Nov 5 (TM) Teachers’ and Principals’ Trade Union Alliance has announced that it will give the Government time until 7 Nov to reverse the decision to extend the duration of each school day. The Union further warned that if the decision (to extend school hours by 30 minutes till 2 pm) is not changed, it will launch island-wide trade union action during the second week of next month. General Secretary of Ceylon Teachers’ Union more..

Nov 5 (AD) A tsunami mock drill covering the entire island is scheduled to be held today in conjunction with World Tsunami Awareness Day. The exercise is organized by a regional body comprising 28 member countries of the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC). The drill will be conducted in five Grama Niladhari Divisions across the coastal districts of Batticaloa, Kalutara, Galle & Jaffna. The main national-level exercise will be held in the Kalutara District and is scheduled more..

Nov 5 (DM) The local tourism industry, once hailed as the country’s third-largest foreign exchange earner, is under scrutiny for the reliability of its earnings data, with experts warning that flawed accounting methods are distorting the true picture of the sector’s performance. According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance, current tourism earnings remain clouded by flawed calculations, with official estimates still based on a 2018 survey by SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA). more..

Nov 5 (TM) The CIABOC has launched an investigation into allegations that former Minister Basil Rajapaksa misused over Rs. 1.03 billion in public funds during the period from 2010 to 2015. In a complaint lodged with the CIABOC, the Citizens Power Against Bribery, Corruption & Waste organisation President Kamantha Thushara said that the alleged misuse of State resources is detailed in the final report of Prez Commission of Inquiry more..

Nov 5 (Island) TN Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday urged External Affairs Minister of India S. Jaishankar to initiate immediate diplomatic efforts with the SL govt to secure the release of all the arrested fishermen along with their boats, Indian media reported. The SL Navy detained 31 fishermen from Nagapattinam along with their three fishing boats on Nov 3, Chief Minister said, adding that in a separate incident, four fishermen from Ramanathapuram were also apprehended, more..

Nov 5 (Island) Retired High Court judge Manikavasagar Illancheliyan recently said that he had been deprived of an opportunity to serve for four more years for no fault of his. Illancheliyan presided over many high profile criminal cases including the rape and murder of Sivaloganathan Vithya. He was the target of a failed assassination attempt in July 2017 near the Nallur Kovil in Jaffna where the police officer escorting him was killed. Addressing a gathering in London, more..

Nov 5 (FT) Ceylon Institute of Builders (CIOB) recently handed over its SL Construction Industry Budget Proposal 2026/2027 to the Ministry of Construction in the presence of the Minister, Deputy Minister, and Secretary to the Ministry. The proposal outlines a comprehensive roadmap to revive and expand Sri Lanka’s construction sector, positioning it once again as a key driver of national growth. It calls for urgent policy intervention and financial relief to help the industry recover from more..

Nov 5 (DN) The young leg spin all rounder Dunith Wellalage will lead the SL ‘A’ team for the Asian Cricket Council’s (ACC) Rising Stars T-20 tournament which will be played in West End Park Int'l Cricket Stadium Doha, Qatar, from Nov 14 to 23. Selectors decided to leave the 21-year-old Wellalage out of the senior squad for the Pakistan tour as he is unlikely to feature in the playing XI during the Pakistan series. Instead, the move aims to give him more leadership experience more..

Nov 5 (TM) The visiting Secretary for Relations with States and Int'l Organisations of the See of Rome, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher told Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake that both he and Pope Leo the XIV admire the progress that SL has made, particularly in advancing peace and unity among all ethnic and religious communities, adding that based on this progress, Pope may consider a visit to SL in the near future. more..

Nov 5 (CT) Five years ago, when COVID-19 hit Sri Lanka, rising star Tharushi Karunarathne needed a guiding hand. Her elder brother Harsha, who had already given up on athletics, returned to the track — not as a champion, but as a brother. That quiet act of support reignited his own fire. Together, they revived a family legacy in the 800m. Now both international medalists, Harsha is determined to follow his sister’s golden path at next year’s continental championships. more..

Nov 5 (Island) Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club, one of SL’s proudest cricket clubs, celebrated its 125th anniversary in grand style at the City of Dreams in Colombo on Friday. It was a night to remember, with over 300 guests — past and present Test cricketers, club members, officials from sister clubs and SLC — gathering under one roof to salute a club that has stood tall for a century and quarter. The P. Sara Oval, Tamil Union’s cherished home, has been the stage for many golden chapters more..

Nov 5 (Island) The commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe, felicitated the SLAF athletes who medals at the 4th South Asian Athletics Championships, held in India. The felicitation ceremony was held at Air Force Headquarters on Monday. ‎A total of 59 athletes represented SL at the championships, including nine outstanding athletes from the SLAF. Demonstrating exceptional talent and determination, the Air Force contingent made a significant contribution more..

Nov 5 (DM) Australian education has become one of the most powerful and enduring links in its bilateral relationship with Sri Lanka, emerging as a critical pillar for building the advanced skills and capabilities that will define the nation’s future economy. Australian High Commissioner in SL Matthew Duckworth recently emphasised the strong and reliable educational alliance between Australia and SL. Speaking in Colombo at the 10th Anniversary and Alumni Reunion of Monash College more..

Nov 5 (DM) Several former top government officials are now under the radar of the Bribery Commission over alleged corruption, as the Commission intensifies its probe into the misuse of public resources. In the latest development, a former General Manager of SL Railways and a former Executive Director of the SL State Engineering Corporation were arrested last morning by the CIABOC on alleged corruption charges. more..

Nov 5 (DN) Sri Lanka made a flying start to the CAVA Women’s Under-19 Volleyball Championship when they crushed Maldives 3-0 in the opening match at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo yesterday. The home side, led by captain Sulakshana Pasiduni, dominated from the very first serve and never looked in trouble. Sri Lanka took the first set easily by 26-9, maintaining their rhythm to secure the second set 25-9, and finished off the match in style by winning the third set 25-15. more..

Nov 5 (FT) UK Trade Envoy for SL, Lord John Hannett, yesterday praised SL’s resilience, beauty and growing appeal as a global travel destination, while reaffirming the UK’s commitment to deepening trade and tourism partnerships, at the opening of the SL Pavilion at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London’s Excel Centre. Addressing the gathering, Lord Hannett said it was a privilege to represent the UK as Trade Envoy to SL, a country he described as a story of strength and renewal. more..

Nov 5 (FT) High Commission of India, in collaboration with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), yesterday hosted a high-level forum in Colombo titled PPP: Partnership and Prosperity for People, bringing together Govt officials, policymakers, private sector leaders and development partners to discuss pathways for unlocking SL’s Public–Private Partnership (PPP) potential. Event comes as the Govt finalises long-awaited PPP legislation more..

Nov 5 (FT) Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd CEO Sanjay Banga yesterday underscored how well-designed Public–Private Partnership (PPP) models have transformed India’s power sector and could offer valuable lessons for SL as it finalises its own PPP framework. Delivering the keynote at the PPP: Partnership and Prosperity for People forum High Commission of India in collaboration with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) in Colombo, Banga drew on India’s seven decades of experience more..

Nov 5 (FT) Voyage Sri Lanka 2025, the international marine summit organised by the SL Export Development Board (EDB), has concluded, recording a massive success. Held on 16 Oct, at the Kingsbury Hotel in Colombo, the event surpassed expectations, drawing over 250 local and overseas delegates from about six countries. Building on the momentum from its inaugural edition in 2024, this year’s summit, under the theme Unveiling the Blue Economy Potential of Sri Lanka, solidified more..

Nov 5 (FT) Central Bank of SL and Credit Information Bureau (CRIB) yesterday launched the Secured Transactions Register (STR), introducing a new legal and digital framework that allows movable assets to be used as collateral for loans, especially for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The event, held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo, also marked the official commencement of operations of the Secured Transactions Registration Authority (STRA), established under more..

Nov 5 (FT) Tax Credit for Digitalisation and Compliance Investment. This measure encourages enterprises, particularly small and medium-sized businesses, to modernise their operations through technology. RKMT proposes a two-year tax credit of up to 25% for investments in e-invoicing systems, ERP platforms, certified accounting software, and cybersecurity tools. The move is designed to reward firms that invest in accuracy, transparency, and efficiency, strengthening the foundation for more..

Nov 5 (FT) Planters’ Association of Ceylon (PA) is urging the Govt to act swiftly to lift the ban on oil palm cultivation, warning that with each passing day, the losses to the nation keep growing. The PA noted that an estimated amount of over $ 175 million has been spent on edible oil imports between 2021 and 2025 when the ban on oil palm cultivation first commenced in April 2021. It also noted that SL continues to more..

Nov 5 (DM) SL rulers, whether indigenous or European, used soldiers from India in addition to local levies. This was due to a shortage of manpower in the island in comparison with India. Given its much bigger population, India had a vast reservoir of military labour. Indian military labourers were peasants who would volunteer to fight for others for the money that it brought in. Indian soldiers who fought in SL, except those who came as part of the IPKF in 1987, were mostly from more..

Nov 5 (CT) The inauguration of the Ihala Kaniyama water control structure and culvert bridge in Nawagiri Aru, Batticaloa, under the Waari Mahima – Ape Urumaya national irrigation programme, was presented as another step towards strengthening the country’s agriculture sector. Built at a cost of Rs 45 million, this project is expected to enable the cultivation of an additional 500 acres of land, where farmers will now be able to grow three harvests a year, including paddy & supplementary crops. more..

Nov 5 (Island) It is said that the purpose of education is not just to accumulate facts or acquire knowledge but to develop problem-solving skills and critical thinking abilities, but in Sri Lanka the education sector itself has become a problem, as evident from the ongoing battle between the govt and teachers’ trade unions over the proposed education reforms. Teachers, principals, politicians and policymakers themselves seem to lack problem solving skills and critical thinking abilities. more..

Nov 5 (TM) Despite large-scale development plans, Sri Lanka still faces a deeply concerning reality as 1,000s of families continue to live without basic toilet facilities. According to the DCS, last year’s Census, more than 13,000 families, representing about 0.2% of the country’s 6.1 million households, still defecate in open areas. This is not merely a matter of statistics. It is a matter of human rights (HR). Access to toilets is directly linked to a person’s health, safety and dignity. more..

Nov 5 (CT) The CID is currently grappling with an intense workload, as it probes several high-profile and controversial incidents that have gripped national attention. Among these is the investigation into the murder of Weligama PS Chairman, Lasantha Wickramasekara. Multiple investigative teams from the Southern Province have joined forces on this case, which has now been officially handed over to the CID by the IGP. more..

Nov 5 (ST) Geneva has been a regular rat trap for SL ever since this small nation began to attract international attention, especially from human rights activists and well-organised and well-financed organisations targeting offenders round the globe. Just on one occasion, shortly after SL finally overcame the LTTE, a well-armed Tamil separatist fighting force that held power in a substantial part of the north and east of the country. That was almost immediately after the military victory when more..

Nov 5 (CT) The opposition—both within and outside Parliament—remains united by a single, obsessive goal: to discredit, destabilize, and, if possible, topple the legally elected govt. In pursuit of this ambition, they organize frequent protests, marches, and rallies across the country. Their latest attempt, the so-called Voice of the People (Mahajana Handa) scheduled for 21 Nov, is presented as a mass uprising against govt policies. But the symbolism behind this date reveals their real intention. more..

Nov 5 (DM) Dear Opposition, The opposition has announced a major rally on Nov 21, as a first warning to Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, demanding that he fulfills the election pledges made to the nation. They say the protest is also to oppose any attempts to suppress opposition parties. While such demonstrations allow the opposition to stay relevant and heard, the question we must all ask is — is this really the right time? more..

Nov 5 (FT) For King Dutugemunu there is no rest. With distressing regularity, he is summoned in the service of an ambitious politician, a divisive policy or a violent act. The latest instance of necromancy occurred when monk Galagoda-Atte Gnanasara visited Mahinda Rajapaksa in Medamulana, the homeless ex-president. The NPP promised to scrap the Presidential Entitlements Act in its manifesto, and forgot it until the party’s setback at the May 2025 Local Govt election. more..

Nov 5 (DN) Il Poya holds spiritual significance in the Buddhist calendar, marking transformative moments in the evolution of the Dhamma. This sacred full moon day commemorates the prediction of the future enlightenment of Metteyya (Maitreya) Bodhisattva, the next Buddha-to-be, and the passing away of the Arahant Sariputta Thera, revered as the Dharmasenapati. As the final observance during the three-month monsoon retreat, Il Poya also celebrates the Devarohana festival, more..