Sep 13 (CT) Sri Lanka Govt is urged to proactively seek international support to secure adequate financial, human, and technical resources to carry out mass graves exhumations in full compliance with int'l standards, as highlighted in the SL resolution set to be adopted during the ongoing 60th Session of the UNHRC. An informal discussion on the draft resolution, set to be adopted, has been scheduled for Monday (15), at the UNHRC. more..

Sep 13 (FT) Free Trade Zone Manufacturers’ Association (FTZMA) has submitted its proposals for the 2026 National Budget to Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake, focusing on foreign currency contribution-linked incentives, value addition, trade facilitation, stability for exporters, and diversification to reduce tariff risks. Proposals were presented at the Presidential Secretariat during a pre-Budget meeting with apparel sector stakeholders. FTZMA noted that SL’s export competitiveness more..

Sep 13 (CT) A female passenger who attempted to smuggle six snakes illegally into the country through the Green Channel at Katunayake Airport was arrested on Thursday night. The suspect attempted to smuggle these reptiles in violation of the provisions of the Fauna and Flora Ordinance and the CITES Convention. She was arrested by officers of the Customs Narcotics Control Division and a group of officers from the Biodiversity, Cultural and National Heritage Protection Division. more..

Sep 13 (FT) Sri Lanka’s much-discussed global tourism marketing campaign, which the industry has lobbied for over decades, will not materialise this year, with authorities confirming that a comprehensive nation branding push is at least a year away. A senior official from Sri Lanka Tourism said that although the need for such a campaign has been repeatedly acknowledged, procedural delays remain a stumbling block. more..

Sep 13 (EN) Supreme Court of SL has launched a comprehensive digitalization program. Chief Justice P. Padman Surasena emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating that it is a crucial step towards delivering justice effectively, efficiently, and impartially to the people of SL. The new system will enable the bar to communicate with the bench, access case management systems, court diaries, and track status of cases in real-time. Digital system will gradually phase out manual processes, more..

Sep 13 (NW) Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said police personnel record the highest percentage of state employees suffering from non-communicable diseases, highlighting the urgent need for preventive health measures within the force. Speaking at the launch of Arogya mobile health clinic program for SL Police officers in the Gampaha District on Wednesday, the minister noted that around 30% of non-communicable disease cases among state sector employees are reported from police more..

Sep 13 (EN) A 4-member delegation from India’s Central Institute of Coastal Engineering for Fishery (CICEF) conducted preliminary studies for the proposed development of the Point Pedro fishery harbour in SL’s Northern Province during a five-day visit, the Indian High Commission in Colombo said. The team, representing the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying of the Govt of India, was in SL from Sept 8 to 12, where it met key stakeholders and carried out site inspections. more..

Sep 13 (DN) Embassy of SL in Bangkok facilitated the participation of 35 SL companies at the 72nd edition of the Bangkok Gems and Jewellery Fair (BGJF) 2025, being held from Sept 9 to 13 in Bangkok. These companies are exhibiting under the SL Pavilion, collectively occupying 48 booths, and are showcasing a wide array of high-quality gemstones and fine jewellery. Additionally, approximately ten other SL-owned companies based in Thailand are also participating in the fair, more..

Sep 13 (ST) Colombo is facing a significant challenge due to a large number of abandoned and decaying buildings. Officials acknowledge that there is no official count of such structures, and while some fall under govt ownership, others are tied up in private disputes, bankrupt companies, or archaeological preservation requirements. To get to know more about the issue of abandoned buildings that spoil Colombo’s image, more..

Sep 13 (DM) A discussion was held at the PM’s Office under the patronage of PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya to address several issues faced by university non-academic employees. During the meeting, trade union representatives raised concerns regarding the reduction in salary rates, the MCA allowance, the 20% allowance, and the method of calculating overtime payments. They highlighted that the gradual reduction in the salary rate—from 20% to 11%, & currently from 11% to 6.94% more..

Sep 13 (DN) SL Medical Association, together with its partners, launched the TLC Triathlon 2025, country’s first islandwide triathlon dedicated to raising awareness on breast cancer prevention yesterday (11). Speaking at the launch, organizers highlighted that every day in SL, 15 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and three lives are lost. They stressed that early detection can save lives, with survival rates exceeding 90% when cancer is identified at an early stage. more..

Sep 13 (ST) Twenty-five CEB trade unions have started a work-to-rule campaign, claiming that the utility’s restructuring process is being carried out unlawfully. In a letter to Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody, the unions have put forward 24 demands, including that all employees must be granted a 50% increase based on their basic salary due to the difficulties caused to employees by the restructuring process and the injustice caused by the loss of ownership of the CEB. more..

Sep 13 (DM) Central Bank of SL has released key findings of the Systemic Risk Survey (SRS) conducted for the second half of 2025. This release summarises financial market participants’ overall confidence in the financial system, sources of perceived risks and likelihood of such risks. The results of the publication are based on the perception of the respondents and do not reflect the views of the CBSL. SRS quantifies and tracks, market participants’ views on risks to and more..

Sep 13 (FT) While acknowledging the challenges confronting the apparel industry, Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake has said tax incentives would depend on improving fiscal revenues and economic stability but ensured Govt would direct every rupee towards productive initiatives and developing essential infrastructure required by industries and investors. Prez made these remarks while participating in a pre-budget more..

Sep 13 (Island) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake met the Provincial Governors and Secretaries on Thursday to discuss matters related to finance, development projects, etc., in the provinces. The Prez/the Finance Minister meets the representatives of the Provincial Councils (PCs) before preparing the annual national budget. Ideally, Prez should have been able to meet the Chief Ministers (CMs) of Provinces at the pre-budget discussions, for it is they who actually represent the people. more..

Sep 13 (FT) The Colombo stock exchange closed yesterday with both indices losing ground during the week with trades in Chevron Lubricants generating Rs. 2 billion to the day’s turnover. The benchmark ASPI ended at 20,612.40, down 379.58 points or 1.8% from last week’s 20,991.98 closing. The active S&P SL20 index lost 131.48 points during the week to close at 5,873.12, down 2.2%. Foreigners were net sellers during the week at Rs. 2.3 billion, up from Rs. 851.4 million last week. more..

Sep 13 (DN) SL team led by Charith Asalanka ready to take on Asia Cup challenge when they will meet Bangladesh in the first Asia Cup T -20 game today at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi,commencing at 8 pm (SL time). After successful Zimbabwe series in Harare SL team came to the Asia Cup with more confidence but weather conditions are different in Abu Dhabi & Dubai; will remain warm almost touching 40c more..

Sep 13 (CI) So far in the Asia Cup, things have gone roughly as expected. India, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan have all registered comfortable victories, and Pakistan have also avoided an early banana peel. But Saturday brings up a more even clash. Over the last few years, T20 matches between these teams have sometimes been explosive, but although the heat of the naagin rivalry has died down a little, it is also clear that these are well-matched teams in this format. more..

Sep 13 (CI) As far as SL are concerned, they are defending champions at this year's Asia Cup. The case they are making is that the ODI version of the Asia Cup - which India last won in 2023 - is a different tournament entirely. Tournament alternates between the two white-ball formats based on which World Cup is around the corner. In 2023, it was the 50-over World Cup. In 2025, it is the T20 World Cup. And as far as the T20I version of the Asia Cup goes, SL are the most-recent victors, having taken more..

Sep 13 (FT) Expo Lanka Freight Ltd, (EFL) Project Division, has been the logistics partner for the Richardson Serendib 5 MW Solar Power Plant in Hiripitiya, Kurunegala, a landmark project that strengthens SL’s renewable energy portfolio. This project falls under the category of establishing a renewable energy generation facility with an installed capacity of 5 MW, which exceeds 1 MW, thereby meeting the minimum power generation capacity requirements specified in Gazette Notification more..

Sep 13 (FT) SL’s progress towards building a skilled workforce of industrial energy managers took centre stage on 29 August, as more than 200 industry leaders, govt officials and representatives from the international community participated in the Energy Management Systems Forum 2025. Hosted by the European Union-funded Accelerating Industries Climate Response in SL (AICRSL) project, Forum reflected on three years of Energy Management Systems (EnMS) training and focused on more..

Sep 13 (CT) Parliament has passed one of the most consequential pieces of legislation in recent years — a law that curtails the entitlements of both the sitting president and former heads of state. The move signals a major shift in the country’s approach to political privilege and public spending, coming against the backdrop of an economic recovery still in its fragile early stages. Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Bill was debated at length before more..

Sep 13 (CT) The health service, like every institution entrusted with the well-being of the public, must uphold high standards of discipline and accountability. Doctors and other medical professionals hold a unique position of trust; they make decisions daily that can mean the difference between life and death. It is therefore right and proper that any lapse in conduct or breach of duty be investigated thoroughly. Yet the process of holding professionals accountable must itself be just, more..

Sep 13 (Island) Speaking at the 60th Session of the UNHRC in Geneva, Switzerland, on Sept 8, 2025, Minister Vijitha Herath, made an unequivocal pledge on behalf of his country ‘to advance the rights and well-being of all Sri Lankans through our own domestic processes’, thereby rejecting any kind of external intervention or mechanism in investigating alleged human rights violations, all patriotic Sri Lankans must have heaved a sigh of relief, before applauding him. more..

Sep 13 (TM) SL is preparing to send thousands of its workers to Thailand under a new govt-to-govt (G2G) employment framework, a move that comes amid rising concerns over human trafficking risks and labour shortages in Thailand. While officials stress the potential benefits of skilled labour exchanges, experts caution that the plan could pose significant long-term challenges, both for workers and for bilateral labour relations. In August, SL’s Ambassador to Thailand Wijayanthi more..

Sep 13 (FT) As the dust settles on the hullabaloo surrounding the arrest of former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, we the public, are left wondering what all the fuss was about. In the aftermath we learn that there is a species of corporeal property deemed public property, which you may offend only with dire consequences. Bump into a private car, it is just an accident to be taken care of by your insurance company. You knock into one of those much-misused Govt-owned cars more..

Sep 13 (TM) The Ministry of Women and Child Affairs will begin drafting new policies and regulations to safeguard children in Police custody. This follows a Supreme Court judgment concerning the unlawful arrest and treatment of a minor. Deputy Minister Dr. Namal Sudarshana confirmed that while his ministry had not previously focused on regulations concerning children in custody, the ruling had placed the issue on more..

Sep 13 (DM) Since 2022, 3 South Asian nations –SL, Bangladesh, Nepal have seen their govts overthrown by street protests. Today, Nepal a country which has violently changed govt several times, is once again caught up in a wave of social unrest that has toppled the govt of PM Oli. Nepalese unrest is being referred to as Gen Z -- a reference to those born in the internet era, from the mid-1990s through the early 2010s. A generation for whom being online is a way of communication more..

Sep 13 (CT) On the surface is seems placid; its usual character has assumed its customary waves and strokes. The macro numbers are encouraging; inflation, not coming down, yet, they say, stays within manageable limits. Unemployment is not representing jaw-dropping escalations as in the Sirimavo Bandaranaike era. Each night Colombo looks like another Singapore, or even more resplendent, resembling the sense-captivating Las Vegas Strip. Cited in the midst of blinding more..

Sep 13 (TM) Children from the SL gypsy community frequently only go to school once or twice a week, or a few days a month with this inconsistent attendance being caused by poverty, racism, discrimination, and prejudice in all their forms, students coming from families that are not encouraging, and physical health-related issues. As a result of this sporadic primary education received, children of the gypsy community in areas more..

Sep 13 (CT) With 239 of 240 skeletons, a high number by any count, recovered in full, there is now question if an impartial probe into the Chemmani mass graves would be the answer that the UNHRC-centric international community (read: West) is looking for. Of course, Tamils nearer home and overseas would want this and more, as they reiterate their demand for withdrawing armed forces from their lands and handing over ‘occupied properties’ to their lawful owners, apart from more..

Sep 13 (DM) The NPP govt has rejected the decade old recommendation by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk to establish an international mechanism for accountability for human rights violations committed during the war between the armed forces and the LTTE. The high commissioner’s latest recommendation came in his annual report on SL and Foreign Affairs. Minister Vijitha Herath rejected it on Sept 8, the first day of the 60th Regular Session of the UNHRC. more..