Feb 12 (TM) The JVP delegation, led by its General Secretary Tilvin Silva, is currently on an official visit to India, engaging with key state officials and exploring avenues to enhance bilateral relations. In Kerala, they met with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday to discuss strategies for boosting tourism and strengthening cultural ties between Sri Lanka and the Indian state. The delegation also visited the ISRO Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre and Vizhinjam Port, where they gained insights more..

Feb 12 (TM) The construction of the Kasikote elephant tunnel, previously halted due to design flaws and poor planning, has recommenced with modified plans, according to the Environment Ministry. The project, critically aimed at reducing fatal vehicle collisions with elephants, was paused after public outcry over the tunnel’s insufficient size for the herd’s largest elephants. Deputy Environment Minister Anton Jayakody said that work is now underway. He stated that accompanying more..

Feb 12 (TM) Despite nearly three months having passed since the deaths of two patients after they were administered ondansetron, a drug commonly used to treat nausea and vomiting, Govt has still failed to publicise the relevant reports, claimed the Medical & Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors President, Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa. He said the lack of clarity surrounding the quality and regulatory approval of relevant more..

Feb 12 (AD) SL and Saudi Arabia have reaffirmed commitment to further enhancing defence cooperation and strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries. The commitment was made during a bilateral meeting between the Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara, and Prince Abdulrahman bin Ayyaf Al-Muqrin, the Deputy Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the Saudi Defence Ministry. The meeting took place during Deputy Minister Jayasekara’s more..

Feb 12 (CT) Mullaitivu District, rich in natural resources yet ranked first in poverty, is set to undergo significant development over the next 2 to 3 years under the current govt, Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vedanayagam, said yesterday. He pointed out that the foundational plans and construction projects for this development have already commenced. A special coordination meeting for Mullaitivu District at the district secretariat, attended by Minister Bimal Rathnayake. more..

Feb 12 (DM) Road Development Authority (RDA) has failed to capitalise nearly 75% of the Class A and B road network it manages, leaving billions of rupees worth of state assets off its statement of financial position. According to the Auditor General’s latest observations on the 2023 financial statements, while the Authority is responsible for a massive network spanning 12,225 km, only a mere 3,267 km had been more..

Feb 12 (FT) SL’s economic collapse is often analysed through the lenses of debt, deficits and political misjudgement. These explanations are valid — but incomplete. They overlook a more fundamental weakness that continues to undermine reform efforts: the absence of systematic institutional training for those who govern. The country does not suffer from a lack of laws or reform proposals. It suffers from a chronic failure to ensure that elected representatives & public officials understand more..

Feb 12 (AD) A total of 7 drivers and conductors employed on private passenger buses have been arrested for operating while under the influence of drugs. The arrests were made following random drug tests conducted on drivers and conductors of private buses operating from the Piliyandala Main Bus Stand and travelling through Piliyandala town. The tests were carried out within a special mobile unit deployed by the National Transport Medical Institute (NTMI) at the Piliyandala Main Bus Stand. more..

Feb 12 (AD) SL Police has issued a public advisory highlighting the growing number of complaints related to lost, misplaced, and stolen mobile phones reported daily to police stations across the island. The police warned that when a mobile phone is lost or stolen, there is a significant risk of misuse if it falls into the hands of unauthorized individuals. The public has been urged to remain vigilant and take immediate precautionary measures, as lost or stolen mobile phones are frequently more..

Feb 12 (EN) A team of SL MPs have visited Pakistan to attend the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Asia Regional Conference, which saw the adoption of the Karachi Declaration. In this participating delegations reaffirmed their shared commitment to democratic governance, constitutionalism, Parliamentary accountability, inclusivity, responsible innovation and sustainable peace. The need for transparent, participatory and forward looking Parliaments to address more..

Feb 12 (CI) High control percentage? Good. High strike rate? Good. Low dot-ball percentage? Gooood. - Joey from Friends, presumably, watching Pavan Rathnayake bat on Thursday. In the classic arc in the sitcom, Joey defends Rachel's accidental Shepherd's-Pie-meets-English-Trifle hybrid by appreciating the individual brilliance of the disparate layers. In Pallekele, Rathnayake served up a hybrid innings of his own, more..

Feb 12 (NW) The Supreme Court on Thursday (12) concluded hearings on a series of Fundamental Rights petitions challenging the appointment of former IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon. ‎The court decided to end proceedings after considering an affidavit submitted by Prez Anura Kumara in connection with the case. The decision was made with the consent of the petitioners, according to court proceedings. The petitions were taken up before a 3-judge bench more..

Feb 12 (DM) Six suspects, including the son of actress Piumi Hansamali, who were arrested by the Welikada Police in connection with an alleged assault on a three-wheeler driver following a road accident in the Kalapaluwawa area, were ordered to be remanded till Feb 16 by Colombo Additional Magistrate Nuwan Kaushalya yesterday. Welikada Police informed the court that a friend of Piumi Hansamali’s son had been involved in a collision with a three-wheeler while riding a motorcycle more..

Feb 12 (DM) Australia is willing to help SL join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) which is the world’s largest free trade agreement covering 15 nations and nearly 30 percent of the global population and GDP, High Commissioner Matthew Duckworth said. Signed on Nov 15, 2020, it brings together 15 Asia-Pacific countries- 10 ASEAN nations: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, more..

Feb 12 (CT) Two men have been arrested in connection with an alleged online investment scam that defrauded a woman of more than Rs 6 million, Police said yesterday. The arrests were made by officers of the CID North Western Province Cyber Crimes Investigation Unit following an inquiry into a complaint lodged by the victim. Police said the woman had been misled into believing she could earn substantial profits through an online business venture. Acting on the assurances given by more..

Feb 12 (AD) Zohara Buhary, who had faced disciplinary action from the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) for voting in favour of the CMC’s Budget proposal, has lost her seat in the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) after she was removed from the party. The SLMC has decided to take disciplinary action and suspend the party membership of Buhary due to her voting in support of the council’s budget, presented by the ruling NPP, in violation of the party’s directive. more..

Feb 12 (AD) Colombo High Court today ordered that further hearing of the case filed against former Minister Johnston Fernando and two others be postponed until March 6, 2026. The case was taken up today before Colombo HC Judge Mohamed Mihal. Former Minister Johnston Fernando and former Operational Director of Sathosa, Mohamed Shakir, who are currently in remand custody in connection with another case, were produced before court by prison officials. more..

Feb 12 (DM) SL continues to face a growing public health challenge as more than one-third of the country’s adult population is now classified as overweight or obese, according to a national nutrition and diet study conducted by Int'l Food Policy Research Institute and Dept of Applied Nutrition, Wayamba Uni. Report which was released in 2024 says that among adults, overweight and obesity are significantly more common in women, with prevalence rates roughly 10 percentage more..

Feb 12 (SLN) SL Navy has generated USD 598,250 in foreign exchange revenue within just four months by independently facilitating Onboard Security Team (OBST) operations. This total revenue has been credited to the Govt Consolidated Fund for the benefit of the national economy and public welfare. The shift to independent maritime security operations stems from a Cabinet decision approved on 7 Jul more..

Feb 12 (AD) The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection has approved the Bill seeking to abolish pension benefits for Members of Parliament. Committee Chair and MP Najith Indika stated that the Bill was unanimously approved during the committee meeting. Speaking on the matter, Committee Chair and MP Najith Indika said the proposal was in line with a key pledge made in the policy statement of the present govt. “Sectoral Oversight Committee more..

Feb 12 (EN) SL’s construction sector is yet to show strong recovery from the 2022 crisis in reality despite positive data by the authorities, an industry expert said. The construction sector contracted 20.8% in 2023 after a 20% collapse in 2022 amid the economic crisis and sharp currency deprecation spiked the cost of construction for customers. In 2024 the sector expanded 19.4% with the expansion of the economy from contraction while it showed a rise of 10.5% in the first nine months of 2025. more..

Feb 12 (CI) SL's powerful middle order blew Oman away in Pallekele, helping them sweep to a 105-run win. In perhaps the most one-sided game of the T20 World Cup so far, Dasun Shanaka struck SL's fastest ever T20I half-century, in 19 balls, while a 28-ball 60 from Pavan Rathnayake and 61 by Kusal Mendis propelled SL to 225, this World Cup's highest score and SL's second-highest in T20 World Cups. Oman did strike early when more..

Feb 12 (NW) Supreme Court has ordered notices to be issued to several former and current state officials in connection with a Fundamental Rights petition challenging govt programs and circulars that permit individuals to change their gender identity through medical procedures. Notices have been issued to former Presidents Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe, Attorney General on behalf of incumbent Prez Dissanayake, and several other parties in connection with a petition. more..

Feb 12 (AD) Three 16-year-old students have sustained injuries when a boundary wall separating the C.W.W. Kannangara College in Borella and a Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) site collapsed earlier today, police stated. The incident occurred when a backhoe operated by CMC workers crashed into the boundary wall. The falling debris trapped three students who were in the vicinity at the time, police stated. The injured students were rescued and rushed to Colombo National Hospital more..

Feb 12 (FT) The recent cyclonic storm Ditwah disrupted micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) islandwide, caused by production disruptions, infrastructure damage (including roads and mobile networks), supply-chain interruptions, and reduced access to markets. Rapid responses were necessary for the MSME sector to restart business operations and reconnect to markets. In fact, the effects of Cyclone Ditwah might amplify preexisting vulnerabilities in MSME sector, more..

Feb 12 (FT) In SL, the phrase Balance Sheet restructuring is appearing more frequently in stock exchange announcements, annual reports, and business news. For many readers, it seems to be a warning sign—something only distressed firms do. In reality, restructuring can be either a responsible reset or a cosmetic exercise, depending on what is being restructured and whether the company has fixed its underlying operating problems. The key is to understand what restructuring can and more..

Feb 12 (FT) Treasury Secretary Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma yesterday told International Sovereign Bond (ISB) holders that the Govt would adhere strictly to the 17th IMF program targets and structural reform commitments, during a scheduled investor call focused on macro-linked and governance-linked Bonds issued under the restructuring. He said fiscal consolidation remains anchored to agreed primary surplus targets, more..

Feb 12 (Island) Action was taken on Monday to drain rainwater from the Chemmani mass graves as preparations continued for the next phase of excavation. During the first and second phases of excavation at Chemmani, a total of 240 sets of human skeletal remains were identified. Of these, 239 sets have so far been exhumed under court supervision. Although funds had already been allocated and preliminary arrangements were in place to begin the third phase of excavation, more..

Feb 12 (AD) New data from the UK’s Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) shows a major shift in international student trends. While the number of overseas students studying inside the UK has declined, enrolments in UK education programs delivered abroad are rising strongly. UK hosted 685,565 int'l students in 2024/25, a 6% decline compared to 2023/24. UK Home Office data shows that in the year ending Sept 2025, there were 439,924 sponsored study visa grants, more..

Feb 12 (Island) SL’s small and medium enterprise (SME) sector—responsible for 52% of GDP and employing nearly half the national workforce—has become the next decisive test of the country’s fragile economic recovery. A proposal to establish a Rs. 300 billion Bad Bank to absorb distressed SME loans now places policymakers at a crossroads: act boldly to revive credit and growth, or risk entrenching stagnation in real economy. more..

Feb 12 (ANI) The revered Devnimori Relics of Lord Buddha has return to India after a ceremonial departure from BIA, marking a significant moment in India-SL civilisational ties. The sacred relics were on display at the Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo from Feb 4 to Feb 11, for the first-ever international exposition. The delegation returning the Holy Relics to India was led by Mangubhai C Patel, Governor of Madhya Pradesh, and Chowna Mein, Deputy Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh. more..

Feb 12 (AD) Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni has proposed the conduct of monthly drug review meetings in every hospital to ensure an uninterrupted supply of medicines. He made these remarks during an inspection visit to the Matara District General Hospital. Deputy Minister emphasized that such review meetings are crucial for identifying potential drug shortages in advance and implementing timely solutions. He noted that the meetings would also help maintain more..