Sep 18 (Island) The process of having former Minister Basil Rajapaksa extradited from the US to SL was being finalised, Police HQ sources disclosed yesterday. The govt has formally sought assistance from the US govt to extradite former Minister Basil Rajapaksa, as multiple courts have reissued arrest warrants over his failure to appear before them in connection with two separate criminal cases, a senior police officer said. more..

Sep 18 (AD) The token strike initiated by railway trade unions over several demands, including the removal of the General Manager of the Department of Railways, remains in effect today, according to SL Railway Station Masters’ Association (SLRSMA). The association’s Chairman, Sumeda Somaratne, stated that the trade union action launched yesterday will continue until midnight today. He further stated that the trade union action was launched due to lack of a proper response, more..

Sep 18 (NW) The CID has arrested an Assistant Controller of the Department of Immigration and Emigration, accused of assisting in the preparation of an illegal foreign travel document for an organized criminal. According to police, officers of the CID’s Special Investigation Division carried out the arrest yesterday (17) morning at the Immigration and Emigration Department premises. The suspect has been identified as a 42‑year‑old resident of Gampaha. more..

Sep 18 (Island) The 5-member bench comprised Chief Justice P. Padman Surasena and Justices Shiran Gooneratne, Janak de Silva, Mahinda Samayawardhana and Arjuna Obeyesekere. The judicial officers had argued that they were not employees of the state or any other person, and that treating them as employees for tax purposes was incompatible with the constitutional principle of judicial independence. more..

Sep 18 (AD) Police say the law requiring all persons of vehicles travelling on expressways to wear seat belts will be strictly enforced from tomorrow (19). Director of the Traffic Control and Road Safety Division, SSP Manoj Ranagala, said the grace period of approximately one year granted for compliance will end today (18). Accordingly, legal action will be taken against drivers and passengers travelling on expressways without wearing seat belts from tomorrow, he said. more..

Sep 18 (Island) Police issued a strong warning about the growing dangers posed by AI-generated Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), stressing that technological advances were creating new risks for children online. CSAM traditionally involved real photographs or videos of children who had been sexually abused. However, with the rapid development of artificial intelligence, offenders can now manipulate ordinary images of children to produce highly realistic, sexually explicit or more..

Sep 18 (AD) A special Public Day programme has been held under the patronage of Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara, at the Deputy Minister's office in Colombo providing an opportunity for retired Tri-Forces personnel, their family members and other public to directly present their concerns and grievances. The programme held on 16 Sept, was organized with the objective of providing prompt solutions to matters requiring the intervention of the Ministry of Defence, more..

Sep 18 (Island) A three-wheeler driver was shot dead in a brazen afternoon shooting beneath the Dematagoda Black Bridge yesterday, police said. The investigators suspected that killing may be linked to notorious underworld figure Najim Mohamed Imran, widely known as Kanjipani Imran operating from overseas. The victim, a 50-year-old resident of Udugama, Galle, was killed with a pistol, according to ASP F.U. Wootler. The victim was rushed to hospital following the incident. more..

Sep 18 (TM) Environmental activist Dr Ajantha Perera, one of the petitioners who obtained the Supreme Court ruling on compensation for the MV X-Press Pearl disaster, has questioned the total compensation received so far and how the funds have been handled, alleging that the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) had, in violation of applicable procedures, dealt directly with relevant shipping company more..

Sep 18 (DN) SL javelin champion Rumesh Tharanga has retained the No. 1 position in the latest world javelin rankings released on Wednesday. The 23-year-old continued his impressive run of form by winning the Diamond League Final in Brussels and the World Ultimate Athletics Championships in Budapest, further strengthening his grip on the top spot with 1,423 points. Grenada’s Anderson Peters occupies second place with 1,363 points, while Germany’s Julian Weber is third with 1,341 more..

Sep 18 (TM) Sri Lanka’s current wretched form in T20Is was laid bare in no uncertain terms as they were blown off the park by a rampant England team, in the first T20I at Utilita Bowl, Southampton to trail 1-0 in the three-match series on Tuesday (15). Placed ninth in the ICC Men’s T20I Team Rankings, Charith Asalanka’s team clearly resembled a deer in the headlights, as they were outplayed in all facets of the game while suffering a 13th loss on the bounce in the format to their hosts. more..

Sep 18 (DM) Illegal Assets Investigation Division of the SL Police has imposed restraining orders on property and luxury assets worth more than Rs. 125 million, allegedly acquired through drug trafficking, in two separate investigations. In the first operation, police froze assets valued at over Rs. 90 million belonging to a suspect from the Wattala area. Acting under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, investigators imposed a 14-day restraining order from Sept 17, preventing the sale, transfer or disposal of the properties. more..

Sep 18 (AD) Sri Lanka reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to the humanitarian objectives of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) and to eliminating the threat posed by cluster munitions worldwide at the Third Review Conference of States Parties to the Convention, being held in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, from 14 to 18 Sept 2026. Addressing the High-Level Segment of the Conference, the Head of the SL Delegation, Manisha Gunasekera, Additional Secretary, more..

Sep 18 (FT) Cabinet has approved the implementation of 39 new development projects aimed at upgrading infrastructure across Govt health service institutions, including hospitals, as part of a broader push to address long-standing infrastructure gaps and modernise health service facilities. Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said earlier this week the projects stem from a review of 41 proposals submitted during 2025 & 2026, more..

Sep 18 (ST) Fifty youths from Kalmunai have completed the Beyond Success Roundtable Initiative, a globally delivered leadership development programme based on the leadership principles of internationally renowned leadership expert Dr. John C. Maxwell. Conducted for the first time in Kalmunai North, the initiative was organised by the Kalmunai North Divisional Secretariat in collaboration with Ms. Sonia Thayakaran, Certified Transformative Leader more..

Sep 18 (NW) Former SL captain Kumar Sangakkara has questioned the national team’s selection decisions, consistency and fitness following another comprehensive defeat to England, saying SL remain far from becoming the T20 side they aspire to be. Speaking during the post-match analysis, Sangakkara said England’s dominance had exposed significant differences between the two teams, particularly in batting, physical conditioning and tactical awareness. “They are miles apart,” more..

Sep 18 (TM) More than 78,000 people have lost their livelihoods due to the dry weather conditions caused by El Niño, but the Labour Ministry says it has no mechanism to intervene as most of those affected are engaged in agriculture and other informal-sector activities. Deputy Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe said that there was currently no situation requiring intervention by the Labour Ministry, noting that its mandate allows it to more..

Sep 18 (FT) SAJ Associates Ltd., is expanding its product range through the growing network of Lakarcade, which currently holds a significant share of Sri Lanka’s souvenir and gift market. Lakarcade has recently strengthened its market presence with the opening of a new souvenir shop at a hotel in Colombo. Through its expanding network of showrooms across the country, the company is taking the skills and capabilities of Sri Lankan craftsmen directly to tourists. more..

Sep 18 (DN) Opener Sineth Jayawardena scored a superb 32-ball 82 as Tamil Union defeated SSC by seven wickets in the final of the Major Club T20 Tournament at the R. Premadasa Stadium under lights on Wednesday. The 21-year-old left-hander produced a superb display alongside Navod Paranavithana, who scored 58 off 38 balls, as the pair added 133 runs for the second wicket from just 56 balls to put Tamil Union firmly in control of the chase. Tamil Union reached their target more..

Sep 18 (TM) While Sri Lanka’s private sector credit expanded by Rs 169.0 billion (b) in July 2026, State sector credit contracted by Rs 189.6 b during the same month, First Capital Research’s Monthly economic report for September said. “Private sector credit increased by Rs 169.0 b in Jul-26, while credit to the public sector decreased by Rs 189.6 b for the same period,” the report said, adding that the month-on-month expansion in the month within private credit was a 1.5% increase, more..

Sep 18 (FT) “SL must move beyond academic qualifications and domestic recognition to build the skills, leadership, innovation and international exposure needed to compete in the global economy,” Women in Management Global (WIM) Founder and Chairperson Dr. Sulochana Segera said. She made the observation at the launch of WIM – The Business & Leadership Night 2026, which will bring together three flagship platforms focusing on women-led enterprise, more..

Sep 18 (CI) Consecutive thrashings in three days saw England take the T20I series against SL with a game to spare. Thursday's victory was just as one-sided as the opener at the Utilita Bowl, which they took by 119 runs; in Cardiff, Harry Brook's side reached a lacklustre target of 146 with 47 balls to spare, with Tom Banton unbeaten on 52 off 24 for the conclusion as England took an unassailable 2-0 lead. Brook was able to give his team their more..

Sep 18 (FT) SL Institute of Directors (SLID) Chairman Dinesh Weerakkody has called for stronger corporate governance and greater director competence as SL businesses navigate a rapidly changing economic and operating environment. Speaking at the SLID’s 25th anniversary celebrations, Weerakkody reflected on the transformation of SL’s corporate sector over the past quarter century, noting that the country had around 240 listed companies and more..

Sep 18 (FT) Global NPO Coalition on FATF Co-Chair Sangeeta Goswami yesterday said Sri Lanka, like most countries undergoing a Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Mutual Evaluation on anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) standards, is prone to over-compliance, adopting restrictions well beyond what the FATF standard actually requires out of desperation of being placed on its grey list. Goswami said the FATF’s Mutual Evaluation process carries more..

Sep 18 (ST) One day a postgraduate student asked me an interesting question: “What’s the most important single economic indicator?” I was surprised and asked: “The most important single economic indicator? Indicator of what?” She replied: “Indicator of economic status of a country or economic progress!” I had never come across a question framed in quite this way. At first glance, it may seem deceptively simple or even somewhat absurd. more..

Sep 18 (TM) While the SLPP held a largely attended rally at A'pura on 12 Sept, ruling NPP held a similar one on the same day in another ancient capital, Polonnaruwa. Not to be outdone, the SJB, is also planning a massive rally this week. SL’s political landscape is once again filling with stages, loudspeakers, party flags, buses and large gatherings. Ruling Party holds rallies to demonstrate public confidence on the promises fulfilled and successes achieved in the last two years. more..

Sep 18 (DN) A veteran politician who has been at the centre of both the formation and the fall of govts, S.B. Dissanayake has also, in later years, stepped away from active politics. He remains a keen observer of the country’s political and economic trajectory. In this interview, he reflects on the current political climate, Govt’s economic programme, agricultural production, the Opposition and the challenges facing the public service. more..

Sep 18 (TM) Ragging remains one of the most degrading and inhuman practices to which young Sri Lankans are routinely subjected, and it is a national disgrace that we still speak of it in 2026 as though it were an unsolved mystery rather than a plainly documented crime. Students have died. Others have lost limbs, or been left with injuries and trauma that will follow them for the rest of their lives. Many more, unable to bear what is dressed up as tradition, have simply walked away from more..

Sep 18 (GV) The Bill to amend the Constitution for the 22nd time, together with the proposed amendment to the Judicature Act, is currently under consideration by the Supreme Court. The immediate constitutional question is whether the proposed increase in the retirement age of judges can be enacted by a two-thirds majority in parliament alone or whether, in addition, it requires approval at a referendum. SC is therefore placed in the unusual position of determining the constitutional more..

Sep 18 (TM) Eviction notices, hotel closures and demolitions along parts of SL’s coastline have displaced workers and left investors uncertain about businesses built over many years. Beyond the legality of individual buildings, these actions raise questions about environmental protection, livelihoods and Govt accountability. Two public responsibilities underpin this controversy: protecting beaches, dunes, mangroves & public access, more..

Sep 18 (DM) The human–elephant conflict (HEC) in SL is becoming increasingly severe and geographically widespread. The outdated mitigation approaches proposed as solutions to this crisis amount to wasting state funds. In the view wildlife experts, the Horowpothana Elephant Holding Ground, founded on the myth of elephant rehabilitation, is yet another white elephant. Wildlife experts and animal lovers would call it an “open-air elephant prison camp. more..

Sep 18 (DM) On Tuesday (15), Saudi Arabia issued emergency alerts warning of a potential danger in Jeddah, Mecca and Taif, urging people to seek shelter and follow official safety instructions. Even though the nature of the potential danger was initially not revealed, it was later reported that a Saudi-led coalition intercepted a drone launched by the Houthis headed towards the holy city of Mecca. On the same day, an Italian fighter jet flying for NATO had brought down a suspected more..