Oct 31 (NW) Sri Lanka’s tourism earnings declined by 9.2% during the first nine months of 2026, despite the country welcoming nearly 1.7 million international visitors, according to the Central Bank. Tourism earnings fell to US$ 2.25 billion during Jan–Sept 2026, compared to US$ 2.47 billion during the corresponding period last year. Tourist arrivals also declined by 1.8% during the nine-month period, with Sri Lanka recording 1,693,679 arrivals. more..

Oct 31 (Island) Deputy Minister Sundaralingam Pradeep, declared in Jaffna that domestic mechanisms are sufficient for the Chemmani mass grave investigation as Tamil families, Tamil parliamentarians and international legislators press for an independent international inquiry. “As far as the Chemmani matter is concerned, work that no previous govt has done is being carried out now,” he said. “So although many people say many things, we are not exerting any interference or more..

Oct 31 (Island) Political and legal sources said that the NPP owed an explanation as to why the govt disregarded the recommendations made by a Committee, headed by Senior President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsekularatne, pertaining to the proposed Protection of the State from Terrorism Act (PSTA). The 17-member Committee included officials and representatives from the Attorney General’s Department, Ministry of Justice, Police and Armed Forces and Bar Association of SL (BASL). more..

Oct 31 (FT) The Govt in partnership with the World Bank Group and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), yesterday announced the launch of the SL AgriConnect Joint Implementation Plan, a coordinated effort to transform the country’s agrifood sector, create jobs, and strengthen food security. Aligned with the Govt’s national development agenda and Public Investment Programme 2026–2030, as well as more..

Oct 31 (NW) Sri Lanka recorded its highest-ever monthly merchandise export earnings in Sept 2026, reaching US$ 1.37 billion. Central Bank said merchandise exports increased by 21% compared to Sept 2025, surpassing the previous record of US$ 1.30 billion recorded in July 2025. Total merchandise export earnings during the first nine months of 2026 reached US$ 10.75 billion, reflecting a 5.3% increase compared to the corresponding period last year. more..

Oct 31 (Island) The Budget estimates, relating to the Appropriation Bill for 2027, the management of public revenue and expenditure, and priority development projects, were discussed and approved recently at the Committee on Public Finance in Parliament. These matters were discussed with officials of Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development at a recent meeting of the Committee, held in Parliament, on the 22nd, under the Chairmanship of MP Harsha de Silva. more..

Oct 31 (Island) Two main Tamil parliamentary blocs have agreed to mount a joint public protest against the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), after meeting at the home of the EPRLF leader, Suresh Premachandran, early this week. The meeting between the ITAK and the DTNA took place at Premachandran’s house in Kattapiray, with the ITAK General Secretary M.A. Sumanthiran among those taking part. The two sides agreed to take forward a protest against PTA with public participation, more..

Oct 31 (NW) The Supreme Court has ruled that three police officers attached to the Negombo Divisional Criminal Investigation Department violated the fundamental rights of a jewellery businessman from Kuliyapitiya by subjecting him to physical assault, harassment and unlawful detention during a police investigation. The court ordered the three officers to personally pay Rs. 100,000 each, amounting to Rs. 300,000, as compensation to the businessman. The ruling was delivered by more..

Oct 31 (ST) An announcement by the wheat flour importers association last week on a price increase has stirred up a hornets’ nest among consumers burdened by the high cost of living. Leading wheat flour importers Serendib Flour Mills Ltd and Prima Ceylon Ltd announced that a kilogram of wheat flour will be raised by Rs13 starting at midnight. Following which Bakery Owners Association & All Island Canteen Owners more..

Oct 31 (NW) Dept of the Registrar of Companies has issued a final warning to companies that have failed to submit their Beneficial Ownership information, cautioning that continued non-compliance could result in legal action, including fines of up to Rs. 1 million or imprisonment for up to 10 years. In a notice issued on Oct 28, Registrar General of Companies said the extended deadline of Oct 21, 2026, had expired, urging all companies that have not complied to submit their outstanding more..

Oct 31 (NW) PM Harini Amarasuriya will lead SL’s delegation to the 28th Commonwealth Heads of Govt Meeting (CHOGM 2026), scheduled to take place in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, from Nov 1 to 4. PM will join leaders from the Commonwealth’s 56 member countries at the summit, held under the theme Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth. During the summit, Amarasuriya will participate in executive sessions and the Leaders’ Retreat, more..

Oct 31 (DN) SL made a memorable start to their Hong Kong Cricket Sixes campaign, recording the second-highest successful chase in the tournament’s history when they beat Bangladesh in their group match at Mission Road Ground in Mong Kok, Hong Kong, yesterday. Opener Vishen Halambage was the hero of the chase, smashing an unbeaten 80 off just 17 balls, with 3 fours and 11 sixes, as SL reached their target of 128 in only 5.2 overs. Invited to bat first, Bangladesh scored 127 for four more..

Oct 31 (FT) Mayor of Colombo Vraie Cally Balthazaar today joined the British High Commission Colombo and the Delegation of the European Union to SL to launch their joint solar energy initiative, marking a practical partnership for more sustainable operations. Mayor joined British High Commissioner Andrew Patrick and EU Ambassador-designate Sylvia Hartleif and Deputy High Commissioner Theresa O’Mahony for a ceremonial switch on and a showcase of HC’s wider greening initiatives. more..

Oct 31 (FT) CCC-affiliated automotive body Ceylon Motor Traders’ Association (CMTA) urged the Govt to take decisive action in the upcoming 2027 Budget to abolish the 15% depreciation concession granted on used vehicle imports. Doing so, CMTA said, will address significant Govt revenue losses and establish a unified tax structure across the automotive sector. Despite the issue being raised through previous Budget proposals more..

Oct 31 (Island) Low-income households in SL – for whom bakery products serve as a crucial staple – are facing severe financial strain as the cost of daily essentials continues to spiral. All-Ceylon Bakery Owners’ Association (ACBOA) warned that prices of bread and other bakery items have been forced upward due to the govt’s failure to intervene and curb rising flour costs. ACBOA President stated that bakeries have been left with no alternative but to pass the cost burden onto consumers. more..

Oct 31 (FT) Labour Deputy Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe has sought to reassure trade unions that the proposed labour law reforms are aimed at strengthening workers’ rights rather than weakening existing protections. He said the draft contains several provisions more progressive than existing laws. Speaking at a consultation on the proposed amendments for the Western Province, held at the Dept of Labour auditorium, Jayasinghe said govt was prepared to discuss more..

Oct 31 (ST) Against a backdrop of previous privatisation attempts, Sri Lanka’s National Livestock Development Board (NLDB) has achieved a remarkable financial turnaround, recording a historic Rs. 300 million net profit over a recent six-month period in 2026. This dramatic transformation marks the official termination of the former regime’s controversial plan to lease dozens of state-owned dairy farms to more..

Oct 31 (FT) Construction activity continued to expand in September, though at a slower pace, with a shortage of bitumen remaining a major constraint and delaying several road construction projects, the Central Bank said yesterday. The Purchasing Managers’ Index for Construction (PMI – Construction), measured by the Total Activity Index, recorded 57.8 in September, down from 59.4 in August. A reading above 50 indicates the sector is generally expanding month-on-month. more..

Oct 31 (Island) Over forty years I rose from Sub-Inspector to Senior Superintendent of Police, serving as Officer-in-Charge of stations across the country and commanding territorial and internal divisions. I experienced the evolution of the department and the continuous challenges that emerged, from the southern and northern insurgencies to counter-terrorism leadership, diplomatic service as First Secretary in Thailand, overseas training, lecturing at the Defence College, and more..

Oct 31 (FT) Export Development Board (EDB) has successfully conducted a workshop on the practical application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) engaged in export businesses in the Kandy region, with the sponsorship support of Habib Bank. The workshop was held at the Grand Kandyan Hotel, Kandy, bringing together 55 participants, including SME exporters and entrepreneurs. The program provided participants with practical knowledge more..

Oct 31 (FT) RS Rock Holdings hosted a high-level UK SL Investment Promotion Networking Event at Dover Marina Hotel and Spa, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, on 22 Oct, bringing together senior SL Govt representatives, diplomatic officials, investors and UK business leaders to explore opportunities for bilateral trade and investment. Among the distinguished guests were High Commissioner of SL to the UK Nimal Senadheera, and Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe, who headed more..

Oct 31 (DN) Pakistan’s potent pace attack against SL’s explosive batting line-up will be the main attraction when the two teams meet in the tri-nation ODI series final at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore today. Both sides have had their share of success in the tournament, but only one will walk away with the title. The two teams have already met twice in the series, with Pakistan winning their opening encounter by 37 runs in Rawalpindi more..

Oct 31 (FT) Colombo stock market yesterday reversed a three-session rally to end the week in the red. Despite the Friday blip, during the week ASPI had gained 2.32% and S&P SL20 was up 2.36%. Yesterday, the ASPI ended 0.62% or 124.82 points at 20,142.33 and S&P SL20 fell 0.48% or 27.52 points to 5,746.40. Turnover was over Rs. 958.5 million on over 48.6 million shares traded and foreign investors were net sellers on a net outflow of Rs. 72.3 million. more..

Oct 31 (Island) The JVP-NPP government is doing everything in its power to abort the no-confidence motion (NCM) against Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne. When the Opposition submitted the NCM, the govt declared that it was ready to debate and defeat it, but it has since got cold feet. The NPP has a steamroller majority and does not hesitate to use or misuse it to safeguard its interests, but for some strange reason, it has baulked at debating the NCM, which it can defeat easily. more..

Oct 31 (FT) When the UAE and Canada signed a new Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement on 27 Oct, the announcement offered another example of how govts are actively reshaping their int'l economic relationships. The agreement promises improved market access once implemented, alongside wider cooperation in investment, infrastructure and strategic industries. For SL, the important question is not whether it should pursue an identical agreement. more..

Oct 31 (CT) AKD, take that first step. Take it with the courage of a man who knows that history does not always announce the hour of its arrival. Sometimes it comes silently, without ceremony, without the thunder of drums or the applause of assembled multitudes. Sometimes it arrives disguised as uncertainty, demanding of one solitary individual the courage to venture where generations before him feared to tread. Take that first step, AKD. For the road ahead is not one upon which the timid more..

Oct 31 (SO) Corruption remains a major obstacle to good governance, economic development and public confidence in SL. It weakens democratic institutions, undermines public services, discourages investment and erodes trust in public officials. The Anti-Corruption Act, No. 9 of 2023, established a more comprehensive framework for preventing, investigating and prosecuting corruption. On Oct 8, 2026, Parliament passed Anti-Corruption more..

Oct 31 (GV) SL is considering two new laws to tackle terrorism and organised crime. Both aim to strengthen public safety but they also raise questions about detention, police powers and individual rights. What do these laws mean for the country and its people? While reading Facebook comments about the proposed Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill (PSTA), I noticed something surprising. Some people were saying that the existing PTA was better than the proposed more..

Oct 31 (TM) On Saturday, banks across the country will mark World Thrift Day with the usual round of gift vouchers, children's passbooks and cheerful advertisements. The day has a respectable pedigree. It was declared at the first International Savings Bank Congress in Milan in 1924, when Europe was still counting the cost of war and ordinary families had learnt, painfully, that a little money put aside could separate hardship from ruin. A century later, that lesson has rarely felt more..

Oct 31 (TM) Nearly a year after Cyclone Ditwah tore through the island, the hills of the upcountry still bear its scars. And with the second inter-monsoon season now under way, those living on its slopes are being warned that the danger has not passed. When Ditwah made landfall in late November last year, more than 300 millimetres of rain fell within 24 hours in some areas, setting off landslides across the tea-growing districts of more..

Oct 31 (DM) The Israelis have spoken democratically to reaffirm that they glorify hardliners. They had little choice. There were hardly any candidates with peace credentials. The two main extremist-led blocs that contested the election produced a result in which neither emerged as the overall winner. Although PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud-led right-wing bloc is leading with 53 seats, it remains well short of the 61 seats required to control the 120-seat Knesset and form a govt. more..

Oct 31 (DM) Four decisive elections happening across four continents in a span of ten days could profoundly shape global politics. Already, two have concluded with surprising results for both the contenders and the public. Brazilian president Lula Da Silva won a fourth term in office over his right-wing challenger Flávio Bolsonaro. Despite his victory, analysts note that Lula faces the difficult task of funding his promised social and welfare programmes while reining in rising public debt more..