Sep 19 (TM) A total of 54% of parents use corporal punishment on primary school children even though only 32% believe that it is necessary in parenting and despite 85% being aware of the negative repercussions, with the age and level of education of the parents showing an association with the parents’ attitudes on the same, a study conducted in the Western Province found. These findings were made in an original article on more..

Sep 19 (ST) At a recent red carpet engagement in Colombo, I heard someone shout Hey Mr. Tariff as we were walking into the hall. Turning around, I saw an influential apparel industrialist smiling away. I returned the smile – realising that the reference was to journalists closely following the saga of US tariffs. We keep returning to Prez Donald Trump’s tariffs – SL was slapped a tax of 20% effective from Aug 7 – as there have been multiple developments in between the kick-off dates of the new tariffs. more..

Sep 19 (TM) Sri Lanka once again finds itself under the scrutiny of the international community as the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNOHCHR) unveiled its latest report on the country’s HR record. Released last month (8 Aug), the advance, unedited document A/HRC/60/21 was prepared in accordance with the UNHRC Resolution 57/1 and examines developments since October of last year. The report arrives at a critical moment for the island nation, following pledges of reform more..

Sep 19 (CT) While the CAA often faces criticism over price ceilings and the regulation of goods and services, it has in several instances acted as a watchdog safeguarding unsuspecting consumers. In a recent raid, officials seized stocks of candy, chocolates, jelly products, and dates from a shop in Pettah after deeming them unsuitable for consumption. The raid conducted by the CAA on a tip-off revealed that the sweets had been more..

Sep 19 (CT) If Part One diagnosed the problem, Part Two considers solutions. How can SL strengthen decision-making, rebuild trust, and create a political culture rooted in integrity and accountability? Lessons for this can be drawn both from within SL and from international experience—especially Australia’s evolving integrity framework. At the heart of SL’s democratic malaise is the steady erosion of its public service. What was once guided by the independent Public Service Commission more..

Sep 19 (TM) Facing an ever-uncertain world order and a period of climate change, SL needs to gear up for future governance challenges. Coming out of one turbulent period, SL needs to quickly recover from an economic crisis and recalibrate its economy and evolve its governance systems to be resilient and prosper in the coming decades. SL needs to reform its state sector and how it governs in order to be future proof. Longstanding criticism about a large and unsustainable govt apparatus more..

Sep 19 (FT) In a world increasingly seeking natural, healthy alternatives and sustainable food sources, kithul, a traditional Sri Lankan sweetener is poised to capture international attention. Derived from the sap of Caryota Urens palm, (commonly known as the fishtail palm), kithul has long held a revered place in Sri Lankan culture, economy and traditional medicine. But beyond its domestic role, kithul holds untapped potential in the international marketplace, particularly as a natural sweetener more..

Sep 19 (Island) Expanded budget deficits and continuous borrowing by successive governments pushed the Sri Lankan economy into a recession. These heavy borrowings placed a significant burden on the shoulders of today’s citizens. The previous govt was compelled to seek assistance from the IMF to revive the economy, which led to increased tax rates, a broader tax base, and the introduction of new taxes. The present NPP govt has introduced some tax revisions. more..

Sep 19 (FT) India’s fintech giant, Paytm Founder and CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma urged SL to seize its moment to transform into a global digital economy hub. Delivering an energetic and impassioned keynote at Disrupt Asia 2025, he drew parallels to India’s own journey and highlighted connectivity, digital payments, credit expansion, and local ambition as the pillars for sustainable growth. Sharma compared SL’s status today to India more..

Sep 19 (ICC) SL skipper has high hopes for her side at the upcoming event given their affinity with the likely conditions teams will face. SL captain Chamari Athapaththu believes the fact that the upcoming ICC Women's Cricket World Cup will be played on the sub-continent will prove advantageous for her side. Asian team returns to the 50-over World Cup after missing the most recent edition in NZ in 2022 and Athapaththu thinks the side can be more than competitive at the 8-team tournament more..

Sep 19 (Island) Some govt leaders’ asset declarations, submitted to the CIABOC, are now in the public domain. They have become grist for the Opposition’s mill. The political rivals of the ruling JVP-led NPP are in overdrive, trying to depict the JVP leaders as a bunch of hypocrites who have enriched themselves while pretending to be dependent on financial assistance from their Marxist party even to satisfy their basic needs. But these critics have chosen to ignore the fact more..

Sep 19 (CI) SL allrounder Dunith Wellalage's father, Suranga Wellalage, has died on Thursday (18), the same day that Dunith played in the Asia Cup Group B match against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi. Wellalage, 22, only learned of his father's death after the match, which SL won by six wickets and eight balls remaining to qualify for the Super Four round of the tournament. Soon after the match ended, he left for home. This bereavement casts doubt over Wellalage's further involvement in Asia Cup, more..

Sep 19 (FT) Parliament Secretariat yesterday said Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus has held discussions with representatives of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) and the Law and Society Trust (LST) on potential areas of support and ways to encourage greater political participation by young women. The meeting was attended by PM Harini Amarasuriya and Caucus Chairperson Saroja Savitri Paulraj and focused on gender-sensitive governance and intergenerational dialogue. more..

Sep 19 (CI) Kusal Mendis ensured SL's 100% record through the group stage as his unbeaten 74 off 52 trumped Mohammad Nabi's outrageous 60 off 22 for a six-wicket win against Afghanistan. The result means Bangladesh also qualify with a second place in group B. Kusal was crucial to the chase with his ability to navigate Afghanistan's variety of spinners - courtesy of well-executed sweeps and pulls - proving crucial more..

Sep 19 (FT) SL is poised for a period of sustained economic growth after years of crisis, according to Asia Frontier Capital (AFC) Fund Manager Ruchir Desai, who argues that political stability, reforms and attractive valuations make the country a compelling opportunity for investors. “With an outlook for stable growth, a universe of exceptionally well-run companies with good corporate governance and valuations that are still below pre-crisis levels, SL remains a top country pick more..

Sep 19 (Island) Thrower Rumesh Tharanga established himself as SL’s brightest medal prospect at future global track and field events as he beat Olympic gold medallists on his way to securing 7th place in the men’s javelin throw at the World C'ship in Tokyo on Thursday. Tharanga’s 84.38 metres effort placed him at the seventh position in a strong field of 12 finalists including several Olympic and World C'ship gold medallists. ‎The 22-year-old created a piece of track and field history, more..

Sep 19 (TM) SL’s third nano satellite, developed with the technical expertise of local engineers, is scheduled to be launched into orbit today, the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies in Moratuwa, has announced. Named BIRDS-X Dragonfly, the satellite was carried to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the SpaceX-33 rocket, launched by the US National Aeronautics & Space Admin on 24 Aug. more..

Sep 19 (FT) Two design powerhouses, SL’s celebrated handloom brand Barefoot, and Dutch luxury interiors brand POLSPOTTEN, are joining forces for the first time in a landmark collaboration set to debut in 2025/2026. The upcoming collection will blend Barefoot’s mastery of handloom craft and colour with POLSPOTTEN’s bold, contemporary design language, marking the first collaboration between SL and POLSPOTTEN while building on Barefoot’s decades-long tradition of working more..

Sep 19 (ST) Three suspects detained over the abduction and disappearance of former Vice-Chancellor of the Eastern Uni, Prof. Sivasubramanium Raveendranath, have given statements before Mount Lavinia Magistrate Chathurika De Silva claiming that they were not involved in the incident. The statements before the Magistrate have been given under Section 127 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The three suspects who were produced before court are more..

Sep 19 (DM) Cambridge International is scaling up its operations in Sri Lanka, setting up a dedicated business presence and building a local team to strengthen ties with schools and the govt, its Managing Director Rod Smith said earlier this week. “We are opening our business here so that we can actually invest much more here in terms of building our team,” Smith said at the Cambridge in Sri Lanka forum in Colombo. “It means that we will be able to work much closer with the govt here, more..

Sep 19 (Island) The Tea Exporters Association (TEA) hosted its 26th Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Taj Samudra, bringing together nearly 500 stakeholders, diplomats, and industry leaders to reflect on the progress of Sri Lanka’s tea industry and chart a bold path forward under the theme Resilience & Revitalization. Delivering his address, Huzefa Akbarally, Chairman of TEA, reaffirmed the Association’s commitment to strengthening the global position of Ceylon Tea: more..

Sep 19 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake on Wednesday inaugurated the construction of six new oil storage tanks at the Kolonnawa Petroleum Storage Complex. The Rs. 3.7 billion project, awarded to an Indo East Engineering-Ceylex Engineering joint venture, will add three tanks of 15,000 cubic metres each – two of 7,000 cubic metres and one of 5,000 cubic metres – with completion targeted for Sept 2027. more..

Sep 19 (CT) Attorney General informed Colombo High Court Judge Mohamed Irshadeen that a request has been submitted to the Chief Justice to appoint a new Trial-at-Bar bench to hear the case against former Defence Ministry Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and former IGP Pujith Jayasundara, relating to their failure to take necessary action and their abdication of responsibility over the Easter Sunday terror attacks in 2019. When the case was taken up, it was revealed that 2 positions more..

Sep 19 (Island) A fire that raged for several days destroyed more than 1,000 acres of forest in the Nonpareil Estate area, located near the popular tourist zones of Balangoda and Belihuloya. The particular forest is in a vital catchment area of the Samanalawewa Reservoir. It is also home to a diverse range of wildlife, including bats, squirrels, civets, and numerous bird species. Beyond its rich biodiversity, the forest is known for its vast array of medicinal plants and trees, more..

Sep 19 (FT) Heavy traffic congestion was reported along Sir Chittampalam A. Gardiner Mawatha in Colombo yesterday, after CEB workers staged a demonstration opposite the CEB headquarters. The protest, which blocked one lane between the Lake House roundabout and Slave Island, disrupted evening traffic and forced police to advise motorists to take alternate routes. The demonstration was part of an escalating trade union campaign against the Govt’s plan to restructure CEB into 4 entities. more..

Sep 19 (TM) Govt stated that there would be no shortage of other varieties of rice in the coming months, despite the ongoing scarcity of Keeri Samba and the disputes surrounding its price. Deputy Minister R.M. Jayawardana said that the rice shortages usually occur in the months of Nov, Dec, and Jan. However, he said that they do not anticipate a shortage of other varieties of rice this year due to several reasons. “Production in the Yala cultivation season was higher than expected. more..

Sep 19 (CT) In a groundbreaking ruling, A'pura High Court, yesterday, ordered Minister of Transport and Highways, Ministry Secretary, and the General Manager of Railways to ensure all railway stations between Mahawa and Vavuniya on the Northern Line are fully accessible to persons with disabilities. HC Judge Nalinda Hewawasam delivered the landmark verdict, which legal experts have hailed as the first of its kind more..

Sep 19 (EN) Sri Lanka has opened its integrated water supply system which will provide safe drinking water to people in Gampaha, Minuwangoda and Attanagalla and parts of Mahara and Mirigama, minister Vijitha Herath said. The large-scale project begun by the former Yahapalanaya government, includes 88,000 new water connections and the upgrading of about 22,000 existing water connections. The project includes the Basnagoda Reservoir with a capacity of 5.5m cubic m more..

Sep 19 (DM) Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga Bodaragama ordered the Director of the Police Narcotics Bureau to personally appear before court on Sept 25 and present submissions regarding the charges filed under the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance against Shadhika Lakshani, wife of Backhoe Saman. Chief Magistrate further directed AG to assign a State Counsel to appear before court on the next date and make submissions in relation to the case. more..

Sep 19 (CT) CEB trade unions have warned that they will intensify ongoing trade union actions if their demands continue to be ignored. Unions commenced a sick note campaign on top of the work-to-rule campaign in the last two days in protest against what they call the “arbitrary restructuring of the CEB.” Yesterday, the second day of the sick note campaign was staged, adding pressure to the work-to-rule action. more..

Sep 19 (FT) The ongoing problem of illegal fishing and bottom trawling in SL’s northern territorial waters by Indian fishers from Tamil Nadu state was described in detail in the first part of this article published last week. Particular attention was devoted to the bogey of Katchatheevu being raised by the Indian side to sidetrack the issue. As emphasised previously the fundamental problem is illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters and not the question of Katchatheevu islet ownership. more..

Sep 19 (FT) As the first year of a House commandeered by the NPP has come round, it is timely, appropriate and opportune to examine the track record of a tyro govt in the 365 days just past. It is timely because the traditional honeymoon period, in which a people content from only recently casting the ballot cut a newbie administration a gracious slice of charitable slack, is now over. And there is no more appropriate a motive than keeping the NPP, led by the JVP, those vociferous more..

Sep 19 (DM) Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) Chairman Dr. Vajira Dissanayake was removed from office today following a Supreme Court ruling, after which he tendered his resignation to Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa. In his letter, Dr. Dissanayake acknowledged the court’s decision and stepped down, paving the way for the Minister to appoint a new SLMC president. The judgment stems from a legal battle dating back to 2020, when then Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi removed more..

Sep 19 (AD) Samarappulige Niraj Roshan, alias Ali Roshan, who was convicted on two counts of possessing an elephant without a valid permit, has been sentenced to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment by a three-judge bench of the Colombo High Court. In addition to the prison term, the court imposed a fine of Rs. 20.6 million on the defendant. The elephant in question was also ordered to be confiscated. The verdict was delivered by the High Court bench comprising more..

Sep 19 (FT) Parliament Secretariat said that an IMF technical team and MPs recently met to review the CEB electricity tariff methodology and reforms ahead of a Nov 2025 deadline under the ongoing IMF EFF program. While the meeting was a technical review and not a policy formulating exercise, the SL side had intervened to stress that the tariff methodology adopted for the energy sector must balance cost reflectiveness and more..