Jan 13 (Island) SL’s power sector reform programme has reached a critical milestone, with the Initial Vesting Plan to restructure the CEB and establish successor companies now completed and ready for Cabinet approval. Director General of the Power Sector Reforms Secretariat, Pubudu Hedigallage, said the programme, launched under the SL Electricity (Amendment) Act No. 36 of 2024, is being implemented in two phases more..

Jan 13 (AD) The inauguration of Rebuilding Sri Lanka national programme will take place in Colombo today. Arrangements have been made to hold the inaugural ceremony of the Rebuilding SL programme, which has been introduced to effectively steer the country’s rebuilding process, at the Lotus Hall of the BMICH, under the patronage of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Programme is being implemented in response to the urgent need for r a coordinated national recovery mechanism more..

Jan 13 (DM) Two suspects arrested while in possession of a sniper type firearm in front of the CID are officers attached to the SL Army Commando Regiment, counsel appearing on behalf of the SL Army informed the Fort Acting Magistrate Lahiru Silva . CID informed court that the two officers were arrested yesterday while they were walking along the road in front of the former Police Headquarters, dressed in civilian clothing and carrying the sniper firearm concealed in a black cloth. more..

Jan 13 (NF) Citizen Power Organization filed a formal complaint with the CIABOC, alleging serious fraud and corruption linked to the Deyata Kirula exhibitions held in 2012 and 2013. Complaint was filed in connection with Deyata Kirula exhibitions held at Oyamaduwa, Anuradhapura in 2012 and at the Hardy Advanced Technological Institute in Ampara in 2013. Jamuni Kamantha Thushara, Chairman of Citizen's Power more..

Jan 13 (FT) Govt yesterday announced plans to restart long-stalled mega mixed-development projects and abandoned high-rise buildings in Colombo by the end of first quarter. Deputy Minister T.B. Sarath said this renewed push aims to unlock idle assets and revive urban development delayed by irregularities, financial misappropriations, and the economic crisis. “We have already held multiple consultations with contractors and relevant stakeholders, and have appointed more..

Jan 13 (CT) SL must develop a comprehensive and constructive methodology to prevent or minimise large-scale damage from future natural disasters, Minister of Science & Technology Prof. Chrishantha Abeysena said, following severe floods and landslides linked to Cyclone Ditwah that caused billions of rupees in economic losses. He said, Govt has launched a national programme titled Science Against Disaster aimed at reducing the risks posed by unexpected natural disasters. more..

Jan 13 (DM) National Sangha Conference Chairman Venerable Liyanwala Sasanarathana Thera, has warned that the govt will soon face serious consequences if it fails to take appropriate action against Minister K.D. Lal Kantha over alleged derogatory and insulting remarks directed at the Maha Sangha. Thera said that while differences of opinion between politicians and the Maha Sangha have existed from time to time, no political leader in the country’s history has ever insulted the more..

Jan 13 (AD) Approximately 4,800 landslides have been identified through satellite-based assessments conducted following Cyclone Ditwah, the Director General of the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies, Kumari Meegahakotuwa stated. She made these remarks while attending a media briefing held today (12). Director General Meegahakotuwa noted that satellite imagery and data obtained after Cyclone Ditwah were used to carry out comprehensive landslide mapping. more..

Jan 13 (DM) SL’s oldest automotive industry body has stepped up pressure on the govt to dismantle what it calls a deeply flawed tax concession on used vehicle imports, warning that the policy is eroding state revenue, distorting competition and undermining foreign exchange discipline. Ceylon Motor Traders’ Association (CMTA), affiliated to the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, urged the authorities to abolish more..

Jan 13 (Island) It will be a four-way battle for the top post of Sri Lanka Athletics as fresh nominations for the election of office bearers closed at the Sports Ministry on Monday. Former president Sunil Gunawardana, Bimal Wijesinhge, Sugath Kumara and Prasanna Indika are the nominees for the post of president and they are subjected to objections. ‎This is the second time the Ministry of Sports called for nominations after different stakeholders successfully challanged earlier niminations more..

Jan 13 (AD) A 28-year-old individual who allegedly attempted to attack police officers with a sharp weapon in Welikanda, Polonnaruwa has been shot dead by police. Police noted officers on traffic duty ordered three persons traveling on a motorcycle to stop in Welikanda this afternoon. However, the motorcyclist failed to comply with the order and fled. When police officers pursued the suspect to his residence, he allegedly attempted to attack them with a machete, prompting police to open fire. more..

Jan 13 (FT) Synogen, a clean energy engineering and technology company, has successfully commissioned one of SL’s largest rooftop solar photovoltaic projects - a 6.4 MWp installation for Best Pacific Textiles Lanka (BPTL). Now fully operational at BPTL’s manufacturing facility in Pannala, the rooftop solar system supplies a substantial portion of the plant’s daytime electricity requirements through clean, renewable energy. This reduces reliance on the national grid more..

Jan 13 (Island) SL’s leg-spin spearhead Wanindu Hasaranga has warned rivals not to write off the hosts ahead of the World Cup, after his four-wicket burst in the final T20I against Pakistan helped SL square the 3-match series on Sunday. Hasaranga’s spell turned the game on its head and restored belief in a side that has blown hot and cold. Speaking after being named Player of the Match and Player of the Series, leg-spinner said SL, buoyed by home conditions, remain very much in the hunt for more..

Jan 13 (FT) Hayleys Executive Director Sarath Ganegoda yesterday said tighter lending limits and Sri Lanka’s sovereign constraints are making it increasingly difficult for large companies to sustain growth, expand exports, and invest overseas, even as macroeconomic conditions stabilise. Speaking at the HNB Investment Bank Investor Forum, Ganegoda said access to funding has become the most pressing challenge for more..

Jan 13 (DM) Mattala Rajapaksa Int'l Airport (MRIA) has accumulated a staggering Rs.39.3 billion in net losses over the past six years, a recent audit revealed, as the govt moves to scrap a previously arranged management handover to an India-Russia joint venture, in favour of a new public-private partnership (PPP) model. The state-run airport, often criticised for its severe underutilisation, recorded an operating loss of Rs.3.36 billion for the financial year 2024 alone, more..

Jan 13 (FT) High Commissioner of India Santosh Jha, and Minister Bimal Rathnayake, jointly launched the restoration works of SL’s Northern Railway Line under an Indian grant of $ 5 million. The event was also attended by Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne, NWP Governor Tissa Warnasuriya, and MP Geetha Herath. The project forms part of the Indian reconstruction and rehabilitation package of $ 450 million announced during the visit of External Affairs more..

Jan 13 (TM) Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are to be allocated Rs. 95 billion in 2026 for subsidised loans by the govt, in order to incentivize more businesses, aid expansion, and support technology investments, Ministry of Finance, Planning & Economic Dev. Dept of Development Finance Dir. Gen. Manjula Hettiarachchi said. “This year we expect to provide a loan facility package with subsidised interest rates to SMEs. more..

Jan 13 (FT) Govt will unveil an inclusive National Housing Policy by March, aimed at addressing poverty alleviation, internal displacement caused by war, and post-disaster housing needs as climate-related catastrophes become more frequent. Deputy Minister T.B. Sarath said that past housing programs were often politicised, poorly planned, and disconnected from ground realities, failing to adequately reflect local preferences, community participation, and reconstruction practices. more..

Jan 13 (FT) Hambantota Int'l Port (HIP) has closed 2025 with a landmark performance, recording a 175% year-on-year increase in total cargo volumes despite what has been widely recognised as one of the most challenging years for the global port industry. HIP handled 8.24 million metric tons of cargo in 2025, up from 3.0 million metric tons in 2024, driven by sharp growth across container, RORO, and bulk cargo segments amid volatile trade flows, supply chain realignments, congestion more..

Jan 13 (DN) Team Blues continued their winning form when they beat Team Reds by 70 runs in their Women’s National Super League (WNSL) T-20 cricket fixture played at Thurstan grounds yesterday. Satya Sandeepani was the match winner scoring superb unbeaten fifty in 44 balls with 5 fours and a six followed by superb bowling with 2 for 8. Team Blues led by Harshitha Samarawickrama scored 134 for 6 wickets while Team Reds were bowled out for 64 in their 20 overs. more..

Jan 13 (FT) TiECON 2026, the flagship annual conference of the global TiE network, was hosted for the first time in Sri Lanka last week at Cinnamon Life. Organised by TiE Colombo under the theme Go Global: The Runway to the World, created a significant platform for local enterprises to engage with the international market. The event attracted 600 participants and 30 international experts to explore pathways for business expansion. The forum brought together a diverse audience, more..

Jan 13 (ST) Young motorsport sensation Yevan Ranasinghe David will enter the 2026 racing season with Kiwi Motorsport, as the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy in New Zealand flags off this weekend. After wrapping up his debut EuroFormula Open 2025 season in Monza, Italy, last October, Yevan now takes on the challenge of the four-round Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy, NZ’s premier motorsport event, more..

Jan 13 (CT) A single mistake that was in a Grade 6 English textbook has ignited a huge firestorm in SL. What should have been a straightforward quality control issue has instead become a full-blown political crisis. This has raised urgent questions about accountability, democratic discourse, and the future of education reform in the country. Problem was a serious one. A website link in the new Grade 6 English module, intended for educational purposes, instead directed students to an adult content more..

Jan 13 (ST) It is mystifying as to why the NPP Govt sanguinely placed a draft Protection of the State against Terrorism Act (PSTA) before the SL public at the cusp of the dawning of a New Year, almost as if to pat itself on the back for a highly commendable act. That is so despite the contents of the draft law confounding any inclination towards congratulations at several incisive points. In a fourth reflection on the draft PSTA in these column spaces, I return to the question asked at the start of this uncomfortable exercise. more..

Jan 13 (Island) What began as a debate on the govt’s education reforms has descended into a dirty political war, with the propaganda brigades of both the JVP/NPP and the Opposition carrying out vilification campaigns against the key figures in the rival camps. Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who is also the Minister of Education, has become a victim of a savage character assassination campaign, which no reasonable person will hesitate to condemn unreservedly. more..

Jan 13 (TM) From the very outset, Govt’s education reforms agenda has drawn criticism, concern and, in some quarters, outright alarm. Most recent controversy surrounding the Grade 6 English Language module has only deepened public mistrust. A printed link in a learning module that allegedly directed users to adult content is not a minor oversight. It is a grave lapse that strikes at the heart of public confidence in the education system and the institutions entrusted with shaping more..

Jan 13 (SO) Last Saturday (3), a group of Sinhala Nationalists tried to organise a march carrying a Buddha statue from Kankesanthurai (KKS) railway station to the highly contested Tissa Raja Maha Vihara premises situated about half a kilometre away. The organisers – prominent SLPP social media activists, publicised the event mostly via Facebook and Whatsapp. Their flyers and videos called on a pilgrimage to reestablish more..

Jan 13 (Island) A positive feature of the govt that is emerging is its responsiveness to public opinion. The manner in which it has been responding to the furore over the Grade 6 English Reader, in which a weblink to a gay dating site was inserted, has been constructive. Govt leaders have taken pains to explain the mishap and reassure everyone concerned that it was not meant to be there and would be removed. They have been meeting religious prelates, educationists and more..

Jan 13 (DM) US Prez Donald Trump had several objectives in invading Venezuela and taking its Prez Nicolas Maduro and his wife hostage. One of the key aims was to prevent de-dollarisation of Venezuela’s foreign trade and to warn other countries against abandoning the US Dollar in favour of other currencies, especially Chinese Yuan. In 2018, Venezuela had announced that it would free itself from the dollar and started accepting Yuan, Euros, Roubles, and anything but US Dollars for oil. more..

Jan 13 (DM) The NMRA Act No. 5 of 2015 mandates the full-time presence of a qualified pharmacist for the operation of pharmacies. Initially, one pharmacist would operate several pharmacies in a given area, but they weren’t present at the pharmacy throughout the day. With pharmacy operations becoming just another money-spinning business, many illegal practices are also being encouraged. more..

Jan 13 (CT) When the current administration came into power, it was after a campaign promising an administration that is based on merit, efficiency & transparency. The people cast their vote with the trust that they, more than those before, would be willing to make the tough choices to bring forth the best possible outcome for the nation, and through doing so, ease the economic burden placed upon each citizen. Part of fulfilling this promise involves streamlining organisations operated by govt, more..

Jan 13 (DM) The education reforms which have been presented by the NPP Govt has eclipsed everything in politics in the country, with Opposition parties demanding the resignation of PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya who is also the Minister of Education. However, except for the allegation that the Education Ministry has not discussed the reforms with the stakeholders, other allegations against the ministry and the minister seem to be either trivial or irrelevant or just imaginations which could have more..