Sep 18 (NF) In a dramatic turn of events, police discovered a licensed firearm in the possession of one of the attorneys representing Sampath Manamperi, a former local govt candidate from the SLPP, during court proceedings today (17). Authorities confirmed that the weapon was taken into custody and will be returned to the lawyer through proper legal procedures. The incident was formally reported to the Walasmulla Magistrate, adding another layer of intrigue to an already more..

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Sep 18 (TM) The Citizens Power against Bribery, Corruption, and Waste organisation has lodged a complaint with the CIABOC, seeking an investigation into the assets of six Cabinet and Deputy Ministers in the current NPP Govt. President of the organisation Kamantha Thushara said that he had lodged a complaint with the CIABOC, requesting an investigation into the assets of six key figures in the current Govt under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, No. 5 of 2006. more..

Sep 18 (TM) The main Opposition, SJB stated yesterday that they are awaiting a meeting with the Speaker of the Parliament Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne to discuss the basis on which he decided not to accept the no-confidence motion (NCM) against the Deputy Minister of Defence Major General (retd.) Aruna Jayasekera. Chief Opposition Whip Gayantha Karunathilleka said that they expect these matters to be taken up at the next Parliamentary group meeting during the coming Parliamentary week. more..

Sep 18 (DN) Mahanayaka Theras of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters issued a joint statement expressed concern over the malicious propaganda and false information being spread by external parties ahead of the Diyawadana Nilame election. The statement, signed by the Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera and the Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thera, warns that these more..

Sep 18 (NF) Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has revealed that certain MPs have allegedly received regular payments from organized criminal networks, disguised as monthly tax collections—a revelation that underscores the depth of criminal infiltration into Sri Lanka’s political system. President described the existence of a shadow state—a parallel system of power that mimics the official govt but is controlled by organized crime syndicates. more..

Sep 18 (DM) It is written in the books of the discerning that cricket is a gentleman’s game. No longer is it and this thing called cricket needs a new name. That it happened at the Asia Cup is enough for Westerners to have the last laugh after what India’s cricketers did by refusing to move on after a match against Pakistan. That the sport of cricket had to be dragged in or used to settle a political grudge was the biggest tragedy the once English summer sport was ever subjected to. more..

Sep 18 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake declared that 2025 will mark a decisive turning point in Sri Lanka’s economic, social, political and legal spheres, as he launched the long-delayed construction of the Central Expressway section from Kadawatha to Mirigama. “Today, I assure the people that we are committed to rebuilding Sri Lanka in such a way that such a crisis will never recur,” he said. Speaking at the commencement more..

Sep 18 (FT) Bristling with misplaced arrogance as always, JVP theoretician and NPP Minister Bimal Rathnayake boasted in Parliament that 43 countries had spoken in favour of SL after Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath’s address to the UNHRC in Geneva following UN Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Turk’s Report. Bimal seems unaware that 43 is not the most relevant figure. While all 193 UN member states are present in Geneva and have the right to speak, only 47 of the 193 have been elected members more..

Sep 18 (FT) Imagine the smooth, low voice, almost a vibration, dripping with false admiration painting a glittering hallucination against the backdrop of a girl’s whispered dreams: “Look at you. You have a light, a spark that most people only dream of. A truly unique look. You weren’t meant for this small life, this struggle. I see a star in you, darling, shining so bright, just waiting for the right lens to capture it. This isn’t just a photoshoot; this is your highway to stardom. more..

Sep 18 (NW) The GovPay Digital State Payment Platform was officially launched at the Jaffna District Secretariat today, in line with the vision of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to bring digital services closer to the people of the Northern Province. The ceremony was held under the patronage of Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports & Civil Aviation, Bimal Rathnayake, with the participation of the Jaffna District Secretary and all Divisional Secretaries of the district. more..

Sep 18 (DM) Kotte Municipal Councillor Harshani Sandaruwani, who was produced before court on charges of contempt of court during proceedings in a case filed against former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, was released on bail by Fort Magistrate Isuru Neththiikumara. The Magistrate granted bail to the suspect on two sureties of Rs. 500,000 each. While granting bail, Magistrate cautioned the Councillor to refrain from making political statements that may amount to contempt of court. more..

Sep 18 (DN) Marine Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA) has announced plans to conduct a comprehensive audit of waste along the coast, identifying the brands and companies responsible for dumping plastic, polythene, and other pollutants into SL’s marine environment. Companies found responsible will face legal action. This was revealed at a media briefing held yesterday at the Ministry of Environment to raise awareness about the upcoming International Coastal Cleanup Day, more..

Sep 18 (AD) Former Minister of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council Athula Kumara Rahubaddha has been remanded until Oct 2 by the Embilipitiya Magistrate’s Court today (18), Ada Derana reporter said. He was arrested yesterday in connection with the misappropriation of Rs. 70 million in state funds during his tenure as provincial minister (2016 – 2017), by the FCID operated under the CID. Accordingly, when the suspect was produced before the court today, CID officials informed the court that, more..

Sep 18 (NW) Two suspects have been arrested in connection with a cannabis plantation that was discovered within the Udawalawe National Park, Dept of Wildlife Conservation said. According to the department, the cannabis plantation was found during a patrol conducted yesterday by wildlife officers from the Panahaduwa Site Protection Office. The cannabis plants had grown to about three feet in height, and two individuals engaged in cultivation activities at the site were taken into custody. more..

Sep 18 (NF) A portion of the Mantri Manai, also known as the Minister’s Palace, a designated archaeological monument from the Jaffna Kingdom era, has reportedly collapsed in Nallur. Site, gazetted as a protected monument under the Dept of Buddhist Religious and Cultural Affairs, is believed to have been constructed by the Arya Chakravarti kings who ruled the northern region from the 13th to the 17th century. Structure is renowned for its Mayo stone construction, more..

Sep 18 (AD) An earthquake of 3.9 magnitude was recorded on Thursday (18) in the sea area off the coast of Trincomalee, according to the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau of SL (GSMB). A bulletin issued by the GSMB’s Seismic Monitoring Center confirmed that the earthquake had been recorded in the seas around 60km northeast from Trincomalee at 4.06 p.m. today. The bureau also stated that the earthquake was recorded at all four seismic monitoring stations in the country located in more..

Sep 18 (TM) Solar Village SDG CIC, an Oxfordshire-based community interest company, has launched the Oxford City Walkabout 2025, a sponsored fundraising walk scheduled for Sunday, 2 November. The two-and-a-half-hour walk will take participants through Oxford’s landmarks, culminating in a social fundraising event featuring a quiz, an Oxford–Sri Lanka themed art sale, SL music, a raffle, and a traditional banana-leaf wrapped lunch. The organisation hopes to raise sufficient funds to more..

Sep 18 (AD) The Dambulla Waste Management Facility, an award-winning waste management project in the country initiated with an investment of around Rs. 650 million, has reportedly become completely inactive. Due to the shutdown of the waste management facility, garbage collected from several districts has been dumped into the forests, according to residents who claim that as a result, the wild animals including elephants have resorted to eating the garbage. more..

Sep 18 (EN) Asian Development Bank has agreed to release a 100 million dollar loan to Sri Lanka to implement tourism development measures, including in Trincomalee, Dambulla and Sigiriya, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. “The loan is comprised of 2 parts; 70 million dollars is for the policy component and the rest for the investment component,” Jayatissa told reporter earlier this week. Under the investment part, steps to develop tourism measures in the Trincomalee, Dambulla & Sigiriya more..

Sep 18 (AD) A businessman has been arrested by the police on suspicion of selling illegally imported cigarettes to schoolchildren in the Thanamalwila area. It has been revealed that the suspect had provided these cigarettes of various flavors to a school student to sell to fellow students, Ada Derana reporter said. Investigations revealed that the suspect had supplied the illegal foreign cigarettes to the student, instructing to sell the cigarettes. The cigarettes, purchased from the businessman more..

Sep 18 (SM) Sri Lanka has taken a major step toward strengthening its child protection and justice systems with the launch of a transformative model service aimed at supporting children who have experienced violence. The initiative, unveiled in Kandy, is a joint effort by the Ministry of Justice and National Integration and the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, with support from the EU through UNICEF. It introduces a comprehensive, more..

Sep 18 (DM) SL Mission in Israel has clarified that recent reports on Facebook and other social media claiming that a SL worker has been stranded in the country are misleading. In a statement, Sri Lankan Ambassador Nimal Bandara said the 42-year-old worker had arrived in Israel in August under the govt quota scheme of the SL Bureau of Foreign Employment to work in the construction sector. However, the Ambassador noted that the man had begun consuming alcohol heavily shortly after his arrival, more..

Sep 18 (Island) At the invitation of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe, completed a four-day official visit to Sichuan Province, China, aimed at deepening economic cooperation and enhancing bilateral trade relations. During his visit, the Deputy Minister addressed the South Asia & Southeast Asia Business Development Cooperation Conference and delivered a keynote presentation at the SL Economic and Trade more..

Sep 18 (DN) The election for the Diyawadana Nilame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy is scheduled to take place on or around November 7, the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs, Gamini Senarathna, confirmed. The term of the incumbent Diyawadana Nilame, Pradeep Nilanga Dela, ended earlier this month, after which he was appointed in an acting capacity for three months. Dela was first appointed to the post in 2005 and has been elected twice since then. more..

Sep 18 (AD) Former Executive Director of the National Lotteries Board (NLB), Thusitha Halloluwa has been granted bail after being produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today (18), said Ada Derana reporter. Accordingly, Colombo Additional Magistrate Lahiru Silva ordered that Thusitha Halloluwa be released on two surety bails of Rs. 500,000 each. The Magistrate also imposed a travel ban on the suspect, and further ordered that the suspect’s passport be impounded. more..

Sep 18 (NW) Airport and Aviation Services (SL) (AASL) has announced that the restriction on the entry to the Departure Lobby at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for visitors during peak hours has been amended. Accordingly, the restriction on visitors to the Departure Lobby will only apply on Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 p.m. to midnight. Earlier, the AASL had announced that from Thursdays to Saturdays, visitors will not be permitted into the Departure Lobby from 10 p.m. to midnight. more..

Sep 18 (TM) SL recorded over 15,000 reports of child abuse in 2024, a figure that officials say represents only the tip of the iceberg. Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, Saroja Paulraj, has called for urgent and systemic reform, declaring that violence against children has no place in Sri Lanka. Speaking on the issue, Minister highlighted that the Govt is rolling out a series of reforms under the National Policy Framework 2025 to strengthen the child protection system. more..

Sep 18 (CT) The National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) has registered over 9,000 cosmetic products during the past three years, amounting to only around 10 per cent of those available in the local market, Consultant Dermatologist, National Hospital Colombo (NHSL), Dr. Indira Kahawita, said. Dr. Kahawita yesterday warned that even if the Ministry of Health and Mass Media manages to pass the long-awaited Cosmetic Bill in Parliament by December or early next year, more..

Sep 18 (AD) Approximately five individuals in SL are at risk of dying daily due to chronic kidney disease (CKD), the National Unit for Kidney Disease Prevention and Research (NRDPRU) states. Consultant Community Physician Dr. Chintha Gunaratne, the Director of the Unit revealed that over 1,600 people in the country died from chronic kidney-related conditions in the year 2023. She made these remarks while speaking at a media briefing organized by the Health Promotion Bureau on kidney-related diseases. more..

Sep 18 (CT) The farmers urged the Government not to import urad dhal in light of receiving unfair prices for their harvest, stating that there is already a sufficient stockpile within the country for local consumption. The farmers also pointed out that once the Govt imports urad dhal, it will do them no good; instead, it will create a blockage in marketing their harvest. Farmers in Mahavilachchiya and Rajanganaya have been cultivating urad dhal on a large scale for years. more..

Sep 18 (AN) Sri Lanka's prison population has topped 35,000, about three times the system's capacity with around 50% of inmates convicted for drug-related offences. Prisons Commissioner and Department of Prisons media spokesperson Jagath Weerasinghe recently confirmed to the press that, although the prisons were built to hold 12,000 people, they are holding more than double that number, and that the state spends approximately Rs. 1,000 per inmate per day. more..

Sep 18 (AD) Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vijitha Herath, along with the Minister of Industry, Sunil Handunneththi, and Minister of Trade, Wasantha Samarasinghe, launched an integrated mechanism to enhance collaboration between Sri Lanka’s overseas Missions and national institutions. Joined by Ministry Secretaries and agency heads, the initiative aimed to revitalize the country’s trade and investment agenda through coordinated efforts. The session on 16 Sept, attended by more..

Sep 18 (DM) The Sri Lankan passport which ranked at 91 among 105 countries dropped a further 6 spots since March this year to 97, further weakening the standing of Sri Lankan passport holders to travel to other countries. Sri Lanka currently shares the 97th position with Iran which is currently facing sanctions from the United States. Just below at the 99th position is Palestine which is currently under a humanitarian crisis, and North Korea run by dictatorship. more..

Sep 19 (DM) Sri Lanka, as a country now in the midst of an IMF programme, has largely achieved macroeconomic stability. The latest World Bank report titled SL Public Finance Review: Towards a Balanced Fiscal Adjustment, acknowledged it. The revenue adjustment since 2022 has been significant, with a near 5-percentage-point increase in tax-to-GDP to 12.3% in 2024. This was driven by sharp increases in tax rates from a low base, the report said. The govt aims to raise it to 15%. more..

Sep 19 (CT) When making financial decisions or investments, the public tends to do much research and seek the advice of the Central Bank of SL – the highest and most reliable source of information in the country regarding finance and banking. However, the same precautionary methods aren’t necessarily followed when making other decisions, especially when making consumer choices. When making consumer decisions in relation to medicine, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, skincare, health, more..