Oct 2 (NW) Kusal Mendis has been named captain of Sri Lanka’s 15-member team for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Pakistan. SLC announced the team on Friday, with Dushmantha Chameera included subject to fitness. The team features Kamil Mishara, Sineth Jayawardena, Lahiru Udara, Sahan Arachchige, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Chamindu Wickramasinghe and Dunith Wellalage. Maheesh Theekshana and Vijayakanth Viyaskanth are the specialist spin options, more..

Oct 2 (DM) India’s leading low-cost carrier IndiGo has resumed daily flights on key routes between India and SL, strengthening air connectivity between the two neighbouring countries and supporting tourism, trade and business travel. The airline resumed services on three important routes from Oct 1, including New Delhi-Colombo, Bengaluru-Colombo and Tiruchirappalli (Trichy)-Jaffna. The resumption of daily flights between New Delhi and Colombo, as well as Bengaluru and Colombo, more..

Oct 2 (TM) Govt is planning to increase agricultural export production as much as possible ahead of January and April of next year (2027), in an effort to recover potential losses caused by El Niño-related changes in weather conditions and increase export earnings before those impacts are felt, according to the Trade, Commerce, Food Security, and Cooperative Development Ministry. Deputy Minister R M Jayawardena said it is difficult to decide in advance exactly what measures more..

Oct 2 (NW) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has highlighted the potential for France, including through its development agency, French Development Agency (AFD), to support renewable energy projects in Sri Lanka and encourage greater investment in the sector. Premadasa made these remarks during a meeting with French Ambassador to SL Rémi Lambert and representatives of the renewable energy industry at the Opposition Leader’s Office, where discussions focused on the challenges facing more..

Oct 2 (Island) Internet Media Action (IMA) has strongly condemned the govt’s attempt, through the gazette Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill (PSTA) (22 Sept 2026), to restrict citizens’ freedom of expression (FOE), media freedom and digital rights in an extremely repressive manner. IMA’s convener Sampath Samarakoon, issued the following statement: “Under local and international pressure, the govt has moved to amend certain provisions of the original draft, more..

Oct 2 (DM) The country's fuel distribution network could face a major disruption from tomorrow as Ceylon Petroleum Private Tanker Owners Association (CPPTOA) warned that private fuel bowsers may halt deliveries unless a long-pending revision of fuel transportation commission charges is resolved today. CPPTOA Chairman A.M.H. Adhikari said that today's discussions with CPC Chairman, two professors from Uni more..

Oct 2 (AD) Train services on the Upcountry Railway Line resumed today, with services operating from Colombo Fort to Peradeniya and Gampola, following an approximately 10-month suspension caused by the impact of Cyclone Ditwah. Following Cyclone Ditwah, train services on the Upcountry Line between Rambukkana, Kandy and Badulla had been completely suspended. Accordingly, the Railway Department took steps to extend train services to Peradeniya and Gampola from today, more..

Oct 2 (NW) Lanka Metro Transit is planning to introduce a new service allowing members of the public to hire metro buses for private trips on Saturdays and Sundays, once the metro bus service becomes fully operational. According to Sanjaya Dayaratne, an official attached to the project, the proposed initiative aims to make better use of metro buses during weekends, when regular passenger demand is generally lower as many commuters travel to their hometowns. more..

Oct 2 (FT) The DCS recently announced that SL’s economy has grown by 4.2% in the second quarter of 2026. Whilst this may be below the desired 5% GDP growth mark, SL's economic recovery since the crisis of 2022 is one of the most significant turnarounds in the country's recent history. In 2026, we see that Inflation is at a moderate eight percent, foreign reserves have strengthened at seven billion dollars, remittances have picked up depicting a 20% growth tourism has rebounded but more..

Oct 2 (FT) Across the country, children will be on stages, in classrooms, at events, in photographs and on social media. There will be art exhibitions, concerts, celebrations, gifts, ice cream, special offers, colourful campaigns and beautiful messages about children. And there is nothing wrong with celebrating children. Children deserve joy. They deserve celebration. They deserve to laugh, play, sing and simply be children. But child protection is something very different. more..

Oct 2 (TM) An internal investigation by the Police Special Investigation Unit has found that Senior DIG Ranmal Kodithuwakku and several other officers allegedly failed to take appropriate action after receiving information about a consignment of narcotics inside containers at the Colombo Port. The findings were revealed following an internal inquiry conducted on the orders of the IGP into the seizure of a large consignment of more..

Oct 2 (TM) Amid reports that the number of schools has fallen by about 200 since the NPP Govt came to power, Education Ministry stated that school closures are part of a general process carried out under Provincial structural circulars and are not being implemented under any special programme. Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa said that there are provisions in the structural circulars for schools to be closed for various reasons, including a decline in student numbers and the failure to enroll more..

Oct 2 (EN) Sri Lanka’s economic growth is likely to slow down this year compared to the last two years amid Middle Eastern escalation dragging down the island nation’s economic activities with high fuel prices. Sri Lanka, recovering from an unprecedented economic crisis in 2022, expanded by 5% in both 2023 and 2024 after a contraction in the previous year. However, it is expected to slow down this year weighed down by the impact of the Middle Eastern crisis. more..

Oct 2 (AD) Around 20 Iranian and Iran-linked oil tankers are reportedly stranded approximately 15 miles off SL’s southwestern coast, with some vessels facing shortages of food, fuel and fresh water. The vessels are part of a wider group of Iranian-linked tankers that had been involved in transporting sanctioned Iranian crude, primarily to China. US govt has intensified pressure on countries and companies that provide services to more..

Oct 2 (FT) Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $ 100 million results-based loan to help Sri Lanka transform its technical and vocational education and training (TVET) system, equip more young people with industry-relevant skills, and strengthen the country’s competitiveness and inclusive growth. Skills Development System Transformation Program will support the Govt’s efforts in improving the quality and relevance of skills training, strengthening links more..

Oct 2 (DM) Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said 17,506 Govt Analyst reports related to drug cases had been issued during August and September as part of measures to reduce overcrowding in prisons. Speaking today (1) at the establishment of an integrated mechanism at the Kuruwita Prison, Minister said 9,061 drug-related reports were issued in August and a further 8,445 in September. He said steps had been taken to expedite the issuance of Govt Analyst reports and amend more..

Oct 2 (AD) The younger brother of organised criminal figure Loku Patty has been shot and killed in the Welikanda area of Ahungalla. He had reportedly been seriously injured in the shooting and was admitted to the Balapitiya Hospital before later succumbing to his injuries. The shooting was carried out by an unidentified gunman using a 9mm pistol at around 8:10 p.m. today (1). The deceased has been identified as 35-year-old Sugath Nuwan Kumara de Silva, officials said. more..

Oct 2 (AD) PM Harini Amarasuriya stated that ensuring children’s emotional security, mental well-being and self-confidence is important in the face of the modern social and technological challenges confronting childhood, and that the Govt has accorded priority to this area. PM made these remarks today (1) while participating in the National Children’s Day Celebration organised by Dept of Probation and Child Care Services under the guidance of Ministry of Women more..

Oct 2 (NW) The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) says the latest increase in domestic fuel prices was mainly driven by a sharp rise in global petroleum prices, with the corporation continuing to absorb part of the cost of several fuel products. CPC Chairman D.J. Rajakaruna said global fuel prices had risen significantly compared with February, which is being used as the base month for the comparison. more..

Oct 2 (NW) News1st cameraman Charith Niyomal has denied allegations that he assaulted a security officer attached to former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe outside the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court, insisting that he did not deliberately strike the officer. Speaking about the incident after being released on police bail, Niyomal said he had been working as a cameraman for more than 15 years and had covered Wickremesinghe on numerous occasions. more..

Oct 2 (TM) A small fish that vanished from SL’s scientific records for nearly 90 years has been found again in the Jaffna Peninsula, giving researchers a rare opportunity to connect a historical record from 1936 with a living population in Northern Sri Lanka. The fish, identified as the Yellow-stripe Goby (Mugilogobius chulae), was recently recorded at Karainagar on the Karaitivu Island during a survey of aquatic habitats in the North. Its discovery is particularly significant because more..

Oct 2 (EN) SL Customs exceeded its monthly target for the ninth consecutive month in September, achieving the target before the month ended. Customs’ September revenue target was set at 195.6 billion rupees. However, in the first 29 days of the month, the revenue-collecting body had already collected 245.9 billion rupees, exceeding the target. Customs has set a revenue target of 2,207 billion rupees for this year, 13.5% less than last year as it originally expected a significant decline more..

Oct 2 (NW) A delegation of 28 minority youths from diverse backgrounds across SL participated in a five day training programme on Innovative Leadership for Organization Growth and Excellence (ILOGE) at NIESBUD in Noida, as part of an initiative offering 700 customized slots annually for SL professionals. The training, held from Sept 21 to 25 aligns with the announcement made by PM Narendra Modi during his State Visit to SL in April 2025 to strengthen capacity building and skills development. more..

Oct 2 (NW) ICC has announced the schedule for the Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027. Tournament begins on 2 Oct with the commencement of the 3-team Super Series in Windhoek, which will decide the final Group Stage team. The 12 remaining teams at the tournament will be split into two groups of six. Group stage action begins on 7 Oct in Cape Town with a repeat of the 2023 Final as defending champions Australia take on India. more..

Oct 2 (DN) The Sri Lankan Pavilion at Hotel Asia 2026, held in Hulhumalé, Maldives, was officially opened with the participation of Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the Maldives, Mohamed Rizvi Hassan, highlighting the growing importance of trade and business ties between Sri Lanka and the Maldives. High Commissioner Hassan joined Sanjeewa, President of the Sri Lanka–Maldives Business Council, in cutting the ceremonial ribbon to mark the opening of the pavilion. more..

Oct 2 (Island) Commercial Bank of Ceylon recently handed over Wards No. 03 and 04 of the De Soysa Hospital for Women, after the completion of a comprehensive renovation project launched in March this year to mark International Women’s Day. Wards 03 and 04 handle a substantial share of the hospital’s patient load, and account for approximately 2,500 to 3,000 deliveries and 4,000 to 5,000 admissions annually. Their refurbishment was designed to significantly enhance more..

Oct 2 (FT) US State Department has toned down its assessment of the ruling NPP, but not of Sri Lanka’s investment climate. A Daily FT comparison of the Dept’s 2025 and 2026 Investment Climate Statements shows it has dropped all reference to the NPP leadership’s ideology. Its verdict that the climate remains challenging, and much of the criticism behind it, is repeated word for word. Last year’s statement said more..

Oct 2 (TM) By implementing a unified ocean accounting framework whereby aquaculture yields, mangrove extent, port infrastructure economic inflows will be recorded, Sri Lanka would be able to introduce credible ocean statistics alongside its GDP and other economic metrics, IUCN SL Country Representative Dr Shamen Vidanage said, speaking on a webinar recently. “By recording both ocean stocks, such as fish stocks, mangrove extent and port infrastructure and economic flows, more..

Oct 2 (CB) The ICC has introduced a trial allowing pink balls to be used in daytime Test matches, among a series of changes to the Playing Conditions that come into effect for international series beginning on Oct 1. The pink-ball provision, as previously reported, is aimed at reducing the loss of playing time due to bad light. Its use will require mutual agreement between the two teams before the start of the Test and, once agreed, the ball colour cannot be changed during the match. more..

Oct 2 (DM) Akram Cassim was re-elected as President of the SL Gem and Jewellery Association (SLGJA) for a third term, at the association’s AGM held this week. AGM also elected a new board representing a strong mix of youth and experience, bringing together the members from across the gem, jewellery and lapidary sectors and from key gem and jewellery regions of SL. Joining Cassim in the new leadership team are Shezan Mansoor as Vice Prez and COO, Shezard Careem as Head of more..

Oct 2 (FT) Sri Lanka’s tourism industry in September came just 414 visitors shy of its highest-ever arrivals for the month last year, with a late surge in Indians providing fresh momentum ahead of the crucial winter season despite the sector remaining behind 2025’s pace and well short of its original 2026 target. Sri Lanka welcomed 158,557 tourists in September, falling just short of the Sept 2025 record of 158,971 and registering a marginal 0.26% year-on-year (YoY) decline. more..