Oct 20 (DM) Sri Lanka's high wild elephant population, combined with its limited land area and growing human settlements, presents a major challenge to elephant conservation, Dept of Wildlife Conservation Director General Ranjan Marasinghe said. Addressing a television programme Marasinghe said the country had an estimated wild elephant population of more than 7,000, making the management of elephant habitats and human-elephant conflict increasingly important. more..

Oct 20 (AD) An individual and his wife have been arrested by officers of the Special Investigation Unit of SL Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) over allegations of defrauding the general public by promising overseas employment. The couple was arrested during a raid conducted in Welimada following information received by the Bureau. Suspects had previously operated their agency at an address in Dalugama, Kiribathgoda. However, the agency’s licence had expired on Sept 30 more..

Oct 20 (Island) The repatriation of two SL underworld figures, arrested in the UAE, has been delayed after SL police authorities allegedly failed to submit the documents required by Dubai authorities, with investigators blaming interference by senior officials. The two suspects are Avishka Abeygunawardena, alias Wanathe Chathu, and Shehan Sathsara, alias Dehi Bale Malli, both wanted in connection with serious organised more..

Oct 20 (TM) SL’s total govt expenditure for 2027 is set to expand by 12.6% year-on-year to Rs 4.993 trillion, up from Rs 4.434 trillion in 2026. The fiscal framework is characterised by a significant surge in capital investment alongside strict containment of the annual borrowing ceiling. An analysis of the Appropriation Bill 2027 published by tax consultancy Ernst & Young (EY) SL highlights that the planned expenditure growth is primarily anchored by development outlays rather than routine more..

Oct 20 (NW) Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekara has alleged that hackers who compromised SriLankan Airlines’ computer systems demanded a ransom of USD 50,000 in cryptocurrency, warning that the national carrier remains vulnerable to further cyberattacks. Addressing Parliament on Tuesday (20), Jayasekara claimed that SriLankan Airlines’ systems were compromised in June 2026, with hackers subsequently claiming responsibility for the attack on the dark web. more..

Oct 20 (AD) The Maha Sangha has endorsed the recommendations of a committee appointed by the President to amend laws concerning the treatment of Buddhist monks who are imprisoned, while proposing further discussions among the 31 factions of the three main Buddhist chapters to establish a common framework for implementing the proposed legal changes. The agreement was reached at a meeting of more..

Oct 20 (AD) More than 303,000 suspects have been arrested during the year-long A Nation United (Ratama Ekata) national operation, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said today. He said a total of 303,017 suspects had been arrested between Oct 30, 2025, and Oct 18, 2026, as part of the nationwide operation targeting narcotics and related offences. According to the Minister, authorities conducted 97,074 raids targeting heroin during the period, seizing 2,485.1 kg of the narcotics. more..

Oct 20 (PMD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake today paid his last respects to the remains of Most Venerable Kappetiyagoda Siri Wimala Thera, Anunayake of the Ramanna Maha Nikaya and Chief Incumbent of the Rajopawanaramaya Temple in Gatambe, Kandy, who passed away. President visited the Rajopawanaramaya Temple in Gatambe, Kandy, where the remains of the Thera are lying, and paid his last respects. He subsequently expressed his deepest condolences to more..

Oct 20 (NW) Cabinet has approved a proposal by Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports to establish a National High Performance Centre estimated at Rs. 3,980 million in Diyagama to enhance SL’s athletic competitiveness at future global sporting events, including the 2028, 2032, and 2036 Olympic Games. Ahead of the permanent facility launch, an interim high-performance center will be established at the Torrington Sports Complex in Colombo, utilizing current spectator stand infrastructure more..

Oct 20 (Island) PM Harini Amarasuriya stated that the Govt was deeply saddened by the unfortunate death of the Tusker Kavanthissa, a national treasure who sustained severe injuries from gunshot wounds. She emphasised that environmental laws would be strictly enforced against those responsible for environmental crimes, without discrimination or favouritism. PM made these remarks while addressing the Presidential Environmental Awards 2026, organised for the 11th time by more..

Oct 20 (NW) Former Bar Association of SL (BASL) President Saliya Pieris has challenged Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara’s explanation of the proposed Prevention of Organised Crimes Bill, warning that its broad provisions and lack of safeguards could expose ordinary citizens to arbitrary arrests and prolonged detention. Responding to the minister’s statement in Parliament on Tuesday, Pieris questioned who would more..

Oct 20 (EN) Cabinet has approved the transfer of the SAARC Cultural Centre premises in Nawimana, Matara, to the Ministry of Education for the establishment of the Ocean University of SL. Property comprises an 11-acre plot of land with 200,000 square feet of partially completed building space. The premises will be repurposed to resolve accommodation challenges for the university, which currently lacks a single permanent campus. “Ocean Uni of SL currently operates out of several more..

Oct 20 (AD) The peace march organised by Buddhist monks in support of Venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero was not intended to topple the govt, Professor Venerable Kotapitiye Rahula Anunayake Thero said today. Speaking at a media briefing, Anunayake Thero said Gnanasara Thero was not engaged in racism or politics, adding that attempts were being made to portray religious and racial divisions as existing in the country when, according to him, they did not. more..

Oct 20 (NW) The govt is treating the death of Kavanthissa, the tusker fatally injured in a shooting, with due concern, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. Responding to questions from journalists about the handling of the elephant’s treatment by the Dept of Wildlife Conservation, Jayatissa said investigations were underway to determine whether there had been delays, lapses or negligence in its treatment, as well as to identify those more..

Oct 20 (DM) Cabinet has approved a proposal to submit the Imports and Exports (Control) Regulations No. 08 of 2026 to Parliament for approval, introducing new standards for specified imported products used in motor vehicles and three-wheelers. Regulations aim to ensure fair competition for local manufacturers, protect consumer safety and establish inspection procedures for the relevant imported products, based on recommendations from the Ministry of Industry & more..

Oct 20 (NW) Cabinet has approved a revised three-year plan valued at Rs. 15,077.82 million (Rs. 15.07Bn) to resume and complete the remaining work on the Kolonnawa Stormwater Drainage and Environment Improvement Project. Originally launched in 2019, project experienced severe delays due to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic recession. To address these setbacks, Minister of Transport, Highways & Urban Development submitted a newly more..

Oct 20 (DM) Govt has dismissed opposition allegations that substandard coal was responsible for the technical failure at the Norochcholai Lakvijaya Power Plant, following the nationwide blackout on Oct 17, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. Speaking to journalists, Jayatissa said Generator Unit 1 remained out of service due to the technical failure but rejected claims linking the incident to the quality of coal used at the power plant. He said the unit had been shut down for maintenance for 62 days, more..

Oct 20 (NW) Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe is leading an official SL delegation in London for a two day promotional programme on October 21 and 22, 2026, aimed at showcasing the upcoming SL Expo 2027 and attracting British business leaders. Organized by the SL EDB in collaboration with the High Commission of SL in the UK, the initiative features a business and investment forum and networking session on Oct 21, followed by bilateral business to business meetings on Oct 22. more..

Oct 20 (TM) The National System Operator (NSO) Private Limited’s probe into Saturday’s island-wide blackout is unlikely to produce meaningful results, as the Company failed to implement Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) recommendations made after a similar outage in February 2025, Electricity Consumers’ Association (ECA) claimed. ECA General Secretary Sanjeewa Dhammika said the PUCSL had more..

Oct 20 (NW) Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval for the SL Police to purchase 200 imported single-cab vehicles from the local market to support and enhance official police operations across the island. The approval follows a decision made during the Cabinet meeting held on February 23, 2026. To execute the procurement, tenders were called under the national competitive bidding procedure, attracting a total of seven bids from local suppliers, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. more..

Oct 20 (FT) HDDES Extracts Ltd, an exporter of value-added, export-oriented spices, oleoresins, essential oils, and related products, and Board of Investment (BOI), last week signed a supplementary agreement with coordination facilitated by the National Initiative for Research and Development Commercialisation (NIRDC). Through the active intervention of the NIRDC unit established at the Presidential Secretariat, and in collaboration with the BOI, the company was able to resolve more..

Oct 20 (NW) Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara has rejected claims that Sri Lanka’s proposed Organized Crime Prevention Bill would allow individuals to be arrested simply for having tattoos, long hair or particular clothing styles. Addressing Parliament, minister said misleading interpretations of the proposed legislation were circulating on social media, creating unnecessary fear among the public. more..

Oct 20 (DM) A police constable attached to the Ahungalla Police Station was admitted to the Balapitiya Base Hospital after being bitten by a cobra hiding under the seat of an official police motorcycle, it was reported. The constable, who was serving in the Traffic Division of the Ahungalla Police Station, was performing traffic duties in Ahungalla town on October 16. While returning to the police station, he was bitten by the cobra, which was hiding under the motorcycle seat. more..

Oct 20 (FT) For many people, the words tax return bring one thought to mind: another task to complete. It means gathering documents, checking bank statements, reviewing income and, sometimes, asking an accountant for help. But an annual tax return can be more than a compliance requirement. It is also an opportunity to understand our financial position and keep our tax affairs in order. As SL’s tax system becomes more digital, knowing a few key terms and how they work can help taxpayers more..

Oct 20 (FT) The Personal Income Taxation of Sri Lanka has adversely impacted the economy and affected the livelihood of the working-class and young professionals who are the backbone of our economy. Having the highest tax rate of 36% is not an issue, however all citizens should be entitled to have a reasonable tax-free income with sustainable tax rates and slabs. Taxing very low-income earners costs more in administrative collection efforts than it yields in actual revenue. more..

Oct 20 (NW) The term of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed to investigate possible irregularities or illegal activities in coal imports and electricity generation has been extended until Dec. 16, 2026. The extension was made through a Gazette notification issued by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The commission’s term was scheduled to end on Oct. 16, 2026. The extension grants the commission a further two months to carry out its work. more..

Oct 20 (Island) Five more suspects allegedly linked to the killing of Kawantissa, considered SL’s tallest living tusker, and other illegal activities against wildlife have been arrested. The suspects were arrested during a special joint operation conducted by officers of the Department of Wildlife Conservation, the Walana Central Anti-Vice Strike Force and the area police. The arrests followed investigations into the shooting of more..

Oct 20 (Island) Chinese Ambassador Wei Huaxiang held discussions with the Chief Prelates of the Asgiriya and Malwatta Chapters during a visit to Kandy, aimed at strengthening China-Sri Lanka Buddhist and people-to-people ties. The Ambassador met the Most Ven. Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Mahanayake Thera, Chief Prelate of the Asgiriya Chapter, and the Most Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Sumangala Mahanayake Thera, Chief Prelate of the Malwatta Chapter, more..

Oct 20 (Island) URF leader Champika Ranawaka yesterday alleged that the JVP, which carried out over 560 protests during the 2015-2019 period, was now bent on preventing the Opposition from exercising its democratic right to protest. Recalling the declaration made by the JVP at the height of the violent protest campaign in July 2022 that it would set the Parliament ablaze, the former parliamentarian lashed out at the JVP-led administration for using the police excessively more..

Oct 20 (NW) Nepalese govt has initiated steps to recover land in Colombo that was allegedly sold to private individuals by its former honorary consul without govt authorisation more than three decades ago. Nepal purchased 1.5 acres of land in Rajagiriya, Colombo, on May 18, 1989, for US$ 360,000 to establish an embassy. However, one acre of the property was reportedly sold in two successive transactions, in 1990 and 1994, more..

Oct 20 (NW) DIG in charge of Traffic Control and Road Safety, W.P.J. Senadheera, has revealed further details about the fatal accident in Akurana, confirming that investigators are examining claims of brake failure and possible driver fatigue. The DIG said the cement-laden truck was travelling towards Kandy from Alawathugoda when the driver reportedly lost control while negotiating a left-hand bend near Kurugoda Junction on Monday (19). The truck initially struck a motorcycle and more..

Oct 20 (NW) A total of 19 selected fishermen affected by the Ditwah disaster in Kilinochchi District received boats on a subsidy basis under a programme aimed at restoring their livelihoods and developing the district’s fisheries sector. The programme was held under the leadership of Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar and focused on rebuilding the livelihoods of fishing communities affected by disasters, including those in Thattuvankottai. more..