Feb 15 (ST) The recent visit by a JVP delegation led by the party’s General Secretary, Tilvin Silva, to India was described by the Indian High Commission in Colombo as part of India’s constant engagement with political leaders across party lines in SL, a growing trend of increasing engagement with all sectors by India since the JVP-led NPP took office in Sept 2024. That India was eager to engage or capture JVP leadership more..

Feb 15 (ST) Unprecedented security measures are in place for today’s high-profile T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his capacity as Minister of Defence, convened a special meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) yesterday solely to discuss security arrangements for today’s game. Addressing the NSC meeting, Prez had pointed out that stringent security arrangements should be more..

Feb 15 (AD) The car suspected to have been used by the gunmen involved in the double homicide that took place at Akuregoda in Thalangama, has been found on an access road in the Kuttiyawatta area of Agaliya, Galle. Nugegoda Divisional Crimes Investigation Bureau stated that the vehicle was on fire at the time it was discovered. Police said they had received information that the car allegedly used in the killing of attorney-at-law Buddhika Mallawarachchi and his wife had been more..

Feb 15 (TM) The Police has yet to identify any suspects or confirm a single arrest in the brutal double assassination of an Attorney-at-Law and his wife in Akuregoda on Friday. The brutal murders have sent a shockwave through the legal fraternity and reminded the nation that its ongoing struggle against organised crime and gun violence remains unresolved. Shooting took place on Friday evening near a supermarket in Akuregoda, more..

Feb 15 (CT) Govt had turned its attention to expediting the trial into the Easter Sunday terror attacks by ensuring that the Special High Court established to hear the case was provided with all necessary facilities, it is reliably learnt. There had been a strong push to conclude proceedings before 21 April, when the seventh anniversary of the attacks falls. However, officials were understood to be working towards completing the case at least within May, with arrangements now being made to more..

Feb 15 (ST) After massive uncertainty surrounding, Colombo is all set to play host to the box-office clash today, starting at 7pm at the R. Premadasa Stadium with the India vs Pakistan World Cup fixture, where the two neighbours deeply divided politically, yet create a blockbuster when they meet on the cricket field. Pakistan, who had threatened to pull out of the fixture in support of Bangladesh, who were removed from the tournament after refusing to travel to India citing security reasons, more..

Feb 15 (ST) Mail sent by the CID to the Wolverhampton University in the UK, seeking information about former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to the university, has failed to draw a response so far. The CID sent a set of questions by email on February 4 and also by airmail – EMS Speed Post – addressed to Wolverhampton University Secretary Christine Fraser and to an assistant executive. A copy of the mail has also been sent to the vice chancellor of the university. more..

Feb 15 (TM) Student unions and uni lecturers have raised strong objections to a recent circular issued by the UGC requiring all student-organised events in State universities to be conducted under the supervision of a responsible uni officer. Commission Circular No. 02/2026, dated 6 Feb and addressed to vice chancellors,, rectors, and directors of State institutions, directs that all student-organised uni events be held under the supervision of a designated uni official until further notice. more..

Feb 15 (DM) The Vehicle Importers’ Association of SL (VIASL) has issued a stark warning as vehicle prices are set to soar from April 1, 2026, following the govt’s controversial adjustment to the Social Security Contribution Levy (SSCL) in the 2026 Budget. Under the new directive, 2.5% SSCL will now be collected directly at the port by SL Customs at the time of vehicle release, affecting not just dealerships but individual buyers as well. more..

Feb 15 (Island) A major Sangha conference will be held on Feb 20 at 2 PM at the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress (ACBC) Headquarters in Colombo, bringing together both monastic and lay communities to discuss concerns over alleged injustices against Buddhist monks, the Buddha Sasana, and the nation. Roshan Maddumage, Deputy Chairman of the ACBC, said the primary aim of the conference is to highlight misconduct and draw govt attention to these matters. more..

Feb 15 (AD) Another shooting incident has been reported in the Jinthupitiya area of Colombo. Police reported that an unidentified gunman opened fire on several individuals inside a barbershop (salon). According to police, one person has died and four others sustained injuries in the incident. The injured individuals have been admitted to Colombo National Hospital for treatment. Specific details regarding the identities of the victims have not yet been disclosed. T-56 assault rifle was used in the shooting, more..

Feb 15 (NW) Environmentalists have urged the Department of Wildlife Conservation to immediately investigate alleged irregularities and suspected poaching incidents inside Kumana National Park. According to concerns raised by visitors, several gunshots were reportedly heard on the night of Feb. 6 from areas near campsite grounds within the park. The following morning, safari tourists claim they observed two deer that had allegedly been shot and butchered near an internal access road. more..

Feb 15 (Island) Sri Lanka and Thailand have concluded negotiations on a landmark labour cooperation framework that will pave the way for the recruitment of 10,000 Sri Lankan workers under a pilot project approved by the Thai Cabinet. The development follows a series of virtual negotiations between officials of both countries to finalise two key bilateral instruments — a MoU on Labour Cooperation and an Agreement on the Employment of Sri Lankan Workers in Thailand. more..

Feb 15 (TM) Govt’s position on the proposed importation of 1,775 double cabs and utility vehicles remains unclear, with Opposition legislators alleging deliberate silence and Treasury officials confirming that at least part of the procurement process is awaiting Cabinet approval. MP Ravi Karunanayake said the administration had not publicly clarified the current status of the vehicle importation, despite earlier debate more..

Feb 15 (ST) SriLankan Airlines, which is scouting for a partner to either manage or invest in the debt-ridden state carrier, has received Rs. 25.2 billion through a capital infusion by the govt in Dec 2025. Advertisements have also been placed to appoint a new CEO after SriLankan Airlines CEO Richard Nuttall stepped down at the end of April 2025 to become President of Philippine Airlines. In a statement last week, announcing the holding of an extraordinary general meeting of more..

Feb 15 (AD) The individual who was critically injured in the shooting incident earlier today (14) in the Wadiyamankada area of Kalutara North has succumbed to his injuries after being admitted to Kalutara Teaching Hospital. A shooting incident was reported in the Wadiyamankada area, within the Kalutara North Police Division, this evening. An unidentified gunman opened fire on an individual on the road near the No. 01 railway station in Wadiyamankada. The victim, a 32-year-old more..

Feb 15 (AD) CEB has submitted a proposal to the Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) regarding an electricity tariff revision for the second quarter of this year. According to the proposal, CEB has requested an electricity tariff increase of 13.56% for the period effective from April 1 to June 30, the PUCSL said. In its proposal, the CEB states that the estimated total net generation for the April to June period is 4,578 GWh. more..

Feb 15 (DM) Meteorology Dept has issued a startling forecast for the next 36 hours, warning of heavy downpours, thundershowers, and localised storms across SL that could disrupt daily life and raise safety concerns. According to the bulletin released at 4 p.m. yesterday (13), Central, Uva, Eastern, and Northern Provinces, along with Polonnaruwa and Hambantota Districts, are expected to experience showers at times, with heavy falls exceeding 75 mm predicted in parts of more..

Feb 15 (TS) Bangladesh women’s ‘A’ team secured a narrow four-run victory over their Sri Lanka counterparts in their opening Group B match of the ongoing ACC Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 at the Terdthai Cricket Ground in Bangkok on Saturday. After electing to bat first, Bangladesh got off to a flying start, courtesy of openers Ishma Tanjim (30) and Shamima Sultana (17), who added 48 runs before the partnership was broken by a run-out on the penultimate delivery of the powerplay. more..

Feb 15 (SO) A Republic, if you can keep it. This is a famous quote attributed to Benjamin Franklin on September 17, 1787, as he left the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. When asked by Elizabeth Willing Powel if the new nation was a Republic or a Monarchy, Franklin said the future of American democracy depends on active, informed citizenship. In other words, everyone is equal in a Republic, which Sri Lanka has been since May 22, 1972. But for a Republic to work, more..

Feb 15 (Island) There are few sweeter sights in sport than Australia being knocked off their perch. With a population no larger than Sri Lanka’s, they punch above their weight in everything from cricket to the Olympics to rugby. Success breeds envy and the Aussies have long dined at the top table. So, when they were served humble pie by Zimbabwe on Friday, there were more than a few quiet smiles around Colombo. Australia have earned a reputation for bit of arrogance. more..

Feb 15 (ST) However, these numbers and standings do not guarantee Sri Lanka a cakewalk into the Super Eights. Yes, they have beaten group rivals Ireland and Oman, but under very different circumstances. What lies ahead are the heavyweights of the group, Australia, who have yet to look like their usual selves, and Zimbabwe, unbeaten with two wins from two and playing with a confidence that could virtually seal a place more..

Feb 15 (Island) Some 800 km East of Bhutan is the city of Varanasi in India. In the 2566th year of the Buddhist era, human beings – members of the species Homo sapiens sapiens – total some eight billion individuals and still increasing. There is an estimated total of over two million separate species of animals, plants and microorganisms, with humans evidently poised at the pinnacle of evolution, on a planet that is 4.500 million years old. Today humans comprise a species ill at ease with itself, more..

Feb 15 (Island) There is already a substantial and growing corpus of analytical work criticising the proposed anti-terror laws, which are no less draconian than the PTA they are expected to replace. What the campaigners for democracy and good governance expected of the JVP-led NPP was the abolition of the PTA and not another set of bad laws in its place. Unsurprisingly, many legal experts have voiced serious concern over the proposed Protection of State from Terrorism Act. more..

Feb 15 (ST) Hardly has the dust settled on the Govt having been forced to go back to the drawing boards on its planned education reforms; it has now agreed to do the same on the proposed Protection of Occupation Bill it hoped to introduce. It is always good when a govt heeds public opinion and does not bulldoze its way through with bad reforms or bad laws, but it is equally disconcerting when it exposes itself as rushing through reforms or legislation that are ill-conceived—half-baked or overcooked. more..

Feb 15 (ST) My dear Jay Shah and the ICC, I thought of writing to you even though you must be very busy preparing for the game between India and Pakistan in the T20 World Cup in Colombo tonight. That is because of all the fuss that preceded the game and how we here in Paradise seem to have played a role in ensuring the game was played. For a while, it looked as if this World Cup will be all about boycotts and protests rather than cricket. Probably partly upset at India playing host to their more..

Feb 15 (ST) A former Indian Foreign Service officer and now India’s Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri, who is in the middle of a political storm after his name figured prominently in the Epstein files, is no stranger to Sri Lankans. Mr Puri, who served as the First Secretary (Political) at the Indian High Commission in Colombo from 1984 to 1988, was one of the main actors directly involved in the negotiations around more..

Feb 15 (TM) Chairperson of the National Women’s Commission (NWC) resigned less than four months after being appointed. Reports claim her resignation was due to a lack of communication from the Presidential Secretariat, resources, and institutional support from the Govt. In the consequent uproar, civil society held the Govt responsible for failing to provide the needed resources to the NWC, whereas those defending the Govt pointed to the protracted process of setting up any State institution more..

Feb 15 (GV) In the autumn of 2025, when the world felt fragile and restless, 19 Buddhist monks began a journey that appeared simple yet carried profound meaning. From Fort Worth, Texas they turned towards Washington DC and began to walk. They named their journey Walk for Peace at a time when the world was witnessing dehumanization in Palestine, war between Russia and Ukraine, armed conflicts in various parts of Africa, disputes over civil rights, religion and caste in India and more..

Feb 15 (TM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) and his JVP-led NPP Govt are riding quite high these days due to several recent positive developments. Key among them are the continued support pledged by a high-level delegation that visited Sri Lanka, which indicates an acknowledgement of the economic policies of the Govt, and SL’s overall improvement in the Corruption Perceptions Index 2025, which is in line with more..

Feb 15 (TM) The verdict delivered on Wednesday by the Gampaha High Court Trial-at-Bar in the murder of former MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala marks one of the most consequential judicial moments in post-‘Aragalaya’ Sri Lanka. Twelve individuals have been sentenced to death for the killing of Athukorala and his Police security officer. Four others received suspended sentences. Twenty-three were acquitted for lack of evidence. It is, by any measure, a historic judgment. more..

Feb 15 (CT) In politics, there is the grand language and there are the simple words. As they say in North America, you don’t need a $20-word or $50-word where a simple $5-world will do. There is also the formal and the functional. People of different categories can functionally get along without always needing formal arrangements involving constitutional structures and rights declarations. The latter are necessary and needed to protect the weak from the bullies, especially more..