Aug 26 (FT) Frontier Energy Network will take SL’s newly launched oil and gas licensing round to the international upstream market through a targeted campaign aimed at connecting the country with global operators and investors capable of evaluating and investing in the four offshore blocks on offer. UK-based Frontier Energy Network Founder and CEO Gayle Meikle, speaking virtually yesterday at the launch of more..

Aug 26 (AM) Around 11,000 complaints concerning missing persons remain to be investigated, Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said. Minister made the remarks yesterday while visiting families of missing persons in the North ahead of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, observed on 30 August. During a visit to Kanagambikaikulam on Iranamadu Road in Kilinochchi, Nanayakkara presented documents approving a livelihood assistance allowance more..

Aug 26 (AD) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has called on Muslims in SL and around the world to draw inspiration from the life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad as they commemorate Milad-un-Nabi, emphasising equality, social justice, compassion and peaceful coexistence. In a message issued to mark Milad-un-Nabi, Prez said the occasion should go beyond a mere celebration and serve as an opportunity for profound spiritual reflection and transformation. more..

Aug 26 (DM) Police today (25) revealed the charges against Lalith Kannangara, alias Bus Lalith, following his repatriation from Dubai, where he had been hiding under Interpol Red Notice, with the suspect wanted in connection with multiple cases of murder, attempted murder, drug trafficking, extortion, arson and serious assault. A team of officers led by the Director of the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) escorted more..

Aug 26 (DM) A light training aircraft Cessna 152 piloted by a trainee pilot was involved in an accident while landing at Ratmalana Airport today (25). The pilot is reported to have escaped unharmed following a hard landing. However, the aircraft sustained damage, and the runway at Ratmalana Airport has been temporarily blocked following the accident. Clearance operations are currently underway to remove the aircraft and restore the runway to normal operations. more..

Aug 26 (AD) PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has emphasised that the teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad provide important guidance for humanity in confronting the conflicts, divisions, and humanitarian challenges facing the world today. In her message marking Milad-un-Nabi, the Prime Minister highlighted the Prophet’s teachings on peace, equality, compassion, justice, and mutual respect, saying these values continue to hold profound relevance in contemporary society. more..

Aug 26 (TM) Grama Niladhari (GN) officers, who are currently engaged in a limited trade union (TU) action by restricting their participation in meetings and several Govt programmes, have warned that they will step up their action if their demands are not addressed through the upcoming Budget. GN Officers’ TU Alliance (GNOTUA) Convenor Jagath Chandralal said that they had deliberately limited the TU action to activities that would affect the administration rather than the public, more..

Aug 26 (Island) Thehan Wijemanne produced an outstanding performance at the National Tennis Championship, completing a remarkable triple crown by winning the Men’s Open Singles, Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles titles. His achievement capped a dominant season in which he has also claimed the SSC Open and Colombo Championship singles crowns. Thehan registered a commanding 6-3, 6-3 victory over Ganuka Fernando in the Men’s Open Singles final. more..

Aug 26 (TM) All-Island Three-Wheeler Drivers' Association called on the Govt to enforce the minimum age limit of 23 years for engaging in public transportation, All-Island Three-Wheeler Drivers' Association called on the Govt to enforce the minimum age limit of 23 years for engaging in public transportation, rather than imposing a minimum age specifically for three-wheeler drivers. Association’s President Lalith Dharmasekara said that more..

Aug 26 (NW) Wellness centres are being established in urban housing complexes to improve the health and well-being of residents under the Metro Uplift programme implemented by the Urban Development Authority (UDA) under the Ministry of Transport, Highways & Urban Development. The first wellness centre was officially opened at the Sirimuthu Sevana housing complex in Bloemendhal, Colombo 14, on Monday, under the patronage of Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara. more..

Aug 26 (Island) The next wave of blue growth will depend not merely on recognising the value of the ocean, but on turning conservation, business and finance into a pipeline of credible, investable projects, UNDP Country Economist Dr. Vagisha Gunasekara said. Addressing the 11th Annual Technical Sessions of the Biodiversity Action Forum 2026 at Shangri-La Colombo yesterday, Dr. Gunasekara challenged the private sector to move beyond broad commitments to ocean more..

Aug 26 (TM) The prevailing weather conditions under El Nino – the climate pattern characterised by the warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean – could have a significant impact on Sri Lanka’s economy, as it affects agriculture and other key sectors, Economic analyst Dhananath Fernando said. He said that a drought could particularly affect hydropower generation. He explained that if electricity has to be generated using more..

Aug 26 (FT) PM Harini Amarasuriya signalled a more rigorous approach to SL’s infrastructure investments, saying projects must be subjected to stronger evidence-based assessment and demonstrate long-term economic and social value as the country operates under significant fiscal constraints. She said infrastructure decisions should be guided by national priorities and reliable evidence, with the Govt moving away from treating projects merely as individual construction more..

Aug 26 (FT) SL’s tea exports fell sharply in the first seven months of 2026, with Middle East shipping disruptions compounding weaker shipments to several key markets and contributing to a $ 67 million decline in export earnings. Tea exports during January-July dropped 4.9% to 143.51 million kg, from 150.85 million kilograms (Mn/Kg) in the corresponding period last year, according to data from Forbes and Walker Research and more..

Aug 26 (FT) Chandana Guniyangoda assumed duties as the new Chairman of People’s Bank yesterday at a ceremony held at the bank’s head office. The occasion was attended by the former Chairman Prof. Narada Fernando, Board members, General Manager/CEO and members of the bank’s corporate management. The bank said Guniyangoda’s appointment marks a significant milestone in SL’s State-owned banking sector. He becomes the first Chairman of more..

Aug 26 (FT) SL’s iconic global brand Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company plans to invest more than $1 million initially to establish a premium tea lounge network in India, as it seeks to tap growing demand for non-alcoholic beverages among younger consumers in the subcontinent. The company plans to open close to 10 luxury tea outlets in India by 2030 under its Urban Estate concept, with the first flagship outlet expected next year. Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi are among the cities being considered for more..

Aug 26 (FT) Bar Association of SL (BASL) has raised the question of whether the proposed extension of the tenure and related benefits of sitting superior court judges under the 22nd Amendment could amount to a gratification within the meaning of the Anti-Corruption Act. The concern was raised in a Special Determination petition filed before the Supreme Court by BASL President Rajeev Amarasuriya & Secy Nalin De Silva more..

Aug 26 (DM) SL property market could enter its next major growth phase following the govt's approval to commence the procurement process for the first phase of the Ruwanpura Expressway Project. Phase 1 of the project, which will connect Kahathuduwa to Ingiriya and will include the construction of a new bridge interchange at Kahathuduwa, is expected to significantly improve connectivity between Colombo and Sabaragamuwa Province. While the expressway is primarily a transport infrastructure project, more..

Aug 26 (FT) Senior Govt representatives, development partners and implementing agencies gathered in Kilinochchi on 19 August for the second Project Steering Committee (PSC) meeting of the Together for Her: Resilience-building, Inclusivity and Voices for Equality (THRIVE) project. Funded by the Australian Govt and jointly implemented by UN Women, Chrysalis and the Foundation for Innovative Social Development (FISD), THRIVE works across six districts to help women build more..

Aug 26 (FT) HNB Finance has announced the appointment of Dr. Prasad Samarasinghe as Chairman with effect from 28 Aug, succeeding Rajive Dissanayake, who will retire on the same date following nine years of distinguished service. Dr. Samarasinghe brings nearly 3 decades of senior-level experience spanning information technology, telecommunications engineering, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, enterprise systems, corporate governance, risk management and more..

Aug 26 (FT) SL is seeking to position Colombo as a preferred cruise tourism hub in the Indian Ocean, with the Govt and private sector exploring ways to attract more international cruise liners and extend passenger stays to generate wider economic benefits. Ocean Cruise Global Accounts Director Thushaan Kunabalasingam, who works closely with leading global cruise operators, said the current environment was conducive to new investment and greater collaboration between the Govt and more..

Aug 26 (CI) Well short of six feet, and operating only in the 130kph range, Asitha Fernando is not the mean fast bowler you might build in a lab. What he is instead: accurate, intense, indefatiguable. This is why new bowling coach Ryan van Niekerk has taken to calling him the diesel engine. Of SL's international seam bowlers, Asitha is the least likely to break down, the most likely to be named in red-ball and white-ball squads, more..

Aug 26 (Island) When the Pew Research Center released its report on regional perceptions in South Asia in August 2026, the headline number captured immediate attention, mostly in India and its diaspora. That is, 79% of Sri Lankans view India favourably. This made it the highest favourability rating recorded for India globally. In Sri Lanka what captured attention was yet another number and what it claimed. That is, Sri Lanka is the only South Asian country that was viewed more favourably more..

Aug 26 (SO) As the world celebrates International Women’s Day, we turn the spotlight on a remarkable woman whose story is carved in perseverance, devotion and strength. Sculptor Swarna Neelawala is a symbol of courage, a woman who shaped both stone and destiny with determination. Born in Kantale, Swarna was the ninth child among twelve siblings in her family. Her mother was Biso Manike Jayasekara, and her father, Tikiri Bandara Neelawala, worked for Ceylon Govt Railway. more..

Aug 26 (SO) Ven. Rambukana Siddhartha Thera, an exceptional monastic who left an immortal mark on SL lyrical literature and Buddhist society, has passed away. His demise is an epochal void that casts a deep shadow over Sinhala song literature, leaving a profound ache in the hearts of all literature lovers and music enthusiasts. He dedicated himself to healing the human mind through the medium of song, without submitting to narrow political agendas or worldly fame. more..

Aug 26 (CT) There is an aspect of the management of our national economy which, in my view, deserves far greater public attention than it is receiving today. Much of the current public debate is understandably occupied with immediate political controversies, administrative disputes and other day-to-day issues. But behind all these matters lies a much more fundamental question: Where has Parliament legally directed the SL economy to go, and are we doing enough today to ensure that we get there? more..

Aug 26 (SO) Today marks the Birth Anniversary of Prophet Muhammad– the founder of Islam and one of the greatest reformers in human history. The commemoration, known as Meelad–un–Nabi or Milad-un-Nabi, falls on the 12th day of Rabi–ul–Awwal, the third month in the Islamic lunar calendar. Around two billion Muslims worldwide, including the Muslim fraternity in SL, observe this occasion, honouring His noble character, compassion, more..

Aug 26 (Island) Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) has warned of possible power cuts due to the prevailing El Niño phenomenon. It has said demand for electricity could rise steeply under the prevailing weather conditions, with power generation declining, if water levels in the hydropower reservoirs recede drastically. One may recall that long before the onset of El Niño, experts predicted that power cuts would have to be imposed as substandard coal stocks, procured allegedly more..

Aug 26 (ST) Since Prez AKD fired his verbal scatter gun at close quarters the other day at a delegation of high-ranking lawyers, the battle over constitutional change has sought independent referees in a curious drama. With the govt having tabled in parliament the constitutional amendment bill that is causing all this ho ha – or is it ha ho? – the legal eagles and other irate opponents from other fraternities have rushed to file their plaints and complaints in the courts more..

Aug 26 (TM) The debate over the death penalty has once again returned to the forefront in Sri Lanka following the recent death sentences imposed on former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and former Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara over their failure to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks, bringing renewed attention to a punishment that remains firmly embedded in the country’s more..

Aug 26 (GV) SL invested significantly in rebuilding the physical infrastructure damaged by the war. However, comparable and sustained political commitment was not devoted to rebuilding fractured relationships among its communities. The recent controversy over the hijab worn by Muslim female health workers at the Kalmunai North Base Hospital is being debated primarily as a dispute about religious freedom, professional uniforms, administrative circulars, institutional authority more..

Aug 26 (TM) The warning issued by the Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) should send a sharp jolt through every household and commercial enterprise across the island. As prevailing El Niño conditions tighten their grip, the nation stands once again on the precipice of a nerve-wracking power crisis. Rising temperatures inevitably push up consumer demand for electricity, precisely at the moment when drying water sources choke off our hydroelectricity generation capacity. more..