Oct 28 (AD) Nine suspects including the suspected gunman have been arrested thus far in connection with the recent shooting and killing of the Chairman of the Weligama PS, Lasantha Wickramasekara at his office, police stated. Among the suspects are the shooter, the motorcycle rider, the wife of the gunman, a person who aided him to evade arrest after the incident and two others who assisted him in Sahasrapura, Borella. The six suspects are currently in the custody of the FCID, police noted. more..

Oct 28 (NW) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa says the statement made by the IGP regarding MP Jagath Withana has violated both his civil and parliamentary privileges. Premadasa charged that the IGP’s remarks, which implied links between the MP and underworld figures, demonstrate how the police have become highly politicized, with certain investigations now being turned into political and media spectacles. He said the IGP’s comments have placed serious challenges before MP Withana more..

Oct 28 (CT) In yet another startling revelation, Auditor General’s Dept has disclosed that, although the Ministry of Health purchased blood glucose strips, Atracurium injections, and Nitroglycerin sublingual tablets under the WB-funded COVID-19 Emergency Response Project, these items were never distributed to hospitals due to various reasons. Annual Performance Report 2024 of the Ministry of Health notes that more..

Oct 28 (AD) The price of gold in SL has recorded a significant decline owing to various factors including a sharp drop in prices in the world market. Accordingly, for the first time in more than a few weeks, the price of a 22-carat gold sovereign has dropped below Rs. 300,000. Latest reports from the Colombo Pettah gold market suggest that the price of a 22-carat gold sovereign is currently quoted at Rs. 298,000. This marks a decrease of Rs. 81,200 compared to the price recorded on Oct 17, more..

Oct 28 (DM) The Northern Province officially launched on-site traffic fine payments through Gov Pay at the Kilinochchi District Secretariat under the patronage of the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala today. Previously available only in the Southern and Western Provinces, this marks the third province to implement the program. Since its launch in the other provinces, 23,539 fines have been collected, generating a total of Rs. 31 million. more..

Oct 28 (NW) Cabinet of Ministers has approved the recruitment of 8,547 personnel across several govt ministries, provincial councils, and commissions, following recommendations from a special committee appointed to review the public service recruitment process. The committee, chaired by the Secretary to the PM, was appointed on 30 Dec 2024 to streamline recruitments by identifying requirements, priorities, and time frames for more..

Oct 28 (CT) Indicators released by the Family Health Bureau (FHB) show a birth rate decline while Early Registration of Pregnant Women had seen improvement. Indicators released by the FHB show a decline in the birth rate per 1,000 population over the past few years. According to statistics compiled by the FHB, birth rate in 2016 stood at 16.9 per 1,000 population. This figure gradually declined to 15.1 in 2020, the Bureau’s website indicated. Birth rate was 16 per 1,000 in both 2017 and 2018, more..

Oct 28 (AM) Police officers involved in a dramatic high-speed chase in Ratmalana on the evening of 26 October have recounted the tense moments leading up to the shooting of a fleeing van after its driver repeatedly ignored police orders to stop. Speaking during a programme on Sirasa TV, officers Dhanushka and Sumith Kumar detailed the events and the strict protocols governing their actions, emphasising that their response was carried out solely for the safety of the people. more..

Oct 28 (EN) SL is aiming to lure more European tourists to boost the revenue and the numbers, Minister Vijitha Herath said amid ambitious tourist arrival and revenue targets for this year. SL has aimed for 3 million tourist arrivals and USD 5 billion revenue for this year. However, SL has received 1.86 million foreign visitors as of Oct 26, around 62% of the full year target, while it has witnessed USD 2.47 billion revenue in the first nine months to record less than half of the govt’s full year target. more..

Oct 28 (EN) SL’s finance ministry has found 2,972 half-built, unused or underutilized state properties, which can be put to some use, Minister Vijitha Herath said. “A lot of resources had been used to build them,” Herath said. “The ministries have been asked to decide whether they can use them, or put them in a common agency to be used for another purpose.” An assessment of costs were to be made, he said. About 436 buildings in the education ministry, there were 301 community halls, more..

Oct 28 (TM) In the wake of opposition from teachers’ and principals’ unions to the proposed extension of school hours, Ministry of Education stated that there would be no change in the decision to extend school hours until 2 p.m. from January of next year (2026). Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa said that the Ministry is only implementing the reforms designed by the National Institute of Education (NIE), more..

Oct 28 (NW) NPP has filed a case at the Colombo District Court seeking compensation of Rs. 100 million from former SJB MP Tissa Attanayake, for making a false statement about the govt. Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala said PM Harini Amarasuriya had filed a case at the court against Tissa Attanayake in Sept 2024. “He made false statements against the NPP before the Prez and Parliamentary elections. One such statement made on social media was that the NPP govt was going to more..

Oct 28 (TM) Asgiri Chapter of the Siam Buddhist Sect claimed that the process of amending the Buddhist Temporalities Ordinance (Vihara Devalagam Act) is being blocked by certain groups with vested interests in the relevant Govt institutions. Secretary of the Supreme Sangha Council of the Chapter Ven. Dr. Medagama Dhammananda Thera said that they had long been calling for amendments to the Ordinance – particularly to Sections 41 and 42, which pertain to registration of bhikkhus more..

Oct 28 (AD) Over 230,000 school children within the Colombo District alone are addicted to drugs, claims Prisons Commissioner Jagath Weerasinghe. He made this statement during his participation in a school awareness program focused on preventing drug abuse, held at Godapitiya National School in Akuressa. “In the Colombo District of the Western Province alone, 230,982 school children are drug addicts. more..

Oct 28 (WFP) UN World Food Programme (WFP) welcomes a contribution of US $2.7 million from global fashion brand, Michael Kors to bolster SL’s National School Meals Programme. The support, through the brand’s long-running Watch Hunger Stop campaign will contribute to WFP’s Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF) initiative. Funding will enable WFP to expand its Home-Grown School Feeding program from eight to ten districts, ensuring that 250,000 children receive daily nutritious more..

Oct 28 (NW) The Govt of SL and the Govt of India have signed a MoU to implement development projects in the Eastern Province under the Indian Multi-Sectoral Grants programme. According to the MoU, signed on April 5, 2025, India will provide a grant of Rs. 2,371.83 million to fund 33 projects identified to address key development needs in the province. Each project will be formalized through a separate MoU between the Indian High Commission and Ministry of Public Admin, PCs, and LG. more..

Oct 29 (TM) Should Muslim nurses be allowed to incorporate their religious attire into the official nursing uniform that SL has in place? This has become one of the most debated topics on social media this week. Netizens are discussing the basis, possibility, practicality, and implications of such a move. While some argue that religious and cultural preferences should not be incorporated into the public service, others emphasise need for Muslim nurses to adhere to religious requirements more..

Oct 29 (DM) Following the arrest of the person who allegedly killed Weligama PS Chairman Lasantha Wickramasekara, a video footage went viral on social media showing his capture. It is not the first instance in which visuals or video footage related to breakthroughs in investigations into major crimes were leaked online. These are possible incidents instigated or carried out by those involved in the manipulation of information in favour of the ruling side, facing brickbats over more..

Oct 29 (DM) Sri Lanka’s real estate and construction industry has for decades contributed to the nation’s economy. From affordable housing to luxury apartments, local companies are trying to keep up to the demand and contribute to the country financially by attracting local and foreign buyers. However, with weak laws and red tape, seeking approvals for a project to get off ground has always been a painstaking task. more..

Oct 29 (CT) Another day, another audit, and yet another scandal in the Ministry of Health. The latest revelation from the AG’s Dept is not merely a story of expired drugs and wasted millions. It is a stinging indictment of a public health system that continues to haemorrhage public funds while citizens struggle to access basic medical care. The facts are as damning as they are familiar. The Ministry of Health purchased blood glucose strips, Atracurium injections, and Nitroglycerin tablets more..

Oct 29 (DM) The killing of Weligama PS Chairman Lasantha Wickramasekara on a busy day of his council in broad daylight on Oct 22 and its aftermath has raised many questions with regard to the safety of people’s representatives, insensitivity of politicians and the media towards victims of crimes and the continued politicisation of crimes. The SJB, which the slain politician represented, seemed to be in a haste to put the blame for the crime on the govt and the govt in turn seemed to be more..

Oct 29 (TM) The Govt backtracking on the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill which seeks to outlaw corporal and non-physical punishment against children in educational and institutional settings would be a significant regressive move, said Bandaranaike Academy for Leadership and Public Policy (BALPP) Executive Director, Education Forum SL Co-Founder, and a former Secretary to the Ministry of Education Dr. Tara de Mel, more..

Oct 29 (ST) Thursday’s Parliamentary debate on the govt’s National Programme to Eradicate Drugs & Organised Crime and Strengthening the Legal Framework was overshadowed by the assassination of Weligama PS Chairman Lasantha Wickramasekara the previous day. The govt had already labeled the assassination to be the result of a conflict between underworld groups, with Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala describing the late PS Chairman as an underworld criminal. more..

Oct 29 (SO) In the shadow of its emerald landscapes and ancient ruins, SL grapples with a modern scourge that threatens to erode its social fabric: the intertwined epidemics of drug trafficking and underworld crime. The country stands at a pivotal juncture in its fight against these illicit forces. Govt, led by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has intensified operations like the Yukthiya (Justice) campaign in the previous administration, targeting narco-politics and organised networks. more..

Oct 29 (Island) Considering the range of experiences academics encounter in university environments, from collegiality to subtle hostility, it is worth asking whether higher education institutions genuinely allow their junior members to work with dignity. Do our academic environments foster fairness, respect and recognition they truly deserve, or do they continue to erode these very principles? We speak often about ragging and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) as issues more..

Oct 29 (Island) The Opposition parties, except the SJB, have joined forces to launch a campaign to countervail what they describe as a government plan to establish a fascist state. The NPP government has dubbed the new Opposition alliance a coalition of political rejects and rogues, claiming that they have come together to protect their own interests rather than democracy. The Opposition alliance should secure the backing of the SJB before venturing to mobilise the masses. more..

Oct 29 (TM) SL head coach Sanath Jayasuriya says that his white-ball squad is currently undergoing training at Mahinda Rajapaksa Cricket Stadium in Hambantota, ahead of the national team’s forthcoming tour to Pakistan. SL is scheduled to feature in a 3-match ODI series against their hosts from 11-15 Nov in Rawalpindi, after which they are to be joined by Zimbabwe in a T20I tri-series from 19-29 Nov in Rawalpindi, Lahore. more..

Oct 29 (FT) Daraz Sri Lanka, in partnership with Industry Ministry and Entrepreneurship Development, conducted a specialised training session under the National Relationship Officer (RO) Program. The initiative, led by the Industry Ministry, aims to enhance the skills of field-level development officers, enabling them to provide stronger, more practical support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The training session, designed and delivered by Daraz SL, focused on more..

Oct 29 (FT) SL–Maldives Business Council (SLMLBC) of Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the SL Export Development Board (EDB) and SL High Commission in Maldives, organised a SL business delegation to participate in the prestigious Hotel Asia Exhibition and Int'l Culinary Challenge 2025, held in Hulhumalé, Maldives, from 20 to 22 Oct. 19th edition of this internationally recognised event reinforced its reputation as the Maldives’ largest and more..

Oct 29 (FT) LankaPak 2025 was successfully concluded last week at the BMICH, bringing together the region’s most influential stakeholders in the packaging industry. As one of the most significant events in the South Asia’s exhibition calendar, this three-day expo saw a new benchmark for innovation and collaboration. LankaPak – 26th edition of exhibition organised by the SL Institute of Packaging in collaboration with CDC Events, backed by Govt and private sectors, has grown over the years more..

Oct 29 (DM) The prices of all vehicle models in Sri Lanka could increase beyond affordable limits following the govt’s proposal to impose a 15% tax on vehicles, Vehicle Importers Association of SL (VIASL) Chairman Prasad Manage warned. Manage said the price hikes are expected to take effect after the 2026 budget. He explained that vehicle import duties are calculated based on the value of the vehicle in the exporting country, after deducting all consumable taxes. more..

Oct 29 (Island) Former MP and ex-Chairman of COPE Charitha Herath has said NPP govt owes an explanation regarding what he calls an utterly controversial move to import 1,775 brand-new four-wheel-drive automatic transmission diesel double cabs through the national competitive bidding procedure. Herath said that the govt should reveal who would be the beneficiaries and why the Finance, Planning & Economic Dev Ministry more..

Oct 29 (FT) Vidullanka said that it, together with its consortium partner David Pieris Group, has emerged as the lowest-cost bidder for the 50-megawatt Mullikulam Wind Power Project, marking a significant step toward securing the contract for the large-scale renewable energy initiative. Company said the determination as the lowest bidder represents a key milestone in its efforts to expand its renewable energy portfolio. While the final award of the contract is still pending, more..

Oct 29 (FT) Seylan Bank said it recorded a Profit Before Income Tax (PBT) of Rs. 12.8 billion in Q3 2025, up 20.75% from Rs. 10.6 billion in Q3 2024. For the 9 months ended 30 Sept 2025, Profit After Tax (PAT) recorded by Seylan Bank was Rs. 8.3 billion, up 26.30% from Rs. 6.6 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2024. Net interest income decreased from Rs. 27.2 billion to Rs. 27 billion, a marginal decrease of 0.75% over the previous year for the 9 months ended 30 Sept 2025 more..

Oct 29 (DM) SL has teamed with the Interpol to curb scamming activities involving Chinese nationals who arrive here mostly on tourist visas and deport them back for legal action in terms of the Chinese law, a Minister said. China has been keen to enhance law enforcement against its nationals involved in cross-border gambling and fraud. During the latest bilateral discussions between PM Harini Amarasuriya and Chinese Prez Xi Jinping, more..