Jan 26 (AD) The total export earnings of Sri Lanka in 2025 has been recorded at US$ 17,252.15 million, exceeding the figures recorded in 2024, SL Customs data indicates. Accordingly, SL’s export sector continued its positive growth momentum in 2025, recording a notable y-o-y growth of 5.6 %, the EDB noted. Meanwhile, in December 2025, total exports, comprising both merchandise and services amounted to US$ 1,490.49 million, representing a 3.95 % y-o-y increase. more..

Jan 26 (DM) SLPP National Organizer and MP Namal Rajapaksa underscored the importance of responsible leadership, regional solidarity and youth-driven change while addressing the 77th Republic Day of India celebrations at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. “Leadership is not a position. It is a responsibility. It is a process of influencing others to achieve shared goals,” Rajapaksa said, speaking to students and academics at the event. more..

Jan 26 (AD) A complaint has been lodged with the CID today calling for an investigation into an alleged shortage of 40 cancer medications and claims that unregistered cancer drugs are currently circulating in the market. The complaint was lodged by Samagi Jana Balawegaya Member of Parliament Mujibur Rahman, together with Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, the Chairman of the Doctors’ Trade Union Alliance for Medical and Civil Rights. Commenting on the issue, Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa stated that, more..

Jan 26 (DM) SL is set to introduce test-tube baby treatment, also known as In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), at the Castle Street Hospital for Women in Colombo marking the first time such advanced fertility services will be made available at a govt hospital. Director of the Castle Street Hospital for Women Dr. Ajith Danthanarayana said that the initiative would significantly expand access to fertility care. “The new facility is expected to be operational more..

Jan 26 (FT) TNA MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam has criticised the suspension of a senior Parliamentary official, warning that the action reflects a serious breakdown of due process within Parliament. Rasamanickam said the suspension of Parliament’s second most senior official had raised grave concerns. Citing media reports, he alleged the move amounted to retaliation linked to Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne and was carried out without a charge sheet, an inquiry, or an opportunity for more..

Jan 26 (DM) Pathfinder Foundation has inaugurated a dedicated repository to document SL’s peace initiatives, aiming to preserve the country’s efforts to resolve the separatist conflict over the decades. The Repository for SL Peace Initiatives was officially opened by Mr. Erik Solheim, former Norwegian Special Envoy to the SL peace process, former Minister of the Environment and International Development of Norway, and former Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). more..

Jan 26 (AD) Further examination of evidence in the case filed against former State Minister Diana Gamage is scheduled to be conducted on February 16. The order was issued by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court. The case was filed by the CID on charges of providing false information to the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration to obtain a passport and of residing in Sri Lanka without a valid visa. The case was taken up today before Colombo Additional Magistrate Lahiru Silva, more..

Jan 26 (DM) 62% of Lankans choose .LK to host their website and business services, reinforcing the position of the LK Domain Registry as the preferred choice for businesses and individuals across the country, according to the Registry. Established in 1990, the LK Domain Registry has served the country by providing a dependable domain registration service and facilitating development of internet infrastructure to improve the internet in SL. As the national-level domain name, more..

Jan 26 (DM) Silver, often overshadowed by gold in financial headlines, is quietly undergoing a market revolution. However, unlike its more illustrious counterpart, silver’s price surge is not merely a story of monetary hedging or speculative investment. It is a direct threat to the foundational pillars of the 21st-century economy: the green energy transition and the global technology ecosystem. As prices climb on the world market, industries from more..

Jan 26 (AD) Leader of the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa has assured that he would extend his full support if educational reforms are implemented in a proper and effective manner. The Opposition Leader noted that a large number of children have been adversely affected due to the failure to implement the proposed education reforms at the Grade 6 level. Although the government has attempted to place responsibility for the suspension of reforms on the opposition, Premadasa emphasized that more..

Jan 26 (NW) High Commission of India in Colombo celebrated India’s 77th Republic Day today, marking the anniversary of the day the Indian Constitution came into effect in 1950. High Commissioner Santosh Jha hoisted the national flag at India House, inspected a Guard of Honour, and read excerpts from the President of India’s Republic Day address. The celebration featured patriotic music by the SL Navy Band and cultural performances by the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, more..

Jan 26 (AM) The Govt has recently appointed a group of civil activists to Prison Monitoring Committees, a move that has triggered public discussion after popular model and actress Stephanie Siriwardhana was named as a prison monitoring officer. Siriwardhana is a well-known figure in SL’s arts and entertainment sector. She won the Sri Lanka beauty queen title in 2011 and was crowned Miss Asia in 2013. Her appointment to a prison oversight role more..

Jan 26 (AD) Attorney General informed the Supreme Court today that orders have been obtained from the Colombo Magistrate’s Court and the Colombo High Court to prevent the directors of the local agent company of the MV X-Press Pearl from leaving the country. The declaration was made by Additional Solicitor General Nerin Pulle, appearing on behalf of the AG, when the Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions filed regarding the incident were taken up today to examine the progress of more..

Jan 26 (NW) Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka said he held a different view to England captain Harry Brook over criticism of the pitch used for the second ODI, stressing that he did not share the same assessment. Brook had described the wicket as the worst he had ever played on following the second match. Speaking ahead of the third and final ODI, Asalanka noted that both teams scored more than 440 runs on the wicket, questioning how it could be described as a poor pitch. more..

Jan 26 (FT) The global minimum corporate tax rate is part of the OECD Inclusive Framework initiative known as Pillar Two. It requires every tax jurisdiction to make sure that multinational corporations pay a minimum effective tax rate of 15%. The recent global push towards a Global Minimum Corporate Tax Rate of 15%, is often presented as a neutral and progressive reform to curb tax avoidance by multinational corporations (MNCs). However, when seen through a historical and geopolitical lens, more..

Jan 26 (FT) The Central Bank every year beginning from 1997 conducts a remembrance service in the morning of 31 January to tell the new Central Bankers of the gruesome attack by the LTTE on the country’s key financial institution, Central Bank, on that day in 1996. The objective of the LTTE was to destroy the bank, create mayhem in the financial system, weaken the economy, and thwart the Govt’s efforts to fight the LTTE which had been conducting a bloody campaign for a separate state. more..

Jan 26 (TM) Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said that it was confirmed that coal samples sent to India in connection with the shipment that has sparked public debate did not meet the required calorific value. He said that action would be taken to impose penalties on the relevant supplier in line with the agreement. He said there had been no issue in the procurement process, adding the shortfall was identified after the first 60,000 metric tonnes more..

Jan 26 (AD) GMOA has decided to launch an island-wide indefinite trade union action from 8 a.m. today. The decision has been taken owing to the alleged failure by the Ministry of Health to implement agreed solutions. The union’s Media Spokesperson, Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe, stated that the strike will be implemented through five trade union actions. Accordingly, the measures include: Not issuing prescriptions for medicines that are unavailable at clinics and Outpatient Department (OPD) more..

Jan 26 (AD) Six police officers who were arrested for allegedly assaulting a Catholic priest in Gampaha have been remanded until tomorrow (26). The group of officers Gampaha Division Crimes Investigation Bureau was remanded after being produced before the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court today. The incident involves a Catholic priest, a resident of Kotadeniyawa, who was admitted to the Negombo General Hospital yesterday (24) after alleging that he had been assaulted. more..

Jan 26 (NW) SL’s opposition leaders and former lawmakers have raised concerns over the suspension of Parliament’s Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General Chaminda Kularatne, warning that the decision could set a dangerous precedent for democratic institutions, while parliamentary sources say the move followed allegations of irregularities in his appointment and service. Parliamentary sources said Kularatne was more..

Jan 26 (AM) State Minister Chamara Sampath Dassanayake on Saturday issued a combative response to recent remarks by Agriculture Minister Lal Kantha, declaring that if his political rival likens himself to martial arts icon Bruce Lee, he would respond as former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson. Addressing a public rally, Dassanayake dismissed the comparison attributed to Lal Kantha during a televised programme, insisting that such rhetoric did not intimidate him. more..

Jan 26 (AD) Two multi-day fishing trawlers along with 11 suspects, taken into custody by the Sri Lanka Navy on suspicion of transporting a large consignment of narcotics in deep seas off the southern coast, have been brought to the Dikkowita Fisheries Harbour. According to information received from the Police, Navy conducted a special operation using long-range naval vessels to locate and intercept the two trawlers, Navy Media Spokesperson Buddhika Sampath said. more..

Jan 26 (NW) Sri Lanka Police have arrested 11 suspects and seized large quantities of heroin and crystal methamphetamine during a major narcotics operation off the country’s southern coast, police said. The Police Narcotics Bureau said the suspects were taken into custody on January 23 following an intelligence-led operation conducted with the assistance of the SL Navy. Two fishing vessels allegedly transporting drugs were intercepted during the operation. more..

Jan 26 (Island) Chinese Ambassador to SL, Qi Zhenhong, has reaffirmed China’s full support for the recovery of SL’s economy, which was recently affected by the impact of Cyclone Ditwah. The Ambassador said so during a visit to Kandy on Friday to pay his respects to the Most Venerable Mahanayake Theras of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters. Following his audience with the Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Mahanayake Thera & Most Ven Warakagoda more..

Jan 26 (FT) Reinforcing its longstanding commitment to SL’s private sector, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group announced a high-impact investment program of $ 166 million to support SL businesses and accelerate the country’s transition from economic stabilisation to sustainable growth. This comprehensive country-level financing package aims to expand financial access for more..

Jan 26 (FT) The Sri Lanka Army has vacated the Sulipuram Army Camp, also known as Chulipuram, bringing to an end more than three decades of military presence at the site. Troops stationed at the camp withdrew late on Friday night and were relocated to another Army facility in the area. The closure follows decisions taken in late 2024 to dismantle selected long-standing military camps in the Jaffna peninsula, as part of efforts to return occupied land to its original civilian owners. more..

Jan 26 (BBC) The price of gold has risen above $5,000 (£3,659) an ounce for the first time ever, extending a historic rally that saw the precious metal jump by more than 60% in 2025. It comes as tensions between the US and NATO over Greenland have added to growing concerns about financial and geopolitical uncertainty. US Prez Donald Trump's trade policies have also worried markets. On Saturday he threatened to impose a 100% tariff on Canada if it strikes a trade deal with China. more..

Jan 26 (Island) Celebrated Indian economist Dr. Arvind Subramanian urged SL to look beyond its current economic stabilisation, warning that the nation’s early human capital gains have historically lagged to translate into long-term, resilient growth. Delivering a thought-provoking lecture at the Central Bank of SL, former Chief Economic Advisor to Govt of India placed human capital at the centre of SL’s economic performance and what he described as puzzles – for which he knew no answers. more..

Jan 26 (DN) SL under 19 team expected to come back in their first Super Six game against Afghanistan in the ICC World Cup which is scheduled to be held in Windhoek, Namibia today commencing at 1pm. SL team was outplayed by Australia in their last group game on Friday as they were bowled out for 58 which was the lowest team total in this tournament. Australia comfortably reached the target in 12th over with 9 wickets in he hand to come on top of the points table to more..

Jan 26 (FT) Govt has disbursed Rs. 18 billion among households impacted by Cyclone Ditwah, which is 84% of Rs. 21.54 billion in total allowances allocated to eligible households. 70% of the Rs. 50,000 allowance provided by the Govt to assist families in purchasing essential household and kitchen equipment for resettlement following Cyclone Ditwah has already been paid. A total of 156,805 families across 25 districts were more..

Jan 26 (CT) International Customs Day is being observed today, recognising the vital role played by customs administrations worldwide in safeguarding borders and facilitating legitimate global trade. SL Customs has also organised a special programme titled Customs protecting society through vigilance and commitment to mark the occasion. A commemorative event will be held at Sri Lanka Customs today, with Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando attending as the Chief Guest. more..

Jan 26 (SO) Sri Lanka is offering tax holidays of up to 15 years and positioning the Colombo Port City as a new regional financial and trade hub as it seeks to attract investors from the UAE, amid renewed political and economic stability, Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe told media outlets in the UAE on Friday that the Govt is moving to simplify investment approvals and incentives to make Sri Lanka a more predictable and competitive destination for foreign capital. more..