Oct 10 (FT) Consumer sentiment recorded its fourth consecutive monthly increase in Sept 2026, rising to 85 from 81 in August according to Prosoft Research and Insights. “The continued improvement suggests that, following the fluctuations observed towards the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026, consumer sentiment has entered a period of relative stabilisation over the past few months,” it added. This broader stabilisation is also reflected in consumer purchase behaviour, more..

Oct 10 (FT) The Colombo stock market yesterday ended a bearish week on the up. During the week, ASPI fell 2.38% and the active S&P SL20 declined 1.61%. Yesterday, ASPI ended up 0.41% or 82.57 points at 20,316.91 and the S&P SL20 gained 0.45% or 26.19 points to 5,788.75. Market turnover was over Rs. Rs. 1 billion on over 70 million shares traded. Foreign investors were net sellers on a net outflow of Rs. 157.5 million. First Capital Research said the bourse rebounded into positive territory more..

Oct 10 (CI) Sahibzada Farhan celebrated his ascension to the captaincy in grand style, smashing a 53-ball 89 that blazed his side to a comprehensive win in the first T20I against Sri Lanka. After Sri Lanka won the toss in Rawalpindi and somewhat curiously opted to set a target, the 182 they put up was made to look inadequate by a bellicose Pakistan's showing up top that put up 70 in the powerplay and scarcely slowed down after. Maaz Sadaqat, who needed just 28 balls more..

Oct 10 (Island) One of the busiest Indian politicians, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, recently received JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva, in New Delhi. It was Jaishankar’s second meeting with Silva, in New Delhi, this year. They first met in February. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) invited the JVP General Secretary as it sought to enhance direct relations with the once morbidly anti-Indian so-called Marxist party in line with the overall Indian strategy. more..

Oct 10 (Island) It will soon be showtime in Parliament. The Opposition has submitted a motion of no confidence against Speaker Dr Jagath Wickramaratne to Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadheera. Debates on no-confidence motions invariably descend into slanging matches, with members of both sides of the House trading insults and dragging one another’s reputations through the mud. The motion of no confidence reportedly contains about 50 allegations, including more..

Oct 10 (DN) Deputy Minister T.B. Sarath discusses the Govt’s housing initiatives for low-income and vulnerable communities, including people in the North and East, the Upcountry community, the parents of Buddhist monks and young people leaving children’s homes. He also outlines measures being taken to prepare farmers for the coming cultivation season, restore infrastructure damaged by disasters and strengthen the rural economy through the Praja Shakthi programme. more..

Oct 10 (TM) SL has suddenly found itself confronting a question that goes far beyond the fate of one controversial Buddhist monk. When the BBS General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera appeared before court in white civilian clothing rather than his saffron robe, the country witnessed an extraordinary collision between the Judiciary, the Prison administration and the Buddhist clergy. Govt says the Prison regulations require inmates serving rigourous imprisonment (RI), more..

Oct 10 (DN) Former Minister Dilan Perera takes a critical look at the Govt’s first two years, the Opposition’s conduct and the politicisation of disaster relief after the Ditwah disaster. He also speaks about constitutional reform, the national question, religious extremism and the increasingly toxic nature of political discourse. Q: People are saying, “We have never been hit like this before after marking a cross [voting].” Do you agree? more..

Oct 10 (FT) The statute in the middle will not police itself. I am the son and the grandson of two police officers who rose from the lowest rank, and I was brought up inside a police training school. What I watched, from the first parade to the last entry in the book, was a duty with a name on it. It was a grand family environment, and it is the reason I could render whatever service I have rendered. Prevention of Organised Crimes Bill, gazetted on 6 Oct, the Protection of the State more..

Oct 10 (TM) In SL, the infiltration of quacks who practice medicine illegally without proper medical education or recognition from the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) has now become a serious danger. These unqualified people, operating widely across the country, pose a huge threat to innocent lives. Many die without proper treatment, while many others suffer long-term physical complications. The key points raised are on the reasons behind this problem, the damage to the health services, more..

Oct 10 (DM) As Sri Lankans live longer, the country faces a question that goes far beyond healthcare and pensions: How can we ensure that the additional years of life are lived with health, security, independence and dignity? The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives is the int'l theme of the 2026 Int'l Day of Older Persons. For SL, the theme comes at a significant moment. According to the 2024 Census, people aged 60 and above account for 18% more..

Oct 10 (CT) Two years after its electoral breakthrough, JVP-led NPP continues to keep SL guessing. Is this the dawn of one-party dominance, as some claim, or merely another twist in the island’s turbulent politics? As JVP Politburo member and Cabinet Minister Lal Kantha once declared, “We have the govt’s power, but we must continue our struggle to capture state power. Only then will our struggle be complete.” If that is the case, as Tilvin Silva has pointed out, more..

Oct 10 (GV) Reverse emigration is not a topic often discussed in Sri Lanka as people are currently more concerned about the loss of so many professionals in the mass emigration from the island in recent years. Not many seem to return or describe their impressions of the country they come back to. It is a fluid, ongoing experience, recalibrating our cultural identity. When people ask a returnee, So which country is better? Have you decided?, the answers do not come easily. more..

Oct 9 (NW) A 120-member contingent of Indian military personnel arrived in SL on Oct 8 to participate in the India–SL Tri-Forces Cultural Tour 2026, aimed at strengthening military cooperation and cultural ties between the two countries. Contingent, comprising officers and other ranks from India’s three armed services, arrived at MRIA and will remain in SL until Oct 11. Meanwhile, a 120-member contingent from SL armed forces departed for India on Oct 8 as part of a reciprocal more..

Oct 9 (NW) Depat of Motor Traffic (DMT) has announced that strict enforcement of vehicle transfer regulations will begin on Dec 1. Clarifying whether the laws governing vehicle transfers using open papers were being changed, DMT Commissioner General Thushara Fernando said the law remains unchanged and that the requirement is already in place. He explained that, under the existing provisions, anyone transferring a vehicle registered in their name to another person more..

Oct 9 (AD) Minister of Fisheries, Ramalingam Chandrasekar has welcomed the observations made by Indian Supreme Court regarding the issue of the Katchatheevu Island. Minister made these remarks in a statement. The hearing on petitions seeking the retrieval of Katchatheevu Island, ceded to SL by India under the Indo-SL Maritime Agreement signed in 1974 by then Indian PM Indira Gandhi & SL PM Sirimavo more..

Oct 9 (NW) A couple in Wennappuwa has been awarded Rs. 100,000 by SL Police for helping apprehend a suspected gold chain snatcher and recover a necklace worth approximately Rs. 250,000. The incident occurred on March 8, 2026, along St. Anthony’s Mawatha in Wennappuwa. The couple rushed outside their home after hearing screams and found a young woman trapped beneath a fallen scooter. They also noticed a man fleeing the scene while pushing a motorcycle. more..

Oct 9 (NW) Construction of 124 new houses for families whose homes were completely destroyed by Cyclone Ditwah has begun in three DS divisions in Badulla District. Foundation stones were laid on Oct 8 under a govt housing programme, with Minister Samantha Vidyarathna leading the ceremonies. Project will provide 62 houses in Hali-Ela, 27 in Badulla and 35 in Passara. Construction sites include Kothmallanda in Hali-Ela, Thelbedda in Badulla and Blanewatta in Pallegolla GN more..

Oct 9 (AD) Sri Lanka's govt says that it has no immediate plans to help 19 Iranian ships that have been anchored in the international waters near the island nation facing food, water and fuel shortages. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Thushara Rodrigo said Sri Lanka will put its national interest first before considering any help, and the companies that supply ships are aware of possible secondary sanctions from the US. more..

Oct 9 (NW) A motion of no confidence has been prepared against Speaker of Parliament Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, outlining 50 allegations, including misuse of public funds and state property, interference with bribery investigations, conflicts of interest, abuse of authority and alleged bias against opposition lawmakers. The 12-page motion also raises concerns over the Speaker’s official residences, use of parliamentary vehicles and fuel, expenditure on personal staff and more..

Oct 9 (DM) Board of Investment (BOI) of SL plans to open land reservations for investors at the proposed Paranthan Export Processing Zone by the end of Nov 2026, while infrastructure development at both Paranthan and Kankesanthurai (KKS) is scheduled to begin in early Jan 2027. The plans were discussed during a visit to the Northern Province by BOI Chairman Duminda Hulangamuwa and Director General Dr Sulakshana Jayawardena to assess investment opportunities and accelerate more..

Oct 9 (NW) Vehicle usage at the Makumbura Park and Ride facility increased by 54.97% in the third quarter of 2026 compared with the first quarter, Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena said in a social media post. The total number of vehicles using the facility rose from 34,284 in the first quarter to 53,129 in the third quarter, according to figures shared by the deputy minister. The daily average also increased from 380 vehicles in the first quarter to 590 in the third quarter. more..

Oct 9 (NW) SL javelin star Rumesh Tharanga has donated his javelins, which were recently damaged during air travel, to the Foundation of Goodness (FOG) to be preserved and displayed as sporting memorabilia at its Sports Gallery in Seenigama. Tharanga, who has reached the world No. 1 ranking in men’s javelin and won gold at the 2026 Asian Games, made the donation during a visit to the foundation’s flagship venue, where he also accepted an appointment as a Goodness Ambassador. more..

Oct 9 (DM) For many Sri Lankans, purchasing an essential medicine is a dream. This is because of the exponential increase in prices of essential medicines over the years. As a result, many patients are unable to take the recommended dosages prescribed by doctors. It is in this backdrop that the NMRA is currently reviewing around 6000 registered medicines to impose Maximum Retail Prices (MRP). more..

Oct 9 (NW) Dialog Axiata has donated modern surgical and medical equipment worth Rs. 87 million to Chilaw District General Hospital to help restore and strengthen health care services affected by Cyclone Ditwah. The equipment was handed over at the hospital on Oct 7, as part of Dialog’s Rs. 420 million contribution to the govt’s Rebuilding SL national programme. The donation includes surgical equipment for two operating theatres damaged by flooding, a modern endoscopy system, more..

Oct 9 (DN) At a recent seminar HelpAge SL (HASL) requested donors to make their contributions to strengthen the ongoing Free Cataract Surgeries conducted by HelpAge Eye Hospital at Wellawatta, for less- privileged elderly citizens over 55 years. HelpAge Eye Hospital said the Free Cataract Surgery programme commenced in 2002, and to date, over 55,000 Surgeries have been performed to less privileged elderly citizens. Head of HelpAge Eye Hospital, Mahanama Wijesinghe said more..

Oct 9 (NF) Police stated that strict action will be taken against those who intentionally damage Metro buses. DIG in charge of Traffic and Road Safety stated that police have observed this happening in a conspiratorial manner. DIG W.P.J. Senadheera stated that Police have observed that the recent series of acts of sabotage and damage targeting Metro buses is the result of an organized conspiracy, and strict legal action will be more..

Oct 9 (NF) Dept of Prisons states that Shiranthi Rajapaksa, who was remanded in custody, has been transferred to a ward for general female inmates at the Welikada Prison. Prisons Spokesman Senaka Pallethanne stated that she was transferred to a general ward this morning after being referred to the National Eye Hospital. He mentioned that until this morning, Shiranthi Rajapaksa had been housed in a ward designated for female patients. Doctors at the Eye Hospital examined her this morning, more..

Oct 9 (NW) A private bus involved in a collision with a Metro bus in Athurugiriya on Oct 8 has been temporarily banned from operation after a vehicle inspection found that it had not been properly maintained. The accident occurred near the Route 170 bus stand in Athurugiriya when a private bus operating on the Athurugiriya-Pettah route was reversing onto the main road from the bus stand. The private bus collided with a Metro bus operating on the Millennium City-Pettah route. more..

Oct 9 (DM) Govt is taking steps to declare the Diyagama forest area in Homagama, Colombo District, a forest reserve to protect its biodiversity and ecological importance, Deputy Environment Minister Anton Jayakody said in Parliament. He said the area, which was once abandoned land, had naturally regenerated over the past two decades into an ecologically sensitive habitat with rainforest characteristics. He said several wildlife species displaced by rapid urbanisation across more..

Oct 9 (NW) Former Chairman of the National Agency for Public Private Partnership (NAPPP), Thilan Wijesinghe, has categorically denied allegations linking him to alleged violations of anti-corruption legislation concerning the awarding of State development contracts. In a statement issued on Oct 9, Wijesinghe responded to remarks made by Minister Bimal Rathnayake in Parliament on Oct 8, during which his name was included in a list relating to alleged corruption. more..