Feb 27 (Island) The GMOA has decided to intensify its ongoing trade union action by withdrawing from participation in Arogya Clinics from next Monday (02).The association has been engaged in trade union action for over a month, calling for solutions to issues affecting medical officers. Accordingly, the decision not to take part in the Arogya Clinics was taken by the GMOA’s Central Committee on the 25th, its committee member Dr. Prasad Colombage said. more..

Feb 27 (EN) SL’s central bank should terminate its inflationary swaps and lock in foreign reserves represented by excess liquidity instead of temporarily mopping up excess liquidity overnight to push up interest rates. Falling short term rates will lead to a quick credit recovery from Ditwah without formal rate cuts and discourage speculative capital flows. The converse will lead to permanent monetary stability. Last year a combination of rising overnight rates and rising bill rates in December by more..

Feb 27 (DM) SL’s cost of living continues to climb, with the DCS setting the national poverty line at Rs. 16,730 per person per month for Jan 2026, minimum income required to meet basic needs. The latest figures also identify Colombo as the country’s most expensive district, where an individual must spend at least Rs. 18,044 a month to afford essential living costs. The national poverty line, continuously updated to account for more..

Feb 27 (DM) Sri Lankans will have the opportunity to witness a lunar eclipse on Tuesday (3), Arthur C Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies said. Although the event is classified as a total lunar eclipse, observers in SL will only be able to see it as a partial lunar eclipse. This is because the Moon will be below the horizon during the total phase of the eclipse. As a result, the total phase — when the Moon is completely covered by the Earth’s shadow — will not be visible locally. more..

Feb 27 (CT) Approximately Rs 24.4 billion has so far been released under various relief measures announced for those affected by Cyclone Ditwah, officials told the COPF. Officials also informed that while the majority of allowances for house cleaning, purchase of household items, and assistance for schoolchildren have already been distributed, delays in housing reconstruction and rental assistance payments have occurred due to processes such as damage assessments and land identification. more..

Feb 27 (DM) Sri Lanka is undergoing a brain drain crisis where a new study from the Uni of Peradeniya reveals that over 50% of state uni graduates, rising to 80-90% in critical fields like medicine, engineering, and agriculture, are migrating permanently, never to return, according to a recent article by Ceylon Public Affairs. Article which explores brain drain levels in 2025 mentions that the SL govt spends Rs. 87 billion yearly on more..

Feb 27 (NW) SL Police has announced that its Tell IGP project, a public complaint mechanism currently in operation, will be restructured and further implemented in 2026. The service provides an online platform for members of the public to submit complaints directly to the Inspector General of Police regarding any incident or matter. According to a statement from the Police, both local and foreign individuals can utilize the service to submit complaints in Sinhala, Tamil or English. more..

Feb 27 (NW) A group of civil organization representatives today lodged a complaint with the CID, requesting an investigation into the procurement process of substandard coal and the resulting financial loss caused to the country. Speaking to the media, Convenor of the Samagi Joint Trade Union Alliance affiliated with the SJB, Ananda Palitha, expressed confidence that the current Prez would not interfere with investigations into substandard coal imports, just as more..

Feb 27 (EN) SL’s apparel exports fell 2.66% to US$ 425.44 million in Jan 2026, compared to US$ 437.07 million in Jan 2025, reflecting continued pressure across key export markets. “The January performance highlights uneven global demand and reinforces the need to strengthen diversification and competitiveness,” Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) said. Exports to US fell by 2.73% to US$ 165.11 million. Exports to EU (excluding UK) fell by 1.93% to US$ 126.99 million. more..

Feb 27 (FT) Following a record-breaking year for SL’s largest private sector retail bank, Hatton National Bank (HNB) CEO Damith Pallewatte has been named SL’s Bank CEO of the Year 2025 by the Global CEO Forum. The CEO of the Year Awards, which was hosted at Cinnamon Grand Colombo, recognises leadership excellence in the corporate sector across organisational performance, governance standards, and industry impact, and serves as a national platform that more..

Feb 27 (DM) Govt has tabled sweeping changes to Sri Lanka’s tax framework, proposing higher taxes on capital gains, a wider net for withholding tax and a one-off relief window for those with unpaid dues. A Bill to amend the Inland Revenue Act No. 24 of 2017 was published in a Gazette Extraordinary on Feb 24, by Minister of Finance, Planning & Economic Development, Anura Kumara Dissanayake. more..

Feb 27 (Island) Several months have passed since the Sinhala New Year Nekath Seettuwa (table of auspicious times for this year’s Sinhala and Tamil New Year 2026) was submitted to Dept of Cultural Affairs for approval, but there has been no positive response from the officials, Expert Committee of the National Astrologers’ Association says. Ravishankha Senanayake, National Coordinator of the association, said that the Nekath Seettuwa Committee had been dissolved in 2024. more..

Feb 27 (EN) Fitch Ratings believes the Central Bank of SL’s (CBSL) reintroduction of a consolidation framework for the banking sector is broadly positive for sector credit profiles. Consolidation should strengthen franchises, create better-capitalised banks and support compliance with tightening single-borrower limits, particularly as higher post-merger capital can enable banks to take larger exposures within revised regulatory caps. Fitch expects the initiative to also support more..

Feb 27 (TM) SL’s inflation targets rely on the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) data from 2019, though SL’s spending patterns have weathered the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and an economic crisis in 2022, CB Deputy Governor C. Amarasekara informed the COPF recently. “The country is relying on the 2019 basket of goods. There is no household income and expenditure survey conducted after 2019, more..

Feb 27 (CT) Knuckles Spring Water bottled and marketed by CPC Lanka, a fully owned subsidiary of Cargills (Ceylon) PLC, has recently introduced Sri Lanka’s first tethered bottle cap to the market. Sourced from natural springs in SL’s central highlands and bottled at source, Knuckles Spring Water has long been recognised for its quality and purity. As another nature friendly initiative from KNUCKLES, to protect our planet, this introduction of the tethered cap marks a packaging more..

Feb 27 (EN) Holders of defaulted SriLankan Airlines debt are to vote on March 18 on an exchange to govt bonds, which can lead to the completion of the process and an improvement in the country’s credit profile. “We are expecting within a short period of time, within weeks perhaps, we will be able to reach a good outcome with those creditors as well,” Treasury Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma said. “It is a bona fide approach that we adopted and a constructive engagement that we had with more..

Feb 27 (AD) Ministry of Environment has taken steps to call for a comprehensive report to investigate the fire that broke out at the Kerawalapitiya garbage dumping yard and its subsequent environmental impact. It has been observed that the fire, which erupted on Feb 25 at the waste disposal yard situated on reclaimed wetlands in the Kerawalapitiya area, has severely affected the local ecosystem and the lives of residents. Special attention is required more..

Feb 27 (TM) The Land Ministry is yet to respond to concerns raised by the Divisional Secretaries (DSs) and Assistant DSs Association, which has requested the introduction of a formal mechanism to ensure that land-related matters are handled without political interference, the Association’s President R. Senthil said. He said the Association had written to the Ministry Secretary seeking clear procedures for DSs when dealing with land issues forwarded through political authorities. more..

Feb 27 (EN) Sri Lanka will add to gross domestic product by allowing digital nomads to live in the island engaging remote work through the island’s telecommunications infrastructure, Hans Wijayasuriya, advisor to the Prez, on the digital economy, said. SL issued the first one-year digital nomad visa to Darya Gordiyenko and her spouse Yaroslav Kovalchuk from Ukraine. “One of the key targets that we have is to increase the size more..

Feb 27 (AD) The Colombo High Court has ordered the further hearing of evidence in the corruption case filed by the Bribery Commission against former Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratne to be called on March 24. The case was taken up today (27) before Colombo High Court Judge Ravindra Premaratne. After considering the facts presented, the judge ordered the issuance of summons for the first witness in the case to appear before the court and testify on March 24. more..

Feb 27 (EN) US Supreme Court struck down tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) on 20 Feb 2026, creating uncertainty about future US tariff policies. US has used IEEPA to impose reciprocal tariffs on trade partners and additional fentanyl-related trade measures for Canada, China, and Mexico since 2025. At the time of the Supreme Court ruling, SL’s reciprocal tariff rate was 20%. US administration quickly invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act more..

Feb 27 (TM) A number of Sri Lankan private sector banks have progressed in discussions with multinational payments technology company Paypal, to enable the service for SL freelancers and small businesses, TRCSL Chairperson Waruna Sri Dhanapala said. “I spoke to a relevant official at the Central Bank involved in banking oversight and payments. Officially there is no such announcement made yet. However, there is progress made more..

Feb 27 (AD) The Baddegama Magistrate’s Court has granted permission for the Galle Police Crime Division to detain and question for seven days the underworld figure Janith Madushanka, alias Podi Lassie, who was brought back to Sri Lanka this morning following his arrest in India. The order was issued by the Baddegama Magistrate after the suspect was produced before the court today by police officers who requested the court for a detention order to interrogate the accused. more..

Feb 27 (NW) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa says relief for communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah is far too important to be hindered by internal disputes. He urged the Govt to prioritize coordination and ensure uninterrupted support for families still waiting for aid. “Govt must work closely with officers on the ground to ensure coordination and uninterrupted support. When families are still waiting, how can we allow for this confusion? he asked, stressing that relief must not be more..

Feb 27 (FT) Dasun Shanaka did something rare in the aftermath of Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup exit. He spoke the truth — unfiltered, uncomfortable, and personal. Cricket is beyond skills, he said, in effect, when he appealed for protection of his players from the wave of public negativity that followed. “It is about thoughts, feelings and belief.” He is right. And for that honesty, in a culture that rarely rewards it from sportspeople, he deserves genuine credit. But here is the problem with more..

Feb 27 (FT) If the 20th century French philosopher Michel Foucault had been a modern SL politician, he might have skipped a schooling at Sorbonne, and tried his hand at stand-up – simply in order to essay his theses on power. Foucault (1926-84) was less interested in building a grand philosophical system than analysing how power operates through knowledge, institutions and everyday practices. His key philosophical contribution can be summed up as an inquiry into the relationship between more..

Feb 27 (TM) The Energy Ministry has confirmed that it will not reverse its recent decisions, despite a looming strike threatened by certain CEB unions. A Ministry official stated the institution has been attentive to all concerns raised thus far but is not in a position to halt its current trajectory. A media official from the Ministry indicated there are no plans to address the unions' requests following the announcement of the token strike yesterday. more..

Feb 27 (NW) Several trade unions representing government officers engaged in disaster relief operations have decided to withdraw from relief duties and launch a trade union action starting Friday (27), the unions said. The decision was announced in a joint statement issued by the All Ceylon Disaster Relief Services Trade Union, Technical Officers’ Trade Union, and associations representing Grama Niladhari (GN) Officers’ Trade Unions. The unions said more than 93 days more..

Feb 27 (FT) Govt has declared the Regulations to Repatriation of Export Proceeds into SL Rules No. 01 of 2026 through Extraordinary Gazette No. 2473/30, following Cabinet approval on Monday to present the regulations to Parliament for concurrence. The move aims to facilitate greater participation of exporters in local foreign-denominated investment instruments. On 13 Oct 2025, Cabinet approved issuing local loan instruments denominated in foreign exchange more..

Feb 27 (TM) Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) issued a warning that it will pursue immediate legal action against any Govt official or authority that attempts to proceed with the proposed Jaffna Int'l Cricket Stadium project, in defiance of environmental recommendations. They said the fate of the proposed Stadium on the Mandaitivu Island will be entirely determined by the findings of more..

Feb 27 (AD) Organized criminal and alleged drug trafficker Arumahandi Janith Madhusankha de Silva, alias Podi Lassie, has been brought back to SL from India by a special police team this morning. He had been arrested by Indian security authorities following a diplomatic engagement and with the intervention of Interpol. Podi Lassie, who allegedly fled to India by sea after being granted bail on Dec 9, 2024, was reportedly apprehended by security officials in Mumbai in January 2025. more..

Feb 27 (Island) Central Bank (CBSL) announced that investigations had identified 24 companies and applications operating prohibited pyramid schemes. In a public notice issued under Section 83C of the Banking Act, No. 30 of 1988 (as amended), the CBSL said the following entities had been ascertained and determined as prohibited schemes: Tiens Lanka Health Care (Pvt) Ltd, Best Life Int'l (Pvt) Ltd, Mark–Wo Int'l (Pvt) Ltd, V M L Int'l (Pvt) Ltd, Global Lifestyle Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, more..