Sep 23 (ST) SL is open to obtaining technical assistance through the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), including that of forensic experts, to expedite investigations into past crimes in the country, a senior govt source said yesterday. Such cooperation would include assistance to identify the victims of mass graves being exhumed in several areas of the country, Minister Vijitha Herath said. more..

Sep 23 (Island) On the invitation of the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, three representatives from UN Global Compact Network SL (Network SL) will participate in the 2025 United Nations Private Sector Forum (PSF), a high-level roundtable that brings together a select group of global private sector leaders to drive forward sustainable economic growth as a high level convening during the UNGA Week in New York. Representing SL at this year’s Forum are: more..

Sep 23 (CI) Let's cool things down a little. Two high-profile, highly-charged matches have happened. Some hands have not found the company of other hands at times around cricket matches where hands and other hands are supposed to find the company of hands. We are not naming names, or specifying political indiscretions. But at least on Tuesday, there should be some peace. Perhaps even some love. Pakistan vs SL tends to be borderline sappy. Both these teams also have some pride to more..

Sep 23 (FT) Veefin Group, a global leader in working capital technology solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with IWS Holdings in SL to usher in a new era of digital transformation for the country’s financial institutions. Veefin Group offers a one-of-its-kind working capital technology platform, each component of which offers modular and scalable solutions that help businesses optimise and manage working capital better. The Veefin product suite consists of supply chain finance, more..

Sep 23 (FT) CPA Australia recently emphasised that the accounting profession has never been more valuable than today as it provides independent, verifiable, auditable information that can be relied on by the people and other stakeholders. “The accounting profession has never been more valuable because we are the one profession that provides independent and verifiable information that can be relied on. So in times of misinformation, misinterpretation, we are the one profession more..

Sep 23 (DM) The consumer prices, as measured by the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI), climbed 1.5% in August from a year earlier, accelerating from July’s 0.7%. The change reflects the lingering impact of lower prices seen at the same time last year. Everyday items such as vegetables, fresh fish, coconuts, green chilies, rice and salt saw price drops, though some food items, including chicken, dried fish and coconut oil, more..

Sep 23 (Island) A toned-down UN resolution on SL now appears likely at the current session of the UNHRC. Govt would prefer that the periodic scrutiny of its human rights record be wound down. The govt would much rather have this thrice yearly procedure come to a permanent end without having to provide answers to the reports of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and to member countries of the UNHRC. However, the international human rights community is not prepared to let SL slip off more..

Sep 23 (Island) Opposition has got an opportunity to go on the offensive on the propaganda front. It is all out to inflict maximum possible damage on the govt as part of its strategy to recover lost ground. JVP/NPP is defending itself like a kickboxer under a barrage of blows in a ruthless contest guided by no rules. The propaganda battle between the NPP and its rivals has got down and dirty. Opposition politicians are making the most of their JVP/NPP counterparts’ asset declarations more..

Sep 23 (GV) JVP’s inimitable general secretary Tilvin Silva was generally the final speaker at the NPP’s main prez election campaign rallies. And he would always end his speech with a poem from the JVP’s past. The words were an emotive appeal to rag-clad masses with stomachs burning from hunger and hearts burning from grief, exhorting them to rise up, rise up, your turn has come. Those combative words suited the times. By Sept 2024, almost a quarter of Sri Lankans were living in poverty more..

Sep 23 (CT) Minister Harshana Nanayakkara’s candid remarks on the need for reforms in the country’s legal and justice system for fairer and more equitable treatment of women could be seen as a positive sign that despite existing challenges, there is still hope for a better future for women throughout SL. Nanayakkara shared words acknowledging the existing challenges for the practical implementation of existing laws and barriers that impede the equitable access to justice which more..

Sep 23 (SO) The Central Expressway, once a textbook of corruption scandals, delays, and broken promises, is now being constructed as a national necessity rather than a political trophy, representing a major step in upgrading the country’s national road networks, reducing travel times, boosting economic activity, and enhancing regional integration. The project recommenced last week, with Prez more..

Sep 23 (DM) Anura Kumara Dissanayake, known popularly as Anura and “AKD”, won the Prez election of Sept 21, 2024, in what was described as a gigantic leap. From 418,553 (3.16%) votes in the 2019 Prez election, AKD increased his vote tally to 5,634,915 (42.31%) in the 2024 Prez poll. In the second count of votes with Sajith Premadasa, AKD obtained 5,740,179 (55.89%) votes. Dissanayake was sworn in as SL’s ninth executive president on 23 Sept 2024 in a simple ceremony at more..

Sep 23 (DM) Reminding us of the Latin phrase disce aut discede (Learn or depart) which is also the motto of the Royal College, Colombo, Minister Bimal Rathnayake in a recent meeting warned officials of the Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) to do or depart. He pointed out the appalling conditions of the amenities in trains in the country. He questioned why the relevant official cannot repair the windows and toilets and replace the broken fans in compartments, despite his ministry more..

Sep 23 (TM) SL’s electricity sector is once again under scrutiny, as the recurrent challenge of securing affordable and reliable fuel for thermal power plants comes back into focus. Despite legal reforms aimed at breaking the CPC's monopoly, the CEB continues to face rising generation costs, unclear fuel agreements, and regulatory pressure to adopt transparent procurement practices, it is learnt. more..

Sep 23 (TM) In an increasingly dynamic world, the growing global focus on the Indian Ocean with the rise of Asian giants, has an undeniable impact on Sri Lanka as a coastal State. Given the centrality of the island to all maritime activity in the Indian Ocean, consequently to global lines of communication, and Sri Lanka’s long-recognised foreign policy stance of being friends of all – make us the ideal venue to discuss issues pertaining to the Indian Ocean region. more..

Sep 23 (ST) What is all this hullabaloo about Marxist JVP Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe being rich, as if it’s a crime to be rich in this country? Though JVP Minister Samantha Vidyaratna, himself a relatively rich man as shown in his asset declaration form for the years 2023 and 2024, said at an election rally last year, If any politician is rich, he is either a scoundrel or a rogue, it’s no crime if he had earned it from the honest sweat of his brow. One thing must be proudly said of this red-shirted brigade: more..

Sep 22 (DM) Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne today endorsed the certificate on the National Audit (Amendment) Bill, the Communications Dept of Parliament said. The National Audit (Amendment) Bill which was presented to Parliament on July 8, 2025 was passed in Parliament with amendments on Sept 11, 2025. This National Audit (Amendment) Bill seeks to amend the National Audit Act, No. 19 of 2018. The main objective of these amendments are to provide provisions for more..

Sep 22 (DM) The police today denied issuing a letter which is being circulated on social media, called Attn: The Alleged Victim dated Sept 20, 2025. The statement said the letter currently circulating on social media, claiming to have been issued under the signature of the IGP, is completely false and has been fabricated. Police said in a statement that the fake document falsely alleges that the IGP has instructed the Bureau for the Investigation of Abuse of Children & Women more..

Sep 22 (DM) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasised that the Govt will always stand for the country’s energy sovereignty, making it clear that there is no requirement whatsoever to entrust the power sector to private institutions.vHe said that ensuring energy sovereignty is vital for SL’s economic growth, national security and independence. What the Govt seeks is not privatisation but the elimination of inefficiencies within the existing institutional framework, more..

Sep 22 (CT) Ministry of Digital Economy announced that steps are underway to abolish additional charges imposed on debit and credit card payments. Preliminary discussions have already been held with the Ministry of Finance, Central Bank, and the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) to assess the proposal and its potential financial implications. Talks also focused on developing mechanisms to offset the costs currently passed on to consumers when using cards for transactions. more..

Sep 22 (DM) The CID today informed Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga Bodaragama that out of 10,000 gold items believed to have belonged to the LTTE and discovered in camps, illegal banks and buildings in the Northern and Eastern Provinces during the humanitarian operation and thereafter sent to the National Gem and Jewellery Authority on court orders, 6,000 items have now been handed over to the Central Bank of SL. The court had earlier directed the National Gem and Jewellery Authority to examine more..

Sep 22 (AD) Minister Ananda Wijepala has claimed that certain politicians in the Southern Province are allegedly connected to drug trafficking and organized criminal networks. He stated that this information is emerging based on intelligence reports and tips received from the general public. Minister further noted that the criminal underworld and drug networks have expanded as a result of past political culture, but emphasized that the current govt is now more..

Sep 22 (DM) A 54-year-old man who had allegedly been posing as a doctor for nearly two decades was arrested in Egoda Uyana last evening. Suspect, a resident of Delduwa, Wadduwa, had been operating a medical centre named Sahana Seva near Sri Thalarukkharama Viharaya. Police said he had been treating patients by fraudulently using the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) registration number belonging to another doctor. Investigations also led to the discovery of a stock of unlicensed medicines at the centre. more..

Sep 22 (AM) Colombo Additional Magistrate Oshadhi Mahaarachchi today ordered former MP Sajin de Vass Gunawardena to submit in writing, by 16 Dec, any reasons for the non-payment of Rs. 36,975,959 in personal income tax. The case was filed by the Commissioner General of Inland Revenue over allegations that Gunawardena failed to pay income tax due for the years 2010, 2011 & 2012. When the case was called yesterday (21), Gunawardena, who is currently out on bail, was present in court. more..

Sep 22 (NW) Sri Lanka has been withdrawn from the Netball World Youth Cup 2025 in Gibraltar after failing to secure visas in time, forcing the team to forfeit all of its group stage matches. World Netball announced Sunday that both Sri Lanka and Zambia had been removed from the tournament due to unresolved matters surrounding their participation. As a result, their scheduled fixtures have been recorded as forfeits, with opponents awarded two points in line with competition rules. more..

Sep 22 (AD) The process of assigning employees of the CEB to four newly established, fully state-owned companies — established under the implementation of the Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Act — has now officially commenced, the Ministry of Energy stated. Accordingly, a group of employees of the CEB has taken steps to submit letters expressing their willingness to be affiliated with these newly formed institutions, according to a statement from the Energy Ministry. more..

Sep 22 (AD) A total of 245 kg of heroin and 380 kg of crystal methamphetamine or commonly known as ‘Ice’ have been recovered from three lorries in Tangalle today. Additionally, five pistols and a T-56 assault rifle have also been seized. Police discovered three lorries that contained a large stock of narcotics, including ‘Ice’ and heroin in Seenimodara, Tangalle, earlier today. The discovery was made this morning, when police found the bodies of two individuals more..

Sep 22 (EN) Sri Lanka has seen an increase in traffic fine payments since GovPay, the state digital payment platform, was implemented in the Western Province, an official involved in the initiative has said. “Traffic fine payments via GovPay continue to climb, with yesterday recording the highest volume since the Western Province went live,” Harsha Purasinghe, Board Director of ICTA, said. GovPay lets citizens and businesses make digital payments for govt services more..

Sep 22 (FT) Colombo once again became the focal point of regional tourism dialogue last Friday, as the Connect & Conversations forum of the South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) 2025 returned to the city after six years. The forum, held at Cinnamon Grand Colombo, saw tourism leaders and policymakers from across the region call for a united South Asian approach to position the region as one of the world’s premier travel destinations. SATA Vice President Suraj Khan underscored the forum’s collaborative spirit. more..

Sep 22 (DM) NPP govt led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has now completed a year into its tenure. It is now at a critical juncture where people watch whether its campaign rhetoric meets delivery on the ground. The NPP was swept into office on a wave of anti-establishment sentiments that arose in the wake of the 2022 economic crisis. People rejected the two key political forces that had called the shots in SL since independence and installed Prez Dissanayake in office more..

Sep 22 (DM) Education Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya assured that the current govt has no intention of reducing religious education or aesthetic subjects in schools. Minister made this remark during a discussion held at the Education Ministry, following inquiries by members of the Buddha Sasana Task Force regarding the contents of the Buddhism textbook under the new syllabus. Responding to concerns, the Director of the Religion and Values Branch explained that under more..

Sep 22 (DM) The ongoing shortage of medicines in the country is the result of procurement delays and not financial difficulties, Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. Minister said procurement processes for importing medicines have already been initiated, and the required stocks are expected to arrive after November. “Some medicines are not available in the private market or in pharmacies. We do not allow registration with unlimited pricing during the drug registration process. more..