Jan 13 (ST) It is mystifying as to why the NPP Govt sanguinely placed a draft Protection of the State against Terrorism Act (PSTA) before the SL public at the cusp of the dawning of a New Year, almost as if to pat itself on the back for a highly commendable act. That is so despite the contents of the draft law confounding any inclination towards congratulations at several incisive points. In a fourth reflection on the draft PSTA in these column spaces, I return to the question asked at more..

Jan 13 (CT) When the current administration came into power, it was after a campaign promising an administration that is based on merit, efficiency & transparency. The people cast their vote with the trust that they, more than those before, would be willing to make the tough choices to bring forth the best possible outcome for the nation, and through doing so, ease the economic burden placed upon each citizen. Part of fulfilling this promise involves streamlining organisations operated by the govt, more..

Jan 13 (DM) The NMRA Act No. 5 of 2015 mandates the full-time presence of a qualified pharmacist for the operation of pharmacies. Initially, one pharmacist would operate several pharmacies in a given area, but they weren’t present at the pharmacy throughout the day. With pharmacy operations becoming just another money-spinning business, many illegal practices are also being encouraged. However, private pharmacy owners and govt pharmacy owners have expressed mixed reactions more..

Jan 13 (DM) US Prez Donald Trump had several objectives in invading Venezuela and taking its Prez Nicolas Maduro and his wife hostage. One of the key aims was to prevent the de-dollarisation of Venezuela’s foreign trade and to warn other countries against abandoning the US Dollar in favour of other currencies, especially Chinese Yuan. In 2018, Venezuela had announced that it would free itself from the dollar and started accepting Yuan, Euros, Roubles, and anything but US Dollars for oil. more..

Jan 13 (DM) The education reforms which have been presented by the NPP Govt has eclipsed everything in politics in the country, with Opposition parties demanding the resignation of PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya who is also the Minister of Education. However, except for the allegation that the Education Ministry has not discussed the reforms with the stakeholders, other allegations against the ministry and the minister seem to be either trivial or irrelevant or just imaginations which could have more..

Jan 12 (AD) Four persons have died in a road accident along the Paranthan–Mullaitivu road in Murasumoddai, Kilinochchi, this evening (12), police stated. The accident was a result of a head-on collision involving a private bus and a car in Murasumoddai. Police stated that the driver of the car and four passengers sustained serious injuries and were admitted to the Kilinochchi Hospital, where the driver and three of the passengers later succumbed to their injuries. more..

Jan 12 (Island) SJB has called on the govt to amend existing laws to enable female employees in the public sector to work from home, arguing that such a move would significantly boost women’s participation in the national economy. Participating in the debate on regulations under the Shop and Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration) Act in Parliament last Friday, SJB MP Chaimndranee Kiriella said last week the concept of working from home had been successfully introduced more..

Jan 12 (NIP) Chief Minister M K Stalin stated that the new Constitution for the island nation, which reinforces a unitary state (Ekkiyarajya) mode, could further marginalise the Tamils by ignoring their aspirations for political autonomy. In his letter to PM Narendra Modi, Stalin urged the centre to initiate diplomatic steps at the highest level to safeguard the rights of SL Tamils. “Specifically, India should press for the inclusion of federal arrangements more..

Jan 12 (AD) Sri Lanka has requested the assistance of the govt of China to reconstruct roads, railways and bridges that were affected by Cyclone Ditwah. The request was made by Minister Vijitha Herath from Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Wang Yi. Minister Vijitha Herath met with the Chinese Foreign Minister during his brief visit to Sri Lanka this morning. While welcoming Minister Wang Yi, the Foreign Minister extended his appreciation to the govt and the people of China for more..

Jan 12 (TM) TNational Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) is set to launch a special programme to raise awareness about illicit alcohol and address misconceptions surrounding its use. NATA Chairperson Dr. Ananda Rathnayake said that rumours about illicit liquor are spreading in the country, and the programme aims to provide accurate information to the public. He confirmed that, according to official statistics, there has been no rise in the use of illicit liquor, contrary to more..

Jan 12 (TM) Discussions are ongoing between the Govt and the Indian High Commission regarding Phase IV of the Indian Housing Project, under which 4,700 houses are slated for construction across 18 districts, primarily targeting estate worker communities. Ministry of Plantation & Community Infrastructure Secretary Prabath Chandrakeerthi stated that approvals had already been granted for 2,056 houses, while more..

Jan 12 (NW) Chairman of the National Movement for the Protection of the Nation, Venerable Elle Gunawansa Thera, has sent a message to the President requesting that PM Harini Amarasuriya be removed from the post of Minister of Education and that a Cabinet reshuffle be carried out. In a memorandum addressed to Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the Thera pointed out that the unilateral education reforms proposed under the leadership of PM confirm that the country, more..

Jan 12 (DM) Sri Lanka has experienced more than 44,000 natural disasters, including minor ones, over the past decade from 2015 to 2025, forcing successive govts to spend over Rs. 30 billion on compensation for affected communities, Parliament was informed. Deputy Minister Anura Jayasekera, responding to an oral question raised by MP Kins Nelson, said the country recorded a sharp rise in disasters between 2015 and 2025, including droughts, floods, landslides and cyclones. more..

Jan 12 (NF) Arrangements have been made to hold the inaugural ceremony of the national programme Rebuilding Sri Lanka, which has been introduced to effectively steer the country’s rebuilding process, at the BMICH in Colombo, under the patronage of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The programme is being implemented in response to the urgent need for a highly coordinated national recovery mechanism to address post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation activities arising from the more..

Jan 12 (ST) A Muslim terror group, formed in India in 2018 ahead of the Easter Sunday attack, is the latest addition to Sri Lanka’s list of proscribed organisations and designated persons, according to a revised Extraordinary Gazette released this week. The organisation, known as Super Muslim a.k.a. Sahabi Tharika, the newest addition to the list, is reported to have been operational in SL since 2019. With its address in Kalmunakudi, the entity is operating through a Telegram channel, more..

Jan 12 (AD) The govt is hoping to finalize the agreement related to the SINOPEC Oil Refinery Project in Hambantota in the first quarter of 2026. This was conveyed by Minister Vijitha Herath during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during his brief visit to Sri Lanka. The meeting was held in a bid to further strengthen bilateral engagement and advance the Strategic Cooperative Partnership between the two countries, more..

Jan 12 (DM) The Sri Lanka Social Security Board (SSSB), operating under the Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment Ministry, achieved its highest level of progress in history in 2025. Established 30 years ago to provide a pension system for workers in the unorganized sector, the Board reported a significant increase in new recruitments, with contributions rising 93% from Rs. 167.41 million in 2024 to Rs. 318.68 million last year. Minister Nishantha Premarathna more..

Jan 12 (Island) A surge in dengue cases has been observed across the country, Acting Director of National Dengue Control Unit, Dr. Kapila Kannangara says. 2,420 dengue patients had been reported from all parts of the country during the first nine days of the year. The highest number of dengue cases had been reported from the Western Province—1,317 patients. He added that 361 cases had been reported from Southern Province, 192 from Central Province & 165 from Sabaragamuwa Prov. more..

Jan 12 (DM) Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said that it will introduce a comprehensive programme to regulate the use of drones in SL, with particular emphasis on drones used for commercial purposes. Director General of CAA, Daminda Rambukwella, said that all drones with commercial value will be required to be registered under the new regulatory framework. He explained that the CAA is responsible for overseeing more..

Jan 12 (EN) Authorities are in talks to re-start Krrish Square, a controversial stalled high rise in SL’s capital initiated by an Indian group and six other stalled real estate projects. There are 11 stalled real estate projects linked to the UDA. “We started work on six of these last year,” Secretary to the Ministry of Housing, Construction and Water Supply L B Kumudu Lal said. “We will begin on the other five, but the biggest challenges is getting the valuation.” “We have got cabinet approval, more..

Jan 12 (NW) Sectoral Oversight Committee on Economic Development and International Relations has approved the proposed Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill, subject to amendments. Committee said the recommended amendments were to safeguard the role of community-based financial societies. Meeting in Parliament recently under the chairmanship of MP Lakmali Hemachandra, the Committee emphasized the need to include a clear definition of more..

Jan 12 (AD) Mogo Studios has released the trailer of SL’s first animated film for a global audience, The Secret of the Moonstone. The film is set for a worldwide release shortly. Set in a futuristic Colombo, the story follows a young boy named Lucky and his best friend, Taniya, as they embark on a thrilling adventure into SL’s mystical forests to uncover the lost Book of Wisdom belonging to Lucky’s ancestor, Maha Dena Muttha. The book is protected by a magical creature named Nila. more..

Jan 12 (DM) After nearly a month, serious concerns have been raised over a considerable delay in reviewing a request to conduct independent testing on withdrawn batches of the Ondansetron injection, as well as the non-release of related laboratory findings. This has prompted medical professionals to question about the handling of the probe. The National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) ordered the withdrawal of four batches of the drug on Dec 13 following suspicions of more..

Jan 12 (NW) Raising public awareness on online financial fraud through social media platforms, the SL Police has outlined 09 common types of online financial fraud reported in Sri Lanka. Police Spokesman ASP F.U. Wootler said the SL Police wishes to educate the public regarding the increasing number of financial irregularities and fraudulent activities committed through the Internet, particularly via social media platforms. more..

Jan 12 (CT) Ministry of Public Security has launched an investigation after its official website went temporarily offline, following media reports highlighting a distorted version of the national emblem suspected to have been created using artificial intelligence. According to ministry officials, technical examinations are underway with the support of the SL Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) and the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA). more..

Jan 12 (NW) Thalangama Police requested a court order to remove the satyagraha held in front of the Ministry of Education in Battaramulla against the new education reforms, citing public inconvenience. However, Kaduwela Magistrate Aruna Indrajith Buddhadasa rejected the request and instead allowed the satyagraha to continue under several conditions. NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa, together with representatives of several civil organizations, launched a satyagraha campaign today. more..

Jan 12 (Island) NPP govt’s coal procurement process has once again come under scrutiny following allegations by the FSP that substandard coal has been imported for power generation and that tender procedures were manipulated to favour a specific supplier. FSP Education Secretary Pubudu Jagoda said a test report issued by the govt laboratory at the Lakvijaya Power Plant had confirmed that the latest more..

Jan 12 (EN) FitsAir, a Colombo-based airline said it was certified by Civil Aviation Authority of SL as an approved training organization (ATO) to Airbus A320 pilot type training. “Under this approval, FitsAir is authorised to conduct Cadet Pilot and Junior First Officer initial training, A320 aircraft conversion and re-qualification for both current and non-current pilots, A330/A320 cross crew qualification…” the airline said. Training will be conducted using CAA approved Airbus A320 Flight Simulation more..

Jan 12 (NW) The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) has decided not to support the no‑confidence motion to be brought against PM and Education Minister Harini Amarasuriya. ITAK MP Sivagnanam Sridharan said his party had reached this decision. Opposition MPs are currently collecting signatures to move a no‑confidence motion seeking the removal of Harini Amarasuriya from her positions as PM and Education Minister. MP Sridharan stated that his party would not sign the motion, more..

Jan 12 (FT) Sri Lanka’s recent floods were a stark reminder that health is not defined only by hospitals and clinics, but by the environments we live in, the systems that support us, and the daily choices we make as individuals. As the country charts its path to recovery, there is a critical need to align public discourse with credible data and global health insights — while emphasising that health outcomes are a shared responsibility, especially for the individual. more..

Jan 12 (FT) Sri Lanka’s greatest Sinhala writer, Martin Wickramasinghe, in a short story penned in 1932, has fictionalised a story about the Moon testifying to a murder many years after the gruesome crime had been committed. In the story, a man lying in a paddy field in a moon-lit night and in the throes of death following a fatal attack by his neighbour, curses the attacker that the Moon shining in the sky will one day testify to the murder and deliver justice to him. more..

Jan 12 (TM) All Island Private Pharmacy Owners Association (ALPPOA) has requested the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) to reconsider its decision not to renew the licences of 2,500 private pharmacies that risk suspension for failing to meet the requirement of employing a full-time licensed pharmacist. ALPPOA Spokesperson Sidath Suranga said that of the 4,802 private pharmacies operating in the country, more..