Feb 20 (TM) In a move to address long-standing concerns over politically motivated appointments, the Transport Ministry has announced that it will conduct interviews to fill positions within the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) based on merit and qualifications. A ministry official said that nearly all positions at the SLTB are currently occupied on an acting basis. They explained that the ongoing interview process more..

Feb 20 (CT) The CID, yesterday (19), informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court that an Attorney-at-Law currently in detention over the alleged murder of a man inside a Colombo Magistrate’s Court had maintained eight bank accounts in Kadawatha using a forged identity card. The suspect, Thamara Kumari Abeyratne, was arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting the killing of Ganemulla Sanjeewa inside Court premises and is being held under a detention order. more..

Feb 20 (Island) Construction has commenced on SL’s largest solar power project, a 150-megawatt facility spanning 450 acres at the Solar Energy Park in the Gonnoruwa area of Hambantota.The US$150 million project scheduled for completion by the end of 2026, is expected to make its initial contribution to the national grid later this year, the project’s consultant Engineer Thilanka Bandara, said. Once completed, the project will mark a significant milestone in SL’s renewable energy drive. more..

Feb 20 (Island) Trade unions of the CEB, backed by the powerful CEB Engineers’ Union, have warned of accelerated trade union action following the collapse of crucial discussions held on Monday with the CEB Chairman, who also serves as Secretary to the Ministry of Power and Energy. The issue is expected to take centre stage at today’s press conference, with unions signalling that a token strike, possibly a 12-hour countrywide action, more..

Feb 20 (DM) SL’s tourism authorities, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, have intensified their crackdown on illegal tourism operations run by foreigners, resulting in the apprehension of 75 individuals and the deportation of 15 foreign nationals last year. Officials indicated that the nationalities of the offenders are largely proportional to SL’s top tourism source markets. The joint operations are being spearheaded by the SL Tourism Development Authority alongside more..

Feb 20 (AD) Commander of the US Pacific Fleet, Admiral Stephen T. Koehler, has met with SL’s Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Sampath Thuyacontha, at the Ministry of Defence today (19). During the meeting, the two sides discussed expanding practical cooperation and strengthening maritime security to support stability across the Indo-Pacific. Attention was also drawn to the evolving security landscape in the Indian Ocean Region, with both parties acknowledging the need for more..

Feb 20 (TM) PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya yesterday revealed allowances and benefits provided to Parliamentarians at present. She made this revelation while responding to a question raised by SJB Opposition MP Chaminda Wijesiri. According to the disclosure: An MP receives a monthly allowance of Rs. 54,285, with an entertainment allowance of Rs. 1,000 per month; the Drivers allowance is Rs. 3,500 per month. However, if the MP is provided a driver by the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry, more..

Feb 20 (CT) The Political Bureau of the SLFP, yesterday, decided to remove from party membership nine of its members who voted in favour of the NPP during budget votes at local government bodies. The councillors represent local authorities in the Ratnapura, Puttalam and Nuwara Eliya districts. SLFP General Secretary Duminda Dissanayake has written to the members informing them that disciplinary action will be taken. They are due to appear before the party’s more..

Feb 20 (FT) Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath clarified that the country’s tourism earnings have not declined, stressing that recent concerns stem from a revised calculation methodology rather than an actual drop in revenue. He explained that the SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), which had long relied on spending estimates from a 2018 survey, updated its assessment in Aug 2025 and, as a result, the average per-day tourist spending more..

Feb 20 (FT) Foreign investors have begun rebuilding exposure to SL’s Govt securities market in a decisive manner, with holdings of rupee-denominated Treasuries rising 109.3% year-on-year (YoY) and 15.47% year-to-date (YTD) to exceed Rs. 160 billion, reaching a near 30-month high. The renewed offshore appetite comes amid improving macro sentiment and relative yield attraction, with foreign participants pointing to fresh portfolio allocations at the start of 2026 as global funds reassessed more..

Feb 20 (CI) On Thursday night at the Khettarama, SL's scorecard told a story. The hosts had posted 178 for 7 - their second-highest total at the venue, and highest since 2018. Yet, Zimbabwe's successful chase - the second-highest at the ground - highlighted an increasingly worrying structural flaw in the SL approach: high-intensity bookends surrounding a hollow centre. The SL donut, if you will. The disparity in SL's scoring efficiency across the three phases of the innings was stark. more..

Feb 20 (FT) IMF Managing Director Dr. Kristalina Georgieva during her visit this week met with several private sector leaders. The meeting reflected on the progress of the IMF-supported reform programme, its impact on businesses and households, and importantly, what must come next. According to Selyna Peiris, Director & Chief Growth Officer at Selyn Group of Impact Companies and one of the attendees: “The shared message was clear: Stabilisation is only the first step. more..

Feb 20 (TM) Labour Ministry has submitted a set of progressive recommendations to National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) aimed at improving conditions for Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) holders. Ministry Secretary detailed the proposals, which have already received approval from the Council as the Govt seeks to streamline access to EPF benefits and reduce bureaucratic hurdles. Under current regulations, EPF holders are entitled to a 30% loan payable in two installments, more..

Feb 20 (TM) Deputy CMinister Janith Kodithuwakku said that the Govt will continue to operate SriLankan Airlines under State control, stating that retaining ownership enables revenue from the airline’s operations to be used to service long-standing debt obligations. The minister said SriLankan is presently functioning as an operationally profitable entity, though its overall financial position continues to reflect losses more..

Feb 20 (EN) Sri Lanka will establish 7 new courts to clear a backlog of around 1.1 million civil and criminal cases, Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said. These include 5 courts in the Aluthkade MCC building, he said, including civil high courts and commercial courts. What type of courts they will be depend on the case requirements, Nanayakkara said. “In most countries usually for every 1 million of the population there are about 40-60 judges, but we have only about 20.” more..

Feb 20 (EN) SL’s central bank has no plans to impose tighter loan to value ratio limits on gold loans, Deputy CB Governor Chandranath Amarasekera said. Gold prices have soared in world markets to around US$ 5,000 an ounce from 284 dollars around 2,000 when the Federal Reserve cut rates to push up inflation claiming there was deflation. Gold prices rose as much as US$ 5,500 and then collapsed and have since recovered to hover around US$ 5,000 an ounce. more..

Feb 20 (CI) One time is a shock. Two times, and the second to beat hosts SL at their own game, is Zimbabwe. Led by their canny bowling, Zimbabwe pulled SL back from a flying start to keep them to 178 on a sluggish Premadasa track. Their opener Brian Bennett, quickest scorer in their history, dropped anchor, stayed unbeaten like his team, and Sikandar Raza, Ryan Burl and Tadiwanashe Marumani did all the damage from the other more..

Feb 20 (FT) The High Court of Colombo has acquitted Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of SL (FCCISL) former Secretary General Samantha Abeywickrama, bringing to a close a longstanding criminal case relating to alleged financial misconduct. The case, filed under Section 391 of the Penal Code, concerned funds provided in 2007 for Abeywickrama’s official participation in an Asian Development Bank (ADB) workshop held in Bangkok, Thailand. more..

Feb 20 (FT) DealBook.lk, a new digital marketplace for corporate transactions in SL, has officially launched with a mission to connect global capital with high-quality private market opportunities across the country. The platform brings together institutional investors, family offices, strategic buyers, arrangers, sponsors, and founders on a single, curated marketplace designed to facilitate corporate deals across all sectors.DealBook.lk serves as a bridge between int'l and local investors more..

Feb 20 (DM) SL’s vehicle import valuation system needs urgent correction to prevent revenue leakages and restore fairness in the market, Ceylon Motor Traders Association (CMTA) said, warning that current duty assessment practices are creating structural distortions across the industry. In a statement, the CMTA called on authorities to recalibrate vehicle valuation and import processes, highlighting the automatic 15% reduction applied to the CIF value of used vehicle imports more..

Feb 20 (DM) Sri Lanka is set to launch an interim digital and public relations campaign with an investment of Rs. 2 billion, aiming to shift the tourism industry’s focus from mere arrival volumes to attracting high-yielding visitors. The campaign will run during the traditional off-peak season starting after April to sustain arrival momentum until the much-anticipated and long-delayed global promotional campaign officially launches by the end of this year. more..

Feb 20 (FT) Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Executive Director Shri Ajay Kumar yesterday made a detailed case for expanding the use of the Indian Rupee (INR) in Indo-SL trade and investment, arguing that local currency settlement would narrow trade imbalances, reduce exchange rate risk, and lift tourism receipts. Delivering the keynote at the Association of Professional Bankers of SL (APB) 36th Anniversary Convention 2026, more..

Feb 20 (Island) During a recent panel discussion titled Security Environment in the Indo-Pacific and SL Diplomacy, organised by the Embassy of Japan in collaboration with Dr. George I. H. Cooke, Senior Lecturer and initiator of the Awarelogue Initiative, the keynote address was delivered by Prof Ken Jimbo of Kelo University, Japan. The report on the above states: “Prof. Jimbo discussed the evolving role of the Indo-Pacific and the emergence of its latest strategic outlook among shifting dynamics. more..

Feb 20 (Island) The JVP-NPP govt finds itself in an unenviable position over the Provincial Council (PC) polls, which have been in abeyance for nearly a decade. In the late 1980s, the JVP plunged the country into a bloodbath in a bid to prevent the establishment of the PCs, which it said would endanger the territorial integrity of the country. Today, it has a two-thirds majority in Parliament and its leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake is the Executive President. more..

Feb 20 (DN) Barely into its second year in office, has the Govt received a shot in the arms since public optimism about national economic conditions has increased alongside strong approval ratings for the Govt, according to the latest Mood of the Nation survey conducted by Verité Research. After assuming office in 2024, the Govt took a cautious but decisive step proceed with the IMF- led economic reforms agenda. During the short time in office, the Govt encountered a myriad of more..

Feb 20 (CT) SL’s recent history shows how good governance affects sustainable development and enduring prosperity. Economic crises, a loss of public trust, institutional decline, and social unrest reveal this central truth: economic growth without ethical and effective governance remains unstable and exclusionary. Prosperity not grounded in good governance ultimately collapses under the weight of corruption, inefficiency, and injustice. UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) defines more..

Feb 20 (TM) In SL, four Districts (Hambantota, Jaffna, Matale, Ratnapura), representing four Provinces (South, North, Central, Sabaragamuwa), have 20% of households experiencing challenges due to inadequate food access with many of them not receiving support from the existing Samurdhi poverty alleviation programme while a substantial number of households with adequate food access were beneficiaries of more..

Feb 20 (GV) SL’s economy has undergone one of the most dramatic cycles in recent emerging market history, from sovereign default and severe shortages in 2022 to a stabilisation phase driven by reforms and external support. Not long ago, life in SL was defined by uncertainty about tomorrow. The economic crisis was not just a story of numbers; it was a lived experience that reshaped politics, strained households and forced the country to confront deep structural weaknesses. more..

Feb 20 (TM) From its inception till now, the Ambuluwawa Dissanayake Mudiyanselage Jayaratne Religious Centre and Bio-diversity Complex Trust Fund (hereinafter referred to as the Ambuluwawa Complex), has been mired in controversy. and allegations of irregularities and causing environmental harm. In May 1998, journalist Dilrukshi Handunnetti wrote about the nightmare of living next to Ambuluwawa, due to a development project that includes a cable car project. more..

Feb 20 (CT) Sri Lanka added another feather to its cap of International Endorsements for 2026, winning the People’s Choice Award in the Travel Photographer Of The Year awards. This was for a captivating image of the boy on a bus in Jaffna. Chosen by the public from all over the world out of 164 different photographs shortlisted from over twenty thousand images submitted to the Judges. The winning photographer in this category more..

Feb 20 (CT) Sri Lanka’s street dog population is estimated to be between two and three million. Although the number is contested as the censuses are largely conducted by private or non-government animal welfare organisations, it is undeniable that it is growing by the day. Even if it is claimed that the compiled statistics are exaggerated, the rapid rate at which the street dog population is increasing could technically mean a justifiable number is around the corner. more..

Feb 20 (DM) Few political promises generate as much public applause as cutting the privileges of politicians. In a country battered by economic collapse, tax hikes and austerity, any move to trim parliamentary perks appears morally justified. It is more so because the ruling NPP has portrayed politicians in a bad light, holding them responsible for all the ills the country is grappling with. Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s decision to cut pensions, duty-free vehicle permits and more..