Feb 23 (TM) National Rugby Selection Committee Chairman Sudath Sampath has officially written to Director General (DG) of Sports Shemal Fernando to coordinate matters for the committee to select the SL squad for the upcoming Asia Rugby Division 1 match against Malaysia. Fernando currently functions as the Competent Authority (CA) for Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) following its dissolution by former Sports Minister Harin Fernando in May last year. Former Sri Lanka scrum-half said that, more..

Feb 23 (TM) Sivagangai ferry service resumed operations yesterday after a 3-month suspension due to bad weather and technical issues, according to Subham Freight Carriers India Ltd. COO K.M. Jeiyaseelan. The service, which initially halted on 5 Nov 2024, restarted with 83 passengers travelling from India to SL and 89 departing from SL. Originally launched in August last year, the ferry service has been operating under the protection of the Navy and with the approval of the govt. more..

Feb 23 (ST) Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has delivered a crushing blow to the National Olympic Committee of SL (NOCSL), refusing to release funds until the local body expels all officials tainted by corruption. The decision comes as a continuation of the financial suspension imposed by both the OCA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in December last year, following severe governance failures & allegations of financial misconduct more..

Feb 23 (ST) The Court of Appeal has asked Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage and all other respondents to file objection in the case filed by Maxwell de Silva, challenging his suspension from serving as the Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee of SL (NOC). Minister of Sports, Secretary to the Ministry of Sports Aruna Bandara, the Executive Committee of the NOC, the Ethics Committee of the NOC, and the Attorney General of Sri Lanka have been named as respondents. more..

Feb 23 (ST) Govt will introduce digital TV to free up spectrum space for launching 5G, top officials said. Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne said that the govt with the Telecom Regulation Commission (TRC) has plans to launch digital television. “Currently, analog television is consuming spectrum space with 26 channels. We are coming up with digital TV. It will minimise the spectrum usage and free up the spectrum for 5G, & other mobile communication requirements” more..

Feb 23 (TM) Sri Lanka is to introduce a new valuation mechanism for vehicles as the Govt takes steps to combat revenue leakages during taxation of imported vehicles. Ceylon Motor Traders’ Association (CMTA) Chairman Andrew Perera revealed that in a bid to tackle manipulative practices concerning vehicle valuation, the Govt had announced that it was developing a new system to value imported vehicles. more..

Feb 23 (TM) Sri Lanka’s first cable car project remains in limbo due to a dispute with the Forest Department over the release of a small portion of land, despite all necessary approvals having been granted, SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) reveals. SLTDA Acting Director General Upali Ratnayake revealed that despite receiving all necessary regulatory approvals, Sri Lanka’s first cable car project from Nanu Oya to Nuwara Eliya had failed to break ground up to now. more..

Feb 23 (NW) Parliament today decided to expunge a remark made by Deputy Minister Nalin Hewage regarding SJB MP Rohini Kaviratne from the official Hansard. The incident unfolded when Deputy Minister Hewage, during his speech, criticized the SJB MP and addressed her by a different surname, a move that quickly sparked outrage in the chamber. SJB MP Harsha De Silva immediately objected to the remark, demanding that it be withdrawn from the parliamentary record. more..

Feb 23 (NW) In a pulsating opening game of the International Masters League 2025 held in India, the Indian Masters edged past the Sri Lankan Masters by 4 runs in a high-scoring thriller that had fans on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The match, characterized by its rapid-fire scoring and breathtaking athleticism, saw both teams showcase their formidable batting prowess. The Indian Masters, displaying a masterclass in power hitting set a challenging target early on. more..

Feb 23 (NW) Journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrama has been provided with additional Police security, following increased threats to his life and amidst the deaths of his four interviewees. Acting IGP confirmed that Chamuditha Samarawickrama had been provided with Police Security. Upon being inquired, Chamuditha also confirmed that he has been provided with four MSD officials. 4 persons interviewed by Chamuditha had been killed under mysterious circumstances more..

Feb 23 (ST) USAID funding freeze has left several NGOs high and dry, but the govt sector, too, is deeply affected. Four ministries and several departments under them were receiving USAID grants at the time of the freeze and are now looking for money to continue their projects. Data obtained from the Dept of External Resources (ERD) reveal that since 2019, USAID has financed SL govt projects amounting to Rs. 31 billion (USD 106 mil). more..

Feb 23 (NW) SL govt has an extraordinary gazette, continuing the ban on 15 organizations, including the LTTE, due to their alleged involvement in terrorism-related activities and financing. Gazette, signed by Defense Secretary Sampath Thuyyakontha, states that these organizations have repeatedly provided financial support for terrorism. As a result, their financial and economic assets remain frozen. In addition to the extended ban, govt has also reaffirmed its list of 222 individuals linked to more..

Feb 23 (Island) NDF General Secretary Shyamila Perera has strongly denied recent rumours suggesting that UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe is preparing to return to Parliament through the NDF National List. Perera confirmed that there is no truth to the claims and that no such request has been made by Wickremesinghe’s camp. In a statement to the media, she responded to media inquiries on the reported political manoeuvrer, saying, “Ranil’s claim about coming to Parliament is false. more..

Feb 23 (LS) Controversial business figure Arjun Aloysius, along with two others, has been released from remand custody after serving a 6-month prison sentence for defaulting on a Rs. 3.5 billion VAT payment. Prison spokesman confirmed their release from Welikada Prison earlier today (22). Trio had been sentenced by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court in Oct 2023 after the Inland Revenue Dept (IRD) filed a case against W.M. Mendis Distilleries for failing to pay the outstanding VAT amount more..

Feb 23 (DM) Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya said that 58 gangs engaged in organised crimes and 1,400 of their associates have been identified across the country. So far this year, 22 individuals have been killed, with 17 shot and five hacked to death. Acting IGP also revealed that members of the police and armed forces are linked to some of these incidents, with 11 personnel arrested so far. The arrested suspects include two policemen, one soldier, one airman & 7 army deserters. more..

Feb 23 (TM) There have been 17 reported incidents of shooting and five fatal stabbings, totalling 22 incidents so far in 2025. Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya noted that investigations into the 17 shooting incidents had already been completed. “The issue extends beyond criminal networks, as some members of law enforcement and the military have also been implicated. As a result, 11 personnel from the Police and tri-forces have been arrested more..

Feb 23 (EN) Sri Lanka authorities have identified 58 organized criminal syndicates with many godfathers running them from foreign countries, acting Police Chief Priyantha Weerasooriya said amid a spate of Chicago style killings in the island. Police have also identified are about 1,400 gang members. Sri Lanka criminal gangs have grown amid political patronage over the years, Weerasooriya said. “There is a history to organized crime,” he told reporters Saturday. more..

Feb 23 (DM) Shortly after the shocking murder of underworld drug lord Ganemulla Sanjeewa inside the Colombo Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday morning which left the govt rocked over a serious security lapse, and the tragic death of two innocent children and their father in Middeniya, killings have continued to plague the country with three deaths reported within the past 48 hours. Despite ongoing efforts by authorities to combat crime, and the tightening of security islandwide, more..

Feb 23 (ST) When Kasun Prabhata Nissanka walked into Magistrate’s Court Number Five in Hulftsdorp on Wednesday posing as a lawyer, no one took notice. He sat down in a chair facing desks meant for lawyers as Additional Magistrate Pavithra Pathirana was holding court. Moments later, when the accused appeared in the wooden enclosure meant for them, he stood up, raised his hand and fired five rounds from a revolver. more..

Feb 24 (CT) The inaugural budget of the AKD/NPP govt was presented to the parliament on 17 Feb by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD). I wrote an article for the Colombo Telegraph on 12th Feb 2025 under The Great Train Robbery In The 21st Century By The Corrupt SLPP Politicians. In this article, I concluded that amidst the Great Train Robbery in the 21st century by the SLPP culprits or the den of corrupt politicians of SLPP, the AKD/NPP govt is batting well based on the people’s mandate.” more..

Feb 24 (TM) Sri Lanka is struggling to find its feet economically and competes with time to improve exports, tourism, and the service industry while building national resilience, before debt repayment commences in 2027-28. As such, there is no room for disruptions as SL has to fire on all cylinders to keep ahead of the precipice of bankruptcy which is never too far away, especially if the Govt fails to uphold strict fiscal discipline regimes which SL has agreed to with the IMF which has given more..

Feb 24 (SO) The withdrawal of the Adani Group from the controversial wind power project in Mannar has sparked an intriguing debate among media and political circles. On Feb 15, the Adani Group which is known for its close ties with Indian PM Narendra Modi informed the BOI in SL that they would respectfully withdraw from the project. Certain elements in the Opposition hurried to argue that Adani’s exit shows the lack of confidence more..

Feb 24 (GV) During their campaigns for prez and parliamentary elections, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and his NPP made several promises to voters on a wide range of issues including abolition of the executive presidency, repealing Online Safety Act (OSA) and Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), combatting corruption, moving forward on reconciliation and accountability and protecting the rights of women & LGBTIQ+ community. With its two thirds majority, more..

Feb 24 (ST) Explaining themselves in a hastily summoned press conference this Saturday, the heads of SL’s defence, public security and police command hierarchies offered ludicrously poor justifications for the spike in gangland wars during the past week, including the shooting of a mafia don seemingly on the orders of a rival inside a courtroom in Huftsdorp causing extraordinary risks to the Bench, the Bar and litigants alike. What will we have next, assassins masquerading as more..

Feb 24 (TM) 2025 Budget introduces an extensive social welfare package aimed at supporting vulnerable populations while navigating economic challenges. With allocations spanning poverty alleviation, edu, healthcare & housing, Govt aims to provide relief to struggling communities. However, concerns about fiscal sustainability, economic dependency, and SL’s commitments to IMF continue to spark debate. more..

Feb 24 (CT) Sri Lanka is drowning in plastic. Every street, beach and river bears the marks of our reckless dependence on polythene and plastic. Despite decades of warnings, policies and regulations, the problem continues to spiral out of control. Laws alone have failed to curb the menace. The reality is stark: Sri Lankans refuse to change their habits and plastic manufacturers continue to push their products with little regard for the damage inflicted on the environment. more..

Feb 24 (Island) SL’s focus has been shifted from Budget 2025 and the economy to the netherworld of crime and narcotics for all intents and purposes. Since Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake presented the NPP govt’s maiden budget on 17 Feb, a spree of underworld attacks has sparked a kind of national discourse on crime and criminals. Close on the heels of Wednesday’s courtroom killing, which shook the country, two suspects arrested for gunning down a person in Kotahena, were fatally shot more..

Feb 24 (FT) The institution of criminal proceedings is of vital concern to the public. Irrespective of the outcome of proceedings, subjection of a citizen to criminal litigation is fraught with grave consequences, including psychological trauma and impairment of social reputation, quite apart from the expenditure incurred in defending a criminal action. The law, therefore, goes to considerable lengths to ensure that recourse to criminal proceedings is the sequel to an informed and well-structured more..

Feb 24 (Island) Unlike Manorani, mothers in both the North & South, whose children disappeared, had no means of reaching out to a state minister in the dead of night, begging for help or even sharing the devastating news of their children’s abduction. They did not have the privilege of calling on influential figures to intervene in their grief. This contrast does not lessen my empathy for Manorani, but rather highlights that a mother’s pain is universal, despite societal divisions or hierarchies. more..

Feb 24 (FT) Advocata Institute Senior Research Fellow Dr. Roshan Perera last week said despite the improvements in fiscal management, largely driven by the IMF program, SL still faces a significant debt burden, with public debt projected to remain at nearly 100% of GDP, even under optimistic assumptions. “SL has a very short window to act before debt repayments begin,” she warned, sharing insights at the 2025 Budget Seminar more..

Feb 24 (FT) Link Natural Products has once again cemented its position as a leading exporter by being honoured with the Emerging Exporter of the Year 2023/24 and Best Exporter – Herbal and Ayurveda Products Category (Sectoral) accolades at the prestigious Presidential Export Awards (PEA), organised annually by the SL Export Development Board (EDB). PEA stands as the pinnacle of recognition bestowed by the Prez upon exporters who have made exceptional contributions to more..

Feb 24 (FT) Employers’ Symposium 2025 organised by the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC), a much looked forward to event among the EFC’s member-companies and other business stakeholders, will take place on 28 Feb at the Monarch Imperial. This year’s edition will unfold under the banner, Traversing Turbulence – Fueling Enterprises for Success. The esteemed panellists, drawn from diverse business sectors, will deliberate on key issues pertaining to this theme more..

Feb 24 (DM) Export Development Board (EDB) is gearing up to establish eight regional export hubs across selected districts this year in a bid to improve export contribution to GDP. EDB Chairman Mangala Wijesinghe stated that the initiative is part of the govt’s strategy for SL’s export sector, with the goal of increasing its share to 25% of GDP by 2030. With SL facing significant debt repayments by 2028, Wijesinghe emphasised that exports will play a crucial role in boosting foreign reserves, more..

Feb 24 (DM) Ministry of Industries is gearing up to launch a nationwide SME incubator system campaign backed by the Rs. 1 billion allocation dedicated for research and development (R&D) commercialisation under govt’s 2025 budget. Programmes will be initially implemented through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, according to NEDA Chairman Lakshman Abeysekera, who stated that a People’s Partnership element would be incorporated in later stages. more..

Feb 24 (EN) SL has earned US$ 26.23 billion through exports of goods and services, including tourism & labour in 2024, up 12.6% from US$ 23.29 billion a year earlier. Imports were US$ 18.8 billion in 2024, up 12.1% a year ago. As a result, after imports, US$ 7.3 billion were left in 2024 to spend on services, to pay dividends and interest or repay debt and build reserves. Current inflows were made up of US$ 12.7 billion of more..