Oct 7 (NF) The resolution A/HRC/60/L.1/Rev.1 Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in SL was adopted without a vote at the UNHRC. During the 41st meeting of the 60th session of the UNHRC, SL rejected the resolution. On the 10th of Sept SL Core Group, comprising Canada, Malawi, Montenegro, North Macedonia & UK, tabled a resolution at the 60th Session of the UNHRC, urging SL to more..

Oct 7 (NF) During the 41st meeting of the 60th session of the UNHRC, SL formally rejected the resolution A/HRC/60/L.1/Rev.1 on promoting reconciliation, accountability, and human rights in the country. Despite SL’s opposition, the resolution was adopted without a vote, supported by a coalition of 30 nations. The resolution, initially tabled on Sept 10 by the SL Core Group—consisting of Canada, Malawi, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and the UN—was presented in revised form on Oct 1 more..

Oct 7 (AD) A total of 32 Officers-in-Charge (OICs) have been transferred and appointed to new positions with the approval of the National Police Commission. The transfers have been approved by IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya and are to be implemented with immediate effect, according to Police HQ. Among the officers, 26 are Chief Inspectors of Police and six are Inspectors of Police. A total of nine Chief Inspectors and one Inspector have been reassigned to general duties. more..

Oct 7 (FT) Alcohol consumption in SL has shown a decade-long downward trend, with a new 2024 survey revealing that fewer than 30% of men are current drinkers. Another survey conducted has revealed that tobacco use has also recorded a significant reduction in SL and that the rate of current smokers among men has fallen to 21.6%. Both studies were conducted by the Alcohol & Drug Information Centre (ADIC) in 2024 and more..

Oct 7 (CT) Postal employees across Sri Lanka are set to observe World Post Day this year (9 Oct) as a day of protest, by reporting to work wearing black armbands, trade unions announced. Joint Convener of the Postal Trade Unions, Chinthaka Bandara, said the decision was taken in response to recent remarks made by the Postmaster General alleging that postal employees had fraudulently claimed overtime payments worth millions of rupees without using fingerprint attendance systems. more..

Oct 7 (DM) A newly constructed two-storey building housing the Archaeological Museum and the International Archaeological Research Institute at the historic Somawathi sacred area in Polonnaruwa was officially opened today under the patronage of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The facility, developed under the supervision of the Department of Archaeology, follows guidance from the Chief Incumbent of Somawathi Raja Maha Vihara and Registrar of the Mahavihara Vansika more..

Oct 7 (DM) A tragic incident occurred in the Doluwa area of Gampola today (6), where three women observing Poya Day were killed in a collision with a motor vehicle. Police suspect that the accident was caused by the reckless driving of the woman behind the wheel. The accident involved four elderly women who had been visiting the Doluwa Sri Bimbarama Temple. Around 1:30 p.m., they were walking along the side of the main road on their way to the temple toilets to take alms and more..

Oct 7 (DM) Certain laws and regulations have become an obstacle in resolving the current medicine shortage, Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said. He said this while speaking at the opening ceremony of the Vipassi Buddhist Center at the National Hospital, Colombo. The Health Minister said that although some laws and regulations date back to the British colonial era and added that they cannot be amended easily as most laws and regulations are interconnected. more..

Oct 7 (NW) Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka launched a scathing attack on former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa, accusing him of corruption, betrayal, and misuse of state property, while declaring that according to the Constitution, Rajapaksa deserves death by hanging. Commenting on a statement issued by Rajapaksa’s spokesperson regarding delays in handing over the former president’s official residence at Wijerama, Fonseka alleged more..

Oct 7 (NW) Authorities at the Dehiwala National Zoological Gardens say that 32 pigeons have been stolen from the facility. Deputy Director Hemantha Samarasekara told reporters that the theft was discovered over the weekend and that a complaint has been lodged with the Dehiwala Police. The birds are believed to have been stolen either on Friday night or in the early hours of Saturday. It is suspected that the thieves broke open one of the cages to remove the pigeons. more..

Oct 7 (DM) Manika, the majestic tusker of Bellanwila Temple, passed away this afternoon at the age of 76. The elephant was a familiar and cherished presence at the historic Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya. Over the years, Manika played a prominent role in the temple’s annual procession, becoming an integral part of its traditions and winning the hearts of devotees and visitors alike. Manika was brought to the temple by the late Bellanwila Somarathana Thera, more..

Oct 7 (FT) Fifth AGM of the All Island Dairy Association (AIDA) was recently held at The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in Colombo, with Agriculture Minister K.D. Lalkantha as Chief Guest. Speaking at the AGM, AIDA President Asoka Bandara thanked the Govt for removing the Value Added Tax (VAT) imposed on fresh milk from the last Budget. He explained the role of the AIDA, which represents the country’s leading dairy collectors and product processors, producers such as large- and more..

Oct 7 (FT) TNA MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam has welcomed the Govt’s latest tourism promotion drive in Southern India, while urging authorities to strengthen connectivity through air, sea, and potential land routes to maximise its impact. Posting on ‘X’, the MP said: “We welcome the initiative by Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath and the Sri Lanka Tourism team on launching the 3-city roadshow in Chennai, Coimbatore, and Madurai to promote Sri Lanka in Southern India.” more..

Oct 7 (TM) The Electricity Consumers’ Association (ECA) claimed that preparations are underway to re-hire retired senior officials of CEB to lead the four new institutions formed following the restructuring of the board. ECA General Secretary Sanjeewa Dhammika questioned how these individuals, who were unable to improve the performance of the CEB during their tenure, would now be able to make the newly established more..

Oct 7 (FT) Sri Lanka’s banking sector assets grew 14.9% year-on-year (YoY) to Rs. 23.8 trillion in the second quarter of 2025, up from Rs. 20.7 trillion a year earlier, according to the Central Bank of SL’s (CBSL) Financial Soundness Indicators (FSI) Report for Q2 2025. The report said the growth was primarily driven by increased investments, loans, and advances. Gross loans and receivables rose 11.4% YoY to Rs. 12.3 trillion compared to Rs. 11 trillion a year ago, while more..

Oct 7 (DM) Chinese investment in the renewable energy sector is the reason why people enjoy low-cost energy and helped Sri Lanka transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy, which currently produces over 50% of energy, an official said. Director General of SL Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA) Harsha Wickramasinghe told the Daily Mirror that the lack of investment in renewable energy and land remains a key issue in the renewable energy sector in Sri Lanka. more..

Oct 7 (DM) In response to growing concerns over the spread of distorted and misleading versions of the four major religions, the govt has taken steps to prevent such misinterpretations by various fringe groups. Deputy Minister Gamagedara Dissanayake said that the Ministry has appointed advisory committees for each of the four main religions, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam & Christianity, to address the issue and ensure that more..

Oct 7 (FT) Sri Lanka showcased the rich diversity of its tea industry at a landmark charity auction of specialty estate teas representing the 7 agro-climatic regions of SL. Renowned globally for producing the world’s finest Orthodox black teas, a Charity Tea Sale in celebration of the successful completion of the SL Pavilion at EXPO 2025 was held in Osaka, Japan on 26 Sept. The charity auction was organised in collaboration with the SL Tea Board and the Colombo Tea Traders’ Association, more..

Oct 7 (FT) Xeptagon has opened its new office at the Colombo Port City Business Centre, becoming the first company to operationalise within the Port City IT Park and the first in the climate finance technology sector to establish a presence there. This milestone reflects both SL’s emergence as a base for innovation and Xeptagon’s growing reputation as an international leader in delivering trusted climate finance infrastructure. From this new office, Xeptagon will continue advancing its work more..

Oct 7 (DN) SL shuttler Dumindu Abeywickrama continued his form when he clinched men’s single gold medal in the Guatemala International Challenge 2025 badminton tournament concluded at Parque Erick Barrondo, Guatemala yesterday. This is Dumindu’s back to back fourth medal of the Latin America circuit tour and he started with a bronze medal at Guatemala Future Series followed by two silver medals at Costa Rica Int'l & Colombia Int'l tournaments prior to this tournament. more..

Oct 7 (CT) A recent report by National Audit Office (NAO) has exposed yet another uncomfortable truth about the public sector’s casual relationship with accountability. Salaries, overtime, leave payments and allowances amounting to more than Rs 3.3 billion were paid in 2024 to over 2,000 officers of SL Customs without the use of fingerprint machines to verify attendance. According to the audit, every public sector employee is required to record their arrival & departure using biometric systems. more..

Oct 7 (FT) Economists at the ADB have welcomed Sri Lanka’s strong and resilient recovery so far this year amidst persistent global uncertainty. They said that domestic demand supported growth, thus far completing eight quarters of upturn in the economy. It was pointed out that the economic recovery is projected to continue on a strong footing, but growth is expected to slow next year due to global headwinds. more..

Oct 7 (FT) With the abolition of the Simplified VAT (SVAT) scheme expected to tighten liquidity and trigger short-term cash pressures for exporters and project suppliers, KPMG SL is urging firms to begin compliance preparations immediately. Firm advises businesses to verify their eligibility under the new Risk-Based VAT Refund Scheme, which took effect on 1 Oct, and ensure operational readiness in the Revenue Admin Management Information System (RAMIS) for electronic refund processing. more..

Oct 7 (Island) Ranil’s strength, according to the Constitution, came from his supremacy in Parliament. With great managerial skill he managed to keep at all times a sizable majority in place. UNF never lost a vote in Parliament during those two years (Ranil was PM). The UNF itself was a coalition bringing together five parties which contested the election together. It must have brought much credit to his political acumen and management skills that in spite of severe stresses and strains, more..

Oct 7 (Island) Budget 2026 is around the corner, and speculation is rife in political circles that the Provincial Council elections will be held early next year. Chances are that the government will present an election-oriented budget and play Santa to garner favour with the electorate in a bid to recover lost ground. At the time of writing, it was reported that an alliance of Opposition parties had won the Udunuwara Cooperative Society election, securing all slots on the board of directors, more..

Oct 7 (ST) Who the hell does he think he is, whoever it might be? Asking our first Marxist-Leninist president, who struggled to achieve some national status and now presumably international too, how much he, his chums and his hand-picked intellectuals spent on kottu roti at some place near to his childhood home is nobody’s business. It is a disgraceful bag of information that has been sought, as though every citizen of this lovely country has the right to belittle our national leader, more..

Oct 7 (CT) There has been an ongoing discussion about the new draft Penal Code (Amd) Act and its provisions to protect children from corporal punishment and establish the age of consent. The mendment is a much-needed development in SL, as the existing Penal Code was enacted in 1883, with minor amendments made later. As mentioned, the new Act aims to establish & strengthen laws to protect children. more..

Oct 7 (DM) Sri Lanka’s Parliament has taken a historic step. The Penal Code Amendment of July 2025 bans all forms of corporal punishment of children — not only physical violence but also psychological humiliation, however slight. For the first time, a teacher scolding a student, a prefect striking a classmate, or a principal shaming a child in public can lead to fines and/or imprisonment. This is a landmark for child protection. No child should suffer cruelty in the name of discipline. more..

Oct 7 (TM) Not a week passes in SL without news of multiple drowning deaths reported. Yesterday, three holidaymakers were swept away due to strong currents while bathing in seas near the Blue Beach Island in Dikwella, and one of them drowned. According to authorities, drowning is considered the 2nd-highest cause of accidental deaths in SL. In 2021, drowning was attributed as the second leading cause of death in SL in terms of accidental deaths, said an official of the Health Ministry. more..

Oct 7 (TM) Colombo Int'l Book Fair (CIBF) is currently taking place at the BMICH premises, with a spotlight on 18% VAT applied to books. With the participation of over 180 publishers and sellers spread across 13 halls, at each entrance is a desk collecting signatures of the public. This is the SL Book Publishers’ Association (SLBPA) campaign to sign a public petition demanding the exemption of books from the 18% VAT. more..

Oct 7 (DM) Stampedes, in which scores of men, women and children are killed and many more grievously injured, are all too frequent in India. There were eight major stampedes so far this year. The massive stampede in Tamil actor and fledgling politico Vijay’s rally at Karur on Sept 27, in which 41 were killed, was the latest. These tragic events are generally attributed to India’s massive population and the tendency among its people to extravagantly demonstrate their religious devotion or more..

Oct 7 (DM) Post Master General (PMG) Ruwan Sathkumara said on Friday that postal workers have fraudulently obtained overtime payments worth millions of rupees and that he is deeply embarrassed by the fraudulent and inefficient actions of some postal service officials. Participating in a ceremony held at the Haputale Post Office to coincide with Postal Day, he said not adhering to new regulations to mark attendance through fingerprint machines has aggravated the issue. more..