Feb 27 (CT) In a recent and audacious act that has left SL reeling, a man disguised as a lawyer infiltrated a court complex, concealing a firearm within a hollowed-out book. This brazen intrusion culminated in a murder that has not only shaken the legal community but also highlighted the lengths to which individuals will go to execute their malevolent intentions. Peering through the lens of time, my thoughts drift back to the earliest known instance of such violence, chilling tale from 430,000 yrs more..

Feb 27 (ST) Govt has announced that it is in the final stages of auctioning of all luxury and high-engine capacity vehicles on the open market, which have become a substantial non-financial burden on state institutions, as reported to the Sunday Times. In the first stage, the Presidential Secretariat has called for bids for the sale of 21 vehicles belonging to it. Additional Secretary to the President (Transport), Mahesh Hewavitharana said more..

Feb 27 (FT) The Embassy and Permanent Mission of SL, in collaboration with Minor Hotels organised the Sri Lanka Ayurveda Week from 10 to 16 Feb at Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel. The week-long event highlighted the ancient and holistic healing practices of Ayurveda, offering Thai customers the opportunity to experience the therapeutic benefits of SL’s traditional wellness treatments. Ensuring an authentic experience for the attendees, the Embassy invited the esteemed Ayurveda doctor, more..

Feb 27 (Island) In a groundbreaking move to enhance school cricket, the Executive Committee of SLC, under the leadership of President Shammi Silva, has introduced 3-day school matches in place of the traditional two-day encounters. As part of this ambitious initiative, SLC has committed financial grants to 56 schools, enabling them to host their annual big matches as three-day contests. Until now, only three schools enjoyed this privilege, while the rest were restricted to two-day games. more..

Feb 27 (DM) Ceylon Tobacco Company (CTC) reported a decline in revenue and profit for the three months ended Dec 2024, its fiscal fourth quarter, attributing the weaker performance to the increased presence of lower-priced smuggled cigarettes. CTC reported revenue of Rs. 55.96 billion for the Oct–Dec period, down by about 4.5% from the same period a year ago. However, net revenue, measured after govt levies on sales, came in at Rs. 16.86 billion for the same period, down by around 4.2% f more..

Feb 27 (NW) MP Harsha de Silva has joined a list of Parliamentarians calling for the review of the govt’s recent 15% taxation on service exports. Taking to X, the MP said that during the economic crisis remote work which earn foreign exchange was what prevented further brain drain in the country, allowing Sri Lankans to earn competitive salaries while remaining in Sri Lanka. De Silva said that it is ironic that Sri Lanka is attempting to market itself as a haven for digital nomads, more..

Feb 27 (DM) CB Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe urged the banking sector to prepare for SL’s third Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CFT) framework evaluation, warning that a negative listing in the assessment could severely undermine the country’s economic progress. The evaluation, coordinated by Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG), is set to commence in more..

Feb 27 (EN) Three Acre Farms, a hatchery, said revenues fell 58% in the Dec 2024 quarter from a year ago to 1.3 billion rupees amid lower demand for day old chicks as chicken and egg prices fell. “This decline was mainly caused by the reduction in inputs by key processors and farmers due to over-supply market situation with excess stocks of chicken meat,” CEO Cheng Chih Kwong told shareholders. “Additionally volatile market prices for table eggs decreased demand for Layer day old chicks more..

Feb 27 (ANI) The echoes of a golden era came alive under the floodlights of the DY Patil Stadium as Hashim Amla's graceful half-century was overshadowed by a couple of audacious fifties from Asela Gunaratne and Chinthaka Jayasinghe that helped SL Masters register a sevenwicket victory against South Africa Masters in an electrifying league encounter of the inaugural International Masters League 2025, here on Wednesday. Chasing a challenging 181, skipper Sangakkara more..

Feb 27 (TM) Ministry of Health stated that it cannot resolve the issue of health workers' allowances, including those of doctors, which has allegedly arisen due to changes in the 2025 Budget, and that Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, as Minister of Finance, will make an appropriate decision on the matter. Following the presentation of the 2025 Budget in the Parliament recently, allegations have emerged that several allowances for health more..

Feb 27 (DM) Democratic Tamil National Alliance MP Selvam Adaikkalanathan yesterday said that he voted in favour of the maiden budget of the NPP govt as the budget has proposed a number of programme for the benefit of people in the Northern province. “The govt has envisaged a number of programmes for the benefit of people in the Northern province through the 2025 budget proposals. We are happy that people of northern province will benefit through these measures,” he said. more..

Feb 27 (FT) Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA) is set to host a high-level symposium tomorrow at the Hilton, Colombo, to present key findings from its comprehensive 5000-household poverty study conducted in 2023. The study, partially funded by ADB, assesses the impact of SL’s economic crises on poverty incidence and evaluates the effectiveness of social protection programs. The half-day event will bring together Govt officials, representatives from the donor community, more..

Feb 27 (ST) Moratuwa Magistrate this week acquitted Wijeya Newspapers journalist Rekha Tharangani Fonseka from a case filed against her on charges of taking photographs inside the courtroom in defiance of instructions from a public official. The magistrate acquitted the journalist after ruling that police had been unable to prove the charges against her, bringing to an end a case that had been heard for seven years. Moratuwa Police had charged her with taking photographs inside the courtroom. more..

Feb 27 (AD) Minister Vijitha Herath says that Sri Lanka supports legally binding Negative Security Assurances for non-nuclear states and advocates for the establishment of Nuclear Weapon-Free Zones, particularly in the Middle East. He made these remarks while participating in the High-Level Segment of the Conference on Disarmament at the 58th session of the UNHRC. Highlighting the current threats to International Humanitarian Law, Minister also emphasized the need to restore trust more..

Feb 27 (TM) SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa provided a statement to the CID yesterday regarding investigations into an Airbus deal of the SriLankan Airlines. He left the CID premises after recording a statement for over four hours pertaining to the matter. He had been summoned to the CID for the recording of a statement related to the Airbus deal of the SriLankan Airlines. Allegations had recently surfaced regarding an improper more..

Feb 27 (DM) In a TV talk show, a list referred to by former Minister and current leader of the NFF Wimal Weerawansa carried a word that stumped the former MP, as well as the moderator. Moderator too showed signs of being unaware of the reference. The reference was to a list mentioning dates where the US Ambassador had met several prominent persons in SL since January. In one instance, reference is made to the Ambassador meeting a prominent politician and discussing matters, more..

Feb 27 (DM) Claiming that no injustice has been caused to the service export providers due to the imposition of the 15% tax on service exports, Minister Anil Jayantha said that under the country's income tax policy, every person is liable to pay income tax. He said digital service export providers have been granted certain tax reliefs compared to ordinary taxpayers where ordinary people are liable to maximum of 36% income tax whereas digital service export providers will be taxed more..

Feb 27 (DM) Whilst highlighting that UN Human Rights Office is following double standards by treating Ukraine and SL differently, Former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe today said both the current govt and the rest of the political parties should take this matter seriously. “SL govt and other stakeholders should take up this matter now as a UNHRC is expected to take up a resolution in September this year,” Wickremesinghe told a group of youth whom he met yesterday at his office. more..

Feb 27 (DM) The Budget 2025 is a critical milestone in SL’s economic recovery journey, as it has managed to strike a careful balance between maintaining fiscal discipline and addressing the immediate needs of the public, according to Secretary to the Treasury, Mahinda Siriwardana. He noted that the budget includes measures to support the poor and vulnerable through enhanced social safety nets while also investing in infrastructure, education, healthcare to drive long-term more..

Feb 27 (TM) Police have successfully thwarted an attempt to murder the parents of the wife of organised crime suspect Kehelbaddara Padme in an apparent act of retaliation for the murder of organised crime suspect Ganemulla Sanjeewa. Two young men suspected to have been involved in the murder plot were apprehended while allegedly surveilling the house of Kehelbaddara Padme’s wife in Pannala. At the time of their arrest, more..

Feb 27 (AD) The debate on the Committee Stage or the Third Reading of the 2025 Appropriation Bill, or the 79th Budget Speech, is scheduled to kick off today in parliament. The Committee Stage of the Budget will be held for over 19 days, including four Saturdays, from Feb 27 to March 21. Following this stage, the vote on the third reading of the bill is scheduled to take place on March 21 at 6 p.m. Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill for the year 2025 was passed in Parliament on Feb 25 more..

Feb 27 (AD) The Govt Nursing Officers’ Association has decided to stage a demonstration in front of govt hospitals across the island during the lunch hour today. The demonstration is being held in protest against arbitrary cuts to allowances in the 2025 Budget. According to the association’s Vice President, Nalaka Hettiarachchi, the protest will take place from 12 noon to 1 p.m. today. He also assured that hospital activities will not be disrupted by the demonstration. more..

Feb 27 (DM) The first Shell-branded fuel station in SL has officially opened at B.S. Cooray Filling Station in Ambathale, marking a significant milestone in the country’s energy sector. The launch follows a retail brand license agreement signed between Shell Brands International AG and RM Parks (Pvt) Limited, along with a product supply agreement signed in March 2024. RM Parks is a partnership between Tristar Group, a global energy logistics more..

Feb 27 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake and his Ministers think that the proliferating gangland killings are merely isolated criminal activities, chiefly inter-gang rivalry, which do not constitute a threat to National Security. They should ask the presidents of Mexico, El Salvador and Colombia whether or not a surge in drug-traffic related gangland lethality, night executions on beaches, assassins who are deserters from Commando units, and orchestration from foreign capitals, more..

Feb 27 (FT) A recent court decision in SL has sparked widespread debate and confusion. Four months ago, a company director was sentenced to six months in prison for failing to remit VAT payments owed by the company. The case drew attention not only due to the rarity of such a sentence but also because of the prominence of the convicted individual. The director’s release last week, after serving the prison term, has further fuelled public discourse. more..

Feb 27 (NW) Tenders have been called for the sale of the BMW car that was provided to the Chairman of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), which made rounds in the media recently. CPC Chairman Janaka Rajakaruna is reported to have refused to accept the vehicle, citing poor fuel efficiency. BMW 7 Series vehicle, which was purchased for Rs. 29.5 million in 2018, can travel up to 04 kilometres using 1 litres of petrol. An expenditure of over Rs. 6.7 million has been reported for repairs on more..

Feb 27 (AD) Colombo High Court today ordered the defense to inform the court of its stance regarding the request to hear the case against three defendants, including notorious underworld figure Nadun Chithaka Wickremeratne, alias Harak Kata, via Skype technology. This was ordered when the case filed against the defendants over the charges of involving conspiracy related to an escape attempt by Harak Kata from the CID's custody and aiding and abetting it was heard before more..

Feb 27 (DM) Singaporean authorities have cited inability to extradite former CB Governor Arjun Mahendran to SL in terms of the legal system of that country, posing a fresh challenge for the govt in its attempt to investigate the bond scam which caused a loss of Rs.10 billion in 2015. SL Attorney Generals Dept sought the extradition of Mr. Mahendran who is implicated in the bond fraud that took place under the Yahapalana govt. Mr. Mahendran, more..

Feb 27 (EN) Central Bank has issued a statement warning against the use of the word Finance in company names in contravention of the Provisions of the Finance Business Act, No. 42 of 2011. “The public is hereby informed that, as per Section 10(2) of the Finance Business Act, No. 42 of 2011 (the Act), no person, other than a finance company and an institution specified in Section 10(6) of the Act, shall use the terms finance, financing, or financial alone or in combination with more..

Feb 27 (NW) MP Dilith Jayaweera has criticized the new 15% services export tax, stating that it discourages creative entrepreneurship and could drive foreign exchange transactions into informal channels like the Undiyal system. Referring to Feb 21 gazette amending the Inland Revenue Act, No. 24 of 2017, Jayaweera highlighted a key clause: Gains and profits earned or derived in foreign currency and remitted through a bank to SL – 15%. He noted that the tax applies to freelancers more..

Feb 27 (DM) Former Presidents have misused foreign visits, where former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa had spent Rs. 3,572 million of public funds for foreign visits for four years during 2010 and 2014, whereas Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake had spent only Rs. 1.8 million for his three visits so far, PM Harini Amarasuriya said. PM said the highest ever expenses for foreign visits were reported in 2013, amounting to Rs. 1,144 million more..

Feb 27 (PMD) President Anura Kumara Disanayake met with Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka, Mr. Akio ISOMATA, this morning at the Presidential Secretariat. During the meeting, the Ambassador officially invited President Disanayake to visit Japan and expressed appreciation for the new govt’s policy framework. The Japanese Ambassador stated that efforts have been made to include Sri Lanka in the recently launched security cooperation assistance program by the Govt of Japan. more..

Feb 27 (TM) Sri Lanka’s vehicle imports, since the lifting of restrictions on 1 Feb after nearly five years, are happening in line with expectations and do not require further adjustments, Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardena said. Speaking at an event, he said that the govt has been carefully monitoring vehicle import data daily since 1 February when all restrictions were lifted. “Thus far, I am happy to note that the vehicle import trend is very much in line with expectations. more..

Feb 27 (EN) The SL Left spearheaded the campaign against introducing the executive presidency and consistently agitated for its abolition. Abolition was a central plank of the platform of the NPP at the 2024 presidential elections and of the JVP at all previous elections. Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, participating in the Satana programme on Sirasa TV, recently reiterated the NPP’s commitment to abolition and raised four issues related to accompanying electoral reform. more..

Feb 27 (DM) Opposition MP Rauff Hakeem and Leader of the House Bimal Ratnayake engaged in a showdown in Parliament where the former alleged that he has been kept out of the Business Committee despite the assurance given by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake that he has been included in the committee. Hakeem also charged that Ratnayake had prevented him from coming into the room where the Business Committee meeting was being held. more..