Jan 22 (DM) In what appeared to be a wake-up call for the improvement of the business environment in SL, Turkish Ambassador Semih Turgut said that SL’s investment climate is difficult and bureaucracy is complex. At a roundtable discussion organized by Pathfinder Foundation, the Ambassador briefed the Turkish foreign policy and took questions from the participants including media representatives, diplomats & academics. Asked about his assessment of the investment climate, more..

Jan 22 (FT) Minister Nalinda Jayatissa clarified that while a Chinese national is among the shareholders of the proposed Ambuluwawa cable car project, no Chinese company pulled out of the venture, amid growing public debate and scrutiny over the development. He said the Govt had taken note of public concerns surrounding the project, but cautioned against narratives that could undermine investor confidence at a critical time for the country’s economic recovery. more..

Jan 22 (DM) The govt is planning to organise a donor conference, Leader of the House Minister Bimal Ratnayake said yesterday no country in the world had been able to raise even 10% of the cost of the damage caused due to a natural disaster, through donors. The Minister told Parliament that in all natural disasters, no country including countries like Afghanistan, Philippines or America had raised even 10% of the cost of damages caused by disasters through donors. more..

Jan 22 (AD) Four petitions have been filed before the Supreme Court challenging the Bill seeking to abolish the pension scheme for MPs. Speaker of House Jagath Wickramaratne informed Parliament today that he has also received a copy of an additional petition that has been filed before the Supreme Court. Speaker noted that the petitions have been filed in terms of Article 121(1) of the Constitution. Bill to abolish pensions for MPs was presented to Parliament on January 7 by more..

Jan 22 (CT) Former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe said that religion remains essential even as artificial intelligence continues to advance, stressing that human consciousness cannot be replaced by technology. He made these remarks while attending a religious ceremony held in Galle, where he reflected on the growing global influence of artificial intelligence and its relationship to the human mind. Referring to the ceremony’s welcome song, he said he was informed that it had been generated more..

Jan 22 (DN) Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena has described the discovery of drug use among bus drivers as an alarming and troubling situation after 10 out of 56 drivers tested positive during surprise mobile laboratory inspections in Colombo. Tests, conducted at Bastion Mawatha in Fort yesterday, revealed that drivers had used drugs including ice, heroin, and cannabis. Initial urine samples confirmed the positive results, and identified drivers are to be referred more..

Jan 22 (FT) Writer Corporation, one of India’s leading business groups, yesterday announced the launch of its subsidiary, Writer Business Services Ltd., and the commencement of its operations in Sri Lanka. The expansion reflects Sri Lanka’s strategic importance in Writer’s regional growth plans and its role in supporting a highly regulated digital and financial services market which is currently undergoing digital transformation. Sri Lanka’s continued focus on strengthening more..

Jan 22 (AD) Court of Appeal today ordered that the written order and audio recording of the directive issued by the Trincomalee Magistrate’s Court on 19 January pertaining to the Buddha statue incident, be produced before court without delay. Accordingly, the Appeals Court sought the Magistrate’s decision to remand Ven. Balangoda Kassapa and another monk in connection with the Trincomalee Buddha statue incident. The Appeals Court order was issued when the writ petition filed by more..

Jan 22 (NW) A commemorative stamp marking 100 years of SL cinema, featuring the image of veteran actress Iranganie Serasinghe, was unveiled. The national celebration was held yesterday at the premises of the National Film Corporation to mark 79 years of Sinhala Cinema and 54 years since the establishment of the National Film Corporation. The event was held under the patronage of Minister Sunil Senevi, with Deputy Minister of Mass Media Kaushalya Ariyarathna also in attendance. more..

Jan 22 (Island) At the request of the Supreme Court of SL and SL Judges’ Institute, a special capacity-building programme for 30 District Court Judges from SL was organised at the Indian National Judicial Academy, Bhopal, from 12 to 16 Jan, the Indian HC said. IHC statement: “The week-long programme encompassed eleven sessions covering key themes such as court and case management for efficient judicial systems; juvenile justice; judicial interventions to combat money laundering; more..

Jan 22 (AD) Former Minister Ramesh Pathirana has rejoined the SLPP and has been appointed as the party’s Benthara-Elpitiya Electoral Organiser. He received his letter of appointment today from SLPP National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa at the party headquarters. Additionally, Ramesh Pathirana has been appointed as the Convener of the SLPP Health Professionals’ Association. Pathirana had notably expressed support for former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe during the last presidential election. more..

Jan 22 (DM) Electrician Licensing System aimed at enhancing electrical safety and professional standards in the electricity sector has been implemented from this year under the provisions of SL Electricity Act and SL Engineering Council Act. Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL), which is responsible for regulating and standardizing the country’s electricity industry, said the new system is intended to improve safety and service quality across electricity generation, more..

Jan 22 (CT) Sri Lanka reports 1,282 new leprosy cases in 2025, with nearly 10% of patients being children under the age of 15, health authorities say, highlighting the need for early detection and greater public awareness. Speaking at a media briefing to mark World Leprosy Day on 25 January, Yasoma Weerasekara, Director of the Leprosy Eradication Campaign at the Ministry of Health, says 123 of the newly identified patients are children below 15 years of age. more..

Jan 22 (NW) The GMOA has ended the doctors’ strike that had been launched in all hospitals in the Eastern Province, as of 2 pm today. The strike had been initiated, demanding the removal of the Medical Superintendent of the Akkaraipattu Base Hospital, citing administrative and financial irregularities, and the appointment of another director to the post. Accordingly, Medical Superintendent in question has now been immediately removed from the position, with the relevant letter issued by more..

Jan 22 (NW) The GMOA has announced a 48-hour token strike across state hospitals islandwide, scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. tomorrow, citing the Health Ministry’s failure to implement previously agreed solutions. Emergency services will continue during the strike. The association said trade union action had earlier been temporarily suspended based on written assurances given following discussions with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Health Minister. more..

Jan 22 (DM) Minister K.D. Lal Kantha has said that no group or individual, regardless of their attire or identity, is immune from criticism. Addressing a public gathering, the Minister said that wearing a black coat, national dress or even a robe does not grant anyone protection from criticism. He added that those who choose to enter politics must be prepared to set aside such matters and face responses directed at them as individuals, irrespective of what they wear. more..

Jan 22 (NF) The Port of Colombo hosted a double display of maritime diplomacy today as two friendly navies made scheduled logistics stops and courtesy visits, reinforcing SL’s role as a trusted maritime hub in the Indian Ocean. In separate arrivals, the Royal Navy of Oman Ship (RNO) AL SEEB and the Indonesian Naval Ship KRI SULTAN ISKANDAR MUDA – 367 berthed in Colombo for replenishment, professional interaction, and goodwill engagements. Both vessels were welcomed with full naval honours more..

Jan 22 (NW) CIABOC has informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court that indictments have been filed in the Colombo High Court against former minister Arjuna Ranatunga and his brother Dhammika Ranatunga over an alleged financial loss of about Rs. 800 million to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC). Bribery Commission told the court that the alleged loss occurred through inflated local tenders awarded by the state-owned oil company during the period in question. more..

Jan 22 (EN) Sri Lanka launched a raft of tools and a national digital platform for cultivation data and data-driven decision making with the support of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Gates Foundation. The government on Thursday launched the Agriculture Enterprise Architecture Framework, Agriculture Interoperability Framework, Data Sharing Policies, and CROPIX, a national digital platform for crop data and decision-making. more..

Jan 22 (NW) The 147th Royal Thomian Joint Match Organizing Committee has announced that preparations are under way for the 147th Battle of the Blues annual cricket encounter between Royal College and S. Thomas’ College. The three-day match is scheduled to be played on March 12, 13 and 14, 2026, at the SSC grounds in Colombo. Meanwhile, the 49th Mustangs Trophy limited-overs encounter will be played as a day-night 50-over match on March 28, 2026, also at the SSC grounds. more..

Jan 22 (FT) SL’s modern higher education landscape rests on a deep social commitment established nearly a century ago. The transformative reforms led by Dr. C.W.W. Kannangara in the 1940s made free education a cornerstone of national development. As scholars such as Jayaweera (1969), Little (2010), and Fernando (2017) have shown, this investment produced one of the most literate populations in the developing world and laid the foundation for university education to emerge more..

Jan 22 (FT) The Grade 6 English textbook scandal has exposed more than publishing incompetence. It has revealed a system in crisis. As half a million children compete for scholarship places to escape failing schools, as 270,000 Advanced Level students face a future with only 30,000 university seats, and as unemployed graduates multiply while the digital economy races ahead, Sri Lanka stands at a crossroads. This is not merely about fixing textbooks or managing examinations. more..

Jan 22 (AD) PM Harini Amarasuriya has reaffirmed SL’s commitment to feminist, intersectional leadership and called on global actors to ensure that women and marginalised communities are not only participants, but principal architects of the policies shaping the future global order. PM noted that while women across the world are increasingly asserting agency in political, economic, and social spheres, their contributions continue more..

Jan 22 (AD) Ministry of Environment reports that a total of 189 public complaints related to wildlife and forest-related offences have been received to date. Investigations are currently underway into 94 of these complaints, while legal action has already been taken in connection with the remaining 95 cases. The complaints were received over the past two months following the introduction of the 1995 short-code hotline of the Wana Surekuma – Joint Operations Unit, launched more..

Jan 22 (CT) Northern Province Governor N. Vethanayagan claimed that, compared to previous administrations, a more favourable and investor-friendly environment has been created in the Northern Province under Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Governor delivered these remarks yesterday at the inauguration ceremony of the Northern Investment Summit. Investment Summit will conclude today. The event, attended by local and foreign investors, entrepreneurs, more..

Jan 22 (DM) CEB's arbitrary curtailment of power generation in the local renewable energy plants is causing a loss of almost Rs.2 billion, the Grid Connected Solar Power Association (GCSPA) said. According to GCSPA President Prabath Wickramasinghe, since Feb 2025, CEB has been arbitrarily curtailing the power generation at all large renewable energy plants on weekends and public holidays, from 9 am to 3 pm. more..

Jan 22 (PMD) The official tour showcasing the ICC T20 World Cup trophy, which will be jointly hosted by India and SL in 2026, was formally inaugurated today (21) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The trophy will be displayed in several major cities across the island from today (21) until the 24th, over a period of four days. Cricket fans will have the opportunity to see the golden trophy up close during the SL vs England ODI match more..

Jan 22 (NW) A 120-foot Bailey Bridge on the B-492 Kandy–Ragala Road was inaugurated today under India’s USD 450 million reconstruction and rehabilitation assistance to SL, aimed at restoring connectivity in areas affected by Cyclone Ditwah. The bridge was jointly opened by India’s Deputy High Commissioner to SL, Dr. Satyanjal Pandey, and Member of Parliament Manjula Suraweera Arachchi. The project restores a key transport link in the Central Province, improving access for more..

Jan 22 (PMD) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that the isolated functioning of institutions responsible for construction and land management, agriculture, livestock and environmental conservation has posed challenges in restoring the Central Highlands, which were devastated by Cyclone Ditwah. Prez further noted that efforts are underway to establish a new integrated framework, bringing together all relevant parties to swiftly safeguard and rebuild the Central Highlands. more..

Jan 22 (AM) A tuition teacher who referred to prominent SL author Martin Wickramasinghe as an idiot during a lesson has issued a public apology after a video of the remarks went viral on social media, prompting widespread criticism. The footage, circulated widely on platforms including TikTok and Facebook, shows the teacher dismissing Wickramasinghe’s literary stature before students during a class. In the video, he questions why Wickramasinghe — regarded as one of more..

Jan 22 (FT) Vehicle registrations surged in Dec 2025 to their highest level in a decade, with total registrations rising to 48,525 units, up from 43,810 units in Nov 2025. The increase was driven by strong volumes across the motor cars, pre-owned vehicles, hybrids, electric vehicles (EVs), and premium passenger segments. Comparative vehicle registration volumes for 2015, 2019, and 2025 indicate a marked shift in both scale more..

Jan 22 (Island) In a sobering and intellectually provocative lecture delivered yesterday at the Central Bank of SL, Dr. Arvind Subramanian, former Chief Economic Advisor to the Govt of India, posed a haunting question to the nation’s policymakers: Why has one of the world’s oldest democracies outside the West failed to leverage its political system to ensure economic stability? Titled Reviving Growth While Maintaining Stability, the lecture moved beyond technical prescriptions. more..