Oct 6 (NW) CPC says fuel prices can be maintained at their current levels until the end of October, while assuring that there is no issue with its fuel stocks. CPC Chairman D.J. Rajakaruna said the corporation was also confident of maintaining the current fuel price and supply situation over the next three months, provided there were no major unforeseen disruptions. He said temporary shortages could occur in some areas due to other fuel companies reducing supplies to their filling stations. more..

Oct 6 (DM) Another case filed against BBS organisation Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera over allegedly making a statement insulting Islam has been fixed for Oct 23 for further hearing by Colombo High Court Judge Buddhika C. Ragala. At the previous hearing, the court issued a warrant against Ven. Gnanasara Thera as he had failed to appear before the open court in connection with this case. Accordingly, when the case was taken up today, accused, Ven. Gnanasara Thera, more..

Oct 6 (NW) SL’s economy has returned to pre-crisis levels after expanding for 12 consecutive quarters, but household incomes, employment outcomes and poverty levels continue to lag behind the broader economic recovery, World Bank said. In its latest SL Development Update, titled From Recovery to Transformation, World Bank projected the economy to grow by 4.4% in 2026, higher than earlier forecasts, supported by strong more..

Oct 6 (PMD) A special discussion on preparations for SL’s third mutual evaluation on international compliance with Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) standards was held this morning, chaired by the Prez. Discussion focused extensively on preparations for the third mutual evaluation, scheduled to be conducted from 26 Oct to 6 Nov 2026. Progress in implementing the relevant recommendations and action plan at more..

Oct 6 (AFP) Misinformation targeting SL's Muslim community has long circulated on social media, fuelling tensions in the Buddhist-majority nation. In September, users falsely claimed more than 380,000 Muslim babies are born annually while 750,000 mostly Buddhist Sinhalese women supposedly undergo abortions every year. Multiple experts told AFP the figures are inconsistent with the island nation's birth rate and available data on abortions. "Sinhala people, if you don't have at least more..

Oct 6 (Island) The govt is coming under pressure from civil society organisations to formulate a clear mechanism to deal with requests for presidential pardons. Representing civil society organisations, Gamini Viyangoda flayed the NPP govt for the delay in taking action against Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, after the Supreme Court declared the 2019 presidential pardon granted to him by Prez Maithripala more..

Oct 6 (FT) Govt is set to establish 1,050 official email accounts covering 350 courts across SL as part of measures to accelerate the digitalisation of the country’s judicial system. The accounts will operate under the official courts.gov.lk domain, while the initiative will also introduce voice-to-text technology and video conferencing facilities to support court proceedings and administration. Cabinet has approved the proposal presented by Minister of Justice and National Integration to more..

Oct 6 (FT) Container volumes at the Port of Colombo rose 10.3% year-on-year (YoY) to 5.99 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in the first eight months of 2026, driven by transshipment, although domestic container traffic contracted sharply in August. A TEU is the standard unit for measuring container capacity, equal to one 20-foot shipping container. Total container handling at Colombo grew 4.7% YoY to 776,300 TEUs in August, from 741,124 TEUs a year earlier, more..

Oct 6 (NW) A Rs. 91.21 million feasibility study is to be carried out to identify measures to reduce traffic congestion around Lotus Junction, the Port Access Elevated Highway and the Marine Drive Connector Road in Colombo. Cabinet has approved awarding the consultancy services contract to M/s Master Hellie’s Engineering Consultants (Pvt) Ltd, based on the recommendation of the Cabinet-appointed Consultancy Procurement Committee. The contract comprises a local component of Rs. 52.44m more..

Oct 6 (EN) Sri Lanka has awarded contracts valued at over 4 billion rupees for several road infrastructure improvement projects, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. Bids were called from contractors, and following evaluation of the bids, the Cabinet approved the proposals to award contracts as follows: Asset Engineering (Pvt) Ltd was awarded a 744.68 million rupee contract to improve the Blackpool-Ambewela-Pattipola-Horton Plains Road (12+500km to 18+000km) (B512). more..

Oct 6 (FT) The banking industry lifted cumulative after-tax profit by 12.9% to Rs. 209 billion in the first half of 2026 from a year earlier, as total assets grew 9.3% to Rs. 26 trillion on the back of a 25% surge in lending. The figures point to a sector shifting its balance sheet from investments to loans. Net loans rose by Rs. 2.8 trillion in the year to June, more than the Rs. 2.2 trillion growth in total assets, while investments fell by Rs. 979 billion. more..

Oct 6 (NW) SLPP has categorically rejected claims that former Colombo Municipal Councillor Mahinda Kahandagama was a member of the party, following his arrest over alleged drug-related offences. Responding to questions from reporters, SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam said Kahandagama had never held membership in the SLPP, despite having contested an election under an alliance involving the party. Kariyawasam said the SLPP had joined forces with a leftist party more..

Oct 6 (AD) Cabinet has approved the procurement for the printing (Phase I) of textbooks and modules scheduled for free distribution to schoolchildren in 2027. Accordingly, a total of 421 types of textbooks and modules, including modules for Grades 1, 2, and 6, are scheduled to be printed. Bids were invited under the National Competitive Bidding procedure for this purpose, resulting in the submission of 31 bids. Following the evaluation of the bids, approval has been granted, more..

Oct 6 (Island) The 20 nominees for the World Athlete of the Year honours have been announced ahead of the World Athletics Awards taking place in Monaco on 29 Nov. The nominees – selected by an international panel of athletics experts – include 10 for Women’s World Athlete of the Year and 10 for Men’s World Athlete of the Year. In what has been another sensational year for the sport, the nominations reflect some of the standout more..

Oct 6 (NW) A new passenger ferry capable of carrying around 150 people at a time is to be deployed on the Delft–Jaffna sea route under the govt’s Praja Shakthi National Programme. The initiative is aimed at addressing difficulties faced in passenger sea transport in the Jaffna Peninsula, particularly between the mainland and outlying islands such as Delft. Existing facilities are insufficient to safely transport larger numbers of passengers at once, creating challenges more..

Oct 6 (DN) Plans are underway to develop the historic Maduwanwela Walawwa in Kolonna Korale, Sabaragamuwa, as a new tourism zone. Minister Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi inspected the Walawwa yesterday afternoon as part of efforts to promote the site as a major tourism hub in the Sabaragamuwa Province. During the inspection, the Minister instructed relevant officials to expedite development activities, including the improvement of infrastructure surrounding the historic premises. more..

Oct 6 (AM) People’s Bank will fund a 3-year project to reduce elephant–train collisions through early warning systems at high-risk railway locations, with a pilot planned along a 14-km stretch between Habarana and Hataraskotuwa. The project is being implemented in collaboration with the Clean Sri Lanka Programme, Sri Lanka Railways, Dept of Wildlife Conservation and Dept of Forest Conservation. The bank and the three departments signed a MOU on 1 Sept 2026. more..

Oct 6 (Island) SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam has delivered a scathing critique of the NPP administration during the launch of the party’s Yukthiya Wenuwen Nagitimu (Rise Up for Justice) nationwide seminar series, in Kalutara, accusing the govt of systematically weaponising state institutions to target political rivals. The former lawmaker said that the govt action caused erosion of the sacrosanct rule of law. Speaking at the inaugural event, organised by more..

Oct 6 (NW) New details have emerged in the investigation into the controversial Krrish transaction, with the Bribery Commission telling the Colombo Magistrate’s Court that a Rs. 70 million payment made by Krrish Transworks had not been credited to the bank account of Ceylon Premier Sports. Disclosure was made as the case involving MP Namal Rajapaksa and former Krrish director Janaki Siriwardena was taken up before more..

Oct 6 (Island) Professor G.L. Peiris Trust for Legal Education and Research was established in the presence of a distinguished gathering of senior academics, leaders of the legal profession and civil society during a ceremony held at Senate House, Uni of Colombo this week. The Trust Deed, drawn up by Paul Ratnayeke Associates, was signed by Professor Peiris as settlor, and by Vice Chancellor of the Uni of Colombo, Professor Mahesh Karunatilaka, Dean of the Faculty of Law, more..

Oct 6 (EN) Sri Lanka and Thailand have agreed to enter into a mutual visa exemption agreement for ordinary passport holders, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. Cabinet has approved a proposal to sign the agreement between SL and Thailand. “Both parties have agreed to enter into an agreement on visa exemption for holders of ordinary passports, with the aim of further strengthening the friendly relations between SL and Thailand and facilitating travel for their citizens,” Jayatissa said. more..

Oct 6 (AD) Detained former Director of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) Suresh Sallay is expected to be taken to the CID this evening, following a medical board’s recommendation that he be discharged from Colombo National Hospital. Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris informed the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court today that a report submitted by the 10 doctors treating Sallay recommended his discharge from hospital. more..

Oct 6 (NW) FCID has informed court that steps will be taken to suspend the use of a property in Browns Hill, Matara, allegedly belonging to former Minister Basil Rajapaksa. The move relates to an ongoing case before the Matara Magistrate’s Court concerning the purchase of an approximately one-and-a-half-acre property at Browns Hill, Eliyakanda Road, Matara. FCID had filed the case against Rajapaksa in connection with the acquisition of the property, which is reported to be more..

Oct 6 (DM) A special joint operation in the Galgamuwa area has uncovered a site allegedly used to manufacture hakka-patas (improvised explosive devices), while several suspects were arrested with deer skins and hakka-patas. The raid was conducted on June 10 on the instructions of Minister Dammika Patabendi, with officers from the Depat of Wildlife Conservation, STF and Civil Security Dept taking part. Operation targeted devices and equipment used to threaten more..

Oct 6 (FT) SL has travelled a considerable distance from the economic catastrophe of 2022. Growth has returned, inflation has been brought under control for much of the period, foreign-exchange reserves have recovered, the banking system has strengthened, and debt restructuring is largely complete. The latest IMF assessment in September 2026 confirms this progress. Yet the conclusion of the IMF’s September mission without a Staff-Level Agreement raises a more important question more..

Oct 6 (FT) When I asked in these pages whether Sri Lanka was really going back to the IMF for an 18th time, I argued that the country should resist the pull towards a follow-on arrangement once the current EFF expires in March 2027. It is therefore with some satisfaction that I note the Govt’s position, as set out by Minister Bimal Rathnayake in a recent interview: the current program will be completed, it will not be followed by another program linked to debt restructuring, and more..

Oct 6 (FT) The IMF on Sunday reached a staff-level agreement with Sri Lanka on the Seventh Review of its $ 3 billion EFF, but made Board approval of the next tranche of about $ 345 million contingent on the Govt presenting a 2027 Budget in line with program parameters and on adequate progress with debt restructuring, as it pressed for fuel prices to move with global markets amid a protracted Middle East war. more..

Oct 6 (TM) A train operating from Peradeniya to Colombo Fort yesterday (5) derailed after crashing into fallen earth and rocks between the Gangoda and Kadigamuwa Railway Stations, just three days after services resumed on the repaired section of the Upcountry Railway line. The incident occurred at around 4.35 a.m., when the first office train from Peradeniya to Fort travelled along the line that had been closed for nearly 10 months due to extensive damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah. more..

Oct 6 (NW) A total of 2,345 govt secondary schools across Sri Lanka have been provided with new high-speed fibre internet connections, while plans are underway to extend the facility to all 3,832 primary schools during 2027 and 2028. The programme is jointly implemented by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of SL (TRCSL) under its Communication to the Village project and the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education. more..

Oct 6 (DN) PM Harini Amarasuriya said the Govt’s goal is to empower everyone to build a dignified home of their own through community participation, for which the Govt will provide the necessary guidance and facilities. Amarasuriya, who was speaking at the World Habitat Day 2026 commemoration held at Temple Trees yesterday said we must all take a moment to reflect on what a home really means. more..

Oct 6 (NW) SL Railway Station Masters’ Association (SLRSMU) has raised serious safety concerns over the resumption of train services on the Up-country railway line, alleging that operations commenced following restoration work without approval from National Building Research Org (NBRO). SLRSMU General Secy Kasun Jayasekara said situation was serious, particularly as warnings have also been issued over possible earthslips and rockfalls at two other locations along the railway line. more..

Oct 6 (FT) Four UN Special Rapporteurs have warned that the proposed Non-Governmental Organisations (Registration and Supervision) Bill 2026, reportedly intended to help SL meet international counter-terrorist financing standards ahead of its mutual evaluation this month, is inconsistent with those very standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), as well as with the right to freedom of association. The evaluation, a peer review of SL’s anti-money laundering more..