Sep 20 (ST) The Kandy Night Bazaar which came under heavy attack for occupying Dalada Veediya in close vicinity to the Temple of the Tooth Relic has been shifted to Yatinuwara Veediya from last night. The night bazaar was organised by the Central Provincial Council headed by the Chief Secretary and the Mayor of Kandy. After heavy criticism that the venue was unsuited for a bazaar, the authorities have conceded to public opinion and that of Municipal Councillors. more..

Sep 20 (AD) Govt Analyst’s Dept has informed SL Police that the samples obtained from Middeniya have been confirmed to contain chemicals used in the production of Crystal Methamphetamine, also known as Ice. Govt Analyst’s Dept has handed over its report following the tests carried out on the samples obtained from the chemicals recently found in a property in the Middeniya area. Police sources said that according to the relevant report, more..

Sep 20 (DM) Former Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa visited his brother, former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa, at Carlton House in Tangalle today (19). Mahinda Rajapaksa, who vacated his official residence on Wijerama Mawatha in Colombo, was received by family members, well-wishers, and supporters when he returned to his long-time residence in Tangalle. Crowds from across the country have been visiting Carlton House to greet the former Prez, many expressing their delight at his return to his more..

Sep 20 (ST) An International Blue Carbon Scientific Working Group (IBCSWG) meeting is underway in Negombo with international participation, aimed at conserving and restoring coastal ecosystems. Concentrating on SL’s mangroves, the meeting is being attended by 150 scientists from 23 nations. Professor Sewwandi Jayakody, a lecturer at the Wayamba University, told the Sunday Times that the IBCSWG meets frequently in areas that are hotspots for carbon emissions, more..

Sep 20 (ST) Thambapavani wind power project in Mannar is being resisted by residents who believe that it has worsened flooding and environmental change, affecting their lives and livelihoods. Many are now resisting its proposed expansion due to bitter experiences with the first 39 turbines previously installed. Over the past three years, much of the community in Mannar experienced severe flooding lasting more..

Sep 20 (DM) Sri Lanka announced the revision of its ambitious tourist arrival forecast for 2025. It is now aiming for a minimum of 2.6 million visitors, down from the original target of three million. The announcement came from SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam. Speaking at the Connect and Conversations forum, a key component of South Asian Travel Awards 2025, held in Colombo yesterday, Hewawasam expressed confidence despite adjustment. more..

Sep 20 (CI) SL allrounder Dunith Wellalage is set to rejoin the squad at the Asia Cup on Saturday morning after having returned home following the death of his father Suranga Wellalage on Thursday. SLC said he will be available for selection for SL's first match in the Super Four round on Saturday evening, against Bangladesh in Dubai. He is being accompanied on his journey from SL to the UAE and back by team manager Mahinda Halangode, who had made the trip home with Wellalage more..

Sep 20 (DN) Former SL captain Mahela Jayawardena urged fans and media to respect the privacy of Dunith Wellalage and his family following the sudden passing of his father, Suranga Wellalage, on Thursday night. Dunith, who learned of the tragedy inside the dressing room in Abu Dhabi after SL’s group-stage match, returned home to Colombo this morning accompanied by team manager Mahinda Halangoda. Head Coach Sanath Jayasuriya, visibly emotional, consoled more..

Sep 20 (NW) A 68-year-old school van driver was sentenced to 25 years of rigorous imprisonment by the Colombo High Court for the grave sexual abuse of a Grade 4 student inside his vehicle more than a decade ago. High Court Judge R.S.S. Sapuwidha delivered the sentence, imposing the maximum punishment prescribed under the Penal Code for such offences. The convict, a father of one, was also ordered to pay a fine of Rs. 30,000 and compensation of Rs. 500,000 to the victim. more..

Sep 20 (CT) Colombo High Court Permanent Trial-at-Bar sentenced Niraj Roshan, also known as Ali Roshan, to 15 years of Rigorous Imprisonment. He was found guilty on two counts of illegally possessing a female elephant without a valid licence. In addition to the prison term, the Court imposed a substantial fine of Rs 20.6 million on the defendant. Judicial panel also ordered the Director-General of Dept of Wildlife Conservation more..

Sep 20 (FT) The Colombo stock market closed Friday on a new high, with retail investors continuing to drive momentum that extended the market rally to a fourth session. ASPI gained 2.29% or 472.69 points during the week to close Friday at 21,085.09. S&P SL20 gained 2.09% during the week, up 123.04 points to 5,996.16. Total turnover this week was Rs. 30.2 billion, down from Rs. 37.5 billion a week earlier. Foreigners were net sellers during the week with a net outflow of Rs. 1.3 billion, more..

Sep 20 (DM) The luxury car involved in the recent fatal accident with a bus at Rawanaella on the Ella–Wellawaya Road was not equipped with recording facilities in its security camera system, its agents have confirmed. According to the supplier, the car, valued at Rs. 80 million and purchased in 2003 from a company in Boralesgamuwa, came fitted with a four-camera security system designed only for the driver’s convenience. However, the company clarified that it did not include more..

Sep 20 (CT) Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) last week issued a circular restricting rooftop solar installations to a customer’s average electricity consumption over the past 12 months, a move welcomed by officials as a step toward grid stability but criticised by investors and industry experts as a blow to SL’s renewable energy ambitions. Circular 2025/GM/24/DCC/COM-12, released on 9 Sept, revises the approval process for Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic (RTSPV) systems. more..

Sep 20 (ST) A rising incidence of abuse and negligence of children in foster care has prompted the govt to propose a new law. The main reason for the new law is the widespread complaints about children in homes not being treated properly, NCPA Chairperson Preethi Ransinghe said. The urgent need for a formal foster parenting law in SL was highlighted by a study by the Probation and Child Care Services Dept and the Dept of Census & Statistics in 2020. more..

Sep 20 (CT) The staff of the CIABOC is under severe pressure from the additional workload initiated following the unprecedented number of asset and liability declarations submitted by State officials and MPs. This situation has been created as the CIABOC currently functions with less than half of the 967-member staff it requires, a situation that has delayed the processing of information and even slowed public communication, more..

Sep 20 (FT) Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has registered a steady momentum in September, welcoming over 100,000 visitors in the first 19 days of the month and propelling the year-to-date (YTD) arrivals to 1.67 million. “The growth has been driven primarily by the steady flow of Indian tourists, particularly for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE), with India continuing to dominate as the leading source market,” a top official told the Daily FT. more..

Sep 20 (AD) SL’s third nano-satellite, collaboratively developed by the Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech), Japan, and the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies (ACCIMT), SL, has been deployed into orbit at 2.20 p.m. today (19). Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies in Moratuwa, has announced that the research satellite, named BIRDS-X Dragonfly, is designed to conduct three space research missions. Importantly, BIRDS-X Dragonfly comes at no cost to SL, more..

Sep 20 (FT) S&P Global Ratings raised its long- and short-term foreign currency sovereign credit ratings on SL to CCC+/C from SD/SD. It also affirmed its CCC+/C long- and short-term local currency ratings. Outlook on both the long-term foreign and local currency ratings is stable. Transfer and convertibility assessment remains CCC+. S&P said that while SL has been actively negotiating with creditors on remaining commercial debt still more..

Sep 21 (SO) When Anura Kumara Dissanayake assumed the Presidency in September last year, it was a moment few could have imagined – a Leftist leader at the helm of Sri Lanka, promising a decisive break from entrenched politics. From his early career, Prez Dissanayake has positioned himself as a relentless fighter against corruption. “We are committed to eradicating fraud and corruption at all levels from massive development projects to basic public services,” the NPP manifesto declared. more..

Sep 21 (ST) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake leaves next week to address the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on its 80th birthday, at a time when the world body is facing perhaps its most challenging moments, a crisis in multilateralism. Nowhere is the legitimacy and relevance of the global body more in doubt than in the paralysis of member states in the face of the naked aggression and unspeakable humanitarian atrocities perpetrated by the occupying power Israel in the more..

Sep 21 (TM) Today marks one year since the 21 Sept 2024 Presidential Election. As President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) completes his first year in office this week, it would be correct to say that while laying the foundation for a change in the country’s governance system, there is still a long path, albeit with potholes, to reach the destination set by him for Sri Lanka in the run-up to last year’s Presidential Election. more..

Sep 21 (TM) The 10 days from 17-26 Sept are more than just a cluster of anniversaries in SL’s political calendar. They are a reminder of the cycles of promise, betrayal, upheaval, and resilience that have defined this nation since independence. In this short span, the nation commemorates the birth of its first Executive President (17), 79th anniversary of the UNP (20), the first anniversary of the NPP Govt (23), the annual UN General Assembly sessions (24) where SL takes its place on the world stage, more..

Sep 21 (SO) The program initiated by the Govt towards achieving a complete transformation of past strategies is already manifesting clear signs of success. Uplifting the living standards of underprivileged people, in both rural and urban areas, as well as modernising and revitalising the ailing economy, were the prime objectives of the National People’s Power (NPP). These objectives were embodied in its election manifesto and given wide publicity during the campaign. more..

Sep 21 (ST) Police seem to be facing a major challenge in minimising road accidents, with reports saying that an increasing number of bus drivers use narcotic drugs to ensure they do not fall asleep while driving. Yesterday the Moratuwa Police detected one such driver under the influence of drugs. The bus he was driving from Hambantota to Colombo carried 45 passengers. Police acting on a tip-off stopped the bus and checked the driver. more..

Sep 21 (CT) One of the many problems the govt is facing is a life and death problem on the roads. There are too many Sri Lankans for whom the roads toll day in and day out. The government needs to do something about it, but no single action can address the problem completely. The situation calls for actions that will have to be taken immediately and others that will have to be implemented methodically over a period of time for effective results. A World Bank Report, Delivering Road Safety in SL, more..

Sep 21 (ST) My dear Anura sahodaraya, I am writing to you as you are about to mark your first year in office which you will be spending overseas, addressing the UN. Some may see this as completing one year in office although I know you won’t be celebrating it as such. My suggestion to you is to see this as only four more years to go. Your election a year ago came as no surprise, Anura sahodaraya. With all due respect to the hard work put in by you and your comrades, especially more..

Sep 21 (Island) The govt and the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) strikers are playing a game of chicken, and the prospects of blackouts loom large, with the warring trade unions intensifying their industrial action. The protesting workers have launched a sick-note campaign. Unless the govt abandons its plan to restructure the CEB at the expense of its workers, they will be left with no alternative but to launch a continuous strike, the protesting trade unions have warned. more..

Sep 21 (Island) The Asia Cup’s scheduling has become as predictable as a well-worn script. Since the organisers want India and Pakistan to lock horns twice, the other three nations – Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan – invariably get lumped into one pool. That makes it the proverbial group of death, with only two advancing. Bangladesh and Afghanistan are no mugs in T20 cricket, armed with match-winners aplenty, which leaves little margin for error. On Thursday in Abu Dhabi, more..

Sep 21 (CI) Three top order stands, one after the other, led by Saif Hassan, then Towhid Hridoy, propelled Bangladesh to overhaul Sri Lanka's 168, on a dry Dubai track. Saif's 59-run stand with Litton Das came off 34 balls. It saw Bangladesh set the platform. Then Saif joined Hridoy for a 54-run stand off 45 balls, that consolidated their innings through the middle overs. Hridoy then took charge in a 45-run partnership off 27 balls more..

Sep 21 (Island) The eagerly awaited Performance Report of the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) for 2024 has recently been published. It offers some context regarding the IRD’s tax collections. There is room for wider disclosure that would improve transparency. The timeliness of the report’s release could also be considerably enhanced. After all, most large corporations listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange publish their Annual Reports within two months of the financial year’s end. more..

Sep 21 (SO) SL drew first blood when they defeated Australia by 25 runs in the opening fixture of the five-match Women’s Under-19 T20 Series, which commenced at the Dambulla Stadium yesterday. SL produced a fine batting performance to compile an impressive 133 for three after they were invited to bat first and then restricted the visitors to 108 for eight in their 20 overs. Platform for SL’s victory was laid by their top order batters Sanjana Kavindi, Vimoksha Balasuriya and Skipper more..

Sep 21 (TM) Sri Lanka Women’s Cricket Team Vice Captain Anushka Sanjeewani says that the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s World Cup 2025 co-hosts are ready to make their presence felt in the upcoming showpiece event of the 50-over version of the game on the back of them having annexed the T20 Asia Cup last year. “During the past few months, our training has been very intense,” she told reporters during a media conference held in Colombo on Tuesday (16). more..

Sep 21 (SO) SL Association for Software and Services Company (SLASSCOM) has presented a comprehensive set of proposals for the forthcoming Budget aimed at driving the country’s knowledge and innovation exports sector towards achieving USD 5 billion export revenue, nurturing a global-ready workforce and supporting 1,000 startups. At the centre of the Association’s recommendations is the call for clear consistent tax and regulatory policies to boost investor confidence. more..

Sep 21 (TM) Govt intends to consider rectifying the existing disparity between Starlink and other local telecom operators with respect to licensing requirements and taxation. Deputy Minister Eranga Weeraratne admitted to the veracity of speculation concerning the alleged disparity between the licensing requirements imposed by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of SL (TRCSL) and the taxes levied on more..

Sep 21 (ST) Sri Lanka’s men’s 7s team endured a tough start but finished strongly on the opening day of the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series – Round I in Hangzhou, China yesterday, to reach the Cup Segment semis. The islanders, playing in Pool ‘B’, were beaten in their first game by Asian giants Japan but came back with determination to record back-to-back victories over Thailand and Singapore. Their spirited recovery kept alive hopes of advancing further in the tournament. more..

Sep 21 (SO) Tomorrow (22) will mark one year since Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake was elected as Sri Lanka’s 9th Executive Prez on Sep 22, 2024. The Prez Election which election observers and the Election Commission of Sri Lanka referred to as the most peaceful election in the country’s history, recorded a voter turnout of over 79% of the registered voters. Due to the highly contentious nature of the election, which was held in the backdrop of an economic crisis, more..