Jan 21 (AD) The results of the 2024 Grade 05 Scholarship Exam has been released online, Commissioner General of Examinations announced. Accordingly, the results can be viewed on the department’s official websites: www.doenets.lk. The 2024 Grade 05 Scholarship Exam was held on September 15 at 2,849 centres across the island with approximately 323,879 applicants sitting for the exam. Speaking in Parliament today, PM and the Minister of Education Dr. Harini Amarasuriya more..

Jan 21 (AD) CID has arrested two more suspects including an employee of the Dept of Railways in connection with an alleged major racket involving the resale of e-Tickets for up-country train journeys, including those to Ella. SSP Buddhika Manathunga stated that a Technical Officer of the Dept of Railways was arrested in Trincomalee on Wednesday, along with 92 e-Tickets intended for re-sale to foreign tourists. Furthermore, the officers of the CID have arrested another individual more..

Jan 21 (DM) President’s Secretariat has issued a series of instructions to all Ministry secretaries outlining the facilities and services to be provided to Ministers. In a written communication, Secretary to the Prez N.S. Kumanayake instructed Ministry secretaries on how to facilitate the functions of Ministers and strengthen the policy formulation process. As part of the new guidelines, govt has set a cap on the number of support staff for more..

Jan 21 (NW) The police have launched an investigation following the circulation of a video on social media that allegedly shows several officers sleeping while on duty. Commenting on the matter, Police Spokesman SSP Buddika Manatunga said the incident is being taken seriously. “A video is circulating on social media showing several police officers behaving inappropriately by sleeping at a certain location during their duty hours,” SSP Manatunga said. more..

Jan 21 (DM) Former Minister Douglas Devananda expressed his shock and dismay over the recent name change of the Cultural Hall located in Jaffna. He stated that the Cultural Hall, funded and provided by the Indian govt, was originally established to empower and preserve the culture and traditions of the Eelam Tamil people, serving as a symbol of their identity. Devananda explained that the establishment of this hall was the result of his personal request to former Indian PM Dr. Manmohan Singh more..

Jan 21 (FT) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa urged the Govt to give special emphasis for 35,000 to 40,000 unemployed graduates in the country. “Unemployment remains a critical issue. Providing them with jobs should be a top priority. There are over 22,000 Development Officers, who played a major role in addressing teacher shortages, have lost the opportunity to enter the teaching service despite repeated promises. more..

Jan 21 (EN) SL will go ahead with the free trade agreement with Singapore, on the basis of policy continuity, Deputy Minister Harshana Suriyapperuma has said. “This is a decision taken by previous governments,” he told COPF according to a published video. “On that basis, and as part of the agreement has already been implemented, we decided to go ahead with it on a stand alone basis.” The FTA envisages phased reduction of import duties and so-called para tariffs over more..

Jan 21 (AD) Former Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and his wife, who were arrested by the CID over allegations of misusing funds amounting to over Rs. 6.1 million in 2014, have been granted bail by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court. This order was issued by Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekunawela after they were produced before the court today. Meanwhile, two other suspects who were arrested in connection with the incident have also been ordered to be released on bail. more..

Jan 23 (CT) The SL Under-19 women’s team faced a crushing 60-run defeat against India in their ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup encounter played in Kuala Lumpur . Despite the heavy defeat, they advanced to the Super Six of the tournament, thanks to their back-to-back wins against host Malaysia and West Indies earlier in the tournament. Batting first, Sri Lanka kept India in check as Pramudi Methsara struck twice in the fourth over to provide an early breakthrough. more..

Jan 23 (AD) Colombo High Court has moved to Feb 21 to deliver its decision pertaining to the reply submissions by the Bribery Commission in relation to the case filed against former CB Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal and a group of defendants. Bribery Commission had filed this case against five defendants including former Governor of the CB Ajith Nivard Cabraal, alleging that they caused a loss of over Rs. 1.8 billion to the SL govt through the Greek treasury bond investments in 2012. more..

Jan 23 (TM) The acceptance of nominations for the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for 2025, by the Election Committee formed to oversee it, ended yesterday and the election of office bearers, is scheduled for 31 March. The forthcoming SLC AGM, is set to be supervised by a 5-member Election Committee, headed by retired President and Justice of the Court of Appeal Malanie Guneratne. more..

Jan 23 (DM) Sri Lanka will host Australia in a two-match Test series which gets underway next week at Galle. Sri Lankan fans have traditionally loved playing against the Aussies who have always been one of the best teams in the world although results have often favoured the visiting team. One of SL's best performance was recorded in 2016 when they whitewashed the Aussies led by Steven Smith who will be captaining them in the absence of Pat Cummins - the regular first team captain. more..

Jan 23 (CT) It cannot be said that a country is developed if a child cannot behave freely in an environment, or if a child or woman is not valued due to the lack of compassion, NPP Colombo District MP Samanmalee Gunasinghe said. Gunasinghe said that 97% of women were sexually harassed or abused in public transport. “We need a society that has a sense of purpose and a sense of responsibility, a society that thinks about others and feels that women should be respected,” more..

Jan 23 (AD) MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake alleges that several govt ministers, misuse govt vehicles despite official claims that no such vehicles have been provided to them. The accusations surfaced during the parliamentary session today, in response to a question regarding the allocation of vehicles to MPs. PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya addressed the inquiry, asserting that no vehicles have been distributed to more..

Jan 23 (TM) SL elite athlete, Olympian, Tharushi Karunaratne commenced 2025 on a positive note in the USA when she won the third round of the women’s 400 m at the Vanderbilt Indoor Invitational 2025 held in Tennessee USA. Karunaratne, 19-year-old prodigiously-talented sprinter representing Tulane University, managed to record a time of 54.51 seconds being placed second out of 52 athletes who participated in this event Earlier in this same meet, Tharushi participated in more..

Jan 23 (AD) Jaffna District Independent MP Dr. Ramanathan Archchuna declared today in Parliament that he will no longer support the ruling party, citing a violation of his parliamentary privileges. Dr. Archchuna expressed his frustration, stating that it took 36 days for him to be given an opportunity to speak in Parliament. He further noted that he had hoped the govt would address this issue fairly, but no action was taken. In response, Minister Bimal Ratnayake, clarified that it is the more..

Jan 23 (CT) Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus of SL, led by Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj, met to discuss legislative reforms, including a proposal to establish a common legal minimum age for marriage across all communities. The Caucus discussed the need to amend existing marriage laws and define a child in alignment with international standards to enhance child protection efforts in SL. Following the meeting, it was decided that stakeholder input would be sought to develop comprehensive more..

Jan 23 (DM) Police have released CCTV footage and photographs of a suspected gunman wanted in connection with a shooting at the residence of Ranjith Kumara, also known as Kandane Konda Ranji, in December last year. On December 13, two unidentified individuals arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire at a three-storey house on Veedi Mawatha in Kandana. Several bullets struck nearby homes, and it is reported that a T-56 assault rifle was used in the attack. more..

Jan 23 (AD) Minister Ananda Wijepala clarified in Parliament today the process of obtaining a passport under the new online method through one-day service. He explained that the applicants can reserve a date online to obtain a passport and collect it on the same day, however, the earliest available reservation date for new bookings is currently June 27, 2025. Responding to a question posed by Opposition Leader Sajith more..

Jan 23 (DM) The govt has not provided vehicles to any ruling party MP except for visually impared MP Sugath De Silva, PM Harini Amarasuriya said today. She told Parliament that a car has been provided to the MP by the Presidential Secreatariat while considering it a special need. PM said this while responding to a question by MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake. PM said there are no issues for MPs or Ministers to use vehicles and added that Ministers and Deputy Ministers have obtained vehicles more..

Jan 23 (EN) Sri Lanka has collected 10.9 billion rupees from imported rice up to Jan 10, Secretary to the Ministry of K A Vimalenthirarajah told the COPF. SL has imported at least 167,000 metric tonnes of rice after import controls were relaxed ahead of the main Maha season. Analysts have said the collections show how much taxes are arbitraged by rice producers and millers due to low yields and protection. Unlike in past years the import tax was not reduced this year. more..

Jan 23 (DM) Last week’s historical judgement by the Colombo High Court Judge M.K.M. Patabendige with regard to money laundering, monies specially earned from drug peddling, exposed a massive scale drug mafia which had been operating despite many security units claiming to be on alert and fighting day and night combat such illegal activities. The 115-page judgement probably marked the first in the country’s more..

Jan 23 (EN) Sri Lanka’s consumer demand is beginning to pick up but is still below pre-crisis levels, Charitha Subasinghe, President Retail Sector of John Keells Holdings, said. Customers bought an average of 9 items when they shopped before the crisis, but it dropped to 6.8 items, Subasinghe told, an economic forum organized by Advocata Institute, a Colombo-based think tank. The numbers have now started to move up. During the crisis, people also moved to lower priced items, he said. more..

Jan 23 (Island) While responding to a question raised in the Parliament today PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said that the previous regime had not developed a plan to implement the education reforms presented. “Therefore, we expect to review those reforms, make necessary alternatives for a positive transformation in education and implement it from 2026 onwards”. “We look forward to revising the content of subjects such as aesthetics, information technology and accounting to more..

Jan 24 (DM) When the much looked forward to film Rani is released soon, it is sure to take us back to a dark past when youth went missing sans a trace. Richard de Zoysa was one such youth who went missing. His mother was lucky to see the remains of her son after a gruesome killing. The film is based on the struggles Richard’s mother (Dr. Manoranee Saravanamuttu) makes to bring justice to her son, whose life was snatched away prematurely. It is suspected that Richard was killed due to more..

Jan 24 (CT) The recent announcement by the Ministry of Finance allocating USD 10.5 million for the construction of the Kurinchakerny Bridge in Kinniya, Trincomalee District, is a long-overdue step towards addressing a critical need. For years, approximately 100,000 residents have faced immense challenges due to the absence of a safe and reliable means to cross the Kurunjankeni Lagoon. While this development offers hope, it also underscores the failures of governance, more..

Jan 24 (CT) SL’s first hotel entirely operated and managed by women, Amba Yaalu Kandalama wants to redefine the role of women in the hospitality sector, breaking down gender disparities in an industry where female participation has traditionally been limited. Hence, in the heart of Dambulla, where ancient kings once ruled and vibrant landscapes stretch as far as the eye can see, a pioneering eco-friendly hotel is rewriting more..

Jan 24 (DM) Sri Lanka stands at crossroads in its economic history. Following a series of financial challenges, the country requires a robust and comprehensive policy framework to stimulate recovery and ensure long-term prosperity. This article outlines a multi-pronged approach that integrates fiscal discipline, structural reforms, social equity, and sustainable development. Achieving fiscal stability is paramount for restoring investor confidence and reducing SL’s debt burden. more..

Jan 24 (DM) Gamini Akmeemana’s (GA) brilliant article, English: What Our Politicians Failed to Understand (13th Jan), inspired me to offer both heartfelt praise and clarify a popular misconception. GA mentioned that he studied entirely in Sinhala medium during his school years and later learned English literature at Aquinas. Yet, as I recall, he achieved the remarkable feat of winning the prestigious Gratiaen Prize for best English fiction—a truly inspiring accomplishment. more..

Jan 24 (TM) As Sri Lanka braces for a projected 5.2% increase in electricity demand in 2025, concerns are mounting about the country’s ability to meet this surge in energy requirements, particularly during the upcoming dry season. With the CEB forecasting a substantial rise in demand, the question arises whether the island nation can avoid relying on emergency power purchases to fill the gap, especially when hydropower more..

Jan 24 (TM) Gaps in enforcing the rule of law has contributed to the public being weary of the Police and the State. Sri Lanka has had a systematic failure to enforce the laws which govern the land for decades. As such, lawlessness, crime and corruption reigned, and remains a constant issue. One of the key issues which has been a part of the problem is the lack of integrity and professionalism in the law enforcement agencies. Today, many have little or no respect for the Police. more..

Jan 24 (ST) Recently, a friend of mine posed an important puzzle to me: “I know the value of free trade and competition for the success of businesses, but I have a difficulty of applying it to our rice production in Sri Lanka”. Many of our rice farmers are poor and the price they receive for paddy harvest is too low. On the part of the consumers – about 22 million people in Sri Lanka – market price of rice, their staple food, is too high. Accordingly, the price should be higher for the farmers, more..

Jan 24 (FT) Leema Creations, SL’s most celebrated interior design solutions expert, marks its 25th anniversary this year, celebrating a quarter-century of excellence in the field of interior design and manufacturing of bespoke furniture. With an impeccable track record and recognition both locally and internationally, Leema Creations has firmly established itself as a leader in the industry. Throughout its illustrious history, Leema Creations has reached the pinnacle of success by more..

Jan 24 (Island) The signing of US $3.7 billion deal to construct a state-of-the-art oil refinery oil refinery, with a capacity of 200,000 barrels, in Hambantota with Chinese state-run oil giant Sinopec during Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD)’s state visit to China, is indeed an important achievement. This is significant because successive governments had tried but failed to attract such a large investment into petroleum refining in Sri Lanka. However, it is appropriate to ask more..

Jan 24 (FT) SL has exported 245.7 Mn kg in 2024 worth $ 1.4 billion narrowly ahead of last year’s low figure of 241.9 Mn kg. One significant positive aspect is that the value of exports reached an all-time high of Rs. 437 billion which converts to an approximate USD value of $ 1.435 billion. This USD value results in a highest ever FOB per kg of $ 5.83. But earnings in the hands of the farmer and estates had declined in Rupees because more..