Nov 26 (FT) With the 30 Nov tax deadline looming, SL’s tax professionals are not just racing against time they are quietly safeguarding the integrity of the nation’s fiscal system. Their desks are full, their phones never stop ringing, and their evenings often stretch late into the night. But their work in this busy season is only one part of a much bigger role. Today, tax professionals are also essential guardians of ethical tax behaviour and public trust in SL’s tax system. more..

Nov 26 (FT) On 15 Oct, SL Customs announced that it had collected Rs. 2,470 million in a single day — the highest ever recorded by the agency. As of that date, cumulative customs revenue in 2025 reached Rs. 1,867 billion. This achievement invites a deeper examination: is this a fortuitous one-time spike, or a signal of improved governance, better processes, and structural change? What are the drivers, and what does it bode for SL’s fiscal health and tax policy environment? more..

Nov 26 (AD) Central Bank has maintained its policy rate at 7.75% in a Nov 2025 decision, a statement said saying it will help reflate the economy to 5%. SL’s rupee had depreciated steadily in 2025, amid record current account surpluses and reduction in budgets, helping push up prices of imported goods, amid strong credit growth. “Recent depreciation pressure on rupee has subsided with improvement in foreign exchange liquidity,” more..

Nov 26 (AD) Chief of the Army Staff of India General Upendra Dwivedi is scheduled to embark on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka from Dec 1–2, marking a significant milestone in India–SL defence cooperation. Visit comes amid a steady rise in high-level military engagements between the two nations, reinforcing mutual trust, strategic alignment and growing operational synergy. Indian army spokesperson stated that the upcoming visit aims to reinforce India’s Neighbourhood First policy more..

Nov 26 (DM) A suspected man questioned over bombings that killed 269 people in SL is seeking asylum in the UK. The unnamed asylum seeker, from SL, was arrested over allegations that he was involved in the 2019 Easter bombings in the country. The blasts killed six Britons, including a mother and her two children. The man, who has been granted anonymity, left SL in 2022 after being arrested and released on bail over the attacks, in which suicide bombers targeted luxury hotels and churches. more..

Nov 26 (AD) The highest amount allocated for education in history has been made in the 2026 budget, enabling the present govt to formulate educational policies, plans and establish institutional structures for the sector, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated. She also emphasized that financial allocations alone are insufficient unless they are supported by a strong institutional framework for effective policy implementation. more..

Nov 26 (DM) Adverse weather conditions have killed ten people and affected more than 1,790 people and 504 families in Ratnapura, Kegalle, Badulla, Matara, Hambantota, Galle, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kilinochchi and Jaffna Districts have been affected by the adverse situation data put out by the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) by yesterday evening. Some 16 people belonging to five families in Ratnapura District have been evacuated and have been provided with temporary shelters. more..

Nov 26 (DM) Sri Lanka is set for several more days of unsettled weather, with the Met Dept warning of continued showers and thunderstorms across most parts of the island. Cloudy skies will prevail islandwide, while showers or thundershowers are expected at times in the Northern, North-Central, Eastern & Uva Provinces, as well as in the Hambantota & Matale Districts. “Heavy rainfall exceeding 100 mm is likely in parts of the Eastern, North-Central, Uva & Southern Provinces, more..

Nov 26 (DM) Capital market regulator, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has escalated its enforcement drive as it yesterday issued its first-ever scam alert. It named Blue Ocean Securities Ltd as an unlicensed and unauthorised operator posing a direct risk to investors as it is operating entirely outside the law. SEC declared that Blue Ocean Securities is not licensed to trade securities in SL and that its Chief Analyst and Assistant are not registered investment advisors. more..

Nov 26 (SO) Govt will distribute Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) tracking devices to small-scale and multi-day fishing vessels under its A Nation United: Eradicating the Menace of Narcotic Drugs program, Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekaran said. He said plans were under way to procure and install VMS units on 50,000 small boats and 7,000 multi-day vessels. The Budget has allocated Rs. 12 billion for the fisheries sector, he added. more..

Nov 26 (FT) SL’s export sector continues to show strong resilience, registering over $ 14.43 billion in total exports during the first 10 months of 2025, a 6% year-on-year (YoY) growth, despite month-on-month export earnings was flat. The latest figures, showed a steady upward trajectory in both merchandise and services exports, despite growing competitiveness and uncertainties in the global markets. more..

Nov 26 (NW) A range of essential services of the Registrar General’s Dept were provided to the public under the Happy Nation – Clean Sri Lanka special village-to-village community service programme, currently being implemented across district secretariat divisions. The special mobile service initiative, carried out under the guidance of Registrar General S. Jaladeepan, is being coordinated through district secretariats as part of the govt’s Clean Sri Lanka programme to improve more..

Nov 26 (FT) Cabinet of Ministers on Monday approved authorising the CEB to proceed with long-delayed Norochcholai–Wariyapola Transmission Development Project execution and initiate formal negotiations with Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to obtain the required financing. The project, identified as a top priority under the CEB’s Long-Term Transmission Plan 2025–2034, is designed to strengthen the main transmission backbone between Puttalam and Wariyapola more..

Nov 26 (CI) India have been grouped with Pakistan; Sri Lanka with Australia and Ireland; England with West Indies and Bangladesh; and New Zealand with Afghanistan and South Africa at the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup in February and March. The tournament, co-hosted by India and SL, begins on Feb 7 and ends on March 8, with the marquee India-Pakistan fixture scheduled for Feb 15 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. ICC revealed the groups and fixtures at an event in Mumbai on Tuesday. more..

Nov 26 (Island) 23rd DSI Supersport Schools Volleyball Championship concluded successfully, celebrating the remarkable talent and enthusiasm for volleyball among young athletes. Held on 15-16 Nov 2025 at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo, SL’s No. 1 footwear brand partnered with the SL Volleyball Federation and the Schools’ Volleyball Association of the Education Ministry to organise this prestigious tournament, which holds a significant place in the history of the sport. more..

Nov 26 (ST) A bill to regulate non-banking lending institutions is to be introduced, with penalties for non-compliance including fines of up to Rs five million, up to five years’ imprisonment, or both, upon conviction in a magistrate’s court. The proposed Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill was published by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his capacity as Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. more..

Nov 26 (DN) Chairman of the Palm Oil Industry Association of SL (POIA) Dr. Rohan Fernando highlighted that it is the high time for lifting the 2021 ban on oil palm cultivation, since the Association widely regards the ban as an unscientific, ad hoc policy decision. Addressing the 6th AGM of the POIA in Colombo on Monday (25), he added that Sri Lanka’s continuing ban on oil palm cultivation, imposed in 2021, remains one of the most debated agricultural policies in recent years. more..

Nov 26 (DN) SL Under 19 cricketers are getting ready for the ICC under 19 men’s cricket world cup which will be played from January 16 to Feb 6, 2026 in Zimbabwe and Namibia. The 16 teams have been divided into four groups and SL in Group ‘C’ with Ireland, Japan and defending champions Australia. SL’s first game will be against Japan on January. 17 Their next opponent will be Ireland (Jan 19) followed by Australia Jan 23). Chairman of the National Junior Selection Committee Vinothen John more..

Nov 26 (FT) Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath called on hotel operators and tourism-related investors to accelerate development outside the Western Province, stressing that Budget 2026 has allocated substantial funds to improve national infrastructure, including highways and domestic airports, to support regional tourism growth. Speaking at the Tourist Hotels Association of SL (THASL) AGM, Minister noted that more..

Nov 26 (FT) The Hotels Association of SL (THASL) outgoing President M. Shanthikumar on Monday in his final address to Govt and members called for stronger global promotion, clearer regulations and investment-friendly policies to safeguard the sector’s future. Delivering his final speech before handing over leadership to Asoka Hettigoda at THASL’s 60th anniversary Shanthikumar said the dominance and contribution of formal-sector hoteliers cannot be underestimated, noting that more..

Nov 26 (FT) SL Tourism Hotels Association (THASL) President-elect Asoka Hettigoda on Monday endorsed the Govt’s target of $ 8 billion in tourism earnings by 2030, but said the industry should push even further to achieve its full economic potential. “THASL is proposing an ambitious, but attainable goal of $ 10 billion revenue by 2030. Achieving this will require annual arrivals growth of around 20%, taking SL to six million visitors, alongside a 30% increase in per-night spending through a shift more..

Nov 26 (Island) The CID has apparently prioritised the summoning of journalists over conducting serious investigations. It is apparently preoccupied with political work. Editor of the Aruna newspaper Mahinda Ileperuma has been summoned by the CID for questioning on a news story that one has to produce a letter from the Chairman of the Public Security Committee (PSC) in one’s residential area, in addition to a Grama Niladari certificate, to obtain a police report. more..

Nov 26 (Island) Imagine walking into two shops selling the same product. In the first shop, you pay a simple 0.6% fee. In the second shop, you’re hit with a bewildering array of charges from multiple entities, and by the time you’re done, you’ve paid 2.27%. And that’s for a complete transaction: buying and selling. SL loves to say it wants to develop the capital market. But the way we charge investors tells the real story – a story of policy confusion, fee-layering, and a system designed to favor more..

Nov 26 (CI) Pathum Nissanka found a timely return to form as he struck a devastating 98 off 58 deliveries to help SL chase down a target of 147 against Zimbabwe in just 16.2 overs, with nine wickets to spare, in what was a must-win game in Rawalpindi. The result gives SL their first win on the tour, and snaps a five-match losing streak in T20Is. It now means SL go into their final game against Pakistan on Thursday knowing that a win will more..

Nov 26 (FT) The Sri Lanka Economic and Investment Summit 2025, to be held on 2 and 3 December, under the theme Gateway to Growth – Asia’s Emerging Opportunity organised by The CCC, is officially sold out, bringing together more than 850 participants, including over 100 international delegates from across the globe. The strong global response reflects the Summit’s growing role as a central meeting point for business leaders looking to reconnect with Sri Lanka’s economy. more..

Nov 26 (FT) HNB has been announced as the Platinum Sponsor of TiECON Colombo 2026 which will take place in early 2026 in Colombo. Organised by TiE Colombo, event serves as SL’s premier platform for innovation and entrepreneurship, bringing together entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, investors, and global business leaders. It features keynotes, panel discussions, networking opportunities, investor lounges, and an innovation showcase, creating a comprehensive forum more..

Nov 26 (TM) Justice for marginalised people involves combating systemic exclusion through legal protection, increased access to resources like legal aid, and community-based initiatives that address unique challenges like discrimination and inequality. Wage hike for the Malayagam plantation workers through next year’s Budget is considered to be the first such time in the country’s history. In addition to the Rs.1,350 already paid, it was announced the plantation companies would pay Rs.200 more..

Nov 26 (TM) Inland Revenue Department (IRD) recently announced that 200,000 new taxpayers were registered so far this year, along with 18,000 newly registered companies. According to the IRD, they were given a revenue target 18% higher than that of the previous year (2024). Despite the challenge, they have surpassed expectations by collecting Rs. 2,080 billion to date, highest revenue collection in history. This is a significant development for a country that has long struggled with more..

Nov 26 (TM) The currently unfolding investigation into a young SL content creator named Geeth Sooriyapura based in the UK has exposed a troubling and technologically sophisticated ecosystem of monetising AI-driven misinformation, rage-bait content, and political manipulation that spans both countries. What once appeared to be isolated online activity has now revealed a far deeper web – one that blends digital more..

Nov 26 (GV) Comrade Rohana Wijeweera, founder of JVP, was arrested and subsequently murdered 36 years ago. His disappearance in 1989 symbolised the turbulent end of the JVP’s second insurrection, extreme political violence involving the state, its affiliated groups and the JVP itself. This offers us the chance to reflect on the past and the important lessons that can be learned, which will be crucial for SL’s future. Late 1980s were one of the most painful chapters in SL’s post-independence history. more..

Nov 26 (CT) The recent Nugegoda protest has reignited national debate about SL’s political trajectory, rising public discontent, and the challenges faced by the NPP govt. Although the rally drew a significant crowd and boosted opposition visibility, its wider political implications are more complex and carry long term consequences. This moment became even more sensitive due to a parallel controversy unfolding in Trincomalee, where the sudden installation and swift removal of more..