Sep 27 (TM) SL is set to begin rolling out its SL Unique Digital Identity (SLUDI) project by the end of this year, with the first digital IDs to be issued to a selected cohort as a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) developed in-house. The initial rollout will proceed while the Govt awaits the finalisation of an Indian grant and the selection of a vendor for the full SLUDI system. Deputy Minister Eranga Weeraratne said that the full rollout of the SLUDI project had been delayed owing to more..

Sep 27 (NW) Police have urged property owners to exercise caution and conduct proper background checks before renting out houses, business premises or other properties. Senior DIG Sajeewa Medawatte said drugs, weapons and other items linked to criminal activity are frequently being recovered from rented properties. He said some property owners rent out their premises without checking the background of prospective tenants. Police also warned property owners that they could face legal consequences if more..

Sep 27 (Island) Kahawatte Plantations (KWPL), a Regional Plantation Company operating across the landscapes of Nawalapitiya and Sabaragamuwa, together with the Market Development Facility (MDF), an Australian multi-country initiative, have completed a new Coffee Processing Centre and Smallholder Farmer Network, a joint investment aimed at lifting the quality, value and market reach of SL coffee. Both the Coffee Processing Centre and Smallholder Farmer Network mark Kahawatte’s move into more..

Sep 27 (TM) Local authorities have been placed on high alert as several climate phenomena such as the El Niño effect, a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), and the northeast monsoon are expected to bring heavy rainfall through December before plunging parts of the country into a prolonged dry spell starting early next year, according to DMC. DMC Director General Sampath Kotuwegoda confirmed that monthly multi-stakeholder meetings had been activated more..

Sep 27 (DM) It was exactly 50 years ago today that I held my daughter Indira in my arms for the first time. As I write these few words for her, I cannot put into words the pain I feel in my heart at this moment. I do not know if there can be a more painful experience for a father than having to celebrate the birthday of his child on a day when that child is no longer beside him. Especially when that child was someone who shared love, kindness and sensitivity throughout her life, more..

Sep 27 (AD) The founder of , a renowned name in the SL music industry, Ananda Ganegoda, has passed away. Ganegoda was a veteran artist who made a significant contribution to the revival and development of Sinhala classical and quality music (Subhavitha Geetha) in SL. Working closely with local musicians and creators, he established Singlanka, a cassette production company aimed at ensuring the creative independence, artistic quality, and economic well-being of artists more..

Sep 27 (EN) English Writers Collective of SL (EWC) has launched Channels 2026, the latest edition of its annual anthology of short stories, poetry and essays by established and emerging SL writers. “The EWC has always championed the power of original storytelling. Our annual competition continues to uncover an incredible depth of raw talent across the island, and we are thrilled to reward these brilliant minds and offer them the wide readership they truly deserve,” Chairperson Keerthi Wijekulasuriya said. more..

Sep 27 (ANI) A five-member delegation of JVP, led by its General Secretary Tilvin Silva, will visit India from Sept 27 to Oct 1 at the invitation of the Bharatiya Janata Party, as per the release. The delegation comprises Tilvin Silva, General Secretary; Chandrika Adikari, Central Committee Member; Aboobucker Athambawa, MP; Kabilan Suntharamoorthy, District Committee Member; and Kalpana Madhubhashini, Member of the International Dept, and is scheduled to visit India more..

Sep 27 (TM) The IMF has not rejected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s proposal to provide a fresh fuel subsidy to cushion consumers against rising global fuel prices during its latest discussions with the Govt, according to Ministry of Energy Secretary G.M.R.D. Aponsu. Aponsu said that several possible measures to address the impact of rising fuel prices had been discussed, with a subsidy emerging as more..

Sep 27 (SO) Investigations into the murder of rugby player Wasim Thajudeen have reportedly uncovered information that three vehicles suspected of being linked to his killing were also allegedly used in several other crimes. The three double-cab vehicles had been provided through the Presidential Secretariat for the security of then First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa and her son Yoshitha Rajapaksa. Investigators had earlier found information directly linking the vehicles, more..

Sep 27 (TM) Sri Lanka’s tea industry has remained resilient in the face of adverse weather and challenging external market conditions, with auction prices holding up even as production and export earnings have declined, according to Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) Chairman Rajpal Obeyesekere. He said that auction prices remained at comparatively satisfactory levels, having improved slightly and avoiding a crash despite the current crisis in the Middle East. more..

Sep 27 (Island) Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) accused the govt of seeking to use the proposed Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill to suppress political dissent and curtail public space for activism. FSP Education Secretary Pubudu Jayagoda said the Bill, gazetted on Sept 22, would enable the authorities to treat legitimate political and social activism as terrorism. Jayagoda claimed that the proposed definition of terrorism was broad enough to cover activities such as demanding more..

Sep 27 (AD) Steps have been taken to establish district-level committees to curb illegal fishing activities and unlawful operations involving fishing vessels. Accordingly, district committees are scheduled to be established in 15 fishing districts, including Negombo, Chilaw, Puttalam, and Mannar. The Director General of Fisheries and the respective District Secretary of each district will serve as co-chairpersons of these committees. more..

Sep 27 (NW) SL Police have clarified the procedures governing the repossession of vehicles and other equipment by leasing and finance companies, stressing that police officers do not participate in the actual repossession process. Under the Finance Leasing Act No. 56 of 2000, lessors and their authorized representatives must follow prescribed procedures when seeking possession of leased property, including vehicles. Police officers have been informed of more..

Sep 27 (NW) Former SL captain Kumar Sangakkara has urged Sri Lanka not to get carried away by their victory over England as the two teams prepare for the ODI series decider at The Oval on Sunday. Sri Lanka defeated England by 16 runs in the second ODI, with captain Kusal Mendis producing a match-winning 121 off 100 balls as the visitors levelled the series 1-1. Sangakkara said SL should take confidence from the victory but must approach the deciding match as a completely new contest. more..

Sep 27 (NW) Police will strictly enforce regulations governing bus priority lanes in Colombo and surrounding areas from Tuesday (29), as authorities step up efforts to reduce traffic congestion during peak hours. Chairman of Metro Bus S.M.U.P. Thilakaratne said the programme covers seven bus priority lanes in the Western Province and aims to ease congestion while enabling passengers to reach their destinations safely and on time. 104 luxury buses operated by Metro are also scheduled more..

Sep 27 (TM) SL has entered official-level discussions on connecting its electricity grid to a wider regional power network under an ADB-backed regional initiative, although the Govt is yet to take a policy decision on joining the proposed cross-border electricity system. Ministry of Energy Secretary G.M.R.D. Aponsu confirmed that SL was participating in the ongoing discussions on the proposed regional electricity connectivity initiative, more..

Sep 27 (NW) Minister Vijitha Herath has held discussions on the possibility of hosting the Miss Universe pageant in Sri Lanka, a move that could boost the country’s tourism profile and international visibility. Herath met Olivia Quido, Vice President of Global Partnerships at the Miss Universe Organization; Caroline Jurie, former Mrs. World 2020 and Chairperson of Caroline J Global Holdings and Nishan Deepal and Kusal Perera, Directors of Caroline J Global Holdings. more..

Sep 27 (Island) Commercial Bank mobilised employees, customers, volunteers and community members for a nationwide coastal and aquatic clean-up campaign across 20 locations on Sept 19 to mark Int'l Coastal Cleanup Day 2026. Conducted under the bank’s sustainability platform, themed Forward Together for a Cleaner Future, the initiative covered 16 coastal locations and four inland waterways, bringing together stakeholders for a coordinated environmental conservation effort. more..

Sep 27 (TM) Health authorities in the Uva Province have proposed equipping remote health facilities and regional administrative offices with Starlink satellite internet. The proposal follows the impact of Cyclone Ditwah, whose floods and landslides cut power and telecommunication networks, leaving health officials unable to coordinate the emergency response. Recounting the crisis operations, Uva Province Provincial Director of Health Services Dr. Mahendra Senevirathna told more..

Sep 27 (Island) After four straight drubbings, there is finally a pulse in Sri Lanka’s campaign in England. Their come from behind victory at Headingley not only kept the three match ODI series alive but also offered a timely reminder that this side, for all its recent shortcomings, still has some fight left in it. England needed 71 runs from the final 80 balls and appeared to have the game firmly within their grasp. Then came a remarkable exhibition of reverse swing. more..

Sep 27 (SO) Sri Lanka has already surpassed its 2030 target for rooftop solar power, with 1,400.9 MW added to the national grid, Minister Anura Karunathilaka said. He said the Govt’s accelerated renewable energy drive had enabled the country to exceed the target set under the Solar Energy Revolution programme in 2015, which aimed to add 1,400 MW of rooftop solar to the national grid by 2030. Govt is planning a further 1,392 MW of more..

Sep 27 (Island) Rumesh Tharanga’s remarkable rise has forced enthusiasts to pin their hopes entirely on the World Ultimate Javelin Champion for a gold medal at the ongoing Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan. In SL’s athletics contingent of more than twenty athletes, there are two other javelin throwers: former national record holder Sumedha Ranasinghe and women’s national javelin record holder Dilhani Lekamge. ‎Lekamge heads into today’s competition with a realistic opportunity to add another major continental medal to her collection, more..

Sep 27 (SO) The second annual Yodha Ela Int'l Mountain Ride 2026, under the concept of cycling for all, will be held from opposite the historic Isurumuniya Raja Maha Viharaya in Anuradhapura today, commencing at 7 a.m. National and int'l mountain bike cycling competitors are set to participate in this event, which is conducted to mark World Tourism Day 2026. Competitors will ride along the historical Tissa Wewa tank bund alongside Yoda Ela to Kala Wewa reservoir where more..

Sep 27 (Island) The second anniversary of Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s election as President has come and gone, but not before getting marked by a spate of judgements delivered and announced on a single day following the anniversary. Far away in New York, it has been a week of speeches by state and govt leaders making their pilgrimage to the 81st Annual Sessions of the United Nations that is entering its ninth decade. President AKD did not make the trip this year to the UN Sessions, more..

Sep 27 (Island) What’s this world coming to when the UN itself is not united? This rhetorical lament about the current state of the world crosses discerning minds when world leaders gather in New York for the UN General Assembly’s annual sessions, where threats, rhetoric and protest apparently take precedence over diplomacy expected of the civilised world. Critics argue that US Prez Donald Trump regards the UN headquarters as his country’s backyard. more..

Sep 27 (TM) NPP Govt on Friday voted the controversial 22nd Amendment into law, while the Opposition, clad in black to protest the move, argued against the bill. The bill was passed following a vote in Parliament with 158 voting for and 63 voting against it. The writing was on the wall: the Govt, despite much opposition and little consultation about the bill, which many observers had warned would be detrimental to constitutionality and more..

Sep 27 (TM) Last week brought two economic news stories that must be read together. Fitch upgraded Sri Lanka’s Long-Term Issuer Default Rating from ‘CCC+’ to ‘B-,’ with a Stable Outlook. Soon after, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff mission ended without announcing a Staff-Level Agreement (SLA) for the Seventh Review, although discussions will continue. The first headline shows how far we have come. The second reminds us how easily the gains can be lost. more..

Sep 27 (TM) Last week, a High Court Trial-at-Bar convicted 15 men out of 24 charged for their roles in organising and plotting the Easter Sunday bombings of 2019. The 15 individuals were sentenced to between 200 and 260 years of rigorous imprisonment each. Among those found guilty was Naufer Moulavi, who prosecutors identified as the central mastermind behind the plot. Moulavi and his colleagues who were found guilty left the court for prison with smiles on their faces, and more..

Sep 27 (SO) For more than three decades, Tilvin Silva has remained at the centre of the JVP political journey, serving as its General Secretary since 1995. From rebuilding a party weakened by repression and internal divisions to helping shape the NPP into the political force that secured State power, Silva has witnessed some of the most significant transformations in the movement’s history. In this interview, he reflects on that journey, more..

Sep 27 (SO) Fifteen Islamist extremists were given long prison sentences for their involvement in the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks last week. But questions remain on how they will spent the rest of their time in jail, given the danger of placing such extremists in proximity with other prisoners, and what the NPP Govt can do to dismantle extremist organisations of various shades, who have proven over and over again that they can be used at cat’s paws by local and international actors with more..

Sep 27 (SO) The latest judgment in the Easter Sunday attacks case marks an important step towards accountability, but it cannot be regarded as the end of the search for the truth. Fifteen of the 24 accused tried before the Colombo Permanent Trial-at-Bar were convicted over their involvement in the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, while nine were acquitted. The Court heard a vast body of evidence during a trial involving 23,270 charges and thousands of witnesses. more..