Oct 3 (NW) Director General of the CIABOC Ranga Dissanayake said that legal action would be filed against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody if the Commission decides to proceed with such a decision. Dissanayake clarified that the decision to prosecute or not under the Bribery Act rests with the three-member Commission, not the Director General. However, once a decision is made, it is his responsibility as DG to file the indictment based on the commission’s recommendation, he noted. more..

Oct 3 (DN) SL’s Australian-based swimmer Akalanka Peiris broke the SL national short course record in the 100m Individual Medley and also finished among the top swimmers in Australia at the Australian National Short Course Swimming Championship in Melbourne. On the opening day, the 25-year-old, who is based in Australia, clocked 55.89 seconds in the 100m Individual Medley, finishing among the top six in the whole of Australia. With this performance, he erased his own SL short course national more..

Oct 3 (CT) Minister Nalinda Jayatissa revealed that a new National Health Policy, aligned with the country’s needs for the next decade, is currently being drafted. He added that the main health plan for SL is being formulated based on policies developed thus far. Dr. Jayatissa, yesterday, pointed out that SL’s health service is being steered with clear targets and emphasised that work is currently underway to draft a new health policy in line more..

Oct 3 (DN) Nuwan Indika Gamage won Sri Lanka its first medal, a bronze, in the Men’s Long Jump T44 at the 13th World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, achieving a leap of 6.46 metres, held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, India, yesterday. Nuwan set his seasonal best against a strong field of world-class athletes, including Olympic and World Championship medalists. Coached by Y.K. Kularatna, he described it as a superb accomplishment for the country. more..

Oct 3 (CT) Former State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa, yesterday, withdrew the revision petition he had filed at the Colombo High Court seeking bail. Rajapaksa had filed the petition after being remanded by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court under Public Property Act, following a directive from the CIABOC. He had sought bail, claiming his detention was unjustified. The matter was heard before Colombo HC Judge Manjula Thilakaratne. Representing Rajapaksa, more..

Oct 3 (FT) The Commonwealth Union (CU) has announced the appointment of Alston Koch, internationally recognised artist, award-winning entertainer and global influencer, as its Envoy to Australia and the Pacific Region. Koch will represent the Commonwealth Union and promote its objectives in line with the People’s Charter of the Commonwealth. His work will focus on strengthening regional collaboration, advancing the Commonwealth Union’s mission of inclusivity more..

Oct 3 (CT) Sri Lanka will look to bounce back and capitalise on home advantage when they take on defending champions Australia in their second group match of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Saturday (4). The co-hosts had a disappointing start to their campaign, suffering a defeat at the hands of India in their tournament opener in Guwahati. Despite flashes of brilliance, SL’s batting collapse in the middle order cost them a chance at victory. more..

Oct 3 (TM) The Election Commission (EC) stated that if the Provincial Council (PC) Elections are to be held after a fresh delimitation process, it would be better to commence the process at the earliest possible time, as it takes considerable effort and nearly a year to complete. The PC Elections have been stalled for years due to a legal issue stemming from an amendment introduced by the UNF led Govt during 2015-2020. more..

Oct 3 (FT) The publisher of leading business magazine LMD, Media Services, unveiled the top 20 line-up in the forthcoming LMD 100 annual edition. Hayleys takes the top spot in the 32nd edition of SL’s pioneering listed company rankings for financial year 2024/25. With a consolidated revenue exceeding Rs. 492 billion, the leading conglomerate secures top spot in SL’s version of the Fortune 500 for the second consecutive year – it also helmed the rankings back in 2020/21. more..

Oct 3 (FT) SL Hospitality Graduates’ Association (SLHGA), the largest body of professional hoteliers, marked a historic milestone with the appointment of its first-ever woman President Dr. Gitanjali Chakravarthy, a trailblazer who has been shaping SL hospitality for decades. From her beginnings as a Senior Lecturer at SL Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management to leading world-class properties such as Hilton Yala Resort and Uga Ulagalla, Dr. Chakravarthy has seamlessly combined more..

Oct 3 (ST) The long-delayed Aruwakkalu Sanitary Landfill in Puttalam, promoted as a long-term solution to Colombo’s garbage crisis, is now expected to begin operations by the end of this year, with full-scale disposal likely from early 2026, says Urban Development Ministry’s Solid Waste Management Project Director W.H. Dias. He said that efforts were underway to resolve the final technical barrier at Kelaniya Transfer Station, more..

Oct 3 (DM) Vega, the pioneering electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer behind Sri Lanka’s first supercar, is developing the nation’s first autonomous vehicle, leveraging advanced Artificial Intelligence and robotics. The announcement was made by Dr. Harsha Subasinghe, the founder and CEO of Vega’s parent company CodeGen, during a panel discussion at the National AI Expo and Conference 2025 in Colombo, organised by the Ministry of Digital Economy and SLT-Mobitel. more..

Oct 3 (FT) SL Shippers’ Council (SLSC) urged the Govt to urgently reconsider the abolition of the Simplified Value Added Tax (SVAT) scheme as it would erode export competitiveness and investor confidence, deepen the mistrust between businesses and the State and threaten supply chains and livelihoods. “While we commend the ongoing efforts to reform and modernise our taxation policies, it is imperative to carefully evaluate the unintended consequences that this change more..

Oct 3 (FT) Sri Lanka’s creative and craft sector has marked a landmark moment with the launch of SEVA, a transdisciplinary cultural diplomacy project uniting international artistry with SL heritage. Beyond its artistic merit, SEVA showcases the untapped trade potential of SL’s artisan economy, an area poised to grow into a high-value export sector and attract new investment. An outcome of the EU–SL Matchmaking Program, delivered with the SL Export Development Board (EDB), more..

Oct 3 (FT) Telbedde Estate, managed by Balangoda Plantations, has emerged as the Overall Gold Award Winner at the prestigious Ceylon Specialty Estate Tea of the Year 2025. The award, presented by the SL Tea Board in collaboration with the Colombo Tea Traders Association and Colombo Brokers’ Association, celebrates excellence in single-origin Ceylon teas. Telbedde Estate’s Orange Pekoe 1 (OP1) tea stood out from a competitive field, judged for its exceptional quality, unique character more..

Oct 3 (FT) Export Development Board (EDB) said that it was moving to finalising the National Export Development Plan (NEDP) 2025–2029 by November, with the aim of sharpening trade competitiveness, building stronger regional and global linkages, and positioning exports as a driver of sustainable growth even as US Prez Donald Trump is upending the world trade order. The EDB, working with the ADB, has begun more..

Oct 3 (Island) From the misty montane forests around Adam’s Peak, the Kelani Ganga tumbles down rocky headwaters, gathering tributaries before rolling past rubber estates, tea plantations, shanty towns and finally SL’s bustling commercial capital. For centuries this 145-kilometre river has been the country’s lifeline, supplying water, fish, fertile soils and cultural meaning. Today it sustains more than six million people in the Colombo District alone. But the river is in trouble. more..

Oct 3 (GV) Elders are the keepers of memory, wisdom and experience – the living bridge between the past and the present. They are recognised under int'l human rights frameworks, particularly Madrid Int'l Plan of Action on Ageing (2002), which guides govts in ensuring health, participation and security for older persons. The global community has recognised that ageing populations require focused policy responses, especially since the proportion of elderly people worldwide is rapidly increasing. more..

Oct 3 (Island) The NPP govt is in overdrive to probe all crimes that shook the country during the Rajapaksa regime. Minister Bimal Rathnayake has claimed that the Rajapaksas ran what he describes as a crime raj. He that hath an ill-name is said to be half-hanged; the Rajapaksas will have their work cut out to counter such allegations against them. Rathnayake’s claim may have struck a responsive chord with the public, given the sheer number of unsolved crimes during Rajapaksa regime, more..

Oct 3 (ST) What are your dreams after graduation? I asked Shehan, a final-year uni student. We were having a personal chat while he was looking for an internship—a requirement for his final year. In just a couple of months, Shehan would finish his degree and leave university. Shehan came across as smart and focused. He wasn’t just dreaming of a better future—he was actively planning for it. His CV said he was 26 years old, which did not surprise me as a bit old to still be in university. more..

Oct 3 (TM) Despite a Cabinet decision taken in January to upgrade the country’s cancer treatment infrastructure with high-quality radiotherapy equipment, regulatory holdups have delayed the provision of optimum care to cancer patients even as cases grow. As per an agreement in 2013 for the supply of 14 linear accelerator (linac) machines under two phases, to be utilised for cancer treatments, the first phase of the project more..

Oct 3 (DM) Aiming to attract 5 million tourists by 2030, SL is striving hard to become one of the world’s leading tourist attractions with everything in one place for travellers or tourists. From golden beaches, blue seas with a variety of marine life to misty mountains, wildlife, historically important archaeological sites, SL has a golden egg in its platter. However, adventurous trails are still largely missing from the list, and only a few tourists would have heard about Pekoe Trail, more..

Oct 3 (CT) As a country brimming with natural resources and impeccable natural beauty, SL has taken measures — at least on paper — to protect its environment and resources. Perhaps the biggest threat to the environment in the 20th and 21st Centuries is the use of plastic and polythene. SL, too, has implemented bans, ratified int'l conventions, become a signatory to global environmental pledges, and is practising the core principles of plastic and polythene use reduction: reduce, reuse, more..

Oct 3 (SO) SL covers just 65,610 square kilometres, yet for such a small island, its soil has been stained with the blood of countless innocents for decades while justice has long remained elusive for their families and loved ones. Ragihar Manoharan, an unassuming young man from Trincomalee, was one such innocent who lost his life in a senseless killing, allegedly carried out by a group of Security Force members way back in Jan 2006. more..

Oct 3 (TM) The global demand for technology, innovation, and automation is growing by leaps and bounds, and so is the rush to supply the ever-evolving technology landscape with the raw materials that are needed to sustain that demand and speed. However, mother earth has finite resources, and human thirst for its development drive, produces unsustainable expectations on this planet’s resources and the vital ecosystems which keep our world afloat. more..

Oct 3 (DM) Sri Lanka, having endured a severe financial crisis that culminated in sovereign default in 2022, is now at a critical juncture. The country is under the care of the IMF, which offers some breathing space. But this is by no means a permanent cure. The real challenge lies in whether Sri Lanka can generate sustainable growth and become a prosperous country. The reason for the current stalemate is not purely external. The govt’s own policy orientation is also to blame. more..

Oct 2 (AD) It will be mandatory for manufacturers to obtain the Sri Lanka Standards (SLS) certification for plastic items such as feeding bottles and lunch boxes used by schoolchildren before releasing them to the market, the Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe has announced. The regulation will come into effect from April 01, 2026. Minister further stated that from April 01, 2026, the sale of products that do not comply with the prescribed standards will be strictly prohibited. The Minister noted that more..

Oct 2 (CT) The Colombo High Court, yesterday (1), ordered that the next pre-trial conference in the case filed against former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and members of his family be held on 15 October. The case, filed by the CIABOC, relates to the alleged unlawful acquisition of nearly Rs 98 million and offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. When the matter was taken up before High Court Judge Mohamed Mihail, the defendants were present in Court. more..

Oct 2 (CT) Govt intends to issue a Gazette Notification imposing a mandatory fee on all polythene shopping bags, including those provided at supermarkets, effective 1 Nov 2025. This decision was communicated to Supreme Court yesterday (1) by the Minister of Environment and other respondents. The announcement came during the hearing of a Fundamental Rights Petition filed by Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ). more..

Oct 2 (FT) Govt is to fast-track passport processing for overseas applicants, more efficient handling of dual citizenship requests, and expanding digitalisation to streamline administrative procedures. This was discussed at a meeting held by Acting Minister Arun Hemachandra at a high-level joint meeting bringing together senior officials of Ministry’s Consular Division and Dept of Immigration and Emigration to review and enhance key aspects of SL’s consular and immigration services. more..

Oct 2 (AD) There is a noticeable decrease in the number of children being placed under probation when compared to previous years, according to the Dept of Probation and Child Care Services. Assistant Commissioner Darshani Perera of the dept noted that the Western Province has the highest number of child probation cases. She made these remarks while participating in a media briefing held by Health Promotion Bureau. Assistant Commissioner Darshani Perera noted in comparison to more..