Feb 12 (TM) Govt is working to streamline the land allocation mechanism to improve the ease of doing business in SL, clearing barriers in land-related issues in the industrial sector, said the Deputy Minister Dr. Susil Ranasinghe. He highlighted the need to address the gap between land allocation and the country’s economic interests. "Our land sector mechanism has many shortcomings. It is not aligned with the country’s economic policies, and this needs to be resolved to clarify certain issues,” more..

Feb 12 (NW) A total of 139 Officers-in-Charge (OICs) of Police stations have been transferred due to service requirements, with the approval of the National Police Commission. The transfers will be implemented in two phases—one group with effect from February 13 and another from Feb 18. The decision is part of routine service adjustments aimed at enhancing operational efficiency within the police force. The affected officers have been notified of their new postings. more..

Feb 12 (NW) Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake who is currently attending the World Governments Summit 2025 in Dubai held several high-level bilateral discussions with Heads of State, today (11). During the day, the Prez met with Pakistan’s PM Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. PM Sharif extended his congratulations to Prez Disanayake on his govt’s significant electoral victory in SL. The discussions focused on strengthening trade relations more..

Feb 12 (FT) Ambassador and Permanent Representative of SL in Bangkok Wijayanthi Edirisinghe met with the Chairperson of the House Committee on Legal Affairs, Justice, and Human Rights of the Parliament of Thailand Kamonsk Leewamoh and Vice Chairperson Kannavee Suebsang on 22 January. The objective of the meeting was to strengthen bilateral cooperation in legal and human rights matters. The engagement also provided an opportunity to exchange more..

Feb 12 (NW) Dubai Capitals have confirmed that Dasun Shanaka was medically cleared to play in the ILT20 2025 season only after passing a fitness test on February 2. Shanaka, who reportedly suffered a neck injury while playing in SL, underwent a clinical examination by physiotherapist Deep Tomar, which confirmed mild tenderness but no significant discomfort, Dubai Capitals said. After receiving medical clearance, he played for Dubai Capitals in their February 2 ILT20 fixture. more..

Feb 12 (ST) A top-level Chinese delegation led by China’s minister in charge of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission will visit SL from Feb 19 to 23. The delegation head, Minister Pan Yue, will hold talks with SL counterparts on topics related to ethnic harmony and reconciliation efforts. A key member of President Xi Jinping’s Cabinet, Mr. Pan is tasked with handling China’s minority affairs. He became a full member of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) Central Committee in June last year. more..

Feb 12 (CT) Joint Council of Professions Supplementary to Medicine (JCPSM) urged the Govt to refrain from creating more issues regarding salaries by giving salary increments to only a selected category of professionals in the upcoming Budget. JCPSM Convener, Chanaka Dharmawickrama, instead requested the Prez and the Health Minister to appoint a formal Salary Commission to correct the salary and allowance discrepancies without further escalation more..

Feb 12 (FT) Minister Nalinda Jayatissa announced that the country’s total State revenue increased to Rs. 4.14 trillion in 2024, registering a 22.7% increase compared to a year ago. Cabinet reviewed the fourth quarter financial report, which outlined Govt income and expenditure across Ministries, Depts, District Secretariats and Special Expense Units in line with the classifications set out in the 2024 Budget. more..

Feb 12 (Island) Post-mortem examinations on 24-year-old British national Ebony McIntosh and 26-year-old German tourist Nadine Raguse were conducted on Monday (10). They died while staying at the Miracle Colombo City hostel in Colombo on 01 February. According to the police, the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) returned an open verdict, and forensic samples were sent to the Govt Analyst’s Department for further analysis to determine the precise cause of death. more..

Feb 12 (Island) Former Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekera said that it was the responsibility of the NPP govt to ensure the safety of Tissa Raja Maha Viharaya, Kankesanthurai. Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake holding the defence portfolio in addition to being the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces should look into the developing situation, the retired Navy Chief of Staff said. Ex-lawmaker was responding to ITAK leader S. Sritharan’s threat to demolish the Tissa more..

Feb 12 (EN) SL will change the law of a state commodity trading company to allow it to license competitors, a govt statement said, after import bans, high taxes and price controls created shortage of rice in the country. The governing law 54 year old of the state-run Paddy Marketing Board Act would be immediately revised “to introduce a licensing methodology to monitor irregular paddy and rice stocks collection and more..

Feb 13 (TM) Yesterday saw four Police Constables attached to the Wadduwa Police Station arrested for allegedly assaulting a person who had been apprehended, released on police bail, and later died after vomiting blood at home. The four suspects will be produced before the Panadura Magistrate’s Court today. It is learned that the Police Department had interdicted the four following a lengthy questioning about the incident. The post-mortem of the deceased is to be held today as well. more..

Feb 13 (CT) SL’s public sector has long been burdened with inefficiencies, fiscal strain, and an overinflated workforce. The recent approval to recruit 7,500 personnel to fill vacancies in various govt institutions, while addressing immediate staffing needs, does little to resolve the underlying issue of a bloated public sector. Sri Lanka’s workforce in State employment, currently at 1.3 million, is widely regarded as excessive. Calls for rationalisation and digitalisation are growing, more..

Feb 13 (DM) Ambassador Kananathan, your tenure as High Commissioner of SL to Kenya and concurrently to many African nations has been impactful. Q: As your tenure concludes, how would you summarise your journey and key milestones? A: My journey has been immensely fulfilling, shaped by both challenges and significant achievements. From the outset, my objective was to enhance SL’s diplomatic presence and more..

Feb 13 (DM) The govt has approved the enhancement of rural roads in the Northern & Eastern Provinces. According to minister Nalinda Jayatissa, priority will be given to develop 1500 km of roads in the Northern Province and 500 km of roads in the eastern province. The people from these areas would have walked on these roads during the civil war. SL is a country where there are nice places that give a great view of mountains, lakes and sometimes of never ending roads more..

Feb 13 (DM) Emerging threats in maritime waters have posed significant challenges to the land-locked as well as littoral states such as Sri Lanka. The smuggling of narcotics, firearms, human and wildlife trafficking, climate change, unmanned weapons and autonomous drones have been identified as some of the emerging threats that hinder maritime security. As a country that fought a thirty-year ethnic conflict, the need to improve its strength in the naval forces had been obvious. more..

Feb 13 (CT) The Govt and responsible authorities of the State sector should be reminded that SL, surrounded by the vast Indian Ocean, is now importing salt from India, as well as coconuts despite being renowned for its coconut industry. The ongoing shortages are inconveniencing the public, exposing a lack of foresight and precautionary planning ahead of the crises. Instead of addressing these issues proactively, authorities lament more..

Feb 13 (CT) The movie – Rāni had the potential to be a powerful cinematic experience, given its compelling storyline set in the 1980s and 1990s. The film is presented as fiction but revolves around the tragic fate of Richard de Zoysa, a well-known Sri Lankan journalist, author, human rights activist, and actor. Despite having such a strong foundation, the movie falls short of delivering a truly impactful narrative. One of the key issues is the lack of thematic direction. more..

Feb 13 (Island) SL continues to be in the throes of multiple crises because their root causes usually go unaddressed. If the past govts, especially the Gotabaya Rajapaksa administration, had cared to tackle the issue of the country’s national debt becoming unmanageable by taking steps to shore up foreign currency reserves and increasing state revenue substantially, the current economic crisis could have been averted. A mega crisis has been developing in the power sector for decades, more..

Feb 13 (ST) It was no secret that MPs from the former govt who had their houses and property destroyed or damaged in the unrest that erupted during the Aragalaya period in 2022 were compensated by the State. Yet until Minister Nalinda Jayatissa rose in Parliament on Thursday, the country had no idea just how much taxpayer funds had been spent to compensate these MPs. According to the revelations made by Minister Jayatissa, 43 ministers and MPs of more..

Feb 13 (Island) The presence of Rohingya refugees in SL has prompted sections in the South of the country to raise some concerns in connection with it but The Human Rights Commission of SL's (THRCSL) recent report on the issue, if received and read in a spirit of reconciliation and humanity, should put their minds at ease. To be sure, there is considerable substance in the objections and worries of the relevant Southern quarters but the majority of the refugees in question more..

Feb 13 (CI) A weakened Australia started their Champions Trophy preparation with a 49-run defeat after SL captain Charith Asalanka engineered a remarkable turnaround in a low-scoring first ODI with an extraordinary century in Colombo. Just three days after the Warne-Muralidaran Trophy ended, SL's batting woes continued at 135 for 8 until Asalanka took over with a flurry in the backend and capitalised on more..

Feb 13 (DM) SL’s vehicle tax structure has come under renewed scrutiny, with tax experts warning that the imposition of the value added tax (VAT) on top of an already VAT-inclusive excise duty has resulted in a tax on tax scenario, making the system unfair and unnecessarily burdensome. Tax professionals this week highlighted that the composite excise tax structure, introduced in 2014, already includes a 12% VAT component within it. However, with the govt’s recent tax revisions, more..

Feb 13 (FT) Cabinet of Ministers gave the green light on Sunday to digitalise the National Intellectual Property Office (NIPO), which will be implemented with technical and financial assistance from the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). The project, aimed at enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility, will introduce a suite of digital services, including online registration, electronic filing and record-keeping, the digitisation of documentary records, and more..

Feb 13 (CI) 214 - The total defended by SL in the first ODI is the second-lowest by any team against Australia in men's ODIs since 2005, only behind the 190 by South Africa in 2016. It is also the lowest score SL have defended against Australia in men's ODIs, their previous best being 221 in the Commonwealth Bank series in Melbourne in 2008. 55 - SL's score at the fall of the fifth wicket. It is the third-lowest score at the fall of the fifth wicket that has resulted in a win for SL in men's ODIs. more..

Feb 13 (DN) SL’s top isotonic drink manufacturer, YETI, has been named the official hydration partner for the 23rd International Schools’ Athletics Championship (ISAC), set to take place at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Feb 22 and 23. Organised by Gateway College, ISAC has grown into the biggest event on the international schools’ sports calendar since its launch in 2001. The championship has consistently produced young athletes who have progressed to national and int'l levels. more..

Feb 13 (FT) Japanese businesses in SL are showing signs of strong recovery, with optimism mounting for the 2025 post-economic crisis. According to Japan External Trade Organisation’s (JETRO) annual survey, nearly half of the Japanese companies operating in SL expect to turn a profit in 2024, a significant improvement from 2023. The survey, conducted in Aug and Sept 2024, gathered responses from 5,007 Japanese companies more..

Feb 13 (DN) SL para-athlete Palitha Bandara made history by winning the gold medal in the Shot Put F-42 event at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix held in Dubai yesterday. His outstanding performance brought pride to the nation, marking a major milestone for Sri Lanka para-athletics history. The 32-year-old, who won the Commonwealth silver medal in 2022 in Discus Throw, took part in Shot Put this time and won Gold. This was his first international Gold medal in Shot Put. more..

Feb 13 (CI) Left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann has been reported for a suspect action following Australia's Test series in Sri Lanka. Kuhnemann, who claimed 16 wickets in the two matches in Galle, will now have to undergo independent testing at an ICC-accredited centre with Brisbane the likely location. Bowlers are permitted 15 degrees of flex in their actions. It is the first time in a professional career which began in 2017 that Kuhnemann's action has been called into question. more..

Feb 13 (TM) Police on Tuesday (11) announced that a total of 139 Officers-in-Charge (OICs) have been transferred within the Police Department, marking the largest such group transfer at the same time, in the Department’s recent history. The reshuffle includes 105 Chief Inspectors of Police (CIs) and 34 Inspectors of Police (IPs), with the transfers set to take effect in two phases – yesterday (13) and on 18 Feb. more..

Feb 13 (FT) Observer Research Foundation (ORF), in collaboration with High Commission of India, Colombo & Capital Maharaja Group, will co-host the inaugural edition of the Innovation Island Summit. Set to take place in Colombo on 20-21 Feb, the Innovation Island Summit will bring together over 150 distinguished participants from 50 countries. The high-level platform will explore the transformative dynamics of island nations, the innovations emerging from them, and their impact on more..

Feb 13 (FT) Govt of SL and the United Nations in SL have launched the Transforming Local Administrative Data Collection Systems for SDG Acceleration Joint Programme, marking a significant step towards strengthening the country’s Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system. This initiative, named One Registry, implemented by UNDP and WHO in SL, and supported via the UN SL SDG Fund, aligns with the Govt’s broader digital transformation agenda and strategy, more..

Feb 13 (DM) Six lion cubs, which include five females and one male, were born approximately three months ago at the Ridiyagama Safari Park. The children were given the oppourtunity to submit their name till Feb 2. A total of 4,000 names were suggested. However, the names submitted by the children were selected and announced today during the exhibition. The male lion cub was named as Megha and the rest of the female lion cubs were named as Tara, Agra, Bhumi, Akira & Elsa. more..

Feb 13 (DM) A tense atmosphere prevailed in the Angunukolapelessa area today when a group of individuals protested against a Farmers Conference’ organised by the National Agrarian Congress at Uswewa Gemi Diriya Community Hall in Angunukolapelessa. Its convenor Wimal Wattuhewa was scheduled to address the conference. The group which invaded the community hall claimed that the National Farmers’ Congress which was hosting the programme was in fact organized more..

Feb 13 (DM) A re-investigation is underway into the disappearance of the Mount Lavinia artificial beach, which was built at a cost of Rs. 890 million, the Environment Ministry announced. Minister Dr. Dhammika Patabendi said that a new study is being conducted on the artificial beach constructed along the Mount Lavinia coastline. Meanwhile, Coastal Conservation and Coastal Resources Management Dept Director more..

Feb 13 (Island) Last Sunday’s nationwide power failure has sparked significant criticism and speculation, with activists and experts questioning the official explanations provided by the govt and the CEB. The outage has been attributed by Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody to a monkey colliding with the Panadura grid substation, causing a system imbalance. However, this explanation has been met with skepticism and outright dismissal by various stakeholders. more..