Sep 22 (DM) The father of Vihanga Tejantha, a 20-year-old killed in the 2019 Easter Sunday bomb attack at Colombo’s Shangri-La Hotel, has called for justice at the 60th session of the UNHRC. Speaking on behalf of the Centre for Society and Religion and Franciscans International, Suraj Nilang urged a thorough, independent and speedy investigation to hold all perpetrators accountable. He also called for full economic, social and psychological support for the victims’ families and the injured. more..

Sep 22 (AD) Colombo High Court has ordered that the case filed by the Attorney General against Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa, and his grandmother, Daisy Forrest, over the alleged unlawful acquisition of assets worth approximately Rs. 73 million, be recalled on October 15. Yoshitha Rajapaksa and his grandmother, Daisy Forrest, who are named as defendants, appeared in court when the case was called. The Court subsequently ordered that the case be taken up on October 15, more..

Sep 22 (CT) Ministry of Transport has issued a comprehensive set of new regulations detailing the exact procedure Police officers must follow when testing drivers suspected of driving under the influence of drugs. The new guidelines, which came into effect on 1 Sept, have been issued under Section 151 of the Motor Traffic Act and are aimed at strengthening road safety and ensuring a standardised approach to dealing with drug-impaired driving. more..

Sep 22 (EN) India–SL Foundation (ISLF) has approved several new proposals received by the Colombo and New Delhi Secretariats at its 40th meeting held in Colombo recently. “The Board reviewed the progress of ongoing projects and approved several new proposals received by the Colombo and New Delhi Secretariats across diverse sectors including culture, education, health, environment, agriculture, and capacity building,” the High Commission of India, Colombo said in a statement. more..

Sep 22 (NW) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayaka will undertake an official visit to Japan from 27-30 Sept 2025, at the invitation of the Govt of Japan. Prez is scheduled to have an audience with His Majesty the Emperor of Japan and will hold a summit meeting with the Japanese PM on a wide range of issues of mutual interest. During the visit, President Dissanayaka will address a Business Forum attended by high-level representatives of key Japanese businesses and investors in Tokyo, more..

Sep 22 2 (TM) A major cyberattack is suspected to be the cause of widespread flight disruptions at several airports in Sri Lanka and Europe yesterday (20). In SL, the Border Control Computer System at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake was down for over two hours yesterday, from approximately 1.45 p.m. to 4.15 p.m. This outage forced airport officials to revert to manual clearance procedures for all arriving and departing passengers. more..

Sep 22 2 (ANI) Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea of actor Jacqueline Fernandez against a Delhi High Court order refusing to quash money laundering proceedings against her in the Rs 200 crore case involving alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar. Bench gave liberty to Fernandez to approach the court at an appropriate stage. On the request of senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Fernandez, that the observations made by the High Court in the judgment should not influence the trial, more..

Sep 22 (DM) A hotel owned by Ms. Ajantha Herath, wife of former North Central Province Governor Maheepala Herath, has been ordered to be demolished after it was found to be illegally constructed within the Perimiyankulama Tank Reserve. The order was issued by Central Nuwaragam Province Divisional Secretary Sudarshana Dissanayake, who confirmed that the buildings, including the hotel and several adjoining structures, occupy a 60-perch plot of protected land. According to authorities, more..

Sep 22 (FT) To truly understand the story of a nation, one need not look further than the pulse of its stock exchange. It is a living, breathing entity that discounts the future, processes the present, and is invariably haunted by the ghosts of the past. For 16 tumultuous years, the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) has been the most honest narrator of SL’s modern saga—a tale of euphoric triumph, devastating despair and now become the forward barometer of Sri Lanka’s economic rebirth. more..

Sep 22 (FT) Last week, Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake, unveiling SL’s National Cyber Protection Strategy 2025-9, declared open the National Cyber Security Operations Centre or NCSOC, an outfit brought into existence by the work done by SL Computer Emergency Team or CERT and the Ministry of Digital Economy with technical support from the World Bank.1 The objective of this outfit has been to improve the preparedness of state institutions, strengthen the capacity of CERT, protect institutions more..

Sep 22 (SO) Minister Kumara Jayakody said the Govt is reviewing trade union demands while fully safeguarding the State-sector status and rights of CEB employees. He said that some of the protests appeared to be politically motivated and did not reflect the views of the majority of workers. About 25 of the CEB’s 42 trade unions have launched demonstrations, saying the restructuring would undermine workers’ protections. more..

Sep 22 (CT) Trade unions of the CEB announced that they will intensify their ongoing trade union action from midnight yesterday by refraining from participating in procurement processes and tender procedures. This move marks the next step in the unions’ campaign against what they describe as illegal proposals in CEB restructuring process. “We began a work-to-rule campaign from midnight on 4 Sept, demanding solutions to 16 issues, including halting irregular restructuring proposals, more..

Sep 22 (ST) Police Chief Priyantha Weerasooriya has instructed his officers to take steps to accurately identify personnel assigned to VIP events in order to thwart attempts by criminals or radical elements to carry out unlawful acts while disguised in security force uniforms. In an internal circular to senior officers this week, the IGP notes that considering current threats to VIP security, it is likely that a criminal or violent radical dressed in a uniform of the tri-forces, SL Police, or other agencies more..

Sep 22 (FT) UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, making his first public appearance since his arrest and remand, on Saturday urged Opposition parties to form a united front to resist what he described as a looming constitutional dictatorship. He made the appeal at the UNP’s 79th anniversary convention, calling the gathering the beginning of a broad democratic campaign. “Today, we are not talking of the party, we are more..

Sep 22 (DM) Two persons have been arrested following an attack on six German tourists at a tourist hotel in Unawatuna last night. Incident reportedly occurred during a party involving three couples. After the initial altercation, the German tourists had left the hotel on two motorcycles and a three-wheeler. The suspects had pursued the tourists in a car, blocked their path, and attacked them. Victims reported the incident to the Unawatuna Tourist Police, who arrested more..

Sep 22 (DM) Russia remains open for cooperation with SL in the development of nuclear energy, but will not impose anything in this regard since it is the sovereign right of the country, Russian Ambassador Levan Dzhagaryan said. In response to a question during an interaction with the press, the Ambassador on Thursday said he is seeking a meeting with the SL Energy Minister to discuss the proposal for the setting up of a nuclear power plant. “The ball is in your court, as I always say,” he said. more..

Sep 22 (AD) An Extraordinary Gazette notification has been issued by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, declaring all services connected to the supply of electricity as essential public services. Exercising the powers vested in him under Section 2 of the Essential Public Services Act, No. 61 of 1979, the President has taken steps to designate electricity-related services as essential to the life of the community. The order, issued yesterday, states that services provided by any Public Corp, more..

Sep 22 (TM) CIABOC has decided to launch an investigation into the alleged misuse of officers attached to Ministerial Security Division (MSD). Move comes following a complaint lodged by Citizens Power Against Bribery, Corruption, and Waste (CPABCW) President Kamantha Thushara on 3 Oct 2024. CIABOC has informed him that the matter will be investigated. Thushara said that, as a policy, security is assigned only after a proper assessment of threat levels, more..

Sep 22 (FT) Sri Lanka must gradually trim its bloated public sector via well-targeted attrition policies focusing on the long term, a recent World Bank report has suggested. The State pays public employees less than private sector peers and less than comparable economies, but employs more of them and should gradually trim or rightsize the public sector, World Bank’s Sri Lanka Public Finance Review said. more..

Sep 22 (EN) SL’s bank interest rates have continued to edge up after a rate cut in May 2025, amid a strong economic recovery made possible by the stability provided by the central bank through past deflationary policy as well as stable govt policies. The weighted average new fixed deposit rate fell to 6.62% in May and climbed to 6.85% in June and 6.90% in July. However, banks are now mobilizing 12-month deposits at 7.75% and above to finance strong credit demand & economic recovery. more..

Sep 22 (NW) Minister of Transport Bimal Rathnayake says the govt plans to recruit 450 drivers and 300 conductors to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), including female staff. “Interviews are currently underway, and this includes female recruits as well. Beyond recruitment, we must ensure adequate protection and sanitary facilities for women before deploying them to depots,” he said. The initial plan is to assign female staff to school buses in Colombo district, rolled out in phases. more..

Sep 22 (AD) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is scheduled to leave for the United States today. During this visit, President Dissanayake is expected to attend the 80th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA). The President will address the UN General Assembly on Wednesday (24) at 3:15 p.m. During the visit, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is also scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with the Secretary-General of the United Nations and several world leaders. more..

Sep 22 (Island) Cricket, as ever, has a wicked sense of humour. SL had rolled over Bangladesh with ease in the group stage of the Asia Cup and Bangladesh were banking on them to topple Afghanistan too, to sneak into the second round. That wish was granted, but in the cruel twist that sport so often delivers, it was Bangladesh who then turned the tables in the Super Four, leaving the former champions playing catch-up in the race for the final. The pre-tournament chatter had been all about SL’s batting: more..

Sep 22 (DM) SL’s fisheries sector, crop cultivation and animal husbandry see an unstable path with some sectors seeing a shift in production for the second quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year due to adverse weather and market conditions, according to DCS. SL’s marine fishing and marine aquaculture sector has seen a drop in growth rate of -5.2% of the GDP, and the freshwater sector has seen a decline in more..

Sep 22 (FT) Vidullanka PLC announced the commissioning of the 3 MW solar plant, constructed by its subsidiary Vidul Matara Solar Power Ltd. on Friday. The new plant holds an installed capacity of 3 MW with the ability to export approximately 5.5 GWh of clean energy annually to the national grid. This milestone brings Vidullanka’s total portfolio to 24 operational power plants with a combined installed capacity of 66 MW, further contributing to the achievement of renewable energy targets. more..

Sep 22 (FT) All three global ratings agencies have lifted Sri Lanka’s sovereign ratings out of default, confirming the country’s recovery phase and placing the ratings in the speculative grade. S&P Global Ratings on Friday raised Sri Lanka’s long- and short-term foreign currency ratings to ‘CCC+/C’ from ‘SD/SD’. Fitch Ratings had upgraded the sovereign to ‘CCC+’ from ‘RD’ on 20 Dec 2024, while Moody’s raised its rating to Caa1 from Ca on 23 Dec 2024. Despite the upgrades, more..

Sep 22 (FT) First Capital Research (FCR) said SL’s fragile external balances, with reserves rising only slightly to $ 6.2 billion in August from $ 6.1 billion in July and with projected outflows of $ 513 million in August and $ 611 million over the next three months, are likely to keep the Central Bank of SL (CBSL) cautious at its Policy Review on Wednesday (24), ahead of the 2026 Budget in November. FCR placed a 50% probability on rates being left unchanged, while assigning a 40% chance of more..

Sep 22 (DN) Sri Lanka had to settle for fourth place at the Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Sevens Series Round 1 in China yesterday after losing their third-place playoff to the hosts in a thrilling encounter that ended 22-17. The game was locked at 17-all in the dying moments, but China’s fullback scored a decisive late try to secure victory for the home side. China dominated the opening half, going ahead 7-5 in the fourth minute before stretching the margin to 12-5 by the sixth minute. more..

Sep 22 (TM) The Govt is still assessing the requirement for 700 Power Distribution Units (PDUs) under the SL Unique Digital Identity (SLUDI) project, months after an initial tender was floated and later cancelled. According to Ministry of Digital Economy Acting Secretary Waruna Sri Dhanapala, an expert committee has now reviewed the power distribution needs and a fresh tender will be called only if the equipment is more..

Sep 22 (FT) The Siddhalepa family gathered in grand style at the Monarch Imperial, Sri J'pura Kotte, for the Siddhalepa Golden Night – team get-together 2025. Hosted by the popular actor and presenter Vishwa Lanka, with music by the renowned band Freeze and performances by Kanchana Anuradhi and Lahiru Perera, the evening was filled with joy, glamour, and togetherness. The program began with a heartfelt tribute to the late Chairman, followed by an inspiring address from present Chairman, more..

Sep 22 (FT) Moose Clothing Company has opened its first-ever retail store at the iconic One Galle Face Mall in Colombo. The opening welcomed the entire Moose team, board of directors, and well-wishers to celebrate this significant milestone. Designed with care and intention, the store represents more than a retail space—it’s a full brand experience brought to life. Customers can now explore the complete Moose collection under one roof, including men’s, women’s, and unisex clothing. more..