Jan 21 (AD) The Regional Director of Health Services (RDHS) in Batticaloa has stated that dengue fever is spreading rapidly across the district following the recent floods and monsoon rainfall. Health authorities have identified a significant increase in dengue patients in several Divisional Secretariat areas of the Batticaloa district, prompting intensified inspections. As part of these efforts, health officials have conducted multiple raids in affected areas. more..

Jan 21 (EN) Central Bank will provide a report on achieving below 2% inflation in the first and second quarter of 2025, missing its controversial 5% inflation floor, a govt statement said. The cabinet had approved presenting the report to the Parliament through the Finance Minister. The central bank had generated -1.1% average inflation in the second quarter of 2025 and 0.8% in the third quarter, which was below a floor rate of 2%, a post-cabinet statement said. more..

Jan 21 (AD) The IMF has reaffirmed its continuous support to Sri Lanka’s economic recovery. This assurance was given by the Managing Director of the IMF, Kristalina Georgieva during a meeting held with PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya in Davos, Switzerland on the sidelines of the 2026 World Economic Forum. IMF Chief Georgieva’s remarks underscored international recognition of SL’s recovery efforts following recent devastation more..

Jan 21 (NW) Electricity trade unions have warned that if the government issues a gazette to dissolve the CEB without fulfilling the promises made to them during restructuring, they will launch a strike without prior notice. At a press conference held in Colombo, union representatives said that 24 electricity trade unions, including the Engineers’ Association, Technical Engineers and Officers’ Association, and the Industrial Technicians’ Association, are preparing to join this action. more..

Jan 21 (DM) The 11th SL Air Force Aviation Contingent assigned to the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) departed Sri Lanka this morning. The Contingent consists of 22 officers, including two lady officers and 88 airmen, including five airwomen, and is commanded by Group Captain Asiri Pathirage. The personnel represent the full range of professional capabilities required to carry out assigned duties under the UN mandate. more..

Jan 21 (DM) UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake raised serious concerns in Parliament over what he described as a growing disconnect between Sri Lanka’s record tourist arrivals and the weak flow of foreign exchange into the country’s official financial system. Karunanayake noted that Sri Lanka recorded more than 2.36 million tourist arrivals in 2025, yet total tourism earnings rose only marginally to about USD 3.22 billion. more..

Jan 21 (EN) The reporting on social impacts in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) conducted on SL is low, making EIAs unreliable for decision-makers and investors to consider and use, a report by the Centre for a Smart Future has found. EIAs are meant to anticipate and minimise harm to communities and nature. The CSF report found that methods used to assess social impacts are often not reported. “Most impacts are discussed without specifying crucial information more..

Jan 21 (NW) NBRO says Sri Lanka’s air quality reached a slightly unhealthy level in most of the cities in the last 24 hours. According to the NBRO, air quality has reached a moderate level in Nuwara Eliya, Ratnapura, Embilipitiya, Trincomalee, Mullaitivu, Batticaloa, Kalutara & Hambantota. It is forecasted that the air quality level will be between 56 and 120 during the next 24 hours. NBRO states this indicates a moderate level in most of the cities, while a slightly unhealthy level in more..

Jan 21 (NW) A silent protest was held in Colombo today demanding the removal of the Attorney General (AG). The silent protest was held in front of the Colombo High Court. The protesters were seen holding placards, accusing the AG of alleged corruption and bias. Meanwhile, BAR Association of SL (BASL) has expressed concern over recent social media posts targeting the Attorney General. Issuing a statement, the BASL said that certain individuals are attempting, through such posts, more..

Jan 21 (PMD) The veneration of the Sacred Relics, which are due to be brought to Sri Lanka with the intervention of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and with the full patronage of the Govt of India, will be held at the Hunupitiya Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo for seven days from 4 to 11 Feb. A discussion to review the preliminary organisational arrangements was held this morning at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of the Minister Ananda Wijepala, and more..

Jan 21 (PMD) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that the Govt is taking steps to establish a comprehensive mechanism, supported by an appropriate legal framework, to bring together university academics, experts and all relevant parties in order to resolve issues arising during the implementation of education reforms. The President made these remarks during a discussion with the FUTA held this morning more..

Jan 21 (DM) ITC Ratnadipa announced that it has been awarded the coveted 5-Star Classification Certificate by the SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), reaffirming its commitment to delivering world-class hospitality and sustainable luxury. The certificate was formally presented by SLTDA and SL Tourism Promotion Bureau Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam and accepted by ITC Ratnadipa Area Manager Sri Lanka and General Manager Keenan McKenzie. The ceremony was attended by more..

Jan 21 (AD) The opposition today moved a motion to appoint a Select Committee of Parliament to conduct a comprehensive study on the lack of preparedness to face Cyclone Ditwah and report to Parliament and submit its proposals and recommendations in that regard. The motion proposed by a group of opposition Members of Parliament was presented by the Chief Opposition Whip, Gayantha Karunathilleka during this morning’s Parliament session. The loss of lives, damage to property and damage to more..

Jan 21 (DM) Electricity consumers are likely to be compelled to absorb the cost of nearly Rs. 20 billion in damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah to the infrastructure of the CEB. The cyclone caused extensive damage to both transmission and distribution networks. A senior CEB official said that around Rs. 1 b worth of damage had been inflicted on transmission lines, while losses to distribution lines were estimated at approx Rs. 19 b. more..

Jan 21 (DM) A leading rubber businessman and two other suspects, who were arrested in connection with an incident involving the harassment of a woman through social media, were ordered to be remanded till Feb 2 by Colombo Additional Magistrate Oshadha Mahaarachchi yesterday. The Magistrate further directed that the suspect businessman be produced before a JMO for a psychiatric evaluation and that a mental health report be obtained. Prisons Superintendent more..

Jan 21 (AD) Speaker of House Jagath Wickramaratne has endorsed the certificate on the Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Bill. This was announced at the commencement of the Parliament session today. The Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Bill was presented to Parliament Dec 2, 2025 and was taken up for debate and passed on Jan 1, 2026. Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Bill was more..

Jan 21 (FT) The Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka (WNPS) in a statement yesterday raised serious environmental and legal concerns regarding the recently commissioned wind power project on Mannar Island. WNPS has called for urgent executive intervention to address patent violations of environmental law and the grave risks posed to one of Sri Lanka’s most ecologically sensitive regions. In a letter addressed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, more..

Jan 21 (DM) The Constitutional Council (CC) has refused to disclose certain information sought under the Right to Information Act, No. 12 of 2016, regarding its decision on the President’s nominee for the post of Auditor General. The request for information was submitted on 1 January 2026 by Attorney-at-Law Aazath Atham Lebbe, following a news report published titled Auditor General’s post: CC rejects yet another President’s nominee, this time an Army officer. more..

Jan 21 (EN) SL Customs has imposed around 70 million rupee penalty on a recently imported Rolls Royce Phantom Auto car after officials found it was declared wrongfully. Officials who are aware of the matter said, the importer has declared a value of 417,000 sterling pounds including a 20% tax in the UK. “That amount was for a Rolls Royce Phantom Auto car and the importer claimed it was of that model. But the length and wheel size were more..

Jan 21 (NW) The second phase of the nationwide initiative to set up 1,000 wellness centres is set to deliver 42 new facilities across 21 districts on January 24, expanding access to quality primary healthcare services for communities throughout Sri Lanka. The initiative is being implemented under the “Healthy Sri Lanka” programme, launched on the instructions of the Minister of Health, Nalinda Jayatissa. Five wellness centres were established in 2025 in Mapalagama in Galle District, more..

Jan 21 (EN) SL’s apparel exporters have confirmed their commitment to meet European supply chain human rights due diligence and sustainability requirements of international brands using accepted certification, a statement from the Joint Apparel Association Forum said. “Consumers, regulators, and investors are aligned in demanding responsible production,” Avedis Seferian, President and CEO of Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), told a forum held in Colombo, more..

Jan 21 (NW) Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe met members of the Free Lawyers organization who visited the Attorney General’s Dept today to discuss the pressure being exerted on him to resign. The Free Lawyers organization handed over a letter to the Attorney General voicing their support for him. Speaking to the members of the Free Lawyers organization, Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe said those who know more..

Jan 21 (NW) The Police have sought public help to find a 15-year-old girl reported missing from the Bandaragama area. According to the Police, the mother of a girl filed a complaint at the Bandaragama Police Station stating that her daughter had left home without informing anyone and has been missing since 19 December 2025. The missing girl is a resident of Veerakeppetipola Road, Gungamuwa area, in the Bandaragama Police Division. The public with any information more..

Jan 21 (DM) In a move aimed at bolstering disaster relief and community development, Ambassador of Turkey to SL, Dr. Semih Lütfü Turgut, met with Minister A.H.M.H. Abayarathne. The discussions centered on Turkish support for rebuilding schools in Puttalam District that were severely damaged by Cyclone Ditwah. Ambassador Turgut confirmed Turkey’s commitment to assist in the reconstruction efforts and expressed plans to visit the affected areas in person to assess the damage. more..

Jan 21 (FT) WITH only a few days before the start of classes for 2026 when children in grades one and six were to use the new learning modules they had received, the Cabinet decided to defer the implementation of the new modules for the sixth grade to 2027. This is clearly a response to the relentless criticism over social media and in street protests over a major blooper in one module and many other errors found in other modules intended for Grade 6. The blooper was adding a link more..

Jan 21 (FT) Floods in SL are often treated as downstream problems, to be managed at river mouths, river basins, embankments, or reservoirs. Yet floods do not originate in floodplains. They begin where rain first falls, on rooftops, home gardens, plantations, forests, and steep hillsides in the upper catchments. While priority must be given to upstream watershed management, the role of floodplains as downstream sinks cannot be overlooked. In lowland areas, ecosystem more..

Jan 21 (EN) Sri Lanka has killed off the last vestiges of an attempt to create a contributed pension scheme for state workers and stop a fiscal bomb in the form of unfunded pension liabilities of an ageing population. Cabinet had ended a provision on the appointment of state workers recruited after Jan 1, 2016. Amid an ageing population unfunded pension liabilities is adding about 25% to national debt, according to one estimate. more..

Jan 21 (FT) Cabinet approved amendments to the pension-related provisions in the appointment letters of all public officers recruited into the public service on or after 1 Jan 2016, confirming their entitlement to the existing pension scheme. Under the approved changes, the relevant clause in appointment letters will be revised to state: “These appointments are pensionable. Furthermore, you should contribute to the Widows and Orphans Pension Scheme/ Widowers and Orphans Pension Scheme. more..

Jan 21 (CT) The national minimum wage in the private sector will rise from Rs 27,000 to Rs 30,000, effective 1 Jan 2026, Labour Commissioner General H.M.D.N.K. Wataliyadda said. She added that the announcement was made in accordance with the National Minimum Wage of Employees (Amendment) Act, No. 11 of 2025. She also noted that the daily wage will increase from Rs 1,080 to Rs 1,200, with employers required to make the relevant payments. “Under the provisions of more..

Jan 21 (TM) Claiming that responsibility cannot be limited to a few National Institute of Education (NIE) officials over failures in the education reform process, Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) has requested the appointment of an independent body, similar to a Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI), to examine the entire process and recommend action against those responsible. more..

Jan 21 (AD) Govt Radiological Technologists’ Association has decided to launch a 24-hour token strike at 8 a.m. in all hospitals across the island. President of the Association Chanaka Dharmawickrama attributed the trade union action to the failure of the Ministry of Health to conduct an impartial investigation into the conduct of the Deputy Director of the National Institute for Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation in Maligawatte. He said although the matter has been raised more..

Jan 21 (NW) The Bar Association of SL (BASL) on Tuesday expressed serious concern over growing public pressure on the Office of the Attorney General, as opposing protests are planned in Colombo both against and in support of the Attorney General. In a statement issued on Jan. 20, the BASL warned that recent social media campaigns and public actions targeting the Attorney General risk undermining the independence of the office, which it described as a key pillar of the rule of law . more..