Nov 10 (DN) The Govt is planning to introduce a series of amendments to the controversial Prevention of Organised Crimes Bill, including the removal of provisions relating to media reporting of serious crimes and excise offences, Attorney General informed the Supreme Court yesterday. Solicitor General Viraj Dayaratne, appearing for the Attorney General, told a 3-judge Supreme Court bench that the proposed changes more..

Nov 10 (DM) Professionals, including doctors and salaried employees, have called on the Govt to introduce a fairer tax structure, arguing that the existing system places an excessive burden on people earning a monthly salary. GMOA Media Spokesman Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe said revisions made to the tax policy last year were insufficient and that further measures were necessary to address the concerns of professionals. Welcoming President's decision to disclose certain Budget proposals more..

Nov 10 (NW) The newly upgraded Dr. Neville Fernando Memorial Air Force Hospital in Malabe, renovated with the contribution of the Sri Lanka Air Force, was officially inaugurated today (9). The hospital was declared open following an invitation extended by Commander of the Air Force, Bandu Edirisinghe. The event featured the unveiling of the commemorative plaque, followed by an inspection tour of the hospital premises. This initiative follows the approval of a joint Cabinet paper more..

Nov 10 (FT) Central Bank has barred the Ernst & Young (EY) partners who audited National Development Bank (NDB) from carrying out any further banking audits and forced the lender to reconstitute its Board audit committee, after a Rs. 13.6 billion fraud ran for three years before being uncovered once the 2025 accounts had been certified. “We have already taken action against the auditors,” Director of Banking Supervision R.R. de Silva more..

Nov 10 (Island) Prison authorities yesterday suspended the production of inmates from three Colombo prisons before courts following the detection of measles cases among prisoners. Consequently, inmates from Colombo Remand Prison, Welikada Prison and Magazine Prison were not brought before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court, Colombo HC and Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court on Nov 9. The suspension was a precautionary measure intended to prevent more..

Nov 10 (FT) Building on the longstanding economic relationship between India and SL, the Colombo Port City Investor Forum, held at the Hyatt Regency, Chennai, on 4 Nov, explored new avenues for investment, enterprise and cross-border business partnerships. Hosted by the Deputy High Commission of SL in Chennai, in collaboration with Port City Colombo (PCC), the forum brought together over 200 participants, including business leaders from real estate, financial services, more..

Nov 10 (FT) In today’s rapidly evolving business environment, professional success requires more than technical knowledge and managerial experience. Organisations need leaders who can think strategically, communicate with confidence, inspire teams and navigate change. Developing this mindset is becoming an essential investment for businesses seeking sustainable growth. Recognising this need, FTZ Toastmasters Club presents Moulding the Mindset to Mastery, more..

Nov 10 (Island) The CoPF has called for an independent regulatory body to oversee fuel pricing and safeguard fair competition among petroleum suppliers. The matter came up during a committee meeting chaired by MP Dr. Harsha de Silva yesterday at the Parliamentary complex, where members examined disparities in fuel procurement costs between the CPC and private distributors. Officials pointed out that while the CPC meets part of the country’s fuel demand through its refinery, more..

Nov 10 (NW) SJB MP Nalin Bandara has clarified the circumstances surrounding the detention of 39 drones brought from Singapore, insisting that the items were legally declared to SL Customs and were intended for his son’s business. Bandara said he and his wife had travelled to Singapore and returned to SL with a consignment of small camera drones and microphones for a business operated by his son. more..

Nov 10 (TM) GMOA will stage a protest outside the Colombo National Hospital today, demanding solutions to several issues affecting doctors and the country's healthcare system. GMOA Assistant Secretary Dr Chamil Wijesinghe announced this at a media briefing, stating that representatives from the Association's District branches across the country are expected to gather in Colombo. He clarified that the protest would not involve a trade union (TU) strike and that routine medical services more..

Nov 10 (Island) A total of 107,829 dengue cases have been reported across SL so far this year, with 81 deaths attributed to the disease, the NDCU said. Gampaha District has recorded the highest number of cases at 22,502, followed by Colombo with 20,799 cases and Kandy with 8,803 cases. July recorded the highest monthly number of dengue cases so far this year, with 29,964 cases reported during the month. 1,577 cases had been reported during the first few days of November alone. more..

Nov 10 (DM) Maris Stella College, Negombo, and Nimala Maria Convent, Tudella, emerged as the overall boys’ and girls’ champions respectively at the 55th Sir John Tarbat Junior Athletics Championship 2026, held at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Sports Complex in Diyagama. The event was conducted by the SL Schools Athletic Association (SLSAA). Maris Stella College secured the overall boys’ championship with 68 points, finishing ahead of St. Benedict’s College & St. Peter’s College, more..

Nov 10 (DN) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has announced that construction work of the cricket stadium in the Mandaitivu area of Jaffna is set to resume next week. SLC further stated that all required approvals and certifications have been obtained and the process of awarding contracts for the remaining construction work has been finalised. Meanwhile, Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage visited the Mandaitivu stadium site on Sunday and inspected the present status and the progress more..

Nov 10 (DN) It has been revealed at a meeting of the COPE that the total amount to be recovered from lecturers who have breached agreements and bonds and stayed abroad across the entire university system could currently be nearly Rs. 30 billion. COPE emphasised to the officials the necessity of establishing a formal mechanism to recover these funds from individuals who have breached their bonds and stayed abroad, more..

Nov 10 (FT) SL’s banking sector Credit-to-Deposit Ratio (CDR) has exceeded 70% for the first time in three years, reaching 74.0% by end June 2026 and surpassing its long-term average, with the Central Bank of SL (CBSL) flagging credit growth outpacing deposits and a widening credit gap as potential sources of systemic risk. In its recent Financial Stability Review 2026, CBSL said financial intermediation, the channelling of deposits into loans by banks, strengthened during review period more..

Nov 10 (FT) Women’s Chamber of Industry & Commerce (WCIC) successfully concluded IGNITE 2026, its flagship youth entrepreneurship initiative, bringing together 100 female university undergraduates from 17 universities across SL for a transformative day of learning, inspiration and practical business exposure at The Kingsbury, Colombo on the 31 Oct. Now in its second year, IGNITE has rapidly established itself as a premier platform for nurturing the next generation of more..

Nov 10 (FT) Govt’s Budget recorded a surplus of Rs. 22.3 billion in the first nine months of 2026, reversing a deficit of Rs. 441.4 billion a year earlier, as revenue from motor vehicle imports drove a 20% increase in collections that outran a slower rise in spending. Revenue excluding grants rose to Rs. 4,594.9 billion from Rs. 3,827.0 billion, while total expenditure increased 7.1% to Rs. 4,579.3 billion from Rs. 4,276.3 billion. more..

Nov 10 (FT) National Transmission Network Service Provider (NTNSP) and Shanghai Electric Power Transmission and Distribution Engineering part of China’s Shanghai Electric Group, signed an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to expand SL’s electricity transmission network. SL engineering firm ComCorp, will serve as the local engineering partner to Shanghai Power Transmission and Distribution (SPTDE), a subsidiary of the Shanghai Electric Group of China, more..

Nov 10 (FT) SL’s tourism arrivals surpassed 1.9 million in 2026, with over 49,900 visitors registered in the first eight days of November, but remained below last year’s pace ahead of the crucial winter season. A total of 49,929 tourists arrived between 1 and 8 Nov, averaging 6.241 visitors a day and taking cumulative arrivals to 1,912,233. However, arrivals during the opening four days of November were down 8.78% year-on-year (YoY), while the cumulative figure remained below 1.7% YoY. more..

Nov 10 (FT) Embassy of SL in Ankara, in collaboration with the Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce, successfully organised the first-ever SL Business Forum in Gaziantep on 3 Nov, bringing together members of the Turkish business community to explore opportunities for closer economic cooperation with SL. Forum aimed at showcasing SL’s trade and investment potential while encouraging the participation of Turkish buyers, investors & business representatives more..

Nov 10 (KT) Afghanistan’s Under-19 cricket team secured a place in the semi-finals of the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2026 after defeating Sri Lanka by 106 runs in their final group-stage match in Oman on Monday. The Afghan youngsters delivered an impressive all-round performance, recording their third consecutive victory in the tournament and finishing the group stage unbeaten. Batting first, Afghanistan scored 275 runs before being bowled out in 49.5 overs. more..

Nov 10 (ST) 90% of the 12,000 young people arrested for drug-related offences last year are between the ages of 18 and 21, with 10% being children under the age of 18, police confirmed. Figures, released under the Govt’s A Nation United drug eradication programme, refer to arrests made between Oct 2025 and Oct 2026. However, Police Narcotics Bureau has since clarified that the majority of those counted were more..

Nov 10 (Island) Govt’s determination to tackle corruption, drug trafficking and organised crime is one of the most important challenges it has taken upon itself. The scale of the problem is evident from recent seizures of drugs at sea and at the airport, which indicate the enormous dimensions of the illicit drug trade. The street value of some consignments has reportedly approached staggering sums, running into hundreds of millions of dollars. The financial resources available to those involved in more..

Nov 10 (Island) Prez has announced that the govt is prepared to make key committee-stage amendments to Prevention of Organised Crime Bill (POCB) following challenges and concerns raised before the Supreme Court, in Parliament and elsewhere. He has agreed to do away with the provisions relating to offences under the Excise Ordinance, amend copyright-related sections under the Intellectual Property Act, and consider further amendments concerning detention orders and the Bail Act. more..

Nov 10 (DN) SL is full of resources. Some resources such as waterfronts, especially the ones that are located in the Western Province have become environmental problems instead of income generating avenues. Those valuable and attractive waterfronts were cleaned by some previous regimes and some politicians were interested in cleaning and developing some of those waterfronts but those steps taken to address the issue were limited to a short time period and those waterfronts more..

Nov 10 (TM) For the first time since 2021, Benjamin Netanyahu is not the man holding the key to power in Israel. On Sunday, Prez Isaac Herzog handed the mandate to form a Govt to Gadi Eisenkot, a former army chief backed by 67 of the Knesset's 120 members, while Netanyahu could muster only 46. The voters' verdict is therefore hard to misread. The parties of Netanyahu's outgoing coalition fell from 68 seats to 53, turnout was the highest in decades, and Arab citizens, voting in record numbers, more..

Nov 10 (TM) Although SL’s free health system is regarded as one of the country’s most important social pillars, the sector has been facing a range of challenges in recent times. SL’s medical service, renowned around the world, has suffered a major setback owing to the current economic crises and a lack of adequate infrastructure. In this context, the forthcoming Budget for next year is seen as a crucial factor in safeguarding the country’s more..

Nov 10 (GV) SL has always known how to live with heat. Long before air conditioning transformed the modern building, the island’s houses were designed around the movement of air, the path of the sun and the rhythms of monsoon rain. Verandahs softened the boundary between inside and outside. Deep roof overhangs kept walls and windows in shade. Courtyards brought daylight and ventilation into the heart of buildings. High ceilings allowed hot air to rise. Trees were not ornamental extras but more..

Nov 10 (ST) America’s Democrats pulled the electoral rug under the ruling Republicans’ feet this week to effectively cut the sod beneath Trump’s presidential seat. In an astounding sweep at the midterm elections, the Democrats bagged not only the House of Representatives but the Senate as well to give them the legislative power to tell President Trump where to get off the bus. Lest jubilant Democrats celebrating the result throughout the states got too carried away, more..

Nov 10 (SO) The death of a 29-year-old father of two while in the custody of Homagama Police has renewed calls for stronger surveillance and recording systems within police stations, with CCTV cameras and body-worn devices emerging as potential tools to establish what happens to suspects during arrest, interrogation and detention. Although CCTV cameras have been installed in nearly half of police stations, coverage remains incomplete. more..

Nov 10 (DM) SL’s wild elephants are carrying large amounts of metal fragments inside their bodies after being shot by poachers, with some suffering from serious injuries even years after being attacked. Environmental activist Nayanaka Ranwella has raised concerns, claiming that elephant Agbo had at least 75 kg of lead from bullets inside its body, while the famous blind Galgamuwa tusker had more than 25 kg following gunshot injuries. He accused successive govts and wildlife authorities of more..

Nov 10 (DM) Sri Lankan organisations still call their communications agencies in the middle of a crisis they could have seen coming. The tools have never been better. The gap is in how the monitoring work is valued, staffed and connected to the decisions it is meant to inform. Trust is thinner, and the information environment more crowded, than most organisations assume. Four recent sources make the case. The Edelman Trust Barometer 2026 Asia Pacific report finds that 67% of respondents more..