Jan 16 (NF) Colombo High Court today fixed February 6 for the continuation of the trial filed by the CIABOC against former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake and Perpetual Treasuries Director Arjun Joseph Aloysius. The case was taken up before HC Judge Mohomed Mihal. During today’s proceedings, evidence for the prosecution was recorded under the supervision of Additional Solicitor General Janaka Bandara. According to the indictment, between Feb 12, 2016 and more..

Jan 16 (DM) Authorities have announced the resumption of construction on a half-built elephant crossing tunnel under the railway track in Kasikote, Galgamuwa on Jan 19, Environment Minister Dhammika Patabendi said. The tunnel, the first of its kind in SL, is part of a national initiative to reduce train-elephant collisions. The wildlife tunnel is being constructed as a component of the Mahawa–Omanthai railway rehabilitation project. A joint inspection report by the Railway Department more..

Jan 16 (DM) Nearly 12 million Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN) have been issued since the gazette notification making TIN registration mandatory for all individuals aged 18 and above, Inland Revenue Department (IRD) Commissioner Nandana Kumara said. He said the requirement applies to those who turned 18 by Dec 31, 2023, as well as individuals reaching the age of 18 after Jan 1, 2024. The dept expects around 17 million people more..

Jan 16 (DM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake was seen taking a morning walk in Palali during his visit to Jaffna yesterday. The President is on a two-day visit to the Northern Province on January 15 and 16 as part of several official engagements in the region. During the visit, he is scheduled to preside over the inaugural ceremony of the national housing programme titled “A Place to Belong – A Beautiful Life.” The event will be held today at the Weerasingham Primary School Grounds more..

Jan 16 (CT) A parliamentary delegation led by Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne has departed for India to participate in the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC), which is being held in New Delhi from 14 to 18 Jan. The delegation left for India on Tuesday (13), following an invitation extended by the Parliament of India. The conference, chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla, will bring together 61 Speakers and more..

Jan 16 (NF) SL Police outlined the next steps in handling the three suspects flown back from Dubai, following a major international enforcement operation. ASP F.U. Wootler revealed that through extradition cooperation strengthened between 2024 and 2025, SL has successfully brought back 21 fugitives who had fled abroad. He said a significant number of criminals involved in cyber‑enabled organised crime from more..

Jan 16 (DM) Two organised criminals who had been hiding in Dubai, along with a woman wanted in connection with a money laundering investigation, were arrested by a special police team and brought to SL this morning. Suspects arrived at BIA at around 5.20 a.m. from Dubai under tight security. Those arrested include 52-year-old Ravin CWeerasinghe, also known as Puncha, a resident of Elpitiya, Uragaha, and Rasika Sanjeewa Kumara, also known as Chuti Malli, a resident of more..

Jan 16 (DM) National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) has broken its silence over the delay in releasing the laboratory report on the withdrawn Ondansetron injection, saying the testing process is complex and cannot be rushed. NMRA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Kumudu Bandara said the authority was still awaiting final test results. “It takes time to culture and test samples. We leave no room for any hiccups in the testing process. It is not that we are deliberately dragging the release more..

Jan 16 (NW) PM and Education Minister Harini Amarasuriya says opposition members who collude with certain groups to attack the Govt over education reforms really need to think carefully. PM Harini Amarasuriya responded to criticism on the govt’s proposed education reforms, especially recent criticism on the rainbow colours on the covers of modules. “Saw something about the fact that a rainbow was depicted on the cover of a module. The outer colours are the colours of a rainbow. more..

Jan 16 (AD) SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has launched a special program aimed at achieving the national tourism targets set for this year. Chairman of the SLTDA, Buddhika Hewawasam, stated that promotional campaigns targeting European countries will be carried out to attract tourists during the traditionally considered off-peak seasons. He noted that travelers from Spain and neighboring regions frequently travel during the summer months, and accordingly, more..

Jan 16 (DM) A high-level delegation from Sinopec is expected to arrive in SL early next month to work on the finalization of agreement for the oil refinery project in Hambantota. MoU for the proposed US $ 3.7 billion investment was signed in January, last year when Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake visited China as his second official visit upon election to office. Sinopec, China’s state-owned energy giant, is planning to develop more..

Jan 16 (NW) Marking the auspicious Thai Pongal festival, members of SL’s Malaiyaha (Hill Country Tamil) community gathered at Liberty Roundabout in Colombo last afternoon to demand land rights, individual housing, and justice for a community that has endured generations of structural marginalisation. Organised by the Civil Society Alliance for Reforms for the Malaiyaha Community, the event, titled Pongal for Rights, brought together plantation workers, activists, and more..

Jan 16 (CT) A person launched a protest yesterday (15) by climbing an electric pole along Galle Face Centre Road, claiming that he had been treated unfairly by the Kelaniya Police. An earlier attempt by Fire Brigade officials to convince him to end his protest proved futile, as the individual refused to climb down. Crew from the 1990 Emergency Ambulance Service also arrived at the location to ensure the protester’s safety and provide necessary medical assistance. more..

Jan 16 (FT) Food & Agriculture Organisation of UN (FAO) Headquarters in Rome has issued an appeal calling for int'l assistance of $ 16.5 million to support the early recovery of livelihoods and food security for farming, livestock-keeping, and fishing communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah in SL. To date, $ 400 000 has been received, leaving a 97.6% funding gap. Without urgent donor support, hundreds of thousands more..

Jan 16 (TM) Wanindu Hasaranga’s rise was one of the standout stories in the latest ICC Men’s Rankings update, with the SL leg-spinner closing in on the top after a decisive impact in the T20I series against Pakistan. His consistent wicket-taking performances helped him climb three places to second in the T20I bowlers’ rankings, underlining his status as one of the most influential white-ball spinners in world cricket. While Hasaranga’s leap caught the eye in the shortest format, more..

Jan 16 (TM) According to Alcohol & Drug Information Center (ADIC), approximately 50 people die each day in Sri Lanka due to alcohol-related causes, encompassing both legal and illegal alcohol consumption. ADIC Executive Director Sampath de Seram highlighted that less than 20% of the country's population consumes alcohol. Among those, 34.8% are men over 15 years old, while the percentage of women using alcohol remains extremely low at 0.5%. more..

Jan 16 (FT) Nations Trust Bank (NTB), issuer and sole acquirer of American Express Cards in SL, has announced a new partnership with KOKO, one of the country’s leading Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) solution providers. Through this collaboration, American Express Cardmembers of Nations Trust Bank can utilize their cards as a payment method on the KOKO app, increasing their convenience and flexibility while shopping across a wider network. Cardmembers can now make purchases at more..

Jan 16 (CT) The Trump administration has indefinitely suspended the processing of immigrant visas for applicants from 75 countries, marking one of its most far-reaching moves to restrict legal migration to the United States. The suspension, due to take effect from 21 January, applies to individuals deemed by US authorities to be at risk of becoming a public charge — a term used to describe those believed likely to depend on government assistance to meet basic needs. more..

Jan 16 (AD) Outgoing United States Ambassador to SL, Julie Chung, has expressed her gratitude to everyone who helped boost US–SL ties during her nearly four-year tenure in the country and also the Sri Lankan people who she praised for their resilience and determination. In a farewell address, Ambassador Chung highlighted the progress achieved in US–SL relations during her service. “It has been a privilege serving these last 4 years more..

Jan 16 (DM) CID has launched investigations into a large-scale fraud following a complaint lodged on February 11, 2025, alleging that a resident of the Kelaniya area was cheated in a gold transaction. According to the complaint, the suspect obtained Rs. 50 million from the complainant after claiming he could supply three and a half kilograms of gold. However, instead of genuine gold items, the suspect allegedly handed over two gold-plated iron pieces. Suspect has been identified as Mahesh more..

Jan 16 (NW) Certain areas around the slopes of Ambuluwawe Mountain have been identified as high-risk landslide zones, and residents of 18 houses have been instructed to evacuate immediately, it was reported. NBRO has further stated that these areas should be preserved as highly sensitive landslide zones, free from construction and development activities. After entering the Ambuluwawe Biodiversity Complex and moving a short distance, the observation team of the NBRO inspected more..

Jan 16 (AD) Police Media Spokesperson ASP F.U. Wootler said that Interpol Red Notices have been obtained against 95 Sri Lankan organised criminal figures currently hiding overseas. He said that 10 suspects were brought back to Sri Lanka through Red Notices in 2024, while 11 suspects were repatriated in 2025. He added that during the same two-year period, 21 suspects were brought back to the country under Extradition Laws. more..

Jan 16 (EN) National Chamber of Commerce of SL (NCCSL) has launched the National Business Excellence Awards (NBEA) 2026 which aim to recognize business excellence. Applicants for the NBEA 2026 — ranging from micro, small, and medium businesses to large-scale organizations — will undergo a meticulous evaluation process, NCCSL said, ensuring that every winner meets the chamber’s standards of excellence. “We have put in a process that is transparent so that more..

Jan 16 (AD) ITAK has expressed strong opposition to the Praja Shakthi national programme implemented by the govt. ITAK Spokesperson and former MP M.A. Sumanthiran claimed that the programme is being implemented as a party-based initiative. He alleged that its operation runs parallel to the existing state machinery, setting what he described as a wrong precedent. Sumanthiran further alleged that development activities which should rightfully be carried out by LG more..

Jan 16 (FT) On 28 Nov 2025, Cyclone Ditwah delivered about 10% of Sri Lanka’s annual rainfall within 24 hours. Falling on already saturated catchments, the deluge overwhelmed rivers, reservoirs, and drainage systems, causing widespread damage. While emergency response efforts mobilised quickly, the episode exposed a deeper and recurring weakness: SL remains poorly prepared to make decisive, pre-emptive choices when extreme weather is clearly forecast. more..

Jan 16 (FT) SL begins 2026 in a narrow corridor between economic recovery and renewed climate risks. The economy has moved past the 2022 balance-of-payments collapse, but resilience is being tested again as the country rebuilds after Cyclone Ditwah. World Bank’s damage estimate of about US$4.1 billion is a reminder that climate shocks now arrive as macro shocks, tightening fiscal space just as confidence starts to return. Colombo is leaning on quickest earners of foreign more..

Jan 16 (CT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday that the past year had marked a notable chapter in SL’s history, during which racially driven campaigns had weakened, and a collective effort towards national unity had taken root. Prez made these remarks while attending the Northern Province Thai Pongal Festival held at the Aiyanar Kovil playground in Velanai, Jaffna. He was ceremonially received at the event, more..

Jan 16 (FT) Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has been assigned a revenue target of Rs. 2,402 billion for the 2026 fiscal year, IRD Commissioner General Nandana Kumara said. Commissioner General expressed confidence that the ambitious goal can be achieved through closer coordination with Sri Lanka Customs. He said the IRD and Sri Lanka Customs have entered into a MoU to carry out joint audit operations, a move expected to significantly strengthen compliance & revenue collection. more..

Jan 16 (FT) State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) has registered an impressive improvement in its financial performance in 2025, marking one of its strongest years in recent history, according to its annual progress summary. SPC’s contribution to the Govt through income tax and Treasury levies rose by 173% year-on-year (YoY) to Rs. 1.1 billion, compared with 2024. SPC also reported a 26% increase in revenue from its Own Revenue Stream (ORS) and a 9% rise in income from more..

Jan 16 (FT) An IMF team will visit Sri Lanka from 22 to 28 January on a fact-finding mission to assess the economic impact of Cyclone Ditwah and review its implications for the country’s reform program under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF). IMF Communications Director Julie Kozack said the mission would focus on building a clearer understanding of the scale and scope of damage caused by the cyclone and how the shock more..

Jan 16 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday launched the 50 MW wind power project developed by Hayleys Fentons Ltd, in Mannar, with the Govt announcing that it has secured private sector agreements to develop renewable energy over the next few years far exceeding expectations. The state-of-the-art wind power plant will comprise 10 wind turbines and is expected to generate 207 million kWh of electricity annually. A notable feature of the project is the supply of electricity at more..

Jan 16 (Island) Marking a noble cultural tradition that expresses gratitude for the dignity of labour and the protection bestowed by nature, the National ThaiPongal Celebration was held on Thursday (15) at Temple Trees with the participation of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya. The event was organized by the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, and the Department of Hindu Religious and Cultural Affairs. more..