Oct 27 (NW) Cabinet has approved special compensation payments of up to Rs. 5 million for prison officers who were killed or injured during the clashes at Negombo Prison on July 5 and 6, 2026. Rs. 5 million will be paid for each officer who lost their life, while officers who sustained permanent disabilities will also receive Rs. 5 million each. Officers who suffered partial disabilities resulting in a 100% loss of earning capacity will receive Rs. 4 million, while those who sustained more..

Oct 27 (NW) A debate on the revised no-confidence motion against Speaker of Parliament Jagath Wickramaratne, to be submitted by the Opposition, has been scheduled for Nov 3. The debate was included in the parliamentary business scheduled for the first week of November. Parliament is scheduled to meet from Nov 3 to 6, with the agenda finalised at a meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business held on October 23, chaired by Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne. more..

Oct 27 (NW) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has introduced stricter fitness and disciplinary measures for national players, including random alcohol and drug testing and closer monitoring of their diets, SLC Transformation Committee member Sidath Wettimuny has revealed. He said the board was implementing several new initiatives to improve players’ fitness, discipline and overall professionalism. more..

Oct 27 (EN) Cabinet has approved the long-term leasing of 15 state plantation properties to selected local investors, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. The assets are owned by the SL State Plantations Corporation, Janatha Estates Development Board and Elkaduwa Plantations Company. Govt had earlier called for expressions of interest from investors for 1,514 hectares of land, 10 tourist bungalows and scenic locations, and 15 inactive factories managed by 3 plantation entities. more..

Oct 27 (NW) Newly elected Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has expressed hope of strengthening bilateral trade and technical cooperation between Brazil and SL, responding to a congratulatory message from President Anura Kumara Dissanayake following his election victory. In a post on ‘X’, Lula recalled his meeting with Prez Dissanayake in India in February this year and welcomed the opportunity to deepen relations between the two countries. more..

Oct 27 (Island) Customs in Jaffna has declined to release copies of Thoarai, a Tamil novel by the writer Piratheep Kunaradnam, aka Yatharthan, pending approval from Ministry of Defence and Dept of Govt Information, in the latest case of Tamil books being held by the state. Kunaradnam went to the customs division, at the Jaffna Post Office, last Thursday, to collect 32 copies of the novel, published by Kalachuvadu more..

Oct 27 (NW) Matara Magistrate’s Court has issued an open warrant for the arrest of former Minister Basil Rajapaksa in connection with an ongoing investigation into the purchase of a property at Brown’s Hill in Matara. The order was issued following a report submitted to the court by the FCID regarding the case. The investigation concerns the acquisition of an approximately one-and-a-half-acre property located along Eliyakanda Road in Brown’s Hill, Matara, which is allegedly linked to more..

Oct 27 (DM) Anuradhapura Additional Magistrate Dasuni Hapuarachchi yesterday ordered the Range Forest Officer of the Ritigala Wildlife Office to file charges in court against the chief custodian priest of the main terrace of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in A'pura over the possession of protected wildlife and animal products. Wildlife Conservation Dept said the case relates to an incident in which the suspect was allegedly found in possession of sambar deer meat, pangolin meat, more..

Oct 27 (NW) Indictments have been filed against MP Namal Rajapaksa and three others before the Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar in Colombo over allegations of money laundering and accepting a Rs. 100 million bribe in connection with the Airbus transaction. Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara informed Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama of the development when the case was taken up today. Deputy Solicitor General informed the Court that the indictments more..

Oct 27 (NW) SL govt is set to enter into a US$ 100 million loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to support economic recovery and reforms, following the completion of formal loan negotiations. Cabinet has approved a proposal submitted by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake to proceed with the loan agreements. Financing will consist of US$ 50 million in policy-based lending and US$ 50 million in investment financing, provided through ADB’s Ordinary Capital Resources. more..

Oct 27 (NW) The Ministry of Women and Child Affairs is taking steps to introduce new laws and regulations to prevent parents and adults from exploiting children for social media popularity and financial gain. Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj said the move comes amid growing concerns over children being exposed to dangerous activities and inappropriate content by adults seeking online fame and income. According to the Ministry, more..

Oct 27 (DM) SJB and its allies in Parliament have urged Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne to resign or allow a debate on the no-confidence motion against him to proceed, accusing the Govt of undermining democratic principles. Opposition parties said the Speaker should step down if the Govt was committed to good governance or face the allegations levelled against him. They warned that the Govt's decision to reject the proposed debate posed a serious threat to democracy more..

Oct 27 (CI) Pathum Nissanka will miss out on the Test portion of Sri Lanka's tour of Pakistan, having already sat out the T20Is and ODIs with a left hamstring injury. He will be replaced in the squad by Lahiru Udara, who has played five Tests and seven T20Is for Sri Lanka. SL had given Nissanka every chance of recovering in time, naming him in both the ODI and Test squads subject to fitness, but now the hope is to get him back to full fitness in time for SL's tour of India in December. more..

Oct 27 (CI) Dilshan Madushanka's career-best ODI figures of 5 for 34 set up a dominant eight-wicket win in Lahore, as Sri Lanka snapped a five-game losing streak against Pakistan, and with it, secure a final clash with the same opponents. The result left England mathematically eliminated from final contention, rendering their match against SL on Thursday a dead rubber. Having skittled Pakistan out for just 110, SL knocked off the target more..

Oct 27 (EN) Cabinet of Ministers has approved a new performance- and sustainability-based framework for collective agreements in State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), which will take effect from Jan 1, 2027, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. The decision follows an earlier cabinet decision when the govt decided to extend existing collective agreements in state enterprises under their current terms and conditions until Dec 31, 2026, while preparing a revised structure for 2027. more..

Oct 27 (NW) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is set to introduce stricter regulations limiting national players to a maximum of three franchise cricket leagues per year, including the Lanka Premier League (LPL). Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee member Sidath Wettimuny said the new regulations would be strictly enforced to ensure players prioritise their national commitments. SLC had previously introduced similar restrictions on franchise league participation. more..

Oct 27 (DM) The Chief Prelates of the Buddhist chapters have not so far made a request to the Government seeking the release of Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said today. He said the Govt would act in accordance with the existing law even if such a request were made, stressing that it had no intention of overriding a judicial decision. He said the Govt had amended the Prisons Dept’s Standing Orders following a letter sent by 4 Chief Prelates more..

Oct 27 (NW) Cabinet has approved the establishment of a National Wildlife Hazard Management Committee for Aviation Safety to minimise the risk of collisions between aircraft and wildlife in SL. The committee will serve as a national coordination mechanism for managing wildlife-related hazards in civil aviation, with representation from all relevant stakeholder institutions. The proposal was submitted by the Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation in line with SL’s obligations more..

Oct 27 (NW) Nearly 40% of SL’s annual fish production is lost due to post-harvest wastage, it was revealed during a discussion chaired by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Prez Secretariat today. SL’s annual fish production stands at approximately 400,000 metric tonnes, with a significant proportion lost after harvesting. The issue was highlighted during discussions on the 2027 Budget proposals of Ministry of Fisheries, more..

Oct 27 (NW) The impact of Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Arnab on weather conditions across SL is expected to gradually decrease from tomorrow, according to the Met Dept. In its latest weather forecast, the Dept said the cyclone was located approximately 800 kilometres northeast of Kankasanthurai at 11.30 a.m. today, over the west-central Bay of Bengal. The system, centred near latitude 16.2°N and longitude 83.7°E, is expected to cross Indian coast through Andhra Pradesh more..

Oct 27 (NW) Bar Association of SL (BASL) has expressed grave concern over the death of a 29-year-old suspect while in the custody of the Homagama Police, calling for an immediate, impartial and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. In a statement, the BASL identified the deceased as Ishara Harshakumara, a father of two from Kiriwaththuduwa, who had been arrested in connection with a drug-related investigation. more..

Oct 27 (AD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake visited the Anuradhapura Sacred City this afternoon (23) to inspect the progress of the proposed Sacred Area Development Project, which aims to improve infrastructure and visitor facilities while preserving the historic and religious significance of the ancient city. The project includes the renovation of access roads, improvements to facilities for devotees and more..

Oct 27 (AD) Litro Gas has increased its daily distribution to between 90,000 and 100,000 cylinders to address the ongoing gas shortage in SL, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. He said Litro Gas normally releases approximately 74,000 cylinders per day. However, the company has increased supplies by around 25% to meet rising demand amid supply issues affecting Laugfs Gas. He said the shortage of Laugfs Gas had affected the market since Sept, resulting in an increase in daily demand more..

Oct 27 (EN) Cabinet has approved a proposal to enter into an agreement with the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) to secure a US$ 60 million loan facility for Phase 2 of the Mahaweli Water Security Investment Program (MWSIP). The total estimated cost for Phase 2 of the program is US$ 536.5 million, which the govt plans to finance through co-financing arrangements with multiple development partners. ADB has already agreed to provide US$ 200 million toward the program. more..

Oct 27 (FT) The relationship between religion and the State in Sri Lanka is frequently examined through the constitutional recognition accorded to Buddhism under Article 9 and the general guarantee of religious freedom under Article 14. These provisions raise enduring questions about the relationship between the State’s special constitutional obligations towards Buddhism and the protection of religious freedom. These questions have recently assumed renewed public more..

Oct 27 (FT) Age and a frail heart keep me confined to my home, yet an alert mind keeps me voraciously curious. Two private TV channels—both epitomising the vulgarity of free-market capitalism—keep me updated on the Sangha mischief in our public square. Pensive in my armchair, far removed from the calibrated, boorish Bana at the Satyagraha sit-in at Viharamahadevi Park, my mind drifted into a desperate daydream. I closed my eyes and wondered: What if? What if the time warp more..

Oct 27 (FT) SL’s export sector posted its highest-ever monthly performance in Sept 2026, with total earnings surpassing $ 1.69 billion and reflecting a 17.23% year-on-year (YoY) growth driven by strong merchandise shipments, despite the challenges faced by the tensions in Middle East and its direct impact on overall costs. Merchandise exports shipped in September were up 21.66% YoY to over $ 1.38 billion, though estimated more..

Oct 27 (AD) More than 10,000 individuals have been affected by the prevailing rainy weather conditions across the country. 10,545 people belonging to 2,736 families across 57 DS divisions in 12 districts have been affected. 182 affected individuals are currently being accommodated at four safety centers. “Considering the districts, 10,545 people have been reported affected by the rainy conditions that began on Oct 23 in Ampara, Colombo, Gampaha, Jaffna, Kalutara, Kandy, more..

Oct 27 (DN) Heavy rainfall between 100 mm and 150 mm is expected across most provinces today and tomorrow as Cyclonic Storm Arnab intensifies in the Bay of Bengal, Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekara stated yesterday. He said there is no direct impact on SL, but the public should remain vigilant without being unnecessarily alarmed. Intermittent rain or thundershowers may occur in the Northern, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, North Western, Central & North Central Provinces more..

Oct 27 (TM) SL is bracing for several days of heavy rain, strong winds and possible flooding as Cyclone Arnab continues to intensify over the Bay of Bengal, even though the storm itself is not expected to directly affect the island, officials said yesterday. The cyclonic storm, which formed over the east-central and adjoining south-east Bay of Bengal yesterday, approximately 1,100 km north-east of Kankesanthurai, after moving more..

Oct 27 (DM) Indian Minister of Culture has shared a special message from Ven. Borelle Seeladassana of Sri Lanka’s Sihanada Int'l Meditation Community, praising PM Narendra Modi’s leadership and India’s efforts to preserve and promote Buddhism worldwide. In a post on X marking Abhidhamma Day, minister highlighted the monk’s message appreciating India’s initiatives to strengthen the global Buddhist community through spiritual diplomacy, sharing of sacred Buddha relics more..

Oct 27 (DN) Sri Lanka’s rising table tennis star, Taavi Samaraweera, has continued his superb form to secure yet another gold medal on the international stage, triumphing at the WTT Youth Contender tournament held in Lignano, Italy, from October 21 to 24. The 11-year-old S. Thomas Mt Lavinia paddler produced an outstanding performance in the Under-11 Boys’ Singles final, defeating his opponent Chang Shang from Hong Kong, China, in a convincing 3–0 victory to claim the gold medal. more..