Nov 8 (TM) This week, a newspaper reported the capture of a crime suspect. The account read that eight different images of the suspect had been made by the Police through AI technology and that they had been used to identify him as he had changed his appearance. When inquired about the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in law enforcement from Deputy MInister Sunil Watagala, he suggested speaking to the Police, citing his inability to more..

Nov 8 (ST) It was a town they visited often in the southeast of the country – Kataragama, with its unique culture. People flocked to the Kataragama Temple, the pristine Kiri Vehera and the devala (shrines) dotting the area, with other folk living in the surrounding environs making ends meet by selling pooja watti, trays of fruit used as offerings. Whenever Kumudini Kariyawasan visited Kataragama, the stark reality struck home. The major lack in the area was education, more..

Nov 8 (CT) News reports that the Govt of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake intends to celebrate a Sri Lankan Day from 12-14 Dec, in the capital Colombo, should have surprised, if not shocked, the traditional supporters of the once ideologically-driven JVP leader of the ruling NPP combine. It is unlike the excuses that the Govt has been proffering — or, did it? – on enforcing the IMF’s loan-conditionalities, saying that they were helpless as they were originally signed by the predecessor more..

Nov 8 (SO) Heavy rains accompanied by strong winds and intense lightning, which lashed the country from Oct 18, claimed four lives, including a 17-year-old girl in Kegalle, who fell into an overflowing roadside culvert during the downpour. DMC reported that nearly 30,000 people were affected and about 790 houses were damaged. Landslide warnings were issued, especially in the hill country, while people living downstream more..

Nov 8 (ST) Frustration! That’s how one could describe the plight of the tourism industry owing to the pathetic attempts by governments – present and past – to launch an overseas marketing campaign to profile the country’s rich offerings to discerning travellers. For nearly a decade the authorities have been struggling to get a tourism promotion campaign off the ground. Often, when it is almost close to being approved after a tedious process of procurement of services and suppliers, more..

Nov 8 (CT) Maybe the govt has not noticed it, but I have. A whole lot of utter rubbish and downright lies against the one-year-old Malima government are being spread in the rural sector and in small towns. The Spring Valley Road in Badulla was a disgrace full of pot holes. It is the road that leads to the (Catholic) Bishop’s House at Rock Hill. For the last 40 years or more every bishop complained to and requested the various powers that were to repair the road properly. more..

Nov 7 (AD) Prez, in his 2026 Budget Speech, announced several new measures to provide financial and welfare benefits to public sector employees. Prez stated that the housing and property loan scheme for public servants will be restructured to allow loans up to Rs. 5 million. Under this revised system, Rs. 500 million will be allocated to provide loans at a 4% concessional interest rate for the first Rs. 3 million, and at a 2% interest rate for amounts between Rs. 3 mil and Rs. 5 mil. more..

Nov 7 (AD) The govt has decided to conduct a feasibility study on constructing a link road between the Port City end of the Port Access Elevated Highway and Marine Drive. With the objective of enhancing road connectivity to the Colombo Port and the Port City, an elevated highway project is currently under construction. The link road has been proposed to address the traffic congestion expected around the Lotus Roundabout area and its surroundings near Galle Face. more..

Nov 7 (AD) Prez announced a series of measures aimed at strengthening support for the disabled community, which comprises around 1.6 million individuals, representing about 7% of the national population. As a country that has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Prez emphasized the Govt’s responsibility to safeguard and promote the rights of persons with disabilities. more..

Nov 7 (AM) The Colombo Fort Magistrate yesterday (6) ordered the Govt Analyst to examine video footage related to the case filed against PHU leader Udaya Gammanpila, who is accused of making statements through electronic and print media that allegedly incited disharmony among communities. Magistrate Isuru Neththikumara issued the directive after considering a request seeking court approval to submit the relevant footage to the Govt Analyst and obtain an analytical report. more..

Nov 7 (CI) The ICC has finalised Ahmedabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai as the venues in India for the 2026 men's T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Sri Lanka as well. It is understood the ICC has shortlisted two venues in Colombo and Kandy as the three venues in SL. T20 World Cup is set to begin on February 7 and will conclude with the final in Ahmedabad on March 8. ICC is likely to release the schedule next week, with just about three months to go for the start of the tournament. more..

Nov 7 (DM) Prez presented Budget 2026, unveiling a series of allocations and reforms. The proposals reflect a reform-driven and inclusive direction — highlighting investments in health services, digital infrastructure, education, and support for vulnerable groups. The budget emphasizes fiscal consolidation, digital transformation, and inclusive development, with notable investments in healthcare, transport, rural infrastructure, and welfare. more..

Nov 7 (EN) SL has revised the 2025 revenue target due to higher income in the income tax and levies on goods and services led by vehicle import tax, while the govt has reduced this year’s public investment, new budget document showed. Prez Dissanayake govt had aimed at achieving total tax revenue of 4,590 billion rupees for 2025. However, the tax revenue has been raised by 2.9% to 4,725 billion rupees with increasing the targets of income tax and levies on goods & services, data showed. more..

Nov 7 (EN) Sri Lanka will introduce cremation facilities and a pet cemetery for strays and pets, Prez said presenting the 2026 budget. “We are seeing a growing need among people for respectful and environmentally responsible cremation and burial alternatives for animals,” Prez said about the pet burial and cremation facilities. A pilot project will be launched by the Kesbawa and Piliyandala provincial councils he said. “We have allocated 100 million rupees from the 2026 budget for this.” more..

Nov 7 (AD) The govt has allocated a sum of Rs. 342 billion for road development projects through the 2026 budget, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated. The economic crisis in Sri Lanka led to the suspension of numerous road development projects, resulting in various complications, however measures have been taken to resolve these issues and recommence the implementation of those projects, President Dissanayake said while delivering the 2026 Budget proposals. more..

Nov 7 (EN) SL’s economic growth is expected to expand between 4-5 % next year, while the govt revenue is expected to be more than 15.4% of the gross domestic products, the govt said. Here are the key number the govt has announced for 2026: The economy is expected to grow by 4-5%. The govt revenue is expected to be over 15.4% of GDP. The govt expenditure is expected to maintain at 20.5% of GDP. The public investment is expected to maintain at 4% of GDP more..

Nov 7 (AD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, presenting the 2026 Budget, announced several key measures concerning public sector salaries and pensions to ensure sustainability and fairness within the system. He stated that a Salaries and Pensions Commission will be established to manage salary and pension policies in a sustainable and equitable manner. Commission will address salary anomalies that have arisen over more..

Nov 7 (DM) Vehicles to be provided on the basis of return after the end of the parliamentary members’ term will be among the new purchases planned by the govt to upgrade its outdated fleet of vehicles and machinery. Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the govt’s current fleet is inadequate and that a large portion of the vehicles and machinery are obsolete, resulting in heavy expenditure on repairs and maintenance. He said this situation has become a major obstacle to the continuation of more..

Nov 7 (DM) Presenting the 2026 Budget in Parliament, Prez said that the Mahapola Scholarship will be increased by Rs. 2,500, bringing the total monthly allowance to Rs. 10,000. Prez said the move aims to ease the financial burden on undergraduates and ensure equal access to higher education. In addition, a special monthly allowance of Rs. 5,000 will be granted to differently-abled children pursuing higher education, on top of the Mahapola Scholarship. more..

Nov 7 (AD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his capacity as Minister of Finance, presented his second Budget Speech in the Parliament today. The 80th budget of the independent SL and the second budget of the NPP govt was delivered from 1.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. by the Head of State. According to the 2026 Budget proposal delivered by the Prez, the govt’s expected revenue for 2026 is set at Rs. 5,300 million more..

Nov 7 (AD) The govt has proposed to allocate Rs. 2,000 million to establish a new office complex for the Dept of Inland Revenue (IRD) after selecting a suitable location among the proposed sites and conducting a feasibility study. IRD is one of the main institutions responsible for generating govt revenue and directing its tax collection process towards digitalization enables the provision of a more efficient service. Under this condition, by operating the main office of the IRD and more..

Nov 7 (EN) Estate worker wages are to be hiked to a total of 1,750 rupees a day, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake said presenting the budget for 2026. “We believe that estate workers should be paid a fair daily wage commensurate with their work,” Prez said. The current minimum wage of an estate worker is 1,350 rupees a day. It has been proposed to increase the wage to 1,550 rupees a day from January 2026. Consecutive SL govts have interfered in the wages of plantations workers, more..

Nov 7 (DM) The govt has allocated an additional Rs. 1,000 million to the Dept of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) to complete the construction of electric fences and undertake related measures to control human-elephant conflict. Delivering the 2026 budget proposal, Prez Dissanayake highlighted that the conflict results in the loss of about 80 human lives and over 260 elephants annually, with the highest number of incidents reported in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa & Ampara. more..

Nov 7 (EN) Sri Lanka will begin linking businesses to the tax office starting with exporters who have enterprise resource planning software, a budget for 2026 said. An API had been developed for companies running ERP system. “In the first phase, the system will be expanded to cover export-oriented enterprises and integration with selected pilot companies through the API mechanism,” the budget for 2026 said. “In the second phase, all VAT-registered taxpayers will be included. more..

Nov 7 (NW) Pradeep Nilanga Dela has been elected for a third term as the 19th Diyawadana Nilame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, securing 195 votes in the official election held today. He will continue to serve in this prestigious role, as the chief lay custodian of the Sacred Tooth Relic, until the year 2035, completing a 10-year term. The election was conducted at 2:00 pm at the United Buddhist Centre Auditorium in Kandy, more..

Nov 7 (EN) Sri Lanka will spruce up Beira Lake area in the capital Colombo to make it attractive for tourism, Prez Anura Dissanayake said in a budget for 2026. “It is expected to develop the Beira Lake and make it an attractive place in the heart of Colombo, and to increase the productive use of all aspects of social, economic and environmental, including tourism activities,” Prez said in a budget for 2026. “For this purpose, it is proposed to utilize 2,500 million rupees from more..

Nov 7 (EN) Prez confirmed permanent appointment for around 9,800 casual and contract workers recruited under the previous govet. He made this announcement while delivering the 2026 budget in the parliament today. Though previous govts provided jobs for those workers on a temporary, casual, substitute, contract, or concessionary basis, they failed to formally grant permanent appointments to around 9,800 employees, who had been receiving only minimum wages in the public sector. more..

Nov 7 (FT) A group of SL Opposition parties – self-styled as the joint Opposition – have announced that they would be launching a prolonged joint Opposition campaign of protest against the JVP, JVP-led NPP Govt of President Anura Kumara Disanayake. The main Opposition parties involved in this exercise are the UNP, SLPP and PHU. The Chief Opposition SJB and other Opposition parties such as SB & TPA will not participate more..

Nov 7 (EN) Sri Lanka will introduce housing loans and a contributory pension scheme for locals who are employed in foreign countries, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake said in his 2026 budget speech. “Our highest net source of foreign exchange is the remittances made by Sri Lankans abroad. In appreciation of the contribution made by this group to the development of our country, we are introducing a housing loan scheme at concessional interest for migrant workers,” Prez said more..

Nov 7 (FT) Every delay at the Port of Colombo now comes at a heavy price. For Sri Lanka’s apparel industry, time is not just money it’s trust. The recent reports of ships failing to call at Colombo because of potential delays in the Port of Colombo, are a major concern for exporters who depend on reliability to stay competitive in global markets. Over the past few months, several shipping lines have started bypassing Colombo, sometimes just a day or two before arrival. more..

Nov 7 (AD) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake says the issuance of vehicle permits for MPs will not be issued in future. The President stated that he is of the view that the scheme of issuing vehicle permits should not be taken forward. Prez Dissanayake said however the govt’s current fleet of vehicles and machinery is inadequate and a significant portion of the existing vehicles and machinery are obsolete, resulting in substantial expenditures on repairs and maintenance. more..

Nov 7 (FT) SL’s trade volume is virtually invisible when compared with the global scale or even the giants of Asia. In 2023, our total trade value was roughly $ 32 billion, of which exports were around $ 13.6 billion while imports were $ 17.6 billion, leaving the country with a deficit of about $ 4 billion. Our main exports were tea, rubber, apparels and spices. The commercial plantations introduced during the colonial era remain vital for the economy, while the apparel industry more..