Sep 19 (NW) SL head coach Sanath Jayasuriya has expressed his condolences following the death of cricketer Dunith Wellalage’s father, Suranga Wellalage, describing him as a proud father who raised a son admired by the entire nation. In a heartfelt message, Jayasuriya said the late Suranga Wellalage, a cricketer himself, instilled in his son the values and love for the game that continue to shine through Dunith. “Your father was a cricketer himself and he can be proud of the son he raised. more..

Sep 19 (DM) Court of Appeal today directed the Jaffna Municipal Council to take necessary measures to reduce air pollution in the municipal area, particularly by refraining from burning garbage. This order was made in connection with a writ petition filed by Dr. Umasugi Nadarajah, a medical practitioner, which was taken up before a two-judge bench of the Court of Appeal comprising its President, Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya and Justice K. Priyantha Fernando. more..

Sep 19 (DM) The local construction sector grew by a robust 8.5% in the three months ended in June 2025 from the same period in 2024, extending its nearly two-year long growth which began in the final quarter of 2023. This is in a sign that the sector appears to have entered a sustained growth path helping once again generate jobs while building a renaissance in the entire economy which Sri Lanka had a decade ago. more..

Sep 19 (AD) A special ceremony was held in Wellawaya to honor Lance Corporal W.M.V.M. Bandara of the SL Army Special Forces for his courageous actions during the recent fatal bus accident on the Ella–Wellawaya main road. Lance Corporal Bandara was the first to jump into the overturned bus and rescue the injured passengers following the tragic bus accident on the Ella–Wellawaya main road which occurred on Sept 4. The event was organized by more..

Sep 19 (DM) World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) released the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025 with SL positioned at the 93rd spot. Last year, SL ranked the 89th spot in the index. Published annually since 2007, the ranking uses 80 indicators – from research and development (R&D) spending, venture capital deals, to high-tech exports and intellectual property filings – to evaluate how innovative 139 world economies are. Switzerland remains the world's innovation leader in 2025. more..

Sep 19 (NW) The government has decided to increase the compensation paid to the families of Sri Lankan migrant workers who die while employed overseas from Rs. 600,000 to Rs. 2 million. SL Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) Chairman Kosala Wickramasinghe said the compensation applies to any Sri Lankan worker who travels abroad through SLBFE registration. Wickramasinghe also noted that as of the end of August, SL migrant workers had remitted $5.2 bil to the country. more..

Sep 19 (DM) A young student from Bandarawela has turned to the Supreme Court, alleging that his constitutional rights had been violated after the University Grants Commission (UGC) denied him admission to pursue a degree in technology on the basis of his disability. The petition was filed by Manujaya Attanayake, a resident of Bandarawela. When the case was taken up before a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and more..

Sep 19 (DM) Total estimated govt expenditure for 2026 has shot up by a further Rs. 3 billion, compared with the current year, according to the Appropriation Bill for 2026. Bill has now been gazetted ahead of the annual budget debate in Parliament while it is scheduled to be presented in Parliament on Sept 26 for the first reading. According to the Appropriation Bill which outlines expenditure for each sector for 2026, more..

Sep 19 (AD) In a major enforcement success, the Narcotics Control Unit of SL Customs apprehended an intelligence officer of the SL Air Force (SLAF) at BIA, for allegedly attempting to smuggle gold worth Rs. 20 million into the country. The 37-year-old suspect, who has served in the Sri Lanka Air Force for 17 years, was intercepted by vigilant Customs officers as he attempted to exit the arrival terminal through the staff gate yesterday. Upon subjecting him to a body scan, more..

Sep 19 (DM) SL’s centuries-old gem trade, steeped in heritage yet alive with modern innovation, is about to take the spotlight in a way never seen before. Ceylon Gemlogue 2025, presented by Ceylon Gem Chronicles, and endorsed by key industry Associations, Ceylon Gem & Jewellery Traders Association (CGJTA)| GemSriLanka and the Lanka Gem Dealers and Miners Association, this will mark the country’s first-ever gem dialogue forum, a one-of-a-kind platform that blends storytelling, more..

Sep 19 (NW) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that in order to advance the country economically, it is essential to ensure efficiency and transparency across all sectors. He further noted that the current govt’s digitalisation programme is designed to elevate Sri Lanka not only economically but also socially. Prez made these remarks today, while participating in the ceremony held at the BMICH, to launch the National Cyber more..

Sep 19 (NW) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake attended the Industry Expo 2025 exhibition held this morning at the BMICH. The Prez visited the exhibition stalls and engaged in discussions with the participating entrepreneurs and industrialists. Aiming to steer the country towards an export-oriented production economy, Industry Expo 2025 exhibition is organised by the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development together with the Industrial Development Board of SL. more..

Sep 19 (TM) Sri Lanka needs to hone in on value-addition within its manufacturing sector which uses natural resources, in addition to attracting foreign investment aimed at revitalising key industrial sectors, Minister Sunil Handunneththi said during a discussion between export industry stakeholders. “Minister Handunneththi, speaking on industry perspective, emphasised the importance of value addition in SL’s manufacturing sector which uses natural resources in the country. more..

Sep 19 (Island) The govt is currently implementing special programs for marine and coastal conservation, including entering into agreements with other countries to protect SL’s marine and coastal ecosystems. As part of this effort, SL has become a state party to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction. The instrument of ratification for this has been submitted to the UN. more..

Sep 19 (DM) Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar made a strong statement against corruption, stating that there will be no forgiveness for politicians who have engaged in bribery, fraud and looting of public assets. “They will never escape the clutches of the law,” Minister said while addressing the public during the inauguration ceremony of the Colombuthurai Jetty reconstruction project. The long-awaited reconstruction work of the Colombuthurai Jetty officially commenced today in Jaffna. more..

Sep 19 (DM) When the prison guards at the Batticaloa Prison, who were on duty on April 21, 2019, panicked after a bomb exploded in close proximity to the prison assuming that terrorism raised its ugly head, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan, who was an inmate in prison at that time, had assured them that it was not a terrorist attack, but a suicide attack. Explosion referred to is suicide bombing at Zion church in Batticaloa. more..

Sep 19 (AD) The police submitted an investigation report today to the Colombo Magistrate’s Court, regarding notorious organised criminal Mandinu Perera, alias Kehelbaddara Padme, who was recently arrested in Indonesia, brought back to SL, and is currently in the custody of the CID. Report was presented before Colombo Additional Magistrate Lahiru Silva. While submitting the report, CID stated that the suspect is being detained under detention orders and that investigations more..

Sep 19 (CT) The first phase of a Cardiology Unit constructed at a cost of Rs 324 million to strengthen healthcare facilities at the Teaching Hospital (TH), Batticaloa, was declared open yesterday by Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa. A spokesman said that the new cardiology unit building at TH, Batticaloa, consisted of five storeys, which housed the outpatient clinics, an X-ray unit, an ECG unit, a catheterisation laboratory (Cath lab), a Coronary Care Unit (CCU), operating theatres, more..

Sep 19 (EN) S&P Global Ratings raised Sri Lanka’s sovereign rating to non investment rate CCC+ from Selective Default (SD) on a stable outlook citing the island nation’s economy has recovered steadily from its 2022 economic crisis, but its debt burden remains high even after the restructuring of most of its external debt. It has been the first rating improvement by the S&P since the unprecedented crisis three years ago. more..

Sep 19 (CI) Bangladesh cricket fans had to put on hold their antagonistic feelings towards Sri Lanka for a couple of days - they needed SL to beat Afghanistan to stay alive in the Asia Cup, after all. That's how it panned out, leaving Bangladesh fans thrilled. Social media in Bangladesh has been buzzing with self-deprecating memes, all with photos of the SL flag or Bangladeshis wearing the SL jersey. The rivalry that has developed over the last 7 years has often been full of cringe-worthy elements, more..

Sep 19 (AM) Kaduwela Magistrate Aruna Buddhadasa has ordered the CID to obtain a statement from former Ports Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena within two weeks regarding an alleged fraud of Rs. 20 million, committed by promising to award a rock deposit removal tender at the Hambantota Port. The order was issued when the CID’s investigation into a complaint against a person who allegedly posed as a coordinating secretary to then PM was taken up in court. more..

Sep 20 (CT) Like Bangladesh last year, recent developments in Nepal, another South Asian nation, have revived whispered queries on the real possibilities of the unfinished tasks of Aragalaya returning to haunt this nation. It all depends, not necessarily on the people, who had at the time wanted the dominating/domineering Rajapaksas out. Instead, it can brew out of the performance or otherwise of the incumbent Govt under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. more..

Sep 20 (CT) When SL ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2016, it formally acknowledged that accessibility is not a privilege, but a right. Yet, nine years later, the lived reality for thousands of people with disabilities remains far removed from the promises made on paper. The landmark ruling of the Anuradhapura High Court last week, directing authorities to ensure that all railway stations between Mahawa and Vavuniya are fully accessible, more..

Sep 20 (CT) SL has taken a decisive step in its post-crisis recovery with the recommencement of construction on the long-delayed Kadawatha–Mirigama section of the Central Expressway. Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, presiding over the 17 Sept ceremony, described the Project as emblematic of the nation’s determination to emerge stronger from the economic collapse of 2022–2023. 37-km expressway, suspended midway due to crisis more..

Sep 20 (DM) The question arises whether the youth, especially the Gen Z, are taking over the political fate of countries, particularly those in South Asia with the recent regime changes and efforts to that effect in countries like SL, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Nepal. Except for Indonesia, in all other three countries govts have been toppled by youth uprisings during the last four years, though the trigger in each case was different. Yet, interestingly, the catchword of all four protest campaigns more..

Sep 20 (ST) Midway through a four-day conference in Kandy, we took a field trip to Talawakelle—a welcome shift from theory to terrain. The conference focused on Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES), a concept I introduced in this column a few weeks ago. PES is a market-based approach to financing environmental conservation. It encourages the protection and sustainable use of ecosystems—such as forests, wetlands, watersheds, coastal zones, mangroves, and coral reefs— more..

Sep 20 (CT) Local handloom textile industry, with its rich, long-standing history, requires greater care and rejuvenation to prevent it from fading away, as it faces significant challenges from major players of the power-loom sector, which dominate both the local and int'l textile markets. The history of the handloom industry of SL dates back over a thousand years, with early cotton textiles traded with India & China, and its roots tied to legends more..

Sep 20 (FT) Former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR) has stated that his departure from the Colombo House was driven by personal revenge, and that SL is witnessing political terrorism. He also added that this indicates a lack of discipline and professionalism on the part of the Govt. In short, he is blaming or accusing the Govt led by Anura Kumara Disanayake (AKD), as he was ultimately forced to vacate the Colombo House. The nation rightly remembers MR for bringing an end to the war with the LTTE. more..

Sep 20 (DM) One cannot help but admire Comrade Tilvin Silva, General Secretary of the JVP and a founding father of the NPP. He has a knack of being truthful, a very admirable but rare trait among politicians in our country. Way back in Nov 2024, Tilvin said in an interview, his party was not expecting unlimited power, but a simple majority in parliament. It may have been with this thought in mind that the NPP during its election campaign made so many promises which it could not more..

Sep 20 (ST) SL-born finance professional Priyan Fernando has been honoured as CFO of the Year at the 2025 Australian Accounting Awards, a recognition that reflects not only his professional excellence but also a journey shaped by resilience, vision, and deep-rooted values. The grand award ceremony partnered by CPA Australia was held in Sydney on June 20, 2025 and recognises outstanding achievers across Australia within the Accounting industry, according to an official more..

Sep 20 (Island) Sri Lanka has undergone one of the sharpest and fastest episodes of austerity in history, driven by a massive retrenchment in public investment and a suppression of real wages, according to data from a report by the World Bank. On 9 Sept 2025, the World Bank published a report called SL Public Finance Review: Towards a Balanced Fiscal Adjustment. The 109-page report is anchored in the theoretical certainty that austerity was a painful but necessary adjustment more..

Sep 20 (ST) SL, in its draft updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)—which are climate action plans under the Paris Agreement—has adjusted the country’s target of achieving 70% renewable energy by 2030 to renewable and clean energy, known in the power sector to mean electricity generated from liquefied natural gas (LNG). Pledge to achieve 70% renewable energy in electricity generation by 2030 more..

Sep 20 (Island) There is no dearth of issues in this country. However, they come with a short shelf life; they usually last for about two weeks. They either fizzle out or are eclipsed by new ones. A narcotic issue that JVP/NPP flogged hard in a bid to discredit the SLPP and its leaders has given way to a media feeding frenzy over some govt politicians’ assets. The Opposition MPs, except a few, have also submitted their asset declarations, but the media remains intensely focused more..

Sep 20 (FT) International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has criticised the Online Safety Act, No. 09 of 2024, in response to a call for public input on amendments, urging the Govt to repeal it or substantially revise it. In its submission to the Govt earlier this week the ICJ said revisions were needed to bring it into compliance with SL’s int'l human rights law obligations, and to ensure that the revision process involves full and inclusive consultations with stakeholders. more..

Sep 20 (FT) Venture Engine, the country’s foremost start-up acceleration program, recently concluded a series of specialised workshops designed to equip its participants with essential skills to secure investment and scale globally. This year’s sessions brought together leading professionals from across industries, offering entrepreneurs direct access to practical insights and expertise at no cost. Covering a broad spectrum of business-building fundamentals, workshops included more..