Nov 12 (CI) Pakistan withstood a valiant all-round display from Wanindu Hasaranga to come away with a six-run victory in the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi, and with it take a 1-0 lead in the three match series. Chasing 300 to win, a target that would have constituted the second-highest successful chase in Rawalpindi, SL were set up well courtesy an 80-run opening stand, but then lost wickets in clusters through middle overs more..

Nov 12 (TM) Maldivian Police have officially confirmed that a SL fishing vessel taken into custody by the Maldivian security forces within the country’s maritime boundary contained a large quantity of narcotics. The vessel, which had illegally entered Maldivian waters, was intercepted on 7 Nov by Coast Guard officers of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF). The vessel – identified as a Sri Lankan fishing trawler, the Avishka Putha – was carrying over 355 kg of illegal drugs. more..

Nov 12 (FT) Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs and Finance Duminda Hulangamuwa yesterday said that the key theme of the 2026 Budget is mobilising private capital and restoring the private sector’s role as the engine of growth. “Almost every major reference in the Budget from tax incentives to institutional reforms is directed toward encouraging private sector participation,” he said. Hulangamuwa said the country’s path to achieving 7% growth will depend not merely on fiscal more..

Nov 12 (FT) SL Apparel Brands Association (SLABA), representing all leading SL apparel and fashion brands, said it enthusiastically welcomes the Budget, which addresses the majority of the industry’s key requests to strengthen the domestic apparel ecosystem, particularly regarding VAT and SMEs. It commended the Govt for responding decisively to industry concerns, particularly the implementation of VAT on imported fabrics, a critical measure advocated by local manufacturers more..

Nov 12 (FT) The Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce (WCIC) has described the 2026 Budget as a positive step for women-owned small and medium enterprises (SMEs), citing its focus on SME growth and specific allocations for women entrepreneurs. “The 2026 Budget offers a positive signal for women-owned SMEs, especially through its SME focus and explicit mention of women entrepreneur allocations,” the Chamber said. However, it cautioned that the success of more..

Nov 12 (Island) ITAK secretary M.A. Sumanthiran, has said that the TNA could be revived if the Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA) agrees to ITAK’s proposed political position. The former lawmaker said so in Vavuniya recently following a full-day meeting of ITAK’s Central Working Committee. Tamil Guardian quoted Sumanthiran as having said that the meeting ran from 10 a.m. into the evening at the party’s more..

Nov 12 (Island) The budget season is now on. But during the so-called annual budget debates, the budget itself often ends up an also-ran, with the members of both sides of the Houses devoting most of their time to raising unrelated issues and trading barbs. This shows that partisan politics, which takes precedence over economics, is the bane of this country. On Monday, while taking part in the budget debate, SJB MP Sujeewa Senasinghe launched into a tirade against Minister Wasantha more..

Nov 12 (ST) Govt has called a sudden halt to the winds of power that will blow across the Mannar isle in the near future. This sudden decision, taken at the eleventh hour, when mass protests against Hayleys’ 50 million dollar wind power project rise to a climax and threaten Hayleys’ launch of the first phase in December this year. But will a presidential pledge to ban future wind power projects on the island of Mannar unless the people’s consent is obtained, placate the wrath of protesters more..

Nov 12 (Island) There’s a fundamental challenge in democratic governance: opposition parties can critique freely, but governing requires navigating complex trade-offs. Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s 2026 budget offers a compelling case study in this transition, revealing significant gaps between campaign rhetoric and the constraints of fiscal management. Perhaps the most striking aspect of this budget is the govt’s relationship with the IMF Extended Fund Facility. more..

Nov 12 (TM) In Sri Lanka, if a loved one goes missing, the only recourse available to most families is to file a complaint at the nearest Police station. The process that follows is filled with paperwork, waiting and uncertainty. There is no central, publicly accessible database to track missing persons in the general society, although several mechanisms are available to investigate missing persons in the context of the war and in instances of abduction and kidnapping. more..

Nov 12 (CT) This article focuses on the BIA, addressing its growing capacity constraints amid rising demand from nearly 30 airlines seeking entry into SL. Under current operational standards, runway & terminal capacities are fully utilised, limiting new airline approvals. This article outlines practical operational, governance and strategic interventions that can unlock latent capacity, optimise efficiency and position. more..

Nov 12 (CT) A train delayed by an hour may seem like a small inconvenience in a country where delays have become part of daily life. But when that delay is caused not by a fallen tree or a faulty signal, but by two railway officials arguing mid-journey, it becomes more than a story about a single train. It becomes a metaphor for an entire system that has long lost direction, discipline and dignity. The recent incident on the Beliatta–A'pura line, where an assistant guard reportedly hit the brakes more..

Nov 12 (DM) Last week, Veteran journalist D.B.S. Jeyaraj, writing the first of a two-part article on Mahinda Rajapaksa turning 80, aptly surmised the protagonist as demonised by the opponents and deified by supporters. While I am not particularly interested in the birthdays of politicians, this made me ponder Mahinda Rajapaksa’s legacy in SL politics. That was also in relation to a recent debate on social media about the most successful SL president, for which the analyst in question more..

Nov 12 (SO) Govt’s decision last week to restrict wind power development on Mannar Island to three projects has again drawn attention to how SL balances its renewable energy ambitions with environmental safeguards, local livelihoods, and the influence of external financiers. Operations at the State-owned Thambapavani wind power plant will continue, while two private projects, 20 MW Windscape Mannar plant more..

Nov 12 (CT) A train delayed by an hour may seem like a small inconvenience in a country where delays have become part of daily life. But when that delay is caused not by a fallen tree or a faulty signal, but by two railway officials arguing mid-journey, it becomes more than a story about a single train. It becomes a metaphor for an entire system that has long lost direction, discipline and dignity. The recent incident on the Beliatta–Anuradhapura line, where an assistant guard reportedly hit the brakes more..

Nov 12 (DM) For most Sri Lankans, getting from home to work is not just part of the day, it is a daily battle. Every morning, buses and trains are packed to the brim, people hang from doors, and tempers flare as commuters push their way through a system that seems to have forgotten who it’s meant to serve. It’s not just about inconvenience. Public transport in SL is broken and the truth is we have known it for years. The buses are old, the trains are slow, and there’s no sign of a plan that truly puts more..

Nov 11 (DM) The govt has taken steps to strengthen the operational capacity of the Department of Prisons by approving the purchase of essential vehicles required for its duties related to court operations and inmate welfare. The Department had identified the need for additional vehicles to efficiently manage the transportation of suspects remanded by various courts across the country and to support other welfare-related services within the prison system. more..

Nov 11 (DM) Claiming that the govt is boasting of an overflowing treasury, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said today that anyone, even a Montessori kid can fill the Treasury by overly taxing the people. He told Parliament that the govt has overly taxed the people and collected over Rs. 287 billion as state revenue exceeding the revenue target of 15 percent of the GDP set by the IMF. He said according to the IMF condition, revenue target for 2025 is 15% of the GDP and said more..

Nov 11 (DM) SL’s latest budget reaffirms the govt’s commitment to reducing debt as a share of GDP over the medium term, according to Fitch Ratings, which noted that strong revenue performance will remain vital for meeting fiscal goals. The 2026 Budget, presented on November 7, sets a deficit target of 5.1% of GDP, slightly higher than the 4.5% expected in 2025. However, this is still a marked improvement from earlier projections. more..

Nov 11 (AD) Police Media Spokesman, ASP F.U. Wootler has urged the general public to refrain from posting selfies or other social media updates that reveal their location while on excursions, pilgrimages, or other trips. ASP Wootler explained that such posts could provide useful information to criminals targeting travelers or their residences. He emphasized the importance of carefully selecting the vehicles and drivers used for excursions, particularly for trips involving school children, more..

Nov 11 (NW) Sri Lanka’s rising table tennis prodigy, Taavi Samaraweera, has achieved a historic milestone by climbing to No. 3 in the latest Under-11 Boys’ World Table Tennis Rankings — the highest position ever attained by a SL player at any age level. According to the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) rankings released this week, Samaraweera surged 52 places to reach the third spot with 200 points, trailing Uganda’s Joseph Sebatindira and Qatar’s Rabeah Al-Kuwari. more..

Nov 11 (DM) The road network that had its origin in foot paths through hard terrain has developed to an expressway today. The first highway in the country is the enchanting Colombo– Kandy highway which was designated route number one or A1. Colombo–Kandy highway of which the construction work commenced in 1820 was completed in 1824; it is is 201 years today. The old Colombo-Kandy road along Kelany Valley more..

Nov 11 (DM) The GMOA has warned that SL’s free health system is facing a severe crisis, accusing the 2026 Budget of failing to address chronic issues such as shortages of staff, medicines, and essential medical equipment. In a statement issued following an emergency Central Committee meeting held today, the GMOA said the country’s health service had reached a critical stage, with hospitals struggling to maintain patient care due to dwindling resources and inadequate facilities. more..

Nov 11 (AD) A petition requesting the Court of Appeal to order the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) and the Jaffna Municipal Council to formulate a program aimed at reducing air pollution in Jaffna is scheduled to be taken up on January 22, 2026. The petition was filed by Dr. Uma Sukhi Nadarajah and was taken up today (11) before the Court of Appeal Bench comprising the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando. more..

Nov 11 (NW) The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to restructure the SL Housing Development Finance Corporation Bank and the State Mortgage and Investment Bank, in a move aimed at ensuring financial stability and safeguarding depositor interests. The proposal, presented by the President, involves transferring the govt’s shares in the SL Housing Development Finance Corporation Bank to Bank of Ceylon (BOC), allowing it to operate as a subsidiary of BOC. more..

Nov 11 (TM) NSBM Green University proudly marked its 9th Anniversary on 26th Oct, celebrating nearly a decade of excellence, growth, and innovation in SL’s higher education landscape. This significant milestone was commemorated through a series of special activities held under the patronage of Vice Chancellor, Prof. E.A. Weerasinghe, honouring the university’s inspiring journey and its vision for the future. The anniversary celebrations began with invoking religious blessings more..

Nov 11 (DM) Air quality in several parts of SL has plunged to unhealthy levels, driven by a mix of local pollution and smoke drifting from neighbouring nations, including northern India, experts warn. According to real-time data from AQI, the affected areas include Kaduruwela, Chilaw, Akaragama, Wanduragala, Digana, Madampagama, Hungama, Akkaraipattu, Kalawana, Mulliyawalai, Pannankandy, Adampan, Uppuveli, and more..

Nov 11 (Island) Bangladesh has requested Sri Lanka to streamline the pharmaceuticals products registration process. The two sides have agreed to work for trade facilitation and the early convening of the meetings of the Trade Negotiating Committee, Joint Working Group on Trade and Shipping, Foreign Ministry here said, adding that both sides emphasised the importance of enhanced engagement of the private sectors and their chambers. Sri Lanka appreciated the support more..

Nov 11 (AD) Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to the proposal by the Prez in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Plan Implementation and Economic Development to formulate a bill to ensure the prevention of nationalization of private properties and also guarantee policy stability related to investments. In the 2025 Budget, a proposal was presented to introduce a new act to realize the objectives of prevention of capricious nationalization of private properties including more..

Nov 11 (DM) SL has been ranked third in South Asia for insufficient physical activity, according to a report by the WHO. According to a study by the WHO, 37.2% of adults above 18 are not involved in adequate physical activities required for a healthy life. The study, which was conducted by WHO in 2022, showed that women in general had a lower rate of physical activity than men, with 44.8% of women having insufficient physical activity more..

Nov 11 (Island) In terms of a MoU between National Centre for Good Governance of India (NCGG) and SL Institute of Development Administration (SLIDA), so far 241 civil service officers had received training in India, a spokesperson for the Indian HC said. The MoU in this regard was signed in Dec 2024 during Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s state visit to India in Dec 2024. MoU provides for capacity building of 1500 SL civil service officers, over a period of five years, the official said. more..

Nov 11 (NW) The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a five-year strategic plan, including the assigning of one science graduate to each of the 315 Vidatha Resource Centers across SL. The plan aims to strengthen the Technology for Villages initiative and expand scientific outreach in rural communities. The 2026–2030 plan, introduced by the Ministry of Science and Technology, focuses on enhancing the role of Vidatha Centers in delivering localized, research-based technological solutions. more..