Sep 22 (NW) BBS General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero has appealed for a fresh presidential pardon from Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, days after the Supreme Court invalidated the pardon granted to him by former Prez Maithripala Sirisena in 2019. Speaking at the launch of his book, Navayay Paha Vikurthiya, in Colombo on Sunday, Gnanasara Thero urged senior Buddhist monks to intervene and request a presidential pardon on his behalf. more..

Sep 22 (CI) It's a rematch of the 2023 Asian Games final as India meet SL with gold on the line once again. Both sides have comfortably made the final. India brushed aside Japan and Bangladesh in the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively, while SL did the same against Malaysia and Pakistan. There is plenty of familiarity too, with the sides having met less than ten days ago in the Women's Asia Cup final. India cruised to a 72-run victory that day and will again start as favourites more..

Sep 22 (Island) The reins of SL’s ODI captaincy will return to Kusal Mendis as the wicketkeeper batter makes his int'l comeback following a lengthy injury lay off. Mendis, a regular across all three formats for much of the last decade, was forced into a rare spell on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury during the LPL. Injury ruled him out of the home Test series against India and he subsequently missed the T20I leg of the tour of England, with Charith Asalanka taking over the captaincy. more..

Sep 22 (CI) Thumped in T20Is in the south, then Wales, and most-recently Manchester, Sri Lanka have arrived in Durham desperately requiring inspiration. They have lost plenty of matches in 2026, but the last week has seen them suffering a string of cricketing annihilations few SL teams have endured, even on away tours. England won the first match by 119 runs, then ran down SL targets in 12.1, then 9.4 overs. SL are now required to salvage something positive from a format which more..

Sep 22 (Island) Australian High Commissioner to SL Matthew Duckworth described Omega Traders’ latest investment in a modern dhal-processing facility as a strong example of how cross-border supply chains can translate into productive investment, local value addition and new business opportunities in SL. The investment, which adds a 150-metric-tonne-per-eight-hour-day processing capacity to Omega Traders’ operations, marks a significant expansion of the company’s manufacturing footprint more..

Sep 22 (TM) A total of 40,185 teacher vacancies remained unfilled at the end of 2025, but only 425 teachers have been recruited so far this year, with no recruitments made to Provincial schools as at 15 Sept, according to Education Ministry data. The figures, provided by the Education Ministry in response to a RTI request, show that 978 of the vacancies were in National schools, while the overwhelming majority – 39,207 – were in Provincial schools. more..

Sep 22 (FT) Disinformation and Civic Space Researcher Dr. Sanjana Hattotuwa warned that SL is building a wide-reaching surveillance apparatus through a series of laws passed with little consultation and no meaningful safeguards, each reviewed in isolation rather than as part of a whole. Speaking at the launch of the SL Civil Society Organisations (CSO) shadow report to the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) Mutual Evaluation of SL, held on 17 Sept at the BMICH and organised by the SL CSO FATF Network, more..

Sep 22 (FT) New US Ambassador Eric Meyer yesterday emphasised that there is tremendous opportunity for the US and Sri Lanka to achieve more together. This observation he shared via an ‘X’ post was based on conversations with Government and business leaders, young Sri Lankans, exchange alumni, and American citizens in the first few weeks in Sri Lanka. “Our trade, our prosperity, and the security of the Indo-Pacific increasingly connect the United States and Sri Lanka. more..

Sep 22 (ST) Electricity consumers lost around 32,350 megawatt hours of low-cost energy from the Lakvijaya power plant because the final consignment of an emergency coal procurement arrived eight days late, leaving the plant without coal to burn, as the buffer stock had also run out. This is on top of other losses arising from the 2025-2026 term tender, whereby of the 25 ships ordered from India’s Trident Chemphar company, only 19 arrived. All of them were late, and more..

Sep 22 (FT) The ViYASA National Business Facilitation Centre (NBFC), established under the Presidential Secretariat to remove administrative and regulatory barriers to investment and industry, opens today. The Centre has been set up on Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s initiative to bring about a positive transformation in the industrial sector. It is expected to provide solutions to issues businesses face when dealing with Govt institutions during start-up and operation, more..

Sep 22 (FT) Dialog Axiata has introduced South Asia’s first 5G MiFi with eSIM capability and Wi-Fi 6 technology, offering a powerful portable internet solution for ultra-fast and reliable connectivity on the move. The launch strengthens Dialog’s leadership in next-generation connectivity, powered by SL’s largest and fastest-growing 5G network with over 1,000 live 5G sites across all 25 districts. Designed for professionals, businesses, students, travellers, and families, more..

Sep 22 (FT) Acting High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Kenya Ruvini De Silva, received the Chairman, Vice Chairman and CEO of the Kenya Tea Growers Association (KTGA) at the SL High Commission in Nairobi on 15 September 2026. The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation between Sri Lanka and Kenya in the tea sector, an important area of mutual economic interest between the two countries. During the meeting, the Acting High Commissioner briefed the KTGA delegation on SL Expo 2027, more..

Sep 22 (FT) The SL Export Development Board (EDB) recently unveiled a specially branded Airbus A321 Neo aircraft of SriLankan Airlines, liveried with the Sri Lanka Expo 2027 brand identity, to promote Sri Lanka Expo 2027 – the country’s premier international exhibition. The Expo will comprehensively showcase SL’s diverse export sectors, including agriculture, industrial manufacturing, export services, innovation, and tourism. The special event held to mark the departure of more..

Sep 22 (FT) Total vehicle registrations fell 13.8% month-on-month (MoM) to 45,569 units in Aug 2026, the lowest monthly total since Nov 2025’s 43,810 units, as tighter loan-to-value (LTV) limits and an extended import surcharge continued to weigh on demand, HNB Stockbrokers Research said in its Sept 2026 report. Two-wheeler registrations, which make up the bulk of the market, fell 11.9% to 33,613 units, while brand-new car and SUV registrations combined declined 33.9%. more..

Sep 22 (Island) International Peace Day was observed on 21 Sept. It finds Sri Lanka with a genuine achievement to record and a demanding test to meet. The UN’s theme this year was Invest in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day. It also honoured the everyday architects of peace—people driving local action and building a lasting peace from the ground up. In the 2026 Global Peace Index, Sri Lanka rose 30 places, from 97th to 67th among 163 countries. more..

Sep 22 (Island) Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne is expected to communicate the Supreme Court (SC) determination on the 22nd Constitutional Amendment (22A) Bill to Parliament shortly. All signs are that it will come as no surprise to legal experts and the discerning public. The process of hearing scores of petitions against 22A came under intense global scrutiny, with the impending SC determination arousing much interest among international jurists. more..

Sep 22 (TM) There are some journalists whose work we read and then move on. And there are others whose writing makes us stop, think, and look at the country differently. D.B.S. Jeyaraj, who passed away on 17 May, was one of them. Whenever I saw an article by DBS, as he was widely known, appear in a newspaper, it was the first I read. He was primarily a columnist and political analyst, with a deep knowledge of the history of SL’s ethnic conflict. However, his columns were not simply analysis or opinion. more..

Sep 22 (ST) Mea culpa. A thousand apologies, as they used to say in the now long-lost British comedy series aired by ITV. Alas, what a loss. Now we have instead Diyawanna Oya follies. That’s a comedy series too. But then we laugh at it for different reasons. But laugh, we do. All the same apologies are necessary for the mistake made last Sunday when we said that our enemies were inside our sovereign territory and not outside, as history has shown. Therefore, there was little need to plant those more..

Sep 22 (SO) SL’s ancient tank culture stands as one of the world’s remarkable examples of water management, sustaining communities, agriculture and ecosystems for centuries. Today, however, this enduring water heritage faces growing challenges, making its revival and protection more important than ever. In recent past under the Climate Resilient Integrated Water Management Project (Wewgam Pubuduwa) and the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture (CSIAP) projects more..

Sep 22 (GV) At a school on the outskirts of Colombo, the heat is changing how children experience a school day. For those preparing for their crucial examinations amid many socio-economic hardships, mornings remain manageable but by afternoon concentration becomes increasingly difficult. Malitha, 17, who is preparing for the A’Levels in the coming years, said the heat has intensified considerably during his years at school. His mornings are helped by a working fan but by midday he struggles to concentrate. more..

Sep 22 (TM) Two years after voters made Anura Kumara Dissanayake President, and gave his NPP 159 seats in Parliament a couple of months later, independent analysts mostly land on mixed. They credit the Govt for steadying the economy and for a real anti-corruption push, but say the system change at the heart of its pitch has made little progress. The public is catching up with the analysts. Verité Research's July poll put approval of the Govt at 49.83%, down from 65% in February, more..

Sep 22 (DM) Nearly 6 decades ago, the Colombo Wellawatte Tamil Sangam was established as a place where Tamil-speaking people could gather, learn and share their language, literature and culture. Over the years, it became more than a meeting place. It hosted literary gatherings, cultural celebrations and events marking occasions of national significance. Writers and literary figures were honoured there, and generations of Tamil readers and artists passed through its doors. more..

Sep 22 (DM) A Sri Lankan passport does not carry with it an exemption from the laws, customs or religious sensitivities of another country. That basic truth appears to have been forgotten in the heated debate surrounding the case of Sri Lankan national Anojan, who is facing judicial proceedings in Saudi Arabia following a social media post reportedly deemed insulting to Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. The case has caused concern in Sri Lanka. more..

Sep 22 (DM) The SL economy is not an island. We like to think that all will be fine as long as we stabilise our economy and ensure fiscal discipline. However, in reality, economic crises in SL have more often been triggered by external shocks rather than internal problems. And now we are staring at economic and political developments that signal a dangerous world. There are different external shocks that have been in the making, and it is indeed difficult to predict as to which particular source more..

Sep 21 (DM) Questions have been raised over the importation and release of a stock of around 190,000 G-CSF injections, reportedly worth approximately Rs. 250 million, amid claims that the drugs were imported without proper labelling and required standards. Chairman of the Medical and Civil Rights Doctors' Trade Union Alliance, Specialist Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, questioned who authorized the release of the consignment from Customs and called for the NMRA to disclose all relevant information. more..

Sep 21 (NW) The 13th newly built post office under the current govt was officially opened to the public in Kaithady, Jaffna, marking another step in the ongoing postal modernization programme. Constructed at a cost of 28 million rupees, Kaithady Post Office was declared open under the patronage of Minister of Nalinda Jayatissa. The facility, equipped with modern amenities, was built using allocations from the 2025 Budget, which earmarked 600 million rupees for new post office more..

Sep 21 (DM) Acknowledging the tax burden faced by the public, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday said Govt was expecting to remove certain taxes through the 2027 Budget to provide relief to people affected by rising costs. Prez said the Govt had focused on strengthening the economy, livelihoods, food security and opportunities for economic advancement, while stressing the need to translate these efforts into tangible benefits more..

Sep 21 (TM) National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) has launched a strategic plan to reduce the country’s smoking rate, currently at 10%, ahead of the implementation of the proposed Tobacco-Free Generation (TFG) programme, while acknowledging the practical difficulties of eliminating tobacco use completely. NATA Chairman Dr Ananda Rathnayaka said reducing tobacco use among existing smokers was essential for the TFG programme to succeed. more..

Sep 21 (DM) SL’s repeated exposure to war, COVID-19, economic hardship and natural disasters has left many people dealing with layers of trauma and loss, with earlier experiences of distress often resurfacing after new crises, a recent study has found. Study, titled Addressing Disaster-Related Trauma and Loss in SL, found that the psychological impact of disasters cannot be viewed as isolated incidents, as repeated crises can compound emotional distress and make recovery more difficult. more..

Sep 21 (AD) SLC’s Major Tier ‘A’ club structure is set for a major overhaul, with the Cricket Transformation Committee deciding to reduce the number of clubs in the top domestic tier from 14 to 10 over the next two years. The move is among the key measures announced by the Cricket Transformation Committee (CTC), appointed by the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs on Apr 29, 2026, as part of a broader programme to reform more..

Sep 21 (NW) Irrigation Dept reports that significant rainfall has been recorded across much of the wet zone, including the districts of Galle, Matara, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya & Matale districts and the Western, North Western, and Sabaragamuwa Provinces. Director of Irrigation, L.S. Sooriyabandara said that although rainfall has slightly reduced compared to previous days, showers continue. He further said that as of this morning, the upper areas of the Kelani River received 100-125 mm of rain, more..

Sep 21 (DM) The govt is examining legal options to allow private fuel distributors to set their own prices within a specified upper and lower range, Minister Anura Karunathilaka said. He said the move is being considered as several private fuel distribution companies have raised concerns over heavy losses under the existing pricing structure, leading to restrictions on diesel supplies. Three private fuel companies in SL—Lanka IOC (LIOC), Sinopec, and RM Parks—have restricted diesel distribution more..