Jan 16 (AD) Police Media Spokesperson ASP F.U. Wootler said that Interpol Red Notices have been obtained against 95 Sri Lankan organised criminal figures currently hiding overseas. He said that 10 suspects were brought back to Sri Lanka through Red Notices in 2024, while 11 suspects were repatriated in 2025. He added that during the same two-year period, 21 suspects were brought back to the country under Extradition Laws. more..

Jan 16 (EN) National Chamber of Commerce of SL (NCCSL) has launched the National Business Excellence Awards (NBEA) 2026 which aim to recognize business excellence. Applicants for the NBEA 2026 — ranging from micro, small, and medium businesses to large-scale organizations — will undergo a meticulous evaluation process, NCCSL said, ensuring that every winner meets the chamber’s standards of excellence. “We have put in a process that is transparent so that we would ensure that the real winners would be showcased, more..

Jan 16 (AD) ITAK has expressed strong opposition to the Praja Shakthi national programme implemented by the govt. ITAK Spokesperson and former MP M.A. Sumanthiran claimed that the programme is being implemented as a party-based initiative. He alleged that its operation runs parallel to the existing state machinery, setting what he described as a wrong precedent. Sumanthiran further alleged that development activities which should rightfully be carried out by local govt representatives more..

Jan 16 (FT) On 28 November 2025, Cyclone Ditwah delivered about 10% of Sri Lanka’s annual rainfall within 24 hours. Falling on already saturated catchments, the deluge overwhelmed rivers, reservoirs, and drainage systems, causing widespread damage. While emergency response efforts mobilised quickly, the episode exposed a deeper and recurring weakness: Sri Lanka remains poorly prepared to make decisive, pre-emptive choices when extreme weather is clearly forecast. more..

Jan 16 (FT) Sri Lanka begins 2026 in a narrow corridor between economic recovery and renewed climate risks. The economy has moved past the 2022 balance-of-payments collapse, but resilience is being tested again as the country rebuilds after Cyclone Ditwah. World Bank’s damage estimate of about US$4.1 billion is a reminder that climate shocks now arrive as macro shocks, tightening fiscal space just as confidence starts to return. Colombo is leaning on the quickest earners of foreign exchange, more..

Jan 16 (CT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday that the past year had marked a notable chapter in SL’s history, during which racially driven campaigns had weakened, and a collective effort towards national unity had taken root. Prez made these remarks while attending the Northern Province Thai Pongal Festival held at the Aiyanar Kovil playground in Velanai, Jaffna. He was ceremonially received at the event, more..

Jan 16 (FT) Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has been assigned a revenue target of Rs. 2,402 billion for the 2026 fiscal year, IRD Commissioner General Nandana Kumara said. Commissioner General expressed confidence that the ambitious goal can be achieved through closer coordination with Sri Lanka Customs. He said the IRD and Sri Lanka Customs have entered into a MoU to carry out joint audit operations, a move expected to significantly strengthen compliance & revenue collection. more..

Jan 16 (FT) State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) has registered an impressive improvement in its financial performance in 2025, marking one of its strongest years in recent history, according to its annual progress summary. SPC’s contribution to the Govt through income tax and Treasury levies rose by 173% year-on-year (YoY) to Rs. 1.1 billion, compared with 2024. SPC also reported a 26% increase in revenue from its Own Revenue Stream (ORS) and a 9% rise in income from more..

Jan 16 (FT) An IMF team will visit Sri Lanka from 22 to 28 January on a fact-finding mission to assess the economic impact of Cyclone Ditwah and review its implications for the country’s reform program under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF). IMF Communications Director Julie Kozack said the mission would focus on building a clearer understanding of the scale and scope of damage caused by the cyclone and how the shock more..

Jan 16 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday launched the 50 MW wind power project developed by Hayleys Fentons Ltd, in Mannar, with the Govt announcing that it has secured private sector agreements to develop renewable energy over the next few years far exceeding expectations. The state-of-the-art wind power plant will comprise 10 wind turbines and is expected to generate 207 million kWh of electricity annually. A notable feature of the project is the supply of electricity at more..

Jan 16 (Island) Marking a noble cultural tradition that expresses gratitude for the dignity of labour and the protection bestowed by nature, the National ThaiPongal Celebration was held on Thursday (15) at Temple Trees with the participation of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya. The event was organized by the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, and the Department of Hindu Religious and Cultural Affairs. more..

Jan 16 (Island) A group of academics, professionals, and social activists yesterday issued a joint statement backing the govt’s education reforms and condemning attacks on PM and Minister of Education Dr. Harini Amarasuriya by sections of the Opposition. The statement described the attacks as hateful and indecent, warning that such conduct promotes misogyny, undermines women’s political leadership, and restricts space for constructive debate on urgently needed reforms. more..

Jan 16 (FT) Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, together with the American Chamber of Commerce, Exporters Association of SL, Federation of Renewable Energy Developers, Joint Apparel Association Forum, National Chamber of Commerce of SL, and SL Association for Software and Services Companies, has submitted joint observations on the Draft National Electricity Policy, highlighting that several key issues have not been adequately addressed. more..

Jan 16 (FT) Finance Ministry will hold a pre-Expression of Interest (EOI) meeting with interested parties ahead of the proposed divestiture of Canwill Holdings Ltd, the parent company of Sinolanka Hotels & Spa Ltd, and Helanco Hotels & Spa Ltd, which includes the stalled Grand Hyatt venture. Govt announced on 24 Dec 2025 its intention to divest its entire shareholding in Canwill Holdings as part of its ongoing more..

Jan 16 (NW) Activists and media freedom groups have protested the promotion of a military intelligence officer accused in the abduction and disappearance of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda. In a letter to Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Sandya Ekneligoda, the journalist’s wife, said she learned through media reports that Lt. Col. Erantha Peiris had been promoted to the rank of Brigadier. She expressed strong regret and opposition to the move, stating that Peiris is a defendant in ongoing more..

Jan 16 (NW) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said SL’s education system has fallen into a tragic condition, warning that the crisis extends far beyond the Grade 6 syllabus failure expected in 2026. He made these remarks yesterday at the Opposition Leader’s Office during the establishment of the Common Platform to Protect Free Education. Premadasa said while public attention has focused heavily on the Grade 6 syllabus issue, the problems facing the sector are far deeper more..

Jan 16 (DM) SL’s tourism industry has issued a strong warning against any move to repeal the Tourism Act, calling it a direct threat to the country’s most promising foreign exchange earner and a sector central to jobs, investment and regional livelihoods. “The Tourism Act must be retained as the cornerstone of SL’s tourism governance,” industry stakeholders said in a joint statement, rejecting outright proposals for a full repeal and urging govt to amend and modernise the law instead. more..

Jan 16 (TM) Dept of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) is collaborating with environmental sector institutions, the Police, and the Tri-Forces to strengthen the protection of national parks, following the recent arrest of a foreign couple for biopiracy. DWC Director General Ranjan Marasinghe said that while no organised network of bio smugglers was identified within the country, more data is needed to determine whether the two said foreigners were part of a larger international network. more..

Jan 16 (SO) Pharmacists across the country have welcomed the Govt’s decision to enforce regulations recognising pharmacies as healthcare establishments, including refusing to renew 2026 licences for outlets operating without a qualified pharmacist. Lanka Pharmaceutical Traders’ Society (LPTS) Chairman Kapila De Soyza said the move had helped restore pharmacies’ professional status. “Political influence under more..

Jan 16 (DN) The inaugural Lanka Ride cycle race begins today, marking a historic milestone in SL’s sporting landscape. The 3-day event, organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports together with the Dept of Sports Development, will commence opposite Lake House under the patronage of Minister of Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage. Deputy Minister Sugath Thillekaratne, Secretary to the Ministry of Sports Aruna Bandara, and Director General of Sports S. Achchuthan are also more..

Jan 16 (FT) Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said it has lodged a formal complaint with the CID against Blue Ocean Securities Ltd, and its app BOMate, stating that it is an unlicenced investment entity. “This entity is not licenced by the SEC to function as a market intermediary. The SEC has lodged a formal complaint with the CID regarding this unlicensed entity,” it added. The regulator also noted that the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) has filed a separate complaint, more..

Jan 16 (FT) SL’s unemployment rate increased to 4.3% in the third quarter of 2025, the highest since the third quarter of 2024, reversing the steady improvement seen earlier in the year. The rise in unemployment occurred because labour force entry, especially by women, outpaced job creation, with employment declining slightly quarter-on-quarter (QoQ). Unemployment rate had remained at 3.8% in both 1Q and 2Q 2025 more..

Jan 16 (AD) The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has raided a fuel station in Beruwala for allegedly concealing fuel stocks and selling fuel at higher prices after claiming that Octane 92 petrol was unavailable. According to the CAA, information had been received that certain fuel stations across the country were selling Euro 3 petrol during night hours while informing customers that Octane 92 petrol was unavailable, causing inconvenience to vehicle owners. more..

Jan 16 (DN) Dulnith Sigera and Kavija Gamage produced two outstanding innings as Sri Lanka Under 19 recorded their second successive victory in the ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup warm-up matches, defeating Afghanistan by seven runs under the DLS method in Windhoek on Wednesday. Sri Lanka, who won both their warm-up fixtures, will enter the World Cup with growing confidence ahead of their group matches against Japan, Ireland and defending champions Australia. more..

Jan 16 (FT) Arava Ltd, a leading Sri Lankan exporter of coconut-based products, has been honoured with the Presidential Export Award 2024/25 for Best Exporter – Coconut Substrate Products, one of the highest national recognitions for export excellence in Sri Lanka. The award was presented under the Presidential Export Awards program organised by the SL Export Development Board (EDB), in recognition of Arava’s outstanding contribution to the national export sector. more..

Jan 16 (FT) In a strategic move to shape SL’s digital future, SLT-MOBITEL has partnered with MegaPay (Pay&Go), further enhancing its nationwide value proposition to empower Sri Lankans to connect to the digital world through the eSIM onboarding service. The joint endeavour enables Sri Lankans in both urban and rural areas to instantly connect through Mobitel’s next generation eSIM connectivity now available through 1,000+ Pay&Go kiosks island wide, through Pay&Go App & online services. more..

Jan 16 (FT) SL’s post-IMF period, when external debt servicing, including ISB repayments, begins to rise, is unlikely to pose a major macroeconomic risk in 2026 if current fiscal and external surpluses are maintained, according to Lynear Wealth Managing Director Naveen Gunawardane. Speaking at the HNB Investment Bank (HNBIB) Investor Forum, Gunawardane said Sri Lanka is entering the later stages of more..

Jan 16 (SO) Víctor Jara sang knowing the cost of truth. His final song, Manifiesto, written days before his murder during Chile’s 1973 military coup, was not a lament but a declaration. Music, he said, must belong to the people. Art, he believed, could not exist apart from justice. His guitar, he said, carried both feeling and reason, a heart rooted in the earth, and wings yearning for freedom. More than half a century later, as the world enters 2026, Jara’s words return with unsettling relevance. more..

Jan 16 (CT) The world is witnessing a dramatic reshaping of geopolitical dynamics, driven largely by the assertive policies of US Prez Donald Trump. His administration has sought to redefine the global order through strategic interventions, economic recalibrations, and a reassertion of American influence across multiple regions — from Latin America to the Indo-Pacific — with potential repercussions for South Asia. Central to Trump’s worldview is the belief that US systems more..

Jan 16 (Island) Never a dull day in SL, where controversies abound. As if the ongoing political war on the govt’s hurriedly introduced education reforms were not enough, there is a dispute over a religious symbol, of all things, The Opposition has taken exception to an image in a newly crafted learning module. SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa insists that the symbol described as the Dhamma Chakka in the textbook is in fact the Ashoka Chakra. He took up the issue in Parliament last week, more..

Jan 16 (TM) A recent report by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on conflict-related sexual violence and the trauma it entails has drawn renewed attention to serious concerns surrounding sexual violence during SL’s nearly three-decade-long internal conflict which ended in 2009. Report highlights lingering conflict-related issues that the country is yet to adequately address or fully understand, particularly the gravity and long-lasting impacts of sexual violence. more..