Jan 26 (TM) Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said that it was confirmed that coal samples sent to India in connection with the shipment that has sparked public debate did not meet the required calorific value. He said that action would be taken to impose penalties on the relevant supplier in line with the agreement. He said there had been no issue in the procurement process, adding the shortfall was identified after the first 60,000 metric tonnes more..

Jan 26 (AD) GMOA has decided to launch an island-wide indefinite trade union action from 8 a.m. today. The decision has been taken owing to the alleged failure by the Ministry of Health to implement agreed solutions. The union’s Media Spokesperson, Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe, stated that the strike will be implemented through five trade union actions. Accordingly, the measures include: Not issuing prescriptions for medicines that are unavailable at clinics and Outpatient Department (OPD) more..

Jan 26 (AD) Six police officers who were arrested for allegedly assaulting a Catholic priest in Gampaha have been remanded until tomorrow (26). The group of officers Gampaha Division Crimes Investigation Bureau was remanded after being produced before the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court today. The incident involves a Catholic priest, a resident of Kotadeniyawa, who was admitted to the Negombo General Hospital yesterday (24) after alleging that he had been assaulted. more..

Jan 26 (NW) SL’s opposition leaders and former lawmakers have raised concerns over the suspension of Parliament’s Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General Chaminda Kularatne, warning that the decision could set a dangerous precedent for democratic institutions, while parliamentary sources say the move followed allegations of irregularities in his appointment and service. Parliamentary sources said Kularatne was more..

Jan 26 (AM) State Minister Chamara Sampath Dassanayake on Saturday issued a combative response to recent remarks by Agriculture Minister Lal Kantha, declaring that if his political rival likens himself to martial arts icon Bruce Lee, he would respond as former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson. Addressing a public rally, Dassanayake dismissed the comparison attributed to Lal Kantha during a televised programme, insisting that such rhetoric did not intimidate him. more..

Jan 26 (AD) Two multi-day fishing trawlers along with 11 suspects, taken into custody by the Sri Lanka Navy on suspicion of transporting a large consignment of narcotics in deep seas off the southern coast, have been brought to the Dikkowita Fisheries Harbour. According to information received from the Police, Navy conducted a special operation using long-range naval vessels to locate and intercept the two trawlers, Navy Media Spokesperson Buddhika Sampath said. more..

Jan 26 (NW) Sri Lanka Police have arrested 11 suspects and seized large quantities of heroin and crystal methamphetamine during a major narcotics operation off the country’s southern coast, police said. The Police Narcotics Bureau said the suspects were taken into custody on January 23 following an intelligence-led operation conducted with the assistance of the SL Navy. Two fishing vessels allegedly transporting drugs were intercepted during the operation. more..

Jan 26 (Island) Chinese Ambassador to SL, Qi Zhenhong, has reaffirmed China’s full support for the recovery of SL’s economy, which was recently affected by the impact of Cyclone Ditwah. The Ambassador said so during a visit to Kandy on Friday to pay his respects to the Most Venerable Mahanayake Theras of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters. Following his audience with the Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Mahanayake Thera & Most Ven Warakagoda more..

Jan 26 (FT) Reinforcing its longstanding commitment to SL’s private sector, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group announced a high-impact investment program of $ 166 million to support SL businesses and accelerate the country’s transition from economic stabilisation to sustainable growth. This comprehensive country-level financing package aims to expand financial access for more..

Jan 26 (FT) The Sri Lanka Army has vacated the Sulipuram Army Camp, also known as Chulipuram, bringing to an end more than three decades of military presence at the site. Troops stationed at the camp withdrew late on Friday night and were relocated to another Army facility in the area. The closure follows decisions taken in late 2024 to dismantle selected long-standing military camps in the Jaffna peninsula, as part of efforts to return occupied land to its original civilian owners. more..

Jan 26 (BBC) The price of gold has risen above $5,000 (£3,659) an ounce for the first time ever, extending a historic rally that saw the precious metal jump by more than 60% in 2025. It comes as tensions between the US and NATO over Greenland have added to growing concerns about financial and geopolitical uncertainty. US Prez Donald Trump's trade policies have also worried markets. On Saturday he threatened to impose a 100% tariff on Canada if it strikes a trade deal with China. more..

Jan 26 (Island) Celebrated Indian economist Dr. Arvind Subramanian urged SL to look beyond its current economic stabilisation, warning that the nation’s early human capital gains have historically lagged to translate into long-term, resilient growth. Delivering a thought-provoking lecture at the Central Bank of SL, former Chief Economic Advisor to Govt of India placed human capital at the centre of SL’s economic performance and what he described as puzzles – for which he knew no answers. more..

Jan 26 (DN) SL under 19 team expected to come back in their first Super Six game against Afghanistan in the ICC World Cup which is scheduled to be held in Windhoek, Namibia today commencing at 1pm. SL team was outplayed by Australia in their last group game on Friday as they were bowled out for 58 which was the lowest team total in this tournament. Australia comfortably reached the target in 12th over with 9 wickets in he hand to come on top of the points table to more..

Jan 26 (FT) Govt has disbursed Rs. 18 billion among households impacted by Cyclone Ditwah, which is 84% of Rs. 21.54 billion in total allowances allocated to eligible households. 70% of the Rs. 50,000 allowance provided by the Govt to assist families in purchasing essential household and kitchen equipment for resettlement following Cyclone Ditwah has already been paid. A total of 156,805 families across 25 districts were more..

Jan 26 (CT) International Customs Day is being observed today, recognising the vital role played by customs administrations worldwide in safeguarding borders and facilitating legitimate global trade. SL Customs has also organised a special programme titled Customs protecting society through vigilance and commitment to mark the occasion. A commemorative event will be held at Sri Lanka Customs today, with Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando attending as the Chief Guest. more..

Jan 26 (SO) Sri Lanka is offering tax holidays of up to 15 years and positioning the Colombo Port City as a new regional financial and trade hub as it seeks to attract investors from the UAE, amid renewed political and economic stability, Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe told media outlets in the UAE on Friday that the Govt is moving to simplify investment approvals and incentives to make Sri Lanka a more predictable and competitive destination for foreign capital. more..

Jan 26 (FT) Cautioning that complacency was setting in and reforms were slipping to the backburner, WB Group’s private sector arm Int'l Finance Corporation (IFC) South Asia Manager – Country Advisory and Economics Gregory Smith has urged Sri Lankans not to forget the country’s worst economic crisis triggered in 2022 after defaulting its debts. SL’s post-crisis economic recovery has been remarkable more..

Jan 26 (FT) Industry sources said that despite repeatedly highlighting the practical issues faced by the genuine trading community, there appears to be a lack of positive and timely action by SL Customs, SLPA, and others as recent discussions concluded without any progress. “If this situation continues without meaningful intervention, stakeholders may be compelled to consider appropriate action, including but not limited to refraining from processing online Customs Declarations (CUSDECs) more..

Jan 26 (FT) SL’s most ambitious urban development project reached a critical execution milestone, as construction officially commenced on the first residential development within Port City Colombo. The milestone marks the transition of the country’s flagship Special Economic Zone (SEZ) from regulatory readiness to active private-sector delivery. Project, Bay One Residences Colombo, is being developed by ICC Port City Ltd, an entity established by Int'l Construction Consortium (ICC), more..

Jan 26 (FT) SL captured global attention at the AsiaBerlin Summit 2025, showcasing the country’s expanding innovation and startup potential. Through a dynamic delegation of tech companies and high-level networking, SL demonstrated the strength, adaptability, and entrepreneurial spirit driving its digital economy. Summit provided a platform to position SL’s innovation ecosystem and build meaningful connections in Europe, emphasising the role as an emerging partner in int'l startup more..

Jan 26 (FT) The Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) has elected Felix A. Fernando as its new Chairman at the Forum’s 22nd AGM, marking the start of a new leadership term for Sri Lanka’s apparel industry at a pivotal stage of its development. Felix Fernando succeeds Saifuddin Jaferjee, who concluded his tenure following a year shaped by significant global and domestic challenges, including evolving trade dynamics, regulatory pressures, and climate-related disruptions. more..

Jan 26 (SO) SL’s coconut industry is under attack. Not from drought or falling prices, but from a tiny insect, the coconut whitefly. This pest, once limited to a few districts, is now spreading quickly across plantations, especially in the Northern Province. Farmers notice that their trees weaken and yields collapse, often before they even realize what’s happening. “I walked through my field last week, & leaves looked fine,” said one farmer. more..

Jan 26 (Island) Moreover, the recent ruling given by the Speaker in Parliament on Jan 9, 2026, on the Opposition Motion to appoint a Select Committee to review recent appointments made by the JSC to the Judiciary further buttresses the explicit recognition of the SOP and the independence of the Judiciary. Speaker reiterated the commitment of Parliament to the doctrine of the SOP and refused the Motion on the basis inter alia that Parliament was not hierarchically superior to the Judiciary and more..

Jan 26 (CT) The numbers are in, and they are harrowing. In the first nine months of 2025 alone, Colombo District recorded more child abuse and children-related complaints than any other region in SL, with 1,024 incidents reported to the NCPA. Islandwide, nearly 7,800 complaints were lodged during this period, spanning cruelty, neglect, exploitation and other forms of harm against children. These figures ought to shock us — not because of their scale alone, but because more..

Jan 26 (Island) PM Harini Amarasuriya and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa have agreed on the appointment of three civil society representatives to the Constitutional Council (CC) to succeed Dr. Anula Wijesundere, Dr. Prathap Ramanujam and Prof. Dinesha Samararatne. The new members are Austin Fernando, Prof. Wasantha Seneviratne and Ranjith Ariyaratne. The new CC appointments have come at a very crucial time. National Audit Office (NAO) remains more..

Jan 26 (TM) Sri Lanka Police’s decision to begin spot drug testing of public bus drivers is a welcome and long-overdue step. For years, passengers have relied on little more than luck when stepping onto buses that travel at high speeds, often overcrowded, on some of the country’s most dangerous roads. The early results of the tests, which revealed a troubling number of drivers under the influence of narcotics while on duty, only confirm what many commuters have suspected for a long time. more..

Jan 26 (TM) SL’s long-troubled energy sector is under scrutiny again following the arrival of allegedly low-quality coal imported from South Africa. Concerns have emerged that the coal, supplied by Trident Chemphar Ltd. under a long-term contract, is compromising electricity generation efficiency and may also contribute to health risks due to its low quality. The recent import of the coal stock by the new supplier has stirred up more..

Jan 26 (ST) The apparent reluctance by the SJB to submit its much hyped No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against PM Dr Harini Amarasuriya opened the party up to attack by a govt that spent much of this week daring the opposition to present their motion to the House. SJB-led opposition had started collecting signatures for the NCM against Dr Amarasuriya in her capacity as Minister of Education, several weeks ago, accusing her of mishandling the introduction of NPP govt’s controversial education reforms. more..

Jan 26 (DM) When Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara recently felt compelled to clarify that no cabinet discussions have taken place regarding the removal of the current Attorney General, it was a telling moment. The very need for such a statement reveals how precarious institutional independence has become in Sri Lanka. What should be unthinkable -- political interference with the nation’s chief legal officer -- has become so routine that ministers must publicly deny it. more..

Jan 26 (SO) SL’s media landscape is undergoing significant transformation, with challenges ranging from the rise of social media and online misinformation to ethical concerns in journalism. In recent years, female politicians have faced targeted online abuse and gender-based attacks, highlighting the urgent need for both media accountability and broader societal awareness. Deputy Minister of Mass Media Dr. Kaushalya more..

Jan 26 (DM) SL can rightfully take pride in its healthcare system. For a country with limited resources, we have built a structure that delivers treatment to millions, free at the point of delivery, and produces doctors who are respected across the world. Our medical professionals are skilled, dedicated and often overworked. Yet, there is one painful reality patients across the island know too well and suffer in silence; doctors not arriving on time, & patients being made to wait for hours, more..

Jan 26 (CT) The expected pace is not there to be seen; it’s so minuscule, it remains immeasurable; its lackadaisical meandering is frustrating the general public; those who steer the wheel, except perhaps Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD), do not seem to care. This is what power does to any and all political leaders. The intoxicating effects of the demon called political power could enwrap the victims, whether they be leftists or right-wingers, and eventually consume them to their bone & marrow. more..