Sep 16 (DM) Sri Lanka sits at a crucial global crossroads, transitioning from a historical focus on India and China to an arena of broader international focus. With rising attention from the United States, Japan, France, and NATO, Colombo faces a vital crossroads. Navigating this heightened geopolitical presence requires a shift from choosing allies to balancing multi-lateral interests. By prioritizing strategic autonomy, technological sovereignty, and a cohesive security framework, more..

Sep 16 (SO) The controversy surrounding the Govt’s proposal to extend the compulsory retirement age of Superior Court judges has generated intense opposition from sections of the legal profession, particularly the Bar Association of SL (BASL). The principal concern expressed is that such an extension could undermine the independence of the judiciary. That concern deserves serious consideration. Judicial independence is a fundamental pillar of democracy and must never be compromised. more..

Sep 16 (GV) As climate shocks intensify and global investors look to water as the next frontier, Sri Lanka faces a defining choice: defend its rivers and aquifers as a public trust or let scarcity turn a basic right into a business opportunity. There is a phrase increasingly used in meetings about SL’s future: natural capital. It sounds benign, even sensible. It suggests that forests, wetlands, rivers and groundwater should be properly valued rather than treated as expendable. more..

Sep 16 (TM) Sexual health and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) medicine plays an important role in SL, not only in preventing and treating HIV and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and infections (STIs), but also in addressing sexual health problems that people may find difficult to discuss due to social and cultural sensitivities. We spoke to Consultant Venereologist at the National STD, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Control Programme (NSACP), more..

Sep 16 (CT) Apart from Nelson Mandela, there have been many philosophers and social activists who have emphasized the importance of educational reforms for social change and development. Among these were Confucius, Plato, Aristotle, Karl Marx, Mahatma Gandhi, Benjamin Franklin, Albert Einstein etc. We here however are not going to discuss the whole range of philosophical and world issues. We are focusing on SL and raising some crucial issues in the school and university education. more..

Sep 16 (ST) Progress made in terms of women’s empowerment and the many challenges that still lay ahead were discussed at length when Parliament debated the Determination under the Women Empowerment Act, specifying the remunerations and allowances of the Chairperson and Members of the National Commission on Women (NCW). Tabling the motion in Parliament, Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj hailed the passage of the Women Empowerment Act in 2024 as a landmark legislation more..

Sep 15 (NW) The 1,000-unit Port View Residencies housing complex in Grandpass, Colombo, was officially launched on Sept 15, with the first group of beneficiaries moving into their new homes. Minister Bimal Rathnayake, who attended the launch, said around 250 families had moved into the complex, while the govt expects around 750 families to be settled within the next eight months, before April 2027. Authorities had decided to move residents into the 1,000-unit complex in stages more..

Sep 15 (CI) In flashing bright neon the warning signs are there, clear for all to see. And if you're of SL persuasion, the overhead announcement is likely already underway to assume the brace position ahead of the upcoming spate of white-ball fixtures against England. This one won't be easy, folks. In flashing bright neon the warning signs are there, clear for all to see. And if you're of SL persuasion, the overhead announcement is likely already underway to assume the brace position more..

Sep 15 (NW) Ministry of Women and Child Affairs has announced a new safeguard for public service recruitment, requiring individuals, particularly those entering jobs directly involving children, to obtain a certificate confirming they have not been accused of child crimes. Minister Saroja Paulraj said the relevant Cabinet paper has already been submitted. The measure is designed to ensure that only individuals free of child‑related more..

Sep 15 (NW) A massive water supply initiative, the Kalu Ganga Water Project, is set to begin with the aim of meeting the drinking water needs of nearly 500,000 families in Kalutara and Colombo districts. Project, estimated at Rs. 73 billion, will be implemented under a Japan Int'l Cooperation Agency (JICA) loan assistance. A high‑level discussion on the project was held under the leadership of Minister Susil Ranasinghe, with participation from Honzu Shigeo, more..

Sep 15 (AD) Former Commander of the SL Air Force (SLAF), Air Chief Marshal Donald Perera recorded a statement with the FCID as part of an investigation into the controversial MiG fighter aircraft deal. Former He was summoned by the FCID to provide information regarding the procurement and financial arrangements surrounding the purchase of MiG fighter aircraft by Sri Lanka. He was summoned as part of an ongoing investigation into the controversial transaction. more..

Sep 15 (DM) Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has moved swiftly to replace the competition javelins damaged during transit for SL world champion Rumesh Tharanga, with the cost to be fully covered by the govt. Minister of Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage said that a new set of high-grade competition javelins will be purchased for the athlete, ensuring that the damage does not disrupt his training and preparations for upcoming more..

Sep 15 (NW) SL Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) has urged the public to adopt stronger online safety practices to protect themselves and their families from sextortion, a growing form of cyber‑enabled abuse. Sextortion occurs when perpetrators threaten to release intimate images or videos unless victims comply with demands, often for money, more images, or sexual activity. According to SLCERT, such crimes can affect adults, teenagers, and children, more..

Sep 15 (NW) The Moragolla Housing Project in the Hali Ela Divisional Secretariat Division, which was stalled for more than a decade, is set to resume, with second phase construction beginning tomorrow (16). The project was originally launched in 2011 to provide homes for 54 families displaced by a landslide in the Moragolla estate area. However, despite initial plans, not a single house was completed and handed over by 2025, leaving families in hardship for nearly 14 years. more..

Sep 15 (NW) SL Police have called on the public to actively assist in curbing serious road accidents by reporting reckless bus drivers through a dedicated WhatsApp hotline – 070 4755600. DIG W.P.J. Senadeera, in charge of the Traffic Control, said that the hotline has already received numerous complaints, including dashcam footage and smartphone videos. A majority of submissions point to bus drivers operating after consuming drugs, which Police have identified as a major more..

Sep 15 (NW) Parliament has approved new regulations aimed at ensuring the technical fitness and roadworthiness of vehicles used for passenger transport services in SL. The regulations cover passenger transport services regulated by the National Transport Commission, Provincial Road Passenger Transport Authorities and the Sri Lanka Transport Board. They will also apply to vehicles used for school transport, office transport and special tours operated on a hired basis. more..

Sep 15 (DM) There is no new dog tax and no provision to jail people for feeding stray dogs under SL’s newly gazetted Rabies Eradication and Dog Registration Act, Animal Welfare Coalition (AWC) Executive Member Dr. Chamith Nanayakkara said. He said several claims circulating on social media about the new legislation were misleading and had created unnecessary public alarm. He said dog registration was not a new requirement more..

Sep 15 (DM) Traders cannot provide sili-sili polythene bags free of charge to consumers when selling goods, Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) said. CAA said the requirement is contained in Direction No. 95, published under Extraordinary Gazette No. 2456/41 on Oct 1, 2025, which came into effect on Nov 1, 2025. Direction applies to bags made of Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) or Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) with handles, commonly known as sili-sili bags. more..

Sep 15 (EN) European Union-funded CIRCULAR project will provide 3 grants totalling 110,000 euros to support SL’s university-led research into reducing single-use plastics across Colombo and Galle’s food value chains. The funds will support research teams from Faculty of Agriculture at the Uni of Ruhuna, and Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Computing at the Uni of Kelaniya. “Through our research grant programme, we aim to generate evidence that can contribute to better policy, more..

Sep 15 (NF) Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has issued a stark warning that the world is approaching a critical turning point in the development of artificial intelligence, urging govts and technology companies to take immediate action to ensure that AI is governed responsibly before its risks spiral beyond human control. In an open letter released on Sept 14, the UN human rights chief acknowledged the enormous more..

Sep 15 (DM) Residents of Nuwara Eliya have raised concerns over the risk of traffic accidents caused by ponies roaming freely on public roads while being used for tourism activities. Dashboard-camera footage recorded from a vehicle travelling along a main road in Nuwara Eliya on Sept 13 showed an accident after a pony suddenly entered the roadway. Residents said several similar incidents had been reported previously, with some resulting in serious damage to vehicles and injuries to people. more..

Sep 15 (AM) The public has granted the Govt political power, but it has yet to gain full control over the State machinery, Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena said. Addressing a youth conference organised by the Socialist Youth Union, Gunasena said the presidency, a 159-seat parliamentary majority and the Cabinet had given the administration the authority to govern. However, he maintained that control over the broader State apparatus could not be secured overnight. more..

Sep 15 (DM) Cabinet approval has been granted to award the contract for providing global network infrastructure services to SriLankan Airlines Limited to SITA Switzerland SARL for a period of five years. The contract will cover the period from Oct 1, 2026 to Sept 30, 2031, and is intended to provide a secure, resilient and efficient global network infrastructure platform for the airline's critical operations. The network is required to interconnect key systems involved in air travel, more..

Sep 15 (EN) UNDP in SL has handed over 17 critical equipment to strengthen DNA laboratory of the Govt Analyst Dept to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the laboratory where evidence relating to SGBV and other crimes are concerned. Equipment includes an RT PCR machine, PCR system and Crime Lite Serology Kit. This initiative was a part of UNDP’s Ensuring Justice for Victim Survivors of SGBV in SL project funded by Govt of Canada and jointly implemented by UNFPA more..

Sep 15 (DM) GMOA has called for transport facilities or a special transport allowance for specialist doctors serving in remote areas, arguing that failing to provide such benefits amounts to an injustice. The demand is likely to trigger debate over whether additional privileges should be granted to already highly paid public-sector professionals, with the GMOA insisting that the issue is not about personal perks but about retaining specialist doctors more..

Sep 15 (NW) Cabinet has approved a proposal by the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs to declare 25 Sept to 1 Oct 2026 as National Children’s Week – 2026, coinciding with the annual Children’s Day celebrations on Oct 1. The initiative aims to strengthen social attention on children’s rights, education, health, and well‑being, while addressing the evolving challenges faced by children today. Officials noted that risks now extend beyond traditional child protection concerns to more..

Sep 15 (AD) Cabinet has approved the allocation of an additional Rs. 2.5 billion to the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) to purchase paddy harvested during the 2026 Yala season. The funds will be provided from the additional Rs. 7.5 billion allocated to Ministry of Agriculture to implement an accelerated paddy purchasing programme for the 2026 Yala season Cabinet approval was granted to a proposal submitted by Minister of Agriculture to provide Rs. 2.5 billion to PMB on a reimbursement basis. more..

Sep 15 (FT) For nearly a decade, the Hingurana Sugar Factory in Ampara stood as a monument to lost potential. Built in 1959 as a state-run enterprise and privatised in 1991, the factory drifted through years of underinvestment before the govt shut its doors in 1997. For the thousands of sugarcane farming families in the Gal Oya region who depended on it as their only buyer, the closure was the collapse of a livelihood. more..

Sep 15 (NW) Cabinet has approved a proposal to designate Prime Melwa (Pvt) Ltd as a primary enterprise of strategic importance under the provisions of Section 53 of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act No. 11 of 2021. The company is set to invest USD 112.2 mil (Rs. 15.95 bil) in a Landmark Mixed‑Use Waterfront Project within Colombo Port City. The development, which combines commercial, residential, and recreational facilities, is expected to generate around more..

Sep 15 (FT) I too, was about to succumb to the disease of forgetting. Fortunately, someone challenged a claim in a Facebook repost criticising the Govt’s sluggish response to the Ditwah displaced. So, I looked for official data to see if things have changed since 3 March 2026 when I wrote about housing for the Ditwah displaced. First thing I noticed was that the Govt had ceased to publish Ditwah-related situation reports after 17 April. Even international Govt organisations more..

Sep 15 (FT) I am in solidarity with the concerns of the legal profession about ensuring the independence of the judiciary. I am simultaneously in solidarity with the simple, less than privileged citizens of our country, whether from the village, town or city, who have endured years of laws delays in land, family and marital disputes, in enterprise related issues or in criminal cases. Thus, I enter this debate neither to defend nor to critique the legal profession, the Judiciary or the Govt, but more..

Sep 15 (NW) The Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena today issued a notice to the Director of Colombo National Hospital to appear in court on 22 Sept and explain the failure to submit medical reports concerning former State Intelligence Service Director Suresh Sallay. The order was made after Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris, appearing for the CID, requested the court to take action over the non‑submission of the reports. The reports were expected to clarify whether more..