Oct 20 (SO) Once again, our cultural spirit is uplifted to celebrate the festival of lights. It is the reminder of inner light of our natural state of equilibrium. The festive mood carrying joy, social well-being of togetherness and sharing gifts with others, are the external manifestation of this inner light. Deepavali falls on the new moon day of Kartik of the lunar month. Of the twelve new moons in a year, this new moon carries more..

Oct 20 (DM) The 2020s has become a decade of distress in the Global South. Half the developing countries are now in debt trouble, with the situation having deteriorated considerably since 2010. Following the Global Financial Crisis of 2008, finance capital from the West flowed into the so-called emerging markets like Sri Lanka. Such high cost capital was absorbed into infrastructure and luxurious consumption and was short-lived in our countries. Without adequate returns and more..

Oct 20 (CT) Today, as the world celebrates Deepawali, Festival of Light, let us pause to reflect on the true meaning of this beautiful and sacred celebration. More than a festival of lamps and fireworks, Deepawali is a timeless reminder that light both within and without is what dispels the shadows of darkness. As millions light rows of lamps across homes and cities, let us look deeper into what this light truly symbolises, and how its message can guide us to grow as human beings, more..

Oct 20 (CT) Amid growing debate over the conduct of the COPE and its latest sessions that have drawn both praise and criticism, former COPE Chairman Dr. Charitha Herath offers a rare insider’s view on how the committee is meant to function — and where it risks overstepping. Herath reflects on the original purpose of COPE, the pressures he faced during his tenure, and the consequences of turning a parliamentary more..

Oct 20 (TM) Sri Lanka has a knack for repeating mistakes, and it is almost as if we have collective amnesia when it comes to some issues which plagues the island each year. Despite changes in the climate and an increasingly difficult predictability of monsoon weather, Sri Lankans know very well that we will face cycles of drought and heavy rains, which disrupt day to day life and damage crops each year. The frequency of climate-related disruptions to Sri Lanka will likely increase, more..

Oct 20 (DM) Members of the opposition political parties, both minority and majority, have been making fun out a mispronunciation of two English words by a prominent Cabinet Member of a NPP govt. Phrase that has been mocked at is It’s a Big Kuchchan, a mispronunciation of It’s a Big Question. It was the opening sentence of the Minister who was questioned about US president Donald Trump’s role at a panel discussion titled: The call of support over climate change in India few months ago. more..

Oct 19 (ST) PM Harini Amarasuirya, who is also the Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, was away in India when Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake addressed the annual conference of the JVP-affiliated Ceylon Teachers’ Services Union at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Friday. He was flanked by one-time JVP trade union wing leader, now Agriculture Minister, K.D. Lal Kantha, and more..

Oct 19 (TM) Dept of Meteorology has issued a warning for heavy rainfall across SL during the 36 hours starting from 4 pm yesterday. Showers and thundershowers were expected across most parts of the island after 1 pm yesterday, with certain areas predicted to receive rainfall exceeding 100 mm. The department said the heaviest rain was likely in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva, North Central, Eastern, and North Western Provinces, prompting authorities to urge the public to more..

Oct 19 (DM) A special police investigation has been launched into an unusual incident where a flower garland was found placed around a photograph of Chief Woman Police Inspector Varuni Bogahawatta, the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Women and Children’s Bureau at the Mirihana Police Station. The investigation is being carried out under the supervision of an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) on the directions of Nugegoda Division SSP Mangala Dehideniya, police said. more..

Oct 19 (ST) The CIABOC has agreed to consider requests by the accused charged with corruption for causing financial losses to the state to pay back those losses along with interest, provided those requests come through the courts and receive court approval. This comes after several accused charged with causing financial losses to the state requested the Commission to grant them an opportunity to pay back the financial losses along with interest. more..

Oct 19 (DM) A stock of 22,950 metric tons of imported salt, valued at over Rs. 910 million, has been detained by SL Customs after being found non-compliant with national standards and imported after the govt’s permitted deadline. Officials said the shipment, one of the largest consignments imported this year, was rejected for release due to a lack of certification from the SL Standards Institution (SLSI) and for violating import deadlines imposed following the temporary relaxation of more..

Oct 19 (Island) Ceylon Tea, the world’s most celebrated brew, reached a new milestone this week with the successful completion of the Ceylon Tea Value Creation Through the Development of Geographical Indication (GI) and International Quality Certifications project — an initiative backed by the French Development Agency (AFD), with technical support from French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) and the Institute of Policy Studies of SL (IPS). more..

Oct 19 (DM) A man has been arrested in the indigenous village of Mahiyanganaya with a stock of elephant pearls valued at over Rs. 30 million, officials said. The suspect was taken into custody on Friday during a joint operation carried out by wildlife officers from Wilpattu, Ritigala, and Mahiyanganaya, following intelligence received by security forces. The arrest came after months of investigation and led to the seizure of the largest stock of elephant pearls ever recovered in Sri Lanka. more..

Oct 19 (DM) SL racer Yevan David showcased impressive skill in the opening Euroformula race at Monza, starting from pole position and engaging in an intense battle at the front. David traded the lead multiple times with his Motopark team-mate Everett Stack and Jose Garfias, delivering thrilling wheel-to-wheel action for the fans. Despite a dramatic final lap and losing out to Stack, David managed to cross the line in sixth after his rear-left tyre shredded, still securing reversed-grid pole for race two. more..

Oct 19 (ST) New vehicle owners numbering over 165,000 who have waited for over five months without number plates, are forced to hang on for at least another three months owing to a cancelled contract after 25 years with the previous supplier, issues relating to the new tender process and delays in security feature accreditation. DMT has a significant plate backlog of new vehicles including 127,745 motorcycles and more..

Oct 19 (EN) Engineers of state-run power monopoly has warned that un-bundled firms may not be able to operate due lack information allocate assets, liabilities, cashflows and operational plans in a Preliminary Transfer Plan (PTP) that has been approved by the Finance Ministry. When the utility is separated in to generation and transmission companies, there was no information the PTP on how to allocate assets and liabilities including loans that may have to be split between two entities more..

Oct 19 (NW) Zimbabwe Cricket has accepted the Pakistan Cricket Board’s invitation to participate in a T20I tri-series also featuring SL, to be staged in Rawalpindi and Lahore from 17 to 29 Nov. The maiden tri-series on Pakistan soil has been scheduled to provide all three sides with preparation ahead of next year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which will be held in India and SL. The tri-series will commence on 17 November, with hosts Pakistan taking on Zimbabwe at Rawalpindi Stadium. more..

Oct 19 (CT) A Report issued by the National Audit Office (NAO) has revealed that State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) had obtained funds by submitting false bills and invoices to the Medical Supplies Division (MSD) for the supply of several cancer drugs, despite the receipt of donations amounting to USD 2.5 million from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and Rs 100 million from SL Foreign Employment Bureau (SLFEB) to Health Ministry’s National Health Development Fund more..

Oct 19 (SO) The irresponsible conduct of the Schools Chess Association has come under scrutiny following a Court order, once again placing the sport in the national spotlight. Parents of school chess players accuse the Association of defying judicial directives and acting with disregard for fairness and transparency. Internationally, chess tournaments are categorised according to odd-numbered age groups such as Under-13 and Under-15. However, the Schools Chess Association abruptly altered more..

Oct 19 (TM) Attorney General (AG) Parinda Ranasinghe states that he has officially conveyed the Supreme Court’s judgment on the X-Press Pearl compensation matter to the Presidential Secretariat and is now awaiting further instructions from the Govt on the next course of action. He added that the judgment had been communicated two weeks ago. Commenting on the newly established X-Press Pearl Compensation more..

Oct 19 (SO) The trick is to stay calm. Let the water run through your fingers and connect with the ocean. Out in the surf off the fishing village of Kadabeddagama on the Southern Coast of SL is 22-year-old Senuri Madushani, one of few female surfers from the Island nation and the first to compete against the best in the world. On an island where surfing has long been dominated by Men and tourists, Senuri is claiming her space in the water, hoping more girls will follow. more..

Oct 19 (NF) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake says that the country needs a state service that fulfills its professional responsibilities diligently. Addressing a Sri Lanka Air Force event held today in Trincomalee, the President stated that the Air Force will be entrusted with a special responsibility in combating the drug menace. Presidential colours were presented to the No. 3 Maritime Squadron of the Sri Lanka Air Force, cadet officers were commissioned, and flight badges were awarded more..

Oct 19 (TM) Govt has commenced the process of drafting regulations to govern the establishment and operation of electric charging stations as part of its efforts to develop the Electric Vehicle (EV) infrastructure. SL Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA) Director General H.K. Wickramasinghe revealed that at present, the establishment and operation of electric charging stations in the country was not regulated. more..

Oct 19 (Island) The majestic Oval scoreboard clock showed ten minutes to three on a Sunday afternoon when our final wicket fell. We had conceded first innings points by a small margin to Moors in a P. Sara Trophy encounter. The year was 1972 and it was my first game for the club. The many Moors supporters hugged each other and left the venue to return to Braybrook Place to celebrate. With just half an hour left to tea, and two hours thereafter to the end of the game, their optimism was justified. more..

Oct 19 (SO) The Sri Lanka Men’s Team experienced mixed fortunes on the opening day of the Asia Rugby Sevens Series second leg, which commenced at the Racecourse Grounds in Colombo yesterday. The Sri Lanka Tuskers started their campaign with an impressive 26-16 win over Uzbekistan in their Pool ‘C’ opening fixture. After going through some anxious moments initially, the home side cut loose in the second half as they ended up scoring three goals and a try. more..

Oct 19 (TM) Football researcher and civil society activist Dhaniz Ali, representing We Are Football, an independent football reform movement, submitted a complaint to the CIABOC last Wednesday. The complaint is linked to long-standing allegations of financial and administrative corruption within the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL), and Ali has named seven officials, both current and past, from the sport’s local controlling body. Among them are two former Presidents more..

Oct 19 (Island) The govt budget is the nation’s key economic policy document — the primary instrument through which a state translates its political priorities into concrete economic action. SL’s 2026 Budget comes at a crucial juncture, following the severe macroeconomic crisis of 2022, implementation of an IMF-supported stabilization programme, and the ongoing debt restructuring process. As the country enters a phase of gradual recovery, govt faces the delicate task of balancing fiscal discipline, more..

Oct 19 (TM) Limes are no longer the small indulgence they once were. A kilogramme now costs about Rs. 2,500–3,000 in Colombo markets. For a fruit found in nearly every Sri Lankan kitchen, the price shock has drawn both frustration and worry. The lime shortage is not entirely new. Each year, one or two seasonal crops shoot up in price and dominate headlines. Limes have simply joined that list again, this time more dramatically. more..

Oct 19 (ST) Charith Asalanka’s Asia Cup campaign fell short of expectations. The young left-handed batsman, who currently leads SL’s limited over sides, struggled with the bat, amassing only 75 runs throughout the tournament. However, it was his captaincy that attracted the most intense scrutiny. A series of tactical misjudgments on the field has placed his position under significant review, with speculation circulating within Sri Lanka Cricket regarding a potential replacement, more..

Oct 19 (ST) One of the provisions in Resolution passed without a vote at the UNHRC last week was to call for an Independent Public Prosecutor’s Office in SL. The resolution acknowledges with appreciation the Govt’s commitment to establish such an office—independent of the Attorney General. Govt has, since assuming office, been at odds with the AG’s office, accusing it of protecting or procrastinating on prosecutions relating to corruption charges against former govt politicians. more..

Oct 19 (Island) There is no shortage of dog and pony shows in this country. They are usually staged by the govt in power. The SJB-led Opposition has accused the incumbent NPP administration of creating high-profile events almost weekly to distract the public from its unfulfilled promises. Opposition has chosen to call them Kolam (highly entertaining folk dance dramas). Interestingly, among the traditional dance dramas is the Police Kolama. One may argue that latest addition to them is Suspect Kolama, more..

Oct 19 (ST) My dear Kosthaapal Tharinda and Neethigna Wanninayake, I thought of writing to both of you this week because the entire country watched the drama you staged at the courts in Mount Lavinia last week. It is not something that either of you should be proud of. Instead, it was a case of the two arms of the law trying to outdo each other without working together. Kosthaapal Tharinda, we do not know what exactly happened. You have been accused of assaulting a lawyer. more..