Jan 2 (DM) A recent English Language module introduced by the Education Ministry for Grade Six students, under the new education reforms, has raised alarm among parents and teachers over the inclusion of an immoral website which directs children to details promoting same sex activities and LGBTQ rights. While open discussions on same sex activities are socially taboo in SL and our laws do not permit such activities, more..

Jan 2 (NW) Education Ministry has decided not to extend school hours during the 2026 academic year, citing disruptions caused by recent disaster conditions and damage to school and transport systems in several provinces. School hours for Grades 5 to 13 will remain unchanged from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. until the education and transport systems return to normal. Govt schools, govt-approved private schools and pirivenas are scheduled to begin first term on Jan 5. more..

Jan 2 (DM) Nearly 40% of the Kadawatha–Mirigama stretch of the Central Expressway has been completed so far, Minister Bimal Ratnayake said today. He instructed officials to pay close attention to traffic congestion issues previously identified along the Colombo–Kandy road and at expressway entry and exit points during the construction process, in order to minimise inconvenience to motorists. He made these remarks while inspecting the ongoing development work on the Kadawatha more..

Jan 2 (AM) Deputy Transport Minister Prasanna Gunasena has instructed railway authorities to remove gates and boundary walls within one month from a vacant plot of land belonging to the Railway Dept along the Nawalapitiya–Ginigathhena main road, where a building operating under the name of former Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage’s foundation is located. The directive was issued during the Nawalapitiya–Pasbage more..

Jan 2 (CT) Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena said that employees of profit-making Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) depots will be awarded bonuses, while staff at loss-making depots will receive a special allowance, subject to Cabinet approval. Deputy Minister said steps would be taken to obtain Cabinet approval for the proposed scheme, aimed at improving staff motivation and overall performance within the State-run transport service. He made these remarks during an inspection more..

Jan 2 (TM) Police have informed that Police officers addicted to drugs can seek Departmental help for rehabilitation. Police Media Spokesperson F.U. Wootler said that if a Departmental officer is found guilty of being a drug addict, the immediate action taken will be suspension, and then, with the consent of the victim, the Govt will direct them to the nearest rehabilitation centre. He detailed that the Police have not executed a separate rehabilitation programme for Police victims yet, more..

Jan 2 (AD) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake visited the temporary shelter operating at the Sri Sudarshanaramaya Temple, Welgala, Poojapitiya in Kandy, this afternoon (01), to inquire into the well-being of families displaced by the landslide in the Ankumbura, Gankotuwa area and to review ongoing resettlement efforts. The landslide, triggered by the recent adverse weather conditions, caused complete damage to six houses and partial damage to 15 houses. more..

Jan 2 (AD) Under the nationwide initiative to introduce innovative digital solutions, the Ministry of Transport today (1) launched a new program for SL Transport Board (SLTB) buses. Implemented with guidance from the Ministry of Digital Economy, the initiative is intended to further strengthen transport services under the purview of the Ministry of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development, while enhancing transparency and accountability between passengers and conductors. more..

Jan 2 (DM) A concessionary pledge loan scheme for small and medium scale paddy millers and cooperative societies is to be implemented from 1 January onwards to purchase paddy for the Maha season 2025/2026. The loan scheme, which will include a concessionary interest rate, will be implemented to maintain a reasonable price for paddy farmers’ produce. Target group of this loan scheme is SME paddy millers and more..

Jan 2 (AD) Three persons including two women have died following a stabbing incident in the Kondeniya area of the Mawanella Police Division, police said. Four individuals were initially admitted to the Mawanella Hospital after being attacked with a sharp weapon. Two women and one man have later succumbed to their injuries. The deceased have been identified as residents of the Kondeniya area, aged 52, 57 and 66. A 35-year-old woman who was also injured during the attack more..

Jan 2 (Island) ITC Ratnadipa announces that it has been awarded the coveted 5-Star Classification Certificate by the SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), reaffirming its commitment to delivering world-class hospitality and sustainable luxury. The certificate was formally presented by Buddhika Hewawasam, Chairman of SLTDA & SLTPB, and accepted by Keenan McKenzie, Area Manager – SL and General Manager of ITC Ratnadipa. The ceremony was attended by several more..

Jan 2 (FT) Members of all ranks from SL Army, SL Navy, and SL Air Force have collectively donated a day’s basic salary to the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund, which was established to restore livelihoods and rebuild the country following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah. Accordingly, the total contribution made by the Tri-Forces amounted Rs. 372,776,918.28. The cheques representing the financial contributions were handed over at the Presidential Secretariat to more..

Jan 2 (FT) Condominium market activity in the Colombo District strengthened sharply in the third quarter of 2025, with sales volumes recording a significant year-on-year (YoY) increase alongside continued price appreciation, according to the CB latest Real Estate Market Analysis. The Price Index for New Condominiums in the Colombo District rose 12.7% YoY to an index value of 265.7 in 3Q 2025. At the same time, the Condominium Property Sales Volume Index, more..

Jan 2 (FT) SL’s vehicle import bill recovered in November to record the second-highest monthly level in 2025, rebounding from a moderation seen in October as the post-liberalisation surge continued to ease. CB data show vehicle imports rose to $ 281 million in November, up from $ 261 million in October, and second only to the September peak of $ 286 million. Cumulative vehicle imports reached $ 1.7 billion in the first 11 months of 2025. more..

Jan 2 (FT) Most diversified blue chip Hayleys Chairman and Chief Executive Mohan Pandithage has been named Businessman For The Year 2025 by popular magazine LMD. The business magazine said: “During his term at the helm, Hayleys has been ranked as the leading listed company in SL for seven years – including the last two years.” The LMD feature on Businessman For The Year also stated the following. He has quietly but resolutely steered one of SL’s most storied conglomerates into more..

Jan 2 (NW) SL Police have sought public assistance to identify a suspect linked to a shooting incident in the Kohuwala area that left one person critically injured. Police said the incident occurred on Dec 30, 2025, in the Godiyawatta area within the Kohuwala police division, where two unidentified individuals arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire at a victim. The injured person sustained serious gunshot wounds and was admitted to hospital, police said, adding that further investigations are ongoing. more..

Jan 2 (DN) SL Under-19 team, led by Vimath Dinsara, left yesterday for Namibia to compete in the U-19 Cricket World Cup, scheduled to be held from Jan 15 to Feb 6 in Namibia and Zimbabwe. 15-member squad will undergo an early pre-tournament training programme in Namibia, a move SLC believes is vital to help the young players adapt to local conditions. Junior Selection Committee Chairman Vinothen John said more..

Jan 2 (FT) Ceylon Cold Stores (CCS) has achieved a major national milestone by being named the Winner Award recipient at the Sri Lanka National Quality Awards 2023, under the Large, Manufacturing Category. Presented by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) at the ceremony held In November at Cinnamon Lakeside, this accolade represents the highest level of national recognition for organisational excellence and reinforces CCS’s position as a benchmark for quality, more..

Jan 2 (FT) As Sri Lanka positions itself for a digitally inclusive and globally connected future, the safeguarding of citizens’ personal data has become a matter of national importance. To address these critical issues, the Bar Association of SL (BASL), in collaboration with the Computer Society of SL (CSSL), has announced that the 2nd National Data Protection Symposium will now be held on 6 Jan 2026 at Cumulus, Cinnamon Life Colombo. The symposium, themed more..

Jan 2 (TM) SL’s tourism earnings saw a 8.1% decline in earnings in year-on-year terms in the month of Nov, posting $ 251.6 million in earnings, data from the External Sector Performance for Nov 2025. SL earned $ 272.9 million in Nov of 2024, $ 21.3 million higher than earnings posted this year. In the month of November, the island-nation endured catastrophic weather conditions brought on by cyclone Ditwah, which saw torrential rainfall, severe flooding and landslides. more..

Jan 2 (Island) The latest Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) from the Central Bank suggests SL’s economy is beginning to find its feet after a severe crisis, revealing tentative signs of hope in factories and business activity. It indicates the deepest economic pain may be over. With prices rising more slowly, families and companies are getting some much-needed relief. The Island spoke to an independent analyst for an outside perspective. Elaborating on the report, he struck more..

Jan 2 (FT) Booking.com Regional Head for South Asia Santosh Kumar said rebranding SL and unlocking its next phase of economic growth will require a collective national effort that goes well beyond Govt-led initiatives, stressing that recovery alone is not a long-term strategy for sustainable development. He said platforms that bring together policymakers, industry leaders, and investors are essential at this stage of SL’s more..

Jan 2 (Island) As climate shocks multiply worldwide from unseasonal droughts and flash floods to cyclones that now carry unpredictable fury Sri Lanka, long known for its lush biodiversity and heritage, stands at a crossroads. We can either remain locked in a reactive cycle of warnings and recovery, or boldly transform into the world’s first disaster-proof tropical nation — a secure haven for citizens and a trusted destination for global travelers. The Presidential declaration to transition more..

Jan 2 (TM) The year 2026 will be another new year full of happenings, disruptions and surprises. This assessment is an attempt to forecast what 2026 would hold for us, the island State of SL. Like in 2025, the Indian Ocean is going to be in the centre-stage of geostrategic and geo-economics’ competitions, and our island State is at risk of being directly and indirectly dragged into such competitions. The only way to stay neutral will be to clearly state our own national interests, more..

Jan 2 (Island) SJB yesterday called upon the NPP govt to hold the much-delayed Provincial Council (PC) polls soon. Its call is bound to go unheeded, for the JVP/NPP is not ready for an election. Having suffered a string of defeats in the cooperative society elections during the past several months, govt is trying every trick in the book to postpone the PC elections further. The outcome of last year’s local govt polls is not something the JVP/NPP can be really proud of; its efforts to sweep the polls more..

Jan 2 (TM) Over a year has passed since the NPP Govt assumed office, carried by an extraordinary wave of public expectation. It came to power at a moment of rare civic awakening, in the aftermath of the 2022 aragalaya, when citizens demanded nothing less than a break from the past. System change, an end to corruption, discipline in public spending, and accountability in governance, were not just campaign slogans. They were moral demands from a people exhausted by more..

Jan 2 (CT) As the new year creeps closer and the festive season is in full swing across the nation, new beginnings come with the shedding of old baggage. The holiday season set footprints made of more than just yuletide memories across cities and villages alike, as celebrations reveal a less cheerful legacy of single-use decorations, food wastage, and plenty of plastics which are discarded. more..

Jan 2 (CT) An investigation is being conducted into the controversy surrounding the Govt-issued Year 6 English module containing a weblink that directs students to a website promoting gay relationships. Once the printing error came to light, the political stage was lit up immediately, with some speaking as if the future of the country had already been ruined and calling for the immediate resignation of the Minister of Education. While the anti-govt cries seem a bit over the top, they do have a point. more..

Jan 2 (TM) The Govt is rebuilding the cyclone-devastated lives, livelihoods and infrastructure in the country after the immense destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah. Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has been providing exceptional leadership by going into the cyclone affected communities in person, to mingle directly with the people there and to offer encouragement and hope to them. A President who can be in the midst of the people when they are suffering and in sorrow is a true leader. more..

Jan 2 (FT) The following are excerpts of an interview with UN Industrial Development Organisation’s (UNIDO) Int'l Regulatory Reform Expert Delia Rodrigo and and National Quality Expert Sumathy Rajasingham who are shaping the adoption of Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) in SL under the aegis of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the support of the European Union. In this interview they share insights from their expertise to more..

Jan 2 (ST) Last week we focused on a development problem that China has faced with and discussed how the Chinese govt has been serious about dealing with the issue: Too many people are trapped in the rural sector and in farming communities! How could it be a problem? How much the people who live in Colombo long for holidays to travel to their villages and birth places in the countryside? How much they, while living in Colombo, would appreciate the beauty of rural life as in poems & songs more..

Jan 2 (DM) Sri Lanka stepped into the New Year 2026 not under clear skies, but amid the lingering impact of Cyclone Ditwah. Homes were damaged, livelihoods disrupted and entire communities were once again reminded of the island’s vulnerability to forces beyond human control. Yet, as midnight passed and calendars turned, what defined the nation was not despair, but hope—quiet, determined and shared. Across the country, celebrations were subdued but deeply meaningful. more..