Oct 22 (NW) Actress and entrepreneur Piumi Hansamali has rejected claims that she had any connection with the recently arrested underworld figure known as Kehelbaddara Padme. Media reports earlier today said that Hansamali had been questioned by the CID regarding her alleged links to Padme. In a Facebook post, she clarified that she had only met Kehelbaddara Padme once in March 2022 during a New Year celebration in Dubai, and that the meeting was casual. more..

Oct 22 (AD) The Colombo Crimes Division today submitted a report to the Colombo Magistrate’s Court regarding the ongoing investigations into Ishara Sewwandi, who has been identified as a key suspect in the murder of underworld gang leader Ganemulla Sanjeewa. Ishara Sewwandi is currently in custody and being interrogated under a detention order. Submitting the report to Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama, police stated that a 90-day detention order was obtained more..

Oct 23 (CT) On the face of it, the mini-reshuffle of the Cabinet effected by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake was being presented as if it were a routine affair. No commentator pointed out that it was the first reshuffle, however big or small, for the JVP-NPP Govt, and that is saying a lot. Going by the numbers, it was not as small as was being made out to be. At the centre of it all was none other than the Govt’s Leader in Parliament, Bimal Rathnayake, who was stripped of the prestigious and more..

Oct 23 (DM) Recent rave social media reviews by Indian visitors about SL, especially about our roads and civic sense, might make a Sri Lankan blush. One should agree that such assessments are a subjective experience. But there is also a genuine appreciation, though South Asians in general are good at trash-talking their own countries. Also last week, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who was in SL, lauded the island nation for maintaining social indicators on par more..

Oct 23 (CT) Over the past decade, Sri Lanka’s efforts to protect its children have changed in remarkable ways. What began as a set of moral promises in 2013 has now developed into a practical, measurable, and forward-looking plan. The National Child Protection Policy (NCPP) of 2013 has grown into the Five-Year National Action Plan (NAP) for 2025–2029, a road map that aims to make every SL child safe, respected, and empowered. more..

Oct 23 (CT) The latest revelations from the Auditor General’s report have yet again laid bare a troubling truth that Sri Lankans have long suspected, i.e. corruption has deeply infected the country’s health system. The Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors (MCPA) has now sounded a clear warning to Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, urging him to confront this decay head-on before it causes irreparable harm to both the nation’s finances and its faith in public institutions. more..

Oct 23 (TM) Sri Lanka has grappled with a law-and-order problem for decades. It stems from poor governance, politicisation and a culture of impunity which SL has grown a notoriety for. There is much needed to be done to address the issue. The NPP Govt, one year into office, has made some commendable progress in combatting organised crime, especially relating to narco traffickers and peddlers. However, there remains serious issues about how law enforcement agencies more..

Oct 23 (TM) Cabinet has granted approval to prepare and implement a National Building Code, following a proposal submitted by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Defence. The project, to be implemented by the NBRO, aims to establish a comprehensive set of standards governing the design, construction, maintenance, and alteration of buildings to ensure public safety, health, and welfare, while more..

Oct 23 (ST) Two weeks ago, Sri Lanka enjoyed yet another long weekend, thanks to a full moon Poya day that fell on Monday. Interestingly, this marked the third consecutive month—following similar extended weekends in August and September. What made this particular weekend truly special, however, was its timing: it coincided with the rare and breathtaking blossoming of the Nelu Flowers in Horton Plains, adding a touch of natural wonder to the holiday. more..

Oct 23 (Island) Nary a day passes without a new headline about a controversy stirred by the JVP-led NPP govt. It was reported yesterday that a civil society outfit had lodged a complaint with the Judicial Services Commission against NPP MP and attorney-at-law Lakmali Hemachandra’s statement, at a recent Thimbirigasyaya Divisional Development Committee meeting, that she had asked a state official, described in some quarters as a police officer, not to carry out a court order more..

Oct 23 (DM) The passage of the new pricing formula for imported pharmaceutical drugs in Parliament could be considered a key strategy to address shortages of medicine and to ensure transparency in the provision of medicines to the public. Unregulated costs of medicines have become a burden to the average citizen, who finds it a challenge to allocate a considerable amount of their expenses to purchase medicines. In most instances, patients are inconvenienced due to unpredictable more..

Oct 23 (Island) Having studied within the university system at Peradeniya, been indirectly involved with FUTA matters, and served in both academic and administrative roles, I have firsthand experience of how challenging it is to revise curricula and introduce new programmes for national benefit while maintaining programme quality—as the President has requested. Achieving this within the existing bureaucracy is a mammoth task, particularly given the limited institutional support and more..

Oct 23 (TM) CEO of SLC Ashley de Silva said Sri Lanka had filled in as a joint partner to India in co-hosting the ongoing ICC Women’s 50-over World Cup. He affirmed that it is an event which had been designated to be hosted by their South Asian neighbours through and through. He made this remark when pressed for his views on the marquee white-ball competition being held in the current monsoon period. more..

Oct 23 (DM) While adding two remarkable additions to the Kia family, Kia Motors Lanka yesterday launched the fifth-generation 2026 Kia Sorento Hybrid and Kia EV5, marking a new era of hybrid and electric mobility in SL. The launch, held at an exclusive preview event in Colombo, represents Kia’s most significant product introduction since the lifting of vehicle import restrictions. The two new models highlight the brand’s transition from a traditional SUV manufacturer to a global more..

Oct 23 (NF) SL’s international aviation sector is gearing up for a busy winter season, with several international carriers set to resume or launch operations at Bandaranaike Int'l Airport (BIA) and Mattala Rajapaksa Int'l Airport (MRIA). Kuwait Airways will resume its scheduled flights to BIA starting October 27, 2025, operating four flights per week. Meanwhile, Red Wings and Belavia – Belarusian Airlines will commence their winter flight operations to MRIA from Oct 28, 2025. more..

Oct 23 (DM) Hayleys yesterday initiated a mandatory offer to acquire the remaining 1,140,654 ordinary voting shares, representing 59.42% of the issued shares of Harischandra Mills, following its recent purchase of a 40.58% stake in the company. Last week, Hayleys purchased 778,946 shares from Senthilverl Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, at a price of Rs.3,300 per share, amounting to a total consideration of Rs.2.57 billion. The acquisition triggered an obligation under Rule 31(1)(a) of more..

Oct 23 (AD) A new electronic examination center equipped with modern facilities, including smart devices such as tablets, was officially opened today (22) to facilitate Korean language proficiency tests required for employment in South Korea. Named the Korean Language Examination Center – Ubiquitous-Based Test (UBT), the center was inaugurated under the patronage of Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra. The Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRD Korea) has decided more..

Oct 23 (Island) Power and Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody told Parliament that the debt-ridden and mismanaged CEB couldn’t be turned around within 10 or 11 months, citing decades of political interference and corruption. “The CEB was destroyed over decades by giving free electricity to ministers and their cronies and taking on unsustainable loans. It cannot be fixed overnight,” Minister said, responding to a question more..

Oct 23 (DN) More than 12,000 schoolboys and schoolgirls representing 620 teams from across Sri Lanka will battle for glory in the CBL Samaposha Under-14 Inter-School National Football Championship 2024, one of the island’s biggest grassroots sporting events, organised by the SL Schools Football Association (SSFA). The youth tournament sponsored by CBL Samaposha for the 14th consecutive year was officially launched at a lively press conference held on Tuesday. more..

Oct 23 (Island) Asian Youth C'ship medallist Lahiru Achintha and sprinters vying for honours in the relays are among the brightest medal prospects for SL when the track and field action of the Asian Youth Games commences in Bahrain today. ‎Achintha of St. Aloysius’ College, Rathnapura has a personal best of 3:53.05 s in the 1500m. Apart from his Japanese counterparts he is the fastest in the distance in Asia among athletes born in 2009 going by the World Athletics recognized performances this year. more..

Oct 23 (FT) The CoPF has approved higher Special Commodity Levies (SCL) on imported big onions and potatoes while issuing sweeping directives to reform SL’s tariff regime, strengthen excise duty enforcement, and improve agricultural productivity. Levy on imported big onions was raised by Rs. 10 per kg, from Rs. 40 to Rs. 50, and the levy on imported potatoes increased by Rs. 20 per kg, from Rs. 60 to Rs. 80, effective 26 Aug 2025. more..

Oct 23 (DM) Sri Lanka is pursuing a strategy to generate super return on investment (ROI) through a comprehensive digital transformation, aiming to build a US $ 15 billion digital economy, Chief Advisor to Prez on Digital Economy and ICTA Chairman Dr. Hans Wijesuriya said. Dr. Wijesuriya reiterated that digital transformation is the crucial ingredient to drive growth within a tight fiscal space by unlocking efficiency, enhancing competitiveness and creating powerful economic multipliers. more..

Oct 23 (FT) Cabinet of Ministers yesterday approved amendments to the Mahinda Rajapaksa-era Strategic Development Projects Act to enable tax incentives to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for large-scale projects, thereby circumventing limitations on tax incentives under the IMF program. Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said the Attorney General has cleared the draft, which will now be gazetted and tabled in Parliament. Move comes as the Govt seeks to revive major investments, more..

Oct 23 (Island) Sri Lanka strengthened its position as South Asia’s environmental and sustainability hub with the opening of the regional headquarters of the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) in Colombo — a state-of-the-art facility that embodies the region’s commitment to green growth and climate resilience. The new headquarters, situated at Nawala, was declared open by PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, with Minister of Environment Dr. Dammika Patabendi, more..

Oct 23 (FT) The Parliament Secretariat yesterday said the Sub-Committee appointed under the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment has instructed officials to collect data on individuals unable to repay microfinance loans in four selected Divisional Secretariat (DS) Divisions across and Nuwara Eliya, Batticaloa, Polonnaruwa & Colombo Districts. Directive was issued during a recent meeting of the Sub-Committee more..

Oct 23 (FT) SL’s most diversified conglomerate Hayleys announced plans to pursue strategic entry into the large-scale supermarket sector. In a statement Hayleys said the move represents a bold step forward that marks the beginning of a new chapter in its 148-year legacy of diversification and value creation. “This move underscores the Group’s strategic thrust towards bringing quality, reliability and service excellence closer to everyday more..

Oct 23 (CT) The assassination of Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman, Lasantha Wickramasekara, in the council chamber during the Public Day has triggered sharp accusations from the Opposition, with party leaders blaming the Govt for a critical failure in national security. In a statement to Parliament yesterday, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa questioned the state of the nation’s security, given that the Chairman was gunned down while conducting his Public Day. more..

Oct 23 (CT) The recently assassinated Chairman of Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha, Lasantha Wickramasekara, alias Weligama Lasa, was an underworld criminal with six pending Court cases, Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala claimed in a special statement to Parliament yesterday. Minister informed the House that the victim was not merely a public representative but a known criminal figure. According to the Minister, Wickramasekara had six active cases against him: more..

Oct 23 (DM) The Cabinet approval was given this week to sign the UN Convention against Cybercrime (UNCC), a significant global accord aimed at combating serious cyber offenses. This decision followed a joint resolution presented by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his capacity as the Digital Economy Minister, Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara and Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath this week. more..

Oct 23 (Island) At the plenary of the 222nd Session of the UNESCO Executive Board in Paris, Sri Lanka reaffirmed its strong commitment to multilateralism and to UNESCO’s mission of promoting peace, dialogue, and sustainable development through education, culture, the sciences, and communication & information. Delivering the national statement on 6 Oct 2025, Ambassador of SL to France and Permanent Delegate of SL to UNESCO Manisha Gunasekera commended the Chairperson of more..

Oct 23 (DM) Met Dept has issued a warning as harsh weather conditions are expected to lash out across the island in the coming days, with a threat to damaging homes and affecting people’s livelihoods. With two deaths already reported, officials warned that the dangerous conditions will continue for the next few days, with heavy rain, strong winds, and floods expected in many areas. A low-pressure area near SL is intensifying more..

Oct 23 (TM) Excise Dept collectible defaulted excise duties and penalties have surpassed Rs. 10 billion as the Govt changes legal provisions to terminate licences of manufacturers with over 90 days arrears, Deputy Minister Nishantha Jayaweera said. The defaulted excise duties and penalties charged on the defaulted payments at the Excise Dept have reached Rs. 10.5 billion. The default excise duties are at Rs. 4.7 billion, and the 3% penalties for the defaulted payments are at Rs. 5.8 billion. more..

Oct 23 (FT) Four Police teams have been deployed to investigate the murder of Weligama PS Chairman Lasantha Wickramasekara (38), who was shot dead yesterday, Police Media Spokesman F.U. Wootler said. The investigation was being conducted under the direct instructions of the Senior Deputy Inspector General (SDIG) in charge of the Southern Province. “All available resources have been mobilised, and four teams have commenced inquiries to identify the perpetrators and motives behind this murder,” more..

Oct 23 (FT) Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said the Govt will strictly enforce the law against individuals or groups attempting to disrupt harmony or make division among ethnic or religious communities. He said the Govt was committed to maintaining peace and harmony across the country while ensuring national development. “As a Govt, we are implementing the law against activities that are being carried out to create discord and more..

Oct 23 (FT) Sri Lanka’s National Budget will be unveiled on 7 November 2025, and I hope it will be significantly different from the predictable rhetoric and theatrics we have heard and witnessed in the past. This is the first fully fledged Budget of the NPP Govt. Typically, on Budget Day, the curtains will draw, and the minister of finance will step up and deliver a string of promises which, in hindsight, could have easily found their place in Ripley’s Believe It or Not. more..