Oct 10 (DN) The first dedicated boat launching pad designed to support the local marine industry by providing a facility for testing new vessels, is being constructed in Beruwala and it is expected to be complete by March 2026, Minister Sunil Handunnetti told the 9th International Boat Show & Conference launching ceremony held in Colombo on Oct 8. With a close to Rs 200 million investment the proposed facility aims to address the infrastructure gap hindering boat manufacturers more..

Oct 10 (FT) State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) under the Industries Enterprise Development Ministry — Lanka Mineral Sands, BCC Lanka, National Salt Company, Lanka Phosphate Company & Lanka Graphite, — have handed over a portion of their dividends earned under the new Government to the Treasury. The funds were officially presented to Labour Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando more..

Oct 10 (DN) SL Export Development Board (EDB), together with the SL Embassy in Beijing and the Consulate General in Guangzhou, successfully organized an outward trade delegation to China from Sept 16-23 2025, with the aim of promoting Ceylon Cinnamon and other value-added spices in the Chinese market. The delegation comprised 13 leading Sri Lankan spice exporters, led by Janak Badugama, Director, Export Agriculture, and Gayan Weerasinghe, Assistant Director more..

Oct 10 (CT) Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga Bodaragama, yesterday (9), directed both the plaintiffs and defendants to submit written submissions by 23 Oct in a case concerning the alleged release of personal information about Janaka Ratnayake, former Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL), on social media. The case was filed against several parties, including Ratnayake’s former personal secretary. During proceedings, a legal team more..

Oct 10 (CT) PM Harini Amarasuriya told Parliament that the Govt can’t implement every element of its policy statement simultaneously, stressing that priorities must be determined based on the prevailing social and economic conditions. Addressing the House, PM said that while the Govt’s policy statement includes a wide range of commitments, its implementation must be guided by realistic priorities. “When the policy statement was prepared, it included a number of points. more..

Oct 10 (TM) The IMF has asked cash-strapped SL yesterday to strengthen its anti-corruption agency CIABOC and accelerate prosecutions after a review of a bailout that began in 2023. IMF said that SL’s reforms were paying off, but that the South Asian nation should maintain the momentum amid the heightened downside risks posed by global trade uncertainties. The Washington, District of Columbia, United States (US)-based lender said that it had concluded the fifth review of SL’s economy more..

Oct 10 (FT) IMF said SL’s debt sustainability will depend on the Govt’s continued fiscal discipline, macroeconomic reforms, and completion of restructuring agreements under the EFF. IMF Mission Chief Evan Papageorgiou said that debt restructuring is almost complete. “Restructuring is nearly complete,” he said. “Eurobond exchange was completed successfully in Dec 2024, almost a year ago, more..

Oct 10 (CT) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa warned that SL will face a severe economic challenge in 2028 as the country’s debt repayments surge, accusing the Govt of failing to take proactive measures to avert the looming crisis. Premadasa said that despite claims in the Govt’s policy statement that a new debt restructuring framework was being developed under revised IMF conditions, the existing arrangement signed by the previous administration remains unchanged. more..

Oct 10 (CT) Colombo High Court has issued an order freezing 13 bank accounts belonging to Sadhika Lakshani — the wife of Backhoe Saman, who is currently in remand custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act — and her family members. Deputy Solicitor General Suharshi Herath informed Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga Bodaragama of this development when the case was taken up yesterday. According to her submissions, five of the frozen bank accounts more..

Oct 10 (FT) The IMF yesterday said the next tranche of the $ 3 billion EFF arrangement hinges on Sri Lanka’s Parliament approving a Budget for 2026 that aligned with IMF program parameters and debt sustainability. “The 2026 Budget should be in line with program parameters to continue building fiscal space on the back of strong revenue measures and prudent spending execution,” IMF Mission Chief Evan Papageorgiou said. more..

Oct 10 (FT) The stakes are high. Electricity is not just a utility, it is the backbone of economic recovery, industrial growth, and climate resilience. Sri Lanka cannot afford to get this wrong. Over the past two years, SL’s electricity sector has transitioned from a period of reform-driven ambition to reverting to centralisation. CEB—long burdened by inefficiency, debt, and political inertia—was poised for transformation under 2024 Electricity Act No. 36. But the 2025 amendments passed by the NPP Govt more..

Oct 10 (FT) Chandrasekhar Joseph Vijay known to the world at large as Vijay is arguably the super star of Tamil cinema today. Although stylish veteran actor Rajinikanth has been acknowledged for long as Tamil cinema’s solitary super star, that position has changed in recent times. In terms of popularity and marketability, Vijay who celebrated his 51st birthday last June, is way above Rajini who will celebrate his 75th birthday this Dec. Vijay who has a huge fan following in SL is married to a SL Tamil woman more..

Oct 10 (AD) A 21-year-old who is employed as a mason has been sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment after being found guilty of trafficking the narcotic substance known as ice. The sentence was delivered by Colombo High Court Judge Rashantha Godawela yesterday (09). The accused who is a resident of Mannar was arrested by the police near the Eluthur Junction in Mannar on 3 Nov 2022, while transporting the narcotic substance Ice. AG had subsequently filed charges against more..

Oct 10 (NW) Police report that the bodies of two 13-year-old children from Ankumbura, Kandy, who had been missing, were discovered this morning (10) in the Victoria Reservoir. The two students had gone missing on 08th October while playing near the Mahaweli River. Suspecting that they may have been swept away by the current, police, alongside local residents, conducted a search operation in the Victoria Reservoir, but were initially unable to locate any trace of them. more..

Oct 10 (DM) Vehicle importers have reported a slowdown in demand for new vehicle purchases following a surge in imports over the past several months. They said the influx of vehicles brought in to meet pent-up demand after years of restrictions has now led to a cooling-off period, as the initial rush of buyers have subsided. VIASL President Prasad Manage said that while import volumes rose significantly in recent months, market is now more..

Oct 10 (DM) Sri Lanka welcomes the initial phase of the agreement for peace in Gaza and emphasises the critical need for comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in the region. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism said having experienced the profound suffering and devastation caused by conflict in the past, Sri Lanka deeply understands the importance and true value of peace. SL hopes this important step will pave the way for long-lasting peace in Gaza. more..

Oct 10 (FT) The fertiliser subsidy program is to cost Rs. 5 billion more, Govt announced. It said originally Rs. 33.5 billion was allocated for providing financial subsidy for fertiliser to the farmers cultivating the paddy lands during Maha season 2025/2026 and it has been estimated that an additional allocation of approximately Rs. 5 billion will be required when considering the total extent of lands for paddy and other field crops which has been estimated to be cultivated during Maha season of 2025/26. more..

Oct 10 (DM) The local banking sector demonstrated stronger resilience and improved performance during the first half of 2025, supported by the country’s recovering macroeconomic conditions, the Central Bank said in its Financial Stability Review (FSR) 2025. According to the review released yesterday, the resilience of the financial sector improved compared to the same period of 2024, supported by favourable developments in more..

Oct 10 (AD) It has been revealed that 60% of school students in SL suffer from depression, according to recent research findings. The study also shows that 24% of students in higher grades are affected by depression. This information was disclosed by Professor Miyuru Chandradasa, President of the SL College of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. “This psychiatric assessment found that the intense pressure of education, problems with parents at home, the use of social media, and more..

Oct 10 (DM) Nishantha Bandara Basnayake, Coordinating Secretary to former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and the third suspect in three corruption cases filed against the former Minister by the Bribery Commission was released from those cases and made a state witness by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama today. When the cases were taken up, the Bribery Commission requested court to release Basnayake from the cases and make him a state witness. more..

Oct 10 (EN) The United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has named Slogal Energy DMCC, a unit of SL’s Laugfs group, for alledgedly trading in Iranian petrochemicals. “UAE-based Markan White Trading Crude Oil Abroad Co. L.L.C (Markan White) and Slogal Energy DMCC (Slogal) play a key role in enabling the sale and shipment of Iranian LPG to SL,” a US Treasury statement said. Iranian petrochemicals had been purchased from more..

Oct 10 (DM) Finance companies in the island nation recorded a strong credit expansion during the first half of 2025, driven by vehicle and gold-backed lending, following the removal of restrictions on vehicle imports, Central Bank said. Finance companies recorded a robust expansion in credit during the first half of 2025, driven by vehicle and gold-backed lending following the removal of restrictions on vehicle imports, CB said in its Financial Stability Review (FSR) 2025. more..

Oct 10 (DM) Police said today that no evidence was produced by NFF Leader Wimal Weerawansa to substantiate the statements he made during a media conference on Oct 2. Wimal Weerawansa appeared before the Tangalle Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau on Thursday to provide a statement regarding his earlier remarks about a drug seizure in Tangalle on Sept 22, involving a suspect known as Beliatta Sana. more..

Oct 10 (NW) Deputy Minister of Transport Prasanna Gunasena has shot down claims by MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam that the portfolios of Ports and Civil Aviation had been removed from Minister Bimal Rathnayake, likely due to allegations linked to the 323 container controversy. Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena explained that the ministerial portfolio of Minister Rathnayake was amended during the Cabinet reshuffle today, simply due to the Urban Development Ministry being more..

Oct 10 (DM) In the wake of discussions in Parliament yesterday regarding the identification of the main conspirator behind the Easter Sunday bomb attacks, as claimed by MP Nizam Kariapper quoting Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security Ravi Seneviratne, Catholic Church said CID should deal with the mastermind Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando, spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Colombo, said that if the investigators have sufficient evidence, the mastermind should be handled by CID. more..

Oct 10 (FT) IMF yesterday emphasised the importance of continued progress on energy sector reforms, particularly the unbundling of the CEB and maintaining cost-reflective pricing, as part of SL's EFF program. IMF Mission Chief Evan Papageorgiou told reporters: “We are paying close attention to the developments around the unbundling of CEB and the evolution that the energy sector is going to undergo in 2026 and beyond.” more..

Oct 10 (DM) A private member's motion that was to be moved by MP Ravi Karunanayake to ban parties with ethnic and religious identity triggered an argument today. The argument triggered when MP Karunanayake protested the decision to withdraw it from the order book. Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne who responded to MP Karunanayake said it was withdrawn as Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and a group of MPs had handed a request to withdraw it as a court order has been issued more..

Oct 10 (EN) Sri Lanka’s consumption loans, the largest credit segment in the banking sector totaling 2.3 trillion rupees, grew 11% in the year to the June 2025 quarter, driven by vehicle credits, the central bank said in a Financial Stability Report. Leasing and hire purchase facilities grew 140.5% by end 2Q, after import controls were relaxed in Feb 2025. Vehicle loans are considered consumption though the asset have long lives, high second hand values, especially in Sri Lanka, more..

Oct 10 (NW) Construction work on a new Material Recovery Facility in the Wariyapola area commenced yesterday, under the Clean Sri Lanka National Programme as part of the govt’s measures to formalize waste management across the country. The new facility, which will be established on land belonging to the Wariyapola Pradeshiya Sabha, is estimated to cost Rs. 33 million. Its primary objective is to systematically collect, sort and direct non-degradable waste such as more..

Oct 10 (DM) It has been evidenced that former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe did not invoke the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to challenge his arrest by the CID within the one-month period prescribed under the Constitution. Mr. Wickremesinghe was arrested by CID officers on Aug 22, 2025 in connection with the alleged misuse of public funds amounting for a private overseas tour. He was subsequently produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court and remanded until Aug 26, 2025. more..

Oct 10 (AD) His Eminence Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has stated that some laws of the Western world regarding the implementation of the proposed bill seeking to ban corporal punishment for children are completely unsuitable for SL. Cardinal made this statement while participating in the 150th Jubilee Celebration Mass organized by the alumni and teachers to mark the 150th anniversary of St. John more..

Oct 10 (NW) University of Colombo has warned the public about several misleading social media posts that misuse the university’s name in relation to research and development activities. Issuing a statement, the university said it will be compelled to take action against the spread of misleading information, considering the serious impact on the university’s reputation and patient safety. “The General public will be kept informed regarding the research & development activities of the uni more..

Oct 10 (NW) 2025 Michelin Key distinctions have been revealed, recognising the finest hotels across the globe for extraordinary hospitality. Resplendent Ceylon is proud to announce that all three properties have received the following accolades in the South Asia region: Ceylon Tea Trails with 3 Michelin Keys, Wild Coast Tented Lodge with 2 Michelin Keys and Cape Weligama with 1 Michelin Key. Ceylon Tea Trails stands out as the only property in SL to be awarded the prestigious 3 Michelin Keys, more..

Oct 10 (DM) In what would be a real twist in the tale, discussions in Parliament yesterday revealed that the main conspirator behind the Easter Sunday bomb attacks has been identified prompting victims of the carnage to demand proper action instead of mere media shows. This was raised in Parliament after several MPs questioned the authenticity of a social media message posted by SLMC MP Nizam Kariapper, stating that more..

Oct 10 (AD) The govt has announced the new portfolios of three Cabinet Ministers and 10 Deputy Ministers following today’s Cabinet reshuffle. Bimal Rathnayake, who served as the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation, has been sworn in as the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development. The portfolio of Ports and Civil Aviation, which was removed from Minister Bimal Ratnayake, has been given to Anura Karunathilaka, who previously served as more..

Oct 10 (DM) Defence Ministry and Police have stepped up operations to arrest and take action against over 50,000 tri-forces members, including officers, who have left the service or are absent without official leave (AWOL). Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekara told Parliament on Wednesday that 54,087 personnel of the tri-forces are currently AWOL. This includes 385 Army officers and 47,265 other ranks, 46 Air Force officers and 3,396 other ranks, and 87 Navy officers and more..