Sep 24 (DM) Pettah Police have launched an investigation into a video circulating on social media that was widely shared as an alleged extortion incident in the Maradana-Panchikawatta area. Preliminary investigations have found that the incident arose from a dispute between a customer and a mobile phone repair shop over an Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max, police said. The customer handed over the phone for a display repair at a shop in the Pollack Market shopping complex on more..

Sep 24 (AD) Leader of the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa accused the incumbent govt of working to destroy the country's democracy and the independence of the judiciary through the 22nd Constitutional Amendment. He declared that even if this unconstitutional and anti-democratic 22nd Constitutional Amendment is passed in Parliament, a future SJB govt will repeal it. Opposition Leader made these remarks while addressing a protest organized by the SJB at Polduwa Junction more..

Sep 24 (NW) Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara told Parliament today that the proposed 22nd Amendment is not intended to exercise control or suppress anyone, but is aimed at speeding up the hearing of cases and delivering justice to the public. Opening the parliamentary debate on the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill and the Judicature (Amendment) Bill, the Minister said proposed changes more..

Sep 24 (NW) Former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa failed to appear before the FCID today, police said. According to the police a written request has been received from her party seeking an alternative date, as she is currently in Singapore receiving medical treatment. Shiranthi Rajapaksa had been notified to appear before the FCID today regarding ongoing investigations into alleged financial transactions and irregularities concerning the Siriliya Saviya fund account. more..

Sep 24 (NW) SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam says the party decided not to participate in the protest against 22nd Amendment after remarks by a SJB MP indicating that other opposition parties should not join. Kariyawasam said the SLPP had been prepared to participate in the protest, but reconsidered its decision following the SJB MP’s public statement. He claimed that neither Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa nor other responsible SJB representatives had more..

Sep 24 (DM) Justice must be accessible to all without discrimination, while establishing the rule of law and ensuring equal access to justice remain among the Govt’s key commitments, PM Harini Amarasuriya said today. Addressing Parliament today, PM said the proposed constitutional amendment on the judiciary should be considered as part of a broader programme to strengthen the justice system. more..

Sep 24 (DM) SL model, actress and beauty entrepreneur Piumi Hansamali today withdrew her writ petition filed before the Court of Appeal challenging the legality of investigations conducted by the CID’s Illegal Assets Investigations Division into the alleged suspicious acquisition of property. Additional Solicitor General Shanil Kularatne, appearing for the Attorney General, informed the Court that the CID is conducting an investigation into her assets and is unable to specify more..

Sep 24 (DM) SL’s progress and challenges in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 came under discussion today as diplomats, UN officials and civil society representatives called for continued efforts to advance the country’s SDG agenda. The discussion was held during an SDG Flag Day event at the Embassy of Netherlands in Colombo. UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Marc-André Franche said the SDGs provided govts, civil society, more..

Sep 24 (DM) Minister Vijitha Herath is scheduled to travel to New York on Sept 26 to represent Sri Lanka at the 81st United Nations General Assembly and deliver the country’s national statement on Sept 28. The 81st session of the UN General Assembly opened on Sept 8, while its High-Level Week and General Debate are being held from Sept 22 to 28 in New York. The session is being conducted under the theme, “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all. more..

Sep 24 (NW) ITAK General Secretary M.A. Sumanthiran has issued a polite request urging the public to refrain from sharing provocative comments in the public domain regarding the case of Sivarasa Anojan, who faces the death penalty in Saudi Arabia. In a statement, Sumanthiran highlighted that community leaders across ethnic and religious lines, particularly Muslim political and religious leaders, are actively working to secure a pardon and cancel the execution. more..

Sep 24 (NW) SL has sought to deepen its economic and development ties with Qatar, with discussions focusing on new investments, development assistance and expanded employment opportunities for skilled Sri Lankans during Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra’s official visit to Doha. During the visit, Hemachandra held separate discussions with the Qatar Chamber and Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), more..

Sep 24 (TM) Kings Hospital Colombo has marked a historic milestone in SL’s healthcare sector with the launch of the country’s first AI-powered hospital chatbot. This groundbreaking digital innovation is set to transform the way patients interact with hospital services, offering instant, intelligent, and user-friendly assistance around the clock. As the first of its kind in SL, chatbot reinforces Kings Hospital’s position as a pioneer in integrating advanced technology into patient care. more..

Sep 24 (DM) Sri Lanka and the UAE have discussed the ongoing UAE-India-SL tripartite initiative to develop Trincomalee as a regional energy hub, during a meeting between UAE Ambassador to SL Khaled Nasser Al Ameri and Deputy Speaker of Parliament Dr. Rizvie Salih. The Ambassador paid a courtesy call on the Deputy Speaker at Parliament on September 23, with the discussions focusing on further strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries. more..

Sep 24 (NW) The ITAK has sought an urgent meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to discuss diplomatic efforts aimed at securing a pardon and release for 26-year-old Sivarasa Anojan, who has been handed a death sentence in Saudi Arabia. In a letter addressed to Prez Dissanayake dated Sept 22, ITAK said it wanted to discuss the way forward in securing a pardon and release for Anojan and urged urgent action more..

Sep 24 (NW) The National Transport Medical Institute (NTMI) has launched a new digital appointment system allowing the public to reserve dates and times for driving licence medical examinations free of charge. The new process, introduced today, is aimed at making it easier for applicants to obtain the medical certificate required when applying for a driving licence. Under the system, appointments can be reserved through two methods, online or by telephone. more..

Sep 24 (AD) The upgrade of Sri Lanka’s sovereign rating by Fitch Ratings from ‘CCC+’ to ‘B-’, with a Stable Outlook, reflects the continued progress in macroeconomic stabilisation and reforms, says the Governor of the Central Bank of SL (CBSL) Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe. He stated that following the severe economic crisis in Sri Lanka, the restoration of macroeconomic stability has provided a stronger foundation for the next phase of development for the country. more..

Sep 24 (NW) Two retired female petty officers of the SL Navy have been remanded until Oct 5 over their alleged involvement in the abduction and disappearance of two women in Trincomalee during the war. Trincomalee Chief Magistrate M.S.M. Samsudeen ordered the two suspects to be remanded and directed that they be produced for an identification parade on Oct 5. The retired officers, who are residents of Chilaw and Haputale, were arrested when they appeared before the CID more..

Sep 24 (AD) The number of tourists that have arrived in Sri Lanka so far this month has surpassed 100,000. Sri Lanka welcomed 107,093 international tourists in the first three weeks of September, with India continuing to dominate the tourism market. India accounted for 32,536 arrivals, representing around 30% of all tourists who visited Sri Lanka during the month. The UK was the second-largest source market, recording 7,906 arrivals, while Australia ranked third with 7,393 visitors. more..

Sep 24 (TM) Health Ministry Secretary Dr Anil Jasinghe has highlighted the need for a more standardised system for early childhood education, saying that the Government and the relevant institutions have a responsibility to ensure proper care for children during this important stage of their development. Dr Jasinghe said that while Sri Lanka has a free and formal school education system from Grade One, more..

Sep 24 (AD) SL Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) has warned the public regarding a fraudulent website that is misusing the name, official logo and photographs of the bureau to falsely promote free employment opportunities in Israel and collect personal information from prospective job seekers. In a statement, the SLBFE said that the fraudulent scheme may pose a serious cybersecurity threat and involves the unauthorized use of the bureau’s identity to impersonate institution. more..

Sep 24 (NW) SJB staged a protest near Parliament in Battaramulla on Thursday, calling on the govt to withdraw the proposed 22nd Amendment. The protest, held near Polduwa Junction, drew a sizeable crowd despite rainy conditions, with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa joining SJB members and supporters. Protesters demanded that the govt withdraw the proposed constitutional amendment, which the SJB has strongly opposed, raising concerns over its potential impact on more..

Sep 24 (DM) Govt has launched a major programme to strengthen the resources available to wildlife officials responsible for maintaining SL’s 5,741-km electric fence network, as part of a long-term strategy to address the country’s human-elephant conflict. Initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Environment, is based on the policy that effective management of the conflict requires frontline wildlife officials to be provided more..

Sep 24 (AD) Former Executive Director of Krrish Group and business personality Janaki Siriwardena, who was arrested by the Bribery Commission over an alleged Rs. 70 million bribery incident involving MP Namal Rajapaksa, has been remanded until Oct 6. She was arrested this morning by officers of the Special Investigation Unit of the CIABOC. Siriwardena is accused of allegedly providing Rs. 70 million to MP Namal Rajapaksa on three separate occasions in exchange for his assistance more..

Sep 24 (NW) Sri Lanka Customs has surpassed its revenue target for September ahead of the end of the month, collecting Rs. 199.348 billion against a monthly target of Rs. 195.596 billion. According to the latest figures, Customs had already exceeded the September target by September 22, collecting around Rs. 3.752 billion more than the amount targeted for the entire month. The performance comes as Sri Lanka Customs moves closer to achieving its overall revenue target for 2026. more..

Sep 24 (FT) In Sri Lanka, nine is not generally considered an auspicious number. Coincidentally, the word inflation has nine letters. But inflation, whatever the number attached to it, is hardly welcome by anyone—perhaps with the occasional exception of Donald Trump. And it certainly has nothing to do with the number nine. Inflation, in simple terms, is the rate at which the general level of prices of goods and services rises, reducing what money can buy over time. more..

Sep 24 (TM) A child born in 2010 will turn 21 in 2031. If the Tobacco-Free Generation (TFG) proposal becomes law, that young adult, and every Sri Lankan born after them, will never be able to buy a cigarette legally. It is a simple idea with a long horizon, and it deserves the Government's full backing. The proposal, prepared by the NATA with the support of medical bodies and civil society groups, remains a Cabinet paper. Cabinet should approve it without further delay. more..

Sep 24 (TM) Attorney General (AG), Parinda Ranasinghe Junior said his Dept would not appeal against the nine acquittals in the main Easter Sunday terror attacks criminal case concluded at the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar on Tuesday. He said: "No, we won't" appeal the nine acquittals. Colombo Permanent High Court three-member Trial-at-Bar has ordered the confiscation by the State of all movable & immovable assets more..

Sep 24 (AD) Heavy showers exceeding 100mm are likely in some parts of southwestern Sri Lanka today as rainy conditions continue under the influence of a deep depression moving across the eastern coast of India. Met Dept, in its latest weather forecast said showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Northwestern Provinces and in the Galle and Matara districts today. Heavy showers above 100mm are likely at some places in these areas. more..

Sep 24 (TM) Govt has gazetted a new Bill titled the Protection of the State from Terrorism, proposing Legislation to strengthen the Legal framework for addressing terrorism and related offences. The proposed Legislation seeks to provide for the protection of SL’s national security and its people from acts of terrorism and other offences associated with terrorism, including specified acts committed both within and outside the country. The Bill also contains provisions aimed at more..

Sep 24 (FT) The IMF yesterday acknowledged the SL economy’s resilience, judging by 11 consecutive quarters of growth, but warned risk remains tilted to the downside due to external factors. “SL’s economy has proved remarkably resilient to successive shocks. Economic activity expanded by 4.2% in 2Q2026, marking 11 consecutive quarters of strong growth. However, SL continues to face downside risks from more..

Sep 24 (FT) IMF yesterday said Sri Lanka remains on track to return to international capital markets in 2027 or thereabouts and welcomed the sovereign rating upgrade by Fitch. “We still think SL is in a good trajectory to achieving this in 2027 or thereabouts. And that should be the goal, because every country needs to have a good ability to access funds, both in domestic markets, as it already has, as well as international markets,” IMF Mission Chief for SL Evan Papageorgiou told journalists more..

Sep 24 (FT) Sri Lanka this week welcomed global technology leaders as the Grand Finale of the Global CIO Forum 2026 was hosted at Cinnamon Life Colombo, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to position itself as a premier destination for digital innovation and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism. The event brought together over 300 Chief Information Officers (CIOs) and ICT professionals from over 50 countries. more..