Nov 1 (ST) When opposition parties led by the SJB submitted a No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against Parliament Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne on Oct 9, the ruling NPP reacted with the typical bravado of a govt with an overwhelming majority in the legislature. House Leader Bimal Rathnayake proclaimed that the govt was prepared to hold a debate on the NCM against the Speaker at the earliest possible opportunity, perhaps more..

Nov 1 (AD) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism has announced that PM Harini Amarasuriya will lead the SL delegation to the 28th Commonwealth Heads of Govt Meeting (CHOGM 2026), scheduled to be held in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, from Nov 1 to 4. PM will join Heads of State and Govt from the 56 member countries of the Commonwealth under the theme Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth. more..

Nov 1 (TM) Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL) officials will visit prison to record a statement from the former OIC of the Homagama Police Crimes Division, who has been remanded over the death of 29-year-old Ishara Harshakumara in Police custody, former Commissioner of the HRCSL Nimal Punchihewa said. He said that three personnel connected to Homagama Police had been summoned to appear before the commission over the death of a suspect in custody, more..

Nov 1 (MB) SL is yet to achieve the economic and social transformation people voted for two years ago, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake said, while urging professionals to support his reforms. Addressing the National Intellectuals Organization, an arm of the ruling NPP/JVP, Prez said his first two years in office had been devoted to stabilisation. “Our challenge during the first two years has been to establish the economic conditions necessary more..

Nov 1 (DM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has announced that the govt plans to introduce further reductions in certain taxes in the upcoming Budget, while ensuring that state revenue targets are maintained. Speaking on the country’s economic performance, Prez said the govt had achieved its revenue targets without introducing any new taxes since assuming office. “We have not imposed any new taxes since coming to power. In fact, we have significantly reduced some existing taxes. more..

Nov 1 (DM) Minister Vijitha Herath met internationally acclaimed French DJ and music producer DJ Snake and other international artists in Colombo today, during their visit to Sri Lanka for the two-day Senter Music Festival at Port City Colombo. During the meeting, Minister thanked DJ Snake and the other artists for accepting the invitation to perform in Sri Lanka and contributing to the country's growing international entertainment scene. He also invited DJ Snake to revisit Sri Lanka more..

Nov 1 (NW) Senior lawyer and veteran left-wing political figure Lal Wijenayake, a member of the NPP National Operations Committee and Executive Council, has passed away on Saturday evening. Wijenayake was a prominent figure in SL’s left-wing political movement, having served for several decades as a Politburo member of the LSSP. After leaving the LSSP, he played a leading role in establishing the United Left Front. He received his education at Dharmaraja College in Kandy, more..

Nov 1 (NW) SL’s expenditure on foreign travel increased by 62.4% during the first nine months of 2026 compared to the corresponding period last year. The latest External Sector Performance report revealed that spending on travel abroad reached US$ 937.2 million during January–September 2026, compared to US$ 577 million during the same period in 2025. In September alone, foreign travel expenditure increased by 64.9% to US$ 122 million, compared to US$ 74 million in Sept last year. more..

Nov 1 (SO) Approximately 86% of the State and privately owned land occupied by the SL Army in the N&E Provinces has been released to date, with a further 185.73 acres set to be released within the next two months. By Oct 28, Army had returned 73,568 acres of the 85,549 acres it occupied in the two provinces by 2009. Released land comprises 49,304 acres of State land and 24,264 acres of private land. Kilinochchi tops the list, more..

Nov 1 (NW) A Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) certificate will be mandatory for obtaining or renewing vehicle revenue licences across SL from Nov 1, 2026, with the Western Province Department of Motor Traffic issuing detailed instructions to officials on implementing the requirement. The circular, dated Oct 29 and issued by the Western Province Commissioner of Motor Traffic, has been sent to all Divisional Secretaries in the province. The nationwide requirement follows the more..

Nov 1 (NW) A 16-year-old boy was injured after police opened fire on a three-wheeler that allegedly failed to stop when ordered to do so in the Mahakade Junction area of Kadawatha. An officer on duty had signalled the three-wheeler to stop, but the driver failed to comply, prompting police to open fire at the vehicle. The three-wheeler subsequently fled the scene and was later found abandoned in the Gonahena area of Kadawatha, approximately one kilometre from the shooting location. more..

Nov 1 (NW) More than 250 women from around the world are set to participate in Raid Amazones SL 2026, an int'l adventure challenge scheduled to take place in Kalutara from Nov 2 to 10. The event will bring together international participants for a series of outdoor challenges combining physical endurance, teamwork and cultural exploration, while promoting SL as an adventure tourism destination. Raid Amazones, founded in 2001 by French adventure event specialist Alexandre more..

Nov 1 (NW) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has criticised certain opposition groups for resorting to what he described as bizarre protest methods, including sticking pins into clay figures, questioning the mindset behind such actions. Addressing the National Convention of the National Intellectuals Organization (NIO) on Saturday, President said some groups that had benefited from the previous political culture were struggling to accept the changes introduced by the NPP govt. more..

Nov 1 (NW) A pilot programme to implant microchips in stray dogs has been introduced in Homagama, allowing authorities to maintain digital records of their rabies vaccinations, sterilisation and other important health information. The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the Homagama PS as part of ongoing efforts to control the stray dog population and prevent rabies. Veterinary official involved in the programme more..

Nov 1 (SO) India will supply 430 electric motorbikes to field officers of Sri Lanka’s various institutions, including the fisheries sector, an official of the Indian Mission in Colombo said on Friday. A MoU in this regard was signed by the High Commissioner of India, Santosh Jha, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, B. K. Kolita Kamal Jinadasa. Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, Ramalingam Chandrasekar, was also present. more..

Nov 1 (Island) Legendary former Ceylon captain Mahadevan Sathasivam must be spinning in his grave at the news that Sri Lanka Cricket plans to introduce random alcohol tests following concerns about a drinking culture within the team. Satha’s batting feats are the stuff of legend. So, too, are the stories of his exploits at the bar. Appropriately, Tamil Union named its bar after one of the game’s most colourful characters. Cricket has always enjoyed a drink. Sometimes several. more..

Nov 1 (Island) SL cricket legend Kumar Sangakkara’s racist allegation against Ryanair has ignited a social media debate over discrimination, while an airline that had nothing to do with the controversy apologised to him. Responses to Sangakkara’s post on Wednesday saw X users divided, with many expressing solidarity while others questioned his choice of an ultra-low-cost carrier and whether he expected to be treated like a more..

Nov 1 (NW) Supreme Court has ruled in favour of D. Samson Industries (Pvt) Ltd (DSI) in a trademark dispute with Wealth Footwear Industries (Pvt) Ltd over the use of a similar logo on flip-flops. A 3-judge bench comprising Justices Janak De Silva, Menaka Wijesundera and Sampath Wijeratne overturned an earlier Commercial High Court order refusing to grant an interim injunction against Wealth Footwear. The ruling, delivered on Oct 29, concerns DSI’s popular Waves brand of slippers, more..

Nov 1 (SO) Sri Lanka will host the International Optimist Dinghy Association (IODA) Asian and Oceania Sailing Championship 2026 from December 12 to 19 at the Port City in Colombo. The Colombo Port City is one the major maritime hubs of the Indian Ocean and provides an exceptional setting for both world-class racing and an unforgettable adventure. Top international sailors from over 20 countries are set to participate in Sri Lankan waters in this regional championship. more..

Nov 1 (NW) Former Minister of Justice Ali Sabry, PC, has paid tribute to the late senior lawyer and NPP Executive Council member Lal Wijenayake, praising his commitment to judicial independence and his willingness to oppose the govt’s 22nd Constitutional Amendment despite his political affiliation. In a tribute following Wijenayake’s passing, Sabry described him as a man who remained faithful to his principles, even when they conflicted with the position of his own political movement. more..

Nov 1 (SO) Govt will position agriculture and agribusiness at the centre of SL’s transition towards a production-based economy, calling for a shift from low-value commodity production towards higher productivity, value addition, export growth and better incomes for rural communities, PM Harini Amarasuriya said on Friday. Govt of SL, in partnership with World Bank Group and Int'l Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), on Friday launched SL AgriConnect Joint Implementation Plan, more..

Nov 1 (CI) A masterclass hundred from Fakhar Zaman in another final and a searing 61 off 31 balls from No. 7 Arafat Minhas saw Pakistan speed to a target of 326 with nine balls and three wickets remaining in the tri-series final against SL to clinch the trophy. Along the way, there had also been Saad Baig's 74 off 75 deliveries adding serious heft to Pakistan's innings, as he and Fakhar raised Pakistan up from 14 for 2 with149-run stand. more..

Nov 1 (ST) The 28th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) begins today in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda with Sri Lanka represented by the PM. The 56 member-states of the (British) Commonwealth represent a quarter of the world’s sovereign states and 2.7 billion people, half of them, however, in one country. This year’s summit, as almost always, will be attended by the British monarch, King Charles III, playing customary ceremonial role as head of the group. more..

Nov 1 (ST) My dear Anura sahodaraya, I thought of writing to you because there appears to be some issues that are bothering even those who supported the maalimaawa. Of course, there is no one else to write to as well, because no one seems to be able to do anything at all about such matters, unless one writes to Tilvin sahodaraya himself! To start with, those who were worried about the PTA were at first relieved when they heard that it was to be repealed. It was, after all, a promise made by more..

Nov 1 (Island) Recent elections in Brazil, Serbia and Isreal, with the mother of all elections – US midterm elections during a Trump presidency – due next Tuesday, are symptomatic of both national choices as well as their global constraints and implications. In addition, the selection of the next UN Secretary General has taken a new turn in New York, further underscoring the shifting sands of geopolitics. In the era of Trump there is only room for cynical transactionalism & dystopic dysfunctionality. more..

Nov 1 (Island) Sri Lanka’s executive presidency has lasted for nearly half a century despite promises to abolish it. All political parties have pledged to deep-six it since 1994. The SJB has renewed its call for the abolition of the executive presidency. SJB leader Sajith Premadasa has called upon the JVP-led NPP govt to fulfil its election pledge to end the executive presidency. The NPP election manifesto, A Thriving Nation, A Beautiful Life, promises to abolish the executive presidency. more..

Nov 1 (SO) A fresh debate has emerged over the Anuradhapura Sacred City, following the publication of a new plan focusing on the conservation of its heritage and the improvement of infrastructure. There is a need to establish clearly what the plan entails and what it seeks to achieve. In this interview with the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, he explained more..

Nov 1 (SO) Kavantissa, widely admired as the tallest tusker to have roamed Sri Lanka’s forests, is dead – a loss brought about, the circumstances suggest, by the negligence and incompetence of those entrusted with his protection. His death once again underscores how little we have learnt from history, not only in wildlife conservation, but in many other spheres of national life. A dark and distressing history continues to repeat itself, with little sign of change. more..

Nov 1 (TM) In less than a fortnight, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will rise in Parliament to present the 2027 Budget. Much of the attention will, quite rightly, be on taxes, salaries, and the fiscal targets agreed with the International Monetary Fund. However, there is one matter the public should watch with equal care: whether the Govt intends to fund, and finally fix a date for, the Provincial Council (PC) Elections that are now years overdue. Provincial administrations run schools, more..

Nov 1 (TM) For a Govt that rode to power on the promise of a different political culture, the past week offered an uncomfortable lesson. It is one thing to set the standard from the Opposition benches and quite another to live by it from the Treasury benches. Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s administration spent much of the last seven days defending its own conduct on the very questions it once pressed on others, more..

Nov 1 (TM) The influence exerted by the Maha Sangha in SL politics and Sinhala Buddhist society has deep historical roots. The perception that the Maha Sangha places rulers on the throne and deposes them has been built over centuries. However, the firm stance taken by the NPP Govt, led by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, on the issue of once again granting a pardon to BBS General Secretary Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, who is serving a prison sentence, marked more..

Nov 1 (SO) The deaths of two men following their detention by the Police, in separate incidents in Homagama and Kobeigane within days of each other, have once again brought into sharp focus a deeply troubling question about policing in SL: What happens to a person once he is taken into custody? An arrest does not strip a person of his fundamental rights. Regardless of the offence suspected, a person’s right to life, dignity and protection from torture does not end at a Police station. more..