Sep 28 (TM) Despite Letters of Credit (LCs) for vehicle imports nearing $ 1.6 billion, the Government remains confident that the surge will not strain SL’s foreign exchange reserves. Senior officials including Director General of Customs Seevali Arukgoda, Deputy Secretary to the Treasury Ajith Abeysekera, and Cabinet Spokesperson and Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa stressed that the inflows were being managed in coordination with the CBSL and more..

Sep 28 (TM) The special audit report on SL’s controversial e-visa contract is set to be submitted to the COPF within a week, according to Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala. His announcement provides the latest update on the high-profile investigation into the deal, which resulted in a massive public outcry and recent arrest of former Controller General of Immigration and Emigration Harsha Illukpitiya. Illukpitiya was recently sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for more..

Sep 28 (TM) Ministry of Digital Economy will call for Expressions of Interest (EOIs) or issue a formal tender for the proposed Govt Super App within the next two weeks, while also aiming to begin rolling out the platform in early 2026. Ministry of Digital Economy Acting Secretary Waruna Sri Dhanapala described the Rs. 500 million initiative as a central platform that would integrate the Govt’s key digital services with the national digital identity system and more..

Sep 28 (ST) Sri Lankan cardholders are paying far more than they realise every time they swipe, tap, or withdraw cash. Behind the convenience of debit and credit cards lurks a mess of hidden charges, high interest rates, and overlapping levies often amounting to a “tax on tax” that erodes household budgets. This week, the Finance Ministry confirmed it is reviewing a proposal by the Digital Economy Ministry to eliminate extra fees on card transactions. more..

Sep 28 (ST) Project Serendib, a newly established venture capital bridge fund aimed at connecting European investors with innovative SL companies that are ready for global expansion, was announced by Carl R. Härtlein, Managing Partner, Saint Clair Advisory & Capital, recently. This initiative is spearheaded by Saint Clair Advisory & Capital in partnership with the Information Communication Technology Agency of SL (ICTA) and has garnered support from several organisations, more..

Sep 28 (EN) Foreign investors bought Sri Lanka govt securities for a fifth straight week in the week ended on September 25 with the offshore holding in local bonds at two-year high, the Central Bank data showed, amid a surge in global investor appetite for govt bonds. Foreign investors bought a net 334 million rupee ($1.11 million) worth of govt securities in the week ended on September 25, extending the inflows to a net 14,041 million rupee ($46.8 million) in the five weeks. more..

Sep 28 (TM) The Supreme Court on Thursday (25) dismissed a Fundamental Rights (FR) application instituted seeking to halt the winding-up process of the three Maga Neguma companies on the grounds that the application lacked merit. On Thursday, the FR application bearing No.281/2023 came up for consideration for leave to proceed before a Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice P. Padman Surasena, Justice A.H.M.D. Nawaz, and Justice Mahinda Samayawardhena. more..

Sep 28 (TM) Public officials facing allegations of bribery or corruption after scrutiny by the two parliamentary oversight committees—COPE and COPA—will be referred directly to the police or CIAOBC, bypassing the Attorney General. The motion to amend Standing Orders was presented to Parliament on Friday and will be taken up for debate on a later date. The tightening of laws to stop corruption in the public sector comes on the heels of the recently passed amendment to the National Audit Act, more..

Sep 28 (EN) Classic restored films from SL, France and India will be shown in Colombo on Sept 27 and 28, at the National Film Corporation Cinema Hall, the French embassy said. “The festival is dedicated to celebrating restored cinematic classics from Sri Lanka, India and France, and to highlighting the richness of their film heritage,” the embassy said. “It also seeks to raise awareness about the urgency of conservation, restoration and diffusion of these cultural masterpieces.” more..

Sep 28 (ST) The decision by the CIABOC to file action against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody following corruption complaints over misappropriation of funds while serving at the Fertiliser Corporation in 2015 is on track, a senior official said. He said that action is being taken to process the file in accordance to the order they have been received. The Sunday Times learns that following the decision taken to file action against the Minister, the file had been sent to the more..

Sep 28 (ST) It was a memorable week for President Anura Kumara Dissanayake as he joined over 150 world leaders in addressing the 80th session of the UNGA in New York. In an Assembly dominated by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the President, who completed one year in office just a day before he took flight to the United States, used the world stage to reiterate Sri Lanka’s commitment to Palestinian statehood and called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. more..

Sep 29 (DM) The first part of this article published last week delved into the election campaign conducted by Anura Kumara Dissanayake when he contested the Sept 2024 presidential elections. The second part was to scrutinise President Dissanayake’s post-election performance in fulfilling those promises during the past year However, this week’s article will focus -- with the aid of earlier writings -- on AKD’s rapid rise in politics and the winning strategies adopted by him. more..

Sep 29 (DM) Winner takes everything and loser takes nothing? This seems to be the heartfelt conviction, if not the motto of many Sri Lankans. There is no place for losers in a country where so many are struggling to make ends meet. There can be many definitions of a loser. The cases which prompted this column are not my idea of what constitutes a loser. Before we call people who opt out of a race or a competitive situation losers, we need to scrutinise their cases. more..

Sep 29 (CT) The full story behind the consignment of narcotics sent here by Unakuruwe Shantha – an organised criminal and drug trafficker – has now been uncovered by officers of the Tangalle Police. Though Shantha himself has not been caught, the Police have already arrested five or six of his accomplices. However, one of the two individuals said to have intimate knowledge of the shipment remains at large. more..

Sep 29 (TM) SL has, through much strife, reached some economic stability and is aiming to push forward towards growth and greener pastures. Almost everyone in Sri Lanka has suffered in some form or the other over the last five years, and many continue to battle austerity measures and poverty. There has been a great emphasis by the new Government and the previous one to ‘digitise’ SL rapidly. And rightfully so, most of Sri Lanka’s state services and systems are manual, outdated, more..

Sep 29 (ST) It was inevitable that justice would finally prevail for the Palestinian people, long denied a state to call their home. And, ironically, Israel had quickened the process. Though still not officially recognised by a minority of states, their dream for a separate state is rapidly coming closer to being realised at the UN. After Hamas had taken 251, including foreigners, hostage on Oct 7th two years ago, Israel, as int'l law permits, exercised the right to a ‘proportionate response’ to the attack. more..

Sep 29 (TM) The Power Sector Reforms Secretariat (PSRS) has openly challenged the CEB unions, inviting engineers to directly discuss their concerns rather than relying on politically affiliated representatives who, according to the PSRS, lack technical knowledge and fail to truly represent employees’ demands. According to the PSRS, the union actions by CEB employees have now weakened & have little impact on CEB, more..

Sep 29 (CT) October is marked across the globe as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and for SL it is an urgent reminder. Breast cancer has now become the most common cancer among women in the country, and the numbers are climbing rapidly. According to the National Cancer Control Programme, breast cancer accounted for over a quarter of all female cancer admissions between 2017 and 2022, the highest among any female cancers. Recent figures show that in 2025 alone more than 5,500 more..

Sep 29 (Island) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, addressing the UNGA on Thursday, called for a concerted global effort to eliminate the evil of corruption. He rightly described corruption as a destructive force that undermined development, democracy and social wellbeing while perpetuating poverty. He noted that SL had already embarked on a difficult but essential campaign to eliminate corruption for the sake of future generations and urged all countries to do so. more..

Sep 29 (GV) Mannar has long been a land where beauty and pain coexist. Its pristine beaches and migratory birds tell one story, while its scars of war, displacement and neglect tell another. Now, Mannar has become the frontline of a new battle: a community’s desperate cry to protect its home and livelihood from a development project imposed without their voice. The protests here are not just about wind turbines; they are about dignity, survival and democracy itself. more..

Sep 29 (FT) Digital Economy Ministry, together with the Information Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), has commenced the selection and procurement process for as of industry-wide fallout from SVAT removalmore..

Sep 29 (FT) A Sept 2025 IMF Working Paper has said SL’s debt restructuring is nearing completion, but cautioned that fiscal discipline, stronger institutions, and careful debt management are essential to prevent a return to crisis. Report, titled SL’s Sovereign Debt Restructuring: Lessons from Complex Processes, said spreads on the country’s int'l bonds had fallen to post-restructuring norms and ratings agencies had lifted more..

Sep 29 (DN) Opener Sanjana Kavindi continued her form scoring superb knock of 92 while two spinners Shashini Gimhani and Limansa Thillekarathna took 3 wickets each as Sri Lanka women’s under 19s notched up an easy 180 runs win over Australia women under 19s in their only Youth ODI played at Rangiri Dambulla Int'l Cricket Stadium yesterday. Sri Lankan Youth team led by Manudi Nanayakkara having early 4 wins in a row at T-20 series continued their momentum to beat visitors more..

Sep 29 (Island) About 40 people including children have died in a stampede at a TVK rally held by popular South Indian actor, Joseph Vijay Chandraskehar, popularly known as Vijay. Tens of thousands of people who had been waiting to catch a glimpse of their hero surged forth when he began his speech, according to media reports. TN and the Centre have reportedly launched probes into the tragic incident, and Chandrasekhar has promised to compensate the families of the victims. more..

Sep 29 (FT) Digital Economy Ministry, together with the Information Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), has commenced the selection and procurement process for a Sri Lankan origin Managed Service Provider (MSP), to be tasked with managing and operating the SL Unique Digital Identity (SLUDI) platform. Sri Lankan MSP will take over the SLUDI system soon after the completion of acceptance and security testing of the system. The initial implementation of the system more..

Sep 29 (FT) Information Communication Technology Agency of SL (ICTA) Board Member and Microimage Founder and CEO Harsha Purasinghe at a webinar last Saturday (27) on How AI Is Reshaping Jobs, Skills and the Workplace said Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping skills, workplaces, and business models, but Sri Lanka must urgently address gaps in computing capacity or Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) clusters, infrastructure, data readiness, and education to capture its potential. more..

Sep 29 (ST) 15 High Courts in Colombo are expected to be assigned to hear cases of separate subjects under a revised system introduced to expedite cases on the directions of Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena. According to the CJ’s instructions to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), one High Court under Judge Mohmed Mihail will be exclusively hearing bribery and corruption cases. more..

Sep 29 (DN) SL Head Coach Sanath Jayasuriya feels that despite not winning even a single game in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup, his team has the ability to go far, if they cant be consistent in their approach. Pathum played a brilliant innings to chase the India total but unfortunately he was out first ball of the last over. But throughout the 20 overs he batted really well to get his maiden T-20 hundred. Kusal Janith Perera also batted well to build a good partnership with Pathum. more..

Sep 29 (DN) Kavisha Dilhari (63) and Nilakshika Silva (75) hit fighting half centuries but they went in vain as Bangladesh women recorded thrilling 1 run win over Sri Lanka women in their Women’s World Cup warm up game played at R.Premadasa International Cricket Stadium on Saturday. Sri Lanka chasing a target of 243 made a good start scoring 56 for 1 with the early dismissal of skipper Chamari Athapaththu for 8 runs in 7th over. The opener Hasini Perera 34 in 44 balls with 3 fours more..

Sep 29 (DM) In a move to crack down on potential money laundering, the Central Bank of SL announced it will soon mandate that all cryptocurrency (crypto) and virtual asset service providers register with the government to continue their operations. To achieve this, Central Bank has proposed necessary amendments to the Financial Transactions Reporting Act (FTRA), which will bring these service providers under the Act’s remit. more..

Sep 29 (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..

Sep 29 (TM) The Fire Service Department of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) stated that certain building owners, particularly in areas such as Pettah, continue to ignore fire protection regulations, creating a major safety risk in the event of an emergency. Acting Chief Fire Officer P.D.K.A. Wilson noted that unlike other high-rises built to require fire safety standards, many privately owned structures such as business premises still fall short despite repeated warnings. more..

Sep 29 (ST) The City of Dreams will have to adjust to new regulations being imposed by the government set to impact on the gains made by the gaming industry. Cinnamon Life’s City of Dreams General Manager Michael Habashi speaking on the sidelines of a media meet to mark World Tourism Day on Wednesday said that with the possibility of new taxes and regulations imposed by the govt their establishment’s casino and gaming business will have adjust accordingly. more..

Sep 29 (DM) The long-held excuse that low public sector salaries contribute to a culture of corruption is no longer valid, according to the head of SL’s anti-corruption commission. In a direct address to senior govt officials, Justice Neil Iddawala, Chairman of the CIABOC, asserted that government wages have reached a fair and reasonable level. Justice Iddawala said systematically dismantled the public’s perception that inadequate pay forces state employees to solicit bribes. more..

Sep 29 (FT) SL and President Anura Kumara Disanayake emerged as key highlights on Saturday at the Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, reminiscing the close friendship and renewing strong bilateral ties. Drawing over 18 million people since its opening in mid-April, Expo 2025 saw the celebration of SL Day on Saturday, with President Disanayake as the Chief Guest. Sri Lanka Pavilion located at Common Hall A showcased more..

Sep 29 (CI) India blinked. They were 20 for 3 chasing 146. Their world-beating batting line-up was panicking as Pakistan came at them - this time for every reason because there was a title on the line. A collapse of 9 for 33 had left Salman Agha's men with no room for error and for the most part they coped with it. They got rid of Abhishek Sharma early. That sent jitters through a middle-order that was upended to accommodate Shubman Gill. A straightforward chase was going pear-shaped. more..