Feb 8 (ST) It has been just over 14 months since the Tenth Parliament of Sri Lanka met for its first sitting on Nov 21, 2024. Gampaha District NPP MP Asoka Sapumal Ranwala was unanimously appointed Speaker of the new Parliament during that inaugural session. He would serve just 22 days before being forced to resign in disgrace after questions were raised regarding the authenticity of his educational qualifications. more..

Feb 8 (DM) The govt’s purported decision to renovate the ancestral home of slain LTTE leader V Prabhakaran has come under fire from the opposition in Parliament. Opposition MP Hector Appuhamy raised the issue, criticising the govt’s priorities and its handling of post-war and disaster-related matters. “We expected Prez Dissanayake to appreciate the members of the armed forces for winning the civil war during his Independence Day speech. However, that did not happen,” more..

Feb 8 (EN) SL’s official remittances rose 31.1% to US$ 751.1 million in Jan 2026 with the rising trend continued from the last year. January inflows from the foreign workers come after the island nation saw a record monthly remittance in December last year, which also witnessed the historical annual high worker remittances of US$ 8,076.2 million. Higher worker remittances come after a higher number of the island nation’s labour force left the country searching for foreign jobs more..

Feb 8 (TM) The long-term coal supply agreement awarded to Trident Chemphar Ltd. will remain in force as the third shipment of coal has reportedly met the required quality specifications of the Lanka Coal Company (LCC), it is learnt. Ministry of Energy Secretary Prof. Udayanga Hemapala told The Sunday Morning that based on preliminary findings shared by the LCC, there was no immediate requirement to proceed with more..

Feb 8 (AD) The Satyagraha campaign launched by a group of fishermen demanding the lifting of the ban on the use of tractor-mounted winches for Madel (seine nets) fishing activities continued for the third consecutive day today. The protest was initiated on Feb 5 in front of the Presidential Secretariat by seine fishermen representing several coastal areas, including Mullaitivu and Kokilai. Although a discussion was held with the Director General to the President, D. Gamage, more..

Feb 8 (AD) The Leader of the House, Minister Bimal Rathnayake, announced that the Parliamentary Business Committee has decided to take up the Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill for debate on 17 February and pass it on the same day. The Supreme Court has determined that no provision in the bill is inconsistent with the Constitution and that it can be enacted by Parliament with a simple majority, Speaker of the House Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne stated in Parliament yesterday. more..

Feb 8 (Island) A coalition of animal welfare organizations and individual advocates has called on The Royal Colombo Golf Club to collaborate on humane solutions for managing community dogs, amid concerns over proposed internal regulations scheduled for discussion on Feb 10, 2026. In a joint letter addressed to the Club’s President, Captain, and Committee, the groups urge management not to proceed with clauses 8A.5.1–8A.5.3 in their current form, arguing that blanket prohibitions more..

Feb 8 (NW) Govt has decided to temporarily suspend the issuance of licenses for heavy mineral exploration and mining until the new National Mineral Policy is approved, enacted and implemented, Minister Sunil Handunneththi said. ‎The decision will remain in effect until Cabinet approval is obtained, relevant guidelines are gazetted and the policy is presented to Parliament. Suspension applies to all heavy mineral exploration and mining licenses, excluding minerals required for more..

Feb 8 (ST) The CIABOC has decided to initiate a probe into a complaint lodged by Parliament’s suspended Deputy Secretary General Chaminda Kularatne against Speaker Dr Jagath Wickramaratne. CIABOC has also decided to investigate a complaint lodged by an individual named R. Kannan, who accuses Mr Kularatne of committing the offence of corruption. He has claimed that the procedure whereby Mr Kularatne more..

Feb 8 (DM) A collective of approximately 2,200 employees of the CEB who have applied for the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) has made an urgent appeal to the Most Venerable Mahanayaka Thera of the Malwathu Chapter, the Most Venerable Mahanayaka Thera of the Asgiri Chapter, and the Advisory Executive Council of the Sangha, seeking immediate intervention over delays in implementing the scheme. In a written communication, the employees stated that they opted for more..

Feb 8 (DM) On behalf of the Hajj Committee, I wish to respond to the following two articles which appeared in the Lankadeepa and subsequently in the Daily Mirror, two newspapers which I subscribe to and respect. 437 Prospective Hajj Pilgrims allege loss of Hajj Opportunity due to Committee lapses. This year the Saudi Ministry of Hajj & Umrah (SMOHU) significantly advanced the deadlines for payments to be made to book the campsites at Mina & Arafat and related transport arrangements more..

Feb 8 (AD) A 21-year-old youth has been murdered after a dispute between two families living near the railway line in the Dharmarama Road area of Ratmalana escalated into an assault. The young man in question was reportedly was beaten to death with a cricket bat and wicket stumps. Six suspects, including four women, were arrested by the Mount Lavinia Police Crime Branch today (7) in connection with the incident. The victim is a 21-year-old resident of Sri Dharmarama Road in Ratmalana, more..

Feb 8 (AD) Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Ananda Wijepala, stated that a decision has been taken to establish a new police division to combat cybercrime in Sri Lanka. The Minister made these remarks while participating in the opening ceremony of the Polpitiya Police Station on Friday. Commenting on the rising trend in crime, he pointed out that between 23 and 25 cybercrimes are reported on a daily basis, which he described as a significantly high number. more..

Feb 8 (TM) The SL Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry (SLCPI) yesterday warned that the country is facing a looming shortage of essential medicines by March and April due to a significant backlog in licence renewals at the NMRA. The industry body claimed that over 750 import licence renewals were currently pending – a delay that prevents companies from placing necessary orders with international suppliers. more..

Feb 8 (AD) Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, has stated that the govt’s education reforms will be implemented through five broad pillars, with reforms for other grades scheduled to be introduced over the next three years. Minister made these remarks while participating in the National Movement for Education Reforms programme held in the Ratnapura District. The education reforms will be introduced for Grades 1 and 6 this year, while reforms for Grades 2 and 7 are planned for next year. more..

Feb 8 (DM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake stressed that no allowances will be given for public sector employees until the third instalment of the salary increment is given in 2027, whoever resorts to strikes or takes to the streets. He said it is not reasonable to struggle for allowances when a salary increment is pending in Jan 2027. He said the govt will have to spend Rs. 330 billion for the third increment in 2027 and added that Rs. 110 billion was spent for salary increment in 2025 and more..

Feb 8 (TM) Re-registration of Renewable Energy (RE) companies with the SL Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA) has fallen by 25–30% by the end of last month, according to sources familiar with the authority. Sri Lanka currently has around 800 RE companies registered with the SLSEA. However, industry sources warned that the sharp drop in re-registrations reflected mounting operational and policy-related challenges more..

Feb 8 (Island) SL Business Forum 2026 was organized by MEDEF International, the French Business Confederation of leading French companies, in partnership with the Embassy of SL in France, on 30 January 2026 at the MEDEF Office in Paris. The event, which was held in hybrid format, had a solid line up of reputed French companies participating. Delivering the keynote address, Deputy Minister SL Chathuranga Abeysinghe presented the Govt’s policy framework & reform agenda more..

Feb 8 (ST) For a team that has experienced constant failure in a format that demands clarity, courage and relentless intensity, this ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is not all about winning a title. It’s an opportunity for redemption through cleansing years of timid cricket and showing that the team is battle-hardened enough to survive on the global stage. But redemption does not come from hopes alone. It requires character, clarity and more importantly consistency–three elements that more..

Feb 8 (Island) Not many are giving SL a fighting chance in this World Cup after being handed a 3-0 whitewash by England on the eve of the tournament. Yet, with a core that has been together for five years and the comfort of home conditions under their spikes, they will quietly fancy sneaking into the second round at the very least. The campaign gets underway on Sunday when they lock horns with Ireland at the RPS. After the opener, former champions shift base to Kandy where more..

Feb 8 (CI) There was a time when SL were among the most consistent T20I sides. Between 2009 and 2014, they made the semi-finals of four successive T20 World Cups. But since then, they haven't qualified for the knockouts even once. This time, they are the co-hosts. But that may not be a huge advantage. Their captain Dasun Shanaka isn't happy with the SL pitches, which he feels are too slow for T20 cricket. At the Premadasa Stadium, where they start their campaign and later play more..

Feb 8 (CI) Dasun Shanaka's got 99 problems, and the pitch is also one. If cricket writers misappropriating Jay Z lyrics from 22 years ago is getting kind of old, so is the complaint, sadly. For years now, SL's captains have been campaigning to get more batting-friendly tracks on the island. For years now, surfaces have been given to substantial spin, depressing totals while envenoming spinners through middle overs, more..

Feb 8 (Island) "The main theme of this year’s Independence Day is Rebuilding Sri Lanka,” so spoke Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayaka as he ceremonially commemorated the island’s 78th independence anniversary. That was also Prez AKD’s second independence anniversary as Prez. Rebuilding implies that there was already something built. It is not that the NPP govt is starting a new building on a vacant land, or whatever that was built earlier should all be destroyed and discarded. more..

Feb 8 (Island) Many post-disaster rebuilding projects have got underway, and the govt is grappling with uphill task of relocating survivors of landslides and ensuring the safety of others living in unstable mountainous areas. Experts have warned that if another spell of torrential rains occurs soon, it may trigger a fresh wave of landslides. While efforts are being made to relocate the disaster victims to safe locations, hundreds of apartment dwellers in C'mbo are expressing concern about their safety. more..

Feb 8 (ST) It was refreshing to hear Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s Rebuilding SL Independence Day address to the nation acknowledge the freedom fighters who braved 450 years of colonial rule to usher in freedom in 1948. Equally, no one would fault the President for focusing on other key priorities in making Independence more meaningful, such as the economy, advanced human capital, economic progress, the rule of law, ecologically sustainable development and national unity. more..

Feb 8 (ST) My dear Namal baby, It has been a while since I wrote to you last, but I thought I must do so again after seeing you being summoned to the CID last week, along with your mother who was asked to report to the FCID. Cousin Shamindra was also issued a Red Notice. It was not a great week for the ‘R’ family, was it? Your visits to the CID are not new. They have happened before during the yahapalanaya era, when you casually dropped in to their offices wearing a pair of shorts. more..

Feb 8 (ST) A South Korean regional politician was in hot water this week after suggesting that his country import young brides from Sri Lanka or Vietnam to marry rural bachelors to deal with the declining population there. Kim Hee-Soo, the head of Jindo County, who made the controversial remark and later apologised, stating that his remarks were not made with the intention to disparage any specific country or individual, more..

Feb 8 (CT) Nations that emerged from colonial rule commemorate their Independence Day in different ways. Some mark it quietly as a national holiday, while others celebrate it with grandeur. Countries such as Sri Lanka, India, and Singapore have consistently chosen the latter path—upholding unbroken traditions since gaining independence from the British Empire. At the heart of these celebrations lies a shared purpose: affirming sovereignty, national pride & independence. more..

Feb 8 (SO) When the tickets for the India vs Pakistan ICC T20 World Cup game scheduled for Feb 15 at the R. Premadasa stadium in Colombo was opened for sale, within one hour more than 90 percent of the tickets were sold out. Cricket spectators have such an interest and enthusiasm over the game of South Asia’s arch rivals. However, surprisingly the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) declared it will not play the game against India. The move comes after Bangladesh faced exit more..

Feb 8 (TM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) and his JVP-led NPP Govt made sober, simple celebrations centre stage at this year’s Independence Day celebrations. Arriving in a vehicle convoy led by three motorbikes without the usual horsemen and a series of motorbikes, AKD got down from the front passenger side of the vehicle upon arrival at the event. Even the cameramen covering the event were not prepared to see more..

Feb 8 (TM) At 78 years of independence, Sri Lanka stands as a nation rich in potential yet chronically poor in direction. Sri Lanka’s is not a story of innate failure; it is, rather, a story of squandered opportunity. Few post-colonial societies inherited a population as educated, healthy, and administratively capable as Sri Lanka did in 1948, second only to Japan in the whole of Asia. Fewer still possessed such strategic geography, fertile land, and human capital. more..

Feb 8 (SO) A panel of eminent environmentalists, scientists, economists and journalists discussed a sustainability roadmap for the tourism industry and the economy in general at a recent forum held in Dambulla, the epicentre of SL’s cultural heritage and also its agricultural heartbeat. The panellists agreed that SL has a Unique Selling Proposition (USP) – a combination of culture, heritage, natural beauty, adventure destinations and a welcoming people, perhaps its greatest asset. more..