Oct 11 (DM) Despite the SJB having 40 seats in Parliament, SLPP with only three seats seems to be the main Opposition for the past few weeks, due to the latter being in confrontation with the govt than the former. SLPP has caught the public eye in the recent days following the passage of the Presidents’ Entitlement (Amendment Bill) on Sept 10 which resulted in SLPP leader and former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa who was adamantly staying in a Rs. 3.5 billion worth state-owned bungalow more..

Oct 11 (DM) On the first of this month, the world commemorated the International Day of the elderly (those who are 60 years and above). The number of people aged 60 years or more worldwide has more than doubled, from around 541 million in 1995 to 1.2 billion in 2025. This figure is expected to reach 2.1 billion by 2050. In our own country this year (2025), our total estimated population is a little above 22 million, with the elderly accounting for 12.5% of the population. more..

Oct 11 (DM) Oct 1990 is a cruel and unforgettable month in the history of SL’s Northern Province Muslims. It was in Oct 1990 that the LTTE forcibly expelled the Tamil-speaking Muslim people from the Northern Province in an atrocious act amounting to ethnic cleansing. Within a few weeks, Muslims were chased out of their homeland, where they had lived for many centuries, by their gun-toting linguistic brethren. more..

Oct 11 (TM) Mosaic is an art form where smaller pieces are combined to make a visible illustration that is eye-catching, very clear, and pleasing. Applying this to the modern-day maritime environment, one wonders whether the mosaic maritime players are building makes matters clearer or, contrarily, makes them more complicated. Maritime affairs have always been complex, intertwined, and at times confusing. Thus, throughout history many powers have more..

Oct 11 (GV) A recent initiative to inspire inclusive tourism in Sri Lanka – one that seeks to ensure safe tourism experiences and employment opportunities for LGBTIQ people – has been met with a fierce backlash. Social media fury and online campaigns accuse it of promoting homosexuality, revealing how easily inclusion can be misunderstood as a threat. But beneath this noise lies a deeper question: what does it mean to be a welcoming nation in the 21st century? more..

Oct 11 (CT) Friday’s Cabinet reshuffle, which saw changes in the portfolios of three Cabinet Ministers and the appointment of ten new Deputy Ministers, was presented as a pragmatic administrative exercise. Yet, beneath the official explanation of enhancing efficiency and meeting government targets, the moves also hinted at the delicate political recalibrations taking place within the ruling coalition. Three Cabinet Ministers saw their more..

Oct 11 (CT) The highlight of the month of September is Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s visit to attend and speak at the UN General Assembly. AKD posed for the photograph with US Prez Donald Trump showing his thumb up and First Lady Melania Trump at the dinner reception hosted by the US President for world leaders attending the UN General Assembly on Sept 23. The UN voted for recognising Palestine as a member; Sri Lanka had no problem with this as it had already recognised it. more..

Oct 11 (CT) Six years have passed since the Easter Sunday bombings shook SL to its core. The grief remains raw, the memories vivid and the questions agonisingly unanswered. For the families of the victims, time has not dulled the pain nor brought them any closer to justice. For the public, the same sense of disbelief lingers: how is it that, after so many investigations, commissions and inquiries, the truth about who masterminded one of the darkest days in SL’s history continues to elude us? more..

Oct 11 (FT) Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa recently undertook an observational visit to the state-of-the-art sterile pharmaceutical manufacturing facility of LAUGFS Life Sciences Ltd, located within the Board of Investment (BOI) Export Processing Zone, Koggala. This visit reflects the company’s commitment to strengthening Sri Lanka’s healthcare system through world-class local manufacturing. Marking a significant milestone for the country’s healthcare industry, more..

Oct 11 (FT) The 46th National Conference of Chartered Accountants of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) culminated in a powerful finale yesterday, charting the uprise of homegrown talent onto the global stage and the elevation of Sri Lanka’s strategic international role. The third and final day captivated over 2,600 delegates with a series of inspiring sessions, fuelling a forward-looking ambition among the audience. Friday’s proceedings began with more..

Oct 11 (ST) Recent raids across the country have resulted in the seizure of large stocks of weapons and ammunition, but SL may need further int'l support to make it a success. ASP Rohan Olugala of the Western North Crimes Division of Police, who played a key role in arresting underworld gang leaders in Indonesia, said that SL’s battle against organised crime cannot be won without urgent int'l cooperation, advanced technology, more..

Oct 11 (Island) “One undeniable truth we all face is the uncertainty of life. In a world where change is constant and the future unpredictable, the need for financial security and empowerment has become more essential than ever,” says Senath Jayatilake, CEO of Union Assurance while highlighting the pivotal role of the Life Insurance industry in strengthening SL’s socio-economic landscape. Q: How do you view the evolution of the Life Insurance industry in Sri Lanka? more..

Oct 11 (Island) Opposition and the govt have been clashing, in Parliament, for the past several days over what the former describes as the unconstitutional transfer of some of the vital powers of the National Police Commission (NPC) to IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya. The Opposition insists that the IGP has transferred dozens of Officers in Charge of police stations across the country, at the behest of the government, bypassing the NPC. Govt has sought to counter the Opposition’s allegation, more..

Oct 11 (ST) Colombo High Court Judge Mohammed Mihail has fixed the hearing of the case against former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake and Arjun Aloysius over the purchase of an apartment for November 28. They were indicted by the CIABOC. The accused had argued that a cabinet minister could not be prosecuted under the Bribery Act due to conflicting definitions in the constitution. The High Court rejected this objection, and Mr Karunanayake sought to appeal. more..

Oct 11 (ST) Lahiru Walpita, a wildlife enthusiast based in Mannar, often finds himself in the right place to make fascinating observations. Mannar, separated from India by just a 25-kilometre sea stretch, is well known as an entry point for migratory birds. But last week, Walpita witnessed something different—streams of Crimson Rose butterflies flying across the island. “From Sept 29 to Oct 1, I observed the mass movement of Crimson Rose butterflies along Mannar,” more..

Oct 11 (ST) A large number of SL’s heavy vehicles, including buses, run on hazardous fuel cocktails—mainly kerosene mixed with diesel and crude oil—in a cost-cutting move by operators, a Sunday Times investigation has found. Kerosene—heavily subsidised for farmers and fisherfolk in the low-income category—is increasingly used by heavy vehicle operators to cut operating costs, although they know its long-term use damages more..

Oct 11 (CI) In 18 completed games against England, Sri Lanka have won only once. But that one win was worth 18 at least. Sri Lanka's victory over England in the 2013 World Cup wasn't just the upset of that particular tournament, it was a vital staging post in the march of women's cricket on the smaller of these two islands. Without that last-ball win at Brabourne, SL women's cricket would not be where it is now. Shashikala Siriwardene, Sri Lanka's captain at the time, remembered it this way: more..

Oct 11 (DN) SL women’s team led by Chamari Athapaththu is expected to make big challenge against England in their world cup game today) at R.Premadasa Stadium . Sri Lanka and England have met in ten ODI ‘ s with England winning seven and Sri Lanka three. However in the 2013 womens world cup SL defeated England with a thrilling one wicket win in the last ball of the game played at Mumbai and Chamari Athapaththu made 72 ball 62 with 7 fours and a six to steer them to victory. more..

Oct 11 (ST) SL’s majority has brought upon themselves the tragedy of a rapid decline in births, an experienced physician, who was vilified for thousands of sterilisations and then cleared of charges, reminded his audience this week. In 2019, Dr Shafi Shihabdeen, a senior house officer at Kurunegala Teaching Hospital, was threatened with death, intimidated, and later jailed due to the social pressure for allegedly more..

Oct 11 (FT) Sri Lanka’s digital economy will not achieve its full potential unless the country rethinks its export strategy and global positioning, Doerscircle COO Yasas Abeywickrama told the CA SL National Conference this week. Speaking on the theme Harmonising Global Business: From Local Strengths to Global Markets, Abeywickrama said SL’s digital exports have grown from $ 300 million in 2010 to nearly $ 2 billion in 2025, but the country continues to miss its targets. more..

Oct 11 (NW) PM Harini Amarasuriya is scheduled to visit China from 12-15 Oct 2025, to attend the 2025 Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women. According to the Foreign Ministry, PM will be attending the event in Beijing, at an invitation extended by the Govt of China. During her visit, the PM will deliver a speech at the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women jointly organized by China and UN Women on the theme One Shared Future: New & Accelerated Process for Women’s All-round Development. more..

Oct 11 (EN) Sri Lanka’s official remittances rose 25.2% to US$ 695.7 million in Sept 2025, while the total in the first nine months reached US$ 5.81 billion rising 20% from a year ago, central bank data showed, with more people leaving to work abroad. The worker remittances hit a six-year high in 2024 after a record number from the island nation’s labour force left the country searching for foreign jobs amid Sri Lanka’s recovery from an unprecedented economic crisis, official data showed. more..

Oct 11 (FT) Colombo stock market ended the four-day week in green yesterday on persistently buoyant investor sentiment. During the week, the ASPI gained 1.01%, up 223.83 points to 22,318.72. The active S&P SL20 was up 0.62%, gaining 38.52 points during the week to end at 6,226.03. Foreigners were net sellers this week with a net outflow of Rs. 265.1 million. Yesterday, ASPI gained 143.98 points, up 0.65% while the S&L SL20 was up 63.65 points, gaining 1.03%. more..

Oct 11 (ST) Due to the brain drain of lecturers, poor facilities and other issues, state universities are in crisis, placing the entire higher education system at risk of imminent collapse, academics claim. The issues were brought up during the one-day token strike by the FUTA this week. FUTA claimed that there does not appear to be any intereston the part of the authorities, including Higher Edu Minister Harini Amarasuriya. more..

Oct 11 (CT) Colombo High Court Judge Mohamed Mihail, on Friday, ordered that the case filed by the CIABOC against former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal and five other former senior Central Bank officials be taken up again for hearing on 17 December. The case has been filed under the Public Property Act, accusing the trio of misappropriating govt funds during the 2015 Presidential Election period by distributing carrom and draught boards to sports associations. more..

Oct 11 (NW) A police constable was remanded until October 13 after allegedly assaulting an Attorney-at-Law within the premises of the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court this morning (10). The incident reportedly occurred after the lawyer concluded a court appearance and attempted to drive his vehicle out of the court premises. A prison bus had arrived at the same time, and the police officer had instructed the lawyer to wait until the bus entered before moving his car out. more..

Oct 11 (FT) TNA MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam urged the Govt to focus on developing the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Speaking in Parliament the MP warned the Govt about its growing dependence on Chinese loans, while rejecting Indian grants, raising questions about priorities and transparency in economic decision-making. “We welcome the development of the Rathnapura District and the Kandy expressway, but we would like to urge the Govt to develop the N&E as well,” he said. more..

Oct 11 (CT) Despite PM Harini Amarasuriya informing Parliament of the establishment of the National Women’s Commission (NWC) – the newest addition to SL’s independent commissions – women’s rights activists and concerned groups have expressed deep frustration over the Commission’s lack of functionality and questioned the Govt’s true intentions. Their concern stems from the absence of a dedicated office, an executive director, or an allocated budget to enable the Commission more..

Oct 11 (DM) Sri Lanka is ramping up efforts to bridge its widening skill gap as the policymakers and industry leaders warned that the country’s future competitiveness hinges on developing a workforce equipped for rapid technological and structural change. PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya asserted that skill development must be at the heart of the nation’s economic transformation, as traditional education pathways are no longer more..

Oct 11 (AD) Representatives of the United Nations Technical Electoral Needs Assessment Mission held a series of consultation meetings at Parliament premises, with key parliamentary stakeholders to assess opportunities for international support to strengthen electoral processes in the country. The UN delegation met with PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and a group of MPs representing the Govt, the Department of Communication of Parliament said in a statement. more..

Oct 11 (FT) The Govt is facilitating the authorities to investigate all past crimes and the CID is currently managing an overwhelming caseload of over 20,000, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said. Addressing the post-Cabinet press briefing early this week he said the NPP Govt took over a country that had a high record of crimes. “According to my information there are over 20,000 investigations that have been initiated or are to be initiated by the CID. more..

Oct 11 (FT) Special Investigation Unit of SLBFE has arrested several suspects involved in large-scale scams that defrauded millions of rupees from job seekers by promising employment opportunities in European countries and Canada. The suspects have been arrested in two separate investigations following several complaints received against them connected to fraudulent operations targeting those seeking jobs abroad. more..

Oct 12 (SO) The images from Gaza as the ceasefire took hold were heartbreaking. International news agencies have images of people returning to Gaza City, where entire districts had vanished. Medical teams are pulling out hundreds of bodies from the rubble. These images tell us that this peace begins amid such devastation that returning home means coming back to rubble. Nevertheless, the agreement is the most significant step in the two years of war. It has created an immediate ceasefire; more..

Oct 12 (CT) In my July 2025 article, The IMF Is a Bandage, Not a Cure — Moving Toward Lasting Solutions, I concluded that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s bold decision not to seek another IMF bailout marks a turning point in Sri Lanka’s economic history. It signals the end of a dependency cycle and the beginning of a national test — whether we can sustain growth without external lifelines. The message is clear: Sri Lanka must now stand on its own feet. Yet, almost a year later, more..

Oct 12 (TM) The pressure is now building on the 2026 Budget to be presented by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) next month, with the IMF announcing a prior action to be fulfilled by the JVP-led NPP Govt to receive the sixth financial disbursement to SL by the IMF. The IMF announced last week that, following a 15-day programme with Govt authorities, it had reached a Staff-Level Agreement (SLA) on the Fifth Review more..