Nov 14 (TM) Ceylon Teachers’ Services Union (CTSU), which is affiliated with the JVP – the main constituent Party of the NPP Govt – has stated that it also supports the view that school hours should continue to be from 7.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. CTSU President Dhammika Alahapperuma said that the Union had met with the Education Ministry officials including its Secretary and presented its proposal on the matter. “We are also of the view that the school time should be from 7.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. more..

Nov 14 (EN) Ceylon Tobacco Company said its volumes were down in the Sept 2025 quarter from a year ago, in the wake of higher taxes in 2025 which led to a price increase. Turnover grew to 52.79 bil rupees in the September quarter from 52.152 bil rupees last year, with taxes rising to 36.45 bil rupees from 36.22 bil rupees. Net revenue grew to 16.33 bil rupees from 15.932 bil rupees. CTC said its improved profit before tax to 13.73 bil rupees from 12.88 bil rupees, due to cost controls. more..

Nov 14 (FT) The much-anticipated Budget Seminar 2026, organised by Institute of Chartered Accountants of SL (CA SL), brought together leading voices in finance, policy, and taxation for a comprehensive analysis of the govt’s fiscal plan. The event, held on 8 Nov, at the CA SL Auditorium, highlighted budget’s potential to drive sustainable economic recovery while fostering critical dialogue on key implementation challenges. more..

Nov 14 (FT) Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa presented Sri Lanka as a country ready to claim its place on the global stage in tourism, trade, investment and innovation at the SLIM World Marketing Forum 2025. Delivering an energetic and forward-looking address to international gathering of marketing professionals, he highlighted the country’s rapid economic recovery and its unique strengths as a global brand. Premadasa described Sri Lanka as an island of everlasting wonder where more..

Nov 14 (DN) SL’s opener Pathum Nissanka has reached a career-best No. 3 in the latest ICC Men’s T20I Batting Rankings, earning 779 rating points. Nissanka now trails only India’s Abhishek Sharma, who continues to top the table, and England’s Phil Salt, who holds the second spot. Experienced opener Kusal Janith Perera has also made progress, rising two places to No. 7 in the same rankings. Meanwhile, Wanindu Hasaranga impressed in the first ODI against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, more..

Nov 14 (ST) The Court of Appeal (CA) has issued a writ preventing Udapalatha Divisional Secretary Athma Dilrukshi Jayaratne from interfering or obstructing the Ambuluwawa cable car project. The CA also ordered the Divisional Secretary to pay Rs 100,000 as legal costs from her personal funds to the petitioner company, Amber Adventure (Pvt) Ltd. It ruled that she had overstepped her authority to maliciously obstruct the project, being constructed with foreign investment, more..

Nov 14 (NW) Authorities have confirmed that 15 out of 82 SL fugitives wanted under INTERPOL Red Notices, including for murder and other serious crimes, are currently residing in the UAE, it was reported. Citing a senior police official, that UAE security agencies have notified INTERPOL of the presence of these individuals and are reportedly monitoring them closely. Among them is Lalith Kannangara, a notorious drug trafficker linked to organized crime, who was arrested by more..

Nov 14 (Island) Dialog Axiata in partnership with the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA), under the Ministry of Environment, has unveiled SL’s first 5G-enabled autonomous water-surface cleaning robot. Designed to collect floating waste and monitor environmental conditions in real time, this pioneering innovation demonstrates the transformative potential of 5G in enabling intelligent, sustainable solutions that more..

Nov 14 (Island) While many nations struggle with high smoking rates, Sweden has carved a unique and successful path, poised to become Europe’s first smoke-free country with just 5.3% of adults smoking. Question at the heart of the recent Quit Like Sweden roundtable in Colombo was not whether this success can be replicated, but how South Asia can adapt this model to avert a looming public health crisis. Swedish achievement is no accident. It is the result of a pragmatic policy more..

Nov 14 (FT) Sampath Bank has produced strong results for the nine months ended 30 Sept, maintaining its growth momentum in 2025. The bank reported a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of Rs. 35.3 billion and a Profit After Tax (PAT) of Rs. 21.5 billion for the nine-month period ended 30 Sept 2025, reflecting consistent YoY growth of 18% and 21%, respectively. Furthermore, the Group delivered a strong financial performance, recording a PBT of Rs. 38 billion and a PAT of Rs. 23.1 billion more..

Nov 14 (NW) Colombo Mayor Vraîe Cally Balthazaar on Tuesday joined a group of vision-impaired persons to raise awareness of the difficulties faced by them daily. Mayor Balthazaar took a walk around Colombo while blindfolded to experience the difficulties faced by vision-impaired persons. She was accompanied by Sugath Wasantha de Silva, Sri Lanka’s first-ever vision-impaired MP. “I am being blindfolded, so I understand what it is to be in the city without sight,” Mayor said more..

Nov 14 (NW) Former Sri Lankan cricketer Sidath Wettimuny has praised the national team for taking what he described as the correct decision to remain in Pakistan and continue the tour. Pakistani authorities have assured President-level security to the Sri Lankan team throughout the series. Wettimuny said Sri Lanka should never forget the support Pakistan extended during one of the most challenging moments in the country’s cricket history. “I am glad the SL team is staying back. more..

Nov 14 (ST) Other options will be considered for the national carrier if the strategic plan by the board and its management does not produce a justifiable outcome, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake told Parliament Friday in his Budget 2026 presentation. “The board has been given a timeline. They have given us a plan. And if, after implementing their plan and there is no justifiable outcome, then the Govt will be open to more..

Nov 14 (TM) A three-cornered tussle has emerged between the mother-daughter duo of Wajira Nettikumara, Ruskshi Nettikumara and Desika Vitharana, for the post of President at the election of office bearers for the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka for the term 2025-27. The Election Committee (EC) headed by ex-Colombo High Court Judge Iranganee Perera and formed to oversee the yet to be finalised election of the sport’s local governing body, released the list of nominations on Monday (10), more..

Nov 14 (Island) At the 60th Session of the UNHRC held in Sept 2025, Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka Vijitha Herath stated: “We sincerely believe that external action will only serve to create divisions, thereby jeopardising the genuine and tangible national processes that have already been set in motion”. In keeping with that concept “The Govt is committed to advance accountability through credible domestic processes by establishing an independent public prosecutor’s office. more..

Nov 14 (DM) Nuwara Eliya holds a special place as a tourist destination. Two of the main attractions are the extremely cold climate and the picturesque Gregory Lake. Both local and foreign visitors flock to this town during the festive season to absorb the atmosphere. Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council is primarily responsible for ensuring the town’s safety and ensuring that the food, drinking water, and accommodation of tourists meet more..

Nov 14 (FT) Bank of Ceylon (BOC) continued to demonstrate its strength and stability in the third quarter of 2025, reaffirming its role as a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s financial landscape. With a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of Rs. 87.7 billion recorded for the first nine months of the year, the bank showcased consistent growth driven by disciplined financial management, strategic business expansion, and a strong commitment to supporting national economic progress. more..

Nov 14 (Island) The NPP govt, led by the Marxist JVP, continues to signal left and turn right. Having come to power promising to share in the suffering of the masses and travel in buses and trains, the NPP leaders have become embroiled in a vehicle tender controversy—a bid to procure as many as 1,775 4WD double-cab pickups for the MPs and state officials. They are seen moving about in state-owned luxury vehicles just as their predecessors did. Opposition has said that the pickups to be more..

Nov 14 (TM) The decision by the Govt to allocate Rs. 100 million through next year’s (2026) Budget for a pilot project in Kesbewa and Piliyandala to create facilities for stray and domestic animals, including burial and cremation sites is welcomed by many. As President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced, this is a novel budgetary line for Sri Lanka and marks a shift towards recognising animals in our public planning. However, while we applaud the objectives behind this initiative, more..

Nov 14 (ST) Govt spending in Western countries is typically high, reflecting their commitment to expansive welfare systems and public services. In contrast, East Asian nations tend to operate with leaner govts and lower tax revenues. Attempting to combine these two extremes—adopting Western-style spending while maintaining Eastern-style taxation—is a recipe for fiscal disaster. Sri Lanka, unfortunately, has already experienced the consequences of such a mismatch. more..

Nov 14 (TM) With the increase in illegal drug use and abuse, particularly among the youth at various parties and events, SL authorities have introduced facial recognition technology in an effort to combat a potential epidemic. A total of 278 arrests occurred at six major youth parties and one concert in the Western Province alone in 2025, with methamphetamine (ice), Kerala cannabis, heroin, cocaine, narcotic pills, and illegal cigarettes more..

Nov 14 (DM) In his 2026 Budget Speech, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake painted an optimistic picture of the economy, citing the steady recovery of state revenue and the restoration of macroeconomic stability. Yet, he did so with a cautious approach. He highlighted that govt revenue would be 16% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), thanks to improved tax collection and a broadening of the revenue base. Tax revenue from vehicle imports contributed to the state coffers. more..

Nov 14 (CT) This open letter submission is made taking account of the sustainable long-term interests of the government led by you, SL and its people. The budget speech 2026 recently delivered by you highlighted with much emphasis the critical need for visionary thought leadership driven timely change management; leading optimization of investments, sustainable growth of at least 7% per annum and the assurance of corruption and waste eliminated equitable good governance; more..

Nov 14 (CT) In a disturbing turn of events, senior govt figures have been accused of directly interfering in conservation efforts and obstructing officials attempting to remove unauthorised settlements and cultivation within protected forest and tank areas. Environmentalists warn that these actions are setting a dangerous precedent for the country’s fragile ecosystems and undermining the rule of law. more..

Nov 14 (GV) The issue explored in this article is the extent to which the narrative of debt trap diplomacy accurately explains the relationship between China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Sri Lanka’s foreign policy autonomy. The BRI, launched in 2013, is China’s global development strategy aimed at enhancing trade and economic growth by connecting Asia, Europe and Africa through investments in infrastructure projects, including ports, highways and energy facilities. more..

Nov 14 (CT) The major part of the annual State revenue is generated through taxation. According to the recent Budget, which was historic as its deficit was kept to a record low, Govt has achieved satisfactory results in tax revenue generation. The Treasury is overflowing with revenue, according to some MPs who credited the Govt for this achievement, while others were not necessarily pleased by the feat. Opposition Leader, in particular, interpreted the result as a no-brainer, more..

Nov 13 (NW) The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for January 28 on a fundamental rights petition seeking an order to recover compensation from former ministers who allegedly received unlawful payments for damages to their homes during the islandwide unrest on 09 May 2022. The petition was filed by social activist and lawyer, Dr. Ravindranath Dabare, challenging the legality of the compensation granted in connection with the island-wide violence. more..

Nov 13 (NW) PM Harini Amarasuriya says creating professional journalists who recognize the responsibility and accountability of sharing accurate and faithful information has become a timely necessity. PM said significant harm is caused to society by misinformation, as many content creators spread false information for personal gain. “Today, digital and social media have grown to a level comparable to traditional or mainstream media. This is true not only globally but also in Sri Lanka. more..

Nov 13 (NW) Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday said Pakistan Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir facilitated the talks with Sri Lanka, resulting in the latter’s cricket team deciding to stay in Pakistan for the ongoing matches. Sri Lanka’s cricket board said late last night that its team’s ongoing tour of Pakistan will proceed, averting a crisis-like situation after reports about some players returning home more..

Nov 13 (TS) Practical demonstration on Integrated Fieldcraft showcasing counter-drone drills, movement through built-up areas, obstacle crossing and break contact drills were part of the ongoing eleventh edition of Joint Military exercise Exercise Mitra Shakti-2025 between India and SL, at Foreign Training Node, Belagavi, Karnataka, today. On Thursday, subsequent sessions focused on Cordon and Search Operations with a live demonstration highlighting the integration of new-generation more..

Nov 13 (DM) Claiming that the govt was bragging about stopping vehicle permits given to Parliamentarians, SLPP MP D.V. Chanaka said today MPs' vehicle permits were stopped by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2020. He told Parliament that the Gotabaya Rajapaksa govt took a decision to stop issuing vehicle permits to MPs in 2020 and that no MPs received permits after 2020. The MP said only professionals such as doctors and engineers received the vehicle permits. more..