Nov 25 (AD) Minister Vijitha Herath today (24) held discussions with the High Commissioner of Canada in Colombo, Isabelle Catherine Martin. During the meeting, Foreign Minister has urged her to convey to the Canadian Govt the need to prevent activities that promote separatist ideologies in Sri Lanka, including the recognition of LTTE insignia and activities aimed at fostering divisions among the ethnic communities in Sri Lanka. more..

Nov 25 (DN) Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala informed Parliament that a probe is currently underway regarding the removal of signboards at several archaeological sites in the Batticaloa district and that the persons involved will be arrested and the law will be enforced in accordance with the court’s decision. Making a statement about the incident yesterday, Minister said that complaints have been made to the Valachchenai and Kokkadicholai Police Stations more..

Nov 25 (AD) The Badulla–Colombo main road, which was blocked due to a landslide between Beragala and Haldummulla, has been restricted to a single lane, police said. Issuing a statement, the police confirmed that the landslide had occurred last night (24). However, the Disaster Management Center (DMC) stated that the area remains at risk of further landslides. Road Development Authority (RDA) officers are scheduled to inspect the site of the landslide this morning (25). more..

Nov 25 (NW) The GMOA has given the authorities 48 hours to announce a clear time frame for resolving long-standing issues affecting doctors and the public health system, warning that failure to do so could result in intensified trade union action. The GMOA said the 2025 budget has failed to provide meaningful solutions to the genuine problems faced by doctors and healthcare staff, creating serious uncertainty over future of SL’s free healthcare more..

Nov 25 (TM) Sri Lanka is facing a critical shortage of maize, forcing producers to buy raw materials at sharply higher prices and rely heavily on imports, All Ceylon Egg Producers Association (ACEPA) warned. The shortage is also expected to affect the production of Thriposha, the State’s long-running nutritional supplement distributed to mothers and children. ACEPA Secretary Ratnasiri Alahakoon said that the country requires 650,000 metric tonnes (MT) of maize annually, but more..

Nov 25 (NW) Govt has launched a new programme to convert old fuel-powered three-wheelers into electric vehicles, Minister Chrishantha Abeysena announced. Initiative also explores the possibility of fitting solar panels on the roofs of three-wheelers to improve energy efficiency and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. According to the Minister, converting petrol-powered three-wheelers to electric offers major advantages, allowing existing vehicles to remain in use while eliminating fuel costs. more..

Nov 25 (AD) An individual has been arrested in connection with the removal of signboards at archaeological sites in the Batticaloa District. The individual has been arrested in Kiran, Batticaloa. Meanwhile, the Valaichchenai Police have recovered the signboards removed by the suspects. The Chairman of the Valaichchenai Pradeshiya Sabha, who is linked to the incident, has fled the area and four police teams are conducting investigations to locate him. more..

Nov 25 (NW) Hotel De Plaza in Colpetty has issued an official statement following the circulation of a viral video showing an altercation between its staff and a group of customers, clarifying that the footage does not reflect the full sequence of events. According to the management, incident occurred on the evening of Nov 22, when a group attempted to place an order while the restaurant was operating at full capacity. Staff informed them of an approximate 30-minute waiting time and more..

Nov 25 (FT) JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva assured members of the Sri Lankan community in London that the NPP-led Govt remains firmly committed to delivering deep social and economic transformation during its five-year mandate. “We are working with an aim, with a plan, and we are reaching those targets gradually. We have no right to mess up the people’s mandate. Our aim is to create a new society, and we will do it,” he said more..

Nov 25 (FT) US Ambassador Julie Chung called on PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya last week at the Parliament of Sri Lanka and discussed matters of bilateral interest. During the meeting Ambassador Julie Jiyoon Chung noted the progress of Peace Corps initiatives and other collaborative programs in education and cultural exchange carried out by United Nations, underscoring educational ties between the two countries along with Fulbright international exchange program. more..

Nov 25 (DM) A mobile testing bus designed to detect drug use among passenger bus drivers and conductors was launched today by the National Transport Medicine Institute (NTMI) at the Makumbura Multimodal Transport Centre. The initiative was introduced under the patronage of Transport Minister Bimal Ratnayake. The specially equipped mobile unit will conduct random tests on drivers and conductors working on passenger buses across the island. more..

Nov 25 (ST) Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody has made legal representations to the CIABOC, which is probing allegations that he had misappropriated funds while serving at the Fertiliser Corporation in 2015, a senior official said. The minister has requested that a written submission be considered before action is filed against him. Earlier the Commission had given approval to CIABOC Director General Ranga Dissanayake to file legal action against the minister. more..

Nov 25 (FT) The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) yesterday announced that 200,000 new taxpayers have been registered so far this year pushing individual taxpayers to 1.2 million, reflecting continued improvements in the country’s tax administration and compliance efforts. Addressing a special media briefing organised by the Government Information Department, Senior Deputy Commissioner P. Nandana Kumara said the revenue collection continues strong upward trend. more..

Nov 25 (TM) The Citizen Power Against Bribery, Corruption, and Waste organisation has urged the CIABOC to launch an inquiry into the alleged irregularities surrounding SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa’s entry to the SL Law College (SLLC). The organisation lodged a complaint late last week, calling for action against those who may have facilitated Rajapaksa’s admission to the SLLC and political authorities responsible for the same. more..

Nov 25 (DN) The country’s fiscal indicators were very positive, with controlled expenditure, stable revenue growth, budget deficit reduction and impressive primary balance, Dr. Nishan de Mel, Director of Verité Research said addressing a budget seminar organized by the OPA recently in Colombo. However, he warned that real indicators were troubling, as employment is at a 20-year low, real incomes remain below 2018 levels, and poverty has doubled since 2019. more..

Nov 25 (DN) SL cricket team is expected to come back strongly in their must win Tri series T-20 game against Zimbabwe which will be played today at Rawalpindi Stadium commencing at 6.30pm. Pakistan, having three consecutive wins, already qualified to the final on Saturday while Zimbabwe and SL are fighting to enter the final and today’s game is vital for both SL & Zimbabwe. Winners of today’s game have more chances to enter the final while SL has to maintain a good run rate more..

Nov 25 (ST) Ahead of the annual collective commemorative Heroes Day event known as Maveerar Naal to be observed next Thursday (27), final preparations are in full swing in the Northern and Eastern provinces to commemorate LTTE members and civilians who perished during the three-decade-long armed uprising for a separate state that ended in May 2009. Similar to last year, cemeteries where LTTE cadres were buried more..

Nov 25 (FT) Container volumes at the Colombo Port rose 6.7% year-on-year in the first nine months of 2025 to nearly 6.2 million TEUs, up from 5.8 million TEUs a year earlier, as the Govt aims to improve efficiency while industrialists warn of recurring vessel omissions leading to production shocks. As per latest data, throughput in September increased 14.4% to 742,116 TEUs from 648,647 a year ago. Compared with August’s 741,124 TEUs, Sept’s total was broadly flat, rising 0.13%. more..

Nov 25 (FT) MakeMyTrip Chief Commercial Officer – Holidays and Experiences Jasmeet Singh last week called for stronger strategic collaboration between Sri Lanka and India’s largest online travel platform to accelerate tourism growth, noting that SL has all the right building blocks to scale its presence in the world’s fastest-growing outbound travel market. Speaking at the India–SL Tourism Connect forum titled From the Ganges to the Kelani: A voyage of friendship and discovery, more..

Nov 25 (Island) A pilot project has been launched to enable passengers to use bank cards to pay bus fares on some long-distance routes. This is a long-felt need, and it is hoped that the new scheme will be expanded to cover all bus routes gradually. Teething problems are bound to crop up as the new system gets underway, and they must not be allowed to stand in the way of the continuation of digital payment of bus fares. President of the Lanka Bus Owners’ Association Gemunu Wijeratne has more..

Nov 25 (FT) Browns Agriculture was recently honoured with the prestigious Gold Award for Global Brand of the Year for its Browns SUMO WORLD Harvester at the SLIM Brand Excellence Awards 2025. Organised by the SL Institute of Marketing (SLIM), the national body for marketing in SL, the event is one of the country’s most respected platforms that celebrates outstanding brands, strategic excellence and impactful marketing leadership. Held at the Monarch Imperial, more..

Nov 25 (FT) Govt’s Medium Term Debt Management Strategy 2026-2030 report warns that refinancing pressure is heavily concentrated in the domestic debt portfolio, even as external debt obligations appear more spread-out following restructuring. The report compiled by the Public Debt Management Office said the composition and maturity structure of domestic liabilities present the most immediate risks to liquidity and more..

Nov 24 (DM) Sri Lanka has reinforced its partnership with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) during the Dubai Air Show 2025 (DAS25). Capt. Daminda Rambukwella, CEO of the Civil Aviation Authority of SL (CAASL), held productive discussions with the ICAO delegation, building on outcomes from the 42nd ICAO Assembly in Montreal, Canada. The talks focused on safe and secure aviation, environmental sustainability, and efficient global air transport. more..

Nov 25 (ST) In SL, where engineered community tensions can erupt out of the blue, so to speak and as suddenly subside, it was no surprise to see that, just two days after the so-called unrest in Trincomalee this week between local monks aggravated by the rhetoric of political monks further aggravated by politicians of the Govt and the Opposition catapulting themselves into the controversy, the site itself was singularly devoid of any movement beyond a rundown beach café more..

Nov 25 (Island) Minister Vijitha Herath’s participation at a civil society organised event to mark the 25th anniversary of UNSC Resolution 1325 indicated a willingness on the part of the govt to work with civil society. So far the govt has not been engaging proactively with civil society organisations and actively seeking their inputs. His speech at the event suggested a rethinking by the govt of its relationship with civil society. Symbolism of his presence was not lost on those who attended. more..

Nov 25 (DM) Studies indicate a surge in the conversion of people from the Anglican and other Protestant churches to the Catholic church in the UK and the US. The converts are mainly young people but there is also a growing number of ordained Anglican priests among them. Anglican priests desiring conversion are using a new facility in the Catholic church to retain their priesthood and marriages after joining the Catholic clergy. Accretions by the Catholic church signify more..

Nov 25 (CT) UNICEF SL Representative Emma Brigham says the country is at a promising moment for advancing child rights, but warns that significant challenges, from rising child poverty and persistent malnutrition to learning gaps and violence, continue to demand urgent and coordinated attention. Brigham, who returned to Colombo in August after serving as UNICEF’s Deputy Representative in Bangladesh, more..

Nov 25 (GV) On the night of May 15, 2005 a 12 foot tall Buddha statue was set up near the public market in Trincomalee. It was the work of a group of monks, the North-East Sinhala Organisation and the Trincomalee Three Wheeler Drivers’ Association. The installation was illegal since the land was a public property and no permission had been obtained. Perhaps the forces behind this provocative act hoped the LTTE would intervene and destroy the statue, leading to an outbreak of civil violence more..

Nov 25 (CT) On 5 Nov 2025, I wrote an article for Colombo Telegraph titled The opposition has no trump cards to play against the govt. That analysis was published well before the Opposition hastily announced its so-called Nugegoda Rally scheduled for 21 Nov 2025. The political landscape was already clear: the Opposition had run out of ideas, narratives, and credibility long before they attempted to gather crowds. In my article, I demonstrated—with evidence echoing across speeches, more..

Nov 25 (SO) Sri Lanka and Thailand are working through delicate diplomatic channels after concerns resurfaced over the welfare of two Thai elephants gifted to Sri Lanka decades ago. The issue — involving Plai Srinarong (Kandula) and Plai Pratu Pha (Thai Raja) — has revived scrutiny following last year’s high-profile repatriation of Plai Sak Surin, another Thai elephant ambassador sent back amid health complications. more..

Nov 25 (CT) Although SL appears to be making a steady recovery from its unprecedented and most devastating economic crisis, economic indicators continue to indicate that for many Sri Lankans, the effort to maintain everyday life is a constant battle for survival, where belts are tightened and spending for things that improve the quality of life comes with significant consideration. This is evident with the reports presented by the DCS, which pointed out a continued rise in cost of living for SL families. more..

Nov 25 (DM) NPP Govt is under fire these days after the CID summoned a Newspaper Editor to question him over a news item published in his paper. Free Media Movement (FMM) and SL Working Journalists Association (SLWJA), leading media organisations have decried the govt’s move as a threat to media freedom. While the govt ministers allege that the news item in question was factually wrong and a part of the smear campaign by the Opposition, some journalists and Opposition parties contest more..