Nov 20 (TM) The Amarapura Buddhist Sect stated that the newly established Buddha Sasana Council – which brings together the secretaries of all chapters of the Buddhist sects – will compile a detailed report on land related disputes involving Buddhist temples across the country. Secretary of the Sect, Ven. Balapitiye Siri Seevali Thera said that the secretaries of the three main Buddhist sects – Siam, Ramanna, more..

Nov 20 (DN) UNICEF SL Representative Emma Brigham welcomed the strong focus on child rights in the Govt’s priorities and messaging in a tight fiscal space. However she noted that around four in ten children in SL are deprived of at least two indicators of the Multidimensional Poverty Index. Multidimensional Poverty Index measures poverty beyond income, capturing multiple deprivations in areas such as health, education and living standards, including access to clean water, more..

Nov 20 (NW) Sri Lanka has revised several fees related to the issuance of driving licences for both citizens and foreign nationals, following new regulations issued under the Motor Traffic Act. According to the Extraordinary Gazette No. 2463/04 dated 17 Nov 2025, the fee for issuing a driving licence to a Sri Lankan citizen who already holds a foreign licence has been set at Rs. 30,000. The fee for a foreign national in the same category has been set at Rs. 60,000. more..

Nov 20 (TM) In the wake of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake stating in Parliament that certain evidence linked to 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks was destroyed, Police stated that it is yet to receive specific information on what material was lost or who was responsible for the same. ASP F.U. Wootler said that no information related to the alleged destruction of evidence had been received thus far. “This matter is currently with CID. more..

Nov 20 (AD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake says he held a meeting with a delegation of MPs from the TNA, this afternoon (19) at the Presidential Secretariat following a request made by the party. He said the discussions focused on the Provincial Council elections and the need for a new Constitution. Dissanayake said he emphasized that the Govt believes the longstanding issues faced by the people of the N&E Provinces can no longer be resolved through outdated political solutions. more..

Nov 20 (FT) Emigrate workers› trade fair organised by the SL bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) with Varieties of products stalls of emigrate workers will be held on 20 Nov 2025 at Diyatha Uyana. This event is being held to commemorate the 40th anniversary of SLBFE’S founding. The fair offers reasonably priced goods from emigrant workers who are successfully operating their businesses after arriving in Sri Lanka and it is organised by the reintegration division of SLBFE. more..

Nov 20 (FT) Supreme Court has granted leave to proceed in the Fundamental Rights application filed by Bar Association of SL (BASL) over the suicide of Charith Dilshan, a second-year student of the Faculty of Technology, Sabaragamuwa Uni (SUSL), who died after enduring severe ragging on or around 26 April. The matter was supported before a bench comprising Justices Yasantha Kodagoda, PC and Janak de Silva. The application, filed by BASL President Rajeev Amarasuriya and more..

Nov 20 (AD) Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra, has held a constructive meeting in Brussels, Belgium this afternoon with Bernd Lange, Member of the European Parliament, Chair of the International Trade Committee (INTA), and EU GSP+ Rapporteur. The discussion focused on enhancing SL’s partnership with the European Union, particularly the continuation of the GSP+ scheme, promoting fair-trade cooperation, and expanding opportunities for SL exporters in EU market, a statement said. more..

Nov 20 (CT) Attorney General’s Dept informed Court, yesterday, that investigations into a complaint filed under the Public Property Act against former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe—over an alleged loss of more than Rs 150 million to the State during a private visit to London—are now in their final stage, and that a case will be filed in the High Court within the next month. According to the complaint, the alleged financial loss more..

Nov 20 (FT) SL’s tea crop posted a marginal improvement in October 2025, although the month’s performance reflected mixed conditions across elevations. Provisional data compiled by Forbes & Walker Research show the October crop at 21.78 million kilos (Mnkg), an increase of 0.50 Mnkg over the 21.28 Mnkg recorded in Oct 2024. All elevations except the Low Grown segment reported negative variances against last year. Compared to Oct 2023, the crop fell by 1.22 Mnkg from 23.0 Mnkg. more..

Nov 20 (Island) SL will pin their hopes on the red-hot blade of Pathum Nissanka when the tri-nation T20 series bowls off today, with the prolific opener chasing a historic rise to the summit of world cricket. Ranked third in the globe, the 27-year-old heads into the clash against Zimbabwe with the wind in his sails after that jaw-dropping hundred against world champions India in the recent Asia Cup — an innings that lit up the tournament. He also exposed weaknesses in India’s famous bowling attack. more..

Nov 20 (DM) Colombo became the focal point of the global architectural world earlier this month as the American Institute of Architects (AIA) International Conference 2025, Sri Lanka was held at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel from October 9-11. Approximately 180 plus international and national delegates attended the three-day event which was held under the theme “The Art within Architecture”. The event celebrated creativity, innovation and design excellence. more..

Nov 20 (DN) SL’s Kaya Daluwatte surged to the top of the leaderboard after Round 2 of the Faldo Series European Grand Final, sharing the lead with Sweden’s Lova Jansson at five under par. The second round of the 29th Faldo European Championship, held at the Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club in the UAE yesterday, saw SL’s Reshan Algama climb to fifth place while fellow countryman Jevahn Sathasivam finished 18th. In the Girls 21 and Under category, more..

Nov 20 (EN) SL’s Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) has warned people who recommend investments online without being a Registered Investment Advisor or a body licensed by the regulator. “Social media content that amounts to investment recommendations must not be made without proper basis and without being a Registered Investment Advisor or a body licensed by the SEC,” more..

Nov 20 (ST) The govt has proposed to set up a National Investment Protection Council—a semi-judicial body comprising retired judges—to mediate, investigate and resolve disputes between the state and investors prior to legal action by aggrieved parties. The proposal will be part of an Investment Protection Act, which is to be introduced in Parliament within the next two months with the objective of protecting investments and enterprises owned by both local and foreign investors more..

Nov 20 (DN) SL enter the T20 Tri-Nation Series in Rawalpindi today hoping to regain their dignity and confidence after suffering three consecutive ODI defeats to Pakistan. They face Zimbabwe in the opening match at 6.30 p.m. (SLT), knowing a strong comeback is their only option. This series carries extra importance as it serves as preparation for next year’s ICC T20 World Cup. Players must quickly adjust to the shorter format. Although SL performed well on their previous tour of Zimbabwe more..

Nov 20 (ST) Health Ministry has failed to claim compensation from suppliers of substandard drugs, specifically concerning the prednisolone acetate eye drops, which resulted in 12 patients at the Nuwara Eliya hospital suffering allergies and becoming vision-impaired. This was revealed in a National Audit Office (NAO) report annexed to the Health Ministry’s 2024 annual performance report presented to Parliament. more..

Nov 20 (FT) A delegation from the Embassy of Viet Nam in Sri Lanka led by Ambassador Trinh Thi Tam concluded a three-day official visit to SL’s Northern Province from 17–19 Nov. The visit aimed to explore opportunities for collaboration between Viet Nam and the Northern Province, with a focus on strengthening economic, trade, investment and tourism linkages. On 17 Nov, Ambassador Trinh Thi Tam paid a courtesy call on the Northern Province Governor Nagalingam Vethanayahan. more..

Nov 20 (FT) SL Export Development Board (EDB), in collaboration with the SL Embassy in Brussels, successfully organised an inward trade delegation comprising 12 Fair Trade product importers and representatives from the EU from 17 to 22 Nov, with the objective of promoting SL Fair Trade products and strengthening bilateral trade relations between SL and the EU region. The delegation included representatives from key European markets including Belgium, France & Italy. more..

Nov 20 (DM) Sri Lanka A sealed their spot in the semi-finals of the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 with a tense 6-run victory over Bangladesh A in Doha, confirming a final four lineup featuring Pakistan, India, SL and Bangladesh. In a gripping contest that swung repeatedly, SL A’s disciplined death bowling and a match-defining knock from Sahan Arachchige proved the difference as they successfully defended 159. Arachchige anchors SL A after early collapse SL A, put in to bat, slipped early more..

Nov 20 (FT) Royal Ceramics Lanka (Rocell), a forerunner in surface coverings and sanitaryware in Sri Lanka, was recently honoured with the Sri Lanka National Quality Award 2025 in the Manufacturing (Large Scale) category. The award is a definitive recognition of the company’s commitment to world-class manufacturing excellence. The prestigious award was presented to Rocell by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), the National Standards Body under the Ministry of Technology. more..

Nov 20 (FT) Sri Lanka and India yesterday renewed their commitment to elevate bilateral tourism cooperation to new heights, with both countries highlighting unprecedented growth in arrivals, enhanced connectivity, and expanding cultural linkages at the India–SL Tourism Connect forum titled From the Ganges to the Kelani: A Voyage of Friendship and Discovery. Speaking at the event, Minister Vijitha Herath said more..

Nov 20 (DM) Imagine that the recent incident in Trincomalee had happened inversely: A kovil, mosque, or a church is set up in Colombo, Galle, or somewhere in the South, and the Police storm the place, manhandle the clergy, and remove a statue of Jesus or Lord Vishnu. Social media warriors, NGO captains, and the Western embassies all would explode in outrage at this apparent act of religious indignation. None of that self-righteous outcry was in display early this week, except that more..

Nov 20 (ST) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, once known as a Marxist-Leninist—possibly for the lack of a more appropriate appellation or the wit and repartee of another Marx—seems to be heading to discard his attire from his previous avatar. Of course he now looks more chic in his Savile Row attire. He could not go round shaking hands and engaging in complex Kissinger-style exchanges regularly donned in those two-pocket shirts that might give shades of a Che Guevara, though his first JVP leader, more..

Nov 20 (Island) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has strongly defended two political appointees occupying the top positions in the Ministry of Public Security and the CID. The modus operandi adopted by him to support his brief for them is a textbook example of straw man, a logical fallacy, which involves recasting opponents’ arguments into weaker versions that are easier to refute instead of addressing stronger, substantive issues. Prez has advanced several arguments, more..

Nov 20 (TM) Recent weeks saw several incidents of Sri Lankans acting in a manner constituting sexual harassment against female foreign tourists. These concerns came to light after videos of locals harassing them went viral on social media. In one incident, a man was seen harassing a female tourist travelling in a three-wheeler in the Thirukkovil area. He was identified and arrested within days. In another, a man travelling in a different three-wheeler was filmed making inappropriate advances more..

Nov 20 (CT) The Jaffna peninsula has now become the most severely affected area in SL in terms of air pollution. This is not merely an environmental issue; it is a collision between scientific evidence, institutional failure, citizen activism and an invisible, deadly threat. Backed by scientific data, the crisis poses twin challenges to public health and the rule of law, forcing residents to seek judicial intervention in the face of more..

Nov 20 (CT) Govt’s recent insistence that it has no intention to delay the Provincial Council Election may reassure some, but for many Sri Lankans, it is beginning to sound like a familiar refrain, well-crafted, politically convenient, and ultimately inconclusive. Yesterday’s exchange in Parliament between Leader of the House, Bimal Rathnayake, and Chief Opposition Whip, Gayantha Karunathilake, once again exposed the widening disconnect between stated commitments more..

Nov 20 (Island) The US almost succeeded in signing SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) during the Yahapalana administration, as well as finalising the MCC (Millennium Challenge Corporation) meant to promote economic growth, open markets, and increased living standards in selected countries. SOFA was to allow deployment of US personnel in SL. The then Prez Maithripala Sirisena thwarted SOFA while PM Ranil Wickremesinghe’s representative Tilak Marapana was more..

Nov 20 (DM) Over a year after the e-visa system handled by the consortium—comprising IVS-GBS as the primary partner and VFS Global as the technical partner—was suspended in SL, Jamila Husain interviewed Zubin Karkaria, CEO of VFS Global Group, where he spoke about the organisation’s operations and reiterated that VFS Global maintains the highest level of diligence before contracting with international govts. more..

Nov 20 (DM) Central Bank has inexplicably maintained high interest rates in a deflationary environment, which increases debt-service costs and suppresses economic activity. It must change course now, because austerity in the name of fiscal sustainability is self-defeating if it destroys the conditions for growth. SL is experiencing its worst economic crisis since gaining independence in 1948. After defaulting on its external debt in 2022, govt was forced to impose severe austerity more..

Nov 20 (DM) Sri Lanka doesn’t seem to have taken certain lessons from the past. There was an ugly era that allowed ethno-nationalism to thrive, causing communal tensions and divisions in various parts of the country. There were Buddhist monks who threatened minority communities and politicians who convinced these communities to vote for Sinhala-Buddhist leaders by instilling a fear psychosis. In the North of the country, ethno-nationalism is an issue that people encounter on a daily basis, more..