Oct 25 (NW) The SL govt has decided to launch a special joint operation involving the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the three armed forces to strengthen the protection of wild elephants and tuskers while addressing human-elephant conflict. The initiative was discussed at a special meeting held at the Ministry of Environment on October 23, chaired by Environment Minister Dr. Dhammika Patabendi and Deputy Minister Anton Jayakody. more..

Oct 25 (Island) How much relevance bilateral and tri-nation ODI cricket will retain after next year’s World Cup remains anyone’s guess. So let’s enjoy the format while we can. On Thursday night, Rawalpindi served up a feast as Sri Lanka chased down 430 with one ball to spare, leaving England shell shocked and the rest of the cricketing world rubbing its eyes. Harry Brook’s record breaking double hundred could not secure victory as Sri Lanka pulled off a remarkable comeback. more..

Oct 25 (TM) The ongoing power cuts are likely to hurt the country’s exports, with factory production coming to a standstill whenever supply is interrupted, National Chamber of Exporters of SL (NCE) has warned. “The scheduled power cuts will have a negative impact on exports, especially on factories, because some are operating extended hours to meet demand. Production will come to a halt whenever there is a power cut,” NCE Secretary General Shiham Marikar said. more..

Oct 25 (FT) From 23 Oct 2026, passengers travelling to Colombo in British Airways’ Club World business class cabin will be treated to a specially curated menu inspired by SL’s rich culinary heritage. Developed in collaboration with Hoppers London, limited-time dining experience celebrates the distinctive ingredients, traditional cooking techniques and much-loved dishes that have long been part of the island’s food culture. For SL, the partnership represents another opportunity more..

Oct 25 (TM) SL’s national cricket selection process is based on players’ performances and abilities, rather than their ethnicity or regional background, Minister of Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage said. Responding to a question raised in Parliament, Minister said that an independent cricket selection committee was responsible for selecting players for the national team. A NPP MP raised concerns over the limited opportunities given to cricketers Milan Rathnayaka and Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, more..

Oct 25 (TM) Sri Lanka is highly unlikely to enter into any new barter trade arrangements in the foreseeable future, the SL Tea Board (SLTB) has said, as the country’s only State-level barter deal, the tea-for-oil agreement with Iran, draws to a close. “It is highly unlikely that Sri Lanka will pursue new barter trade arrangements in the foreseeable future. Should the need arise, any such opportunities would have to be explored in consultation with the export community,” more..

Oct 25 (TM) SL Women’s Cricket Team Head Coach Jamie Siddons has taken extra leave for personal reasons at the end of the Asian Games and is still to confirm his availability for the team’s home white-ball series against Australia in December, SLC CEO Ashley de Silva said. Siddons, 62, took the reins of Chamari Athapaththu’s side in March this year, replacing long-serving former national fast bowler Rumesh Ratnayake on a 12-month long contract, with his primary assignment being more..

Oct 25 (SO) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) reached another decisive stage in their attempt to overhaul the framework of the sport with the Supreme Court hearing objections to the proposed new Bill before the Second Reading in Parliament. Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne announced that 30 petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the new SLC Bill. The Supreme Court is due to convey its confidential determination within a 21-day period to the Speaker, after which more..

Oct 25 (Island) A govt’s commitment to democracy is best judged by the laws it enacts. The incumbent administration came to power pledging to repeal the draconian laws introduced by its predecessors and strengthen democracy, but it is now doing the very opposite of what it promised. Having amended the Constitution to raise the retirement ages of superior court judges, including serving judges, despite protests by lawyers’ associations, other professional organisations and civil rights groups, more..

Oct 25 (Island) There was no plan for a sequel to what I wrote last week reflecting on the inspirational protests of 1968 and the humdrum climate of 2026. But protests turning into riots in Paris, and the politics of monk protests and counter protests in Colombo, have made a Sunday sequel worthwhile. As if not to be outdone by 1968, and manifesting violent fusions of public service frustrations and economic anxieties, 2026 protests have turned into riots over the last weekend in Paris and more..

Oct 25 (TM) For a mother preparing lunch while her children wait impatiently at the dining table, a small shopkeeper struggling to keep his business running, or a student sitting before a computer completing an important assignment, a sudden power failure is more than a temporary inconvenience, particularly in a country where repeated electricity interruptions have become an uncomfortable reminder of how easily everyday life can be disrupted by failures in a system more..

Oct 25 (TM) The repeated declaration made by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake and other leaders of the NPP Govt – that their policy is to treat all communities equally and that they will never again allow racism and religious extremism to rear their heads – has now faced a real test in the form of the controversy involving BBS General Secretary Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera. In southern SL politics, Gnanasara issue is not merely a legal action concerning an individual Buddhist monk; more..

Oct 25 (TM) On Thursday, in the well of the House, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa asked some elementary questions. How many proposals did the 2026 Budget contain? How much was allocated to each, and how much had been spent by 30 Sept? What financial and physical progress had been made on the special projects listed across 28 sectors in the Finance Ministry’s own summary of major public investment projects, issued on 7 Nov last year? What of foreign-funded projects, unspent funds & reallocations? more..

Oct 25 (TM) Those who expected a dull political week, with Parliament occupied by the destruction of seized narcotics and the registration of dogs, were in for a surprise. The most moving political document of the week came neither from the floor of the House nor from a party headquarters. It came from a hospital ward. Former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa has written an emotional letter to his son, MP Namal Rajapaksa, who remains in remand custody, recalling more..

Oct 25 (GV) SL’s electricity crisis raises a fundamental question that goes beyond tariffs, fuel imports and the management of the national grid: should citizens be free to generate their own electricity when they can do so safely without relying on the state or imposing any cost on the public? The answer should be straightforward. A household that installs solar panels and batteries to power its own appliances or a factory that invests in an independent energy system to maintain production more..

Oct 25 (SO) The United Nations (UN) marked its 81st anniversary yesterday with its authority weakened by Govts that expect it to manage crises while denying it the money and political support to do so. The UN’s difficulty in restraining powerful Western States has become painfully familiar. Its capacity to help people caught in wars and disasters is now under financial pressure too. For smaller countries, including Sri Lanka, both failures have serious consequences. more..

Oct 24 (FT) Treasury account now holds a surplus approaching Rs. 1 trillion, compared with a deficit of about Rs. 700 billion in 2022, while a Finance Ministry committee is considering closing or amalgamating 34 State-owned enterprises (SOEs) deemed unnecessary or inefficient, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday. Prez said the Govt had been constantly compelled to print money or borrow from the banking system due to more..

Oct 24 (DN) Sri Lanka para athletes Janani Dhananjana and Pradeep Somasiri won gold medals with new Games records in the women’s T47 long jump and men’s T46 1500m respectively at the 5th Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japan, yesterday. SL finished the Games with nine medals, comprising 2 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze. Para athletics accounted for seven medals, while para swimming contributed two. SL’s para athletics team manager, Lt Colonel Deepal Herath, said team narrowly missed more..

Oct 24 (DM) Train services between Rambukkana, Peradeniya and Gampola will be temporarily suspended on Oct 24 and 25 due to a landslide near Kadigamuwa Railway Station, the Railways Department said. Superintendent of Railways (Traffic) G.D.A. Samarasinghe said the landslide, triggered by adverse weather conditions, has washed soil onto the railway line between Rambukkana and Peradeniya, creating a safety risk to train operations. more..

Oct 24 (Island) SL has introduced a special Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) application process for nationals of five countries, requiring them to obtain the support of a SL citizen or resident when applying to enter the country. According to updated requirements issued by Dept of Immigration & Emigration, nationals of Ghana, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon & Afghanistan will not be able to use the standard self-service online ETA more..

Oct 24 (Island) Matara Magistrate’s Court has released, on bail, the Chairman of the National People’s Power (NPP)-controlled Kirinda Puhulwella Pradeshiya Sabha, and four others, arrested over allegations of unlawfully detaining and subjecting a retired female teacher and her son to physical and mental harassment. The five suspects, including Pradeshiya Sabha officials, were arrested by Thihagoda Police on Thursday following a complaint made by teacher & her son, an engineer. more..

Oct 24 (DN) Minister Ananda Wijepala told Parliament that shooting incidents connected with organized crime have declined to 18 so far in 2026 in comparison to 29 incidents recorded in 2025. Responding to questions raised by SJB MP Kavinda Jayawardana in the House yesterday during Questions for Oral Answers session, he said that INTERPOL red notices have been issued for 236 Sri Lankans, including 94 individuals identified more..

Oct 24 (NW) Police have frozen properties and a bus worth approximately Rs. 33 mil in two separate investigations into assets suspected to have been acquired using proceeds from drug trafficking. Illegal Assets Investigation Division arrested a 45-year-old resident of Eluwila, Panadura, on Oct 23 in connection with an investigation into alleged drug trafficking. Police subsequently froze a two-story house and 13-perch property in Malamulla, Panadura, valued at approx Rs. 20 mil, more..

Oct 24 (Island) Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa attributed the spread of tuberculosis (TB) in Colombo to the city’s high population density, while noting that reported cases have been on a declining trend since 2023. Jayatissa said 968 TB cases were reported in Colombo city in 2025, down from 1,064 cases in 2024. According to figures presented by the Minister, Colombo city recorded 871 cases in 2019, with the number falling to 736 in 2020 before rising to 796 in 2021. more..

Oct 24 (NW) Dept of Meteorology has warned of increased rainfall in southwestern parts of SL over the next few days as a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm. According to the weather forecast issued at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday (24), the low-pressure area near the North Andaman Islands is likely to develop into a depression during the day. The system is expected to move west-northwestwards, intensifying into a deep depression by Oct 25 more..

Oct 24 (NW) Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has written an emotional letter to his son, MP Namal Rajapaksa, who is currently in remand custody, recalling the advice he gave him when he first entered politics in 2010. In the letter, Mahinda Rajapaksa said Namal had sought his permission to enter politics and that he had warned him to be prepared for imprisonment and hardship. “If you want to enter politics, do so. more..

Oct 24 (Island) Opposition yesterday called for the appointment of a special Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of tusker Kawanthissa, considered a national natural heritage, and determine whether all relevant authorities and individuals had properly discharged their responsibilities. A motion calling on the Speaker to appoint the committee, initiated by SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa, signed by Opposition more..

Oct 24 (FT) The Govt plans to establish 18 new industrial zones as it seeks to attract investment, expand manufacturing capacity and position itself as a regional hub for trade, technology and industry, Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe said. Abeysinghe said the country was shifting from economic stabilisation towards sustainable growth and called on international investors to participate in its next phase of development. more..

Oct 24 (FT) SL welcomed 119,805 tourists during the first 22 days of October, registering a 5.03% year-on-year (YoY) increase, but cumulative arrivals remained 1.42% below the corresponding period last year as the industry entered its crucial winter season. The latest figures lifted year-to-date (YTD) arrivals to over 1.81 million, compared with over 1.83 million during the same period in 2025, highlighting the challenge facing the sector in closing the gap before the end of the year and more..

Oct 24 (FT) Colombo stock market continued to slide for a fifth straight session to end the week in the red. During the week, ASPI fell 2.48% and S&P SL20 fell 2.18% as intensifying tensions in the Middle East fed into negative investor sentiment. Yesterday, ASPI ended 0.17% or 33.01 points at 19,684.91 and S&P SL20 fell a marginal 0.09% or 4.85 points to 5,613.63. Turnover was low at over Rs. 825 mil on over 31.5 mil shares traded. Foreign investors were net buyers on a net inflow of Rs. 37.6 mil. more..

Oct 24 (FT) Treasury Secretary Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma has hailed Sri Lanka Customs’ (SLC) contributions to the country’s recovery and development, saying revenue collected by the department enabled the Govt to allocate Rs. 500 billion to respond to the Ditwah disaster and to provide relief on fuel prices driven up by the war in the Middle East. He made the remarks at a ceremony held on Thursday more..

Oct 24 (ST) In recent decades, many countries have made meaningful progress in developing community-based mental health services. Moreover, rights-based approaches have gained traction as people with lived experience increasingly have a voice in shaping mental health policy and services. These developments have shown that people living with mental health conditions can flourish in their communities when given the right support. Yet, around the world, very large numbers of more..