Oct 14 (FT) Businesses should not bank on tax cuts in the 2027 Budget, the Treasury has signalled. Govt is instead relying on reforms, digitised tax administration and a World Bank-backed strategy targeting 7% growth to lift the economy. Treasury Secretary Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma was speaking yesterday at the SL Economic and Investment Summit. He was answering a question on whether Budget would ease corporate tax, more..

Oct 14 (NW) Sri Lanka is planning to establish a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) centre in Wijerama in collaboration with Singapore, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced at the Economic and Investment Summit on Monday (12). The President said the govt expects to obtain Cabinet approval for the proposed centre next week as part of efforts to strengthen advanced technological skills and address employment challenges in the country’s IT sector. more..

Oct 14 (TM) Housing Ministry has launched a survey covering 95 public housing complexes in Colombo to assess housing conditions, identify residents’ socio-economic challenges and determine the improvements needed to enhance their living conditions. According to the Ministry, housing standards have evolved over time, and families living in houses that no longer meet the required standards may be provided with new housing. Deputy Minister T.B. Sarath said reliable data more..

Oct 14 (Island) Iran has sought the Indian intervention, at the highest level, to provide lifesaving support to the crews of empty Iranian vessels stranded just outside SL’s 12-nautical mile territorial waters off Galle. Sources familiar with the issue said that Iran had brought the developing situation to the attention of New Delhi as the crews of almost 20 vessels, included Indian nationals. Sources stressed that the group of vessels more..

Oct 14 (NW) During a recent COPF meeting the official from Dept of Immigration & Emigration said over 14,300 visas have been issued to date to individuals entering the Port City Project. During the COPF meeting MPs raised serious concerns regarding transparency, accountability and visa monitoring within the Port City project. The questioning led notably by MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam and other committee members focused on immigration landing more..

Oct 14 (DM) Former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva has described the six-year prison sentence imposed on Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera as unlawful, alleging that the case involved a conspiracy and questioning the legal process through which the sentence was imposed. Addressing a Buddhist event, Silva said, the sentence imposed by former Court of Appeal President Justice Preethi Padman Surasena was illegal, arguing that it exceeded the maximum more..

Oct 14 (TM) Formal discussions on introducing a new Constitution are expected to begin in early Jan 2027, according to NPP General Secretary Dr Nihal Abeysinghe. He further said that the Govt was awaiting a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) report on Provincial Council (PC) Elections before deciding on the next steps towards holding the elections. “A new Constitution and the PC Elections are the two key promises made by us that are yet to be fulfilled. The rest of the promises more..

Oct 14 (NW) A Chinese national has been arrested by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) over allegations of operating an extortion racket targeting foreign investment institutions and businessmen in Colombo Port City. ASP F. U. Wootler told Newswire that the suspect was arrested by CCD officers this morning (13), following allegations of extortion involving foreign investors and businesses operating within the Port City. During the arrest, police recovered six passports, 42 SIM cards and more..

Oct 14 (FT) PM Harini Amarasuriya yesterday called on the private sector to take calculated risks, invest in workforce development and help create meaningful employment opportunities at home, warning that the country’s transformation cannot be left to the Govt alone. Addressing SL Economic & Investment Summit, she urged the businesses to move beyond immediate commercial interests and take greater responsibility for more..

Oct 14 (NW) Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe has criticized former MP Wimal Weerawansa for displaying an allegedly AI-manipulated photograph during a television discussion, claiming that the former minister was misled by a fabricated image. In a social media post, Abeysinghe shared what he described as the original photograph alongside allegedly manipulated version, accusing Weerawansa of using the altered image to make political allegations. more..

Oct 14 (FT) Govt will raise up to $ 300 million through an issue of Domestic Dollar Bonds (DDBs), Treasury Secretary Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma said. It is opening the issue to diaspora and individual investors for the first time since the debt crisis. Speaking at the SL Economic and Investment Summit, Dr. Suriyapperuma said the $ 100 million offer could be topped up by another $ 200 million in two tranches. This is the second US dollar-denominated Bond offer since the debt crisis. more..

Oct 14 (ST) Govt is planning to buy special scanners for SL’s ports to detect drugs hidden inside shipping containers, as drug traffickers increasingly use cargo shipments to bring illegal drugs into the country, Minister Ananda Wijepala said. The move comes as the Govt prepares to mark the first anniversary of its national anti-drug programme, Ratama Ekata, launched on Oct 30, 2025. Despite raids and arrests, drug trafficking remains a serious concern, with authorities facing challenge of stopping drugs more..

Oct 14 (Island) The proposed new constitution for Sri Lanka Cricket has gathered considerable momentum over the past fortnight, with the Bill presented to Parliament, debated by MPs and now facing judicial scrutiny. The courts are examining whether the proposed reforms are consistent with the laws of the land. A lawyer has challenged certain provisions of the proposed constitution, while former cricket board chief Thilanga Sumathipala has also sought judicial intervention. more..

Oct 14 (DN) On an average currently, three people die daily in SL due to oral cancers, Peradeniya Uni’s Dental Sciences Faculty Dean Prof. Shyama Banneheke said. He said the proportion of school students and young people falling victim to oral cancer and pre-cancerous conditions due to the consumption of processed areca nut products containing various flavourings is on the rise. Prof. Banneheke stated this during a programme more..

Oct 14 (TM) SL’s inflation is set to run at nearly double the emerging Asian average this year and to keep edging higher into 2027, the IMF projected on Tuesday (13), placing the country in line with a profile the fund describes as facing the most difficult configuration in a bifurcated global economy: an energy importer with little connection to the technology value chain that is lifting much of East and Southeast Asia. According to the IMF’s October 2026 World Economic Outlook (WEO), more..

Oct 14 (Island) "SL is a top market in the South Asian region for quality powder coatings," Franck Derouen, Business Director, Industrial MEA – West & Central Asia, Axalta Coating Systems (ME), said. ‘We see significant long-term potential for powder coatings in SL and look forward to working closely with Richardson Holdings to offer Axalta’s technology, expertise and global standards for all customers, Derouen said at a launch of the products in SL together with Richardson Holdings more..

Oct 14 (DN) The young wicket-keeper batter Anjala Bandara and fast bowler Eshan Malinga have earned their maiden Test call-up to the team for the forthcoming Pakistan two-match Test series which will commence from Nov 9 in Rawalpindi. Test series is a part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-2027 cycle. National Cricket Selection Committee has announced a 15-member SL squad for the upcoming 2-match more..

Oct 14 (FT) SL’s fiscal problem is not that it taxes too much but that too few people pay taxes, Centre for Poverty Analysis Consultant Dr. Roshan Perera said yesterday. She said the tax-to-GDP ratio must be maintained or raised for growth to be sustained. “I am going to say something that is not going to be very popular in this room. I think SL’s fiscal problem is not that we tax too much. It is that too few people pay tax,” Dr. Perera said, speaking on a panel at the SL Economic and Investment Summit. more..

Oct 14 (FT) Embassy of SL in Bangkok organized a Sri Lanka EXPO 2027 – Promotion and Networking Session on 7 Oct 2026 in Bangkok, with the participation of prospective Thai business representatives, investors, buyers, industry stakeholders and journalists. The session was organised to promote Sri Lanka EXPO 2027, scheduled to be held from 14–17 January 2027 at the BMICH in Colombo, and to encourage greater participation from Thai business community. more..

Oct 14 (Island) Seven-year-old karting talent Avish Silva has made history by becoming the first Sri Lankan driver to secure a podium finish in the IAME Bambino Cup achieving an outstanding second place at Round 4 of the championship in the UAE. The remarkable achievement, confirmed by the championship organisers, marks a significant milestone for Sri Lankan motorsport and highlights the potential of the country’s young racing talent on the international stage. more..

Oct 14 (FT) Top professional, Chaaminda Kumarasiri has won the prestigious CA Business Leader of the Year Award 2026 at the recently held CA Sri Lanka National Conference, recognising his transformational leadership, professional achievements and contribution to entrepreneurship and society. Presented by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of SL—CA SL, country’s national accounting body—the award follows a rigorous evaluation of many outstanding candidates. more..

Oct 14 (CI) The series may have been lost but SL will be feeling a lot better about themselves following a comprehensive win in the third and final T20I. Kusal Mendis' 87 off 48 led the way in the chase, as SL hunted down Pakistan's total of 168 for 8 with 17 balls and eight wickets to spare. There was the customary fifty-plus score from Sahibzada Farhan but this time SL's bowlers ensured their plans were executed with more precision than more..

Oct 14 (Island) Sri Lankan political leaders never miss an opportunity to moralise, and their oratory often helps them win elections. But their words are rarely matched by deeds, so much so that they have come to be dubbed NATO (no action, talk only) leaders. These self-righteous characters portray themselves as paragons of virtue while condemning their political rivals as rogues. Leaders of the previous govt wrapped themselves in the flag and branded their critics as traitors. more..

Oct 14 (Island) The controversial appointment of General Secretary of the BBS Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera as the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force for One Country, One Law on 26 Oct, 2021, drew widespread condemnation. 13-member Task Force was tasked to prepare a report on the implementation of the much touted One Country, One Law concept. Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa disregarded strong disapproval expressed by the educated society more..

Oct 14 (GV) In 2024, the NPP made Sri Lankans a clear promise: its manifesto pledged the abolition of all oppressive acts including the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). Voters believed it and gave the NPP a historic mandate. Two years on, that promise has reached parliament. The Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill was gazetted on Sept 22, 2026 and presented on Oct 6. On paper it delivers: one clause repeals the PTA. Minister of Justice says the new law will target terrorism alone. more..

Oct 14 (CT) To understand the rapidly changing political landscape across the island, fuelled by the imprisonment of Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, his disrobing in prison, and the Justice for the Robe monks’ marches from Kandy, it is necessary to look beyond conventional political analysis. Decades ago, political philosopher Francis Fukuyama delved into a timeless idea from ancient Greece: thymos, the part of our human spirit that yearns for dignity and recognition. more..

Oct 14 (SO) BIA is set for a major transformation into a modern aviation gateway, with the country taking steps to expand Terminal 1 and negotiations with Japan nearing conclusion to revive the long-delayed Terminal 2 project. The two projects are a major infrastructure priority for the NPP Govt, which aims to strengthen SL’s connectivity with international markets, support tourism and attract trade and foreign investment. more..

Oct 14 (DM) SL’s botanical and environmental science sphere recently witnessed a highly significant breakthrough: The discovery of a completely new plant species. A team of local researchers has successfully recorded a new species of Koodalu (l+vÆ) - Balsam (Impatiens), boasting remarkable point-endemism, marking its first-ever documentation in SL. Much like many great scientific breakthroughs, this remarkable creation of nature was discovered through more..

Oct 14 (TM) Crimes against children are a crime against the entire Nation. We say this easily at public events and religious gatherings. The latest figures from the NCPA show how little we have done to make the words true. Between January and September this year, NCPA received 9,613 complaints of child abuse and related issues. That is about 1,070 every month, or roughly 35 every single day. September was the worst month, with 1,554 complaints, nearly half as many again as more..

Oct 14 (TM) Around 43% of young Sri Lankans aged 15–24 with post-secondary education are unemployed, according to data presented by the IMF, leading to questions about the gap between educational qualifications and the jobs available in the economy. At the same time, several industries are reporting difficulties finding workers with the skills they need, creating a labour market paradox where educated young people more..

Oct 14 (DM) On Aug 22, 2025, US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he was appointing his close aide, Sergio Gor, as the next US Ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs. Seen against the historical background of India’s sensitivity about being clubbed together (being hyphenated with Pakistan), this might have been unwelcome in New Delhi. But realpolitik prevented a showdown with the US. In July 2025, World Bank removed Pakistan more..

Oct 14 (DM) Would a Presidential Commission of inquiry (PCoI) or a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) serve better to investigate the Anti-Tamil pogrom of 1983, better known as Black July? Democratic Tamil National Alliance MP Selvam Adaikalanathan has presented a private member’s motion demanding that a Presidential Commission of Inquiry be appointed to establish the truth about the 1983 ethnic violence and recommend measures to prevent its recurrence. more..