Nov 25 (DM) The attention of the governmnet was drawn to increasing paddy production by limiting rice imports and formalizing the rice purchasing mechanism, while ensuring high-quality rice at affordable prices and protecting farmers. The meeting, held this morning (25) at the Presidential Secretariat, focused on preparing a structured plan to resolve longstanding issues faced by paddy farmers. It was chaired by Minister K.D. Lalkantha and Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe. more..

Nov 25 (DM) The govt is planning to relax wartime restrictions on aircraft flying over the parliamentary complex and the defence headquarters in Akuregoda, Deputy Minister of Ports & Civil Aviation Janitha Kodituwakku said. He said that discussions are in progress with the defence ministry to reduce the current one nautical mile radius of no-fly zone to open a gliding path for aircraft to land in the Ratmalana Int'l Airport which is also called the Colombo Int'l Airport. more..

Nov 25 (EN) SriLankan Airlines has lost US$ 60 million on a fleet of new Airbus A320 variant acquired in 2018 which were grounded due to defects in their CFM LEAP engines, Minister Anura Karunathilaka said. SriLankan had started discussions on acquiring the A321 aircraft in 2017 and concluded them in 2028. CFM-LEAP engines had design defects and they started giving trouble, leading the six aircraft being grounded. more..

Nov 25 (AD) Cabinet has granted approval to the proposal to award the contract, amounting to Rs. 360 million (without VAT), to procure 3,000,000 inactivated doses of 0.5 ml/1 ml rabies vaccine (for human use) for the prevention of rabies. Four bids were received for the proposal and the Cabinet has granted approval to award the contract to the Citihealth Imports (Pvt) Ltd: (Manufacturer: Serum Institute of India (Pvt) Ltd). Based on the recommendations of the high-level more..

Nov 25 (CT) SL’s Parliament demonstrated a united front against gender-based violence (GBV) yesterday, launching a series of programmes to support the global 16 Days of Activism campaign. In a symbolic gesture of solidarity, badges representing the commitment to ending violence against women were pinned on PM Harini Amarasuriya and Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne. To mark the occasion, women and male MPs, along with parliamentary staff, arrived dressed in orange attire, more..

Nov 25 (CT) Opposition groups representing the UNP and independent members of the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council have strongly objected to the approval of an allocation of Rs 135 million for the purchase of a new official vehicle and the construction of a fully equipped luxury residence for Mayor Upali Wanigasekara. UNP Group Leader and MC member Susantha Palihawadana, together with Independent Group member more..

Nov 25 (Island) SJB MP Chamindranee Kiriella accused a Deputy Minister of verbally harassing a female journalist, inside Parliament building, last week. Raising the matter in the House, Kiriella said she witnessed the incident firsthand. “I was standing next to the journalist when it happened. She faced serious harassment and was visibly distressed. I regret that such an incident occurred,” she told Parliament, calling on PM, who frequently speaks on such issues, to intervene. more..

Nov 25 (EN) Sri Lanka’s services exports rose 0.67% from a year ago to US$ 316.14 million in Oct 2025, helped by ICT/BPM, and financial services the EDB said. ICT/BPM exports rose 26.71% to US$ 154.50 million in Oct 2025 compared to Oct 2024. Financial services rose 47.6% to US$ 3.81 million. Transport and logistics fell 13.44% to US$ 144.50 million. Construction fell 40.98% to US$ 13.33 million. Up to October total exports of goods and services were US$ 14.43 billion, up 5.99%. more..

Nov 25 (CT) SL has been cited in a new UN report examining rehabilitation and reintegration centres—particularly those linked to counter-terrorism initiatives—as part of a global review on preventing torture and arbitrary detention. UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) referenced SL alongside countries including Myanmar, Iraq, Burundi, Maldives & Nigeria, raising concerns over deprivation of liberty, inadequate due process and the potential for ill-treatment in centres more..

Nov 25 (CT) The EPDP has criticised the protest held in London against JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva, saying certain sections of the Tamil diaspora must “wake up from their coma-like state” and reconnect with present-day political realities. EPDP Media Secretary Srikanth made these remarks during a press briefing yesterday. He said, despite ongoing criticism, the group that once engaged in armed conflict has now entered the democratic mainstream and holds political power, more..

Nov 25 (CT) CCTV systems will soon be made mandatory for all school vans as part of a concerted govt effort to curb harassment and ensure the safety of children and women in public transport, Minister Bimal Rathnayake told Parliament. He acknowledged that incidents of harassment involving women and children have risen alarmingly in recent years and assured that decisive measures are being implemented to more..

Nov 25 (TM) Land & Irrigation Ministry stated the proposal to set up a land bank is still at the discussion stage, and that it would be a practical and effective approach to manage State-owned land. Deputy Minister Aravinda Senarath said Govt has already begun the initial groundwork. “We are identifying such land now. For instance, we have spoken with the Mahaweli Authority to identify land that can be used for investment opportunities. When that process is finalised, we can bring more..

Nov 25 (NW) Cabinet has approved the award of a contract to widen and improve a key section of William Gopallawa Mawatha in Kandy, which falls under the purview of RDA. The section from km 2+900 to km 3+736 has been identified as a vital road corridor that facilitates daily commuter movement and plays a significant role in urban mobility. Authorities say the upgrade is essential to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion and meet the growing transport demands of the area. more..

Nov 25 (FT) SL earned $ 1.29 billion from tea exports in the ten months to Oct 2025, according to data. Earnings were higher than the $ 1.18 billion recorded in the same period last year, reflecting an increase of around 9%. On this revenue base, the approximate FOB value works out to $ 5.86 per kg, marginally above the $ 5.84 per kg recorded in 2024. SL exported 21.88 Mnkg of tea in Oct 2025, up from 20.79 Mnkg in Oct 2024. more..

Nov 25 (FT) ISSO, the fast-growing, prawn-focused fast-casual dining chain from SL, yesterday announced its recognition in the highly exclusive Forbes DGEMS 200 List for 2025. The list, which spotlights the world’s most dynamic, innovative, and globally scalable emerging companies, validates ISSO’s position as a global disruptor, poised to take its unique Indian Ocean flavour and model to international markets. ISSO, founded in 2016 by CEO Apinash Sivagumaaran, has redefined more..

Nov 25 (NW) A productive meeting has been held on the preparations for the Sri Lanka Expo 2026, which returns after 13 years. The meeting was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, co-chaired by Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra, together with Deputy Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship, Chathuranga Abeysinghe. The meeting brought together the Secretary to the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship, Thilaka Jayasundara, EDB Chairman Mangala Wijesinghe, more..

Nov 25 (DM) The govt has introduced a series of regulatory measures to support and modernize the country’s gem industry, following approval by the Cabinet of Ministers. Under a resolution presented by the Prez in his capacity as Minister of Finance, Plan Implementation, and Economic Development, new orders and regulations have been enacted to simplify taxation and customs procedures for gemstones. Key measures include: Weight-Based VAT for Gems: Genuine and semi-genuine more..

Nov 25 (EN) Cabinet has approved a proposal for SL to sign an agreement with Italy to mutually recognize driving licenses, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. “Sri Lankans who have lived in Italy for less than 6 years and who held a valid SL driving license before getting Italian citizenship can get an Italian driving license by converting their driving licenses,” Jayatissa said. “Italian nationals residing in SL will be able to have their Italian driving licenses enforced as SL driving licenses.” more..

Nov 25 (AD) The committee appointed to investigate and report on whether any form of sexual harassment had occurred involving a female employee of Parliament has determined that no such incident has taken place. The final report prepared by retired High Court Judge Sujatha Alahapperuma, who was appointed to investigate and report on the matter handed over to the Speaker of House, Jagath Wickramaratne yesterday. more..

Nov 25 (AD) The govt has decided to suspend the issuance of new licences for the operation of terrestrial analogue television channels in SL. At present, 24 television channels, including five state-owned media channels, are operating in the country using licenses issued to 16 institutions to operate channels under the existing terrestrial analogue television technology in Sri Lanka. At present, television channels are operating using the maximum capacity of frequency spectrum, more..

Nov 25 (Island) Sri Lanka recently marked one of its largest cross-sector pushes for disability-inclusive employment, as more than 100 jobseekers with disabilities connected directly with leading employers at Embracing Diversity – Skills and Work for Persons with Disabilities, held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Colombo 7. Organised by the GIZ Vocational Training in SL (VTSL) project, with support from the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education and more..

Nov 25 (NW) SL–US Defence MOU, which had earlier drawn criticism for not being made public, has now been officially released, detailing the scope and objectives of the agreement signed between the two countries. The landmark MOU, signed on Nov 14, strengthens defence cooperation under the State Partnership Program (SPP) between SL’s Armed Forces and Montana National Guard, along with U.S. Coast Guard District 13. more..

Nov 25 (NW) The former Chairman of the SL Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), Mohamed Hilmy, who was arrested by the Bribery Commission on charges of financial misappropriation, has been remanded. The former SLBFE Chairman was remanded until Dec 9 after being produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today. According to the Bribery Commission, he is accused of having unfairly presented a bid to an institution named JSF Holding in the process of selecting more..

Nov 25 (DM) Former SL cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga criticised the current national team, saying the players possess talent but lack the brains to play intelligently and the shame to accept defeat gracefully. Speaking at an event with a group of students, Ranatunga said while the current players are talented, they lack the discipline and mindset required for int'l cricket. “The ones who learn have the brain to judge how to face the ball, how to bowl and how to take a catch,” he said. more..

Nov 25 (FT) The NPP Govt faces criticism for rolling back the 2024 power sector reforms, with concerns that increased centralisation will lead to inefficiency, delayed system upgrades, higher costs and inability to attract investment. Is it possible to transform these criticisms into opportunities for sustainable growth through pragmatic measures? The Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Act, No. 14 of 2025 has reversed the liberalisation of 2024, reinstating centralised control. more..

Nov 25 (FT) SriLankan Airlines did not begin as the financial sinkhole it has become. Its most stable decade came under the Emirates partnership from 1998 to 2008, when commercial discipline, modern fleet planning and basic governance safeguards were in place. It was not perfect, but it worked profitably — because there was a buffer between the airline and political interference. That arrangement didn’t collapse because the model failed. It collapsed because politics and ego entered the cockpit. more..

Nov 25 (AD) Minister Vijitha Herath today (24) held discussions with the High Commissioner of Canada in Colombo, Isabelle Catherine Martin. During the meeting, Foreign Minister has urged her to convey to the Canadian Govt the need to prevent activities that promote separatist ideologies in Sri Lanka, including the recognition of LTTE insignia and activities aimed at fostering divisions among the ethnic communities in Sri Lanka. more..

Nov 25 (DN) Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala informed Parliament that a probe is currently underway regarding the removal of signboards at several archaeological sites in the Batticaloa district and that the persons involved will be arrested and the law will be enforced in accordance with the court’s decision. Making a statement about the incident yesterday, Minister said that complaints have been made to the Valachchenai and Kokkadicholai Police Stations more..

Nov 25 (AD) The Badulla–Colombo main road, which was blocked due to a landslide between Beragala and Haldummulla, has been restricted to a single lane, police said. Issuing a statement, the police confirmed that the landslide had occurred last night (24). However, the Disaster Management Center (DMC) stated that the area remains at risk of further landslides. Road Development Authority (RDA) officers are scheduled to inspect the site of the landslide this morning (25). more..

Nov 25 (NW) The GMOA has given the authorities 48 hours to announce a clear time frame for resolving long-standing issues affecting doctors and the public health system, warning that failure to do so could result in intensified trade union action. The GMOA said the 2025 budget has failed to provide meaningful solutions to the genuine problems faced by doctors and healthcare staff, creating serious uncertainty over future of SL’s free healthcare more..

Nov 25 (TM) Sri Lanka is facing a critical shortage of maize, forcing producers to buy raw materials at sharply higher prices and rely heavily on imports, All Ceylon Egg Producers Association (ACEPA) warned. The shortage is also expected to affect the production of Thriposha, the State’s long-running nutritional supplement distributed to mothers and children. ACEPA Secretary Ratnasiri Alahakoon said that the country requires 650,000 metric tonnes (MT) of maize annually, but more..

Nov 25 (NW) Govt has launched a new programme to convert old fuel-powered three-wheelers into electric vehicles, Minister Chrishantha Abeysena announced. Initiative also explores the possibility of fitting solar panels on the roofs of three-wheelers to improve energy efficiency and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. According to the Minister, converting petrol-powered three-wheelers to electric offers major advantages, allowing existing vehicles to remain in use while eliminating fuel costs. more..