Oct 14 (NW) Former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa remains hospitalized and is continuing to receive medical treatment, according to SLPP member Sanjeewa Edirimanna. Commenting on the former Prez’s health condition, Edirimanna said that only medical professionals and relevant experts are authorised to disclose details regarding a person’s medical condition. He stated that Rajapaksa is currently receiving treatment at a hospital but declined to provide further details, citing more..

Oct 14 (DM) Sri Lanka and the European Union have discussed proposals to establish a green energy hub at Trincomalee Port, with the need for a feasibility study highlighted during talks on renewable energy and port development. The discussions were held between a European Union delegation led by Peteris Ustubs, Director for the Asia-Pacific region, and Minister Anura Karunathilaka at the Ministry premises. EU delegation commended the Govt’s initiatives more..

Oct 14 (NW) Prison authorities have denied allegations by former Minister Udaya Gammanpila that Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera was forcibly made to wear the prison uniform while in custody at Welikada Prison. Addressing a press conference in Colombo on Oct 12, Udaya Gammanpila alleged that Gnanasara Thera had been forcibly made to wear a prison uniform despite objections from the monk & prison officers. more..

Oct 14 (NW) A delegation of 20 Sri Lankan education administrators is currently in India to participate in a capacity development programme aimed at strengthening educational planning, management and administration. According to the SL High Commission in New Delhi, delegation includes Provincial and Zonal Directors of Education representing the Central, Western, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Northern, North Western & Southern Provinces. more..

Oct 14 (NW) SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa has called on Prez and Finance Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake to introduce a second-chance business loan scheme in the 2027 Budget to help entrepreneurs who have fully repaid their debts regain access to credit. In a letter to the President, Rajapaksa said individuals who had experienced repayment difficulties in the past but subsequently settled their loans in full continued to face significant obstacles in obtaining fresh credit due to more..

Oct 14 (NW) Sri Lanka continues to record an increase in HIV infections, with health experts warning that sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including syphilis, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, are becoming major public health concerns. Consultant Venereologist Dr. Nimali Jayasuriya, President of the SL College of Sexual Health and HIV Medicine, said HIV cases have been increasing since 2023, with the upward trend more..

Oct 14 (NW) Minister K.D. Lal Kantha has revealed that two double cabs assigned to him by his ministry broke down during official travel, forcing him to use a private vehicle belonging to a close friend to carry out his duties. Addressing a public event, Minister said he had been using two double cabs obtained from his ministry, but recently experienced mechanical problems with both vehicles. He explained that one of the vehicles broke down midway through a journey, prompting him more..

Oct 14 (TM) Batticaloa District ITAK MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam has filed an application before the Court of Appeal (CA) seeking to reopen proceedings over the longstanding Mayilathamadu–Mathavanai grazing land dispute, alleging that State authorities have failed to honour assurances given to the Court to remove illegal encroachers and protect traditional grazing lands. The original proceedings began during former Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s administration and concluded during more..

Oct 14 (DM) An employment promotion programme aimed at introducing overseas job opportunities and guiding youth seeking foreign employment was held at Kanagarathnam Maha Vidyalayam in Jaffna on Oct 10. The Northern Province programme was organised by the SL Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) as part of its island-wide initiative to provide prospective migrant workers with information on overseas employment opportunities. The event was presided over by Minister Ramalingam more..

Oct 14 (Island) Major General Asitha Pushpakumara has assumed duties as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the SL Army’s 56 Infantry Division, headquartered at Kokeliya, Vavuniya. An alumnus of Thurstan College, Major General Pushpakumara has served in the SL Army for more than three decades, contributing to military operations during the country’s three-decade-long conflict. He is a recipient of several military decorations, including the Rana Wickrama more..

Oct 14 (NW) TPA Leader Mano Ganesan has expressed deep disappointment over remarks reportedly made by senior SJB member Lakshman Kiriella during a meeting with Mahanayake Thero. In a letter addressed to Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Ganesan raised concerns over Kiriella’s reported suggestion that the govt was using the controversy surrounding Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero to appease more..

Oct 14 (NW) Millaniya Pradeshiya Sabha has announced plans to develop the road leading to the residence of SL javelin throw champion Rumesh Tharanga at an estimated cost of Rs. 8 million. The announcement was made by the Chairman of the Millaniya PS during its monthly council meeting held on Tuesday. During the meeting, Councillor Gayan Sampath proposed naming the road after the athlete as Javelin Throw Champion Rumesh Tharanga in recognition of his sporting achievements. more..

Oct 14 (DN) Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe met a delegation from the Confederation of Indian Industry in Colombo on Tuesday to discuss opportunities to expand industrial, investment and business cooperation between Sri Lanka and India. The meeting was held at the Shangri-La Colombo, with Indian business representatives from the renewable energy, healthcare, information technology, steel, footwear manufacturing and industrial tanks and liners sectors. more..

Oct 14 (FT) Vehicle and gold-backed loans now account for nearly a quarter of all credit extended by SL’s banks and finance companies, as the reopening of vehicle imports and elevated gold prices fuelled a lending surge, Central Bank of SL said, releasing its Financial Stability Review 2026. The two segments together made up 24.9% of total credit of licensed banks & finance companies at end-June 2026, more..

Oct 14 (EN) Court of Appeal President Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya has withdrawn from the bench hearing petitions challenging the decision by prison authorities requiring Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera to wear prison attire following the imposition of a prison sentence. The decision was announced today, when the petitions seeking an order to invalidate the prison authorities’ decision were taken up for consideration. 3-judge bench has been appointed to consider the petitions. more..

Oct 14 (EN) SL Customs is likely to achieve a fresh record high revenue this year after reaching this year’s target of Rs. 2,207 billion this week, with more than 11 weeks to the year-end, analysts say. Customs Spokesman Chandana Punchihewa said the revenue-collecting body had already surpassed this year’s target on Tuesday, reaching Rs. 2,208 billion. The Customs exceeded its target for the second straight year in 2026. Last year, Customs collected a record 2,551 b rupees in revenue, more..

Oct 14 (PMD) A discussion on the official launch of the AgriConnect Sri Lanka programme was held at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (13) between Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake and a delegation led by Mr. Gevorg Sargsyan, World Bank Group Manager for Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The discussion focused on the official launch of the AgriConnect Sri Lanka programme, scheduled to take place on 30 October at TRACE Expert City. more..

Oct 14 (DM) Labour Minister Anil Jayantha Fernando today said that workplace safety should be treated as an investment in human life rather than an additional cost, saying the value of a worker’s life cannot be measured in monetary terms. Addressing the inaugural ceremony of a seminar held at the Dept of Labour in Narahenpita to mark National Occupational Safety and Health Week, he said occupational safety should go beyond meeting legal requirements and become an integral part more..

Oct 14 (AD) Minister Harshana Nanayakkara says that according to the recommendations of the interim committee report, a Buddhist monk who is taken outside the prison is permitted to wear his monastic robe, unless the chapter to which he belongs objects to it. The interim report of the special committee appointed to update the rules, regulations and standing orders made under Prisons Ordinance was handed over more..

Oct 14 (NW) The UNP has strongly condemned the govt’s decision to appoint a committee to make recommendations on the attire to be worn by imprisoned Buddhist monks and other religious leaders when taken outside prison, describing the move as unnecessary. In a statement issued today, the UNP said the procedures governing the matter are already clearly outlined in the Standing Orders of the Dept of Prisons. The party referred to comments previously made by G.L. Peiris, more..

Oct 14 (NW) Opposition MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam has welcomed the reported decision to set aside the death sentence imposed on SL migrant worker Anojan Sivarasa in Saudi Arabia, stating that efforts will continue until he safely returns to SL. MP said the development brings immense relief and renewed hope to Anojan’s family and those who have been working on his behalf. “I wholeheartedly welcome the positive development in the case of Sivarasa Anojan, following more..

Oct 14 (DM) Saudi Supreme Court has overturned the death sentence imposed on SL migrant worker Anojan Sivarasa. Sivarasa was sentenced to death by a Court of Appeal in Saudi Arabia. Following a lengthy process, he filed an appeal to the Saudi Supreme Court on 11 Oct. Following the filing of the appeal, the Supreme Court overturned the Court of Appeal’s verdict. The effort to secure Sivarasa’s release was led by the Govt of SL, more..

Oct 14 (DM) A man known as Dubai Sudda, identified as Nisshanka Priyadarshana, has been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment, suspended, fined Rs. 100,000 and ordered to pay Rs. 700,000 in compensation to complainants over a foreign employment fraud case. The sentence was delivered by the Kuliyapitiya Magistrate’s Court in a case filed by SLBFE. Suspect was accused of obtaining money by promising overseas employment in Dubai using tourist visas. more..

Oct 14 (FT) The IMF staff led by Evan Papageorgiou visited Sri Lanka and held discussions with the SL authorities during their visit to SL in Sept 2026, relating to the seventh review of the IMF’s EFF. Discussions will continue in the near term toward reaching agreement on parameters and policies needed to conclude the Seventh Review. Some of the highlights in the statement issued following the visit are as follows: SL’s economy has proved remarkably resilient to successive shocks. more..

Oct 14 (NW) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has welcomed the decision by the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia to set aside the death sentence imposed on SL national Anojan Sivarasa. Prez said the decision had brought immense relief to Sivarasa, his family and Sri Lankans who had followed the case with deep concern. He said the outcome reflected the importance of patient diplomacy, respect for the legal processes of a friendly nation and tireless efforts of those who supported more..

Oct 14 (FT) Sri Lanka has made considerable progress in restoring macroeconomic stability. The next challenge is more difficult: how do we finance the investment required to move from economic recovery to sustained economic growth? The country requires substantial long-term capital for energy, ports and logistics, digital infrastructure, water and waste management, agricultural logistics, tourism and export-oriented industries. Historically, much of Sri Lanka’s infrastructure development more..

Oct 14 (FT) Businesses should not bank on tax cuts in the 2027 Budget, the Treasury has signalled. Govt is instead relying on reforms, digitised tax administration and a World Bank-backed strategy targeting 7% growth to lift the economy. Treasury Secretary Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma was speaking yesterday at the SL Economic and Investment Summit. He was answering a question on whether Budget would ease corporate tax, more..

Oct 14 (NW) Sri Lanka is planning to establish a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) centre in Wijerama in collaboration with Singapore, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced at the Economic and Investment Summit on Monday (12). The President said the govt expects to obtain Cabinet approval for the proposed centre next week as part of efforts to strengthen advanced technological skills and address employment challenges in the country’s IT sector. more..

Oct 14 (TM) Housing Ministry has launched a survey covering 95 public housing complexes in Colombo to assess housing conditions, identify residents’ socio-economic challenges and determine the improvements needed to enhance their living conditions. According to the Ministry, housing standards have evolved over time, and families living in houses that no longer meet the required standards may be provided with new housing. Deputy Minister T.B. Sarath said reliable data more..

Oct 14 (Island) Iran has sought the Indian intervention, at the highest level, to provide lifesaving support to the crews of empty Iranian vessels stranded just outside SL’s 12-nautical mile territorial waters off Galle. Sources familiar with the issue said that Iran had brought the developing situation to the attention of New Delhi as the crews of almost 20 vessels, included Indian nationals. Sources stressed that the group of vessels more..

Oct 14 (NW) During a recent COPF meeting the official from Dept of Immigration & Emigration said over 14,300 visas have been issued to date to individuals entering the Port City Project. During the COPF meeting MPs raised serious concerns regarding transparency, accountability and visa monitoring within the Port City project. The questioning led notably by MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam and other committee members focused on immigration landing more..

Oct 14 (DM) Former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva has described the six-year prison sentence imposed on Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera as unlawful, alleging that the case involved a conspiracy and questioning the legal process through which the sentence was imposed. Addressing a Buddhist event, Silva said, the sentence imposed by former Court of Appeal President Justice Preethi Padman Surasena was illegal, arguing that it exceeded the maximum more..