB Engineers’ Union (CEBEU) and the Ministry of Energy took a decisive turn this week, with the union announcing a comprehensive non-cooperation campaign against the Ministry Secretary and senior officials while pointedly excluding the Minister of Energy for now. In a letter dated Oct 3, addressed to Energy Ministry Secretary Prof. Udayanga Hemapala, the union declared that more..

Oct 10 (FT) Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara told Parliament yesterday that details related to the ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings should not be made public while inquiries are still underway. He said even Parliament should refrain from directing the release of such information, as it forms part of active investigations. Minister made these remarks in response to a question from SJB MP Dayasiri Jayasekara, who referenced a statement by MP Nizam Kariapper more..

Oct 10 (DN) SL’s national football team produced one of the greatest moments in its sporting history when they defeated higher-ranked Turkmenistan 1-0 in their AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers Third Round match at the Racecourse Stadium in Colombo yesterday. It was SL’s first-ever win over Turkmenistan in international football. Ranked 197th in the FIFA standings, the islanders stunned the 138th-ranked visitors with an inspired and disciplined display that sent the packed home crowd into celebration. more..

Oct 10 (DM) The public transportation system of SL including Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) which was said to be fallen into depths deeper than the Mariana trench by minister Bimal Rathnayake, is currently undergoing major upgrades with new laws enforced for bus drivers, upgrades to railway stations and bus stands, modernizing transport by introducing digital ticketing systems and modern low rise buses. more..

Oct 10 (DM) The opposition came out with yet another serious allegation against CIABOC Director General Ranga Dissanayake stating that his wife had worked for one time CB Governor Arjuna Mahendran. Speaking in Parliament Opposition MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake said that Director General Dissanayake, who now holds a senior post as DG, was overstepping his role by frequently appearing before the media. “Now, Mr. Ranga Dissanayake appears in the media as well. more..

Oct 10 (NW) SJB Working Committee has unanimously approved a proposal to launch a joint political programme with the UNP under the leadership and guidance of the SJB. Announcing the decision, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said both the SJB working Committee and the Management Committee had reached a collective agreement to work together on a common policy framework. He said the initiative aims to deliver practical, democratic, and progressive more..

Oct 10 (FT) BIA recorded a 14.4% year-on-year increase in air traffic during the first eight months of 2025, reflecting a steady recovery in aviation activity, the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation said. Between January and August, the airport handled 44,185 flight movements compared to 38,607 in the same period last year. August saw the highest traffic so far this year, with 5,976 aircraft movements. Air travel continues to strengthen ahead of the upcoming tourist season, more..