Sep 7 (NW) Newly registered vehicles will now be issued their number plates within one week of registration, Commissioner General of Motor Traffic, Retired Air Vice Marshal Thushara Fernando announced. Addressing the media, he explained that the production of number plates for vehicles registered between June 10 and August 31 this year has already been completed, and going forward, the process will be streamlined to ensure plates are delivered promptly. more..

Sep 7 (ST) Sri Lanka and India will sign three fresh defence-related MoUs during Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s three-day visit, which begins on Tuesday. Besides the MoUs, the two sides will also review the India-SL Defence Cooperation MoU that was signed during Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s visit to India on April 5 last year. One of the fresh MoUs will cover the supply of Indian air-defence guns, while the others will be to enhance ties between the cadet corps of the two countries more..

Sep 7 (ST) Attorney General has advised the CID to obtain a statement from former NSB Chairman Pradeep Kariyawasam over an incident where Rs. 1 million had been deposited to a bank account maintained by Siriliya Saviya Foundation following a request for a donation to help purchase a PET scanner for the Maharagama Apeksha Cancer Hospital. AG has advised the CID to record a statement from the former NSB Chairman after it was revealed that while the request for a donation came from more..

Sep 7 (NW) Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has taken legal action against a company in Seethawaka, Avissawella, and its Director, for producing and distributing bottled drinking water using a fake Sri Lanka Standards (SLS) mark and a false brand name. The case was heard before the Avissawella Magistrate’s Court after CAA officers raided the company on Aug 21, seizing more than 8,500 bottles of water labelled Aquachill instead of the Ministry of Health‑approved name Lanka Premium. more..

Sep 7 (DN) The second depot under SL’s Metro Bus Service began operations in Kadawatha today, marking another step in the expansion of the country’s modern public transport network. The newly established depot is located next to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) Depot along the Kadawatha–Ganemulla Main Road in the Gampaha District. The first Metro Bus depot was opened in Talangama, Battaramulla, on Sept 4. Four depots are planned under the first phase of the Metro Bus project, more..

Sep 7 (NW) Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) President Steven Thiru has raised several concerns over procedural fairness, transparency and public confidence arising from the Supreme Court proceedings challenging SL’s proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution. In a report dated Sept 7 following his visit to SL, Thiru said he attended the second day of the Supreme Court hearing on Sept 2 as an observer at the invitation of the BASL. more..

Sep 7 (AD) A 46-year-old man known as Bhootha Kaluwa, the brother-in-law of alleged organized crime figure Kos Malli, has been hacked to death in Dehiwala early this morning, police stated. The attack took place at around 1:45 a.m. today at the victim’s residence in Orban Place of Dehiwala. Police said a group of four men arrived at the house in a three-wheeler, broke down the door and entered the premises. The assailants then attacked the victim, who was asleep in bed, more..

Sep 7 (DM) SriLankan Airlines has cancelled its scheduled Colombo-Jakarta services today due to volcanic ash from Indonesia’s Mount Anak Krakatoa affecting airspace in the region. The airline said flights UL 364, operating from Colombo to Jakarta, and UL 365, from Jakarta to Colombo, were cancelled as a precautionary measure following the spread of volcanic ash. Indonesian aviation authorities have also suspended operations at several airports, including Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta Int'l Airport, more..

Sep 7 (FT) Given what I had written about the remanding of other politicians, it is reasonable to ask for my response to the above question. Also, I have been pursuing this matter since 2020 when the evidence first emerged. On 2 Jan 2024, in an article entitled What can (and cannot) be done about corruption, I wrote: Even more importantly, all who want to live in a decent society under the rule of law must pressure the government to accelerate the complete implementation of more..

Sep 7 (FT) British Meteorological Office has issued a chilling warning that should instantly shake us out of our collective complacency. According to their latest global climate projections, the planet is on track for a severe El Niño trajectory building toward 2027, which is estimated to be the hottest year of the century. Alarmingly, scientists warn that this atmospheric disruption could mirror the catastrophic global climate shift of 1877—a dark year in human history when more..

Sep 7 (NF) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has declared that the country’s long-running Cops and Robbers game in politics is finished, promising swift action to clear a massive backlog of corruption and crime cases and to ensure punishments are delivered while evidence is still fresh. He said only his NPP govt would cleanse the system, even as entrenched interests scramble to protect themselves through embassies and more..

Sep 7 (FT) Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will undertake an official visit to SL from 8 to 10 Sept, according to a statement issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) in Delhi. Singh will hold consultations with SL’s leadership on a range of issues during the visit and interact separately with the Indian diaspora in Colombo, the statement said. He will lead a high-level delegation comprising senior officials from India’s Defence Ministry and External Affairs Ministry. more..

Sep 7 (DN) The second phase of the third term for 2026 for government and govt-approved private Sinhala and Tamil medium schools resumes today. The Education Ministry announced that schools were closed on August 7, concluding the first phase of the 2026 third school term. For Muslim schools, the third term vacation came into effect on Sept 2. The second phase of the third school term for all Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim schools will commence today 7 and continue until Dec 4. more..

Sep 7 (Island) The CID recently found that former SLPP Deputy Minister Premalal Jayasekara, better known as Choka Malli, had left for Thailand when the Supreme Court imposed an overseas travel ban on him last Friday. CID discovered that Jayasekara had left Sri Lanka on Aug 31, while authorities were taking steps to enforce the travel restriction imposed by the Supreme Court. Department has subsequently informed more..

Sep 7 (Island) The Labour Ministry has rejected the interpretation that SL currently ranks 120th globally in terms of minimum wages, saying the ranking was based on 2024 data and does not reflect subsequent increases in the country’s minimum wage. Ministry said the comparison, published by Visual Capitalist, was not an International Labour Organisation (ILO) report. The ILO has confirmed that it was not involved in preparing or publishing the ranking, according to the Ministry. more..

Sep 7 (FT) Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe was drawn into a public dispute on LinkedIn over the past day after a technology entrepreneur accused the Govt of repeatedly changing the tax terms offered to companies registering at the Colombo Port City Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The exchange was triggered by a post from Shavini Fernando, Founder of a Virtual Reality (VR) and web design and development firm, who said her company more..

Sep 7 (TM) Building on the yield trend observed in July and August, investor sentiment in SL govt securities has shown continued improvement, despite a volatile geopolitical climate and selective investor positioning across maturities. At the T-Bond auction held on 25 August, PDMO raised the full Rs 50.0 billion on offer. This comprised a Rs 30.0 billion bond maturing in 2030 and a Rs 20.0 billion bond maturing in 2035, with coupon rates of 10.00% and 11.50%, respectively. more..

Sep 7 (ST) Colombo Port is currently witnessing a resurgence of the congestion that had been experienced soon after the crisis in West Asia erupted following tensions between Iran, Israel and the US. This has led to exporters rushing to authorities insisting on immediate solutions to delays and congestion build-up at the port. Delays and congestion is witnessed in a number of global ports enroute to West Asia. But shipping industry analysts noted that Colombo is a bit tight as it has more..

Sep 7 (FT) UNP, one of SL's oldest political movements, marked its 80th anniversary yesterday, with its leadership and representatives of several Opposition parties reflecting on the party’s political legacy, whilst warning of challenges to democracy and the country’s constitutional order. Addressing the anniversary event, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said the party, founded on 6 Sept 1946 under leadership of D.S. Senanayake more..

Sep 7 (Island) The number of deaths from dengue fever in Sri Lanka has risen to 73 this year, with 96,228 cases reported across the country so far. The latest figures indicate that dengue continues to pose a significant public health concern, with 737 new cases recorded during the first four days of September alone. Dengue infections peaked in July, when 29,964 cases were reported, according to the latest data. June recorded the second-highest monthly total, with 21,533 cases, more..

Sep 7 (Island) Top order batter Pathum Nissanka has rejoined the SL squad after three months on the sidelines following wrist surgery. Nissanka suffered the injury during SL’s tour of the West Indies in June and subsequently flew to London for surgery. The setback ruled him out of the LPL, the Test series against India and the start of the domestic season. He returned to action for NCC in the domestic T20 competition last week, using the outing to prove his fitness and earn a recall to the national side. more..

Sep 7 (CI) Harshitha Samarawickrama's splendid 48 not out off 37 balls took SL over the line in a low-scoring thriller against Bangladesh. The defending champions secured a semi-final berth with a four-wicket win, and by virtue of topping Group B, will play the side that finishes second in Group A on Friday. An excellent opening spell of 2 for 17 from Marufa Akter put Bangladesh in firm control of the match after they posted a below-par target of 115, thanks to Chamudi Praboda's career-best more..

Sep 7 (EN) Hambantota International Port has welcomed NYK’s Azalea Leader, which made its maiden call to the port in August. Azalea Leader is a 200-metre long new generation LNG dual-fuel pure car and truck carrier (PCTC). The ship was built in 2026 and sails under the Liberian flag and is capable of transporting 4,810 vehicles and another 47 units for local discharge. The new gen carrier has a maximum carrying capacity of 7,000 units. The ship also has Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) more..

Sep 7 (FT) Central Bank of SL (CBSL) was a net buyer of a record $ 579 million worth of foreign currency from the domestic market in August, the highest single-month purchase since Jan 2025, as an increasingly stable rupee allowed the monetary authority to accumulate reserves rather than run them down to defend the currency. August figure surpassed the previous highs of $461 mil in Feb 2026, and $356 mil in Aug 2025. more..

Sep 7 (FT) Central Bank of SL (CBSL) has loosened the terms under which licensed banks may rely on corporate guarantees when lending to related parties, while allowing machinery to be pledged as collateral for the first time, under a revised Determination on insider lending. Banking Act Determination No. 01 of 2026, dated 28 Aug 2026, takes effect from 1 Sept 2026, replacing Determination No. 04 of 2024 and its 2025 amendment. It was issued under Sections 47 more..

Sep 7 (DN) Sri Lanka could develop gemstones into a strategic foreign exchange asset by establishing a national gem reserve similar to its dollar and gold reserves, while using the initiative to expand imports, value addition and exports, according to Sri Lanka Miners and Dealers Association Director Dr. Sanjeewa Fonseka. Dr. Fonseka, who is also Chairman of Ceylon Sapphire Mining Ltd and Ceylon FACET and a member of the Ceylon Gem and Jewellery Traders Association (CEJTA), said more..

Sep 7 (DN) Dineth Induwara and Shafiya Yamick became fastest men and women athletes at the 104th National Athletic Championship concluded at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium Diyagama yesterday. The South Asian Championship triple gold winner Shafiya once again came on top in sprint events when she became fastest women with a time of 11.85 seconds in 100m to claim the gold medal. Dineth Induwara became first in 100m more..

Sep 7 (NW) Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage has rejected claims by an athlete that he had not received adequate support, saying the athlete was already part of the national pool and was being provided with the equipment he required. Referring to remarks made by the athlete in an interview with a television channel, in which he said he did not have shoes or a javelin, Minister Gamage said he had checked the matter personally. “He is a child in our national pool, and more..

Sep 7 (FT) SL apparel manufacturers have fallen behind regional competitors on automation and technology adoption, not for want of capability but because the industry has spent much of the past decade absorbing one crisis after another, Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) Secretary General Yohan Lawrence said. Speaking at a recent First Capital Research Stock Talk podcast on Global Trade Reset: What It Means for SL’s Apparel Industry, Lawrence said that from the end of more..

Sep 7 (FT) SL – Benelux Business Council (SLBBC) of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce conducted its 31st AGM recently. Chief Guest Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to SL and the Maldives Wiebe de Boer, during his address, highlighted the enduring relevance of the Benelux union as a sandbox for further European Intergration – including its role in linking SL exporters to the Port of Rotterdam. The Ambassador confirmed that SL’s GSP+ access remains in place until 2029, more..

Sep 7 (FT) Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of SL (FCCISL) held a high-level bilateral policy dialogue with Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe last week. The meeting established a unified roadmap to accelerate regional enterprise growth and integrate the private sector with the govt’s newly launched National SME Strategy Framework, aligning with the strategic vision created by the FCCISL Strategy and State Affairs Committees. more..