Nov 13 (NW) Video footage has emerged showing Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera allegedly verbally abusing and threatening police officers following his arrest during a fast-unto-death protest near the Ruwanweli Maha Seya in Anuradhapura yesterday (12). In the video, the monk is seen on a hospital bed, surrounded by medical staff and police officers. The footage appears to show Ven. Kassapa Thera verbally abusing and making threats against the police officers accompanying him. more..

Nov 13 (NW) Colombo Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazaar has warned that legal action will be taken against individuals responsible for creating and circulating AI-generated fake videos depicting flooding in Colombo. The Mayor said that several AI- generated videos are circulating in social media showing flooding inside the One Galle Face shopping mall in Colombo following heavy rainfall recently. Meanwhile, fact-checking organisation Fact Crescendo SL has confirmed that a viral more..

Nov 13 (NW) The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has welcomed the broad direction of Budget 2027, stating that timely implementation of the proposed reforms will be crucial to translating policy commitments into investment, exports and sustainable economic growth. Chamber said the Budget reinforces SL’s commitment to economic transformation while maintaining policy continuity, macroeconomic stability more..

Nov 13 (AD) Major drug trafficker Sehan Sathsara, alias Dehi Bale Malli, has reportedly been arrested in a foreign country. However, no official confirmation of the arrest has so far been communicated to Sri Lankan law enforcement authorities. According to reports, Sathsara had been hiding in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), from where he allegedly directed drug trafficking operations in southern Sri Lanka. He is also reported to have subsequently fled to Europe. more..

Nov 13 (AD) A low-pressure area has formed over the southeastern Bay of Bengal and is very likely to move northwestwards and intensify into a depression on Sunday, Met Dept has warned. System is subsequently expected to move north-northwestwards and further intensify into a cyclonic storm over the central Bay of Bengal around Nov 16. In view of the developing weather system, Dept has issued a Red Weather warning for strong winds and rough seas, effective from 5.30 am on Nov 14 more..

Nov 13 (NW) The narcotics seized from a multi-day fishing vessel intercepted in SL’s southern waters earlier this week have an estimated street value exceeding Rs. 1.5 billion, according to Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara. He said approximately 110 kilograms of suspected heroin and ICE narcotics were discovered aboard the fishing vessel, which had departed from Mirissa. He said five suspects were arrested along more..

Nov 13 (NW) Sri Lanka’s 2027 Budget has introduced several vehicle-related proposals, including incentives for electric vehicles, increased transport allowances for govt officials and the digitalisation of vehicle registration services. However, the Budget does not announce any new general reductions in import duties or excise taxes on cars, SUVs or motorcycles. Presenting the Budget in Parliament, Prez outlined several measures relating to vehicles and transport. more..

Nov 13 (NW) Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) has accused the JVP-led govt of betraying the socialist ideals of those who sacrificed their lives during the 1988–89 uprising, while pursuing neoliberal economic policies and introducing what it described as repressive legislation. FSP Mass Organisations Secretary Duminda Nagamuwa made the remarks while delivering the commemorative address at the party’s 37th Il Maha Viru commemoration, held at the Yakkala Town Hall on Friday. more..

Nov 13 (NW) SriLankan Airlines has announced the addition of three weekly flights to Melbourne from Nov 15, increasing its total services to Australia to 14 flights per week amid growing travel demand between the two countries. Additional Melbourne flights will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, supplementing its existing daily services to the Australian city. Under the new schedule, flight UL608 will depart Colombo at 2.15 p.m. and arrive in Melbourne at 5.40 a.m. the following day, more..

Nov 13 (NW) PM Harini Amarasuriya says the govt has allocated over Rs. 749 billion for the education sector through Budget 2027, marking what she described as the largest investment in education in SL’s history. Addressing Parliament today, PM said the allocation represents more than 12% of total govt expenditure. She said the govt has already provided smart boards to more than 4,570 schools and internet facilities to over 6,000 schools as part of efforts to modernise the education sector. more..

Nov 13 (Island) PM Harini Amarasuriya stated that the 2027 Budget has presented the investments necessary to move the country from a situation of crisis that existed when the Govt assumed office towards a transformative economy built on economic stability. PM made these remarks while delivering a special address in Parliament during the debate on 2027 Budget. PM highlighted that, for the first time in history, more..

Nov 13 (DM) President yesterday announced that the govt is looking towards lifting the ban on flying large aircraft over the Parliamentary complex so that large planes could operate from the Ratmalana Airport. This is line with the govt policy of developing Ratmalana Int'l Airport for pilot training, domestic, business and regional aviation. "To ensure aviation safety, a project of Rs. 6,000 million to rehabilitate the existing runway at Ratmalana and extend it from 1,400 metres to 1,771 metres more..

Nov 13 (NW) SL has the potential to increase its annual seafood export earnings to USD 680 million by 2030, provided the industry receives sustained investment, improved infrastructure and supportive trade policies, according to the Seafood Exporters’ Association of SL (SEASL). Welcoming the govt’s 2027 Budget proposals, the association said the proposed investment incentives, fisheries development programmes and trade reforms could significantly strengthen SL’s seafood export more..

Nov 13 (CI) Ultimately, there wasn't enough time in the game to satisfy anyone. Not enough for Sri Lanka to truly suffocate Pakistan after the early pressure placed upon them this morning, nor for Pakistan to see if there were a few jitters in SL's batting line-up after they eventually ended up with a fourth innings target that would pose some questions for the visitors. And not enough for poor old Saud Shakeel, who tried to improvise his way to more..

Nov 13 (AD) Salary anomalies arising when teachers are appointed to the SL Principals’ Service have been discussed at length at a subcommittee appointed by the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education, Manpower and Human Capital. The matters were discussed when the subcommittee met under the chairmanship of MP Sunil Rajapaksa. Representatives of trade unions of the SL Principals’ Service and officials representing the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and more..

Nov 13 (NW) Election Commission (EC) has clarified that the SLFP continues to be a recognised political party, dismissing media reports claiming that its recognition had been withdrawn. In a statement issued today, EC said the SLFP remains a recognised political party despite an ongoing internal dispute over the position of party secretary. The Commission explained that since 2025, the SLFP has been classified as a political party with an unresolved dispute concerning the secretary’s more..

Nov 13 (DM) Colombo HC Judge Lal Ranasinghe today ordered that its decision on the revision petition filed by the CIABOC, seeking to revoke the bail granted to MP Namal Rajapaksa by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court on Nov 3, 2026, in connection with the Krrish deal case and remand him again, would be delivered on Nov 18. Appearing on behalf of the CIABOC, Assistant Director Thanuja Bandara requested the court to issue an interim order suspending the operation of the bail more..

Nov 13 (NW) SL’s largest Western pharmaceutical manufacturing facility, currently under construction at the Bingiriya Investment Zone, aims to supply up to 25% of the country’s pharmaceutical requirements while also producing medicines for export markets. The facility, operated by Synergy Pharmaceuticals Corporation Private Limited, is currently in the final stages of construction. Deputy Minister of Health Hansaka Wijemuni recently inspected the facility to assess the progress of construction, more..

Nov 13 (AD) Tax revenue amounting to Rs. 461.49 billion has been lost in relation to four types of indirect taxes due to various tax concessions and exemptions granted during the first six months of 2026, Ministry of Finance has stated. This was revealed in a report issued by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. Accordingly, the revenue loss relates to four indirect taxes: Value Added Tax (VAT), SSCL more..

Nov 13 (EN) A Sri Lanka legislator has voiced strong disappointment that the President’s budget speech failed to make a single mention of the Tamil national question. “It is very unfortunate that in His Excellency the President’s speech, there has not been a single word mentioned about the Tamil national question. Not a single word,” Shanakiyan Rasamanickam said. “A budget speech generally, is a policy direction of the govt for the next year. The budget speech is not only more..

Nov 13 (DM) State research and development institutions are facing shortages of qualified human resources, with officials highlighting the need for improved salary and allowance schemes to attract and retain engineers and researchers. The issue was discussed at a recent meeting of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Science, Technology and Digital Transformation held in Parliament under the chairmanship of MP Dr. Janaka Senarathna. Officials stressed the importance of improving more..

Nov 13 (DM) Sri Lanka’s 2027 Budget offers salaried taxpayers higher take-home pay from April, while lower-income households stand to benefit from continued welfare payments and lower import levies on selected foods. For communities hit by Cyclone Ditwah, the Govt is seeking Rs. 260 billion to carry reconstruction into next year. Prez presented the Budget, third under his govt, to Parliament yesterday against more..

Nov 13 (Island) Nearly 7,000 cases already reported so far this year during prevailing monsoon rains Health authorities have warned of an increased risk of Leptospirosis, commonly known as rat fever, with the onset of the Maha cultivation season and prevailing monsoon rains. Nearly 7,000 cases of Leptospirosis have been reported across the country so far this year, while about 300 people are estimated to die from the disease annually, medical professionals said. more..

Nov 13 (NW) Sri Lanka and China have held discussions on using modern technology and Chinese expertise to address human-elephant conflict in SL. The discussions took place today during a special roundtable meeting in Galgamuwa, attended by Chinese Ambassador Wei Huaxiang and several SL govt representatives. Minister of Environment Dammika Patabendi, Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala, Deputy Minister Anton Jayakody, MP Chandana Dissanayake and more..

Nov 13 (FT) Elon Musk’s $ 366 million, and the Twitter/X feed he owns, did not keep the House Republican, and nobody can show that Lula’s volunteer army of millions on WhatsApp won him Brazil’s election. However, both consequential results bear out what I studied for my PhD around SL’s socio-political developments, and how platforms reflect a political mood far more often than they make one. Elon Musk spent roughly $ 366 million on this year’s American midterms, $276 million more..

Nov 13 (FT) Serbia and Nepal have govts formed by youth. The govts in power in SL and Bangladesh owe their fortunes to youth-led urban uprisings. The blue wave that washed out Republican candidates in the US was powered by youth. Some of SL’s most senior politicians have said that no progress can be achieved without greater participation of youth. I was at a recent Youth Forum in Colombo that highlighted the problems of the youth and presented the solutions they had come up with. more..

Nov 13 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday in Parliament presented Budget for 2027, touted by many as a Budget for all, and the best Budget by any recent Govt. While the Budget raises total spending by Rs. 624 billion to Rs. 7.9 trillion, it spreads the increase across investment, manufacturing, agriculture, renewable energy, ports, aviation, railways, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), more..

Nov 13 (TM) Farmers have expressed disappointment with the 2027 Budget, saying it has failed to provide adequate support to improve agricultural infrastructure and strengthen the sector’s contribution to national production, despite this being a requirement identified by the IMF. National Agrarian Unity President Anuradha Tennakoon said that although Rs 2,000 million had been allocated for small irrigation systems and tanks under Agrarian Development Dept and Rs 7,700 million for more..

Nov 13 (DM) Books and several categories of printed material, including exercise books, dictionaries, encyclopedias and children's picture books, will be exempted from Value Added Tax (VAT) under proposed amendments to the VAT Act, President Anura Kumara announced in 2027 Budget. The proposed exemption will apply to both the import and supply of books and printed materials classified under specified Harmonized System (HS) codes used for customs purposes. more..

Nov 13 (TM) President presented a Budget for 2027 that cuts income tax for a second time and raises allowances across the public service. It also commits a record Rs 2,000 billion to capital spending, while allowing the deficit to widen to fund reconstruction after Cyclone Ditwah. Presenting the Govt's third Budget in Parliament, Prez said its main objective was to move from economic stability towards transformation. more..

Nov 13 (TM) Supreme Court (SC) has determined that the Bill for the Protection of the State from Terrorism Act (PSTA) can be passed by a simple majority in Parliament, subject to four amendments being incorporated at the Committee Stage. Speaker of Parliament Jagath Wickramaratne informed Parliament that he had received the SC’s Determination on the Bill, which was challenged under Article 121(1) of the Constitution. According to the Determination, four amendments must be more..

Nov 13 (Island) Four Buddhist monks, including Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera, who were staging a fast-unto-death near the Ruwanweli Maha Seya in A'pura, were taken into police custody following a tense confrontation at the protest site yesterday. Monks had launched the hunger strike in opposition to the proposed A'pura Sacred City Development Plan. Situation escalated when a group of laypersons including a former Buddhist monk who was known as Rajanganaye Saddharathana more..