Nov 9 (TM) The Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development is working towards establishing a drainage system capable of withstanding rainfall of up to 120 millimetres (mm), Clean SL Task Force Convenor and Secretary, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Russel Aponsu said. He said flash floods could occur again in Colombo due to weather conditions triggered by El Niño, and more..

Nov 9 (DN) A U.S. Navy Boeing MV-22B Osprey landed at the BIA on Saturday, marking the first time an aircraft of this type has touched down at the facility. The aircraft is renowned for its versatile tiltrotor design, which combines the vertical flight capabilities of a helicopter with the speed and range of a fixed-wing airplane. By pivoting its engine nacelles and proprotors upward, the Osprey can hover, take off, and land vertically without requiring a conventional runway, more..

Nov 9 (FT) Official reserve assets topped the $ 7 billion mark at end-October, as the monetary authority increased US dollar purchases from the domestic foreign exchange market. Official reserves stood at $ 7.09 billion at end-Oct 2026, up from $ 6.9 billion a month earlier, while foreign currency reserves rose to $ 6.84 billion from $ 6.62 billion. The $ 190 million increase in official reserves almost matches the $ 191.3 million the CBSL bought on a net basis during October, more..

Nov 9 (Island) Minister Anura Karunathilaka stressed the importance of strengthening the national electricity transmission network as construction begins on the Mannar–Mullikulam 220 kV double-circuit wind power transmission line, a key infrastructure project expected to support the expansion of renewable energy generation. Commencement ceremony for transmission line project was held yesterday, more..

Nov 9 (NW) The bodies of all four employees of a private company in Colpetty who drowned while bathing in a stream in Deniyaya on Saturday have been recovered, Police confirmed. The incident occurred at Kale Dola, a natural stream in the Bewaraliya area of Deniyaya, where a group of seven young men employed at a private computer company in Colpetty had travelled for a leisure trip. Six members of the group entered the stream to bathe when four of them were swept away more..

Nov 9 (DM) Customs officials have seized 39 drones and 16 microphones brought into the country by SJB MP Nalin Bandara without the required approvals. The items were seized at the BIA on the morning of Aug 11. The MP arrived from Singapore aboard SriLankan Airlines flight UL 307 at 11.23 a.m. when Customs officers detected the equipment. The drones had been brought into the country without the required import licences, approval from TRCSL or clearance from Ministry of Defence. more..

Nov 9 (NW) Authorities have identified 60 locations across five electoral divisions in Colombo where blocked drains and waterways are obstructing the flow of floodwater. A joint operation to clear the obstructions entered its second day on Sunday, following severe flooding caused by heavy rainfall on Nov 6. The operation covers several areas, including Narahenpita, Bambalapitiya, Wellawatte, Kirulapone, Dematagoda and Central Colombo. Officials said the recent flooding was worsened by more..

Nov 9 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has raised expectations of fresh tax relief in Thursday’s Budget, saying the Govt expects to lift the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax threshold again. PAYE is income tax deducted at source from salaries. Addressing the National Trade Union Convention in Colombo, Prez said the threshold had already been increased from Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 150,000 and that a further adjustment to it was expected in the 2027 Budget, to be presented on Thursday. more..

Nov 9 (FT) Nearly 40%, that is 14 of 36 high-value proposals, in Sri Lanka’s 2025 Budget fell short of substantial implementation, according to the latest Budget Promises assessment by Verité Research. At the same time, the share of fulfilled proposals increased from 17% in 2024 to 33% in 2025, marking the highest rate recorded since Verité Research began tracking Budget implementation in 2017. more..

Nov 9 (SO) Govt is preparing legislation to abolish the manpower employment system, under which workers are recruited through intermediaries that receive payments for labour supplied directly to organisations, Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe said. Addressing the National Trade Union Conference in Colombo, Minister said the proposed legislation would strengthen the long-standing trade union campaign to secure permanent employment and protect the rights of manpower workers. more..

Nov 9 (CI) This Test series may not ultimately end up being relevant to the machinations of the pointy end of the World Test Championship (WTC), but could be an important clue about Pakistan and SL's direction of Test travel. Neither side has, to the extent they have played Test cricket, had much to celebrate of late, but these games promise to be an absorbing strategic battle at the beginning of Pakistan's Test season. For Pakistan, the only way, truly, is up; they just don't know how to get there. more..

Nov 9 (FT) Colombo became a meeting point for international business engagement as the Global Business Forum 2026 – Season 3, SL Chapter, was held on 31 October at Temple Trees, Colombo. The international gathering brought together business leaders, entrepreneurs, distinguished personalities and delegates, creating a platform for professional engagement, international networking and recognition of business achievements. Organised by ANYELP GROUP, founded by Zakir Hussain, more..

Nov 9 (Island) For years, Sri Lanka could at least count on Test cricket to keep them afloat in the relative safety of the middle of the ICC rankings. This year, even that comfort has deserted them. A shock series defeat to West Indies, followed by a home loss to India, has left them seventh, with a bruised reputation to repair. The upcoming series in Pakistan offers a chance to regain some ground. A 2-0 sweep would lift SL one place, providing a welcome boost for a side whose opportunities more..

Nov 9 (FT) Workers’ remittances surged to a record high in October, driving one of the strongest 10-month performances in the SL’s history, despite heightened economic uncertainty from the ongoing Middle East conflict, a region that hosts a large share of SL migrant workers. Latest data showed that inflows rose 3.31% year-on-year (YoY) to $ 735.6 million. October marked the ninth consecutive month of exceptionally strong more..

Nov 9 (FT) Police searched a hotel in the Nalloruwa area of Panadura on 6 and 7 November after information that a group of Chinese nationals staying there was involved in suspected online financial fraud and illegal business activity, and seized 23 computers and accessories. The operation by the Panadura Divisional Crime Investigation Unit followed information received by the Senior Superintendent of Police in charge of the Panadura Division, and was carried out on a warrant more..

Nov 9 (FT) Private sector borrowing from SL’s banking system rebounded in September from August’s four-month low, though annual growth slowed for a third consecutive month. This is according to CB data released last Friday. Net credit expanded Rs. 212.4 billion month-on-month (MoM), CBSL data showed. Outstanding credit to the private sector rose to Rs. 11.77 trillion from Rs. 11.56 trillion in August, while year-on-year (YoY) growth eased to 23.6% from 24.5%. more..

Nov 9 (TM) Prices of some medicines in SL have dropped by as much as 30–40% following the application of a new pricing formula, raising concerns over excessive markups in the pharmaceutical market, according to the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA). NMRA Chairman Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama said that the price reductions had been recorded despite the depreciation of the rupee, suggesting that more..

Nov 9 (FT) The Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) said it appreciates the Govt’s commitment to submitting a fresh application for the EU’s GSP+ scheme under the new 10-year trade framework. “For SL’s apparel industry, GSP+ is more than a tariff concession. It supports the competitiveness of our exporters in our largest market and sustains the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of workers and their families. Continued access is vital to the industry and to the wider economy,” more..

Nov 9 (DM) Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) and Al-Futtaim Logistics have discussed expanding their existing business relationship, as shipping disruptions in the Middle East highlight Hambantota's growing role as an alternative gateway for vehicle shipments to Gulf markets. The discussions took place during a courtesy visit to Hambantota International Port (HIP) by a delegation led by the Vice Chairman of Al-Futtaim Group. Talks focused on strengthening business ties, more..

Nov 9 (ST) Sri Lanka will look to address their persistent batting problems and settle on a winning combination when they begin their two-Test series against Pakistan in Rawalpindi tomorrow, with their World Test Championship campaign entering a crucial phase. The visitors have several issues to resolve, particularly at the top of the batting order, where the failure to build substantial opening partnerships has repeatedly exposed the middle order to early pressure. more..

Nov 9 (DN) Immunization is one of the most effective and cost-efficient public health interventions for preventing infectious diseases and reducing illness, disability and death. It involves administering vaccines to stimulate the body’s immune system to develop protection against specific diseases. Immunization plays an important role in promoting healthy lives, particularly among infants, children, pregnant women and vulnerable populations, Consultant doctors say. more..

Nov 9 (CI) Sri Lanka's newly installed Test captain Kusal Mendis has backed his experienced batting line-up to conquer whatever conditions Pakistan throws at them, declaring his team ready ahead of the first Test in Rawalpindi, starting Monday. Mendis expressed complete confidence in his side's ability to handle a potentially green, pace-friendly pitch - a stark departure from the spin-friendly surfaces that have been rolled out more..

Nov 9 (TM) SL stands at a difficult crossroads, waiting for the future proposals revealed by the 12 Nov budget. While the Govt continues to promise minor tax reforms alongside small adjustments, astute observers note the core plan lacks teeth. This is due to a complete absence of an aggressive push to drive the economic engine and provide more bucks to the local markets. The previous budgets followed a similar template because the Anura Kumara Dissanayake administration more..

Nov 9 (FT) Hayleys Retail Holdings Ltd, last week announced that it has selected Blue Yonder to build its grocery retail operations from the ground up with AI and connected supply chain technology. Hayleys Retail plans to open a number of stores in the near future to bring reliable service and greater convenience to consumers across SL. The company is Blue Yonder’s first retail customer in SL. Hayleys is SL’s number one ranked public listed company and a multinational conglomerate, more..

Nov 9 (Island) Friday’s flash floods in Colombo have jolted the govt and the CMC into making a frantic effort to adopt preventive measures. At an emergency meeting chaired by Presidential Secretary Dr. Nandika Kumanayake, on Saturday, it was decided to establish a task force under the CMC to respond swiftly to floods and other emergencies in the city. Colombo Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazaar, senior bureaucrats and security forces officers attended the meeting, more..

Nov 9 (DM) If media reports are to be believed, 43 years after the 1983 govt-sponsored pogrom against the Tamil community in the country, a number of NPP MPs have called for the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the 1983 Black July riots and their impact. Let’s hope the govt MPs who sponsored the motion are not holding their breath until the Tamil community thanks them for the belated inquiry. more..

Nov 9 (TM) SL’s cooking gas supply for the festive season appears secure, even if one of the country’s two suppliers fails to deliver a single tonne. The fuel market has no such cushion. State-owned CPC is now supplying most of the country’s diesel, and the Govt is waiting on three private retailers to keep a promise to restore normal supplies. Litro Gas had ordered about 44,000 MT of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), more..

Nov 9 (ST) A bitter dispute over the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne culminated in proceedings of the House descending into chaos, as opposition MPs protested angrily over the refusal to take the motion up for debate. The dispute had been simmering for several weeks after a group of SJB led opposition MPs handed over their NCM against the Speaker to Secretary General of Parliament on Oct 9. The motion, signed by 44 MPs including more..

Nov 9 (TM) When the skies opened over Colombo on Friday evening, roads turned into rivers, commuters were stranded on Galle Road and in Borella, train services on every line were thrown into disarray, and the ground floor of the National Hospital, of all places, took in water. Within a day, the explanations had arrived. Yet the people deserve something better than a rain gauge reading offered up as an alibi. The Colombo Municipal Council's case is simple enough. more..

Nov 9 (SO) More than four decades after the Anti-Tamil pogrom of July 1983 which is considered as one of the darkest periods in SL’s post-independence history, a proposal to investigate the violence through a Parliamentary Select Committee was presented to the Speaker last week. Signed and moved by 51 MPs representing the NPP Govt, the proposed committee is to examine the events surrounding Black July and its background, more..

Nov 9 (GV) Think of a customer ringing Sri Lanka Telecom with a complaint. Until recently, the person who took that call had to log into one system after another to find the answers. Now AI agents at the back end gather that information in seconds. “The cycle time that we take to resolve an issue for the customer has improved,” Ishari Siriwardane, the company’s deputy chief transformation officer, said. She was also frank about the people. The average employee at 169 yr-old company is over 45. more..

Nov 9 (Island) America’s midterm elections of 3 Nov have delivered a message that SL politicians should neither dismiss nor misunderstand: no election victory gives a leader permanent ownership of public power. Democrats won both houses of Congress, constraining Prez Donald Trump’s legislative agenda. Trump was not on the ballot and remains Prez, but voters used the opportunity to impose an important political restraint. Result is not evidence that American democracy is perfect. more..