Sri Lanka News : InfoLanka News Room

Sep 26 (NW) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake says capital punishment must be considered carefully before being imposed for crimes. The President said that it is common to suggest capital punishment when considering the rising number of crimes and incidents. “We tend to think we should at least hang them. But, I have to sign the death of a living being. Is it suitable? We must see if hanging is the only solution to prevent crimes, and how a signature decides a person’s fate,” he said. more..

Mission Olympics 2028: Minister Gamage cracks the whip

Sep 26 (TM) Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage officially warned all sports associations and federations, that if requisite visa process applications and relevant documents, are not submitted to the Ministry concerned 21-days before departure for overseas competitions, such visits will be annulled henceforth. He asserted that irrespective of whether such events are connected to Olympic sports or any other game, the Ministry of Youth Affairs & more..

SL apparel exports dip in August 2025: JAAF

Sep 26 (EN) Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) noted a marginal decline in monthly exports in Aug 2025, compared to the same period last year. “In Aug 2025, total apparel exports stood at US$ 479.14 million, reflecting a 1.33% decrease compared to Aug 2024,” JAAF said. “The month of August reflects the volatility in global markets, with pressure on exports to the EU & UK,” JAAF said. Exports to the USA recorded a modest gain of 0.92%, while shipments to the EU & UK more..

T-56 rifles seized, two arrested in Weligama

Sep 26 (CT) Four T-56 firearms, one T-56 magazine, and 27 bullets were recovered from an underworld gang’s arsenal hidden in a house in Weligama. A male and a female suspect have been arrested in connection with the discovery. STF officers uncovered the underworld arsenal in a two-storey house during a special search operation conducted in the Dolosgodawatte area of Ibbawala, Weligama, on Wednesday evening. Subsequent investigations revealed that the male suspect is a close more..

President Anura Kumara departs for official visit to Japan

Sep 26 (AD) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, following the successful conclusion of his visit to the US to attend the 80th session of the UNGA, has departed for Japan. He left John F. Kennedy Int'l Airport last night (25). At the invitation of the Japanese govt, Prez Dissanayake is set to undertake an official visit to Japan from Sept 27 to 30. During the visit, Prez will have an audience with His Majesty the Emperor of Japan more..

ICE chemicals: Sampath Manamperi to be detained for 90 days

Sep 26 (NW) Western Province North Crimes Division informed the Walasmulla Magistrate’s Court today that the Acting Minister of Defence has granted departmental approval to detain and interrogate Sampath Manamperi for a period of 90 days. Former local govt member Sampath Manamperi is currently in remand custody in connection with an incident involving two containers suspected to contain chemicals used in the production of the drug ICE. On 17th Sept, more..

Opposition MP challenges Speaker’s assessment of parliament kitchen

Sep 26 (Island) SJB MP Prasad Siriwardana yesterday dismissed claims of rodents and unhygienic conditions in the Parliamentary kitchen, following his own inspection. Siriwardana said he had found storage areas well protected with glass and nets and staff keeping the place clean. He insisted that during the past 35 years or so there had been no complaints about the quality of food served in Parliament. He accused Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne of tarnishing the image more..

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Factory waste dumped along Ginigathhena – Nawalapitiya road

Sep 26 (CT) Health officials and Nawalapitiya Police have jointly launched an investigation into the dumping of stationery and non-degradable waste at several locations in the Nagastenna area, along both sides of the Ginigathhena–Nawalapitiya main road, allegedly by a private factory based in Ulapane, Nawalapitiya. Following multiple complaints made by residents of the Nagastenna area to the Nawalapitiya Police and the Health Dept of the Pasbage Korale Pradeshiya Sabha, more..

Manusha Nanayakkara seeks protection from arrest in bribery probe

Sep 26 (DM) Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanka S. Bodaragama today issued notice to the Director General of the CIABOC, directing him to appear before court on October 03 and present submissions regarding the bail application filed on behalf of former Minister Manusha Nanayakkara. The notice was issued after considering a motion filed by Minister Manusha Nanayakkara, naming the Director General of CIABOC and the Head of the Investigations Division as respondents, more..

Legacy of Social Justice Legend Lasantha Wickrematunge

Sep 26 (DM) I was one of the lucky ones who met Lasantha Wickrematunge for a brief moment in 2007 at a lobby when I was attending a homecoming at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel. Amongst a group of eager fans, all clamouring to shake his hand, I just couldn’t believe my luck when I found myself in his presence, the invincible energy that surrounded him and the aura of his charisma left me in awe. His humility made the impossible more..

SL High Commission, NCC host round table discussion on future of SL crafts in London

Sep 26 (Island) SL High Commission in the UK, in collaboration with the National Craft Council of SL (NCC), hosted a RoundTable Discussion on the future of SL crafts, bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders to explore opportunities and challenges facing the sector. Held at the SL High Commission in London last week, the event drew over 25 participants, including academics from the London College of Fashion, an expert from the EU Craft Work Project, entrepreneurs, more..

Video: Former army officials to be arrested over Easter Sunday attacks: President

Sep 26 (DM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday bomb attacks are continuing and advancing and that one or two former Army officials are expected to be arrested over the incident. Speaking during a meeting with members of the SL community in the United States, Prez Dissanayake said the current administration had inherited a flawed and incomplete investigation, which may require launching fresh inquiries to uncover the truth. more..

CIABOC probes Col. NHSL reagents purchase

Sep 26 (TM) CIABOC has commenced an investigation into the purchase of laboratory reagents worth over Rs. 2.5 billion for the National Hospital of SL (NHSL) in Colombo. These purchases during the past three years, have allegedly been carried out without the relevant approvals, with some of the purchased reagents found to be contaminated or close to expiry. The move comes after a complaint lodged by more..

Namal proceeds with legal action against Deputy Minister Watagala

Sep 26 (DM) SLPP National Organiser MP Namal Rajapaksa has proceeded with legal action against Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala over what he described as defamatory remarks. The move comes after Watagala alleged that Rajapaksa was behind the drug menace in the country. The dispute has intensified through a series of legal exchanges. On Sept 10, Attorney Sankha Karunaratne, acting on behalf of Rajapaksa, sent a letter of demand seeking Rs. 1 bil in damages from Deputy Minister. more..

IIT Madras boosts AI and innovation ties with Sri Lanka

Sep 26 (Island) High Commission of India has been facilitating bilateral collaboration in research, innovation, and technological development. Continuing this endeavour, a delegation from IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation, led by its CEO Dr. Shankar Raman, visited Colombo on 22–23 Sept. IITM Pravartak, a Technology Innovation Hub, focuses on technology and entrepreneurship development, human-centric AI, and international collaboration in areas more..

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Pre-trial conference fixed for Namal Rajapaksa’s Krrish case

Sep 26 (AD) Colombo High Court has ordered that the case filed by the Attorney General against SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa, regarding the controversial Krrish project, be called for a pre-trial conference on Dec 18. When the case was called today, MP Namal Rajapaksa appeared before the court. After reviewing the case, the Magistrate also directed that steps be taken to summon the original case report from the Fort Magistrate’s Court. The Attorney General has filed more..

Robbery reported from key Police building in Colombo

Sep 26 (NW) A complaint has been filed on wiring being stripped from the auditorium on the 6th floor of the Colombo DIG's Office, it was reported. According to the Lankadeepa newspaper, the Police Headquarters says a complaint has been filed with the Divisional Crimes Investigation Office in this regard. Police said the suspect had broken into the auditorium and had stolen copper wiring from the electricity wires supplying power to the electronic equipment in the auditorium. more..

Video: Chinese Ambassador reaffirms commitment to strengthening ties with SL

Sep 26 (AD) Chinese Ambassador to SL Qi Zhenhong has reaffirmed China’s longstanding friendship with Sri Lanka, emphasizing that the relationship, which spans over two millennia, continues to remain deeply rooted and flourishing. Speaking at a reception in Colombo to mark the 76th anniversary of the founding of China, Ambassador Qi highlighted the success of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s visit to China earlier this year. more..

Co-ops take spotlight in India-Sri Lanka Dialogue in New Delhi

Sep 26 (AD) India and Sri Lanka have taken a fresh step towards strengthening their cooperative ties with a high-level bilateral meeting in New Delhi on Thursday. Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe, met Union Minister of State for Cooperation and Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol at Atal Akshay Urja Bhawan to explore new avenues of collaboration in the cooperative sector. The talks revolved around building stronger institutional linkages, sharing knowledge, and improving the skills of those more..

Asiri Hospital Directors including Ashok Pathirage, bailed

Sep 26 (AM) Maligakanda Magistrate – Shyamila Shabdeen today granted bail for 07 Director Board members of Asiri Medical Hospital including the Chairman – Ashok Pathirage, after they surrendered to court earlier in the day. They were ordered to be released on sureties of Rs. 500,000 each. ne of the Directors – Vishal Bali, was ordered to appear on the next court date as notice had not been issued to him properly. The case pertains to the hospital selling 11 drugs beyond the MRP set as per more..

Update on Na Uyana Monastery cable car tragedy: Full list of victims released

Sep 26 (AD) The bodies of the Indian and Romanian Buddhist monks who lost their lives in the tragic cable car accident at the Na Uyana Monastery in Pansiyagama, Melsiripura, will be repatriated to their respective countries at the request of their families, in coordination with the High Commissioner’s Office. The remains of the other monks will be placed at Na Uyana Monastery from 10 a.m. on Sept 26 for final respects. more..

Sharjah expands humanitarian initiative project in Puttalam

Sep 26 (Bernama) Sharjah Deputy Ruler and Sharjah Media Council Chairman, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, recently laid the foundation stone for Al Reeh Al Mursala Village in Sri Lanka’s Puttalam region, marking a major milestone in Sharjah’s ongoing global humanitarian efforts. The project, launched as part of a wider humanitarian initiative, includes the construction of 50 homes, a mosque that accommodates 200 worshippers, a healthcare centre, and more..

Pak-Sri Lanka economic ties to reach new heights: High Commissioner

Sep 26 (PO) Historic Pakistan–SL economic ties will reach new heights, said SL High Commissioner Rear Admiral (Retd) Fred Senevirathne on Friday. He was speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry. LCCI President Mian Abuzar Shad, Honorary Consul of SL Yasin Joyia and LCCI Executive Committee Members Khurram Lodhi and Karamat Ali Awan were also present. High Commissioner said that SL had now returned to a path of stability and progress. more..

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Rich men in poor man’s party From Karl Marx to Wasantha Samarasinghe

Sep 27 (DM) Trade and Commerce Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe’s declaration of assets which has been published in the website of the CIABOC indicate his net wealth to be Rs. 275 million. Opposition parties claim that the JVP has lost its credentials, arguing that a proletarian party such as the JVP claims itself to be, cannot have leaders with such wealth, whereas the NPP and the JVP are adamant in justifying Samarasinghe’s wealth, contending that it is a rare case. more..

The govt, monsoon rains, transport and the public

Sep 27 (DM) After a year in power, our new govt now faces an age old problem. It’s nothing party-political, one of far greater importance than the nonsensical no faith motions opposition parties keep raising, in an attempt to embarrass the present regime of poor little rich kids now in power. The public awaits the day when the new broom they put in power a year ago, puts into operation plans which will sweep away repeated nightmares of monsoon rain-caused floods, which inundate their more..

Sri Lanka’s borders under strain: Immigration officers warn of rising fraud networks

Sep 27 (CT) A confidential letter from a group of immigration officers to Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has sounded the alarm over what they describe as a growing infiltration of Sri Lanka by foreign nationals linked to organised online financial fraud networks. The officers allege that their attempts to block such individuals at the country’s main entry points are being undermined from within the Department of Immigration and Emigration itself. more..

Contraception: A health service and a human right

Sep 27 (GV) Preventing unintended pregnancies leads to many benefits including expanding education and other opportunities for women throughout their lives. Every woman has the right to reproductive agency, to freely choose whether, when and with whom to have a child without coercion, fear or judgement. Contraception is a human right that empowers individuals, strengthens families and builds healthier communities. Yet unintended pregnancies and unrealised fertility goals more..

Hunger, war, and corruption: A call from the global South

Sep 27 (CT) When Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake took the podium at the UN General Assembly last week, it was not with the grandstanding that often characterises these annual speeches. Instead, he delivered a sober reminder of three interconnected scourges that continue to define our world: hunger, war, and corruption. His words, simple but pointed, carried a resonance that deserves more than a fleeting headline. Poverty, he observed, is as old as human civilisation itself. more..

Safety in State hospitals: No progress yet for healthcare workers?

Sep 27 (TM) The sexual assault of a female doctor at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital (ATH) earlier this year, despite shocking the nation and driving urgent calls for reform, has seen little meaningful change. Things at the hospital continue as before, with the incident having all but receded from memory. In the immediate aftermath of the incident, prominent medical bodies and healthcare stakeholders issued urgent calls more..

Ranil’s resolve to end rule of law

Sep 27 (CT) Ranil Wickremesinghe (RW), one of the fallen heroes at the 2024 Prez Election, has been reported to be planning to organize 1000 rallies across the country and calling all opposition leaders, their aficionados and apparatchiks to rally behind him in his war against what he described as a constitutional dictatorship. If one understood the logic behind that concoction, one would have gathered that if there is a dictatorship prevailing currently in the country then that more..

Making tourists remain tourists

Sep 27 (TM) Sri Lanka has placed most of its eggs in the Tourism basket, to revive the island’s economy and grow. The move has opportunities and challenges as tourism is affected by disruptions, volatility and instability, all of which remain risks for SL and the Indian Ocean region. Domestically, there is much to be done to aid the growth of tourism and to reap its benefits for the economy. There needs to be a change in mindsets, ease of access to services, digitisation and more activities more..

Asia Cup: India vs Sri Lanka

Selective republicanism of socialist regime rules

Sep 27 (FT) No good deed goes unpunished, mused libertarian socialist Oscar Wilde, no doubt while in Reading Gaol and reminiscing about that ironic truism in his own short life. Perhaps some of the stalwarts in governmental ranks share a similar sentiment about the electorate at large today, sensing dissent even beyond the ranks of Tuscany. Perhaps the NPP regime suspects that for all the lip service its loyalists pay to the powers be, there is an emerging feeling of dissension at the state of the nation more..

Editorial: Container drama continues

Sep 27 (Island) Hardly a parliamentary session passes without the members of the Opposition and the government clashing over the drug menace, and hurling wild allegations against one another. Their arguments and counterarguments on what is described as a consignment of drugs/precursors found in two containers in Middeniya recently continue to dominate debates in the House, and invariably lead to mudslinging. Yesterday was no exception. more..

Athapaththu's goal? Maiden semi-final for SL

Sep 27 (CI) Chamari Athapaththu would do anything to get Sri Lanka to the semi-final of this Women's ODI World Cup. No Sri Lanka team has managed this over 11 years, at an ICC event, and the women's team has never got there. Athapaththu has long been the talisman of this side, but feels she has the young players in her side now, who can excel in their own right. "More than in the other tournaments, I'm pretty relaxed in this one," more..

Global Dialogue Forum conclave showcases AI’s role in powering green energy,...

Sep 27 (FT) The Global Dialogue Forum (GDF), in partnership with the Club of Rome – India, successfully hosted its international conclave on AI in powering green energy, food security and cybersecurity at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo, on 20 September. The full-day event convened global policymakers, academics, industry leaders, and innovators to examine how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be practically deployed to address the most pressing challenges facing societies. more..

THASL calls for proper positioning campaign for SL tourism on World Tourism Day

Sep 27 (FT) Hotels Association of SL (THASL) in a message to mark World Tourism Day today has called upon all concerned authorities to carry out a positioning campaign to attract high profile discerning travellers to achieve the target revenues and increased Govt earning set out by Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake. THASL President M. Shanthikumar in a message on behalf of the membership said on World Tourism Day, extended his congratulations to all stakeholders more..