Oct 13 (Island) The police are always in the news for the wrong reasons. There seems to be no end to their shameful display of subservience to politicians in power. They have published a statement made by former Minister Wimal Weerawansa to the Tangalle police last week regarding his much-publicised claim that a drug smuggler, recently arrested in the South, is a member of the JVP. JVP-led NPP govt saw red and unleashed the khaki brigade on Weerawansa. Having questioned him, police issued more..

Oct 13 (ST) Assessed on jaundiced experiences of SL’s political history, the manner in which a Govt responds to protecting the institutional independence of the country’s National Police Commission (NPC) has always been an early warning test to judge how rhetoric on democracy measures to reality. The best example to date remains the fate of the very first NPC established following the 17th Amendment to the Constitution (2001) under which the Constitutional Council (CC) conceived to act more..

Oct 13 (Island) UNHRC's latest resolution on SL raises serious questions about the Council’s impartiality and respect for the UN Charter. This new measure extends the mandate of the external mechanism established under Resolution 46/1 of March 2021. At the start of the UNHRC’s 60th Session on 8 Sept, 43 nations objected to any further country-specific action on SL, with several specifically arguing that the external mechanism contravenes Article 2(7) of the UN Charter more..

Oct 13 (ST) Sri Lanka will field one of its strongest and largest ever contingent at junior level, with a force of 100 athletes for the 3rd Asian Youth Games, which is set to take place from October 22 to 31 in Manama, Bahrain. The SL contingent will include 154 members, including a record 100 athletes, who will represent across 12 sports disciplines. The 100 athletes include 56 boys and 44 girls, who will be accompanied by 31 team officials and more..

Oct 13 (Island) SL’s women’s team has made significant strides in the last two years, claiming notable wins against top sides. Yet, as their World Cup campaign has shown, they remain very much a work in progress, a side learning to polish the rough edges that separate promise from consistency. Colombo, one of four host cities alongside three in India, saw SL once again undone by poor fielding when they met England on Saturday. In the curtain-raiser against India, four dropped catches, more..

Oct 13 (ST) The famed LSR Colombo Marathon which returned after a lapse of six years last Sunday as its 19th edition, attracted nearly 1500 runners, with the Kenyans making top podium finishes. Making a strong statement, SL long distance runners claimed the second and third slots, both in Men’s and Women’s full marathons. Organised by Lanka Sportsreizen (LSR) and last held in 2018, SL’s only marathon of international recognition from the Association of Int'l Marathons and more..

Oct 13 (TM) The recent round of US sanctions targeting companies and vessels allegedly involved in facilitating Iranian petroleum and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) exports will have no impact on SL’s petroleum imports, CPC confirmed. CPC Managing Director Dr. Mayura Neththikumarage said that SL’s energy procurement channels remained unaffected, as none of the sanctioned entities or companies more..

Oct 13 (FT) Targeting hidden wealth, the new amendments to the Companies Act demands full disclosure of beneficial ownership, but secrecy and complex offshore structures will make enforcement difficult, said a panel of industry experts and stakeholders recently. This discussion took place at a seminar on Companies Act No 12 of 2025. Organised by Corporate Management Consultants, the event brought together regulators, lawyers, and compliance officers to unpack the new law. more..

Oct 13 (FT) Total private sector borrowings increased to Rs. 226.8 billion in August 2025, the highest monthly figure after Rs. 221 billion in June 2025, resulting in the outstanding amount crossing Rs. 9.28 trillion during the first eight months of the year, up 8.7% from a year ago. According to the latest Central Bank of SL (CBSL) data, domestic banking sector credit to the private sector in August amounted to Rs. 239.2 billion, while credit from foreign banks fell by Rs. 12.4 billion. more..

Oct 13 (ST) Gateway College has once again set a new benchmark in school sports infrastructure in SL with the unveiling of state-of-the-art basketball courts built to Olympic Grade specifications in Colombo and Kandy. This cutting-edge development exemplifies the school’s unwavering commitment to nurturing excellence in sports while prioritising the safety, comfort, and performance of its athletes. The newly-laid courts feature a shock-absorbent, rubberised surface integrated with more..

Oct 13 (AD) Sri Lanka is prepared to work with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) to ensure that women across Commonwealth countries can participate in politics in a safe environment, free from coercion and violence, says Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj. Minister made this statement while addressing the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Conference (CWP) held under the theme: Debate not hate: Not accepting abuse as an outcome of free speech. more..

Oct 13 (Xinhua) China has demonstrated strong commitment and global leadership in advancing women's rights and gender equality through concrete actions such as hosting the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women, said SL PM Harini Amarasuriya. In an exclusive interview, ahead of her visit to China for the summit in Beijing, Amarasuriya said the event will boost confidence in the global cause of women's development. more..

Oct 13 (DM) As SL positions itself on the cusp of an AI-driven transformation, a top Indian economist has urged the island nation to look less to the West and more towards its immediate neighbour, India, whose experience with artificial intelligence offers both promise and caution for SL’s ambitions. Veteran economist and former Deputy Chairman of India’s Planning Commission, Dr. Montek Ahluwalia, said SL stands to reap major gains in education and information technology by learning from how more..

Oct 13 (FT) Hayleys PLC has been ranked as SL’s leading listed corporate in the 32nd edition of the LMD 100, securing the no. 1 position for the 10th time since the ranking’s inception in 1995. This recognition underscores the Group’s longstanding role as a centrepiece of the SL economy and a benchmark of resilience, innovation, and sustainable value creation. For the financial year 2024/25, Hayleys achieved a record-breaking consolidated revenue of Rs. 492.2 billion, reflecting more..

Oct 13 (DN) Omel Shashintha of St. Sebastian’s College, Kandana came to the highlight at the All Island Athletic Championships at Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium Diyagama when he set up his second meet record yesterday finishing Under 20, 200m final with a time of 21.44 seconds. Omel made his personal best and set up a new meet record of 46.17 seconds in 400m men’s final on the first day of the meet. Meanwhile Asian Youth gold medalist Tharushi Abhisheka from Wickramabhahu more..

Oct 13 (DM) SL’s climate is warming rapidly, with temperature increases of 0.95°- 1.14°C expected by 2040, World Bank said. In a report, World Bank said that greater heat stress and water uncertainty undermine livelihoods, especially for rural farmers and urban workers, and is expected to raise poverty levels by a further 1.8% from the current rate of 24.5%. Report on the country’s climate and development also mentioned that climate change poses significant challenges for SL, more..

Oct 13 (FT) President Anura Kumara Disanayake said the daily wage of plantation workers will be increased to Rs. 1,750 before the end of this year. He made the announcement at an event held in Bandarawela to distribute land title deeds to over 2,000 families from the upcountry plantation community under the fourth phase of the 10,000-housing project implemented with Indian assistance. more..

Oct 13 (DM) SL’s tourism earnings were largely unchanged in Sept 2025 from a year earlier, despite a rise in visitor numbers, suggesting slower per-night spending. SL earned US$ 182.9 million from tourism, compared with US$ 181.0 million in Sept 2024. In August, earnings had reached US$ 258.9 million, reflecting seasonal fluctuations in the sector. The muted growth in revenue, despite higher arrivals, points to either the spending patterns of visitors or the profile of tourists visiting SL, or both. more..

Oct 13 (EN) Sri Lanka’s govt has deposited 1.1 trillion rupees in state banks by end of the second quarter of 2025, a Financial Stability Report issued by the central bank has revealed. “Of this, a significant share of 80.7% was concentrated in term deposits maturing within one year, while the remainder was maintained as on-demand,” the central bank said. “The absence of deposits with maturities beyond one year highlights the short term nature of these balances. more..

Oct 13 (AD) Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) has arrived in the island a short while ago. Dr. Ghebreyesus arrived at the BIA at 9:40 a.m. on a flight from Doha. He was received by Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Health, at the airport’s VIP lounge. The Director-General of the WHO is scheduled to participate as the chief guest at the 78th South-East Asia Regional Health Summit being held in Colombo. more..

Oct 13 (AD) A notice has been issued to magistrates by the Judicial Service Commission instructing them to refrain from issuing orders for suspects or prisoners to be detained in special prisons. Furthermore, the Judicial Service Commission has also stated that no orders should be made to provide special protection to any suspect or prisoner. The Commission has issued a circular outlining how magistrates should act when issuing court orders regarding suspects held on remand or more..

Oct 13 (TM) COPA has revealed that more than Rs. 4 billion in assessment tax arrears remains outstanding within Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) area. This revelation was made when officials from the CMC were summoned before the COPA Committee recently. During the proceedings, COPA Chairperson MP Kabir Hashim raised concerns regarding the persistent arrears, stating: “One of the recommendations made last February noted more..

Oct 13 (DM) IGP Priyantha Weerasuriya said that he will seek the assistance of the Attorney General on behalf of the police officer involved in the recent incident between a police officer and a lawyer at the Mount Lavinia court premises. The IGP said that a state councillor will also be involved to take the necessary legal action in connection with the case, which is scheduled to be taken up before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court tomorrow (13). He made these remarks to media following a meeting more..

Oct 13 (FT) Sri Lanka’s workers’ remittances surged to $ 695.7 million in September, marking the third highest monthly inflow so far in 2025. The figure reflects a 25.2% year-on-year (YoY) increase and represents the sixth consecutive month of record inflows, underscoring the steady recovery of foreign worker earnings. Cumulatively, workers’ remittances in the first nine months of 2025 rose 20% YoY to surpass $ 5.8 billion, registering the strongest performance for the period since 2020. more..

Oct 13 (CT) Police have launched a comprehensive investigation, on the orders of the IGP, into the altercation that occurred on 10 Oct between a Police officer and senior lawyer Gunaratne Wanninayake within the premises of the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court. The senior lawyer has been summoned to the Mount Lavinia Police Station to give a statement regarding the incident. Although he was informed to appear yesterday, more..

Oct 13 (FT) A recent public discourse hosted by SL’s private economic policy thinktank, Verité Research, together with the EU delegation to SL had warned the country’s exporters that they should necessarily comply with the new EU Deforestation Regulation, abbreviated as EUDR, which will come to force by the end of 2025. EU Ambassador to SL and the Maldives Carmen Moreno had urged those in the audience to convert the challenge to an opportunity by adapting to the new regulations, more..

Oct 13 (NW) The Supreme Court has ruled that six officers of the Kottawa Police violated the fundamental rights of a private bus operator by unlawfully arresting, assaulting, and falsely accusing him of possessing heroin. The ruling, delivered on Monday (13) by Justice Menaka Wijesundara with the concurrence of Justices Yasantha Kodagoda and Janak de Silva, ordered the officers to personally pay Rs. 1 million in compensation to the petitioner. The petitioner, Vithanage Sunil, more..

Oct 13 (CT) Mount Lavinia Courthouse Incident Was Shocking, shocking, shocking. Lawyer Gunarathna Wanninayake got his day when he was able to remand the Police Constable who asked him to move his vehicle that was parked/moved/obstructed, the place where the Prison bus was going to be parked. Semantics do not matter. Wanninayake disgraced the entire Legal Fraternity. Not a single Lawyer came to the rescue of the hapless Police Constable. Not a single. Lawyers appear for more..

Oct 13 (FT) A 23-member US delegation, comprising senior representatives from leading American think tanks and private sector enterprises, recently paid a courtesy call on BOI of SL Chairman Arjuna Herath. The delegation included members from Hudson Institute, American Enterprise Institute, and executives representing the technology and human capital development sectors. The meeting brought together senior SL Govt officials. US delegation was led by Hudson Institute’s Prof. Walter Mead. more..

Oct 13 (EN) The flood of electric cars may be a dream come true for a well-heeled few, but do they really contribute to a cleaner environment or fill state coffers in the same way as other motorists? Electric cars are more expensive than petrol, or diesel-powered vehicles, which means more foreign exchange leaves the country to import an electric vehicle (EV). The tariff on an EV is also much lower than that on a fossil fuel-powered vehicle. more..

Oct 13 (NW) Education Ministry has updated the Suraksha student insurance scheme, offering enhanced medical and life benefits for school students under a renewed agreement with the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation General Ltd., signed on Thursday (09) under the patronage of Education Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa. Under the revised scheme, the inpatient benefit has been increased to Rs. 300,000 and outpatient treatment to Rs. 20,000, while coverage for critical more..

Oct 13 (CT) Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara stated that the committee chaired by President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsecularatne is now in the final stages of preparing its recommendations regarding the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). The Minister said that the committee, headed by Arsecularatne, PC, is expected to submit its final report and recommendations to him soon. While noting that a specific date for receiving the report cannot yet be confirmed, more..

Oct 13 (TM) Ministry of Education stated that it has informed the Ministry of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development regarding the necessary changes to student transportation as school hours are set to be extended until 2 p.m. under the upcoming education reforms. Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa said that a preliminary discussion has already been held with the relevant parties concerning the transportation of more..

Oct 13 (TM) Welcoming the Govt’s announcement regarding increasing plantation sector workers’ daily wage subject to the wage formula, the TPA questioned the practical aspects of the Govt’s plans. A statement issued by the Office of TPA Leader Mano Ganesan said: “Today, the basic wage is Rs. 1,350. The question remains – is the Prez planning to increase the basic wage, or will the rise come through additional allowances such as norms, attendance, and other incentives? more..

Oct 13 (DM) Police Constable, remanded for allegedly assaulting a lawyer at the Mount Lavinia court premises, was greeted with cheers after being granted bail today. He was released on two sureties of Rs. 200,000 each after being produced before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court. The constable was arrested and remanded following an alleged altercation with a lawyer over moving a vehicle within the court premises on Friday (10). Upon his release, a crowd surrounded his vehicle, more..