Jan 22 (AD) PM Harini Amarasuriya has reaffirmed SL’s commitment to feminist, intersectional leadership and called on global actors to ensure that women and marginalised communities are not only participants, but principal architects of the policies shaping the future global order. PM noted that while women across the world are increasingly asserting agency in political, economic, and social spheres, their contributions continue more..

Jan 22 (AD) Ministry of Environment reports that a total of 189 public complaints related to wildlife and forest-related offences have been received to date. Investigations are currently underway into 94 of these complaints, while legal action has already been taken in connection with the remaining 95 cases. The complaints were received over the past two months following the introduction of the 1995 short-code hotline of the Wana Surekuma – Joint Operations Unit, launched more..

Jan 22 (CT) Northern Province Governor N. Vethanayagan claimed that, compared to previous administrations, a more favourable and investor-friendly environment has been created in the Northern Province under Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Governor delivered these remarks yesterday at the inauguration ceremony of the Northern Investment Summit. Investment Summit will conclude today. The event, attended by local and foreign investors, entrepreneurs, more..

Jan 22 (DM) CEB's arbitrary curtailment of power generation in the local renewable energy plants is causing a loss of almost Rs.2 billion, the Grid Connected Solar Power Association (GCSPA) said. According to GCSPA President Prabath Wickramasinghe, since Feb 2025, CEB has been arbitrarily curtailing the power generation at all large renewable energy plants on weekends and public holidays, from 9 am to 3 pm. more..

Jan 22 (PMD) The official tour showcasing the ICC T20 World Cup trophy, which will be jointly hosted by India and SL in 2026, was formally inaugurated today (21) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The trophy will be displayed in several major cities across the island from today (21) until the 24th, over a period of four days. Cricket fans will have the opportunity to see the golden trophy up close during the SL vs England ODI match more..

Jan 22 (NW) A 120-foot Bailey Bridge on the B-492 Kandy–Ragala Road was inaugurated today under India’s USD 450 million reconstruction and rehabilitation assistance to SL, aimed at restoring connectivity in areas affected by Cyclone Ditwah. The bridge was jointly opened by India’s Deputy High Commissioner to SL, Dr. Satyanjal Pandey, and Member of Parliament Manjula Suraweera Arachchi. The project restores a key transport link in the Central Province, improving access for more..

Jan 22 (PMD) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that the isolated functioning of institutions responsible for construction and land management, agriculture, livestock and environmental conservation has posed challenges in restoring the Central Highlands, which were devastated by Cyclone Ditwah. Prez further noted that efforts are underway to establish a new integrated framework, bringing together all relevant parties to swiftly safeguard and rebuild the Central Highlands. more..

Jan 22 (AM) A tuition teacher who referred to prominent SL author Martin Wickramasinghe as an idiot during a lesson has issued a public apology after a video of the remarks went viral on social media, prompting widespread criticism. The footage, circulated widely on platforms including TikTok and Facebook, shows the teacher dismissing Wickramasinghe’s literary stature before students during a class. In the video, he questions why Wickramasinghe — regarded as one of more..

Jan 22 (FT) Vehicle registrations surged in Dec 2025 to their highest level in a decade, with total registrations rising to 48,525 units, up from 43,810 units in Nov 2025. The increase was driven by strong volumes across the motor cars, pre-owned vehicles, hybrids, electric vehicles (EVs), and premium passenger segments. Comparative vehicle registration volumes for 2015, 2019, and 2025 indicate a marked shift in both scale more..

Jan 22 (Island) In a sobering and intellectually provocative lecture delivered yesterday at the Central Bank of SL, Dr. Arvind Subramanian, former Chief Economic Advisor to the Govt of India, posed a haunting question to the nation’s policymakers: Why has one of the world’s oldest democracies outside the West failed to leverage its political system to ensure economic stability? Titled Reviving Growth While Maintaining Stability, the lecture moved beyond technical prescriptions. more..

Jan 22 (DN) Sri Lankan Olympic athlete Tharushi Karunaratne, representing Texas A&M University, began the year with high expectations and delivered a strong performance by winning the silver medal in the 800m at the Corky Classic Sports Performance Center in the United States on Sunday. She clocked 2:08.62. The gold medal went to American athlete Georgia Scott, who finished in 2:07.49, while New Zealand’s Mackie Hilton claimed bronze in 2:08.83. The 21-year-old product of Walala Central more..

Jan 22 (TM) A letter to the Police from the Citizens of the People’s Struggle organisation, alleging a Fundamental Rights (FR) violation by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake during a recent statement in Jaffna, is currently under review by the CID. In the letter, the group has requested from the police the assurance of security and safety for the Buddhists residing in the North. ASP F.U. Wootler confirmed the Police had directed the said letter to the CID and the matter is under investigation. more..

Jan 22 (FT) Nations Trust Bank (NTB) has secured a debt financing package of up to $ 70 million from World Bank Group’s private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), to support the recovery of small businesses which were disproportionately affected by Sri Lanka’s multiple crises. This is the IFC’s first debt transaction in SL’s financial sector since the 2022 financial crisis. The investment forms part of the IFC’s longstanding partnership with NTB, more..

Jan 22 (TM) In the wake of revelations that nearly 23% of SL’s employed population could see their jobs affected by Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), Labour Ministry stated the issue would be discussed with the relevant stakeholders including the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC). Deputy Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe said that while no specific discussions have taken place on the matter yet, it will be taken up with more..

Jan 22 (TM) CBL Group, a SL diversified food manufacturing conglomerate, announced its acquisition of PT Tri Jaya Tangguh Indonesia (TJT), a large coconut processing facility, with an investment of over $ 25 million. TJT has a workforce of over 800 employees. The investment was supported by the Int'l Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. “This acquisition is a strategic step in increasing capacity and enabling geographic risk mitigation, more..

Jan 22 (FT) Blue Diamonds Jewellery Worldwide has said it is in discussions with a strategic investor in the jewellery industry as part of efforts to restore its capital position, after its net assets fell below the statutory threshold defined under the Companies Act. The company said the Board has determined that it has incurred a serious loss of capital, triggering the requirement to formally notify shareholders and convene an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM), which was held yesterday. more..

Jan 22 (DN) Sri Lanka, led by Charith Asalanka, will look to build momentum ahead of the World Cup when they take on England in the first ODI of a 3-match series today at the R.Premadasa Stadium, with the match scheduled to begin at 2:30 PM. The series will be played for the Damro Trophy, with Damro continuing as title sponsor as part of its 40th anniversary celebrations. The company’s long-standing commitment to Sri Lanka cricket, more..

Jan 22 (DM) Sri Lanka’s banks must rethink how they deploy capital, moving beyond a narrow focus on immediate financial returns to a “return on learning” approach that prioritises experimentation, data capability and long-term resilience, CB Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said, as climate risks and digital disruption increasingly shape financial sustainability. Dr. Weerasinghe noted that traditional return on investment (ROI) metrics are no longer sufficient in a financial system more..

Jan 22 (FT) The Govt has placed micro, small and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) as a key pillar of its economic recovery and stabilisation strategy, with a sweeping set of financial interventions rolling out to address longstanding funding constraints, post-crisis stress, and disaster-related disruptions. Through the Finance, Planning and Economic Development Ministry, it has intensified efforts to expand concessional lending, strengthen credit guarantees, and introduce relief mechanisms more..

Jan 22 (CT) SL’s chances of advancing to the semi-finals of the SAFF Futsal Tournament 2026 suffered a major blow after they were comprehensively beaten 5-1 by Bangladesh in a Group encounter played in Bangkok. Bangladesh showcased their attacking strength and tactical discipline to secure a convincing victory. Bangladesh drew first blood early in the match when Md Rahbar Wahed Khan opened the scoring in the 4th minute, taking advantage of a defensive lapse to put his side ahead. more..

Jan 22 (TM) Environment Ministry is preparing to consider policy changes to the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance, following discussions at the International Parliamentary Roundtable Discussion on Human-Wildlife Coexistence held in Gaborone, Botswana. Deputy Minister Anton Jayakody stated that as the said conference did not identify any long-term solution to eradicate the human-elephant conflict (HEC), the focus has shifted toward mitigating the gravity of the issue. more..

Jan 22 (ST) A wide gap between wholesale and retail vegetable prices is currently being observed. While wholesale prices continue to drop at sourcing hubs, retail prices remain high by the time the produce reaches the consumer. Consumers said that when the vegetables reach the people the prices are high. Factors of demand and supply, transportation, intervention of middle men as well as tactics more..

Jan 22 (Island) We express our profound concern and deep outrage at the vulgar, misogynistic, and defamatory attacks being directed at PM and Minister of Education, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya. Dr. Amarasuriya is not merely a political leader; she is a scholar, public intellectual, and lifelong advocate of social justice, equality, and education. Attempts to discredit her through personal abuse rather than reasoned policy debate are not only an insult to her, but an assault on democratic values, more..

Jan 22 (Island) Former South Korean PM Han Duck-soo was yesterday sentenced to 23 years in prison for aiding and abetting the insurrection of the impeached former Prez Yoon Suk-yeol in 2024. The court confirmed that Yoon’s declaration of emergency martial law on 3 Dec, 2024 constituted an insurrection aimed at subverting the constitutional order. It pointed out that Han had helped provide a procedural facade of legitimacy for the illegal martial law by holding an unlawful Cabinet meeting. more..

Jan 22 (TM) As the globe transitions through a period of flux, Canadian PM Mark Carney’s address at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos may be remembered as a historic statement of fact about the changing world order. Carney stated what many in the Global South knew for a long time, and the collective West opted not to acknowledge it thus far. That the so-called rules-based order the world enjoyed post-Cold War was but a farce. While Europe and the blighted more..

Jan 22 (ST) Before aiming for a phenomenal 3 million tourist arrivals this year, as promised by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath, shouldn’t we consider whether the carrying capacity – the number of tourists that the country can cater to, based on its resources – is adequate? This was the discussion I had with Ruwanputha, a young economist, when he called on Thursday morning. “Are we going too fast in speeding up tourist arrivals,” he asked. more..

Jan 22 (TM) The 1990 Suwa Seriya ambulance service, established under the 1990 Suwa Seriya Foundation Act No.18 of 2018, has become a central component of SL’s emergency healthcare system, providing free islandwide pre-hospital care. First 1990 ambulance was launched in Hambantota on 27 July 2016 with the support of a grant from the Govt of India. Operating under the Health Ministry, the service provides rapid access to emergency more..

Jan 22 (GV) Gammaduwa is among the most beautiful and remote villages I have visited. Its very soil has provided for the cultivation of tea, cinnamon, cardamon and pepper. The fresh air we breathed, the fresh water we sipped and dipped in and the fresh food we enjoyed are fresh in my memory. The walks for miles and miles amid the green and beautiful scenery was enjoyable despite the steep hills. The beauty and freshness could still be seen and felt when I visited Gammaduwa again on more..

Jan 22 (DM) The following anecdote should interest Sri Lankans who want to mimic Singapore but are unwilling to accept the trade-offs that come with it. Last week, the PM of Singapore stripped the opposition leader, Pritam Singh, of his ceremonial title after the court found him lying to Parliament. Mr. Singh, who heads the Centre-Left Workers Party, was found guilty of lying under oath to a Parliamentary committee during a probe into former MP Raeesah Khan. more..

Jan 22 (SO) The NPP-led Govt, which repealed special perks for former Presidents in Sept 2025, has moved to repeal the Parliamentary Pensions Law, No, 1 of 1977 to abolish the MPs’ pensions. This is likely to pass soon. The sequence aligns with the NPP’s policy manifesto, which explicitly pledged to abolish post-Presidential and MPs’ perks and pension privileges. Govt gazetted the Bill titled the Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Act of 2026 more..

Jan 22 (CT) The decision to raise the national minimum wage in the private sector from Rs 27,000 to Rs 30,000, effective 1 January 2026, marks more than a numerical adjustment. It is a statement of intent at a time when the dignity of work, the sanctity of lawful employment and the survival of household economies remain under severe strain. Announced under the National Minimum Wage of Employees (Amendment) Act, No. 11 of 2025, the revision also raises the daily wage to Rs 1,200, reinforcing more..

Jan 22 (DM) During his recent visit to Jaffna, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake highlighted actions of Sinhala-Buddhist extremists. He said that some would pass by the Sri Maha Bodhi and observe sil in the North, but these actions are done with an intention of spreading hate. He said that people were left without houses, their loved ones, much loved belongings and property in the aftermath of the war. Therefore, SL doesn’t need another war or bloody racial tensions fueled by extremist agendas. more..