Sep 2 (MB) In recent months, elephants have stolen the spotlight yet again in SL’s mainstream and social media. Surge in attention to them began when a series of deadly train collisions killed several elephants, followed by the agonizing death of the iconic tusker Bhahiya, whose final days were made into emotional videos. Bhahiya’s death triggered a wave of media coverage, with fresh reports of elephant deaths more..

Sep 2 (FT) Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said it would open the SL Economic and Investment Summit 2025 (SLEIS 2025) on 2 Dec in Colombo with an eminent line-up that sets the stage for two days of high-level dialogue. Conducted this year under the theme Gateway to Growth – Asia’s Emerging Opportunity the day will begin with opening remarks by CCC Chairperson Krishan Balendra, followed by a keynote address from EDOTCO, Malaysia Chairman Kenneth Shen. more..

Sep 2 (TM) Sri Lankans are increasingly using vapes, also known as e-cigarettes. Like many new trends, it seems the youth of the country are caught up in this latest iteration of the tobacco trend. E-cigarettes/vapes have been around for some time. It has become fashionable and is pushed by their marketers as a chic alternative to what modern generations consider are dirty conventional cigarettes. A compounding factor is that e-cigarettes/vapes lack more..

Sep 2 (ST) The Scene: Students at school gathered at the assembly hall listening to the principal speak. Today I came to talk to you, the principal of the school said to the children who had gathered at the assembly hall, about a special course of study that will be introduced into the school curriculum from next Sunday since the week will be taken up by the present compulsory subjects like history and art. A hand shot up from the front row. It was Shantha, one of the school’s studious students more..

Sep 2 (CT) Despite Sri Lanka’s significant economic recovery following its unprecedented crisis, the aftershocks and hangovers of what we all experienced remain even to this day. This is evidenced with the Census and Statistics Dept reporting that the country’s poverty line has risen again, making it the third consecutive month to rise since June. This has caused a year-on-year increase for Colombo’s household expenses by over two thousand rupees. more..

Sep 2 (TM) The Govt is currently discussing a monitoring system to complement the recently introduced fingerprint attendance machines in State institutions, according to Deputy Minister Prabha Senarath. Deputy Minister noted that the fingerprint initiative marked only the beginning of a broader programme aimed at reshaping accountability and performance standards across Sri Lanka’s public sector. more..

Sep 2 (Island) For decades voters have heard promises of integrity, justice and accountability. These promises have come with every election, but they have invariably ended in disappointment. Investigations have faltered, commissions have been wound up, and the very leaders who promised to end corruption and impunity have too often joined the ranks of those who perpetuated them. NPP govt is now making the point that it will do its utmost to deliver on its promises and commitments. more..

Sep 2 (GV) Something struck me while watching President Anura Kumara Dissanayake hosting a meeting with media organizations at the Presidential Secretariat recently. Here was a leader of a political party which had spent decades in the political wilderness – ridiculed, ignored, sometimes persecuted – yet when they finally gained unprecedented power, their response was not the usual self-aggrandizement we have come to expect from politicians. more..

Sep 2 (DM) Vietnamese Ambassador Trinh Thi Tam, speaks about the way forward for enhancement of bilateral ties. She shares her views in this regard on the occasion of the 80th Anniversary of Viet Nam’s Independence Day (1945-2025) and the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and SL (1970–2025). Q: During the State visit to Viet Nam by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, there were commitments more..

Sep 2 (CT) During the recent Prez and Parliamentary polls, a major promise by the NPP was the eradication of corruption and waste. The matter that currently captures most public interest, concerns travel expenses incurred by the then President, Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe. He was initially placed in remand custody, which subsequently changed to bail on medical grounds, pending further Court proceedings. Opponents of the NPP allege this to be political victimization, more..

Sep 2 (DM) Trade union action announced by seven out of eight trade unions affiliated to the SLTB last week against the govt’s move to implement a unified time table for the SLTB and private sector buses literally flopped. Commuters did not feel that a work strike is on by SLTB employees. The demand put forward by the employees of the SLTB is ironic and also amusing. It is a well-known fact that the SLTB is at the receiving end of an unfair competition between state-owned & pvt buses. more..

Sep 1 (DM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that every plot of land in the North, which was acquired for the security forces during the war, will be released back to the people. He made these remarks this morning while attending the inauguration of the third phase of the Myliddy Fisheries Harbour Development Project in Jaffna. He said that it is the responsibility of the govt to provide the necessary facilities for the fishing community and that steps are being taken to develop more..

Sep 1 (TM) A new study by Ocean University of SL has found that the artificial breakwater at Hambantota Int'l Port (HIP) has become a thriving marine ecosystem. The reef at HIP now supports the highest diversity of reef-associated fish in Southern SL, surpassing natural sites like Weligama and Polhena. The reef's success is attributed to minimal human disturbance, low pollution, and a balanced population of herbivorous fish that keep algae from overwhelming the corals. more..

Sep 1 (CT) A Colombo household’s living expenses, led by rising food costs, increased by Rs 2,044.17 year-on-year (YoY) to last month (August), Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI) released on Friday, said. “A Colombo household’s food bill alone increased by Rs 1,151.08 YoY to last month, aided by the increase in their coconut bill, in four digit terms, being upped by Rs 1,516.45, fresh sea fish bill, in triple digit terms, more..

Sep 1 (EN) Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange reserves have not grown for several months and have shown a worrying tendency to fall, opposition legislator Kabir Hashim has told parliament. “Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves have now fallen from the levels seen in October and November 2024,” Hashim said. “Our foreign reserves are not growing. It is a problem. President has said from time to time that we are saying things to frighten people. But this is the real situation.” more..

Sep 1 (AD) The hearing of evidence in the case filed against the underworld figure Nadun Chinthaka, alias Harak Kata, who is accused of breaking into a house in Meethotamulla and robbing a three-wheeler and Rs. 26,000 in cash, was held at the Colombo High Court today. The evidence was recorded before Colombo High Court Judge Lanka Jayaratne. Under the direction of Deputy Solicitor General Sudarshana De Silva, testimony of two prosecution witnesses was recorded. more..

Sep 1 (AD) Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture, and Resource Sustainability has drawn attention to the utilisation of compensation received for the damage caused by the X-Press Pearl vessel, particularly regarding payments made to fishermen and coastal conservation efforts. Accordingly, the Committee recommended that a detailed report be submitted regarding the total amount of more..

Sep 1 (NW) PHU leader Udaya Gammanpila has filed a petition before the Court of Appeal seeking an order to prevent his arrest under what he claims is the misuse of the Int'l Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act. The petition, lodged today through his legal team, requests writs of prohibition and certiorari against attempts by the CID to arrest him. Gammanpila argues that the ICCPR Act is being wrongfully invoked with the hidden purpose of subjecting him to prolonged detention, more..

Sep 1 (CT) United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Marc-André Franche, has called for an urgent, credible, transparent, and independent investigation into the mass graves uncovered in the country. Issuing a statement to mark the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, Franche said the remains and personal belongings recovered from these graves serve as a stark reminder of the grave human rights violations committed in Sri Lanka’s past. more..

Sep 1 (TM) Mahindra today introduced the Mahindra XUV 3XO, its most compelling SUV offering in the SL market. Launching with feature-rich variants – MX3, AX5 and AX7L – the XUV 3XO offers Standout Design, Immersive Technology, World class Safety, Spirited Performance all at a starting price of LKR 10.49 Mn (incl. VAT). The arrival of the XUV 3XO builds on Mahindra’s growing footprint in Sri Lanka and underscores its strategy to deliver authentic SUVs tailored for discerning SL customers. more..

Sep 1 (CT) Deputy Minister Ruwan Senarath, announced that the Govt is planning to import 2,000 cab vehicles for the heads of State institutions at the beginning of next year. The move is aimed at providing transport facilities to officials, enabling them to carry out field-level development projects more efficiently. Deputy Minister explained that many local govt institutions that had been inactive are now being revitalised, with a series of new projects launched to support more..

Sep 1 (PMD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that during the last Prez and General Elections, the people of the North took a step forward with the NPP, not just for that single step, but with the vision of moving a thousand steps ahead. Prez assured that the trust placed by the people will be safeguarded until a truly united SL nation is built. Prez made these remarks today at the ceremony held to launch the commencement of more..

Sep 1 (NF) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has strongly reiterated SL’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding its territorial integrity, emphasizing the strategic and emotional significance of Kachchateevu Island to the nation’s fishing communities. Speaking ahead of a scheduled visit to the island this evening, Prez stated, “Kachchateevu holds immense importance for our fishing community. A major public discourse has emerged around the island, and I intend to meet with more..

Sep 1 (AM) The CID has informed former President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake that he does not need to appear before the CID today, according to former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Media Division. Earlier reports indicated that Ekanayake had been instructed to report to the CID at 9 a.m. today in connection with an investigation into a visit to the UK undertaken by Wickremesinghe. Ekanayake has previously been questioned regarding the same matter. more..

Sep 1 (PMD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that efforts are underway to enable the public to carry out all payments and transactions with the govt through online methods by next year. Prez stated that digitalisation, a key programme of the present govt, enables the decentralisation of all administrative functions, which were previously confined to Colombo, to remote rural villages, thereby giving the people more..

Sep 1 (Island) Attorney-at-law Senaka Perera said that the NPP govt should ensure the protection of those who had been arrested in Indonesia and brought back to Colombo over the weekend. Perera, who heads a civil society organisation that promotes prisoners’ welfare, said that successive govts allowed deaths in custody. “The NPP, too, is responsible for such killings,” lawyer Perera said. Pointing out that Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala and IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya more..

Sep 1 (AD) Vehicular movement will be restricted from 7 p.m. today, on a stretch of the entry road to Colombo from the Devi Balika Roundabout to the D.S. Senanayake Junction with the Borella Police Division. Police Media Division attributed the road closure to the repair work to be conducted between the Devi Balika Roundabout to the D.S. Senanayake Junction. The road has been closed sporadically in the past few days due to the risk of cracks, subsidence, and the inflow of sewage more..

Sep 1 (DM) Planters’ Association made a strong call to the govt to fast-track the extension of Regional Plantation Company (RPC) leases, warning that on going uncertainty could derail billions of rupees in long-term investment in the country’s plantation sector. PA Chairman Sunil Poholiyadde described the industry as being at a critical juncture, noting that the current 53-year leases, signed in 1992, will expire in 2045. He said the remaining 20-year window is insufficient to secure more..

Sep 1 (TM) Against the backdrop of the Govt’s decision to increase import taxes on big onions and potatoes, farmers’ groups have expressed concerns that the move appears to favor importers while adversely affecting local farmers. Noting this, NAU Prez Anuradha Thennakoon claimed that although the Govt increased these taxes targeting the harvesting period to support local farmers, importers had already imported big onions and potatoes in large quantities. more..

Sep 1 (AD) There is no longer a threat of war in the country, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has stated while attending an event in Jaffna. Prez made this statement while attending the launch of the third phase of the Myliddy Fisheries Harbour Development Project in Jaffna today. The symbolic inauguration of the third phase of the Myliddy Fisheries Harbour Development Project took place by the Prez. Under this initiative, more..

Sep 1 (NW) The programme to develop the Jaffna Library into an e-library was inaugurated under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake this morning. Accordingly, the website jaffna.dlp.gov.lk was introduced for the Jaffna Public Library, enabling readers to access its collection online through this project. The Jaffna Public Library, a symbol of pride for the people of Jaffna, is one of the largest libraries in Asia, housing an extensive collection of books. more..

Sep 1 (EN) SL’s tourist arrivals increased 20.4% from a year ago to 198,235 in Aug 2025. There were 46,473 visitors from India in July 2025, making up 23.4% of total arrivals, followed by the UK with 19,764 which made up 10% of arrivals. There were 12,500 visitors (6.3%) from Germany, 12,294 from China (6.2%), and 12,247 from Italy (6.2%). Visitors from other European countries included France 10,495 (5.3%) Spain 8,843 (4.5%) and the Netherlands 6,082 (3.1%) as the summer more..