Oct 24 (DN) Sri Lanka has witnessed a significant drop in the number of marriages in 2024. Total marriages registered last year stood at 139,290, a decrease of 12,066 compared to 151,356 in 2023. The trend of declining marriages has been evident since 2022, when 171,140 weddings were recorded during the peak of the economic crisis, followed by 162,628 in 2021. The past two years show a gradual reduction in marriage registrations. more..

Oct 24 (NW) Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance (COPF) has granted its approval for the Appropriation Bill for the year 2026. This approval was given during a committee meeting held in Parliament yesterday under the chairmanship of MP Harsha de Silva. Officials from the Ministry of Finance, who attended the meeting, briefed the Committee on the allocation of funds for various sectors and the targets set for the year 2026. After an extensive discussion on these matters, more..

Oct 24 (AD) SL Police says that new information is emerging regarding the shooter involved in the recent killing of the Chairman of the Weligama PS, Lasantha Wickramasekara. Police also stated that the suspect is suspected to be a deserter from the security forces. The Weligama PS chairman was shot dead on Wednesday inside his office at the local council premises, and his body has now been placed at his residence in Midigama for public to pay their final respects. more..

Oct 24 (FT) SL Customs data confirms that the country earned $ 1.16 billion from tea exports for the period January to September 2025. Almost 10% more than last year’s figure of $ 1.06 billion for the comparable period. SL exported a healthy 23.7 million kg (Mnkg) in the month of September this year, up 20% on last year’s quantity of 19.7 Mnkg and boosted the cumulative total for the calendar year which has now risen to 198.3 Mnkg, up 9% on last year’s 9-month total of 182.3 Mnkg. more..

Oct 24 (NF) Two individuals, including a former official of the Fisheries Department and a staff member of former Deputy Minister Indika Bandaranayake, have been arrested by the CIABOC. The arrests relate to an alleged bribery case involving Rs. 500,000 demanded and Rs. 245,000 accepted in exchange for securing employment at the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. The suspects have been identified as Indika Wijesundara, a former staffer of more..

Oct 24 (AD) Court of Appeal today ordered SL Customs to promptly conclude the investigation into the motor capacities of BYD vehicles currently detained by customs. President of the Court of Appeal Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya stated in open court that while it is important for SL Customs to collect tax revenue for the national economy, the court must also consider the interests of vehicle buyers & importing companies. more..

Oct 24 (AD) Early landslide warning issued for several districts of the island owing to the prevailing heavy rain, have been extended. Accordingly, landslide warnings issued by the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) will be in effect from 4 pm today (24) until 4 pm tomorrow (25). The NBRO has issued this warning notice, advising people to remain cautious in several Divisional Secretariat Divisions and to remain vigilant for several other Divisional Secretariat Divisions. more..

Oct 24 (NW) A SL Parliamentary Delegation, led by Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala, attended the 151st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), which was held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 19th to 23rd Oct. The delegation, including MPs Oshani Umanga, Shantha Padmakumara, Mohammed Faizal, Hesha Withanage, and Secretary-General of Parliament, Kushani Rohanadeera, participated in the Assembly held under the theme Upholding Humanitarian Norms and Supporting more..

Oct 24 (MB) Every dozen years or so, SL’s mist-shrouded highlands burst into color. Violet, pink and white carpets of tiny blooms spread across the grasslands of the Horton Plains and other hill country trails, drawing thousands of visitors eager to witness one of nature’s rarest spectacles: the mass flowering of nelu, a group of native shrubs belonging to the genus Strobilanthes, known for synchronized mass flowering occurring every more..

Oct 24 (AD) SriLankan Airlines today issued a clarification regarding the recent reports concerning the airline’s financial performance for the financial year 2024/25. SL’s national carrier said the Group reported a loss of LKR 2,735 million in 2024/25, compared to a profit of LKR 7,925 million in 2023/24. “This variance was primarily due to a reduced exchange gain of LKR 3,925 million in 2024/25, compared with the previous year’s exchange gain of LKR 26,717 million,” statement said. more..

Oct 24 (AM) SJB Kalutara District MP Jagath Vithana told Parliament today that he has received a confidential notification sent by the IGP to the several senior Police officers, detailing an alleged plot to assassinate him. Vithana said the document, marked as a secret communication from the IGP to Kalutara DIG and SSP, explicitly stated that he was to be shot and killed as he stepped out of his vehicle at home. The MP further claimed that the notification named the individual more..

Oct 24 (DM) Environment Ministry Secretary K.R. Uduwawala said that, in general, scientists are contributing to environmental damage through their new inventions. Speaking at the Presidential Environment Awards 2025 held yesterday at the BMICH, he said many scientists fail to consider the environmental impact of their innovations. Therefore, the Ministry plans to introduce a new concept encouraging scientists to make their inventions more eco-friendly. He further said that more..

Oct 24 (NW) Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe today rejected an allegation by MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam that he had met a businessman at the Kingsbury Hotel to discuss a questionable distillery licence. Raising a privilege issue in Parliament, Deputy Minister said his parliamentary privileges had been violated by MP Rasamanickam’s remarks and urged the Speaker to take appropriate action. “As public officials, we often meet investors and individuals interested in more..

Oct 24 (DM) Central Bank (CB) announced that by the end of the first six months of 2025, financial institutions in the country had granted a total of Rs. 1,161 billion as vehicle-backed loans, reflecting strong demand following the easing of import restrictions earlier this year. According to CB Deputy Governor J.P.R. Karunaratne, the majority of these loans were issued under leasing facilities, more..

Oct 24 (AD) PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the Govt’s development agenda is rooted in sustainability and human dignity and that the Govt aims to uplift every community and ensure that progress reaches all corners of the country. She made these remarks while attending the United Nations Day 2025 commemoration held under the global theme Our UN, marking the 80th anniversary of the United Nations and 70 years of partnership between Sri Lanka and the UN, more..

Oct 24 (TT) A total of 76 vehicles of the SL Army that had been in long-term use and had become unserviceable have been fully restored to motorable condition and are scheduled to be added to the Army vehicle fleet from today. Implemented on the instructions from Lt Gen Lasantha Rodrigo, the successful reintegration of these refurbished vehicles into the Army fleet, as part of a project executed in parallel with the Clean SL programme, will enable the Army to save a significant more..

Oct 24 (TT) The Thai govt is set to hold talks with Sri Lanka on October 28 to bring back two elephants that were gifted by Thailand, following reports of poor living conditions and alleged mistreatment. Deputy PM and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), Suchart Chomklin, wrote on his Facebook page that he plans to fly urgently to SL amid growing concerns about the welfare of the two Thai elephants, more..

Oct 24 (DM) The Govt Dental Surgeons’ Association (GDSA) has announced an island-wide token strike on Nov 6, 2025, in protest over what it describes as the ongoing administrative collapse within the Dental Services Division of the Health Ministry. In a statement, the GDSA said the decision was unanimously approved by its Executive Committee following 18 months of unsuccessful attempts to resolve serious administrative issues through official channels. more..

Oct 24 (EN) Sri Lanka has unveiled a national strategy which will help the country tap climate financing from official donors and also the private sector to help support over US$ 10 billion for adaptation strategies, officials said. National Climate Finance Strategy of Sri Lanka 2025 – 2030, was devised by the External Resources Department of the Finance Ministry with the support of the UN and UK. “Sri Lanka in particular, given our dependency and exposure to the tourism industry, more..

Oct 24 (FT) Today (24) marks 2,411 days since the devastating Easter Sunday bombings shook SL, leaving a trail of death, destruction, and despair in their wake. On 21 April 2019, coordinated suicide bomb attacks targeted churches and luxury hotels, claiming the lives of 270 innocent people and injuring over 500 others. The painfully slow progress the investigation has traversed in is to create nothing more important than public distrust. The attacks, initially said to have been claimed by more..

Oct 24 (FT) At the end of the IMF program, by around 2028, SL is projected to spend over 40% of Govt revenue on debt repayments, one of the highest ratios among peer-group countries. With at least eight million Sri Lankans categorised as poor, the narrative of stability is superficial. Higher public sector numbers and increased salaries contradict claims of a lack of fiscal space for health and education. As the economy expands, repayments under Macro-linked Bonds will continue to more..

Oct 24 (FT) CB Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe yesterday gave a strong signal about the Govt’s improving fiscal performance with key indicators expected to exceed expectations as never before. “The govt’s fiscal performance is exceeding expectations, with stronger revenue and tighter spending producing a lower deficit, marking the first time in decades that fiscal targets have been surpassed,” Dr. Weerasinghe said. more..

Oct 24 (CT) Two Police teams have been reviewing over 100 CCTV camera feeds installed along roads as of yesterday, tracing the escape route of the gunmen who assassinated Weligama PS Chairman Lasantha Wickramasekara, alias Midigama Lasa. However, a senior officer in the Southern Province stated that the heavy rainfall has been obstructing these CCTV-based investigations. Meanwhile, a senior Police official said that the gunmen who shot the Chairman and fled might have been more..

Oct 24 (DN) Although the Financial Stability Review indicates that private sector credit to GDP gap continued widening, the financial intermediation is still well below the levels that prevailed earlier and the private sector credit as a total share is still below the pre pandemic levels that is partly because the public sector credit share coming down and as a result more private sector credit can be accumulated in the system, Central Bank Governor Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe said. more..

Oct 24 (FT) Dialog Axiata said it has expanded its 5G trial network across 15 districts nationwide, reaffirming its leadership in next-generation connectivity and its continued commitment to driving SL’s digital transformation. With this milestone, Dialog continues to operate the nation’s largest 5G trial network, spanning 15 districts, including Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kandy, Kurunegala, Puttalam, A'pura, more..

Oct 24 (CT) Significant difficulties have arisen in carrying out influenza testing, a disease which is likely to spread during current weather conditions, in State hospitals due to a lack of necessary resources. This shortage is forcing the public to turn to the private sector for testing, incurring heavy costs of around Rs 4,500. According to officials who wished to remain anonymous, the State hospitals are only able to provide the required antiviral medication after the test results from more..

Oct 24 (DN) Sri Lanka celebrated a golden day on the track at the third Asian Youth Games in Bahrain, as Lahiru Achintha stormed to victory in the Boys’ 1500m event, clocking an impressive 3:57.42. Achintha’s explosive final-lap surge left his competitors behind and ignited celebrations among Sri Lankan fans. China’s Sha Lihua took silver with 3:58.73, while Hong Kong’s Au Ho Chun claimed bronze in 4:05.09, rounding off a thrilling contest. Adding to Sri Lanka’s success, more..

Oct 24 (AD) A high-level meeting was held at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake today (23) jointly chaired by the Deputy Minister of Ports and Aviation, Janith Ruwan Kodituwakku, and the Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Sampath Thuyacontha. The meeting focused on reviewing matters related to strengthening the overall security of the BIA, the country’s main aviation gateway to the world, Defence Ministry said in a statement. more..

Oct 24 (DM) Health officials have raised the alarm over a dramatic rise in Influenza A and B infections sweeping through SL with children among the worst affected. Dr. Maheshaka Wijayawardena said the seasonal outbreak is particularly active during the rainy months and toward the end of the year, and children in daycares, pre-schools, and schools are among the most vulnerable. “The illness can appear in many forms as many children develop sudden fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue, more..

Oct 24 (HRW) Susikala was working as a daily wage earner at a flower garden in Hatton, a hilly area in central SL, when in April 2022 the govt defaulted on its debt. The default sent the economy into a tailspin, and like millions of Sri Lankans, Susikala lost precious wages as her employer struggled to pay her. The family had to rely on her husband’s LKR 1,500 (US$5) daily wage at a tea plantation. Food prices doubled by Sept. more..

Oct 24 (FT) Airport and Aviation Services (SL) Ltd. (AASL) said that passenger volumes and flight operations are expected to increase significantly during the upcoming tourism season, supported by new airline schedules and expanded routes. SL’s peak travel period begins in November and continues through February. Both the Bandaranaike Int'l Airport (BIA) in Katunayake and the Mattala Rajapaksa Int'l Airport (MRIA) in H'tota will handle new flight operations during this period. more..

Oct 24 (Island) SL contingent of more than 50 athletes will have quite a challange in recovering fast from their long journey when the fourth edition of the South Asian Senior Athletics Championship commences at Birsa Munda Stadium in Ranchi, India today. ‎SL’s contingent reached the host city in two batches, a day ahead of the scheduled start. While the first group had spent ten hours in transit, the second group had spent five hours. ‎”It was a long tirering journey as the athletes had to more..