Oct 23 (AD) A common single curriculum framework will be implemented across all preschools island-wide from 2027, PM Harini Amarasuriya has announced. Responding to questions raised by MPs, the PM noted that the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework has now been finalized, and a training program for nearly 19,000 preschool teachers is scheduled to commence on Nov 25, 2025. more..

Oct 23 (AD) Around 672 acres of land controlled by the military in the North and East for several years have been released to its previous owners, Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara (Retd.) stated. Confirming this in Parliament today, the Deputy Minister stated that the released lands include 86.24 acres of private lands and 586 acres of land that were used by the military. The Deputy Minister also said that 34.58 acres of govt lands have been released in East Province alone. more..

Oct 23 (NF) Dept of Meteorology has announced that the prevailing rainy conditions across the island are expected to ease after the 25th of this month, particularly in the southwestern region. The current rainfall affecting the southwestern parts of the country is likely to reduce gradually, bringing temporary relief to affected areas. However, thundershowers are still expected in several provinces including the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central & North-Western Provinces, more..

Oct 23 (AD) Another 20 self-service check-in kiosks have been installed at the BIA to improve efficiency and passenger experience at the airport. Passenger traffic at the BIA grew 16% to five million in the first half of 2025, with total traffic forecast to reach 14 million by 2027. Accordingly, 20 new self-service kiosks to complement the existing eight, along with a self-bag drop facility, have been added at the BIA. Self-service kiosks aim to more..

Oct 23 (EN) Sri Lankans are expected to spend around US$ 1.5 billion in importing vehicles in 2025, which is higher than initially expected, CB Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said. SL was initially expecting around a billion US dollars to be spent on vehicle imports but pent-up demand had led to higher-than-expected imports. Vehicles are taxed at high levels, and as a result, govt revenues would be better than expected leading a lower than projected deficit for the first time in many years, more..

Oct 23 (EN) SL–Indonesia Business Council (SLIBC) of The CCC said it had discussed potential bilateral collaborations during a recent visit to Indonesia. Concluded a Business Promotion Mission to Indonesia, securing promising links in renewable energy, digital services, and startup collaboration, chamber said in a statement. A team led by Sampath Jayasundara, CEO of hSenid Business Solutions and Executive Committee Member of SLIBC visited Indonesia from Oct 14-18. more..

Oct 23 (NW) Some opposition MPs were seen wearing black armbands and attire inside the Parliament chamber in protest of the assassination of the Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman, Lasantha Wickramasekara. Addressing the Parliament today, SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman stated that they entered Parliament dressed in black and wearing black armbands to express their opposition to the prevailing culture of assassinations in the country. more..

Oct 23 (AD) A special security inspection will be conducted at the Parliament complex over three days in November ahead of the 2026 Budget speech. Accordingly, the inspection is scheduled to take place on November 4, 6 & 7. The Speaker also announced that the entire Parliament building, including the Members’ lounge and wardrobes, will be subjected to this security inspection. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is scheduled to deliver the 2026 Budget speech on November 7. more..

Oct 23 (FT) Govt must accelerate reforms in its land, labour, and capital markets, key factor markets that drive investment, while sustaining the slowdown in domestic debt accumulation, Uni of Peradeniya Economics Professor Wasantha Athukorala said, noting that improved fiscal discipline has begun to stabilise the country’s borrowing trajectory. He said the increase in total debt since Jan 2025 has been minimal, more..

Oct 23 (CT) The Supreme Court has nullified the University of Peradeniya administration’s decision to award the prestigious Professor E.O.E. Pereira Gold Medal—given annually to the most outstanding engineering student—to A.H.A.D. Abeysekara, an instructor in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, for the year 2015. The ruling follows a Fundamental Rights Petition filed by Ayumi Kalpana Manawadu, an engineering graduate of the Uni of Peradeniya from Moratuwa. more..

Oct 23 (NW) Minister Ananda Wijepala says 1947 weapons have been seized in 2025 alone, during raids conducted to tackle underworld and drug activities in SL. Minister said that weapons are a key part of the drug and underworld networks. He further said shooting incidents are being reported across the country as certain underworld gangs are still in possession of weapons. Minister Wijepala also revealed that 78 T-56 firearms had been given to underworld gangs from a military camp more..

Oct 23 (AD) SL’s export sector has demonstrated resilience and steady growth during the first nine months of 2025, recording total earnings of US$ 12,986.52 million, the EDB stated. This reflects a strong 7% increase compared to the corresponding period in 2024, EDB said in its latest report. In September alone, total exports, comprising both merchandise and services reached US$ 1,469.75 million, reflecting a year-on-year more..

Oct 23 (AD) The Supreme Court has ruled that the fundamental rights of Neth FM radio presenter Thilina Rajapaksha were violated by officers attached to the Alawwa Police Station, over an incident involving his alleged assault, illegal arrest, and unlawful detention. The judgment, delivered yesterday by a bench comprising Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Justices Priyantha Fernando and Sampath Abayakoon, held that Police Sergeants K.G. Ravindra Kumara, more..

Oct 23 (NW) A total of 132 awards were presented under nine categories at the Presidential Environment Awards Ceremony 2025, held in Colombo today under the patronage of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The event is annually organized by the Central Environmental Authority to ensure environmental sustainability in Sri Lanka by recognising industries, government and private institutions, nongovernmental organisations, media institutions, schools dedicated to more..

Oct 23 (FT) My late friend and comrade Kethesh Loganathan, son of a famous banker, a Georgetown alumnus, theoretician of the Marxist-led EPRLF, and finally, Dy Head of Peace Secretariat (SCOPP) who was assassinated by the LTTE when answering his doorbell, named his book Lost Opportunities, because that’s what he saw as the key motif of the SL tragedy. I think of it as Wrong Choices (or turnings) but there isn’t much difference—wrong choices/turnings result in lost opportunities. more..

Oct 23 (FT) Sri Lanka’s National Budget will be unveiled on 7 November 2025, and I hope it will be significantly different from the predictable rhetoric and theatrics we have heard and witnessed in the past. This is the first fully fledged Budget of the NPP Govt. Typically, on Budget Day, the curtains will draw, and the minister of finance will step up and deliver a string of promises which, in hindsight, could have easily found their place in Ripley’s Believe It or Not. more..

Oct 23 (FT) Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said the Govt will strictly enforce the law against individuals or groups attempting to disrupt harmony or make division among ethnic or religious communities. He said the Govt was committed to maintaining peace and harmony across the country while ensuring national development. “As a Govt, we are implementing the law against activities that are being carried out to create discord and more..

Oct 23 (FT) Four Police teams have been deployed to investigate the murder of Weligama PS Chairman Lasantha Wickramasekara (38), who was shot dead yesterday, Police Media Spokesman F.U. Wootler said. The investigation was being conducted under the direct instructions of the Senior Deputy Inspector General (SDIG) in charge of the Southern Province. “All available resources have been mobilised, and four teams have commenced inquiries to identify the perpetrators and motives behind this murder,” more..

Oct 23 (TM) Excise Dept collectible defaulted excise duties and penalties have surpassed Rs. 10 billion as the Govt changes legal provisions to terminate licences of manufacturers with over 90 days arrears, Deputy Minister Nishantha Jayaweera said. The defaulted excise duties and penalties charged on the defaulted payments at the Excise Dept have reached Rs. 10.5 billion. The default excise duties are at Rs. 4.7 billion, and the 3% penalties for the defaulted payments are at Rs. 5.8 billion. more..

Oct 23 (DM) Met Dept has issued a warning as harsh weather conditions are expected to lash out across the island in the coming days, with a threat to damaging homes and affecting people’s livelihoods. With two deaths already reported, officials warned that the dangerous conditions will continue for the next few days, with heavy rain, strong winds, and floods expected in many areas. A low-pressure area near SL is intensifying more..

Oct 23 (Island) At the plenary of the 222nd Session of the UNESCO Executive Board in Paris, Sri Lanka reaffirmed its strong commitment to multilateralism and to UNESCO’s mission of promoting peace, dialogue, and sustainable development through education, culture, the sciences, and communication & information. Delivering the national statement on 6 Oct 2025, Ambassador of SL to France and Permanent Delegate of SL to UNESCO Manisha Gunasekera commended the Chairperson of more..

Oct 23 (DM) The Cabinet approval was given this week to sign the UN Convention against Cybercrime (UNCC), a significant global accord aimed at combating serious cyber offenses. This decision followed a joint resolution presented by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his capacity as the Digital Economy Minister, Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara and Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath this week. more..

Oct 23 (CT) The recently assassinated Chairman of Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha, Lasantha Wickramasekara, alias Weligama Lasa, was an underworld criminal with six pending Court cases, Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala claimed in a special statement to Parliament yesterday. Minister informed the House that the victim was not merely a public representative but a known criminal figure. According to the Minister, Wickramasekara had six active cases against him: more..

Oct 23 (CT) The assassination of Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman, Lasantha Wickramasekara, in the council chamber during the Public Day has triggered sharp accusations from the Opposition, with party leaders blaming the Govt for a critical failure in national security. In a statement to Parliament yesterday, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa questioned the state of the nation’s security, given that the Chairman was gunned down while conducting his Public Day. more..

Oct 23 (FT) SL’s most diversified conglomerate Hayleys announced plans to pursue strategic entry into the large-scale supermarket sector. In a statement Hayleys said the move represents a bold step forward that marks the beginning of a new chapter in its 148-year legacy of diversification and value creation. “This move underscores the Group’s strategic thrust towards bringing quality, reliability and service excellence closer to everyday more..

Oct 23 (FT) The Parliament Secretariat yesterday said the Sub-Committee appointed under the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment has instructed officials to collect data on individuals unable to repay microfinance loans in four selected Divisional Secretariat (DS) Divisions across and Nuwara Eliya, Batticaloa, Polonnaruwa & Colombo Districts. Directive was issued during a recent meeting of the Sub-Committee more..

Oct 23 (Island) Sri Lanka strengthened its position as South Asia’s environmental and sustainability hub with the opening of the regional headquarters of the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) in Colombo — a state-of-the-art facility that embodies the region’s commitment to green growth and climate resilience. The new headquarters, situated at Nawala, was declared open by PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, with Minister of Environment Dr. Dammika Patabendi, more..

Oct 23 (FT) Cabinet of Ministers yesterday approved amendments to the Mahinda Rajapaksa-era Strategic Development Projects Act to enable tax incentives to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for large-scale projects, thereby circumventing limitations on tax incentives under the IMF program. Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said the Attorney General has cleared the draft, which will now be gazetted and tabled in Parliament. Move comes as the Govt seeks to revive major investments, more..

Oct 23 (DM) Sri Lanka is pursuing a strategy to generate super return on investment (ROI) through a comprehensive digital transformation, aiming to build a US $ 15 billion digital economy, Chief Advisor to Prez on Digital Economy and ICTA Chairman Dr. Hans Wijesuriya said. Dr. Wijesuriya reiterated that digital transformation is the crucial ingredient to drive growth within a tight fiscal space by unlocking efficiency, enhancing competitiveness and creating powerful economic multipliers. more..

Oct 23 (FT) The CoPF has approved higher Special Commodity Levies (SCL) on imported big onions and potatoes while issuing sweeping directives to reform SL’s tariff regime, strengthen excise duty enforcement, and improve agricultural productivity. Levy on imported big onions was raised by Rs. 10 per kg, from Rs. 40 to Rs. 50, and the levy on imported potatoes increased by Rs. 20 per kg, from Rs. 60 to Rs. 80, effective 26 Aug 2025. more..

Oct 23 (Island) Asian Youth C'ship medallist Lahiru Achintha and sprinters vying for honours in the relays are among the brightest medal prospects for SL when the track and field action of the Asian Youth Games commences in Bahrain today. ‎Achintha of St. Aloysius’ College, Rathnapura has a personal best of 3:53.05 s in the 1500m. Apart from his Japanese counterparts he is the fastest in the distance in Asia among athletes born in 2009 going by the World Athletics recognized performances this year. more..

Oct 23 (DN) More than 12,000 schoolboys and schoolgirls representing 620 teams from across Sri Lanka will battle for glory in the CBL Samaposha Under-14 Inter-School National Football Championship 2024, one of the island’s biggest grassroots sporting events, organised by the SL Schools Football Association (SSFA). The youth tournament sponsored by CBL Samaposha for the 14th consecutive year was officially launched at a lively press conference held on Tuesday. more..