Jan 14 (CT) Sri Lanka’s first-ever cable car project at Ambuluwawa, developed with technical and product expertise from China Machine-Building International Corporation under Amber Adventure, has threatened to withdraw, citing what the company calls unlawful threats and arbitrary actions by govt authorities that undermine the project’s viability. Director Huang Yuping stated that the company reserves its full legal rights to more..

Jan 14 (FT) Outgoing US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung paid a farewell call on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Tuesday (12). She is scheduled to depart from Sri Lanka on 16 January, marking the conclusion of her tenure as the United States’ top diplomat in Colombo from 2022 to 2026. During the meeting, President Dissanayake expressed his appreciation for Ambassador Chung’s indefatigable efforts to strengthen US–SL relations throughout her term of office. more..

Jan 14 (DM) Chief Incumbent of Mihintale Rajamaha Viharaya, Walawahangunawewe Dhammarathana Thera, has criticised the govt’s proposed education reforms, claiming they would cause harm to the country. Thera said he was prepared to meet US Prez Donald Trump to explain what he described as the govt’s actions in destroying the country. He further alleged that a tax imposed by the US on SL had previously been reduced after a student known to him had approached the Trump family more..

Jan 14 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake sent a strong signal that the Govt would not allow Cyclone Ditwah to derail its economic and fiscal program, stressing that policy continuity would be maintained despite the scale of the disaster. “At the time we faced this disaster, Parliament was in the process of preparing our Budget,” Prez said at the public launch of Rebuilding SL post-Ditwah relief & recovery program. more..

Jan 14 (NW) Chief incumbent of the Mihintale Rajamaha Viharaya, Walawahangunawewe Dhammarathana Thera, appeared before the CID in connection with recent public statements allegedly made about him. Thero’s lawyer said the visit was to lodge a complaint alleging that Minister K.D. Lal Kantha has been carrying out a strategic and well-planned attack against the monk using several online and social media platforms. The lawyer said the thero is a widely respected public figure more..

Jan 14 (Island) Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability focused its attention on the progress of distributing compensation received in relation to the damage caused by the X-Press Pearl vessel, including payments made to fishermen and expenditures on coastal conservation. Accordingly, Committee recommended that a comprehensive report be submitted detailing the total amount of compensation received to date, more..

Jan 14 (NW) SL businessman Dudley Sirisena has revealed that his newly acquired Rolls-Royce is a rare Phantom Centenary Edition, produced to mark the 100th anniversary of the Rolls-Royce marque, with only 25 vehicles manufactured worldwide. In a social media post shared alongside images of the vehicle, Sirisena said the model is a fully upgraded special edition created by Rolls-Royce to commemorate the company’s centenary. He described the car as a symbol of pride more..

Jan 14 (TM) The SL Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) provided welfare benefits exceeding Rs. 1 billion to Sri Lankan migrant workers and their families during 2025, according to official data released by the Bureau. From January to November, the SLBFE disbursed Rs. 964.30 million in assistance covering 326,246 migrant workers. A further Rs. 397 million was spent to provide free insurance coverage for 318,209 workers departing overseas for employment. more..

Jan 14 (TM) Lanka Coal Company (LCC) stated the initial payment process for the coal shipment supplied to the Norochcholai Power Plant has commenced, even as concerns over the quality of the consignment remain under review, noting that the relevant agreement includes provisions to impose penalties and recover losses if quality deviations are confirmed at the discharge port. LCC General Manager Namal Hewage more..

Jan 14 (TM) The Govt Radiological Technologists’ Association (GRTA) warned they would stage a token strike on 21 January in islandwide hospitals against the alleged inaction of the Health Ministry against the Maligawatta National Institute for Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation (NINDT) Deputy Director, whom they accused of acts of indiscipline and misconduct. GRTA President, Chanaka Dharmawickrama, in a letter to the Ministry Secretary, Dr. Anil Jasinghe yesterday (13), more..

Jan 14 (FT) BYD has retained its position as the world’s largest seller of New Energy Vehicles (NEVs), recording total global sales of 4,602,436 units in 2025. The achievement marks another major milestone for the company and reinforces its leadership in the global transition towards sustainable mobility. In 2025, BYD also became the world’s largest seller of battery electric vehicles, reflecting sustained growth across its fully electric portfolio. more..

Jan 14 (DM) A large-scale donation of school uniform fabrics by China is set to ease the financial burden on millions of SL families as the new school year begins, with more than 4.4 million students expected to benefit from the programme. The donation, made by the Govt of China, includes 11.484 million metres of fabric that will be used to provide free school uniforms to children studying in govt and govt-assisted schools, as well as to students of govt-approved pirivenas. more..

Jan 14 (FT) One of SL’s most prominent and senior most journalists Iqbal Athas passed away yesterday. He was 81. Athas who set the benchmark for defence reporting in the country began his journalism career in the now defunct Sun newspaper and later worked as the long-time defence columnist and Political Editor of the Sunday Times. He was the Sunday Times Consultant Editor at the time of his demise. His weekly insightful defence column in the Sunday Times was at times controversial but more..

Jan 14 (DM) Average tourist spending in SL has dropped to US$ 148 a day from US$ 181 in 2018, despite a rise in arrivals, with govt authorities now planning for the development of upmarket tourism. SL recorded 2.33 million arrivals in 2018, highest up until then, and broke this record last year with arrivals totalling 2.36 million. However, foreign exchange revenue has dropped from US$ 4.3 bil to US$ 3.2 bil this year. more..

Jan 14 (FT) The Govt yesterday said it has not yet evaluated the potential impact of the additional 25% tariff imposed by US President Donald Trump on countries trading with Iran. “We are yet to estimate this new tariff announced,” Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said. He noted that the Govt has faced multiple external challenges since taking office and has navigated them with confidence, but acknowledged that the frequency and severity of such pressures are increasing. more..

Jan 14 (EN) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the meeting with his Sri Lankan counterpart during a short visit this week has said the World second largest economy will work with like-minded countries to oppose the resurgence of the law of the jungle, resist all forms of power politics and bullying. Wang was in SL during a transit and met his SL counterpart Vijitha Herath for a discussion on Monday. “Wang said that in the face of an increasingly complex and volatile international situation, more..

Jan 14 (DM) SL’s economic recovery and long-term growth prospects hinge on dismantling systemic barriers that limit women’s participation in enterprise, leadership and decision-making, PM Harini Amarasuriya said. Women-led businesses remain an underutilised engine of productivity and resilience, even as women’s economic contribution has dipped to just 29%. PM noted women’s participation in paid work and senior decision-making roles remains significantly below potential, more..

Jan 14 (ST) Motor Traffic Department revenue and new vehicle registrations saw a dramatic increase between 2024 and 2025, amid policy changes governing vehicle imports. According to statistics released by the Department of Motor Traffic, revenue reached Rs 64,740mn, an increase of 111% compared to Rs 17,529mn in 2024, and exceeded both the original and revised estimates initially forecast for 2025. Income was highest in September, amounting to Rs 13,104mn. more..

Jan 14 (ST) The National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol is calling for legislation to ban the sale of cigarettes to those born after 2010, its chairman, Ananda Rathnayake, said. He said the NATA’s proposal, backed by specialist doctors and other medical professionals, would be presented to the govt. The proposed law will be similar to what Maldives passed last year, banning the sale, purchase and use of all tobacco products for more..

Jan 14 (DM) More than a century of leadership and the unwavering trust of millions has been powerfully reaffirmed with the conferring of Superbrand Status to the Commercial Bank of Ceylon, cementing its position as the nation’s leading banking brand and elevating it to the pantheon of the world’s most iconic and influential brands. Superbrand Status is a globally respected commendation awarded only to brands that demonstrate exceptional strength, credibility & a powerful emotional connection more..

Jan 14 (FT) LAUGFS Life Sciences, in collaboration with the Medical Research Institute (MRI), Colombo, has launched SL’s first-ever publicly driven allergy awareness wristbands, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at improving patient safety and preparedness in medical emergencies. The wristbands provide essential information about drug sensitivities, allowing healthcare professionals to respond quickly and effectively when time is critical. The official handover ceremony featured distinguished more..

Jan 14 (DM) Some 300 brand new vehicles have been stranded at the Hambantota Port for more than six months, with individual importers complaining that SL Customs is demanding taxes amounting to nearly three times the original value of the vehicles to secure their release. Vehicle owners say they had complied with all prevailing import regulations at the time of purchase, but Customs has since imposed additional levies, including a surcharge of more..

Jan 14 (Island) For decades, Sri Lanka’s leopard numbers have been debated, estimated, and contested, often based on assumptions few outside academic circles ever questioned. One of the most fundamental was that a leopard’s spots never change. That belief, long accepted as scientific fact, began to unravel not in a laboratory or lecture hall, but through thousands of photographs taken patiently in the wilds of Yala. At the centre of that quiet disruption stands Milinda Wattegedara. more..

Jan 14 (Island) The police have warned of an escalation in online financial scams. There have been numerous complaints of such frauds, and fraudsters often offer online employment opportunities, investment schemes or other financial benefits, luring victims into transferring money to their accounts, police have said. The commonest online scams in Sri Lanka, according to cybersecurity warnings during the past two years, are deceptive loan schemes, phishing links, more..

Jan 14 (TM) SL’s economic recovery has never been a straight road. Just as the country begins to find its footing after years of crisis, unexpected shocks remind us how fragile that progress still is. Cyclone Ditwah is one such shock. Its impact on infrastructure, livelihoods and public finances cannot be brushed aside, and pretending that existing economic targets remain untouched would be both unrealistic and irresponsible. CB Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe’s comments this week more..

Jan 14 (CT) When Minister Ananda Wijepala warns that we may soon need 10,000 people deployed merely to watch over villages and fields from elephant attacks, it is tempting to treat the remark as yet another dramatic headline in SL’s unending human-elephant conflict. However, the real drama lies not in the suddenness of this appeal but in the chronic policy inertia that has allowed this disaster to unfold day by day. That elephants roam villages by 7:00 a.m. is not evidence of a new threat more..

Jan 14 (TM) With the end to last year just a few days ago, it may be safe to say that SL’s economy is back on its feet. After five per cent growth in 2024, expansion continued in 2025, with inflation under control, and stability returning. But, with one in four Sri Lankans still facing poverty and natural disasters not sparing us, recovery is not yet shared by all. As we step into this year, can business turn stability into momentum? more..

Jan 14 (ST) I cannot remember when America was great the last time. One cannot be great again unless one was great earlier. That must surely penetrate this trumpeter unless there is an urgent case to be made for a massive transfusion of grey matter. One never knows these days with all sorts of technological innovations that even seem to produce devices that could remove your clothes without even a by-your-leave from you. One can quite understand our civilised bunch back home getting jittery more..

Jan 14 (DM) As of early this week, the Islamic Republic of Iran had slaughtered over 600 protesters, terrorising with brute force into submission another cycle of widespread protests against the repressive theocratic regime. Regime sources put the death toll as high as 2000. As open-air morgues overflowed, Donald Trump, who threatened to start shooting if the regime unleashed violence against protesters, has failed to live up to his words, though he says the military option more..

Jan 14 (TM) US Ambassador to SL Julie Chung will depart SL this week after a 4-year tenure in Colombo. Having been the top US diplomat on the island during some of its most turbulent times, Chung, one of the most visible and active US diplomats stationed in Colombo in recent times, sat down with The Sunday Morning for an interview to discuss bilateral relations between the two nations. Q: What was your first impression of SL when you more..

Jan 14 (DM) Nearly sixteen years after the guns fell silent, SL’s North and East remain trapped in a quiet but devastating crisis. It is not a crisis of war, but of neglect. While Colombo continues to attract investment, opportunity and attention, vast districts in the North and East are still starving for meaningful economic activity. Roads may exist, elections may come and go, but livelihoods remain fragile and hope wears thin. Successive govts have spoken at length about reconciliation, more..

Jan 14 (CT) When the govt appointed a committee led by Rienzie Arsekularatne, Senior President’s Counsel, to draft a new law to replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) as promised by the ruling NPP, the writer, in an article published in this journal in July 2025, expressed optimism that, given Arsekularatne’s experience in criminal justice, he would be able to address issues from the perspectives of the State, criminal justice, human rights, suspects, accused, activists & victims. more..