Oct 21 (TM) Microplastics, plastic particles ranging in size from 5 mm to 1 nm, have invaded every facet of life on earth, being detected in air, surface water, coastal beaches, sediment, and food, even having been discovered in remote and pristine locations, including the Antarctic, deep ocean trenches, and Arctic sea ice. While research on whether microplastics pose threats to human health is still in its infancy, a growing body of more..

Oct 21 (ST) A disturbing US Travel Advisory warned Americans last Thursday to exercise caution when travelling to Sri Lanka due to unrest, terrorism, and landmines. Every country in the world has its own share of unrest, so let that pass as typical of Western attitudes towards Third World nations. The way President Trump has called the National Guard to patrol certain states, one would get the jitters each time they set foot outside their homes. But terrorism? more..

Oct 21 (GV) The soil of Jaffna still carries voices from the hospital wards of 1987. The question is whether the world will listen or look away. Tamil people of the Northern Province continue to live with memories of unhealed wounds. Among the most haunting is the Jaffna Hospital tragedy of Oct 1987 when a symbol of care and compassion became the scene of one of the most distressing wartime incidents in modern SL history. On Oct 21-22, 1987 during heavy fighting in Jaffna, IPKF more..

Oct 21 (SO) SL’s moves against corruption and organised crime are improving its stability, according to the Economic Crime and Geopolitics Index (ECGI) framework, Asanga Abeyagoonasekera said. Executive Director of the South Asia Foresight Network (SAFN) in Washington, DC, said that NPP Govt’s pursuit of high-profile corruption cases and dismantling of criminal networks addresses a core source more..

Oct 21 (Island) The proposed amendment to the Penal Code banning corporal punishment in schools, introduced by the Govt, has generated considerable public interest. Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, the PM and Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Training, has clarified that the proposed law forms part of a broader reform to protect all children across society, and is not intended to target teachers or schools. These legal reforms arise against a backdrop of more..

Oct 21 (DM) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday wrote a letter to PM Narendra Modi, urging him to raise the concerns of Indian fishermen with SL PM Harini Amarasuriya during her three-day visit to India. Stalin highlighted repeated incidents of alleged harassment of Indian fishermen by the SL Navy, according to Indian media. This might have been an attempt by Stalin to earn brownie points from his electorate as Indian fishermen’s trespassing into the SL waters has been a regular issue more..

Oct 20 (TM) Met. Dept has warned that showers or thundershowers are expected over most parts of the island, with heavy rainfall exceeding 100mm likely in some areas of the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva, Northwestern & Southern Provinces. The public has been advised to take necessary precautions to minimise potential damage from heavy rain, strong winds, and lightning during the thundershowers. more..

Oct 20 (ST) Sri Lanka’s gem and jewellery industry has renewed its call to the govt to reduce the import duty on gold from 15% to 5% to offset soaring prices in the world gold market that have fuelled local prices to unprecedented levels, disrupted supply, and left small jewellers struggling to survive. “We have given plenty of proposals to the Finance Ministry. They are receptive, but there is no follow-up action or decision made so far,” CGJTA chairman Rizwan Nayeem said. more..

Oct 20 (BBC) You wait four years for a World Cup, but players and fans in Colombo have spent most of this tournament staring at the rain rather than enjoying some much-anticipated cricket. Five of the nine matches staged in Sri Lanka's capital have been affected by rain - with four ending in no result - causing former England spinner Alex Hartley to say the conditions had ruined the World Cup. October is monsoon season on the island, with 300-370mm of rain anticipated in the month. more..

Oct 20 (EN) Sri Lanka’s vehicle registrations continued to expand September 2025, rising 27% to 48,708 from a month earlier with a broad increase across categories. Cars increased to 4,268 in September from 2,329, while SUVs and crossovers raced ahead totaling 5,813, up from 3,800 in August. Crossovers have now become a popular vehicle segment, outpacing sedans and hatchbacks. more..

Oct 20 (DN) SL women who are winless in the women’s World Cup 2025 will be aiming to register their first victory of the tournament against Bangladesh today at Navi Mumbai Stadium, India commencing at 3 pm. This will be the first match at Navi Mumbai in this world cup and both teams are level on points with Bangladesh sitting one spot above (6th place) in the points table while SL with two points after their two abandoned matches against Australia and NZ in Colombo more..

Oct 20 (DN) National Deepavali Festival, major annual celebration for Hindu devotees, was held in Hatton yesterday. The event was presided over by a host of dignitaries, including Minister Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi; Central Province Governor Prof. Sarath Abeykoon; Deputy Ministers Gamagedara Dissanayake, Muneer Mulaffer, Sundaralingam Pradeep' Nuwara Eliya District MPs Manjula Suraweera Arachchi and Krishnan Kalaichelvi & Nuwara Eliya District Secy Thushari more..

Oct 20 (DN) Deepavali festival, celebrated with great devotion by Hindus around the world, is celebrated today. In remembrance of Lord Vishnu’s defeat of the demon Narakasura, devotees engage in religious observances while praying that, as righteousness triumphed over unrighteousness, darkness in everyone’s hearts may be dispelled and light spread throughout. This celebration symbolises the victory of goodness over evil. Currently, our Govt is undertaking substantial initiatives to more..

Oct 20 (DM) Police in Nuwara Eliya have arrested 31 individuals, aged 18 to 35, from various parts of the island, on suspicion of possessing illegal drugs during the long weekend. Several of those arrested were linked to a party organized through Facebook at the Fourth Vehicle Terminal in Gregory Lake on the 18th. The suspects were found in possession of cannabis, hashish, kush, methamphetamine, cocaine, cannabis-infused tobacco, narcotics tablets, and duty-unpaid cigarettes. more..

Oct 20 (DM) Gold prices in Sri Lanka surged to an all-time high on Friday, shattering previous records as investors worldwide flock to the precious metal amid growing economic uncertainty. Local experts attributed the sharp increase entirely to international market pressures, dismissing local demand as a factor. Lalitha Jewellers Colombo ECO Sellakumar Kandasamy confirmed the new highs at the close of business on Friday. more..

Oct 20 (AD) The Railway Department has announced that several train journeys along the upcountry railway line will be cancelled tomorrow (20), due to a derailment near the Ihalakotte railway station today (19). According to officials, the Podi Menike express train scheduled to depart Colombo Fort for Badulla at 5:55 a.m. has been cancelled. Additionally, the Colombo Fort to Kandy intercity express train scheduled for 7:00 a.m. has also been cancelled. more..

Oct 20 (DM) Agriculture, Livestock, Lands, Irrigation and Mahaweli Development Minister K.D. Lal Kantha has revealed that he does not possess any formal educational qualifications, stating that the only documents he holds are his birth certificate, national identity card, passport, and driving licence. Speaking at a public programme held in Kandy, Minister said that despite lacking educational certificates, he has never faced difficulty in performing his duties or achieving success in life. more..

Oct 20 (NW) Fresh CCTV footage has surfaced a week after an incident at the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court, appearing to show a police constable assaulting a lawyer within the court premises. Senior lawyer Gunaratne Wanninayake, who has confirmed the footage is genuine, said the video clearly shows the moment a police officer attacked a junior lawyer following a verbal exchange over a parking dispute. The altercation occurred on October 10 when the lawyer reportedly more..

Oct 20 (AD) More than 30 local and foreign tourists who were visiting the Wilpattu National Park have been rescued by wildlife officers after being unable to return due to heavy rainfall and flooding. The roads they had used became impassable, preventing the group from reaching the Eluwankulama entrance. Wildlife officers then had arrived and safely transported them back using safari vehicles. It has been reported that with the opening of the sluice gates of more..

Oct 20 (TM) In the wake of claims that a recent statement made by NPP MP Lakmali Hemachandra amounts to contempt of court, Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said that he does not believe her remarks were in contempt. Minister made this observation following criticism from the Opposition over Hemachandra’s statement during a Provincial Coordination Committee meeting, where she appeared to ask officials more..

Oct 20 (SO) Trade relations between Sri Lanka and Russia can be better as both countries are keen to elevate ties, said Ambassador of the Russian Federation to SL, Levan S. Dzhagaryan. “Both countries have shown interest to improve trade relations which increased by 18% to reach US$ 664.9 million last year,” Ambassador said. However, US and Western sanction which the Ambassador termed as illegal stands in the way to strengthen trade relations between SL & Russia. more..

Oct 20 (TM) After a stupendous performance for two days, SL men’s outfit led by Kavindu Perera sealed the third place in the Asia Rugby 7s series finale Colombo edition which concluded at the Racecourse Grounds yesterday. 24 teams in both Men’s and Women’s divisions battled it out for the series title for important spots in the World Rugby HSBC SVNS Division 3. Hong Kong defeated heavy favourites Japan 12-7 in the cup finals. SL were unlucky to miss out on a maiden grand final spot more..

Oct 20 (DM) Twelve years after the theft of 221 valuable artefacts from the Colombo National Museum, the case remains unresolved, with the Attorney General’s Dept yet to file charges against the accused, according to the latest audit report of Dept of National Museums. Audit, covering financial statements for the year ended Dec 31, 2024, revealed that, despite theft occurring on March 16, 2012, no legal conclusion had been reached more..

Oct 20 (SO) Lawmakers took pride on SL’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean region for maritime trade and its contribution to the economy in their presentations at the Voyage SL 2025 Maritime Summit in Colombo last week. The status of SL’s ports globally, particularly the Colombo Port, for its transshipment businesses and the regional ports being positioned close to major sea rotes in the region was stressed by Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Dev., Sunil Handunnetti more..

Oct 20 (DN) SL shuttler Dumindu Abeywickrama continued his form when he clinched the bronze medal at the men’s single event of the XIV Santo Domingo Open Badminton Championship at Torre TBC Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic yesterday. Dumindu the 22-year-old National number 2 shuttler was able to reach the semi final against USA experienced player Mark Alcala the world ranked 89 and they had a tough battle at this semi final finally Mark Shelly won the game by 21-16 & 21-19 more..

Oct 20 (EN) A billion dollar fine imposed by a SL court over chemical and plastic spill from Express Pearl, a container ship that caught fire could, result in higher insurance and make some regions dependent on shadow fleets with no cover. SL judgement was alarming, London based Financial Times newspaper quoted James Bean, chief executive of the London P&I Club, which insured the X-Press Pearl. Vessel caught fire in Colombo after a corrosive chemical leached from a container. more..

Oct 20 (EN) SL could extent Geographical Indications to iconic food like king coconuts as well handicrafts, officials said after the island certified Cinnamon and Ceylon tea under an international system to ensure their origin and authenticity. Process of getting Ceylon Tea under GI was completed after a four year process with a million Euro grant from Agence Française de Développement (AFD), French aid agency. Ceylon Cinnamon was the first GI certified product more..

Oct 20 (Island) The COPE has revealed that Lanka Sathosa incurred a loss of Rs. 15,157,031,018 due to irregular rice imports in 2014 and 2015, carried out in violation of established procurement procedures. The disclosure came during a COPE session chaired by Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera, held on Oct 10 to review the AG's reports for 2021 and 2022 and the corporation’s current performance. more..

Oct 20 (Island) Environmental activist Sajeewa Chamikara has warned that the wind power development projects, being rolled out on Mannar Island, pose an unprecedented threat to both the island’s human population and its fragile ecosystem. Chamikara, representing the Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform, said that plans, jointly prepared by the SEA, CEB and ADB, have been designed with the sole aim of generating electricity, neglecting social & environmental realities more..

Oct 20 (ST) It seems that attorney-MPs of the NPP Govt are intent on setting a new moral tone (I am saying this tongue-in-cheek) by urging public officials to disregard or delay the implementation of decisions handed down by the Court. Let us be clear at the outset. These are not just one or two personal views of ruling party MPs. Such views were expressed at a discussion of the Western Provincial Coordination Committee in regard to the threatened eviction of unauthorized settlers from more..

Oct 20 (Island) Election Commission (EC) has effectively demolished an argument that it is also responsible for the indefinitely postponement of the Provincial Council (PC) elections. EC Chairman R.M.A.L. Rathnayake and Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake have very convincingly explained why the EC should not be blamed for the delayed PC polls. One cannot but agree with them that the EC is not constitutionally empowered to decide when to hold PC polls, more..

Oct 20 (CT) US administration had issued a warning to American tourists visiting SL of an imminent threat of violence, terrorism and landmines. A similar warning was issued in October last year pointing to developments in Arugam Bay. But the current warning came amidst two other developments besides Arugam Bay. Firstly, IMF Mission Chief Evan Papageorgiou has been urged to remind Prez cum Finance Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) that the incoming budget must be fully more..