Jan 22 (FT) His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for South Asia, Harjinder Kang, is visiting Colombo from 21 to 23 Jan. He will call on key officials from the SL Govt and engage with a range of businesses in a bid to strengthen commercial ties between the UK and Sri Lanka. On this maiden visit to Sri Lanka, Harjinder Kang will meet with key officials from the SL Govt including Ministers Sunil Handunnetti; Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma; Western Province Governor Haniff Yousouf; and more..

Jan 22 (AD) The first round of talks between UNP and SJB to explore the possibility of working together in the future, has been successful. Representatives from both parties state that they agreed to contest the upcoming elections under a united front. At the previous general elections, the UNP and SJB contested separately, and as a result, representatives and party members from both sides repeatedly pointed out that they were unable to achieve significant victories. more..

Jan 22 (DN) Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala told Parliament that the Govt has decided to establish the FCID next week and investigations will be carried out promptly into all cases related to financial crimes that have not been properly probed in the past. There is a backlog of 29,000 complaints pending with the CID related to various crimes and that all files related to financial crimes will be handed over to the FCID for expedited investigations. more..

Jan 22 (DN) 15-year-old Chamodi Munasinghe once again came to the fore capturing 3 for 16 as SL women’s under 19 team recorded a convincing 81 run win over West Indies women’ in their ICC T -20 World Cup cricket fixture played at Bayuemas Oval, Kaula Lumpur yesterday. SL’s back to back victories ensure their place in super six round with brilliant all round performance. SL elected to bat first finished with a commanding 166 for 5 wickets which is also a new tournament record for the highest total, more..

Jan 22 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the upcoming 2025 Budget will be prepared with the objective of involving every segment of the population in the country’s economic processes. Prez expressed these views during a preliminary discussion held with officials from the Ministry of Finance regarding the formulation of the 2025 Budget. The discussion focused on the importance of establishing an efficient and productive economic system, emphasising the necessity of more..

Jan 22 (TM) While highlighting plans to embark on an official visit to the Middle East in Feb, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake outlined that the discussions will aim to bolster SL’s energy and economic sectors. He detailed ongoing discussions regarding the import of petroleum and the establishment of an oil refinery in collaboration with India. Highlighting plans for an oil refinery, he revealed that the project would be developed in partnership with India, with aspirations of exporting petroleum globally. more..

Jan 22 (TTG) In a bid to carve out career opportunities for women in a male-dominated hospitality industry, a resort staffed entirely by women has opened in central Sri Lanka. Amba Yaalu at Kandalama is a 33-room resort led by 80 staff – all women in various positions, from resort manager to gardener. It offers panoramic views of the Kandalama Lake and the surrounding mango garden with 457 trees, while its interiors celebrate Sri Lanka’s rich cultural heritage. more..

Jan 22 (NW) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has announced that new vehicle imports to SL will come at a higher price compared to the current second-hand vehicles, due to controlled measures aimed at stabilizing the economy and protecting financial institutions. Prez emphasized the need for a balanced approach to vehicle imports, warning that a significant drop in second-hand vehicle prices could have severe repercussions on banks and more..

Jan 22 (Island) Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara told Parliament yesterday that the govt was ready to probe the allegation that a certain political party obtained Rs. 50 million from a person to offer a Parliamentary seat through its National List. Participating in a debate on the Clean Sri Lanka project, the Minister said the government was ready to investigate it if a complaint was lodged. The Minister told Parliament that such things also must be cleaned. more..

Jan 22 (DM) It is better for former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to leave his residence without waiting till he is asked to do so, Cabinet spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa said. If he understands the provisions of the Presidents' Entitlements Act, he should do so, added Minister Jayatissa. He said that the Act clearly says former Presidents are entitled to one-third of their salary. "The former Presidents has been in govts which had enforced this Act. He must understand its provisions. more..

Jan 22 (DN) Cabinet of Ministers has approved two significant welfare programmes aimed at supporting the educational and nutritional needs of schoolchildren, student monks, lay students of Pirivena and Seela Matha for 2025. Education Ministry under the PM has announced the continuation of a programme to provide school shoes to selected students. This initiative, launched in 2015, has included student monks and more..

Jan 22 (FT) On 1 Jan 2025, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced the launching of a Clean Sri Lanka initiative with the aim of uplifting society to greater heights through a social, environmental, and ethical revival. He also appointed a task force for the purpose. Clean Sri Lanka is indeed an important initiative for the Govt as well as the country. As a country emerging from a severe economic crisis the NPP Govt or any govt for that matter has only bitter medicine to offer more..

Jan 22 (DN) Anil Bhareti, a senior singer who nurtured the music industry in the country, has passed away.He was 75 years old at the time of his death. He passed away today (22) while receiving treatment at the Panadura Hospital due to a brief illness. It is noteworthy that most of the songs sung by Anil Bharathi were Christmas songs. Among them, the song Beth Lehem Pure – Dilindu Gawa Lene had become famous among fans. Anil, who was educated at Prince of Wales College, more..

Jan 22 (NW) A new traffic violation management software, equipped with advanced technological improvements for ease of use, was launched today (21) under the leadership of Acting IGP, Attorney-at-Law Priyantha Weerasooriya, at the Police CCTV Division. This software will be implemented within the CCTV Division from today to take legal action against drivers who do not adhere to traffic regulations. The software has been provided to the police by Prime Management Services more..

Jan 22 (FT) The Budget 2025 illustrates the drudgery of making ends meet inside a debtors’ prison. The Appropriation Bill for Budget 2025 reveals the fiscal squeeze and constraints imposed by the IMF program and the struggle to set the economy on a developmental trajectory. It also exposes the limitations in IMF rhetoric of maintaining macroeconomic stability and restoring debt sustainability are key to securing Sri Lanka’s prosperity […] in its third review. more..

Jan 22 (DM) The issue of handing over the Presidential residence came to the forefront when the govt started fulfilling its election promises. However, this is not a personal issue or an act of revenge against anyone, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayaka said. "We promised to introduce a new political culture. As part of that new political culture, we mentioned abolishing the pensions of MPs, not providing vehicle permits to MPs, but more..

Jan 22 (EN) SL’s rice crisis is not caused by the use of the grain for beer, Media Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said as price controls made red rice go off the shelves into a black market ahead of the main Maha paddy harvest. Sri Lanka only used about 16,000 to 18,000 tonnes of rice a year for beer, he told reporters at the weekly post-cabinet news conference. “If you looked at the volume it is extremely small, to make any impact,” Minister Jayatissa said. “That is not the problem.” more..

Jan 22 (AD) The case involving alleged financial irregularities amounting to Rs. 70 million during the leasing of 4.3 acres of land at the Krrish Transworks Square in Fort, Colombo, was taken up before the Fort Magistrate’s Court today. SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa, who has been named as a suspect in the case and currently out on bail, was present in court during the trial. During the proceedings, investigating officers informed the court that the CIABOC has launched a separate inquiry into more..

Jan 22 (IPS) While the bedrocks of migration in Sri Lanka – foreign employment and remittances – are settling, other aspects are unsettling in 2025. The year 2024 closed with estimates of over 311,000 departures for foreign employment and over USD 6.5 billion in remittances. In December 2024, 115 Rohingya people, including 78 adults and 25 children, were rescued while traveling on a multi-day trawler off the coast of Mullaitivu. more..

Jan 22 (DN) The officer in charge (OIC) of the Daulagala Police Station on the day an 18-year-old schoolgirl was abducted in the Hapugahayata Thanna area has been suspended. The disciplinary action follows an internal investigation by the police. Chief Inspector R.A.S.S. Ranasinghe, who was acting as the OIC during the incident, has been suspended. In addition, Chief Inspector G.G. Kusum Gamage, who was on duty at the station, has been transferred to the Kadugannawa Police, more..

Jan 22 (FT) Soorya announced its role as the Silver sponsor for the prestigious Jaffna International Trade Fair (JITF) 2025, marking an impressive milestone of five consecutive years of participation in this renowned event. Set to take place from 24 to 26 January, JITF 2025 promises to be a dynamic platform for businesses and industries to connect, showcase their offerings, and explore new growth opportunities. Soorya, a brand synonymous with innovation and trust, more..

Jan 22 (Island) The govt is planning to hold a conference for Members of Parliament with disabilities for the first time in the country. Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne had made this announcement during a meeting with the Chief Observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission, Jose Ignacio Sanchez Amor, who is also a Member of the European Parliament. Chief Observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission presented final report more..

Jan 22 (CT) The renovation of the Gal Oya bund has been postponed for several years due to a lack of funds, resulting in the bund breaching three times to date, said M.A.C.M. Riyas, Director at the Ampara District Regional Office of Disaster Management Centre (DMC). Speaking about the current situation following breaches in three locations on 20 Jan, Riyas stated that the situation had now normalised. He remarked, “The exact cause of such incidents cannot be definitively identified. more..

Jan 22 (Island) PHU leader Udaya Gammanpila said that he was delighted that the NPP govt had decided to go ahead with the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm development project agreement inked during President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidency. The former Energy Minister said so in response to The Island query regarding Prez Anura Kumara Dissanyake’s declaration at a public rally held at Katukurunda that 61 out of more..

Jan 22 (EN) China’s Sinopec has asked for 200 acres more land for its planned US$ 3.7 billion refinery expected to be built in Hambantota, Minister Vijitha Herath said. SL had originally offered 500 acres of land for the project, he said. SL had inked an agreement in Beijing during Prez’s visit aiming to resolve remaining issues within a month. Refinery had tax and water issues to be solved. SL originally offered land for a 100,000 barrels per day refinery when expressions of interest were called. more..

Jan 22 (AD) The A'pura Magistrate’s Court today ordered the adjournment of the case involving Jaffna District Independent MP Ramanathan Archchuna due to a discrepancy in identifying the correct suspect. The case has been postponed until Feb 3. MP Archchuna appeared before the court through a motion, however, the A'pura Police had mistakenly named the accused as Arjuna Lochan. However, the driver’s license presented to the court is under the name of Ramanathan Archchuna. more..

Jan 22 (AD) The World Bank has reaffirmed its support for poverty reduction, digital development, and the Clean Sri Lanka initiative, with plans to finance three major projects over the next three months, totaling USD 200 million. World Bank Vice President for South Asia, Martin Raiser, concluded a 2-day visit to Sri Lanka today, where he met with Prez Anura Dissanayake, PM Harini Amarasuriya and other govt officials, more..

Jan 22 (Island) The govt has procured 350 units of biometric hardware, including high-resolution cameras and fingerprint scanners, for its upcoming SL Unique Digital Identity (SL-UDI) project which seeks to convert the country’s standard identification card (ID) to a digital ID, according to a report published by the Biometric Update. The tender for the balance 400 units of the same hardware had been awarded, Deputy Minister Eranga Weeraratne told Biometric Update on Sunday in Colombo. more..

Jan 22 (EN) Fitch Ratings said it has upgraded the national long-term ratings of 10 SL banks following the recent sovereign upgrade and recalibration of the agency’s rating scale. The banks are Bank of Ceylon, People’s Bank, Commercial Bank, Hatton National Bank, Sampath Bank, Seylan Bank, DFCC Bank, National Development Bank, Nations Trust Bank, and Pan Asia Banking Corporation. Fitch affirmed the national long-term ratings of five SL banks. These are Amana Bank, Union Bank, more..

Jan 22 (FT) In a bid to elevate the standards of the industry, SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), recently formally launched the SLTDA e-learning platform for homestays to enhance their knowledge and skills on hospitality, customer service, and brand building. The launch of the e-learning platform for homestays took place on 17 January at the Jetwing Colombo Seven in the presence of Foreign Affairs, more..

Jan 22 (NW) Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake emphasized that a country cannot progress solely through laws and regulations and highlighted that tradition is a vital component of a nation. Prez emphasized that SL has accomplished a remarkable mission through the traditions built on Buddhism and that it is the responsibility of everyone to safeguard these Buddhist traditions and pass them down securely to future generations. Prez expressed these views during a discussion more..

Jan 22 (NF) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake revealed the high costs associated with the residences of former Presidents, emphasizing the need for significant reforms. He said that it was estimated that Mahinda Rajapaksa's house in Wijerama, which sits on an acre and 13 perches of land, is worth Rs. 350 million, with a monthly rent of Rs. 4.6 million. Similarly, Chandrika Kumaratunga's house, which is over 9,000 square feet and more..

Jan 22 (AD) MP Dayasiri Jayasekara has alleged that his parliamentary privileges were violated by a statement made by the Minister of Power and Energy, claiming that electricity tariffs could not be reduced due to losses incurred by the CEB. The MP raised this issue in Parliament while participating in the debate on the Clean Sri Lanka national initiative. “On January 9, 2025, I questioned the Minister of Power and Energy regarding the possibility of reducing electricity tariffs. more..

Jan 22 (DM) A former police officer has been arrested over a viral video showing a woman being forcibly abducted by two individuals, one of whom was dressed as a police officer. The incident reportedly occurred on Saturday (18), outside the hostel of a private hospital in Wellawatte. Police investigations revealed that the man dressed as a police officer had been suspended for failing to report for duty. Wellawatte Police arrested the former police officer in connection with the abduction more..

Jan 22 (EN) Sri Lanka’s state-owned enterprises (SOE) could be either state-owned or privatized, Peter Breuer, IMF Mission chief for the island nation said, as a move to restructure several loss-making SOEs has been resisted by the new govt. Breuer’s comments come as President Anura Kumara Disanayake’s new govt has been resisting the privatization or divestment process under the previous govt’s SOE-restructuring strategies. more..

Jan 22 (AD) The Govt of Sri Lanka has decided to recommence the construction of Kurinchakerny Bridge in Kinniya facilitating transportation needs of thousands of people in the area. The Ministry of Finance said that USD 10.5 million has been allocated to recommence the construction of the bridge facilitating the transportation and business needs of approximately one hundred thousand residents in the Divisional Secretariat Division of Kinniya in Trincomalee District. more..