Jan 27 (AD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that a special authority will be established this year to ensure the protection of the Central Highlands. Prez made these remarks while attending the inauguration of the Godanagamu Adhishtanaye Sanhinda national programme, which aims to rapidly restore religious sites damaged by Cyclone Ditwah and make them available for worship and other religious activities. The event was held today (27) at the more..

Jan 27 (Island) Youtuber Dharmasri Kariyawasam, through his counsel Sawani Rajakaruna, has sent a letter of demand to Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa, seeking Rs 2 bn in damages for falsely contradicting his programme that dealt with the importation of Ondansetron. AAL Rajakaruna, in her letter, dated 17 Jan, on behalf of Kariyawasam, has said that in spite of the Minister demanding one billion in damages for alleged false and defamatory declarations made by the Youtuber, more..

Jan 27 (AD) Select Committee of Parliament appointed to look into and report to Parliament on the controversial release of 323 containers from the Colombo Harbour without undergoing mandatory inspection has decided to meet every Wednesday. Weekly meetings are scheduled to commence at 2 p.m. to conduct its investigations, Dept of Communication of Parliament. The decision in this regard was taken at the inaugural meeting of the Committee, held under the Chairmanship of Minister Harshana Nanayakkara. more..

Jan 27 (CT) The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) has confirmed that a total of 173 individuals remain unaccounted for following landslides and floods triggered by Cyclone Ditwah. Of those reported missing, 69 are from the Kandy District, 38 from the Kegalle District, and 32 from the Nuwara Eliya District. The DMC said, the death toll from the disaster has risen to 649, with the highest number of fatalities recorded in the Kandy District, where 243 people lost their lives. more..

Jan 27 (FT) Colombo District Additional District Judge Geethani Wijesinghe recently dismissed a case filed by National Film Corporation (NFC) against Film Lanka Ltd. The NFC by a plaint filed on 22 June 2012 had instituted action against a company called Film Lanka Ltd., and claimed Rs. 12,301,570 together with interest from 2010, claiming that the Defendant company, which is operating cinemas Cine City, was liable to pay a levy in terms of certain gazettes and statutes and more..

Jan 27 (Island) Ambassador of the UAE to SL, Khaled Nasser Al Ameri, met Minister of Power & Energy Kumara Jayakody yesterday to review progress on bilateral energy cooperation and explore new avenues for collaboration, with a strong focus on regional energy security and strategic infrastructure development. The high-level discussion centred on the implementation status of understandings reached in recent years, particularly in the energy sector, more..

Jan 27 (NF) Shiranthi Rajapaksa, wife of former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa, has informed the FCID that she will be unable to attend the summons scheduled for today. Attorney representing the former first lady has requested a two-week extension on her behalf, citing personal reasons for her absence. She had been summoned in connection with ongoing investigations into alleged financial irregularities involving an account operated under the name Siriliya during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s tenure as Prez. more..

Jan 27 (NW) A group of Opposition MPs have joined a Parliamentary delegation to inspect the controversial coal consignment that recently arrived at the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant. In a video message, opposition MP Ajith P. Perera said that the team has arrived at the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant on a fact-finding mission related to the controversial coal consignment. “There is an issue regarding the quality of the imported coal. Several issues stem from this substandard coal consignment, more..

Jan 27 (NW) Minister Nalinda Jayatissa criticized the opposition and certain media outlets over their stance on the govt’s stalled education reforms. Responding to a question from journalists on whether the reforms could be implemented this year, Jayatissa accused some TV channels of promoting the views of opposition MPs — including Dilith Jayaweera, Sajith Premadasa, Namal Rajapaksa & Wimal Weerawansa — to create the perception that reforms posed a threat to children. more..

Jan 27 (CT) Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) has made an official complaint to the Secretary of the Northern Provincial Ministry of Education regarding certain school principals who, without the approval of the Ministry of Education or the Secretary of the Northern Provincial Ministry, have been improperly conducting examinations organised by the Field Work Center (FWC) in Thondamanaru, often referred to as FWC Jaffna. These actions involve the misuse of official school time and Govt resources, more..

Jan 27 (NW) A group of women have staged a protest blocking the main road in Mihintale against illicit liquor in the area. The protesting women claimed that men in the area were addicted to illicit liquor, which was ruining families. Claiming that this was also affecting the education of young children, the women said their hard-earned income was being used by the men to consume illicit liquor. “Ten men from our village have died due to illicit liquor. Five more are ill. more..

Jan 27 (AD) The Kelanitissa Combined Cycle Power Plant should be operated in order to compensate for the electricity generation loss suffered by the national power grid due to the importation of substandard coal, energy experts have stated. It is reported that the electricity generation capacity that can currently be supplied to the national grid has dropped significantly because the coal imported into the country does not meet required standards. more..

Jan 27 (AD) SL Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), operating under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, has announced a target to deploy 310,000 SL workers for overseas employment in 2026. According to the Bureau, Kuwait has the highest demand, with a projected intake of 77,500 workers. Other major destinations and their respective targets include the United Arab Emirates (63,500), Qatar (44,000), and Saudi Arabia (31,000), along with 17 other countries. more..

Jan 27 (CT) Representatives of Sri Lanka’s trade, logistics, shipping, freight forwarding, Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) and export–import associations have jointly urged the Government to institutionalise regular Time Release Studies (TRS) as a national trade facilitation tool, warning that the lack of periodic, data-driven measurement continues to conceal systemic delays and inefficiencies in the cargo clearance process. In a joint letter dated 26 January, more..

Jan 27 (FT) Sri Lanka today is not suffering only from an economic crisis. It is suffering from a system crisis. Across the country, we see delayed projects, stalled investments, struggling businesses, rising unemployment, declining public services, and increasing dissatisfaction among citizens. While much attention is given to financial indicators such as debt, inflation, and reserves, far less attention is given to a deeper issue that silently drains national value every day: our systems are outdated, more..

Jan 27 (FT) SL’s globally renowned gem and jewellery industry has received a timely boost with the introduction of a revised tax calculation method for gem imports. The new framework for applying the Social Security Contribution Levy (SSCL) and Value Added Tax (VAT) is expected to ease the financial burden on importers, revive declining import volumes, and strengthen the country’s gem export performance. The announcement was made by National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) more..

Jan 27 (Island) Chamindra Kularatne, the suspended Deputy Secretary General of Parliament and Chief of Staff, has told the Opposition that he will seek the intervention of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Association of Secretaries General of Parliament (ASGP) and UNHRC. Kularatne has also declared his intention to move the Court of Appeal against suspension more..

Jan 27 (NF) MP Namal Rajapaksa was summoned to the CID today (26) to provide a statement regarding ongoing investigations into Kehelbaddara Padme, a member of an organized crime syndicate. However, Police confirmed that Rajapaksa has requested a one-week extension to appear, as he is currently on an official trip to India. In a separate development, Shiranthi Rajapaksa, wife of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, has been summoned to the Police FCID tomorrow. more..

Jan 27 (FT) Trade unions representing employees of the CEB have warned of strict industrial action if the Govt fails to address a series of demands related to employee rights, salaries, and the ongoing restructuring of the national power utility. In a letter addressed to Power Minister Kumara Jayakody, the unions said they had consistently supported efforts to strengthen the CEB and had worked closely with successive administrations, including the current Govt, to ensure more..

Jan 27 (DM) A tale of contrasting velocities has emerged in the Port of Colombo, with the private sector-led Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) rapidly outpacing the state-managed East Container Terminal (ECT) in 2025, prompting renewed calls from industry heavyweights to open the latter for private investment. While the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) celebrated the commissioning of ECT’s third berth last week, more..

Jan 27 (NW) SL recorded 1,375 road accidents in the first 25 days of 2026, with 147 fatal crashes claiming the lives of 155 people, highlighting ongoing concerns over road safety in the country. DIG in charge of Traffic Control and Road Safety, W.P.J. Senadheera, said the figures underscore the persistent dangers on SL’s roads, particularly during peak travel periods and holiday seasons. Road safety advocates say the early-year statistics reflect long-standing structural issues, more..

Jan 27 (FT) Colombo High Court yesterday ordered that the case filed against former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and former IGP Pujith Jayasundara be taken up again on 23 March. The case, instituted by the Attorney General, was called before the Colombo High Court during yesterday’s proceedings. Both Fernando and Jayasundara appeared before Court when the matter was taken up. They are accused of criminal negligence and failing to prevent the Easter Sunday more..

Jan 27 (DM) Former United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Eric Solheim asserted that Sri Lanka must look beyond visitor numbers and focus on pricing its unique environmental assets higher to drive economic growth. Speaking on the potential of the tourism sector during a recent visit to Sri Lanka, Solheim highlighted that while the industry is a primary job creator globally, SL has yet to fully monetise its natural and cultural resources effectively. more..

Jan 27 (Island) The clink of cutlery, youthful laughter and the unmistakable energy of ambition filled the SLIIT Campus in Malabe as the Colombo Academy of Hospitality Management (CAHM) officially unveiled CAHM-7 Star Junior Chef Season 1, a pioneering national culinary competition designed to ignite the dreams of Sri Lanka’s next generation of chefs. CAHM chairman Errol Weerasinghe said the initiative was born out of a pressing need to attract young talent into what he described as more..

Jan 27 (FT) Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (IRCSL) has intensified its national effort to ensure the expeditious settlement of insurance claims following the catastrophic impact of Cyclone Ditwah. Working in close collaboration with all 14 licenced general insurers, IRCSL has established a unified mechanism to provide expeditious financial relief to affected families, households, businesses & property owners. more..

Jan 27 (FT) Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in SL (AHK SL) successfully organised the SL National Pavilion at Grüne Woche, the world’s largest B2C trade fair for food, beverages, and agriculture, currently taking place in Berlin, Germany. Grüne Woche attracts over 400,000 int'l visitors annually and serves as a premier global platform connecting producers, traders, and consumers. This year’s exhibition holds special significance as Grüne Woche celebrates its 100th anniversary, more..

Jan 27 (TP) Sri Lanka registered a hard-fought win over Afghanistan in their first Super Six encounter of the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2026, played today (26) at Bulawayo. After winning the toss, Sri Lanka opted to bowl first and were rewarded with a disciplined bowling performance that kept Afghanistan to a manageable total of 193. The Lankan bowlers applied consistent pressure, denying the Afghan batters the freedom to accelerate despite a few resistance efforts. more..

Jan 27 (DN) Wanindu Hasaranga will play in the third and final ODI against England which will commence today and skipper Charith Asalanka confirmed Hasaranga’s inclusion in the team yesterday to strengthen the spin department. Two teams are level in the series at one all and looking to give their best effort to win the series today in this deciding game. SL team is planning to make few changes to come back strongly in this game rectifying their previous match mistakes. more..

Jan 27 (CI) SL's captain, Charith Asalanka, has questioned England's condemnation of the pitch at the R Premadasa for the second ODI in Colombo by pointing out that 440 runs were scored in the match. Harry Brook said after Saturday's game that it was the worst pitch he had ever played on, while Joe Root, who scored a match-winning 75 off 90, said that he didn't think it was a great wicket for ODI cricket. That was after England had reached a target of 220 with 22 balls to spare more..

Jan 27 (ST) State-owned Airport and Aviation Services (SL) (Pvt) Ltd, the aviation services provider, has reported a 25% drop in profit for 2024 at Rs 21.108 billion versus Rs 28.122b the year before. But, the company has paid Rs 664.6 million in bonus, the national auditor observes. Audit note refers to 2025 bonus, while it may be for 2024. In 2023, AASL even paid Rs 50,000 bonus advance totalling Rs 178.8 million to 3,589 employees. more..

Jan 27 (ST) Modern limited-overs cricket is unforgiving to imbalance. Teams that enter global tournaments with a long tail or an overworked bowling unit rarely survive the business end. The importance of a genuine all-rounder is no longer a luxury but a necessity, particularly in a format where flexibility often outweighs flair. Sri Lanka’s victory against England in Colombo on Thursday underlined that truth yet again, and it also pointed clearly to what lies ahead. more..

Jan 27 (NW) Former England captain and International Cricket Commentator Nasser Hussain believes SL are primed to exceed expectations at the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, backing the team’s settled core of players and the country’s strong talent pathway to make an impact. Speaking ahead of the tournament, Hussain said the current group appears ready to deliver after years of promise without consistent results. “It feels like the right sort of time to deliver for this core of more..