Feb 11 (EN) Barista Coffee Lanka, Gamma Pizzakraft Lanka, Jubilant Food Works Lanka, and HMS Host Services India, have been awarded tenders totaling US$ 6.68 million to operate outlets in the departure/transit area of ​​ BIA. HMS Host Services India operates Taste of India or Idli Factory inside airports, and int'l brands such as KFC, Pizza Hut, and Illy. Gamma Pizzakraft Lanka is the franchisee for Pizza Hut & Taco Bell in SL. more..

Feb 11 (DN) Deputy Minister of Labour Mahinda Jayasinghe participated at the Global Labor Market Conference (GLMC) 2025 held at the King Abdulaziz International Convention Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia last week. The event brought together over 10,000 participants, 40 Labour Ministers, and more than 200 global experts and speakers representing over 100 countries. Deputy Minister represented the Govt of Sri Lanka at the invitation extend by the Govt of Saudi Arabia. more..

Feb 11 (NW) The ladies’ restroom at Colombo Fort Railway Station has been refurbished by the Railways Department. A cleaner, upgraded air conditioned space is now open for use with an entry fee of Rs. 50 per person. The restroom comprises toilets, a resting area, a separate dining area as well as a special area for feeding and expectant mothers. “The facilities here look well maintained. It’s very clean and beautiful. It is super impressive to see the amenities. more..

Feb 11 (Island) Given that SL law stipulates that the maximum compensation payable for a completely destroyed house is Rs. 2.5 million, the govt must recover any excess payments made to MPs who have lost their properties in May 2022, legal expert Dr. Pratibha Mahanamahewa has said. Dr. Mahanamahewa said compensation to property damage is paid under the current disaster relief policy, which operates more..

Feb 11 (AD) Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court has imposed an overseas travel ban on Daisy Forrest Wickremesinghe, also known as Daisy Achchi, who is the grandmother of Yoshitha Rajapaksa, in connection with a money laundering case. SSP Buddhika Manathunga stated that under the instructions of the Attorney General, Daisy Forrest was named a suspect ina a money laundering case and in the investigations carried out into a Rs. 59 million joint account held by Yoshitha and more..

Feb 11 (FT) Link Natural, a subsidiary of CIC Holdings, and a trusted name that specialises in herbal pharmaceutical, herbal healthcare and personal care products that are rooted in Ayurvedic wisdom fused with modern science, took part in the Jaffna International Trade Fair (JITF) 2025, held recently for three consecutive days at the Muttraweli Grounds, Jaffna. With around 25,000 visitors participating in the Link Natural stall, the event offered an excellent opportunity to connect more..

Feb 11 (CT) Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) has suffered a revenue loss of approximately Rs 5 billion due to various reasons, including the inability to locate lessees due to missing or inaccurate records. According to a recent audit report, as of 31 Dec 2022, shipping agents had defaulted payments amounting to Rs 4,795 million. A senior official has revealed that this amount has increased further by the end of 2024. The lost revenue, which could have been utilised for national development, more..

Feb 11 (AD) The parents of the police constable attached to the Mount Lavinia Police Station, who went missing with his service weapon and is reported as having left for Dubai while on duty, have been taken into custody. Meanwhile, police said that another police constable was also arrested for aiding and abetting him. The court has granted permission for police to detain them and question for 48 hours. On Saturday, a constable attached to the Mount Lavinia Police Station was reported missing, more..

Feb 11 (Wisden) Former SL white-ball captain Dasun Shanaka is facing an inquiry from the SLC after he left a crucial domestic match to play in an ILT20 game, allegedly without informing either the board or his club. Shanaka was recalled from the ILT20, where he was playing for Dubai Capitals, by his domestic team, SSC. The side were facing relegation in SL's premier 3-day tournament, and required Shanaka to play in a match against more..

Feb 11 (NW) Deputy Minister of Sports Sugath Thilakaratne has denied media reports claiming that he has migrated to Australia. Speaking to media, Thilakaratne clarified that he is currently on a private visit and that he funded the trip with his personal money. He further said that he will return to Sri Lanka on February 20. His response comes after Divaina reported that Thilakaratne and his family had permanently relocated to Australia. more..

Feb 11 (AD) The convenor of the Nawa Sinhale National Movement, Dan Priyasad, has been remanded until Feb 14, after being produced before the Galgamuwa Magistrate’s Court today. He was arrested at the BIA, by SL Police this morning upon arrival in the country from Dubai. The Nikaweratiya Divisional Crimes Unit had initiated an investigation against Dan Priyasad over an alleged incident of exerting pressure on the Nan Eriya Police OIC not to arrest a drug trafficker in 2024. more..

Feb 11 (FT) Once celebrated as an architectural marvel designed by Moshe Safdie, the Altair condominium in Colombo has now become a symbol of neglect, financial exploitation, and severe safety risks. A growing chorus of residents is demanding accountability from Indo Ocean – the developer, over alarming fire hazards, inadequate security, and financial mismanagement. Most pressing concern is the looming fire risk more..

Feb 11 (DM) SL Police will establish a new bureau, the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), aimed at handling various criminal investigations. SSP Shani Abeysekara will serve as the Director, while DIG, Attorney-at-Law Nihal Thalduwa, will act as the DIG of the new bureau. The new bureau will oversee investigations into a range of crimes, including the Illegal Assets Investigation Unit, Homicide and Organised Crime Investigation Unit, Financial and Commercial Crime Unit, more..

Feb 11 (NW) Cabinet has approved the implementation of a new EPF Management System to improve efficiency in handling SL’s largest pension fund. With 21.5 million member accounts and 77,000 active employers, EPF has assets totaling Rs. 4.2 trillion as of Oct 2024, maintaining an annual growth rate of over 9% in recent years. Given the increasing volume of transactions, the need for a modern IT system capable of managing large-scale data efficiently was identified, more..

Feb 12 (CT) As the world once again observes the International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when Conducive to Terrorism, Sri Lanka does not fail to find itself in a familiar place when looking back at its past, still bearing scars that refuse to fade. The island has seen it all. It has been both a witness and a battleground for extremism in its many forms, each fuelled by grievances, misguided beliefs, and dangerously simple answers to complex problems. more..

Feb 12 (TM) Seventeen personnel from the Police Department were dismissed during the last four months (Oct 2024-Jan 2025) over the charges of using narcotic drugs, the Police revealed yesterday (11). SSP Buddhika Manathunga stated that a list of Police officers who were found to have used narcotic drugs has been identified through intelligence units and the Special Police Units. The dept had taken strict action against them. The suspects have been referred to a medical examination more..

Feb 12 (SO) On Feb 4, the release of an official communiqué from Attorney General (AG) Parinda Ranasinghe to the CID, informing them of the decision to release three key suspects in the Lasantha Wickrematunge assassination case, sparked a firestorm on social media platforms. In the letter dated Jan 27, the AG named former military intelligence official Prem Ananda Udalagama, along with former DIG Prasanna more..

Feb 12 (DM) Students of realism, the dominant school of thought in international politics, consider the Melian Dialogue a good starting point for studying the discipline. In the conversation, as recorded by Thucydides in The History of the Peloponnesian War, the Athenians demand that the neutral state of Melos submit to them. The Melians plead to reason and justice, arguing they have the right to neutrality and sovereignty. To which the Athenians reply, “Right, as the world goes, more..

Feb 12 (DM) Late Sunday morning, the lights literally, all went out in Sri Lanka. During the regime of the good old Rajapaksa, the country would have been informed that it was the work of the LTTE. But all of that has now changed; instead, the Minister informed us it was the work of a monkey. Wow! What ingenuity, a single monkey blacking out the country in a moment of time. Our new government which promised to drain the pond apparently has been drained of ideas. Believe it or not, more..

Feb 12 (TM) All development projects in urban areas that have already been entered into development plans of UDA will be continued without any revisiting. It is also learnt that the Govt expects Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) for mega-scale development projects from China, Japan, and Korea. Urban Development, Construction, & Housing Ministry Secretary Ranjith Ariyaratne said that the various mega-scale projects more..

Feb 12 (TM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake is showing the change for the better that a single individual can bring by challenging old ways of doing things by those who have traditionally governed the country. According to news media and first person accounts by commentators contacted in Jaffna, Prez’s visit to the Jaffna Peninsula recently was a success. It seems that the Prez timed his visit to the North in the context of forthcoming LG Elections that are anticipated to be held in April. more..

Feb 12 (Island) The tragic collision between two private buses in Kurunegala on Monday snuffed out four lives and left 25 others injured; five of them are battling death. The police say the bus that caused the mishap was plying at 90 km/h, which is close to the maximum speed limit on local expressways. Speeding is the order of the day on roads in SL, where deaths caused by accidents average seven or eight a day, but nothing much has apparently been done all these years to ensure road safety. more..

Feb 12 (ST) The NPP govt had come to power mainly on the slogan to finally end the 76-year curse that began, as they said, the day the Union Jack was unfurled and, in its stead, the Lion flag hoisted to freely flutter over the independent isle of Ceylon. It marked the end of an insufferable 133-year era when the island people were harnessed to the British yoke and the land lay completely under the sword of a foreign conqueror. Never in the field of Lankan history had any invader succeeded more..

Feb 12 (CT) SL is set to host the largest ever BWF (Badminton World Federation) event with 667 shuttlers expected to vie for glory at the HUNDRED Sri Lanka International Challenge 2025, to be held between 25 February and 2 March at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo. The organisers, Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB), are overwhelmed with the record number of entries received from 28 countries, including SL, and the six-day competition is expected to showpiece more..

Feb 12 (CT) US Prez Donald Trump has made significant waves on the global stage with bold shifts in foreign policy, drastically reducing federal expenditures and pausing on foreign aid including for SL with immediate effect, while redirecting America’s priorities inward. His America First agenda focuses on rejuvenating the lives of his American people, representing a 21st-century approach to governance and self-defence similar to SL’s more..

Feb 12 (DN) SL Paralympic silver medalist Samitha Dulan started the 2025 season with positive note when he won the gold medal at Javelin throw F-44/64 event in the Dubai World Para athletic Grand Prix yesterday. Samitha Dulan achieved a distance of 61.88m to win the gold medal while Kazakhstan’s Rufat Khabibullin and Greece athlete G. Emmanouil won silver and bronze but their achivements were par below compaired to Samitha Dulan. Kazakhstan athlete had a distance of 40.01m while more..

Feb 12 (DN) Navam Poya, observed today, is an important Buddhist celebration in SL, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. It marks the formation of the first Buddhist Council and the appointment of Buddha’s first two chief disciples. Held three months after his passing, the council ensured the preservation of Buddha’s teachings through the monastic code, Vinaya. The Dhamma, as expounded by Gautama Buddha, remains unshaken by external forces; however, its distortion more..

Feb 12 (CT) I read in the news that a monkey caused a nationwide power failure in SL by coming into contact with a grid transformer in Colombo. It left millions without power and highlighted the ongoing struggle between humans and monkeys in the country. It wasn’t the first time monkeys had caused such chaos; similar incidents have been reported over the years, including monkeys disrupting train services and raiding markets. This incident, while amusing, made me think about more..

Feb 12 (Island) A delegation from the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) visited the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon (IChemC) at Rajagiriya, on an accreditation visit during their tour to SL. The Vice President of IChemC, Prof. Hema Pathirana, warmly welcomed the delegation on behalf of the President of IChemC, Prof. Janitha Liyanage, who is currently attending the CRSI National Symposium in Chemistry in India. The delegation included Prof. June McCombie, an Honorary Fellow of Uni of Nottingham, UK, more..

Feb 12 (Island) Sri Lanka might be out of the Champions Trophy race, but they are determined to make the most of the two match ODI series against Australia, starting today. SL captain Charith Asalanka emphasized the importance of ensuring Sri Lanka never missed out on another ICC event. His side aren’t part of the ICC Champions Trophy that gets underway in Pakistan in a week’s time. “It’s disappointing, no doubt about it. more..

Feb 12 (ST) With the US imposing new tariffs on a number of different countries it would have a beneficial impact on states like Sri Lanka as buyers are now re-looking at their global supply chains and shifting orders. MAS Holdings CEO Suren Fernando said that they are currently receiving inquiries from buyers to the US who are now re-looking at their global supply chains and are hoping to make a partial shift of their orders to countries like Sri Lanka. US increasing tariffs on countries like more..

Feb 12 (DM) Aitken Spence has delivered strong profit growth for the nine months ended despite external economic and geopolitical challenges. The improved financial performance of the conglomerate was driven by strong gains in tourism, maritime and freight logistics, and strategic investments. The Group reported a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of Rs. 4.3 billion an increase of 124 percent for the 9 months ended 31 December 2024. For the same period, the PBT excluding forex reached Rs. 4.9 billion. more..

Feb 12 (ST) SL’s project committee (PC) on the proposed Adani wind power plants in Mannar and Pooneryn had unanimously decided that the tariff for each kilowatt hour of energy generated from the plants should be adjusted to below US cents 5.50 – a stark reduction from the US cents 8.62 that Cabinet approved in May 2024, documents submitted to the Supreme Court (SC) by the AG's Department show. more..

Feb 12 (DN) Royal College and Ladies’ College triumphed in the Boys’ and Girls’ categories, respectively, at the recently concluded RCUAC Challenge Shield water polo tournament. The event, organized by the Royal College Union Aquatic Club, took place at the Reid Avenue pool in Colombo. Royal College’s boys’ teams captained by Anuga Handunpathirana,excelled throughout the tournament. Under-9 and Under-11 teams got their campaign off to a strong start, more..

Feb 12 (TM) 17 Police personnel have been dismissed during the last four months (Oct 2024-Jan 2025) over the charges of using narcotic drugs, SSP Buddhika Manathunga said. He further stated that a list of Police officers who use narcotic drugs has been identified through intelligence units and the Special Police Unit, adding that the identified officers are monitored and that strict action will be taken against them. He also noted that such officers will be referred to a medical examination more..