Feb 24 (CT) Exporters have expressed concern over a decision to transfer the inspection of export consignments from Board of Investment of SL (BOI) to SL Customs with effect from July. Until now, inspections of goods exported under BOI concessions had been carried out by the BOI. However, under the new arrangement, all such inspections are to be conducted by the Customs. Exporters warned that if the delays currently experienced in Customs operations were to more..

Feb 24 (DN) The construction sector’s contribution to GDP is expected to reach around 5% in 2026, supported by infrastructure projects already under way such as Central Expressway Section 1 and port developments, as well as upcoming projects including the new airport terminal and Central Expressway Phase 3, alongside Cyclone Ditwah reconstruction and other projects in the pipeline, Access Engineering Executive Vice Chairman Christopher Joshua told the Asia Securities more..

Feb 24 (DM) The govt which had faulted Laugfs Gas for the issue in gas supply had summoned its officials for a discussion this week, it was reported yesterday. Minister of Trade and Food Security Wasantha Samarasinghe told media that the govt has summoned officials of Laugfs Gas for a meeting this week. The issue is that Laugfs gas has not got into an agreement for an annual supply of gas with the suppliers unlike Litro Gas. This is why it has not been able to stabilize its supply. more..

Feb 24 (TM) Ministry of Tourism has announced that sweeping reforms will be introduced through a proposed new Tourism Act, now in the drafting stage, aimed at strengthening regulation and enforcement within the tourism sector. Deputy Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe said the new legislation is designed to modernise the legal framework governing the industry, which he noted has evolved significantly over the past two decades. more..

Feb 24 (TM) Failure to read the game situation and the Pallekelle pitch resulted in Sri Lanka losing to England by 51 runs in the Super Eight round fixture of the 2026 T20 World Cup in Kandy on Sunday (22), according to former captain Kumar Sangakkara. The former skipper was also critical of batsman Kamil Mishara’s approach to the chase. In a post on X, Sangakkara said planning and execution by the Sri Lankan bowlers were in sharp contrast to the same by the batters. more..

Feb 24 (FT) Gangaramaya Temple Chief Incumbent Ven. Dr. Kirinde Assaji, has been conferred the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by KITT University in recognition of his exceptional contributions to Buddhist scholarship, spiritual leadership, and the strengthening of SL–India cultural relations. Notably, this marks the first time in history that a Sri Lankan has received this distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award. The Lifetime Achievement Award has previously more..

Feb 24 (FT) Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, has increased flight frequencies between Bahrain and Colombo to 10 flights per week from daily operations. The enhanced schedule comes in response to heightened travel demand during the upcoming Ramadan and Eid festive season — traditionally a peak period for family reunions, leisure travel, and religious journeys. Operating double daily on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, the additional services are more..

Feb 24 (FT) As part of a joint initiative between the Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Ministry and the UN Development Program (UNDP), a special technical delegation visited SL from 16 to 20 Feb. Accordingly, a delegation from the UNDP and the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) arrived in the country to support the design of a sustainable and financially responsible financing mechanism for micro, small and medium-scale industrialists and businesses affected by Cyclone Ditwah. more..

Feb 24 (DM) Despite the hype created regarding plans by two rice mill owners turned billionaires to purchase aircraft, none of them have so far approached the Civil Aviation Authority of SL (CAA) to secure the Air Operator Certificate (AOC), an official said. Billionaires Dudley Sirisena and Mithrapala Lankeshwara said that they intend to purchase helicopters for personal and commercial use. Anyone using aircraft for domestic and more..

Feb 24 (Island) Sri Lanka needs to build awareness, effective policies and encourage regional multilateral frameworks to develop a multi-pronged approach to secure its national interest and safeguard regional stability in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), as the region together with its seabed have become an area of strategic competition, former Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary to former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, Prof Nobukatsu Kanehara said. “Indian Ocean has been a maritime highway for millennia, more..

Feb 24 (TM) SL continues to shine as a premier beach destination in Asia, with Mirissa Beach and Bentota Beach earning prestigious spots on Tripadvisor’s 2026 Travelers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best Beaches list. Mirissa Beach secured fifth place, while Bentota Beach was ranked seventh, highlighting their popularity among travelers. Best of the Best designation is awarded to less than 1% of Tripadvisor’s listings and honors destinations that have consistently received outstanding more..

Feb 24 (Island) One day they were kings of the hill, brushing aside mighty Australia with two overs to spare and sending the faithful into raptures. The next, they were brought crashing down to earth, unable to bat out their 20 overs as England handed them a sobering reality check. Cricket, as ever, proved to be the great leveller, lifting you to the heavens on Monday and reminding you of your frailties by Sunday. The same fans who had burnt the midnight oil celebrating Australia’s exit more..

Feb 24 (FT) Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has introduced a Privilege Card scheme for individual taxpayers as a measure to recognise and reward those who meet specified compliance and payment criteria. Eligibility is based on compliance in the immediately preceding Year of Assessment (Y/A). An individual must have paid income tax equal to or greater than the eligible annual self-assessment payments for that Y/A. Eligible taxpayers are also required to have submitted their Return of more..

Feb 24 (FT) The IMF yesterday said sustaining reform momentum is critical for SL to move from crisis stabilisation to economic transformation, warning that recovery remains fragile despite tangible gains under the EFF. Delivering the keynote address at the Softlogic Stockbrokers Investor Forum 2026, IMF SL Resident Representative Dr. Martha Woldemichael said: “Task ahead is really to move from stabilisation to transformation.” more..

Feb 24 (FT) Batik Air will relaunch operations to SL from 30 March with four weekly flights between Colombo and Kuala Lumpur, restoring direct connectivity that industry stakeholders say will support tourism, trade, and cargo flows between the two countries. The relaunch was announced at an event in Colombo , attended by aviation, tourism, and diplomatic representatives. M&C Aviation Founder and President Charles Wijesundera, the airline’s general sales agent (GSA), said more..

Feb 24 (FT) Prime and Melwa, two SL business powerhouses, have joined forces to mark a defining milestone in SL’s most ambitious urban development initiative. The partnership has secured one of Port City Colombo’s best Marina front land parcels, spanning over four acres and overlooking the stunning Indian Ocean. The site is set to host a mega ultra-luxury apartment development, slated for completion within four years, ensuring that all apartments offer stunning direct marina more..

Feb 24 (ST) Operational information released by the Lakvijaya coal power plant (LVP) continues to reveal that a majority of South African coal shipments that have arrived—after being purchased under the latest tender via India’s Trident Chemphar Ltd—do not meet the minimum criteria for use in the plant. But the data still contradicts reports from Cotecna (an independent laboratory that is collecting samples at unloading port in Norochcholai more..

Feb 24 (CI) Sri Lanka could play their 2026 T20 World Cup semi-final at home, if they make it to that stage, depending on who they play against and who else qualifes. If SL are drawn to meet anyone other than India, and if Pakistan do not make the semi-finals, R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo will host the match in what appears to be a change to the ICC's original schedule announcement and the tournament playing conditions. In a communication to all stakeholders after the Super Eights were finalised, more..

Feb 24 (Island) Mexican military on Sunday killed a drug lord, described as the most powerful cartel leader in Mexico. Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes aka El Mencho perished in a clash with the Mexican armed forces backed by US intelligence. Mencho was known the world over for his well-established drug distribution network. Members of the slain criminal’s cartel went berserk, torching vehicles and fuel stations in several parts of Mexico. They also blocked some highways with more..

Feb 24 (FT) Hayleys Solar has completed a 4,036 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) installation for Pussalla Meat Producers Ltd. across six farm locations, supporting the company’s transition to renewable energy and advancing sustainability within SL’s poultry sector. Pussalla Meat Producers is a leading poultry producer in SL, operating across the entire value chain, from breeding and feed production to processing and island-wide retail. The newly implemented solar installation plays more..

Feb 24 (FT) The Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM), Sri Lanka’s pioneering business school, is set to host the landmark PIM Green Digital Summit 2026 on 26 February 2026. The summit is designed as a premier platform bringing together business leaders, academics, postgraduate and doctoral students, and professionals from across sectors to explore how sustainability and digital transformation are being meaningfully translated into practice. more..

Feb 24 (FT) SL’s top bankers last week revealed that the 2022 sovereign and currency crisis permanently altered how they manage risk, forcing a decisive shift away from concentrated sovereign exposure, collateral-heavy lending, and complacency over foreign currency liquidity. Speaking at the 36th anniversary convention of the Association of Professional Bankers of SL (APB), industry leaders described the crisis as a structural reset rather than a temporary shock. more..

Feb 24 (FT) British High Commissioner Andrew Patrick and Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe recently visited apparel logistics and quality assurance facilities North of Colombo to witness shipments being prepared for export to the UK. The visit follows reforms to the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) which came into force on 1 Jan 2026. These changes enable SL manufacturers to source fabrics globally while maintaining duty-free access to the UK market, more..

Feb 24 (CT) As citizens, we must realise that this country will never develop into a state of peace and prosperity so long as the evil of racism and racist attitudes persist among the people. Sociological and anthropological studies show that prejudice against others is an innate human trait in its crude form. Therefore, to single out the Sinhala people alone as racists will be unfair because these attitudes are prevalent even among the Tamils and Muslims. more..

Feb 24 (Island) The visit by IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva to Sri Lanka was widely described as a success for the govt. She was fulsome in her praise of the country and its developmental potential. The grounds for this success and collaborative spirit go back to the inception of the agreement signed in March 2023 in the aftermath of Sri Lanka’s declaration of international bankruptcy. IMF came in to fulfil its role as lender of last resort. The govt of the day bit the bullet. more..

Feb 24 (ST) Following the brutal killings of Attorney-at-Law Buddhika Mallawaarachchi and his wife Nisansala last Friday the 13th, the President of the Bar Association of SL, Rajeev Amarasuriya, issued a statement last Saturday, summoning the membership to a Special General Meeting to be held the following day, Sunday (15). ‘The last time such a special meeting was held,’ he told the media, was 14 years ago when Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake’s impeachment crisis was at its height. more..

Feb 24 (CT) Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, a young and outspoken MP from the Eastern Province representing the ITAK, is known for his principled stance on Tamil rights, land issues, and minority development. Speaking to Ceylon Today, he addressed the controversy surrounding MP S. Shritharan, stressing that ITAK’s call for Shritharan to step down from the Constitutional Council is a moral and political decision aimed at upholding party values, rather than a legal or punitive action. more..

Feb 24 (GV) It has been 36 years since the murder of Richard de Zoysa, an internationally known journalist, artist, political and cultural critic and human rights activist. In the early hours of February 18, 1990, a group of men abducted him from his home in front of his mother. His body was later found on February 19, 1990 on the beach at Koralawella, Moratuwa. A formal investigation into de Zoysa’s death, which drew international attention, was repeatedly demanded. more..

Feb 24 (CT) For years, scholars and legal professionals have pointed out the archaic nature of SL’s legal environment, which has been of significant detriment to the people of Sri Lanka and the State administration. When a nation’s laws fail to be relevant and applicable to the modern context, it creates a situation where compliance is required, but its reality becomes nonsensical: From the prices described as fines, to laws that feel out of place in modern-day sensibilities, more..

Feb 24 (TM) When Dudley Sirisena, one of SL’s most prominent rice mill owners, publicised images of a recently acquired high-end luxury vehicle and a video of him touring the Singapore Airshow, scouting helicopters and business jets, some raised questions about rising rice prices and the growing gap between powerful industry players and ordinary consumers. For many families struggling to manage daily food expenses, the sight of conspicuous wealth linked to the rice trade more..

Feb 24 (DM) US President Donald Trump is to deliver the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress today (Tuesday), February 24. The address is critical because – (a) He would be making it after a disruptive first year that produced more controversies than successes. (b) The general elections will be held on November 3, when voters nationwide will decide all 435 House of Representatives seats, 33 Senate seats, and 36 Governorships, as well as thousands of state and local officials. more..

Feb 24 (DM) Almost three months have elapsed since the disastrous Cyclone Ditwah swept the country claiming around a thousand lives, including those who are claimed to be missing. Those who sacrificed their lives in this calamity taught hundreds of lessons both to the people and to the authorities and some of them had been taught during the similar past disasters and repeated this time as well. Yes, they taught, yet, did we grasp the gravity of those lessons properly and more..