Feb 28 (Island) SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa raised serious concerns over the Govt’s importation of substandard coal, warning that its use has resulted in inefficient electricity generation, increased equipment damage and significant financial losses to the State and consumers. He said the SJB had exposed details regarding the importation of inferior-quality coal, prompting what he described as an admission by Govt more..

Feb 28 (AD) CID has obtained a 90-day detention order to question former state intelligence chief Major General (Retd) Suresh Sallay, the police said. Former Head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay was arrested on Wednesday by CID officers in connection with the investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks. Police said he was arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) based on evidence related to the 2019 Easter Attacks Bombings. more..

Feb 28 (AD) The Gampaha High Court has formally served indictments on a group of defendants, including former Minister Mervyn Silva and former state minister Prasanna Ranaweera, in connection with an alleged land fraud case. The case relates to the alleged illegal sale of state-owned property through the use of forged deeds. The two former parliamentarians, who had previously been released on High Court bail, appeared before the court today to be served the indictments. more..

Feb 28 (DM) SL exporters could soon experience a measure of relief following a recent US Supreme Court ruling that struck down the reciprocal tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Although the US administration swiftly invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, to maintain the elevated duties, the transition is expected to lower SL’s overall effective tariff rate in the US market from more..

Feb 28 (FT) Second Round of Bilateral Political Consultations between SL and Finland was held on 25 Feb in Helsinki, marking an important step in further strengthening the longstanding and cordial relations between the two countries and reflecting the enduring friendship that has characterised bilateral ties since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1954. A key highlight of the consultations was the signing of a MoU on the Establishment of a Political Consultation Mechanism more..

Feb 28 (CT) SL faces a mounting public health challenge as rabies continues to claim lives, with health authorities calling on the public to act without hesitation following any animal exposure. Dr. Athula Liyanapathirana from the Ministry of Health’s Epidemiology Unit issued a stark warning, saying the disease leaves absolutely no margin for delay once a person has been exposed. He made clear that once a patient begins showing clinical symptoms, survival becomes impossible. more..

Feb 28 (AD) A three-month memorial almsgiving ceremony was held today (27) at Pamunupura, Batamulla, in remembrance of those who lost their lives due to the landslide that affected over five kilometres in Nelummala village, Minipe Divisional Secretariat Division in the Kandy District. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also participated in the event. The landslide, triggered by Cyclone Ditwah, claimed the lives of 31 individuals from 13 families in Nelummala village. more..

Feb 28 (CT) Customs officers on Friday launched a trade union action over promotions and salary increments that have remained pending for six years. However, the work-to-rule campaign was later suspended following intervention from the President’s Office. Officers reported for duty wearing black armbands and vacated office premises from 12 noon onwards. By 12.30 pm, Customs offices were completely deserted, with no staff remaining on duty. Trade union representatives held a meeting more..

Feb 28 (FT) PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya this week reaffirmed SL’s commitment to deepening ties with India, stating that as the country moves towards sustainable growth, it welcomes investors and tourists who contribute to strengthening economic and cultural relations. She made the remarks while addressing a special celebration and dinner reception organised by the SL India Society to mark 77th Republic Day more..

Feb 28 (Island) JVP-NPP govt is practising the very antithesis of what it promised workers during its election campaigns. Pledging to look after workers’ interests, the JVP/NPP leaders said there would be no need for labour struggles under an NPP govt. But they are now emulating their predecessors who mismanaged labour issues and suppressed trade unions. The govt has locked horns with the GMOA. They are engaged in a contest of attrition, which is not likely to end any time soon, more..

Feb 28 (FT) SL marked a milestone in its tourism and digital economy journey on Thursday with the ceremonial issuance of its first Digital Nomad Visa (DNV), officially welcoming Ukrainian national Darya Gordiyenko and her spouse Yaroslav Kovalchuk to the island. The event, organised by the SL Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), was held at the Silk Route Arrival Lounge at the BIA. Officials described the issuance of the first visa as more than the launch of a new entry category, more..

Feb 28 (Island) Long jumper Madushani Herath and former national javelin record holder Sumedha Ranasinghe were among half a dozen athletes to have reached qualifying standads to make the national pool on day one of the Athletic Trials held at Diyagama today. ‎Former Nannapurawa MV, Bibila athlete Herath cleared a distance of 6.32 metres to win the long jump contest, some 18 centimeters clear of the target set for the first trial. ‎Distance runner Rasara Wijesuriya was more than more..

Feb 28 (DN) Opener Nethula Edirimanne played a superb unbeaten innings of 150 as Ananda College closed the first day at 325 for 5 wickets in their 96th Battle of the Maroons against Nalanda College at the SSC Grounds yesterday. Edirimanne anchored the innings throughout the day, setting a new record for the highest individual score in the series, surpassing the 149* made by Nalanda’s Shantha Kalawitigoda in 1997. Ananda won the toss and elected to bat first. more..

Feb 28 (ST) Electricity consumers, including industrialists, bakers, merchants, and homes, have expressed concern over the possible increase of electricity tariffs. CEB made a proposal to the PUCSL to increase tariffs on Monday, seeking a 13.56% increase in electricity tariffs for the second quarter from April 1 to June 30. The govt at the moment is in a dilemma, as the cost-reflective tariffs are an IMF condition. more..

Feb 28 (DM) Emirates, the world’s largest international and most profitable airline, is continuing its global search for top-tier aircraft technical talent, with SL confirmed as its next destination. The airline will host information sessions in Colombo on March 10, 2026, for skilled and aspiring workshop technicians interested in joining its engineering workforce based at its hub in Dubai. The roadshow forms part of the Emirates group’s global recruitment drive to onboard 17,300 professionals more..

Feb 28 (Island) Sri Lanka’s digital payments revolution is gathering unprecedented momentum, with more than 260 govt institutions now integrated into the national digital payments ecosystem, marking a decisive shift toward financial transparency, efficiency and inclusion, officials said at a press briefing held at the Hilton Colombo Residences. The announcement coincided with the launch of the eighth edition of the LankaPay Technnovation Awards 2026 by LankaPay, more..

Feb 28 (DM) The Colombo district consumer prices eased in February, as the prices of most food items fell while the non-food prices didn’t budge either way as the prices of petrol were cut. Consumer prices, measured according to the Colombo Consumer Price Index, came at 1.6% in the 12 months to Feb 2026, down from 2.3% through January. Prices measured on a monthly basis fell 0.9% in Feb 2026, after rising 0.6% in Jan more..

Feb 28 (ST) The 2026 amendments1 to the Colombo Port City Economic Commission (CPCEC) Act are aimed at improving governance, streamlining oversight, and providing the regulatory certainty required for large-scale international investment. These amendments introduce a clearer, more predictable statutory framework for identifying, approving, and monitoring BSI, providing investors with greater certainty and transparency for large-scale and strategic capital investments. more..

Feb 28 (FT) European Union said yesterday it has allocated an additional €1 million (over Rs 370 million) to address the continuing humanitarian impact of Tropical Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka. With this additional funding, the European Union reaffirms its commitment to supporting affected communities and strengthening ongoing relief operations across the country. Delivered through humanitarian partner organisations, this funding will support the provision of basic services. more..

Feb 28 (FT) Swedish Trading Company (STC), one of SL’s most established industrial engineering solutions providers, successfully hosted STC TechSphere 2026 on 3 Feb at the Shangri-La Colombo, bringing together industry leaders, engineers, business owners, and international principals for an evening of technical knowledge-sharing and industry dialogue. Held under the theme Legacy of Excellence – Building on Decades of Trust, the event marked over 40 years more..

Feb 28 (FT) A customised capacity-building program for 10 aquaculturists from the National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA) under the Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Ministry of Sri Lanka, was organizsed from 2 to 13 February 2026 at the Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA), Bhubaneshwar, India - the premier research institute for freshwater aquaculture in India under the aegeis of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. more..

Feb 28 (FT) SL’s power sector reforms have hit a critical funding snag, with nearly Rs. 8.8 billion needed to pay 2,010 CEB employees who opted for voluntary retirement now left in limbo after the regulator refused to allow the cost to be passed on to consumers. In a letter dated 20 Feb, Energy Ministry Secretary Udayanga Hemapala informed the Treasury Secretary that the Cabinet had earlier approved recovering more..

Feb 28 (FT) SL Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) will be kicking off its exclusive promotional activities at the ITB 2026, scheduled to be held in Messe, Berlin. This Prestigious event, in which SL has been a regular participant over the years, will be held from 3 to 5 March. The number of participating countries is anticipated to be over 180, also over 5000 global exhibitors, over 100,000 trade visitors (tour operators, media, buyers, decision-makers) and is scheduled to attract top-tier int'l media. more..

Feb 28 (Island) After nearly two decades of on-and-off negotiations that began in 2007, India and the European Union formally finally concluded a comprehensive free trade agreement on 27 January 2026. This agreement, India–European Union Free Trade Agreement (IEUFTA), was hailed by political leaders from both sides as the mother of all deals, because it would create a massive economic partnership and greatly increase the current bilateral trade, which was over US$ 136 b in 2024. more..

Feb 28 (CT) Catholic Church of SL, on Thursday, asked that there be no interference with the ongoing investigation into the massacre of the innocents that was the Easter Sunday attack. Reiterating a firm stand that the Church has not wavered from, Communications Director for the Colombo Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando, insisted that any interference would amount to a grave injustice to the victims. As the investigation approaches attack’s 7th anniversary this April, more..

Feb 28 (FT) Buddhism is a sacred morality, and because it is based on reason and experience, it is a powerful force that can eliminate inequality. My ideal would be a society based on Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity - Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution. Indeed, public debate on racism in Sri Lanka is both necessary and healthy, as no nation can truly progress while prejudice festers beneath its social fabric. However, in confronting these issues, more..

Feb 28 (CT) The former Director of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), Major General (Retd) Suresh Sallay, who was arrested in connection with the Easter Sunday attacks and is currently being held under a 72-hour detention order, is likely to be detained for a further 90 days for continued questioning, reliable sources said. Statements recorded from several witnesses have reportedly substantiated matters relating to his alleged involvement, more..

Feb 28 (TM) NPP–JVP Govt’s bright sunshine over substantial progress in the anti-corruption front is currently threatened by dark clouds due to allegations of malpractices in the purchase of substandard coal for the Norochcholai Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant. Although Ministers and spokespersons tried to deny allegations, they could not stop mounting demands for political, economic, and technical scrutiny. The Opposition raises serious questions about procurement integrity, more..

Feb 28 (DM) On Feb 15, a survey carried out by Verité Research showed the govt’s approval rating stood at 65% in early Feb 2026. The report added perceptions of public confidence in the country’s economic direction also showed marked improvement. On Feb 23, according to the DCS, SL’s national inflation, measured by the NCPI, declined to 2.4% in January 2026 from 2.9% in December the previous year. The two news items undoubtedly warmed our President’s cockles more..

Feb 28 (DM) Let me begin this article with an apology and explanation to readers. This week’s column should have been the second and final part of last week’s article (Is JVP Gen-Sec Tilvin, the power behind Prez Dissanayake’s throne?). However this week’s column would be about the sensational arrest and detention of former Intelligence chief Major General Suresh Sallay. The Tilvin Silva article will be published next week. more..

Feb 28 (DM) A huge controversy has erupted over the arrest of former State Intelligence Service (SIS) chief Suresh Sallay on Wednesday over the suicide attacks on Christians by a group of Muslim terrorists on 2019 Easter Sunday, which fell on April 21 in that year. Hundreds of views and comments are being floated in the mainstream and social media on the incident, but none of those who expressed their views and posted comments have been able to be objective, all see the issue through more..

Feb 28 (GV) A year after Victor Ivan’s passing, the contradictions that defined him still feel alive. He was one of the prominent individuals who braved all odds, including a lifelong partial disability, to leave an indelible mark on media. An activist, political analyst and author shaped by the works of Bertrand Russell and Mahatma Gandhi, he was never politically neutral. His loyalties were often volatile and shifted in unexpected ways. He accommodated opposing views but he did so only on his own terms. more..