Nov 12 (FT) Treasury Secretary Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma declared that the economy has transitioned from crisis to stability and is now poised for sustained growth, driven by a 7% medium-term GDP target underpinned by six key strategies. He said the 2026 Budget was crafted after wide consultation with stakeholders to restore investor confidence, ensure transparency in public finance and build an economy more..

Nov 12 (TM) At the Cabinet Decisions taken on 10 Nov It has been recognised that the promotion of sports activities and the development of sports infrastructure in the Northern Province, which is gradually becoming normal after long-term conflicts and challenges, is a vitally important requirement. It has been proposed to construct an indoor stadium with the objective of developing indoor sports such as table tennis, tennis, badminton, netball, and chess at schools and sports clubs. more..

Nov 12 (AD) NPP today (11) succeeded in passing the inaugural budget of the Arachchikattuwa Pradeshiya Sabha in Puttalam with the support of the UNP. The NPP managed to secure the deciding vote after the initial voting ended in a tie. At the last LG election, the NPP secured 10 seats in the Arachchikattuwa PS. The SJB secured six seats, SLPP received two seats, the UPFA obtained two seats while UNP and an independent group received one seat each. more..

Nov 12 (NW) GMOA has warned that SL’s free health system is facing a serious crisis, accusing the 2026 Budget of failing to address long-standing challenges in the sector, including shortages of human resources, medicines, and essential equipment. In a statement issued following an emergency Central Committee meeting held today (11), GMOA said the health system has reached a critical stage, with hospitals more..

Nov 12 (NW) Lanka Sugar Company, operating under the Ministry of Industries and Enterprise Development, today (11) launched its first-ever brown sugar retail network in Nugegoda. The initiative aims to make high-quality, locally produced brown sugar from the Pelwatte and Sevanagala factories available to SL consumers at affordable prices. The company, which came under state ownership in 2011, marks a major milestone with this launch—its first retail network in 14 years. more..

Nov 12 (TM) The son of former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, Ramith Rambukwella has been served indictments before the Colombo High Court (HC) yesterday on charges related to the unlawful accumulation of assets. The indictments were served when the case related to Rambukwella was taken up before Colombo HC Judge Mohamed Mihal. The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption presented the indictments filed against the accused. more..

Nov 12 (DM) China’s electric vehicle (EV) giant BYD is setting its sights on SL’s high-end automobile market with the official launch of its premium sub-brand Denza today, marking the brand’s first-ever entry into the South Asian region. The debut lineup, Denza D9, Denza B8 and Denza B5, is a move by BYD to redefine the luxury driving experience through its advanced New Energy Vehicle (NEV) portfolio. Denza D9, a fully electric multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), is designed for premium more..

Nov 12 (TM) Committee for Protecting the Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) stated that it is unfortunate that no successive Govt has come forward to hold those responsible for the deaths of inmates at the Welikada and Mahara Prisons, accountable. Speaking at this year’s Prisoners’ Justice Day event yesterday, CPRP President, attorney Senaka Perera said that while 27 inmates were killed in the 2012 Welikada Prison incident, and 11 in the 2020 Mahara Prison incident, no one has been found guilty more..

Nov 12 (TM) Free Trade Zones and General Services Employees Union (FTZ and GSEU) stated that while trade unions (TUs) have requested an opportunity to meet the expert committee that is currently drafting the proposed labour law reforms, Ministry of Labour is yet to facilitate such a discussion. Trade Union's General Secretary Anton Marcus said that although the Minister of Labour (Prof. Anil Jayantha) agreed during more..

Nov 12 (FT) Standard Chartered Bank CEO Bingumal Thewarathanthri yesterday described the 2026 Budget as a credible and a doable plan that balances fiscal discipline with growth ambition. Although SL’s fiscal space remains severely constrained, he said consistent reforms and adherence to the IMF program can sustain the country’s gradual recovery and rebuild international confidence. Thewarathanthri said the 2026 Budget reflects a realistic path forward for Sri Lanka, more..

Nov 12 (ST) Cabinet has approved a multi-million dollar bid for the overhaul of four MI-17 helicopters urgently needed by the SL Air Force (SLAF). The tender was awarded to the lowest evaluated substantially responsive bidder M/s Winsley Defence Group d.o.o. of Bosnia and Herzegovina whose local agent is M/s Securatec Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. The entire cost for the overhaul and life extension of the four helicopters will be around US$ 18 million (approximately Rs. 5.4 billion), more..

Nov 12 (DN) SL athletes excelled at the 23rd Asian Masters Athletic Championship as they clinched 40 gold medals to finish runner-up in this five-day event which concluded last Sunday (9) at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Chennai, India. In addition Sri Lankans won 54 silver medals and 45 bronze medals (total 139) in this meet. SL’s experienced women athlete Nimali Liyanarachchi took part in over 35 age category excelled at 800m and 1500m events. She won 800m gold medal more..

Nov 12 (EN) Colombo West International Terminal, backed by India’s Adani Ports and SL’s John Keells Holdings is off to a spectacular start with volumes growing faster than new terminals can usually expect, Chief Executive Munish Kanwar said. The first two berths of the three-berth terminal is now in operation with eight ship-to-shore (STS) cranes which can take in two large big container vessels or one big and two smaller vessels. “We declared that we started a commercial operation in April more..

Nov 12 (FT) SJB MP S.M. Marikkar criticised the second Budget presented by the NPP Govt, stating that it is a bland Budget with neither merits nor demerits. Marikkar said the 2025 Budget was full of beautifully mixed words, like a children’s playbook but failed to bring any tangible relief to the people. “This year’s Budget has not reduced the prices of essential goods, electricity, water, school supplies, medicines, or bus fares. more..

Nov 12 (FT) Selyn Business Dev Director Selyna Peiris reminded that while 2026 Budget allocates a record Rs. 80 billion for SMEs, most of it risks being underutilised due to deep structural and procedural barriers that prevent small and medium enterprises (SMEs) – particularly youth & women-led ventures outside Colombo from accessing promised support. She urged policymakers to focus on implementation, not intention if SL is to prevent SMEs from falling back into informal economy. more..

Nov 12 (FT) Economist Dr. Roshan Perera yesterday cautioned that the country’s revenue targets may be difficult to achieve amid limited new tax measures, rigid recurrent spending and a still fragile post-crisis recovery where poverty remains above 20%. Former Central Banker commended the 2026 Budget’s continuation of macroeconomic stability measures, but warned that maintaining fiscal prudence after the IMF program ends will be the real test of policy credibility. more..

Nov 12 (CI) Pakistan withstood a valiant all-round display from Wanindu Hasaranga to come away with a six-run victory in the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi, and with it take a 1-0 lead in the three match series. Chasing 300 to win, a target that would have constituted the second-highest successful chase in Rawalpindi, SL were set up well courtesy an 80-run opening stand, but then lost wickets in clusters through middle overs more..

Nov 12 (TM) Maldivian Police have officially confirmed that a SL fishing vessel taken into custody by the Maldivian security forces within the country’s maritime boundary contained a large quantity of narcotics. The vessel, which had illegally entered Maldivian waters, was intercepted on 7 Nov by Coast Guard officers of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF). The vessel – identified as a Sri Lankan fishing trawler, the Avishka Putha – was carrying over 355 kg of illegal drugs. more..

Nov 12 (FT) Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs and Finance Duminda Hulangamuwa yesterday said that the key theme of the 2026 Budget is mobilising private capital and restoring the private sector’s role as the engine of growth. “Almost every major reference in the Budget from tax incentives to institutional reforms is directed toward encouraging private sector participation,” he said. Hulangamuwa said the country’s path to achieving 7% growth will depend not merely on fiscal more..

Nov 12 (FT) SL Apparel Brands Association (SLABA), representing all leading SL apparel and fashion brands, said it enthusiastically welcomes the Budget, which addresses the majority of the industry’s key requests to strengthen the domestic apparel ecosystem, particularly regarding VAT and SMEs. It commended the Govt for responding decisively to industry concerns, particularly the implementation of VAT on imported fabrics, a critical measure advocated by local manufacturers more..

Nov 12 (FT) The Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce (WCIC) has described the 2026 Budget as a positive step for women-owned small and medium enterprises (SMEs), citing its focus on SME growth and specific allocations for women entrepreneurs. “The 2026 Budget offers a positive signal for women-owned SMEs, especially through its SME focus and explicit mention of women entrepreneur allocations,” the Chamber said. However, it cautioned that the success of more..

Nov 12 (Island) ITAK secretary M.A. Sumanthiran, has said that the TNA could be revived if the Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA) agrees to ITAK’s proposed political position. The former lawmaker said so in Vavuniya recently following a full-day meeting of ITAK’s Central Working Committee. Tamil Guardian quoted Sumanthiran as having said that the meeting ran from 10 a.m. into the evening at the party’s more..

Nov 12 (Island) The budget season is now on. But during the so-called annual budget debates, the budget itself often ends up an also-ran, with the members of both sides of the Houses devoting most of their time to raising unrelated issues and trading barbs. This shows that partisan politics, which takes precedence over economics, is the bane of this country. On Monday, while taking part in the budget debate, SJB MP Sujeewa Senasinghe launched into a tirade against Minister Wasantha more..

Nov 12 (ST) Govt has called a sudden halt to the winds of power that will blow across the Mannar isle in the near future. This sudden decision, taken at the eleventh hour, when mass protests against Hayleys’ 50 million dollar wind power project rise to a climax and threaten Hayleys’ launch of the first phase in December this year. But will a presidential pledge to ban future wind power projects on the island of Mannar unless the people’s consent is obtained, placate the wrath of protesters more..

Nov 12 (Island) There’s a fundamental challenge in democratic governance: opposition parties can critique freely, but governing requires navigating complex trade-offs. Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s 2026 budget offers a compelling case study in this transition, revealing significant gaps between campaign rhetoric and the constraints of fiscal management. Perhaps the most striking aspect of this budget is the govt’s relationship with the IMF Extended Fund Facility. more..

Nov 12 (TM) In Sri Lanka, if a loved one goes missing, the only recourse available to most families is to file a complaint at the nearest Police station. The process that follows is filled with paperwork, waiting and uncertainty. There is no central, publicly accessible database to track missing persons in the general society, although several mechanisms are available to investigate missing persons in the context of the war and in instances of abduction and kidnapping. more..

Nov 12 (CT) This article focuses on the BIA, addressing its growing capacity constraints amid rising demand from nearly 30 airlines seeking entry into SL. Under current operational standards, runway & terminal capacities are fully utilised, limiting new airline approvals. This article outlines practical operational, governance and strategic interventions that can unlock latent capacity, optimise efficiency and position. more..

Nov 12 (CT) A train delayed by an hour may seem like a small inconvenience in a country where delays have become part of daily life. But when that delay is caused not by a fallen tree or a faulty signal, but by two railway officials arguing mid-journey, it becomes more than a story about a single train. It becomes a metaphor for an entire system that has long lost direction, discipline and dignity. The recent incident on the Beliatta–A'pura line, where an assistant guard reportedly hit the brakes more..

Nov 12 (DM) Last week, Veteran journalist D.B.S. Jeyaraj, writing the first of a two-part article on Mahinda Rajapaksa turning 80, aptly surmised the protagonist as demonised by the opponents and deified by supporters. While I am not particularly interested in the birthdays of politicians, this made me ponder Mahinda Rajapaksa’s legacy in SL politics. That was also in relation to a recent debate on social media about the most successful SL president, for which the analyst in question more..

Nov 12 (SO) Govt’s decision last week to restrict wind power development on Mannar Island to three projects has again drawn attention to how SL balances its renewable energy ambitions with environmental safeguards, local livelihoods, and the influence of external financiers. Operations at the State-owned Thambapavani wind power plant will continue, while two private projects, 20 MW Windscape Mannar plant more..

Nov 12 (CT) A train delayed by an hour may seem like a small inconvenience in a country where delays have become part of daily life. But when that delay is caused not by a fallen tree or a faulty signal, but by two railway officials arguing mid-journey, it becomes more than a story about a single train. It becomes a metaphor for an entire system that has long lost direction, discipline and dignity. The recent incident on the Beliatta–Anuradhapura line, where an assistant guard reportedly hit the brakes more..

Nov 12 (DM) For most Sri Lankans, getting from home to work is not just part of the day, it is a daily battle. Every morning, buses and trains are packed to the brim, people hang from doors, and tempers flare as commuters push their way through a system that seems to have forgotten who it’s meant to serve. It’s not just about inconvenience. Public transport in SL is broken and the truth is we have known it for years. The buses are old, the trains are slow, and there’s no sign of a plan that truly puts more..