Sep 25 (CI) Seven years on from their last away ODI victory against England - also at Headingley - SL repeated the trick, and kept the series alive, ahead of the decider at The Oval on Sunday with a hard fought 16-run win. On a true surface that offered plenty of runs, Sri Lanka executed their plan A with the kind of gusto that has been sorely lacking across this tour. Kusal Mendis' seventh ODI ton led the way, and he was sufficiently backed up by the likes of more..

Sep 25 (Island) SL’s economic recovery has improved macroeconomic stability, but youth unemployment remains a significant labour-market concern. Around 43% of SL youth aged 15–24 with postsecondary education are unemployed, the highest among the Asian economies compared in the IMF analysis, compared with about 36% in Bangladesh and 13.2% in Thailand. This reflects a problem of skills mismatches and the difficulty of connecting higher education with changing labour-market demand. more..

Sep 25 (Island) The unfolding politico-legal scenario can be described as a bill parade. The govt is apparently preoccupied with unveiling one questionable bill after another, the latest being the Protection of the State from Terrorism (PST) bill, which has just been gazetted. It is in a mighty rush to secure the passage of this bill. If only it acted with the same urgency to introduce a bill to amend the Provincial Council Elections Act and clear the way for the Election Commission to more..

Sep 25 (ST) It was Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa who raised the prospect of another IMF agreement after the current one ends next year. In May 2026, he urged the govt to secure a fresh agreement with the IMF to ward off any negative impact after the present arrangement ends in March 2027. He had said that Bangladesh is also seeking a more realistic IMF arrangement aimed at easing the burden on citizens amid current global economic conditions. Govt may have considered that statement with more..

Sep 25 (GV) The Supreme Court determined that the proposed 22nd Amendment does not require a referendum and can be passed by parliament with a special majority. This article examines the major legal arguments from both sides in light of the court’s determination. The 22nd Amendment to the constitution, together with the proposed amendment to the Judicature Act, became among the most widely debated legislative proposals in Sri Lanka’s constitutional history. more..

Sep 25 (SO) Every year, millions of tonnes of plastic enter the world’s oceans. The scale of the problem is difficult to comprehend. UN Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that more than 11 million tonnes of plastic enter the seas annually. Plastic has become the largest, most harmful and most persistent component of marine litter. For SL, an island nation surrounded by the Indian Ocean and heavily dependent on its coastal and marine resources, more..

Sep 25 (CT) SL’s post-Independence history is a masterclass narrative of institutional decay. This inexorable process of rotting gathered a speedier momentum under the all-powerful executive presidency of the JRJ constitution of 1978. It systematically hollowed out the separation of powers, leaving the state’s checks and balances fragile, reactive, and deeply fractured. The tragedy of contemporary SL elitist institutionalism is no longer just the aggressive overreach of the executive; more..

Sep 25 (TM) There is a peculiar contradiction sitting at the heart of SL's labour movement. Ask any student of this country's political history and they will tell you, correctly, that almost every protection a working Sri Lankan enjoys today, from the 8-hour day to the Employees' Provident Fund, exists because trade unions fought for it, often at great personal cost. Ask the average commuter stranded by a railway strike, or a parent whose child's examination has been postponed by a teachers' union action, more..

Sep 25 (TM) Sri Lanka’s 2027 Appropriation Bill provides an important opportunity to examine how the Govt intends to finance the country’s maritime economy. The figures, however, require careful interpretation. The Bill is not itself the complete maritime budget. Ports, shipping, Customs, fisheries, marine environmental management, maritime security, rail connectivity and scientific institutions are financed through different institutional and financial mechanisms. more..

Sep 25 (DM) Road accidents have been identified as the biggest manmade disaster in post-war SL. According to statistics recorded by the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA), over 2000 individuals have succumbed to road accidents in 2025 alone. SL Police statistics indicate that over 1400 people have died as a result of road accidents during the first six months of this year. This shows that despite repeated awareness and new laws coming into place, the issue perhaps lies elsewhere. more..

Sep 25 (DM) The Deputy Minister Dr. Prasanna Gunasena, has echoed the complaints made some time ago by Ministers K.D. Lalkantha and Sunil Handunnetti regarding the bureaucracy’s lack of cooperation with govt programmes. In Dec 2024 – right after the landslide victory of the NPP at the Parliamentary election -- Minister Lalkantha accused these state officials of creating bottlenecks to implementing the govt’s policies and plans. Minister Handunnetthi remarked that officials who grew accustomed to more..

Sep 24 (DM) Pettah Police have launched an investigation into a video circulating on social media that was widely shared as an alleged extortion incident in the Maradana-Panchikawatta area. Preliminary investigations have found that the incident arose from a dispute between a customer and a mobile phone repair shop over an Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max, police said. The customer handed over the phone for a display repair at a shop in the Pollack Market shopping complex on more..

Sep 24 (AD) Leader of the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa accused the incumbent govt of working to destroy the country's democracy and the independence of the judiciary through the 22nd Constitutional Amendment. He declared that even if this unconstitutional and anti-democratic 22nd Constitutional Amendment is passed in Parliament, a future SJB govt will repeal it. Opposition Leader made these remarks while addressing a protest organized by the SJB at Polduwa Junction more..

Sep 24 (NW) Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara told Parliament today that the proposed 22nd Amendment is not intended to exercise control or suppress anyone, but is aimed at speeding up the hearing of cases and delivering justice to the public. Opening the parliamentary debate on the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill and the Judicature (Amendment) Bill, the Minister said proposed changes more..

Sep 24 (NW) Former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa failed to appear before the FCID today, police said. According to the police a written request has been received from her party seeking an alternative date, as she is currently in Singapore receiving medical treatment. Shiranthi Rajapaksa had been notified to appear before the FCID today regarding ongoing investigations into alleged financial transactions and irregularities concerning the Siriliya Saviya fund account. more..

Sep 24 (NW) SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam says the party decided not to participate in the protest against 22nd Amendment after remarks by a SJB MP indicating that other opposition parties should not join. Kariyawasam said the SLPP had been prepared to participate in the protest, but reconsidered its decision following the SJB MP’s public statement. He claimed that neither Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa nor other responsible SJB representatives had more..

Sep 24 (DM) Justice must be accessible to all without discrimination, while establishing the rule of law and ensuring equal access to justice remain among the Govt’s key commitments, PM Harini Amarasuriya said today. Addressing Parliament today, PM said the proposed constitutional amendment on the judiciary should be considered as part of a broader programme to strengthen the justice system. more..

Sep 24 (DM) SL model, actress and beauty entrepreneur Piumi Hansamali today withdrew her writ petition filed before the Court of Appeal challenging the legality of investigations conducted by the CID’s Illegal Assets Investigations Division into the alleged suspicious acquisition of property. Additional Solicitor General Shanil Kularatne, appearing for the Attorney General, informed the Court that the CID is conducting an investigation into her assets and is unable to specify more..

Sep 24 (DM) SL’s progress and challenges in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 came under discussion today as diplomats, UN officials and civil society representatives called for continued efforts to advance the country’s SDG agenda. The discussion was held during an SDG Flag Day event at the Embassy of Netherlands in Colombo. UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Marc-André Franche said the SDGs provided govts, civil society, more..

Sep 24 (DM) Minister Vijitha Herath is scheduled to travel to New York on Sept 26 to represent Sri Lanka at the 81st United Nations General Assembly and deliver the country’s national statement on Sept 28. The 81st session of the UN General Assembly opened on Sept 8, while its High-Level Week and General Debate are being held from Sept 22 to 28 in New York. The session is being conducted under the theme, “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all. more..

Sep 24 (NW) ITAK General Secretary M.A. Sumanthiran has issued a polite request urging the public to refrain from sharing provocative comments in the public domain regarding the case of Sivarasa Anojan, who faces the death penalty in Saudi Arabia. In a statement, Sumanthiran highlighted that community leaders across ethnic and religious lines, particularly Muslim political and religious leaders, are actively working to secure a pardon and cancel the execution. more..

Sep 24 (NW) SL has sought to deepen its economic and development ties with Qatar, with discussions focusing on new investments, development assistance and expanded employment opportunities for skilled Sri Lankans during Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra’s official visit to Doha. During the visit, Hemachandra held separate discussions with the Qatar Chamber and Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), more..

Sep 24 (TM) Kings Hospital Colombo has marked a historic milestone in SL’s healthcare sector with the launch of the country’s first AI-powered hospital chatbot. This groundbreaking digital innovation is set to transform the way patients interact with hospital services, offering instant, intelligent, and user-friendly assistance around the clock. As the first of its kind in SL, chatbot reinforces Kings Hospital’s position as a pioneer in integrating advanced technology into patient care. more..

Sep 24 (DM) Sri Lanka and the UAE have discussed the ongoing UAE-India-SL tripartite initiative to develop Trincomalee as a regional energy hub, during a meeting between UAE Ambassador to SL Khaled Nasser Al Ameri and Deputy Speaker of Parliament Dr. Rizvie Salih. The Ambassador paid a courtesy call on the Deputy Speaker at Parliament on September 23, with the discussions focusing on further strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries. more..

Sep 24 (NW) The ITAK has sought an urgent meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to discuss diplomatic efforts aimed at securing a pardon and release for 26-year-old Sivarasa Anojan, who has been handed a death sentence in Saudi Arabia. In a letter addressed to Prez Dissanayake dated Sept 22, ITAK said it wanted to discuss the way forward in securing a pardon and release for Anojan and urged urgent action more..

Sep 24 (NW) The National Transport Medical Institute (NTMI) has launched a new digital appointment system allowing the public to reserve dates and times for driving licence medical examinations free of charge. The new process, introduced today, is aimed at making it easier for applicants to obtain the medical certificate required when applying for a driving licence. Under the system, appointments can be reserved through two methods, online or by telephone. more..

Sep 24 (AD) The upgrade of Sri Lanka’s sovereign rating by Fitch Ratings from ‘CCC+’ to ‘B-’, with a Stable Outlook, reflects the continued progress in macroeconomic stabilisation and reforms, says the Governor of the Central Bank of SL (CBSL) Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe. He stated that following the severe economic crisis in Sri Lanka, the restoration of macroeconomic stability has provided a stronger foundation for the next phase of development for the country. more..

Sep 24 (NW) Two retired female petty officers of the SL Navy have been remanded until Oct 5 over their alleged involvement in the abduction and disappearance of two women in Trincomalee during the war. Trincomalee Chief Magistrate M.S.M. Samsudeen ordered the two suspects to be remanded and directed that they be produced for an identification parade on Oct 5. The retired officers, who are residents of Chilaw and Haputale, were arrested when they appeared before the CID more..

Sep 24 (AD) The number of tourists that have arrived in Sri Lanka so far this month has surpassed 100,000. Sri Lanka welcomed 107,093 international tourists in the first three weeks of September, with India continuing to dominate the tourism market. India accounted for 32,536 arrivals, representing around 30% of all tourists who visited Sri Lanka during the month. The UK was the second-largest source market, recording 7,906 arrivals, while Australia ranked third with 7,393 visitors. more..

Sep 24 (TM) Health Ministry Secretary Dr Anil Jasinghe has highlighted the need for a more standardised system for early childhood education, saying that the Government and the relevant institutions have a responsibility to ensure proper care for children during this important stage of their development. Dr Jasinghe said that while Sri Lanka has a free and formal school education system from Grade One, more..

Sep 24 (AD) SL Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) has warned the public regarding a fraudulent website that is misusing the name, official logo and photographs of the bureau to falsely promote free employment opportunities in Israel and collect personal information from prospective job seekers. In a statement, the SLBFE said that the fraudulent scheme may pose a serious cybersecurity threat and involves the unauthorized use of the bureau’s identity to impersonate institution. more..

Sep 24 (NW) SJB staged a protest near Parliament in Battaramulla on Thursday, calling on the govt to withdraw the proposed 22nd Amendment. The protest, held near Polduwa Junction, drew a sizeable crowd despite rainy conditions, with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa joining SJB members and supporters. Protesters demanded that the govt withdraw the proposed constitutional amendment, which the SJB has strongly opposed, raising concerns over its potential impact on more..