Sep 28 (ST) The SL delegation to the UN General Assembly seems to have been caught this week between a rock and a hard place, as the saying goes. Sri Lanka reiterated its support for a state of Palestine but also has been coy about criticising Israel by name for the genocide being committed in Gaza by Israel. When the vast majority of the delegates from member states walked out in protest as Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu took to the rostrum to speak, more..

Sep 28 (CT) The standoff between the Govt of SL and what I would call the union govt of the CEB is now entering its fourth week. The standoff has been created by the seemingly mutinous Engineers of the CEB against the govt’s restructuring of the institution and the electricity sector itself. The Sunday Island’s editorial last week called the standoff a game of chicken. In the game theory model of conflict between two parties, it is the union govt that seems to be chickening out. more..

Sep 28 (CT) Even as Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has travelled to the US to celebrate the completion of his one year in office with a maiden address at the UNGA, more questions await him on return than possibly when he inherited power from a more cohesive dispensation under veteran predecessor, Ranil Wickremesinghe. No, it’s not about the lack of politico-administrative and, at times, political and parliamentary experience of his team members, but it is the sum total of what his Govt has delivered in the first year. more..

Sep 28 (TM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD), who last week completed his first year in office without any pomp and pageantry, commenced his second year with two official overseas visits to New York and Japan. While President AKD and his Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) Govt still has a long list of pledges to honour, the efforts made by the President to be inclusive and build strong relations with the international community are commendable. more..

Sep 28 (TM) In the noise and distraction of Sri Lanka’s daily political theatre, something far more sinister is unfolding quietly, stealthily, and dangerously. Beyond the headlines, beyond the carefully planted controversies that dominate evening talk shows and social media chatter, lies a seemingly calculated attempt to blur and ultimately erase the line between Govt and State. Sri Lanka, probably for the first time, is witnessing Govt excess of a new kind, one that is deeper, systematic, more..

Sep 28 (SO) Calls for reform of the United Nations (UN) are not new. For decades, the Global South has urged changes that would make the organisation more representative, more democratic, and more responsive to the needs of the majority of its Members. Yet, when United States (US) President Donald Trump and Finland’s President Alexander Stubb stood before the General Assembly in New York this week calling for sweeping reform, their demands echoed a very different agenda. more..

Sep 27 (FT) Speaking before a packed audience of Sri Lankans at the Centre for the Arts, College of Staten Island, Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake on Thursday urged the diaspora to play an active role in promoting tourism, boosting investments, while strengthening ties with the homeland. He made a strong appeal to Sri Lankans living in overseas to actively contribute to the economic progress, insisting that more..

Sep 27 (FT) The CoPE has revealed that the CEB incurred a staggering loss of Rs. 594.36 billion between 2014 and 2022, excluding 2015, largely due to internal inefficiencies and mismanagement. The revelation came during a COPE meeting on Wednesday, where the Auditor General’s report on the CEB’s performance for 2022 and 2023 was reviewed. COPE noted that continuous losses forced steep tariff hikes in August 2022, severely burdening consumers. more..

Sep 27 (FT) The Foreign Ministry is working with SL’s diplomatic missions in India, Romania, and Russia to repatriate the remains of three foreign monks who died in the tragic cable car accident at the Na Uyana Aranya Forest Monastery in Pansiyagama, Kurunegala. Seven monks were killed and six others seriously injured when the monastery’s cable car—known as Dakkuwa—plunged on 24 Sept while transporting 13 monks back to the hilltop monastery after more..

Sep 27 (CT) During the first six months (Nov 2024–May 2025) of the NPP Govt, economic modernisation emerged as the clear priority, with 42 per cent of decisions falling under the Economy National Key Result Area (NKRA), titled A modern life – A wealthy nation, according to a comprehensive new report by two leading civil society monitoring organisations. Governance reforms followed at 30%, while Social (17%) more..

Sep 27 (NW) A Rural Development Officer, an Office Assistant, and a female Security Officer have been arrested on allegations of soliciting bribes. According to the Bribery Commission, the arrests were made in relation to 2 separate raids conducted yesterday. In the first raid, a Rural Development Officer attached to the Deniyaya Rural Development Centre was arrested at around 11.20 am at the Deniyaya Rural Development Office, based on a complaint made by a resident of Deniyaya. more..

Sep 27 (DN) In bid to revitalize Sri Lanka’s economy amid ongoing recovery efforts, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) unveils a transformative 10-year strategy titled 12 Pillars: One Vision for a Resilient Market, on Sept 24 in Colombo, the initiative outlines 12 key projects designed to foster innovation, enhance infrastructure, and build a diverse, investor-friendly capital market ecosystem. The strategy, detailed in a newly published booklet by the SEC, comes at a time when more..

Sep 27 (AM) The Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court today (26) rejected a request made by the complainant to name Wasantha Samarasinghe, Mahinda Jayasinghe, and Ranjan Jayalal as suspects and to produce them before court. Delivering the order, Magistrate Pasan Amarasinghe noted that an investigation into the disputed property is still ongoing by the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau and that steps have already been taken to refer the matter to the Attorney General to more..

Sep 27 (CT) The Ministry of Energy has stated that it cannot disclose information regarding the proposed USD 3.7 billion Sinopec Oil Refinery in Hambantota, as the procurement process for establishing an export-oriented petroleum refinery and product-processing centre in the area is still ongoing. The Ministry emphasised that responses to questions — including the contents of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) — cannot be provided until the procurement process is finalised. more..

Sep 27 (DM) Despite requests by India, SL govt is yet to appoint a chief negotiator for the resumption of talks on Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) which is now at a standstill after 14 rounds of discussions carried out under different successive govts in the past for expansion of trade and investments with India. In the wake of U.S. trade tariffs, SL leaders stressed the need to enhance trade cooperation with other countries for more..

Sep 27 (FT) Colombo stock market yesterday sustained its winning run ending the week on the up. ASPI finished the week with 0.36% gain and the active S&P SL20 by 0.15%. Turnover yesterday was Rs. 6.02 billion involving 148.06 million shares. During the week, ASPI and S&P SL 20 gained 2.4% and 1.9% respectively, whilst registering an average daily turnover of Rs. 7.11 billion. The Colombo Bourse wrapped up the week on a high note, continuing the positive trend from last week. more..

Sep 27 (DN) SL Export Development Board (EDB), in collaboration with the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Saudi Arabia, successfully organized the Sri Lanka Pavilion at Foodex Saudi 2025, held from 21–24 September 2025 at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Centre. This marked Sri Lanka’s second participation in the Kingdom’s premier food and beverage trade fair. Foodex Saudi served as a gateway for international suppliers to access the rapidly growing Saudi market. more..

Sep 27 (FT) Sri Lanka Tourism has formally endorsed a pioneering project to promote and develop LGBTIQ tourism in the country, ahead of the World Tourism Day 2025. In a letter dated 9 Sept to Equal Ground Executive Director Rosanna Flamer-Caldera, SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) and SL Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam expressed appreciation for the organisation’s initiative to drive Diversity, Equity & Inclusion programs more..

Sep 27 (CT) National Transport Commission (NTC) has announced that it will promptly begin the regulation of all rental vehicles, including vans and buses transporting school students and office employees, as well as three-wheelers engaged in passenger transport. NTC Chairman P. A. Chandrapala stated that the necessary regulations are currently being drafted and will soon be gazetted, establishing a formal legal framework for these services. Following this, more..

Sep 27 (CI) In regular play, Pathum Nissanka's 107 off 58 balls and Kusal Perera's 58 off 32, cancelled out a rapid 61 from Abhishek Sharma, and a 49 not out off 34 from Tilak Varma. India hit 202 for 5. So did SL. In the Super Over though, SL were very clearly out of steam on all fronts. First, they didn't send Nissanka out to bat, choosing Kusal Perera (who sliced one to deep backward point first ball), Dasun Shanaka more..

Sep 27 (DM) TikTok, in collaboration with the Govt of Sri Lanka, launched a new in-app destination, a specialized STEM Feed that provides young learners with reliable science, technology, engineering and mathematics content. The launch was graced by PM and Minister of Education Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, govt officials, education leaders, TikTok representatives and local creators. The program is part of the larger digital transformation policy of education by the govt. more..

Sep 27 (ST) Budgetary allocations for the Finance, Planning and Economic Development Ministry and the Defence Ministry—which come under the purview of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake—will exceed Rs.1,000 billion, according to Appropriation Bill 2026 published in the Gazette this week. Allocations to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development stand at around Rs. 634 billion, while for the Ministry of Defence, allocations are around Rs 455 b. more..

Sep 27 (ST) A new task force is in charge of the Beria Lake clean-up, which has been plagued by stop-start revival projects for a long time. The task force will work on both short-term remedies and billion-rupee long-term interventions. “This time we are not just skimming the surface. Focus is to stop sewer inflows into the lake permanently,” said Chathura Kahandawarachchi, who chairs both Beria Lake Rehabilitation Task Force and more..

Sep 27 (CI) SL U-19 Women continued their unbeaten run in the ongoing T20I series against Australia U-19 Women, clinching a 9-run victory via the DLS method in a rain-affected match in Dambulla on Friday. The game, initially reduced to 9 overs per side due to rain, saw SL post 83 for 6. Sanjana Kavindi once again provided a fiery start, scoring 25 off 16 balls, including five boundaries. Captain Manudi Nanayakkara added a quickfire 17 off 8, featuring a six and two fours. more..

Sep 27 (ST) SL’s telcos have written to the Ministry of Digital Economy to include them in the industrial electricity tariff rather than the general tariff, owing to the impact of electricity costs on network operations and profitability, officials said. “The operators had requested this from the last budget and also from the previous govt, and both times they were told that they are considering it,” an official said. TRC has committed to covering 75% of the cost of 100 new towers in areas with weak connectivity. more..

Sep 27 (FT) Hotels Association of SL (THASL) in a message to mark World Tourism Day today has called upon all concerned authorities to carry out a positioning campaign to attract high profile discerning travellers to achieve the target revenues and increased Govt earning set out by Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake. THASL President M. Shanthikumar in a message on behalf of the membership said on World Tourism Day, extended his congratulations to all stakeholders more..

Sep 27 (FT) The Global Dialogue Forum (GDF), in partnership with the Club of Rome – India, successfully hosted its international conclave on AI in powering green energy, food security and cybersecurity at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo, on 20 September. The full-day event convened global policymakers, academics, industry leaders, and innovators to examine how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be practically deployed to address the most pressing challenges facing societies. more..

Sep 27 (CI) Chamari Athapaththu would do anything to get Sri Lanka to the semi-final of this Women's ODI World Cup. No Sri Lanka team has managed this over 11 years, at an ICC event, and the women's team has never got there. Athapaththu has long been the talisman of this side, but feels she has the young players in her side now, who can excel in their own right. "More than in the other tournaments, I'm pretty relaxed in this one," more..

Sep 27 (Island) Hardly a parliamentary session passes without the members of the Opposition and the government clashing over the drug menace, and hurling wild allegations against one another. Their arguments and counterarguments on what is described as a consignment of drugs/precursors found in two containers in Middeniya recently continue to dominate debates in the House, and invariably lead to mudslinging. Yesterday was no exception. more..

Sep 27 (FT) No good deed goes unpunished, mused libertarian socialist Oscar Wilde, no doubt while in Reading Gaol and reminiscing about that ironic truism in his own short life. Perhaps some of the stalwarts in governmental ranks share a similar sentiment about the electorate at large today, sensing dissent even beyond the ranks of Tuscany. Perhaps the NPP regime suspects that for all the lip service its loyalists pay to the powers be, there is an emerging feeling of dissension at the state of the nation more..

Sep 27 (TM) Sri Lanka has placed most of its eggs in the Tourism basket, to revive the island’s economy and grow. The move has opportunities and challenges as tourism is affected by disruptions, volatility and instability, all of which remain risks for SL and the Indian Ocean region. Domestically, there is much to be done to aid the growth of tourism and to reap its benefits for the economy. There needs to be a change in mindsets, ease of access to services, digitisation and more activities more..

Sep 27 (CT) Ranil Wickremesinghe (RW), one of the fallen heroes at the 2024 Prez Election, has been reported to be planning to organize 1000 rallies across the country and calling all opposition leaders, their aficionados and apparatchiks to rally behind him in his war against what he described as a constitutional dictatorship. If one understood the logic behind that concoction, one would have gathered that if there is a dictatorship prevailing currently in the country then that more..