Oct 17 (CT) Environmental activist Ananda Dissanayake has warned that the failure to construct modern, technologically advanced elephant fences is a key reason behind the growing human-elephant conflict across Sri Lanka. Dissanayake said most existing elephant fences are over 20 years old and have long since deteriorated. He stressed that without adopting modern technology, the conflict will worsen, leading to increased loss of human life, crop damage, and destruction of property. more..

Oct 17 (TM) Three Police teams are currently interrogating six suspects, including the female suspect connected to the murder of organised crime suspect Sanjeewa Samararatne alias Ganemulla Sanjeewa, Ishara Sewwandi. It is reported that several important details related to Samararatne’s murder have been revealed during the questioning of Sewwandi. Sewwandi, one of the main suspects in the murder of Samararatne, was recently arrested in Nepal during a special operation more..

Oct 17 (TM) SSP Hemal Prashantha, who served as the Director of the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB), was transferred in connection with an ongoing investigation against him. Prashantha is reportedly facing allegations of misusing Rs. 5 million allocated for informants, administrative shortcomings, and failing to carry out proper drug raids over a three-month period. An investigation into the alleged misuse of the Rs. 5 million more..

Oct 17 (Island) SriLankan Airlines scored a hat-trick, winning the title of Leading Int'l Airline in South Asia under the Visitors’ Choice Awards category at the South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) 2025, for the third consecutive year, placing the airline at the pinnacle of aviation in the region. The airline directly connects to 33 destinations in 21 countries across the Indian Subcontinent, the Middle East, Far East, Europe & Australia. This includes major cities in 5 South Asian countries, covering 3-quarters of the region. more..

Oct 17 (CT) Maternal High Dependency Unit (HDU) and a four-storey ward complex at De Soysa Maternity Hospital, constructed to provide safe and advanced maternal healthcare, were officially opened to the public yesterday by Minister Nalinda Jayatissa. The construction of the Maternal HDU cost Rs 249 million, with the first phase of the project focusing on completing the structural work for the ground and first floors. 4-storey building now houses a 10-bed HDU on the ground floor, more..

Oct 17 (NW) Sri Lanka Customs has recorded its highest-ever single-day tax revenue, collecting Rs. 2,470 million on October 15, 2025, the Department announced today. According to Director General of Customs, the total revenue collected so far this year amounts to Rs. 1,867 billion, placing the department on track to surpass its annual target of Rs. 2,115 billion. Officials said vehicle import taxes remained the main source of income, significantly contributing to the custom revenue. more..

Oct 17 (NW) SL Police HQ has issued a public alert urging citizens to exercise caution when obtaining loans via the Internet or mobile phones, following an increase in complaints related to deceptive lending practices. A significant number of institutions are currently advertising loans online and through mobile platforms, often attractively presenting these offers. In some cases, unsolicited phone calls are also used to promote the availability of instant loans without any collateral requirements. more..

Oct 17 (Island) It was revealed at a meeting of the COPE that the Construction Industry Development Authority (CIDA) had spent Rs. 15.01 million on legal proceedings relating to a lawsuit filed by a Director of Finance sent on compulsory leave in 2021. It was further disclosed that Rs. 600,000 had been paid per court appearance to an attorney representing the Authority in the case. more..

Oct 17 (DM) All female parliamentarians and parliamentary staff have decided to wear pink on a selected day in the next parliamentary week to support Breast Cancer Awareness. They also agreed to request for a debate in Parliament on Breast Cancer Awareness. A special awareness session on breast cancer prevention and related programmes was held recently in Parliament for the Women Parliamentarians' Caucus in line with Global Breast Cancer Awareness Month or Pink Month. more..

Oct 17 (FT) Inland Revenue Department has exceeded its tax revenue target for the first nine months of 2025, collecting 102% of the estimate, according to data presented to the Parliamentary Committee on Ways and Means. The dept collected Rs. 1.64 trillion by the end of September, against an expected Rs. 1.61 trillion, reaching 75% of its full-year goal of Rs. 2.19 trillion. The figures were reviewed during a recent committee session chaired by MP Wijesiri Basnayake. more..

Oct 17 (AD) The IMF has commended Sri Lanka’s continued progress under its economic reform program, highlighting strong growth momentum following the country’s recovery from a deep economic crisis. At a press briefing presenting the latest regional economic outlook, Krishna Srinivasan, Director of the IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department, and Thomas Helbling, Deputy Director, provided an update on SL’s economic more..

Oct 17 (FT) Twenty-five years have passed since the world’s first woman PM Sirimavo Bandaranaike passed away on 10 Oct 2000. Parliamentary elections were being held on that day and the grand old lady of SL politics was returning to Colombo from Gampaha district after casting her vote in Horagolla. Sirimavo suffered a heart attack when her vehicle was in Kadawatta enroute to Colombo. Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s remains were laid to rest alongside her husband Solomon West Ridgeway Dias more..

Oct 17 (FT) The full resumption of construction on Section I of the Central Expressway, linking Kadawatha to Mirigama on 17 Sept 2025, is far more than an infrastructure update; it is a powerful symbol of SL’s economic renewal and a testament to the enduring friendship and strategic cooperation between SL and China under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). This project, long-awaited by citizens and crucial for national connectivity, stands as a beacon of progress emerging from more..

Oct 17 (NW) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa met with a delegation from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) at his office, where he once again raised the challenges faced by Sri Lanka’s small, medium, and micro-scale entrepreneurs. ADB team included Country Director Takafumi Kadono, Senior Country Economist Lilia Aleksanyan, and Finance Sector Specialist Uresha Walpitagama. During the meeting, both sides held detailed discussions on the current state of the SL economy. more..

Oct 17 (EN) Sri Lanka has signed an agreement to borrow 100 million US dollars form the Asian Development Bank to develop the health sector, the island’s Finance Ministry said. The loan is given from ADB’s Ordinary Capital Resources window. The loan will “support national strategic framework for the development of health services for improved efficiency and quality of secondary health services as first referral care for ensuring universal health coverage,” the statement said. more..

Oct 17 (NF) Port City Colombo (PCC) has been crowned the Best Knowledge Zone in Asia-Pacific in the prestigious FDI Intelligence Global Free Zones of the Year 2025 awards, marking a major milestone for Sri Lanka’s flagship smart city project. Built on 269 hectares of reclaimed land off the coast of Colombo and granted special economic zone status in 2021, PCC has emerged as a magnet for service-sector investment more..

Oct 17 (CT) Ministry of Health and Mass Media has abruptly transferred a large number of senior administrative officers to different internal posts, raising questions as to whether these experiments, carried out under the guise of boosting efficiency and without the knowledge of Minister of Health, have further disrupted the Ministry’s operations. Under this shake-up, six Directors, one Assistant Secretary, one Senior Assistant Secretary, and three Deputy Director-Generals have been reassigned, more..

Oct 17 (AD) The exact contents of the boat apprehended in the Southern seas by the SL Navy, and escorted to the Galle Fisheries Harbour this morning (17), have been revealed by the navy. Accordingly, the boat was transporting a total of 53 kilograms of Heroin, SL Navy Spokesman said. The trawler, its crew and the drug haul were escorted to the Galle Fisheries Harbour today. A boat carrying a stock of suspected narcotics was intercepted by SL Navy in Southern seas a few days ago, more..

Oct 17 (DM) Commenting on the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to ban corporal punishment, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today the govt will not enact in Parlaiment any Act which the people do not agreed to. Addressing the 28th convention of the Ceylon Teachers' Union, he said the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill was only debated in Parliament and pointed out that if people reject that Bill, it will not be enacted. more..

Oct 17 (TDN) Sri Lanka Tourism concluded a series of promotional roadshows in Madurai, Coimbatore and Chennai on 6, 8 and 10 Oct 2025, reinforcing India’s position as SL’s largest tourism source market. The events attracted strong participation from the travel trade and aimed to boost arrivals from South India through enhanced B2B engagement and destination awareness. Organised by SL Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) and the SL Convention Bureau (SLCB), more..

Oct 17 (AD) A new ticket counter offering air tickets at subsidised prices has been launched at the SL Foreign Employment Agency (SLFEA) in Narahenpita, in accordance with the govt’s new program for migrant workers leaving for foreign employment. It was declared open yesterday (16) under the patronage of the Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra. At the new counter, air tickets will be issued to overseas job seekers at lower prices than those available in the open market, and more..

Oct 17 (EN) The 1953 British motorcycle was more than just a reliable workhorse. It was a symbol of my father, Lenin Lindberg’s, identity. To him, it was his most treasured possession, one he hoped would be passed down to the next generation. The throaty growl of the single-cylinder 350cc machine had the gravitas of a military parade commander. The entire neighbourhood would know when he left for, or returned home from, work. The beat of the bike was also the warning for my brother and me to more..

Oct 17 (CT) Farmers in Hurulunikawewa, located within the Galenbindunuwewa Divisional Secretariat Division, said they are facing serious difficulties due to the lack of a fair price for their big onion harvest. These farmers pointed out that it is disheartening that 1 kg of big onions is being bought at wholesale markets for as little as Rs 80 to Rs 100. Farmers in the Galenbindunuwewa DS Division, in the Anuradhapura District, stated that they had cultivated big onions across a large area of more..

Oct 17 (AN) SL is facing a silent but no less worrying genetic problem linked to the fact that about seven out of every 100 married couples are blood relatives (primarily cousins) or close relatives. Among the Sinhalese & Muslims, the percentage is about 4%. But among the Tamils, the figure is significantly higher, affecting almost one in four couples. Many families have children with beta thalassaemia (β-thalassaemia) and, among these, more..

Oct 17 (DM) Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has instructed all High Court judges and judicial officers that pending court production items must be cleared by Dec 31, 2025, as per Circular No. 422 A. In a recent Circular, the JSC stated that to ensure timely clearance, court staff may work on weekends and public holidays, from October 18 to December 31, 2025, without seeking additional permission from the Commission. The circular further said that access to case production item rooms or more..

Oct 17 (DM) Wildlife officers arrested a woman in Wathurugama, Gampaha, after discovering a replica made using leopard skin during a sudden raid conducted on Oct 16, following a tip-off received by the Department of Wildlife Conservation. The officers inspected a house in the area where the item was found. The suspect was subsequently produced before the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court the same day, along with seized replica. Court released the woman on a cash bail of Rs. 500,000 more..

Oct 17 (DM) Delays to the completion of the Port Access Elevated Highway (PAEH) which would link Colombo City Centre and Katunayake Expressway (CKE) via the port has faced further delays with the Engineer Representative abandoning the project. The elevated highway that was to connect Galle Face to New Kelani Bridge allowing a faster exit from the city limits, has now come to a standstill, more..

Oct 17 (NW) Starting from 12 noon on 17th Oct, passengers departing from BIA will be permitted to check in up to four hours before their scheduled flight time, the airport management announced. The new measure aims to enhance passenger convenience and ensure smoother airport operations, especially during peak travel hours. According to the AASL, the initiative is expected to help manage crowd flow, reduce congestion, and improve the overall travel experience at more..

Oct 17 (AD) The Parliament is scheduled to adopt amendments to the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) on Oct 21, 2025, during the Committee Stage, along with the Committee Stage Amendments. According to the Ministry of Digital Economy, the PDPA (Amendment) Bill received approval from the Cabinet of Ministers and was passed at its Second Reading on June 3, 2025. Subsequently, at the request of the Ministry of Digital Economy, Legal Draftsman’s Dept, more..

Oct 17 (AD) The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has dismissed without hearing two fundamental rights petitions filed by former Minister Wimal Weerawansa and two other parties, who sought to invalidate the MoU signed between the Sri Lankan govt and India for the implementation of a digital identity card project for Sri Lankan citizens. The petitions were taken up before a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court today, headed by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, more..

Oct 17 (NW) PM Harini Amarasuriya has engaged in discussions with Indian PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi today. Commenting on the meeting, Indian PM Narendra Modi said the discussions covered a broad range of areas, including education, women’s empowerment, innovation, development cooperation and welfare of Indian fishermen. “As close neighbours, our cooperation holds immense importance for the prosperity of our two peoples as well as the shared region,” he added in a post more..

Oct 17 (DM) Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga Bodaragama today issued a travel ban against ten athletes who had travelled to the 2022 Commonwealth Games but failed to return to SL, allegedly causing a financial loss to the govt. Investigations are being carried out into the ten athletes who had travelled to the UK to participate in the 2022 Commonwealth Games but failed to return to SL after the event and did not participate more..

Oct 17 (DM) A SL Army officer and Paralympic gold medalist, Warnakulasuriya Amila Prashan, has died after being hit by a train in the Madurankuliya area. The 34-year-old, a father of two from Kirthisinghegama, Madurankuliya, had won gold medals in the 100m and 200m events at the 2018 Paralympic Games in Indonesia, representing the SL Army. He was a disabled officer serving at the Boossa Camp. The officer was struck by the Bangadeniya train traveling from Colombo more..

Oct 17 (NW) A group of Chinese traders visited former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa at his private residence in Tangalle yesterday. The group presented gifts to the former prez and inquired about his well-being during the visit. It is reported that this is the first group of Chinese traders to visit the former president after he vacated his official residence in Colombo and moved to Tangalle. The group, involved in tea exporting, had visited Mahinda Rajapaksa while en route to Weligama and more..

Oct 17 (TM) Sri Lanka’s 5-star average room rate remains 20% above regional peers due to high cost bases and limited supply of rooms, constraining competitiveness in the mid to upper-tier segment. Five-star average room rate is estimated at $ 160-240 in SL, while peers such as Thailand has much broader range, and Hanoi, Vietnam has the lowest rate supported by lower cost base, an abundance of room supply and more..