Sep 25 (DM) SLPP MP D.V. Chanaka has filed a lawsuit against a private radio station claiming that the station aired false statements linking his late uncle to underworld activities. In a legal action filed at the Colombo District Court, Chanaka is seeking compensation of one billion rupees from the radio station for defamation and the spread of misinformation. The lawsuit arises from a statement made during one of the radio station’s programs, in which it was alleged that Chanaka's more..

Sep 25 (EN) Sri Lanka Tourism has conducted promotions in India’s Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Delhi, to market the island as an enchanting wedding destination for Indian couples. The campaign attracted leading wedding planners, event managers, travel agents, and media representatives. Destination weddings continue to be a trend among Indian families seeking international venues that combine cultural richness, Sri Lanka Tourism said in a statement. more..

Sep 25 (CT) Mantri Manai (Minister’s Mansion) in Jaffna is currently not being protected by the Dept of Archaeology. EPDP Spokesman Srikanth Panneerselvam stressed that all heritage sites in SL should be safeguarded, but the dept has failed to take responsibility for this mansion and shows little concern for preserving monuments linked to Tamil areas. He further highlighted allegations that Tamil people are deliberately more..

Sep 25 (NW) Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha met with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa at his private residence in Tangalle on Wednesday. The meeting took place after Rajapaksa was forced to vacate his official state residence in Colombo under a new law that removed perks and entitlements for former heads of state. The legislation, passed earlier this month, required ex-presidents to give up state-funded housing and other benefits. more..

Sep 25 (AD) The death toll in the accident that occurred along the Kurunegala–A'pura main road has risen to four, according to police. One of the individuals who was hospitalized following the accident has succumbed to his injuries. Three individuals died while four others sustained injuries in a head-on collision between a lorry and a van in the Thalawa–Mirigama junction along the Kurunegala–A'pura main road this morning. The lorry was traveling from A'pura towards more..

Sep 25 (Island) Former Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe says the NPP govt cannot sidestep Anti-Corruption Act No 09 of 2023. The former MP said that the Act made it mandatory for the CIABOC to disclose the asset declarations of all, regardless of their standing. The disclosure of NPP Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe having assets worth Rs 275 mn wouldn’t have happened if not for the new Anti-Corruption Act approved by more..

Sep 25 (AD) A total of 1,006 individuals have been arrested on suspicion of being involved in criminal activities and also over illicit liquor and drug-related offenses during a special island-wide operation conducted yesterday (24). As part of the operation, 28,669 persons were subjected to inspection. Police have identified 31 individuals directly linked to criminal activities while 601 suspects with outstanding warrants were arrested during the operation, police noted. more..

Sep 25 (Reuters) Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy was sentenced to five years in jail on Thursday after being found guilty of criminal conspiracy over efforts by close aides to procure funds for his 2007 presidential bid from Libya during the rule of late dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Sarkozy was acquitted by a Paris court of all other charges, including corruption and receiving illegal campaign financing. But the ruling means the former president will spend time in jail even if he appeals, more..

Sep 25 (AD) Speaker of House Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne today announced to Parliament that he is not in a position to accept the No-Confidence Motion submitted against Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General (Retd.) Aruna Jayasekara by a group of MPs, citing Parliament procedures. The motion was signed by the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and 31 other members representing the opposition. During the commencement of Parliament sitting today, more..

Sep 25 (CT) Under the Clean Sri Lanka initiative, the Government has established its first solid waste recycling facility in Kattankudy, located in the Batticaloa District of the Eastern Province. As part of the Clean Sri Lanka programme, the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Govt has launched an initiative to establish solid waste recycling plants within the limits of every local govt area across the country. These centres will convert solid waste into reusable materials, more..

Sep 25 (AD) Around 50% of the information provided by the general public during the recent wildlife census was found to be accurate, according to Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne. He presented this information today (26) while addressing Parliament. The wildlife census, conducted on March 15 across the island, was aimed to identify animals that harm food crops, study them properly, and take appropriate action. more..

Sep 25 (AD) Officials of the task force for digital transformation in education presented a plan, indicating that by March 2026, it is expected to submit the policy framework related to the digital transformation in the education sector to the cabinet for approval. This was stated recently (23) at a meeting of the Subcommittee under the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education held in Parliament chaired by the PM more..

Sep 25 (Island) None of the 10 oral questions, listed on yesterday’s Order Paper, were answered in Parliament, after the absence of all but one of the MPs, who had submitted them, brought proceedings to a standstill during question time. The scheduled question session, held under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker Rizvie Salih, saw only MP Prageeth Maduranga in attendance from among the 10 MPs who had filed questions. As a result, the majority of the questions could not be taken up. more..

Sep 25 (DM) It was revealed yesterday that approximately 111 MPs are residing in official housing units at the Madiwela housing scheme, paying a nominal monthly rent of just Rs. 2,000. This information was disclosed in a written response tabled in Parliament by PM Harini Amarasuriya. According to the response, MPs are also required to pay a security deposit of Rs. 2,000, which is refundable upon vacating the more..

Sep 25 (NW) Former SL cricketer Sachithra Senanayake was served indictments under the Prevention of Sports-Related Corruption Act on charges linked to match-fixing, AG’s Dept said. The case was taken up before the Hambantota High Court, where indictments were formally served. The court ordered Senanayake to provide fingerprints and released him on two personal bail bonds of Rs. 1 million each. The charges relate to the LPL matches between Nov. 21–22 in 2020. more..

Sep 25 (Island) Jezeem Jameel, a SL author living in Chichester, England, has burst onto the literary scene with his debut novel The Monsoon of the Covenant, published by Vijitha Yapa Publications. Bold, imaginative and steeped in history, the book dares to ask: what if SL’s most sacred treasure was targeted in a daring theft? The novel unfolds in 1998, a year charged with symbolism as the nation prepared to celebrate 50 years of independence from Britain with Prince Charles as Chief more..

Sep 25 (AD) Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath has held bilateral talks with Ministers of several countries on the sideline of the 80th session of the UNGA. Minister Herath met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives Abdulla Khaleel on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly. The duo reviewed the ongoing cooperation and explored ways to further strengthen close bilateral relations. The Foreign Minister also met the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland, more..

Sep 25 (Island) Pathfinder Foundation (PF) held its inaugural policy dialogue with the Chintan Research Foundation (CRF) of India at the Galle Face Hotel, in Colombo. The discussion centred on the theme Strengthening Economic and Strategic Partnerships for Shared Growth. It assembled an impressive gathering of industry experts, scholars, civil society organisations, and key Sri Lankan officials. PF statement: “Bernard Goonetilleke, Chairman of the PF, and Dr Debajit Palit, more..

Sep 25 (DM) A multi-billion rupee govt tender to supply vehicle number plates is mired in controversy after the two lowest bidders were disqualified on technical grounds, paving the way for the contract to be awarded to the highest bidder at a potential loss of over Rs. 500 million to the state. The move comes as a crisis brews on the roads, with industry sources estimating that over 200,000 vehicles are currently operating without more..

Sep 25 (FT) The Govt is preparing to transform Batticaloa into a hub for tourism and strengthen the national economy. The initiative aims to position the Eastern Province town as a unique tourist destination by capitalising on its geographical advantages, historical significance, and natural beauty. The Govt expects the project to unlock fresh tourism opportunities in the Eastern Province and contribute to broader efforts to diversify Sri Lanka’s tourism offering. more..

Sep 25 (EN) SL exporters collectively have urged the government to delay the removal of SVAT, a tax they have to pay up front when they export before they receive the money from buyers. The exporters will have to pay interest on cash flow given to the state as a result of charging value added tax on local inputs, following the scrapping of the so-called SVAT scheme, which is a tax payment system based on vouchers. The govt has said the existing SVAT will be removed from Oct 1. more..

Sep 25 (AD) Hong Kong police have arrested two women, identified as nationals of India and SL, following a perilous incident during Typhoon Ragasa in which a young child was endangered. The arrests come amid public fury over reckless behaviour during the storm, which had already left a mother and child fighting for their lives in a separate tragedy. The latest incident unfolded on Tuesday afternoon at the waterfront near more..

Sep 25 (NW) To mark the 60th anniversary of the SL Planetarium, the Postal Dept has issued a special set of 10 round-shaped stamps under the theme Wonders of the Universe. The collection, designed by former NASA scientist Dr. Kavan Ratnatunga, featuresthe Pillars creation – Eagle Nebula, A total Solar Eclipse with Corona, Milky Way Black Hole, Andromeda Galaxy, Crab Nebula, Orion Nebula, Jupiter’s Great Red Spot, Stephan’s Quintet, Pleiades open star cluster & Saturn’s Rings. more..

Sep 25 (DM) SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa today highlighted the Daily Mirror's report on the SL Navy's struggles to meet modern maritime standards. MP Rajapaksa told Parliament that the govt must reveal what action has been taken to upgrade the Navy in combating drug smuggling on the seas. He said the Daily Mirror highlited that the SL Navy's technology is outdated and that the technology should be upgraded. The MP said the govt has proposed to reduce Navy's manpower to 40,000 by 2030 more..

Sep 25 (FT) Sustainable food packaging is no longer about simply replacing plastic with paper. The real test lies in creating systems that deliver food safety, preserve shelf life, and meet consumer convenience, all while being environmentally responsible. What matters now is how packaging performs across its entire lifecycle: from raw material sourcing and production to disposal and reuse. That’s where real impact begins. SL is at a critical juncture. With food, agriculture & tourism more..

Sep 25 (FT) The key thing about the first year of the AKD presidency is that its true character and core content were revealed through action and inaction; roads taken and not taken; choices made and options rejected. The AKD presidency revealed its reality in its first year. It showed its soul. President AKD spoke at length about economics at the ceremony to kick-off construction of the Kadawatha-Mirigama segment of the Central Expressway project. This passage is key: more..

Sep 25 (DM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake delivered his maiden address at the General Debate of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. In his speech, the Prez focused on key global issues, including poverty alleviation, the debt burden faced by developing nations, and the fight against drug trafficking. This marks President Dissanayake’s first appearance at the UNGA since assuming office. more..

Sep 25 (NF) It has been revealed that former SLPP local govt candidate Sampath Manamperi has maintained WhatsApp communications with organized criminals Backhoe Saman, Kehelbaddara Padme, and Thambili Lahiru. Police disclosed this information during the suspect’s appearance before the Walasmulla Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. Sampath Manamperi, who was in the custody of the Police Narcotics Bureau under a 7-day detention order, was presented before Magistrate on more..

Sep 25 (DN) Minister Bimal Rathnayake requested the Parliamentary Caucus on Arts and Cultural Affairs to screen the Bollywood film Taare Zameen Par for all the Members of Parliament. The Minister said this yesterday (24) in Parliament during the second reading of the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill that was tabled by Women and Child Affairs Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj, which seeks to criminalize corporal punishment and harmful disciplinary practices against children. more..

Sep 25 (DM) Central Bank kept its benchmark overnight policy rate unchanged at 7.75% at its monetary policy meeting this week, stating the previous easing measures were taking effect and would guide inflation towards its medium-term target of 5% by the middle of next year. Markets had been split ahead of the decision, with some expecting another 25-basis-point cut and others predicting a hold, citing signs of more..

Sep 25 (CT) SL Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) has raised the compensation for Sri Lankan migrant workers who die while employed overseas to Rs 2 million, SLBFE Chairman Koshala Wickramasinghe announced. Wickramasinghe outlined several key measures introduced to better protect and support migrant workers. Among them was the recovery of Rs 234 million, which has been returned to workers who were defrauded through foreign employment scams. more..

Sep 25 (FT) The Finance Ministry yesterday said that it had signed a Euro 8 million ($ 9.4 million) grant agreement with the European Union (EU) to support the country’s sustainable economic recovery through biodiversity conservation and waste management. The $ 9.4 million grant, provided by the European Union, will support a project jointly developed by the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, the Ministry of Environment, and the EU. more..