Jan 29 (DM) The Court of Appeal upheld a sentence of 10 years of rigorous imprisonment imposed on a Pastor attached to a church at Kottukachchi in the Puttalam District, for raping a 15-year-old girl after developing an acquaintance with her and subsequently inviting her to serve god. The accused had been indicted before the Puttalam High Court by the Attorney General for committing the offence of rape of a minor, punishable under Section 364(2) of the Penal Code, in relation to incidents more..

Jan 29 (EN) Hotel reservations by tourists in SL have dipped in December, after Cyclone Ditwah devastation in November despite hotel damage being minimal, Krishan Balendra, Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said. “For tourism, I feel that in December, there would have been a 5% to 10% impact on booking,” Balendra told an economic forum. In late 2025, Cyclone Ditwah delivered a sharp but localized blow to SL’s tourism sector, striking at the onset of the peak more..

Jan 29 (DM) SL is working hard to protect its rubber products exports to the markets in the European Union to avoid any impact from the EU Deforestation Regulation which will come into effect next year. EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is a new law which is aimed at requiring companies to ensure that products imported to or exported from EU markets no longer contribute to deforestation and forest degradation globally. more..

Jan 29 (DM) Well-known model and former beauty queen Stephanie Siriwardhana has been appointed to the six-member Prison Observation Committee, Prison Media Spokesperson A.C. Gajanayake said, highlighting her background in social service activities. Gajanayake explained that the committee positions are voluntary and appointments are made following the established procedures of the Prisons Dept. He added that the main role of the committee is to observe challenges faced by detainees, more..

Jan 29 (TM) Govt has reassured the public that there is no immediate threat from the Nipah virus, which is currently spreading in parts of India. Deputy Minister Hansaka Wijemuni emphasised that SL’s health authorities are closely monitoring the situation and have all necessary testing kits ready. While the virus, with a high fatality rate, has been reported in several Asian countries, Wijemuni explained that person-to-person transmission is rare and SL has never experienced a Nipah outbreak. more..

Jan 29 (DM) Governor of CB, Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe, said SL spent around US$ 2.0 billion on vehicle imports in 2025 and could spend a further US$ 1.5 billion in 2026 as pent-up demand wanes. Sri Lankans imported a record 360,117 vehicles in 2025, following the reopening of the market in Feb 2025 after a 5-year hiatus. The vehicle import market had been closed in March 2020 to conserve limited foreign exchange, more..

Jan 29 (TM) Health Ministry Secretary, Dr. Anil Jasinghe stated that steps are expected to be taken in the near future to elevate the Jaffna Teaching Hospital (TH) to a National Hospital status after fulfilling the required criteria. An institutional review of the Jaffna TH was conducted at the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on Health, Mass Media and Women’s Empowerment. The Committee met in the Parliament on 21 January, under the Chairpersonship of Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe. more..

Jan 29 (AD) Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation has announced an Agricultural Insurance Month for farmers, effective from February 2026. Under the scheme, farmers can obtain insurance coverage for all crops, including rice, beans, potatoes, big onions, soybeans and chili. The insurance scheme will cover damages caused by rain, floods, wild elephants, pest infestations, fire, diseases and other natural hazards. The insurance plans, available for a small premium, more..

Jan 29 (FT) Sri Lanka does not need another anti-terror law. The Suppression of Terrorist Bombings Act, Prevention of Hostage Taking Act, Convention on the Suppression of Terrorist Financing Act, Offences Against Aircraft Act and several other laws criminalise terrorist activities as required by a 2004 United Nations Security Council Resolution (1566): a resolution that necessitates member states to have laws in place to counter terrorism. Activists, human rights organisations, more..

Jan 29 (FT) How safe are our children? This haunting question confronts us once again, as a leading newspaper recently reported the dismissal of an appeal by a man convicted of raping a 15 year old girl in SL. While the court’s decision affirms justice, the incident itself exposes a far more disturbing reality, rape remains a widespread and growing issue in our country. This case is not an isolated incident. Across SL, reports of sexual violence continue to rise, with many victims more..

Jan 29 (CT) Air Chief Marshal (Retd) Harsha Abeywickrema stepped down yesterday as Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services (SL) Ltd after refusing to approve a request to issue an airport access pass to a Buddhist prelate, citing mandatory international aviation security standards. The request was made on behalf of Ven. Banagala Upatissa Nayake Thera, Chief Prelate in Japan. In a letter dated 9 Jan, Abeywickrema responded to more..

Jan 29 (FT) The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal to submit to Parliament the regulations issued to temporarily extend the validity period of driving licences, following widespread public inconvenience caused by adverse conditions in late 2025. The public faced significant difficulties in renewing driving licences on time due to severe damage to normal day-to-day life resulting from unfavourable weather conditions that prevailed across the country in November 2025. more..

Jan 29 (Island) An exclusive Symposium on Sustainable Tourism was successfully held on 25 Jan 2026 at Amba Yaalu – Kandalama, SL’s first all-women-led hotel, operated by Thema Collection. The symposium brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and sustainability practitioners to discuss innovative and practical pathways to embed sustainability across the tourism value chain. The discussions explored key topics including low-impact destination planning, plastic-free tourism more..

Jan 29 (FT) The IMF yesterday reaffirmed its solidarity with Sri Lanka and expressed readiness to support the country in its efforts to safeguard macroeconomic stability and promote resilience and sustainable growth. The reassurance follows the completion of the visit by an IMF team led by Mission Chief for SL Evan Papageorgiou to SL from 22 to 28 January to hold discussions on the impact of Cyclone Ditwah. more..

Jan 29 (TM) Govt Radiological Technologists’ Association has decided to temporarily suspend the indefinite strike that was scheduled to commence yesterday across all hospitals in the country. President of the Union, Chanaka Dharmawickrama stated that the strike has been suspended for 48 hours. The decision has been taken following discussions between Union representatives and the Deputy Health Minister. During the meeting, issues that prompted the strike were reviewed and more..

Jan 29 (FT) National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (NAHTTF) yesterday officially launched the National Strategic Action Plan to Monitor and Combat Human Trafficking (2026-2030), reaffirming SL’s strong commitment to eliminating all forms of human trafficking and strengthening coordinated national responses. The launch was held under the patronage of PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya. The event was also attended by Defence Ministry Secretary and NAHTTF Chair Sampath Thuyacontha, more..

Jan 29 (DM) Former Minister Champika Ranawaka has warned that the migration of experienced middle-level managers from institutions such as the Mahaweli Authority and the Department of Irrigation may have contributed to the severe impact of Cyclone Ditwah. Ranawaka highlighted SL’s lack of expertise in reservoir management. “Even the private sector faces challenges due to this shortage. Institutions like the Dept of Irrigation and the Mahaweli Authority no longer have middle more..

Jan 29 (DM) Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said the Govt must first examine the mentality of Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa before responding to his demands on the new education reforms. Minister recalled that Premadasa had earlier staged a protest in front of C.W.W. Kannangara statue in Mathugama, calling for the proposed education reforms not to be introduced to children. However, he noted that the Opposition Leader is now urging Govt to implement the same reforms immediately. more..

Jan 29 (NW) Tensions flared in court on Wednesday during proceedings in the case against former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, with prosecutors questioning how the former leader was seated in court as a suspect and raising concerns over his previous hospital stay following remand. Additional Solicitor General Dileep Peiris told the Fort Magistrate’s Court that Wickremesinghe was present in court as a suspect and more..

Jan 29 (Island) Sri Lanka had drawn up a blueprint to rule one-day cricket at home and for five years it paid rich dividends. The hosts went unbeaten in 12 home series, winning 11 and drawing one, a run that included taking down Australia twice and India once. That fortress finally fell on Tuesday at the R. Premadasa Stadium, as England scripted a come-from-behind win to bring the curtain down on an extraordinary streak. RPS had long been Sri Lanka’s stronghold. more..

Jan 29 (CT) Sri Lanka’s railway system faces mounting safety and operational challenges, with more than 400 railway level crossings remaining unsafe and an ageing fleet increasingly prone to failure, according to official data. Between 2020 and 2024, at least 385 accidents were reported at railway level crossings, resulting in 37 deaths and 105 injuries. Investigations attributed many of these incidents to unsafe crossings and weak enforcement of safety measures. more..

Jan 29 (Island) One of the major initiatives of the NPP govt is reforming Sri Lanka’s education system. Immediately after coming to power, govt started the process of bringing about transformational changes to general education. The budgetary allocation to education has been increased to 2% of GDP (from 1.8% in 2023). Although this increase is not sufficient, the govt has pledged to build infrastructure, recruit more teachers, increase facilities at schools more..

Jan 29 (CT) India’s High Commissioner to SL, Santosh Jha, said India’s foreign policy vision was firmly rooted in partnership, self-reliance and shared growth, underscoring SL’s special place in New Delhi’s regional and global outlook. Addressing an evening reception to mark the 77th Republic Day of India, HC said this year’s celebrations were guided by the themes Vande Mataram and Atmanirbhar Bharat — symbolising India’s journey from independence to prosperity. more..

Jan 29 (FT) SL’s tourism sector, struggling to attract high spenders, is estimated to lose $ 1.13 billion annually through economic leakages, despite generating $ 3.17 billion in earnings in 2024 and about $ 3.2 billion in 2025, according to the country’s first Rapid Assessment of Economic Leakages released yesterday. The assessment, conducted by the SLTDA with technical support from UN Tourism, focuses on more..

Jan 29 (FT) Altair Residences has, over the past six months, seen over 100 individual title deeds being executed by apartment owners, providing owners with a clear, registered, legal title to their apartments in accordance with Sri Lanka property law. This has been a key initiative by the new owners and management of Altair to improve governance and will continue in an orderly manner in the coming months, the Company said in a statement. With the transition of ownership to Blackstone India, more..

Jan 29 (CI) Pavan Rathnayake has re-entered SL's T20I squad following his 121 off 115 balls in the third ODI against England. Omitted from the squad to play England in three T20Is, however, are fast bowler Nuwan Thushara, and batting allrounder Kamindu Mendis. Legspinner Dushan Hemantha has also been left out. Left-arm-spinning allrounder Dunith Wellalage retains his place in the T20I squad, though he hasn't played a T20I since September. Maheesh Theekshana & Wanindu Hasaranga more..

Jan 29 (FT) CB Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe yesterday did not rule out any changes to the ongoing IMF EFF on account of emerging needs due to the post-Ditwah recovery. Speaking at the post-Monetary Policy announcement press conference, Dr. Weerasinghe said IMF staff are currently assessing the economic impact of Cyclone Ditwah ahead of the postponed fifth review under the Extended Fund Facility. more..

Jan 29 (FT) At MTI’s Thought Leadership Forum, CEO Hilmy Cader commended the resilience of SL’s tourism industry, while cautioning that long-term risks must be strategically addressed to ensure sustainable growth. “When a destination is on a high there is a tendency to not address the potential longer-term risks,” said Cader, highlighting the importance of foresight in tourism planning. Cader pointed out several areas of concern. He noted that overtourism could result in demand far more..

Jan 29 (FT) Top blue chip John Keells Holdings (JKH) announced strong earnings for the third quarter with all businesses reporting improved profitability driven by momentum across the Group portfolio. Group revenue rose by 54% to Rs. 125.05 billion in 3Q of the financial year 2025/26. Cumulative Group revenue for the first nine months of FY26 grew by 69% to Rs. 383.96 billion. Group earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation grew by 68% to Rs. 23.76b more..

Jan 29 (FT) Digital Mobility Solutions Lanka (PickMe) said it delivered a resilient operational and financial performance in the third quarter of the financial year 2025/26 (3QFY26), sustaining strong growth momentum over the first nine months of the year and reinforcing its leadership in SL’s digital mobility ecosystem. Company recorded a revenue of Rs. 6.2 billion for the first nine months of FY25/26, representing a 50% YoY (YoY) increase from Rs. 4.1 billion in the corresponding period of more..

Jan 29 (Island) Four Mahanayake Theras have made an intervention, albeit with delay, to reorient govt policy towards commonsense and good governance. They have raised concerns about the prolonged delay in appointing the Auditor General (AG). In a letter to Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, they have warned that the continued absence of an AG has created space for various groups to question the state’s financial oversight and fuel debate over public financial management. more..

Jan 29 (ST) In the case of a foreign spouse—a victim of domestic abuse—being denied a visa extension by the Dept of Immigration and Emigration because she could not produce a consent letter from her estranged husband, the Court of Appeal this week ruled that imposing such a requirement on a victim of violence constitutes a legal impossibility and contradicts established migration guidelines. more..