Aug 26 (TM) The prevailing weather conditions under El Nino – the climate pattern characterised by the warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean – could have a significant impact on Sri Lanka’s economy, as it affects agriculture and other key sectors, Economic analyst Dhananath Fernando said. He said that a drought could particularly affect hydropower generation. He explained that if electricity has to be generated using thermal power due to more..

Aug 26 (FT) PM Harini Amarasuriya signalled a more rigorous approach to SL’s infrastructure investments, saying projects must be subjected to stronger evidence-based assessment and demonstrate long-term economic and social value as the country operates under significant fiscal constraints. She said infrastructure decisions should be guided by national priorities and reliable evidence, with the Govt moving away from treating projects merely as individual construction activities towards more..

Aug 26 (FT) SL’s tea exports fell sharply in the first seven months of 2026, with Middle East shipping disruptions compounding weaker shipments to several key markets and contributing to a $ 67 million decline in export earnings. Tea exports during January-July dropped 4.9% to 143.51 million kg, from 150.85 million kilograms (Mn/Kg) in the corresponding period last year, according to data from Forbes and Walker Research and Customs figures analysed by Siyaka Research. more..

Aug 26 (FT) Chandana Guniyangoda assumed duties as the new Chairman of People’s Bank yesterday at a ceremony held at the bank’s head office. The occasion was attended by the former Chairman Prof. Narada Fernando, Board members, General Manager/CEO and members of the bank’s corporate management. The bank said Guniyangoda’s appointment marks a significant milestone in SL’s State-owned banking sector. He becomes the first Chairman of a state-owned licensed commercial bank to be appointed as more..

Aug 26 (FT) SL’s iconic global brand Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company plans to invest more than $1 million initially to establish a premium tea lounge network in India, as it seeks to tap growing demand for non-alcoholic beverages among younger consumers in the subcontinent. The company plans to open close to 10 luxury tea outlets in India by 2030 under its Urban Estate concept, with the first flagship outlet expected next year. Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi are among the cities being considered for the initial rollout, more..

Aug 26 (CI) Well short of six feet, and operating only in the 130kph range, Asitha Fernando is not the mean fast bowler you might build in a lab. What he is instead: accurate, intense, indefatiguable. This is why new bowling coach Ryan van Niekerk has taken to calling him the diesel engine. Of SL's int'l seam bowlers, Asitha is the least likely to break down, the most likely to be named in red-ball and white-ball squads, and when nothing is happening on the pitch, more..

Aug 26 (DM) SL property market could enter its next major growth phase following the govt's approval to commence the procurement process for the first phase of the Ruwanpura Expressway Project. Phase 1 of the project, which will connect Kahathuduwa to Ingiriya and will include the construction of a new bridge interchange at Kahathuduwa, is expected to significantly improve connectivity between Colombo and Sabaragamuwa Province. While the expressway is primarily a transport infrastructure project, more..

Aug 26 (FT) Senior Govt representatives, development partners and implementing agencies gathered in Kilinochchi on 19 August for the second Project Steering Committee (PSC) meeting of the Together for Her: Resilience-building, Inclusivity and Voices for Equality (THRIVE) project. Funded by the Australian Govt and jointly implemented by UN Women, Chrysalis and the Foundation for Innovative Social Development (FISD), THRIVE works across six districts to help women build more..

Aug 26 (FT) HNB Finance has announced the appointment of Dr. Prasad Samarasinghe as Chairman with effect from 28 Aug, succeeding Rajive Dissanayake, who will retire on the same date following nine years of distinguished service. Dr. Samarasinghe brings nearly 3 decades of senior-level experience spanning information technology, telecommunications engineering, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, enterprise systems, corporate governance, risk management and regulatory oversight. more..

Aug 26 (FT) SL is seeking to position Colombo as a preferred cruise tourism hub in the Indian Ocean, with the Govt and private sector exploring ways to attract more international cruise liners and extend passenger stays to generate wider economic benefits. Ocean Cruise Global Accounts Director Thushaan Kunabalasingam, who works closely with leading global cruise operators, said the current environment was conducive to new investment and greater collaboration between the Govt and private sector. more..

Aug 26 (FT) Frontier Energy Network will take SL’s newly launched oil and gas licensing round to the international upstream market through a targeted campaign aimed at connecting the country with global operators and investors capable of evaluating and investing in the four offshore blocks on offer. UK-based Frontier Energy Network Founder and CEO Gayle Meikle, speaking virtually yesterday at the launch of the Sri Lanka Licensing Round 2026, said the company, more..

Aug 26 (Island) When the Pew Research Center released its report on regional perceptions in South Asia in August 2026, the headline number captured immediate attention, mostly in India and its diaspora. That is, 79% of Sri Lankans view India favourably. This made it the highest favourability rating recorded for India globally. In SL what captured attention was yet another number and what it claimed. That is, SL is the only South Asian country that was viewed more favourably than more..

Aug 26 (Island) Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) has warned of possible power cuts due to the prevailing El Niño phenomenon. It has said demand for electricity could rise steeply under the prevailing weather conditions, with power generation declining, if water levels in the hydropower reservoirs recede drastically. One may recall that long before the onset of El Niño, experts predicted that power cuts would have to be imposed as substandard coal stocks, procured allegedly in a fraudulent manner, more..

Aug 26 (SO) Ven. Rambukana Siddhartha Thera, an exceptional monastic who left an immortal mark on SL lyrical literature and Buddhist society, has passed away. His demise is an epochal void that casts a deep shadow over Sinhala song literature, leaving a profound ache in the hearts of all literature lovers and music enthusiasts. He dedicated himself to healing the human mind through the medium of song, without submitting to narrow political agendas or worldly fame. Therein lies his brilliance. more..

Aug 26 (CT) There is an aspect of the management of our national economy which, in my view, deserves far greater public attention than it is receiving today. Much of the current public debate is understandably occupied with immediate political controversies, administrative disputes and other day-to-day issues. But behind all these matters lies a much more fundamental question: Where has Parliament legally directed the SL economy to go, and are we doing enough today to ensure that we get there? more..

Aug 26 (SO) Today marks the Birth Anniversary of Prophet Muhammad– the founder of Islam and one of the greatest reformers in human history. The commemoration, known as Meelad–un–Nabi or Milad-un-Nabi, falls on the 12th day of Rabi–ul–Awwal, the third month in the Islamic lunar calendar. Around two billion Muslims worldwide, including the Muslim fraternity in SL, observe this occasion, honouring His noble character, compassion, and guidance to humanity. more..

Aug 26 (SO) As the world celebrates International Women’s Day, we turn the spotlight on a remarkable woman whose story is carved in perseverance, devotion and strength. Sculptor Swarna Neelawala is a symbol of courage, a woman who shaped both stone and destiny with determination. Born in Kantale, Swarna was the ninth child among twelve siblings in her family. Her mother was Biso Manike Jayasekara, and her father, Tikiri Bandara Neelawala, worked for the Ceylon Govt Railway. more..

Aug 26 (ST) Since Prez AKD fired his verbal scatter gun at close quarters the other day at a delegation of high-ranking lawyers, the battle over constitutional change has sought independent referees in a curious drama. With the govt having tabled in parliament the constitutional amendment bill that is causing all this ho ha – or is it ha ho? – the legal eagles and other irate opponents from other fraternities have rushed to file their plaints and complaints in the courts more..

Aug 26 (TM) The debate over the death penalty has once again returned to the forefront in Sri Lanka following the recent death sentences imposed on former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and former Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara over their failure to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks, bringing renewed attention to a punishment that remains firmly embedded in the country’s law despite not having been carried out for nearly five decades. more..

Aug 26 (GV) SL invested significantly in rebuilding the physical infrastructure damaged by the war. However, comparable and sustained political commitment was not devoted to rebuilding fractured relationships among its communities. The recent controversy over the hijab worn by Muslim female health workers at the Kalmunai North Base Hospital is being debated primarily as a dispute about religious freedom, professional uniforms, administrative circulars and institutional authority. more..

Aug 26 (TM) The warning issued by the Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) should send a sharp jolt through every household and commercial enterprise across the island. As prevailing El Niño conditions tighten their grip, the nation stands once again on the precipice of a nerve-wracking power crisis. Rising temperatures inevitably push up consumer demand for electricity, precisely at the moment when drying water sources choke off our hydroelectricity generation capacity. more..

Aug 25 (DM) Sri Lanka could experience above-average rainfall during October and November due to prevailing El Niño conditions, raising the possibility of flooding in some areas, the Dept of Meteorology has warned. Director General of the Department of Meteorology Ajith Wijemanna said heavy rainfall exceeding seasonal averages could be expected during the period. He said the forecast was based on an analysis of weather data covering the next six months. more..

Aug 25 (DM) Ranjith Rajasinghe assumed duties today as the new Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of SL (CAASL), at the authority’s premises. The occasion was attended by Ministry Secretary W.W.S. Mangala, CAASL Director General Daminda Rabukwella, Airport and Aviation Services Company Director Primal de Silva, and senior management officials of the Civil Aviation Authority. Rajasinghe is a Chartered Accountant with more than 27 years of professional experience in more..

Aug 25 (EN) Sri Lanka has offered four offshore blocks in the Northwestern Mannar Basin for int'l investors to explore oil and gas in a fresh attempt to attract investments into the sector after an earlier attempt ended in a failure due to not commercially viable production. The Mannar Basin, which lies between southern India and northwestern SL, may hold around $260 billion worth of oil and gas resources. more..

Aug 25 (NW) PAFFREL has urged Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake to reconsider several provisions of the proposed amendments to SL’s Anti-Corruption Act, warning that they could restrict public access to and use of asset and liability declarations. In a letter addressed to the President, PAFFREL Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi said the Anti-Corruption Act No. 9 of 2023 had marked an important step towards greater transparency and accountability by allowing public scrutiny of more..

Aug 25 (PMD) Eleven newly appointed Ambassadors and High Commissioners to SL presented their credentials to Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake today. The new envoys represented the Federative Republic of Brazil, Republic of Bangladesh, People’s Republic of China, Republic of Austria, United States of America, Dominican Republic, Republic of Ghana, Brunei Darussalam, Republic of the Sudan, Co-operative Republic of Guyana and Republic of Panama. more..

Aug 25 (NF) Telephone numbers belonging to 13 prison officers and photographs of seven models and politicians were discovered on the mobile phone of alleged organized crime figure Manudinu Padmasiri Perera, alias Kehelbaddara Padme, CID informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court today. The disclosure emerged as Kehelbaddara Padme and another alleged organized crime suspect, more..

Aug 25 (Island) Indian HC said that in line with their overall development cooperation with SL, a group of 40 SL Administrative Service Officers recently attended a comprehensive capacity-building programme on Disaster Management at National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG), India. Declaring that capacity-building stands as a cornerstone of India’s development cooperation with SL, IHC spokesperson said: “As the fifth specialised training visit under Disaster Management more..

Aug 25 (NW) The SL Air Force has revealed that more than 1,000 individuals caught spitting betel and urinating inside the renovated Colombo Pettah Central Bus Stand were compelled to clean the very areas they had dirtied. It is reported that among those disciplined were several bus drivers and conductors. The offenders were identified through a round‑the‑clock CCTV surveillance system installed at the terminal, which also monitors passenger safety and prevents harassment. more..

Aug 25 (DM) The Cabinet has approved a proposal to develop connecting roads linking Sections I, III and IV of the Central Expressway with the existing road network in the Western, Central and North-Western provinces. The project is aimed at improving connectivity, accessibility and traffic flow between the Central Expressway and the existing road network. Accordingly, a 117.68-kilometre connecting road network has been proposed for Section I of the Central Expressway. more..

Aug 25 (NW) The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal by the Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation to award concessions for operating six travel service counters at the arrival lobby of Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake. The move follows a national competitive bidding process, with ten companies submitting proposals. After evaluation, the High‑Level Standing Procurement Committee recommended awarding the concessions for a three‑year period. more..