Feb 18 (FT) IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva yesterday met Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, with discussions focusing on SL’s economic recovery, post-disaster assistance and the next phase of the IMF-supported reform program. The engagement signalled a shift in emphasis from crisis stabilisation towards higher growth, governance reform and rural economic transformation, as the country moves beyond more..

Feb 18 (NW) Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena says the Govt will send Army personnel overseas for training if railway unions prevent plans to train them locally as locomotive drivers for emergency deployment. He said the proposal involves training 20 serving Army soldiers to operate locomotives strictly for use during emergency situations to ensure uninterrupted rail services. “If they do not allow the training to take place here, we will send them overseas and provide the necessary training,” more..

Feb 18 (DM) Health officials say their hands are often tied when it comes to taking action against unhygienic food outlets, as many customers who raise concerns on social media fail to lodge formal complaints. The issue came into focus following a viral video in which a diner claimed he found what appeared to be a small snake-like head in a rice and curry meal at the Pilawoos restaurant. Video triggered widespread public concern and debate over food safety standards. more..

Feb 18 (TM) Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala yesterday rejected claims the death of attorney-at-law Buddhika Mallawarachchi signifies a breakdown in national security or the rule of law. Minister dismissed what he described as attempts to frame the shooting as a broader security crisis. "This is an isolated incident and does not pose a threat to national security or the rule of law," Wijepala stated, counteracting suggestions the event more..

Feb 18 (AD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who departed SL to attend the AI Impact Summit 2026 at the special invitation of Indian PM Narendra Modi, arrived at the Indira Gandhi Int'l Airport, New Delhi, this afternoon (17). Prez Dissanayake was warmly received at the airport by Minister of State Shri Raj Bhushan Choudhary and other officials. The AI Impact Summit 2026, to be held in New Delhi, focuses on the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence for the benefit of humanity. more..

Feb 18 (CT) A 67-year-old Hungarian tourist was killed in an elephant attack in the Sigiriya–Pidurangala area on Sunday (15), Police said. The victim was identified as Professor Joe Anten, who had been visiting Sri Lanka on holiday. Residents in the area chased the elephant away following the attack and transported the injured tourist by three-wheeler to an ambulance stationed near the office of the Central Cultural Fund for visitors. However, as no driver was present, more..

Feb 18 (DN) Australia captain Mitchell Marsh accepted that his side was outplayed in all three departments by SL in the T-20 World Cup at Pallekele. Well played SL; they outplayed us. We know that we can make big scores but just lost our way towards the back end, added Skipper Marsh who played his first game after recovering injury. Australia reached 104 for no loss after 8.2 overs and finished 181 all out. Marsh said the failure to capitalise on the strong start paid the price. more..

Feb 18 (NW) The Cabinet has approved new reimbursement guidelines to accelerate the Communication to the Village (Gamata Sannivedanaya) national project aimed at expanding 4G broadband coverage islandwide. SL Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC), which implements the project under the Finance Act No. 11 of 2004, has so far facilitated the construction of 83 communication towers in underserved areas through a cost-sharing mechanism with more..

Feb 18 (AD) Locomotive Operating Engineers Union has called off the strike that was scheduled to commence from midnight today (17). Secretary of the Union Dimuthu Edirisinghe said the decision to suspend the strike was taken following the govt’s move to temporarily halt the plan to provide train driver training to SL Army officers. The strike was announced in protest against a move to begin training a group of military officers as more..

Feb 18 (FT) The Cabinet of Ministers on Monday approved the next phase of the Urban Regeneration Project aimed at providing improved housing for underserved communities in Colombo, with funding support of $ 158 million from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). The project is being implemented by the Urban Development Authority (UDA) under Govt guidance to address the housing needs of families currently living in low-facility settlements within Colombo city. more..

Feb 18 (FT) BIOFACH, being the world’s largest and most influential international trade fair dedicated to the organic sector, provides a vital global platform for countries to promote their certified organic products and strengthen their presence in international markets. Recognising this importance, Sri Lanka will participate in BIOFACH 2026, to be held in Nuremberg, Germany, from 10-13 Feb 2026, with a strong national presence organised by the SL Export Development Board (EDB) more..

Feb 18 (AM) Uni of Kelaniya has decided to suspend all student activities within the university premises and student centres after 10 pm, based on a Supreme Court order, Vice Chancellor Professor Nilanthi de Silva announced. According to a statement issued by the VC, the decision was taken by the Anti-Ragging Committee on 16 Feb and came into effect yesterday (17). The statement further noted that legal action would be initiated against any attempts to act in violation of the directive. more..

Feb 18 (DN) Sri Lanka will play their first T-20 World Cup super eight game against England on February 22 at Pallekele, commencing at 3pm. After eight wickets victory over Australia, SL came on top of the ‘B’ group to ensure the super eight stage presence with 6 points (three wins in a row). The match between Zimbabwe and Ireland which was scheduled to be played yesterday at Pallekele from 3 pm was delayed by rain and finally abandoned at 5.30 pm. Two teams shared one point each more..

Feb 18 (ST) Multiple Special Rapporteurs of the United Nations have responded to the govt’s call for comments on SL’s revised anti-terrorism bill that is set to replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act by expressing deep concern over the continuation of substantive deficiencies that make the bill fall significantly short of conformity with international law. The concerns were outlined in a joint report by several UN human rights more..

Feb 18 (DN) Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to reconstruct and relocate Deniyaya Base Hospital as a modern 300-bed facility to improve healthcare access for residents in surrounding districts. The existing hospital in Deniyaya currently serves nearly 70,000 people across parts of Matara District, Galle District, and Ratnapura District, but operates with only 137 beds. Authorities noted that the present hospital location is vulnerable to landslides due to its elevation and more..

Feb 18 (FT) Cabinet approved obtaining a $ 400 million financial facility from the World Bank to support the country’s ongoing structural reform program under the EFF of the IMF. The funding will be provided through a three-year Programmatic Reform Development Policy Operation (DPO) covering the 2026–2028 period. “The facility is aimed at strengthening competitiveness, enhancing economic governance and promoting sustainable growth as the country continues its more..

Feb 18 (FT) Maritime industry veteran professional and corporate leader Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake has been appointed as the new Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) in what would be his third innings in this position. To take up the latest post on an honorary basis, Dr. Dissanayake has resigned as the Deputy Chairman of Aitken Spence and Group companies. Prior to the appointment as SLPA Chairman, more..

Feb 18 (ST) Colombo Port has in the past 14 months recorded deaths of at least four of its workers with the latest incident reported this month. Officials at the port believe it to be due to the negligence of the vessel operators to maintain a proper protective fence. On Feb 6 this year a signalman Sarath Sandalal (57) working for the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) working at the MV SOL Stride, a Singapore registered vessel’s 18th bay had given the signal to close the more..

Feb 18 (AM) Ven. Dambara Amila Thera has alleged that a coordinated campaign is under way to mislead Generation Z youth by using social media and modern technology to launch what he described as a large-scale defamatory drive against the Buddhist clergy. Addressing the media yesterday (16), the Thera claimed that the current Govt, which he characterised as aligned with Marxist ideology, was attempting to transform Sri Lanka into a communist state and ultimately abolish religion. more..

Feb 18 (DM) Tech entity WSO2 yesterday announced the launch of a new Fair Pricing for Governments initiative, aimed at supporting public-sector organisations’ worldwide access to high-quality, ethical digital services at prices aligned with local economic realities. The initiative is based on a simple principle: govt technology fees should be proportional to the average citizen’s income to ensure fairness. By introducing a standardized, transparent pricing model for govt customers, more..

Feb 18 (FT) To strengthen a leading SL manufacturer’s global presence, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has committed $ 28.6 million, as part of a larger envelope of $ 40 million, to CBL Group. The IFC’s investment will enable CBL, one of Sri Lanka’s largest food manufacturing conglomerates, to extend its global footprint across Asia and Africa. The financing supported the acquisition of PT Tri Jaya Tangguh Indonesia (TJT), more..

Feb 18 (TM) The SL Tennis Association (SLTA) has announced the official creation of the SL Tennis Premier League (SLTPL), marking a significant new chapter in the growth and future of tennis in SL. The inaugural edition of the SLTPL is scheduled to be held from 22 to 25 April, bringing together SL Tennis players from across the island in a professionally governed, franchise-based competition. League will feature 8 city-based more..

Feb 18 (Island) The legal fraternity is up in arms over last week’s murder of a lawyer and his wife in a Colombo suburb. On 13 Feb, two gunmen shot lawyer Buddhika Mallawarachchi and his wife Nisansala dead inside their car near a supermarket at Akuregoda, where the Defence Headquarters Complex is located. The killers used a T-56 assault rifle and a pistol in the attack. There was absolutely no need for an assault rifle to kill the unarmed victims. Those who ordered the killing more..

Feb 18 (Island) As the debate on educational reforms rages, I find it useful to pay as much attention to the reactions they have excited as we do to the content of the reforms. Such reactions are a reflection of how education is understood in our society, and this understanding – along with the priorities it gives rise to – must necessarily be taken into account in education policy, including and especially reform. My aim in this piece, however, is to couple this public engagement with more..

Feb 18 (TM) Seventeen years after Sri Lanka’s internal conflict formally came to an end in 2009, the situation of Tamil refugees who fled to India remains unfinished business. What was once an immediate humanitarian response has become a legal uncertainty and unresolved citizenship status. The numbers and trajectories involved show how deeply complex and political this issue is, especially in the context of Sri Lanka’s post‑conflict reconstruction and regional relations. more..

Feb 18 (ST) 250 years ago, Adam Smith – often called the father of modern economics – wrote the following passage in his famous book, The Wealth of Nations (1776): “As it is the power of exchanging that gives occasion to the division of labour, so the extent of this division must always be limited by the extent of that power, or, in other words, by the extent of the market.” What Smith meant is straightforward: a country’s economic growth depends on the size of its market. more..

Feb 18 (CT) With a history stretching back more than two centuries and a formal written beginning marked by the first Gazette printed in 1802, SL’s Govt Printing Department stands as both custodian of State documentation and witness to the evolution of print technology. From lead-type presses to high-speed digital web machines, Dept operates a unique blend of old and new under one roof, a living archive of the global history of printing. more..

Feb 18 (CT) The decision by the Govt Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) to withdraw Medical Officers of Health from submitting official community health data marks a troubling new chapter in its ongoing dispute with the authorities. Trade union action within the health sector is not new, nor is it illegitimate. Yet, the form this escalation has taken, the suspension of routine public health reporting, strikes at the very nerve centre of disease prevention and community protection. more..

Feb 18 (DM) Law and order, and judicial fairness in SL, were under scrutiny last week over two separate incidents. First, a lawyer and his spouse were gunned down in the car park of a supermarket complex in Akuregoda in a suspected underworld shooting. The assailants, who arrived in a car, fled the scene during rush hour. A charred car believed to have been used by the assailants was later found abandoned in Agaliya, Galle. The deceased, attorney-at-Law Buddhika Mallawarachchi, more..

Feb 18 (SO) As Sri Lanka seeks to rebuild its economy and restore investor confidence after years of crisis, governance and transparency have emerged as critical factors in securing international partnerships. Japan, one of SL’s longest-standing development partners, has signalled that sustained anti-corruption efforts will be key to deepening economic engagement and attracting Japanese investment. more..

Feb 18 (DM) Life stands still for many people affected by cyclone Ditwah, especially in the outskirts. The disaster cannot be described as a sudden occurrence when looking at existing gaps in disaster communication to begin with. With over 600 lives lost and over a 100 reported missing (as of January 2026), it is clear that the authorities could have averted impacts on people if the weather conditions were closely monitored and early warnings were issued on time. more..

Feb 18 (GV) The aragalaya became one of the most powerful and widespread public uprisings in SL’s modern history. It was a people’s movement that shook the political system, brought down a govt, and led to the formation of a new one. More importantly, it delivered a powerful message not only to Sri Lanka but to the world. What made aragalaya unique was that it was not led by any political party. It was led by ordinary citizens. It began as a response to the severe economic crisis more..