Jan 1 (EN) Sri Lanka Customs has earned 870 billion rupees from vehicle imports, with year end collections expected to be around 2,545 billion rupees by the last week of December, Customs spokesman Chandana Punchihewa said. SL customs was initially given a target of 2,115 billion rupees, which was revised up to 2,231 billion rupees, he said. “The target also incorporated the expected revenues from vehicles,” Punchihewa said in a video statement. more..

Jan 1 (NW) As we move forward to the New Year of 2026, it is timely to reflect on the year 2025 that has passed. The year 2025 can be granted as a year having made a number of decisive and progressive steps with a people oriented govt. I am confident that, within a new political culture, we were able to strengthen transparency in state governance and lay the foundation for an efficient and corruption free public service. We can be satisfied with the progress achieved in several key areas during 2025, more..

Jan 1 (NW) As we step into the New Year 2026, we do so as a nation that has shouldered the greatest reform programme and reconstruction effort in our modern history. Despite numerous challenges, the year 2025 laid the foundation for sustainable development rooted in our national aspirations. Among the significant economic achievements of the past year were the recording of the lowest budget deficit since 1977, the highest govt revenue since 2007, first-ever primary account surplus in our history, more..

Jan 1 (FT) Macksons Tiles Lanka Ltd, (Macktiles) has achieved a significant milestone with its first export of tiles to Australia, marking an important step in the company’s international expansion and Sri Lanka’s growing presence in value-added manufacturing. Manufactured using premium Sri Lankan raw materials and produced with advanced Italian technology, Macktiles products reflect a commitment to precision engineering, durability, and global quality standards. more..

Jan 1 (FT) Evergreen Group situated in Horangalla, Thalgaswala in Galle district has produced and sold the highest quantity of tea for a group in Sri Lanka in 2025 selling 10,379,568.00 kilos thus establishing it as the largest tea producing private group for the eighth consecutive year. Aruna de Silva is the Chairman of Evergreen Group of Companies. The overall operations are spearheaded by Deputy Chairman Senal de Silva, Director Minul de Silva, Director Rekadahena Plantations more..

Jan 1 (FT) Steeped in history, spirituality, and culture, the Gangaramaya Temple has long been a cornerstone of Colombo’s religious and cultural identity. Now, with the ambitious Temple City Project, this historic precinct is set to be transformed into a world-class tourist and cultural landmark, redefining Colombo’s position on the global tourism map. Located in Hunupitiya, Col 2, Gangaramaya Temple precinct is more than a sacred site—it is a living museum of SL’s heritage. more..

Jan 1 (Island) The recent wave of pharmaceutical tragedies in Sri Lanka, as well as some others that have occurred regularly in the past, has exposed a terrifying reality: our medicine cabinets have become a frontline of risk and potential danger. In recent months, the silent sanctuary of SL’s healthcare system has been shattered by a series of tragic, preventable deaths. The common denominator in these tragedies has been a failure in the most basic promise of medicine: more..

Jan 1 (Island) The CID arrested EPDP leader and former minister Douglas Devananda last Thursday in connection with an ongoing investigation into a pistol issued to him by the Army way back in 2001 allegedly ending up in the underworld. It has claimed that information elicited from Makandure Madush, a notorious criminal, led the police to the weapon hidden in a shrub in Weliweriya. Devananda is one of the battle-scarred ex-Tiger combatants who courageously stood up to the LTTE and helped defeat it. more..

Jan 1 (DM) Astrology - In my humble opinion, astrology is the logic behind the planets and their movements. Astrology is all about the planetary positions in your natal chart and facilitates the study, reading and offering predictions for your life journey. To prepare your natal chart, your full name, the names of your parents, your time of birth, and the place of birth are required. Numerology is the logic behind numbers. Numerology is based on your date of birth. more..

Jan 1 (CT) SL’s national electricity policy draft reflects a necessary shift in thinking, away from the concept that power systems can be managed by simply adding more generation and leaving the rest under markets or operator judgement. This transformation is not ideological. It reflects lived experience. Repeated system stress, blackouts, fiscal shocks and increasing climate volatility have revealed the limits of energy-only thinking in action. SL’s power system was generally stable for many years. more..

Jan 1 (CT) The year 2025 has emerged as a defining one for both international and domestic politics in SL, profoundly shaped by Cyclone Ditwah, which battered the island nation of 21 million people. In its aftermath, Ditwah triggered an unprecedented wave of global solidarity, with donations in cash and kind pouring in from around the world—including India, whose substantial support has yet to be fully accounted for, according to its High Commission in Colombo. more..

Jan 1 (CT) SL has been here before — often, and at great cost. Each time the language of national security has been used to justify exceptional laws; democratic safeguards have weakened, public trust has frayed, and ordinary citizens have borne the consequences. The proposed Protection of the State from Terrorism (PSTA) Bill threatens to entrench that legacy rather than end it, despite repeated assurances that the long-reviled Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) would finally be abolished. more..

Jan 1 (TM) 2025 was a challenging year for Sri Lanka and the world. All indicators point to 2026 being equally or more challenging than the one we’ve endured. Globally, we have a divided international community. The globe is once again rife with armed conflict and the threat of more violence. The rules-based international order, once championed by many nations which we considered global leaders, is today being dismantled by them. Power dynamics across the planet are changing, and with it, more..

Jan 1 (TM) The tragic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach on 14 December, which claimed the lives of 16 individuals and injured dozens more during a Hanukkah celebration, has once again forced the global community to confront the devastating reality of targeted, extremist-linked violence. As Australia mourns this recent loss and investigators delve into the radicalisation of the suspects involved, a critical question compels SL as well: does SL require a more robust, more..

Jan 1 (DM) SL ended 2025, a year that could have been much worse, on a positive note. The ravages of Cyclone Ditwah, which killed over 600 people, scores still missing, and the infrastructure damage estimated at $ 4 billion, had been a fatal blow at the end of the year. Still, in 2025, SL had avoided the worst. The year began with the inexperienced and untested NPP at the helm of the govt. Comparative international experience — from the post-Hassina mayhem in Bangladesh to the Arab Spring more..

Jan 1 (DM) If there are two lessons that 2025 taught us, that happens to be the uncertainty of life and survival of the fittest. These lessons, however, are not confined to last year but to many years, decades and centuries that have passed. Cyclone Ditwah that ravaged through several parts of the country made people realise these two lessons in a brutal manner. Prior to November, many victims that were buried under mud wouldn’t have expected to die as a result of extreme weather conditions. more..

Dec 31 (NW) Central Bank has announced the closure of the Public Debt Department (PDD) and the transfer of the LankaSecure Division of PDD to the Payments and Settlements Dept (PSD), effective 1 January 2026. The CB said that the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) was established within the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoF) under the Public Debt Management Act No. 33 of 2024 (PDM Act) in Dec 2024. more..

Dec 31 (AD) Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Nalaka Kaluwewe has lodged a complaint with the CID. The complaint has been filed after the newly printed Grade 6 English language module as part of the education reforms, contained a reference to an inappropriate website. Speaking to media, Secretary Kaluwewe stated that it is suspected that an external party had conspiratorially made this inclusion. He further said that the CID has been requested to immediately investigate the individuals more..

Dec 31 (DM) A significant number of police officers and security forces personnel are addicted to drugs, a recent survey conducted by the Police Narcotics Bureau has found. Dr Manoj Jinadasa, Head of Mass Communication Dept at Uni of Kelaniya who led the survey, stated that many officers became addicted due to frequent random testing of drugs, including heroin, ice, Kush, cocaine, hashish, and Kerala cannabis. more..

Dec 31 (DM) Air quality across Sri Lanka continues to remain slightly unhealthy, according to real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) data. Affected areas include multiple areas in Jaffna, Chilaw, Puttalam, Galle, Kandy and Colombo districts. A senior official at the NBRO said the deterioration in air quality is mainly due to polluted air drifting in from the Indian region and local pollution sources combined with prevailing atmospheric conditions that limit the dispersion of pollutants. more..

Dec 31 (TM) Online reservations for tourist bungalows and resorts administered by the Ministry of Public Admin, Provincial Councils and Local Govt have been officially introduced, marking a further step in the govt’s digitalisation drive. The new online booking facility was unveiled yesterday (29) at the ministry auditorium, in line with the current Govt’s policy to expand digital public services. The initiative allows the public to access and reserve tourist bungalows and resorts more..

Dec 31 (DM) CID and its Computer Crime Investigation Division (CCID) launched an investigation into a series of hoax bomb threats targeting critical infrastructure and government offices, to determine if external elements are coordinating these incidents to destabilize the nation’s security. The most recent hoaxes were reported on Dec 28 and 29, at the Nawalapitiya–Pasbage Korale & Poojapitiya DSs. more..

Dec 31 (NW) SLMC has suspended the party membership of Colombo Municipal Councillor Zohara Buhary with immediate effect, for voting in favour of the Council’s budget. In a letter issued by SLMC Secretary Nizam Kariapper, it was noted that Buhary voted in favour of the CMC Budget Proposal despite the Party Leader, Rauff Hakeem, having personally instructed members of the Opposition to oppose it. SLMC described her conduct as a gross violation of party discipline. more..

Dec 31 (AD) Parliamentary business for the first sitting week of Parliament for Jan 2026 was decided at the Committee on Parliamentary Business meeting held today under the chairmanship of the Speaker, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne. Accordingly, Parliament is scheduled to convene from January 6th to 9th, the Secretary-General of Parliament, Kushani Rohanadeera, said in a statement. On Tuesday, January 6, 2026, time from 9.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. has been allocated for more..

Dec 31 (FT) Cabinet of Ministers approved further action to establish the Sri Lanka Industrial Transformation and Innovation Authority, a new institution aimed at streamlining and strengthening industrial and entrepreneurship development services across the country. Approval to create a single, more effective body by merging Industrial Development Board (IDB), National Entrepreneurship Development Authority (NEDA), and Small Business Development Division more..

Dec 31 (TM) Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant when engaging in online purchases following a recent increase in financial fraud linked to digital marketplaces and social media platforms. According to information received by law enforcement, fraudsters have been using platforms such as Facebook, Ikman, and WhatsApp to advertise mobile phones and other electronic devices at prices significantly lower than prevailing market rates. more..

Dec 31 (EN) SL’s interest rates have edged up over 2025, reducing the risk of a second sovereign default, data show, though reserve collections fell short of initial projections amid insufficient deflationary policy, analysts have said. SL cut rates in May 2025 amid warnings that the operating framework of the central bank was moving on well-beaten paths of flexible inflation targeting where currency crises were triggered in more..

Dec 31 (AD) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) today announced that it will dedicate the upcoming Pakistan Tour of Sri Lanka to promoting the govt’s Rebuilding Sri Lanka program. Accordingly, several measures will be implemented throughout the series to raise public awareness of the program, the SLC said. One such initiative will be the donation of the tour profit, which will be generated from the Pakistan Tour of Sri Lanka, to the govt’s Rebuilding Sri Lanka program. more..

Dec 31 (NF) Sri Lanka has earned global acclaim by being featured in the prestigious Happiness List 2026 from G Adventures, a leading travel company focused on emotional and experiential well-being. The recognition, based on feedback from over 8,000 int'l travelers, highlights destinations that spark purpose, connection, and long-term joy. Travelers praised Sri Lanka’s 7-day sailing adventure along the south coast, where journeys through serene beaches, vibrant fishing villages, and more..

Dec 31 (FT) 2025 is not a year where Sri Lanka’s cricket can reflect anything noteworthy or even an honorary mention as the national men’s team struggled in all three formats to establish itself. With the T20I World Cup which Sri Lanka are hosting with India looming on the horizon, the national T20 squad was still in a state of fluctuation, still unsettled and lacking in consistency. The ODI team is somewhat settled and more..

Dec 31 (AD) The final rites of the late veteran singer Kalasoori Latha Walpola, revered as the Queen of Sri Lankan Music, concluded with state patronage this evening at the Borella General Cemetery in Colombo. Earlier today, her mortal remains were placed at the Independence Square in Colombo, allowing the general public to pay their last respect until 2 p.m. Religious observances were held thereafter, following which the remains were taken to Borella General Cemetery for the final rites. more..

Dec 31 (CT) A group of 33 academics, social activists, and civil society members has urged Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara to withdraw the proposed Protection of the State from Terrorism (PSTA) Bill, citing concerns that it amounts to an expansion of the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). In a letter submitted to the Ministry of Justice and National Integration yesterday, the group criticised the Bill as ‘PTA+,’ arguing that it fails to deliver on the govt’s more..