Mar 6 (CT) A special meeting was held on 4 March between Minister K.D. Lalkantha and Canadian High Commissioner to SL, Eric Walsh, at the Ministry to discuss strengthening the longstanding bilateral relations between the two countries. The focus of the meeting was on seeking Canadian support to enhance SL’s agriculture sector by introducing modern agricultural technologies currently used in Canada. Canadian High Commissioner assured Minister Lalkantha of continued assistance more..

Mar 6 (NW) The Supreme Court has scheduled Sept 30 to hear a fundamental rights petition filed by former Minister Rajitha Senaratne, seeking a recount of preferential votes obtained by NDF candidates in the Kalutara District during the last General Election. A three-judge bench, comprising Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Janak de Silva, and Sampath Abeykoon, took up the petition today and set the hearing date. The petition names the Election Commission, its chairman and members, more..

Mar 6 (NW) A collection of gemstones valued at Rs. 250 million was released without board approval by the National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) just days before 2024 prez election, it was revealed during a COPE hearing. During the proceedings, NGJA Chairman said that the authority does not receive import data from SL Customs, making it difficult to maintain accurate records and valuations. more..

Mar 6 (NW) The Colombo High Court has issued capital punishment to a couple for abusing and then causing the death of a 02-year-old child following adoption. The verdict was issued by Colombo High Court judge Sujeewa Nissanka today. A case had been filed by the Attorney General on the incident which had occurred in the Maligawatta area on 01 May 2018. As the accusations had been proven without a doubt, the judge ordered that the couple, aged around 35 yrs, be sentenced to death. more..

Mar 6 (EN) The British High Commission and SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) have started an online course to improve security awareness in the island’s tourism sector. Counter-Terrorism Awareness eLearning Platform offers certification by SLTDA and the British High Commission upon completion. “As we see a re-growth in SL’s tourism industry, visitor and staff safety remain top priorities. This eLearning course will empower our professionals to detect and more..

Mar 6 (DM) The legalisation of certain drugs and its widespread use in Israel, has resulted in Sri Lankans living in the country becoming addicted to substances such as ice and marijuana, leading to mental instability, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the State of Israel Nimal Bandara claimed. Addressing the media he said that this has led to Sri Lanka potentially losing some of its future job opportunities or fellow Sri Lankans losing their jobs in Israel altogether. more..

Mar 6 (TM) Attorney General’s Department informed the Court of Appeal that a program will be formulated to reduce air pollution in Jaffna. The announcement was made during the hearing of a petition filed by a Jaffna resident, seeking Govt intervention to address rising air pollution. A court-ordered survey confirmed harmful air quality levels in the region. Accordingly, Govt plans to implement a nationwide pollution reduction program and is seeking foreign funding for the initiative. more..

Mar 6 (FT) Wetlands, which are Sri Lanka's lungs and kidneys, are still in a deteriorating state despite several measures taken to restore them from vanishing and reducing. Especially the wetlands in Colombo, which purify the city water, cooling the air and helping to control floods are still under threat due to rapid development, poor solid waste management and rapid growth of invasive species. more..

Mar 8 (CT) Deputy Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe said in Parliament that a contributory pension scheme is to be introduced this year for those engaged in the tourism sector. He stated that a social welfare programme is also to be initiated for those engaged in the tourism sector. Deputy Minister made this statement while responding to a question by SJB MP Hesha Withanage. He also stated that 100 tourist attractions are currently being identified for the future of the tourism sector more..

Mar 6 (DM) A total of 19 shooting incidents have been reported this year, with 12 linked to organized crime and 7 resulting from personal disputes, raising concerns over public safety and security. Police spokesman SSP Buddhika Manathunga stated that investigations into the shooting incidents are continuing, with 68 suspects arrested so far. He said that 13 firearms, including six T-56 weapons, two pistols and five handguns have been seized during the investigations. more..

Mar 6 (TM) All contracted red-ball players of SLC, have been mandated to play the forthcoming National Super League (NSL) four-day tournament and those who forgo participation in it will stand to lose their contracts, SLC Tournament Committee (TC) Chair Samantha Dodanwela said. He said this decision has been taken by the TC, in order to encourage long-format players to compete in domestic circuit’s leading competition more..

Mar 6 (FT) Colombo’s real estate sector is set to witness the rise of a new luxury residential landmark, as investor and developer, One 2 One Ltd., has signed a $ 9.08 million agreement with the BOI to develop The Maison — a high-end condominium project in Colombo 03. The 15-storey (14 floors) super-luxury apartment complex, located in Abdul Gaffoor Mawatha, will feature 48 exclusive penthouses, each spanning over 2,000 square feet. The project, undertaken through more..

Mar 6 (NW) Opposition MP Harsha de Silva has urged SL authorities to take proactive measures following US Prez Donald Trump’s announcement on reciprocal tariffs on several countries, including neighbouring India. MP Harsha de Silva said Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs with India should be a wake-up call for SL. “We need urgent, proactive measures to address before trade walls block our access to the US – our largest export market. Inexperience in foreign policy isn’t an excuse. more..

Mar 7 (Island) After Ranil Wickremesinghe and Anura Kumara Dissanayake became Prez one after the other (in 2022 and 2024 respectively) without any sign of full-hearted public approval, though, their social media admirers shared posts that claimed that they both had made a substantial contribution to ending the separatist terrorism that had plagued the country for decades. They may have their arguments to support their claims. Those who know the facts, however, would hardly agree with them. more..

Mar 7 (DM) President, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, said in the parliament on 28 Feb that the Number of persons in all three armed forces will be reduced while they will be made sophisticated with equipment. “Our aim is to acquire modern equipment for the forces. Almost all aircraft in the Sri Lanka Air Force are becoming outdated. Therefore, we will acquire new aircraft. Sri Lanka Navy will also get new craft and new equipment. We will do it without any hesitation,” the President said. more..

Mar 7 (SO) In recent months, SL has witnessed a disturbing rise in child abuse complaints, shedding light on a growing crisis that demands urgent attention. The country, known for its rich cultural heritage and strong community values is now grappling with the harsh reality of increasing cases of child exploitation and violence. Reports from various child welfare organisations have raised alarms, revealing a pattern of abuse across both urban & rural more..

Mar 7 (CT) The following discussion paper was prepared by the writer few years ago as a preliminary draft for a comprehensive proactive disclosure policy, at the invitation of UNDP Colombo. Unfortunately, despite its potential to enhance transparency and accountability, the initiative faced significant resistance. Both politicians and officials, wary of increased transparency, demonstrated a lukewarm attitude toward proactive disclosure and showed little enthusiasm for developing more..

Mar 7 (GV) Govt’s 2025 budget, introduced under a new administration with progressive ideologies, claims to prioritize gender equality and women’s empowerment. With gender focused allocations, it outlines initiatives to improve women’s rights, economic participation, healthcare & social welfare. However, a closer look raises doubts about whether these measures will deliver meaningful and sustainable change or whether they are merely populist gestures crafted for political more..

Mar 7 (CT) State Health Service is at loggerheads with the Govt once more owing to a dispute regarding salaries and allowances. Demands have been made for the Health Minister to take immediate measures to rectify the issues that have been created in State Health Service salaries as a result of the salary increment that was given in the 2025 budget proposals. Health service trade unions lamented that Govt had reduced allowances more..

Mar 7 (CT) SL’s archaic abortion laws have long subjected women to unnecessary trauma, forcing them to carry pregnancies to term even when the foetus has no chance of survival. Now, with medical experts advocating for a legal framework to allow terminations in cases of fatal congenital defects, the usual moral gatekeepers have emerged once again, clutching their pearls and crying foul. The proposal, spearheaded by the College of Community Physicians of SL (CCPSL) alongside more..

Mar 7 (ST) How safe is your personal data at a time when the authorities are seeking to access your personal information for various national reasons? What happens if it gets into the wrong hands? In such a situation, is your life at risk? Some years back, supporters of a politician seeking election to a local body visited the home of a journalist colleague to distribute propaganda material. Instead of simply handing over the material, they sought various information from the chief householder more..

Mar 7 (DM) Civilisations since the dawn of history have engaged in search for the right balance between security and liberty-both elemental needs of society through dramatically changing conditions and priorities. Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, announced last week the appointment of a Committee headed by Rienzie Arsecularatne, PC, to undertake a review of the current law, to assess proposals for reform over the decades and to recommend the content of an appropriate more..

Mar 7 (FT) JAT Holdings PLC said it has recorded a stellar performance for Q3 of FY 2024/25, crossing the Rs. 1 billion mark in Profit After Tax (PAT) for the first nine months of the financial year. Local operations continued to demonstrate resilience, with revenue reaching Rs. 5,571 million in the first nine months, reflecting a steady 10% YoY growth. The Group’s flagship product, Sayerlack, in the wood coatings category, registered a 5% growth, reinforcing its strong market position. more..

Mar 7 (ST) The SLAF expanded its personnel during the civil war to support ground operations. While recruitment continues at a reduced rate, numbers are set to shrink significantly over the next decade as wartime recruits reach the end of their 22-year service terms, with around 4,500 expected to retire between 2027 and 2032. “We are currently at around 26,000 personnel but need to bring that down to about 20,000 by 2030” more..

Mar 7 (Island) Former Minister Mervyn Silva and two others, arrested by the CID for allegedly selling a block of state-owned land in Kelaniya by preparing a forged deed, were remanded yesterday. We do not intend to discuss a matter that is under judicial scrutiny. However, it needs to be said that legal action against Silva and others of his ilk for blatant violations of the law during the Rajapaksa govt, is long overdue. CID is only scratching the surface of the problem of forcible land acquisition. more..

Mar 7 (OI) Sri Lanka Masters defeated West Indies Masters by 21 runs in match 10 of the International Masters League T20 2025 at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on Thursday. WI Masters had won the toss and opted to field first against Put into bat first, captain Kumar Sangakkara gave Sri Lanka a good start with his 47. Asela Gunaratne built on that start with a fine 64 to take Sri Lanka Masters to 173/9 in 20 overs. Ashley Nurse was the pick of the West Indian bowlers with 3 wickets for 23 runs. more..

Mar 7 (ST) With technology advancing and everything squeezed into a mobile device that controls human activities and reactions, vehicles are turned into battery power while solar panels have become the source to generate electricity. The fastest growing waste stream in the world has become the electronic waste (e-waste). It is estimated that about 40 million tonnes of e-waste is created each year globally. These remarks were made by Central Environment Authority, more..

Mar 7 (ST) Poor digital literacy among fishermen, delays the process of switching from current logbook entries to a new digital catch certification system in fishing vessels as set out in the European Union (EU) recommendations, a senior official from the Fisheries Ministry said. “We have already commenced the process but we noticed that poor digital literacy among fisherfolk is a challenge ahead of us. We are trying to resolve this through several initiatives launched by the Ministry,” more..

Mar 7 (DM) The pilot project of installation and renewal of traffic countdown systems for road signs will be initiated around the country as an important and timely step taken to reduce road accidents and to protect the lives of pedestrians, Minister Bimal Rathnayake said. He said that due to unruly drivers and unnecessary chaos, some pedestrians have lost their lives while crossing roads in recent years. more..

Mar 7 (DN) SL’s Buwaneka Goonethilleka advance to the pre quarter finals of the Men’s Singles in the ongoing HUNDRED Sri Lanka International Series 2025, at the St. Joseph’s College Indoor Complex Colombo. Former National champion Buwaneka, currently ranked 1032 in the world, will meet Malaysia’s Darrell Chew, BWF ranked 225, in the pre-quarter-final clash today. This six-day international competition is sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and more..

Mar 7 (CI) SL, India and South Africa are set to play a women's ODI tri-series in April and May in Sri Lanka, SLC announced on Thursday. This tri-series was not originally part of the women's Future Tours Programme. All seven matches of the series will be day games, played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo from April 27 to May 11. Each team will play the others twice - making it four matches per team - before the top two teams play the final. The series will start with hosts SL taking on India. more..

Mar 7 (DM) With SL experiencing a rise in tourist arrivals compared to last year, industry leaders are calling for the urgent rollout of global promotional campaigns to sustain the momentum in order to achieve the govt’s sector targets for the year. Without a strategic marketing push, experts opined that sustaining growth and attracting high-spending visitors will remain a challenge even if the sector experiences an improved financial more..

Mar 7 (FT) The effective implementation of the National Budget has been a key concern for many years. To enhance the feasibility of budget proposals and extend the discussion beyond just the month following a Budget speech, the Ceylon Chamber is launching a seminar series titled Implementing the National Budget 2025. This initiative aims to drive actionable insights and ensure a more structured approach to execution. The first in this seminar series will be held from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. on more..

Mar 7 (TM) Yesterday (6), the SSC Grounds in Colombo came to life to host yet another Royal-Thomian Battle of the Blues encounter, this time, the 146th edition of the longest uninterrupted school cricket series in the island nation. Royal’s deputy skipper and opener Rehan Peiris was the starboy of the opening day as he smashed 21 boundaries and three sixers all over the park. Peiris scored his century in style with a thumping sixer to etch his name in history books. more..

Mar 7 (FT) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday directed officials to take necessary steps to guarantee that farmers receive adequate fertiliser supplies on time during the Yala season, ensuring an efficient and productive cultivation season. He made these remarks during a discussion held with officials from the Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation Ministry along with representatives from related institutions, at the Presidential Secretariat. Highlighting the critical role of fertiliser more..