Feb 9 (TM) With a specific law in force and a court case currently pending, Ministry of Fisheries stated that it is unable to accede to demands by madela net fishermen to lift the ban on the use of tractor-mounted winches. Secretary to the Ministry Dr. Kolitha Jinadasa said the Ministry’s position is constrained by the Madela Net Fishing Regulations of 1984, as amended, which were issued under the main fisheries law and more..

Feb 9 (DM) Govt Radiological Technologists’ Association (GRTA) has decided to call off the trade union action that was scheduled to commence today, following the Health Ministry’s move to implement key recommendations related to the Maligawatta Kidney Hospital inquiry. The decision was taken, after authorities issued written orders to temporarily transfer the Deputy Director of the Maligawatta Kidney Hospital, in line with recommendations contained in the interim investigation report. more..

Feb 9 (AD) The digitalizing and decentralizing the President’s Fund through Divisional Secretariat offices has led to a 59% increase in medical assistance applications within one year. In 2025, a total of 5,277 applications were received by the President’s Fund. A total of 3,313 applications were received in 2024 and 3,456 applications in 2023. As a result of the digitalization and decentralization process, the number of applications in 2025 increased by 1,964 compared to 2024. more..

Feb 9 (NW) The inaugural ceremony for the distribution of mobile library vehicles to ten selected local govt authorities in the Western Province, under Arunu Dora National Reading Promotion Programme implemented in parallel with the Clean Sri Lanka National Programme, was held this morning (7) at the Presidential Secretariat. Under the first phase of the project, ten mobile library vehicles equipped with modern facilities, more..

Feb 9 (FT) Indian Acting High Commissioner to SL Dr. Satyanjal Pandey said India’s rapid economic expansion, coupled with its continued engagement with open trade and investment, offers Sri Lanka a rare opportunity to anchor recovery and long-term growth in a volatile geoeconomic environment. Addressing policy thinkers, diplomats, and business leaders at the inaugural Colombo Geoeconomics Conference (CGC) 2026, organised by the Centre for Law and Security Studies (CLASS) and more..

Feb 9 (NW) Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL) has expressed serious concern over what it describes as growing threats to freedom of expression in the country, particularly the targeting of journalists through police investigations into alleged defamation. Commission cited the recent summoning of journalist Tharindu Jayawardena for a police inquiry without disclosure of reasons, later revealed to be linked to complaints over his reporting on alleged corruption involving public funds. more..

Feb 9 (NW) Toronto police have arrested a Sri Lankan influencer, charging him with four counts of criminal harassment following a series of incidents involving the non-consensual filming of strangers. Police allege the 45-year-old man repeatedly approached individuals in public spaces across Toronto, filming them in ways that caused them significant discomfort. He was taken into custody on Dec 10, 2025, and recently appeared at the Ontario Court of Justice on Feb 4, 2026. more..

Feb 9 (TM) Dept of Posts has announced an increase in postal charges with effect from today. Accordingly, the minimum postal charge has been revised to Rs. 70. In addition, the fee for registered letters will be increased by Rs. 20, rising from Rs. 110 to Rs. 130. There have been reports the Postal Dept is not generating sufficient income to sustain its services and was exploring measures to improve financial viability, including revising tariffs and expanding revenue-generating services. more..

Feb 9 (TM) Ongoing trade union actions are to intensify following the Govt’s continued failure in fulfilling agreements that were previously reached in order to resolve issues faced by part of the State health sector’s human resources, the GMOA warned. GMOA Assistant Secretary Dr. Hansamal Weerasuriya, reiterated that future trade union action would be determined following the meeting taking place on Wednesday (11). more..

Feb 9 (FT) Fort Magistrate’s Court has discharged a criminal complaint filed by CC Trust Ltd, against Asia Capital, ruling that the Court lacked jurisdiction to proceed with the matter. The case, bearing no. MC Fort 36569/24, was instituted by CC Trust alleging criminal breach of trust in relation to a sum of $ 5,999,965, with an alternative charge of dishonest misappropriation under Section 389 of the Penal Code. The proceedings were initiated under Section 139(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code, more..

Feb 9 (FT) Dialog Axiata has announced strong financial results for the 2025 financial year (FY25), with mobile, fixed line, and digital pay TV businesses recording a positive core revenue growth of 16% year-to-date (YTD). Group headline revenue reached Rs. 179.6 billion, up 5% YTD, despite the continued strategic scaling down of a low-margin international wholesale business. In the fourth quarter of 2025, revenue was recorded at Rs. 46.5 billion up 2% quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) and more..

Feb 9 (ST) A World Bank delegation visiting SL next month will discuss plans to revive a string of projects that were stalled due to the 2022-23 economic crisis. Minister Vijitha Herath said that stalled projects—including those in education, highways, and other infrastructure—as well as new projects, would be discussed with the visiting WB team, with the intention of completing them in the next five years. Team is expected to discuss devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah & assistance required by SL. more..

Feb 9 (DM) Russia is turning to South Asia, including SL, to address a widening labour shortage that has been exacerbated by the war in Ukraine and long-term demographic shifts. A report by Bloomberg highlights that Russian recruiters are aggressively scouting for workers in SL, India, and Bangladesh as Moscow faces its most severe workforce crisis in decades. With an estimated need for 11 million additional workers by the end of the decade, the Russian economy is pivoting away from more..

Feb 9 (FT) SL’s foreign exchange earnings from tourism edged lower in January despite recording its highest-ever monthly increase in visitor arrivals, highlighting persistent pressure on per-capita spending even as the sector seeks to regain its pre-crisis footing. Tourism revenue fell 6% YoY to $ 378.5 million in Jan 2026. However, January experienced a 23% increase compared with Dec 2025, reflecting winter holiday season. more..

Feb 9 (ST) The Tourism Ministry is set to submit next week the Cabinet paper for approval of the tourism promotion campaign to be carried out at a cost of Rs. 5 billion. SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam said that the initial approval from Cabinet for the promotional campaign will be for Rs.5 billion which will cover 12 foreign markets. The paper that has been discussed with the relevant stakeholders is to be submitted to Cabinet next week, he said. more..

Feb 9 (DM) Raising questions on the extension of the state of emergency by another month, the opposition yesterday queried as to whether such laws are necessary to provide relief to those who are affected by the Ditwah Cyclone. Speaking during the parliamentary debate on the emergency, Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekara raised concerns over the activation of Section 19 of the Public Security Ordinance through the latest gazette notification. “Section 19 bans the spreading of rumours more..

Feb 9 (FT) SL will not face another sovereign debt crisis and will commence repayment of its restructured external debt as scheduled, CB Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said, dismissing what he described as unfounded fears of a renewed default around 2028. Governor rejected claims that Govt and CBSL would be unable to meet upcoming debt service obligations, warning that such narratives risk undermining investor more..

Feb 9 (AD) At least three people have died in an accident involving a car and a motorcycle in Amithirigala, Thalduwa this afternoon (8), police stated. The car travelling from Amithirigala to Thalduwa collided head-on with a motorcycle traveling in the opposite direction and following the impact, the car veered off the road and plunged into a precipice. The impact also resulted in the motorcycle bursting into flames. Five individuals, who were injured in the accident more..

Feb 9 (FT) Elephant House in January marked 160 years of building trust across generations, an exceptional milestone in the country’s corporate and consumer brand history. The anniversary recognises a legacy shaped by quality, reliability, and relevance, while reaffirming Elephant House’s focus on innovation, sustainability, and long-term growth under the John Keells Group. Marketed and manufactured by Ceylon Cold Stores PLC (CCS), Elephant House traces its origins to more..

Feb 9 (CI) Sixteen balls into their World Cup opener against hosts Sri Lanka, Ross Adair went to his left from midwicket to get his hands on a chance off Kamil Mishara's bat, and the ball danced away from his clutches. This was to become a theme. All through the innings, as if enlivened by the papare flowing down from the stands, the ball shimmied away from Ireland hands, whirled away like a dervish just over their heads, hopped out of closing palms like an Australian breakdancer, more..

Feb 9 (Island) Politicians cannot bring themselves to let go of power after savouring it and do everything possible to retain their hold thereon. This may explain why excessive powers vested in the executive presidency, draconian laws such as the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), and the misuse of Emergency regulations have survived successive govts led by self-righteous leaders who promised to protect democracy during election campaigns. Only Prez J.R. Jayewardene (JRJ) made more..

Feb 9 (CI) Catches win matches. Ireland dropped seven, of varying difficulty, and that proved to be a major factor in their 20-run loss to SL at the R Premadasa Stadium. Sent in, SL started briskly but the Ireland spinners George Dockrell and Gareth Delany handcuffed them in the middle overs. After 16 overs, they were on 104 for 4. That they could add another 59 to finish on a competitive 163 for 6 was down to Ireland's sloppy fielding. more..

Feb 9 (DM) The tension in the Shaw Wallace & Hedges boardroom was palpable that day in the mid-1970s. Around the polished mahogany table sat the board of directors of a multinational conglomerate with over a century of unbroken dominance in Tea Industry and Ceylon’s markets. The writer, who had joined as a school leaver and served the firm for sixteen years, witnessed the confrontation that would become legendary. At the head sat Eric Shattock, more..

Feb 9 (ST) The fact that the extension of the State of Emergency was approved by Parliament with reportedly just two opposing votes says more about the paralysis of the political Opposition in the country than the mala fides of the JVP led NPP Govt in placing the extension before the House in the first instance. There was an odd juxtaposition here. The proverbial ink had not dried on a cautionary statement issued by the Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL) earlier this week on more..

Feb 9 (CT) The appointment of 19 newly recruited women bus conductors to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) last Friday at the Makumbura Multimodal Transport Centre is, on the surface, a modest administrative milestone. Yet, beneath the ceremony, the new uniforms and the formal exchange of appointment letters lies a far more consequential question: can Sri Lanka finally begin to reclaim its public transport system as a space of safety, dignity and equal access for women? more..

Feb 9 (TM) Few political promises carried as much symbolic and democratic weight as the NPP pledge to abolish the long-disputed Executive Presidency. When Anura Kumara Dissanayake went before the electorate in 2024, the commitment was unambiguous. The Executive Presidency would be dismantled, its sweeping powers curtailed, and a parliamentary system restored as the centre of democratic governance. It was not a peripheral promise. It was the moral core of the NPP’s more..

Feb 9 (SO) Prabhakaran’s house to be renovated and handed over to his sister! blared a Sinhala newspaper headline earlier this week. The claim spread like wildfire, hopping from social media feed to feed, with another outlet going a step further, The house of Prabhakaran to be restored for public viewing. As the frenzy grew, the original report quietly morphed online into The proposal to renovate Prabhakaran’s home passed!. more..

Feb 9 (CT) SL’s recent fiscal history has exposed the limits of traditional taxation strategies. The period following 2024 was defined by a reliance on high, often punitive tax rates, imposed to meet immediate revenue needs amid economic crisis. While these measures may have temporarily bolstered state coffers, they were socially and economically unsustainable. The burden fell disproportionately on a narrow segment of the population, creating resentment, discouraging entrepreneurship, more..

Feb 9 (DM) Colombo was once a city that attracted people with the promise of opportunity and a better future. Families moved here hoping for good jobs, education and a comfortable life. Today, however, many residents feel that living in Colombo has become a daily struggle rather than a dream fulfilled. Prices continue to rise while incomes struggle to keep pace, and ordinary families are feeling the pressure. Recent data shows how serious the problem has become. more..

Feb 9 (TM) SL housing market is poised for its most significant legislative transformation in over half a century as the Govt moves to repeal the Rent Act No.7 of 1972. In a major shift away from the pro-tenant statutory tenancy model that has governed the island since the socialist reforms of the 1970s, Ministry of Justice has gazetted two accompanying pieces of legislation that are said to be aimed at liberalising the market more..

Feb 9 (DM) In January, a Cabinet appointed committee published a call for views and suggestions on a mechanism to enable citizens living abroad to vote in SL elections. The closing date is the 15th of Feb. Several organisations have already responded, suggesting among other things that the more urgent problems are the difficulties experienced by the bed-ridden and the disabled, and by groups such as hospital and security employees who live in this country but more..

Feb 9 (Island) On a quiet morning, when mist lifts gently over paddy fields and birds begin their songs, few of us pause to think about the water beneath our feet. Yet that water, so easily taken for granted, often comes from wetlands—marshes, village tanks, rivers and floodplains that quietly sustain everyday life. They feed our fields, protect our homes, support wildlife, and shape the cultures we inherit. This article is part of a month-long public awareness campaign led by more..