Oct 26 (TM) Illegal structures on coastal land have been identified, cases have been filed, and notices to remove them have been issued, while the removal of fisher families from occupied beach lands requires a humane approach, including alternative housing, according to Environment Minister Dr. Dammika Patabendi. Minister said that action against illegal structures on the coast was already under way. “The illegal structures have been identified, cases have been filed, more..

Oct 26 (FT) PM Harini Amarasuriya has told CNN that several of the IMF's priorities align with the Govt’s own objectives, underpinning its decision to continue SL’s IMF program despite her party’s earlier opposition. Dr. Amarasuriya said the Govt had been able to discuss its concerns with the IMF, particularly on governance, corruption & fiscal discipline. “When we came into power, the IMF agreement was already signed and we started working with them, and we found them approachable,” more..

Oct 26 (FT) Sri Lanka must diversify its markets, build trusted digital trade institutions, and balance between competing powers while keeping its ties with the US strong if it is to turn its post-crisis recovery into lasting prosperity in a fragmenting world order, three international experts said. Int'l Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Global Honorary Chair Maria Fernanda Garza, Switzerland-based political consultant, campaign strategist, and political scientist Dr. Louis Perron, more..

Oct 26 (FT) SL can revive stalled negotiations on the Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) with India by first concluding a standalone Digital Economy Agreement that builds on the momentum of recent bilateral digital cooperation, Centre for a Smart Future (CSF) Co-Founder and Economist Anushka Wijesinha said. Wijesinha noted that the ETCA negotiations had dragged through 14 rounds over many years and multiple govts, with momentum slowing significantly on the SL side. more..

Oct 26 (FT) British Airways on Saturday marked a significant milestone with the arrival of its first flight into Colombo, reconnecting SL with the UK for the first time in over 11 years. The inaugural flight, operated by SL crew, was welcomed by traditional dancers and drummers on arrival to commemorate the occasion. The new route strengthens links between the two countries, supporting tourism, trade, and business travel. The thrice-weekly service will be operated by British Airways’ more..

Oct 26 (FT) Former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has set out a 10-point plan for SL to secure a place in an emerging world order, with rapid technological modernisation, membership of BRICS, and a stronger maritime role at its core. “If we do not do this, we will have no place in the new world order,” Wickremesinghe said, delivering the keynote at the 50th webinar organised by the Daily FT, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), more..

Oct 26 (Island) Do you know what happened to Anuttara Indunil, the schoolgirl killed by a wild elephant in Hasalaka in August 2022 while carrying alms for her deceased brother’s remembrance? Do you know about Hewage Kinuli, the seven-year-old girl killed in an elephant attack while accompanying her father to their cultivation land in Hambantota in August 2025? Do you know about Thanuja Samarawickrema, 25, and her father, Ananda Samarawickrema, 57, who were killed by a wild elephant in Wilgamuwa more..

Oct 26 (Island) Parts of Europe are in turmoil. In several European countries, protests against high cost of living, housing unaffordability, welfare cuts and deteriorating public services have escalated into riots, arson, looting and violent clashes between police and protesters. Police have used force to disperse protesters in France, Italy, Belgium and Albania. Videos of unruly mobs looting shops and police crackdowns have gone viral. Out of sheer desperation to stem the rising wave of protests, more..

Oct 26 (TM) Police Media Division has once again urged the public to be wary of strangers who come calling through dating applications and social media. Its latest warning, issued on Saturday, describes a now familiar pattern. A fraudster poses as a would-be friend, lover or even prospective spouse, spends days or weeks winning the victim's trust, and then persuades him or her to install an application presented as a dating platform. In reality, that application is malicious software, more..

Oct 26 (ST) Sniggering in some quarters notwithstanding, the citation of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for contempt of court by an enterprising Sri Lankan magistrate this week has a tall tale behind it. The citation points us towards understanding all too well, the perils of two Bills put forward by the JVP led NPP Govt. These are the preposterously named draft Protection of the State from Terrorism Act (PSTA) and the Prevention of Organised Crimes Bill (OCB). more..

Oct 26 (TM) A third interim report on the forensic archaeological excavation in Chemmani in Jaffna, submitted to the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court on 19 Oct, recorded a minimum of 574 individuals. By its own preliminary estimate, 41% of the dead were children and 22% were infants. The report also recorded 51 separate accumulations of disarticulated bones, meaning bones that were no longer joined together in their original positions, and 170 artefact entries. more..

Oct 26 (GV) From the NPP govt’s draconian Protection from Organised Crime Bill to the preventable death of the magnificent tusker Kawantissa, so much has been overshadowed by the spectacle at the Vihara Maha Devi Park demanding instant freedom for Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara. A piece of news about a series of WhatsApp messages threatening Buddhist places of worship too was among the momentous developments lost in the monk-led brouhaha. The senders of these messages had Muslim identities and more..

Oct 26 (CT) It is with sadness and incredulity that I peeped into the morning newspapers from above. Since I will not be able to meet you deep down below anytime, I need to ask you to hark back to January 8th, 2009. Recall my epitaph? Well then, I consider it pretty rich coming from you, if the article published in The Morning of 24th Oct 2026 is true. I quote, Former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa has urged his son, SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa, to trust the judiciary and refrain from political revenge, more..

Oct 26 (SO) For years, SL’s prisons have been bursting at the seams, with prison officers having been struggling with staff shortages, and suspects languishing in remand awaiting forensic reports. These are hardly new discoveries. Yet, when two Opposition MPs, both currently in remand custody over bribery charges, took to Parliament on Thursday to detail the prison system’s woes, the debate offered an unusual spectacle: politicians who had been part of more..

Oct 26 (DM) Sri Lanka has two faces – the sunny, smiling face of welcome so highly valued by foreign visitors, and the grim, unsmiling one feared by the country’s own citizens. Thilina Weerasinghe’s Maranaya Asala Nisalawa mirrors that dark side with unflinching honesty. Maranaya Asala Nisalawa can be translated as Deathly Still in Face of Death or Unflinching Besides Death. But I don’t know if either of these translations captures the sombre mood of the original. more..

Oct 26 (DM) The NPP govt is probably facing the biggest challenge since it was elected to power in 2023. The present imbroglio over the disrobing of a convicted monk (Gnanasara Thero) led by political opportunists and sections of the Buddhist clergy shows no sign of disappearing. The challenge posed by the backers of Gnanasara is serious. Their slogan Free Gnanasara immediately, or go home is a threat, a direct challenge aimed at President Dissanayake. more..

Oct 25 (ST) At a time when the IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya is facing possible contempt of court action for failing to comply with a court order to issue a circular prohibiting the filing of cases based on trumped-up charges against members of the public, the govt is planning to enact two new laws which could impinge on the fundamental rights of the people and infringe on individual rights. If the case involving the IGP’s contempt matter is more..

Oct 25 (AD) A depression over the Bay of Bengal is predicted to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Tuesday morning (27), bringing heavy rainfall, strong winds and thunderstorms to several parts of SL over the next few days, Met Dept stated. According to the latest weather update, the system was centred near latitude 15.5°N and longitude 91.0°E at 11.30 p.m. yesterday, in the vicinity of the North Andaman Islands. System is expected to strengthen into a deep depression more..

Oct 25 (ST) The Police will make a fresh application to court tomorrow seeking an order to disperse the Buddhist monks-led satyagraha at the Vihara Maha Devi Park, Colombo, on grounds that their continued presence at the site could lead to a breach of the peace, a senior official said. The Police will present facts to court on several grounds, including that the permission of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has not been obtained to hold different activities at park, while their presence is also a hindrance more..

Oct 25 (TM) As Saudi Arabia faces attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure from the Houthis, concerns are growing over the safety of foreign nationals, including SL migrant workers and Umrah pilgrims. Indian authorities are working to facilitate the return of around 3,000 Indian Umrah pilgrims reportedly stranded in Saudi Arabia. Over the past week, SL Umrah pilgrims have also been leaving the country, while India is making more..

Oct 25 (ST) The govt has requested the opposition to amend and resubmit its No Confidence Motion (NCM) against Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne. Chief Opposition Whip Gayantha Karunathilaka said that the opposition was not agreeable to the govt’s request and added they were not prepared to amend the NCM according to the wishes of the govt. He pointed out that the NCM has been formally accepted and included in Parliament’s order book. He charged that the govt is now attempting to more..

Oct 25 (NW) President’s Office has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake was admitted to a private hospital following a sudden illness. In an official statement, the President’s Office clarified that the reports were false and urged the public not to be misled by such claims. President’s Office also advised the public to refrain from sharing unverified information on social media without confirming its accuracy through official sources. more..

Oct 25 (ST) Former CB Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal is to give evidence before the Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar tomorrow in the case where he is accused of causing a Rs 1.8 billion loss to the govt by investing in Greek bonds. This follows an order by the 3-judge High Court Trial-at-Bar to the defence to submit testimony in the case. This is the third time that Mr Cabraal has been charged with the Greek bonds issue. His evidence tomorrow will be led by Dilan Rathnayake, PC, appearing as more..

Oct 25 (NW) The narcotics seized during a joint Navy and Coast Guard operation at Naotunna Beach in Thalalla, Matara, in the early hours of Saturday have been confirmed to weigh 561.705 kilograms, with an estimated street value of over Rs. 11.8 billion. Examinations conducted by PNB confirmed that the consignment comprised 321.941 kg of heroin and 239.764 kg of crystal methamphetamine (Ice). The drugs were packed in 275 parcels of heroin & 200 parcels of Ice, more..

Oct 25 (ST) SLC Executive Committee incurred more than Rs. 405 million in recorded overseas travel expenses between 2019 and March 2026, according to financial records obtained under the Right to Information Act, bringing overseas travel during Shammi Silva’s seven-year administration under renewed scrutiny. The records cover 30 individuals and show expenditure of Rs. 231.47 million on per diems alone. more..

Oct 25 (NW) Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has praised SL batter Pavan Rathnayake for his impressive strokeplay against England during SL’s historic ODI victory in Rawalpindi, while questioning why the youngster has yet to receive an opportunity in Test cricket. Rathnayake scored a brilliant 130 off 106 deliveries, including 15 fours and three sixes, helping SL successfully chase a target of 430 against England on Oct 22. SL completed the second-highest successful run chase more..

Oct 25 (NW) A new palliative care centre built at a cost of over Rs. 350 million with contributions from local and overseas donors was opened in Chavakachcheri, Jaffna, on October 24, offering completely free care to patients suffering from serious and life-limiting illnesses. The facility, named Comfort Care Home, was officially opened by Minister Nalinda Jayatissa in Sarasalai, Chavakachcheri. Unlike conventional medical facilities, centre focuses on providing comfort, more..

Oct 25 (NW) British Airways has resumed flights to Sri Lanka after a 10-year break, with its first aircraft arriving at BIA in Katunayake on Saturday. The Boeing 777-200ER aircraft, operating as flight BA2045 from London Gatwick Airport, arrived in Colombo in the morning, marking the airline’s return to Sri Lanka. The airline is scheduled to operate three flights a week between London Gatwick and Colombo, strengthening air connectivity between Sri Lanka and the UK. more..

Oct 25 (ST) It is reported that the Minister of Sports (MoS) recently stated that sportsmen and sportswomen cannot be produced overnight. He stressed that such development takes time. This is to imply that the fiat of Sports Ministers did not exist before. As it happens in all spheres of economic activity, it seems that every govt looks to start anew as if no governance existed before. Thus, the continuation of development activity is prone to starts and stops. more..

Oct 25 (TM) SL is highly unlikely to enter into any new barter trade arrangements in the foreseeable future, SLTB has said, as the country’s only State-level barter deal, the tea-for-oil agreement with Iran, draws to a close. “It is highly unlikely that SL will pursue new barter trade arrangements in the foreseeable future. Should the need arise, any such opportunities would have to be explored in consultation with the export community” more..

Oct 25 (Island) How much relevance bilateral and tri-nation ODI cricket will retain after next year’s World Cup remains anyone’s guess. So let’s enjoy the format while we can. On Thursday night, Rawalpindi served up a feast as Sri Lanka chased down 430 with one ball to spare, leaving England shell shocked and the rest of the cricketing world rubbing its eyes. Harry Brook’s record breaking double hundred could not secure victory as Sri Lanka pulled off a remarkable comeback. more..

Oct 25 (TM) The ongoing power cuts are likely to hurt the country’s exports, with factory production coming to a standstill whenever supply is interrupted, National Chamber of Exporters of SL (NCE) has warned. “The scheduled power cuts will have a negative impact on exports, especially on factories, because some are operating extended hours to meet demand. Production will come to a halt whenever there is a power cut,” NCE Secretary General Shiham Marikar said. more..