Nov 13 (NW) Five new envoys have presented their credentials to President Anura Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat. Three Ambassadors and two High Commissioners presented their Letters of Credence to the President this morning. The envoys who presented their credentials are: Ms. Isabelle Marie Catherine Martin, High Commissioner of Canada. Mr. Wiebe Jakob De Boer, Ambassador of Netherland. Mr. Matthew John Duckworth, High Commissioner of Australia. more..

Nov 13 (AD) Commissioner General of Agrarian Development, Dhammika Ranatunga, says that there is no reason for concerns regarding delays or non-receipt of the fertilizer subsidy for the Maha cultivation season. He stated that the Dept of Agrarian Development possesses adequate funds to fully implement the subsidy program. The fertilizer subsidy program for the Maha season was launched on Nov 31, under which each paddy farmer will receive a financial subsidy of Rs. 25,000. more..

Nov 13 (DM) In what appeared to be another instance of multi-billion rupee waste of taxpayers’ money, more than 2700 govt buildings, constructed in the past, remain abandoned or not being used properly, according to the budget speech delivered by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Prez, in his speech, said these buildings had been identified as educational buildings, hospitals, textile industry buildings, more..

Nov 13 (FT) The much-anticipated I AM COYLE Leadership Forum was held this week, bringing together some of Sri Lanka’s most respected businessmen to inspire and celebrate their creativity, resilience, and spirit of enterprise. Organised by the Chamber of Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE), this year’s forum featured a panel of three leading business figures from Sri Lanka: Sirocco Group Managing Director Suren Chandraratna, Nihal Hettiarachchi and Co and RHN Ventures more..

Nov 13 (EN) SL’s top officials held discussions to enhance inter-agency coordination and implement technological solutions to ensure real-time monitoring of fishing vessels with an aim to curb illegal fishing by local and foreign vessels as well as to prevent drug trafficking, the govt said. The move comes as the govt has started a campaign to eradicate drug menace with large amount of drugs being trafficked through fishing vessels amid continuous poaching by Indian fishing vessels more..

Nov 13 (DM) SL Animal Welfare Association has warned that the number of street dogs in the country has increased to between two and three million. The association said this uncontrolled rise has led to around 250,000 dog bite cases being reported every year. Champa Fernando, Secretary of the Kandy Association for Community Protection through Animal Welfare (KACPAW), said the situation is becoming very serious. more..

Nov 13 (NW) Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake has announced his retirement from the post and the state service today. Issuing a statement, Saman Sri Ratnayake said he had served as a state official for the last 34 years. He was appointed as the Commissioner General of Elections on 16th Oct 2019. Saman Sri Ratnayake extended his gratitude to all former and current Presidential Secretaries, officials from various state institutions, former and current ministers and MPs, more..

Nov 13 (AD) Colombo Additional Magistrate Lahiru Silva today issued a warrant for the arrest of the former Executive Director of the National Lotteries Board (NLB), Thusitha Halloluwa for failure to appear before the court over an incident involving a false complaint. Halloluwa allegedly filed a complaint claiming that a group of people had opened fire on the vehicle he was travelling in in the Narahenpita area. The suspect failed to appear in court when the case was called today, more..

Nov 13 (FT) The defining characteristic of SL’s economy is its foreign debt burden compounded by its debt repayment burden. Any rational leader of a country which has a foreign debt burden like SL’s, regards the country’s economy as in a debt trap. By contrast, AKD sees a debt playpen. He kept punctuating his Budget speech with the rhetorical query: Where’s the crisis? What is the crisis? Which crisis? He’s a debt-denier, the economic counterpart of a climate-change denier. more..

Nov 13 (FT) The economic and social crises of 2022 marked a turning point in SL’s modern history. They forced the nation to confront an uncomfortable truth: our constitutional framework—designed to centralise political power—has long contributed to national decline. Out of that turmoil emerged a renewed call for genuine constitutional reform—a demand for a fair, people-centred system built on peace, prosperity, and zero tolerance for corruption. The current govt was elected on this mandate more..

Nov 13 (DN) Minister Samantha Vidyarathna told Parliament yesterday that funds provided through the World Bank-funded Agriculture Sector Modernisation Project (ASMP) to develop Sri Lanka’s plantation sector have been misused and given to relatives, secretaries and friendly government officials of former Ministers. Minister said the funds distributed through this project have been disbursed to followers. more..

Nov 13 (DN) Western Province North Crime Division arrested eight suspects with over 329 kilograms of ICE that were being transported to land by sea yesterday morning. The seven arrested suspects were brought to the Kirinda Police Station and another suspect was later arrested over the same drug trafficking operation racket. Six vehicles used for drug trafficking have also been taken into Police custody. Seven out of the eight suspects were arrested and the stock of drugs was seized more..

Nov 13 (AFP) SLC has reaffirmed that its ongoing tour of Pakistan will continue as scheduled, dismissing speculation of a pullout following a deadly suicide bombing in Islamabad that killed 12 and injured 27 on Tuesday. The announcement drew widespread praise from Pakistani officials, who hailed it as a gesture of confidence in the country’s security and in cricket’s resilience amid adversity. SL team manager confirmed that no player is returning home & all SL players will remain in Pakistan. more..

Nov 13 (NF) A heated debate erupted in Parliament today over the growing influence of drug mafias in Sri Lanka, with explosive allegations pointing to the involvement of security forces and political networks. Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar opened the discussion with a blunt warning: "Drug mafias are ruling the North today. North is in turmoil. No politician has acted to resolve this situation. more..

Nov 13 (Island) Matale District lawmaker Rohini Kaviratne (SJB) has questioned Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s proposal to utilise the Consolidated Fund to pay a section of the estate workers’ salary increase, beginning January next year. Prez who also holds the Finance portfolio, on 7 Nov announced that the daily wage of estate workers would be increased to Rs. 1,750 from Rs. 1,350 under the proposed new scheme. Prez Dissanayake proposed that estate owners contribute more..

Nov 13 (AD) A high-level meeting has been held at the Parliament Complex to evaluate the progress of releasing privately owned lands in the Jaffna and Palali areas currently under military use. Meeting was jointly chaired by Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar, Deputy Minister Aruna Jayasekara and Deputy Minister Janitha Kodithuwakku. The discussion was held to accelerate the govt’s efforts in resolving land-related issues, a cornerstone of the national reconciliation process. more..

Nov 13 (DM) Refuting claims of opposition leader Sajith Premadasa that the govt has collected record state revenue by overly taxing people, Minister Anura Karunathilake said no new tax was imposed in 2025 and that state revenue was collected due to proper management of existing taxes and by strengthening the tax net. He told Parliament that the government managed to collect record state revenue without imposing any new taxes or any additional burden on the people. more..

Nov 13 (FT) Cabinet approved instructing the Legal Draftsman to draft a new Investment Protection Bill, aimed at preventing arbitrary nationalisation of private enterprises and ensuring long-term policy stability for investors. A proposal first introduced in the 2025 Budget to safeguard private property and strengthen investor confidence is now moving forward, with the Cabinet granting approval to begin drafting the new Investment Security Bill. The proposed legislation seeks to prevent more..

Nov 13 (AD) Sixteen SL players currently touring Pakistan have decided to return home following suicide bomb blast in Islamabad, informed sources said. As a result, today’s second ODI between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will not be played as scheduled. Meanwhile, SLC is preparing to send a replacement team to play the series. Yesterday, a suicide bomber detonated explosives outside a judicial complex in Islamabad, more..

Nov 13 (TM) Hilton Colombo has officially welcomed the holiday season with its annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, held on 7 Nov. The event signaled the start of the hotel’s Home for Christmas program with an evening of sparkling lights, festive melodies, and shared joy in the heart of Colombo. From indulgent buffets at Graze Kitchen to authentic flavors at Emperor’s Wok, festive hampers and goodies from Café Kai, and lively New Year’s celebrations across more..

Nov 13 (DN) SL ‘A’ team, led by young spin all-rounder Dunith Wellalage, departed yesterday to take part in the Asia Cup Rising Stars T20 Cricket Tournament, scheduled from November 14 to 23 in Qatar. The 15-member squad includes experienced players such as Nuwanidu Fernando, Nishan Madushka, Milan Ratnayake, Sahan Arachchige, Ramesh Mendis, and Promod Madushan, who have previous national team exposure. The team also features promising youngsters: hard-hitting more..

Nov 13 (ST) One of the suspects accused in the rape and murder case of Sivaloganathan Vidya in Punuguduthivu, Jaffna in 2015, had plans to sell the video of the incident to a foreign underworld gang, the Supreme court was told this week. Additional Solicitor General Azad Nawawi told the 5-judge Supreme Court bench that the suspect, ninth in the case and known as Swiss Kumara, had plans to sell the video with images to the gang. ASG Nawawi, was responding to a statement made by more..

Nov 13 (FT) Key leaders ofSLPP and UNP met yesterday to discuss coordination and participation for the Opposition-led protest rally scheduled for 21 Nov in Nugegoda. The rally is aimed at holding the NPP-led Govt accountable and urging it to fulfill its election promises. The meeting, held at former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe’s party office in Flower Road, focused on the objectives of the rally, expected public participation, and the coordination among opposition parties. more..

Nov 13 (ST) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayaka has made a clear indication time and again that the govt needs to move out of the plantations due to the heavy losses incurred in running these and as a result authorities will be leasing out the properties of the state run plantations. An advertisement published by the Plantation Ministry dated Sept 7 has called for Expressions of Interest (EOI) from eligible more..

Nov 13 (CI) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has threatened players of the men's national team and support staff with a formal review if they leave the ongoing Pakistan tour over security concerns. Several Sri Lankan players and support staff had asked to return to Sri Lanka, following the suicide bombing in Islamabad - the city they are staying in - on Tuesday. Deliberations went late into the night on Wednesday regarding the future of the tour, with players, team management, SLC officials, and more..

Nov 13 (FT) The Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association (SLGJA) recently held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Amari Hotel Colombo, bringing together a full house of members representing every segment of the gem and jewellery industry. The Association’s membership reflects the wide diversity of Sri Lanka’s gem and jewellery value chain, from miners and lapidarists to cutters, exporters, designers, retailers, and global traders, united under one national platform. more..

Nov 13 (TM) A RTI response has revealed a significant shortage of medical specialists in Sri Lanka, with only 2,042 specialists serving in the country by May of this year, far below the approved cadre of 3,181. According to figures provided by the Tertiary Care Services Director at the Health Ministry, Dr. Priyantha Atapattu, 24 medical specialists had migrated between April of last year (2024) and April 2025. more..

Nov 13 (FT) Cabinet of Ministers has approved the implementation of four pilot pipeline irrigation projects across the North Western and Uva provinces, aiming to reduce water wastage, support small-scale farmers, and improve crop yields in Sri Lanka’s drought-prone dry zones. Sri Lanka’s small-scale cultivators in the dry zone have faced declining crop harvests due to prolonged droughts and the destruction of soil-based irrigation channels caused by increasingly intense rains. more..

Nov 13 (Island) Chasing down 300 these days is no longer rocket science. On the belters of the subcontinent, sides regularly mow down such totals with the ease of a Sunday stroll. SL looked well on track to do just that in Rawalpindi on Tuesday when the openers set the tone with a brisk 85-run stand. Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara were striking it sweetly, while Pakistan’s quicks lost their radar, spraying wides like confetti. Then came fatal rush of blood — Mishara went for one shot too many more..

Nov 13 (FT) Sustaining its upward momentum, Hatton National Bank PLC (HNB) said it has posted robust results in the first nine months of 2025, demonstrating marked improvement on all fronts. Group Profit After Tax (PAT) reached Rs. 34.7 billion, reflecting a 47% year-on-year (YoY) increase, while the bank’s PAT grew by 42% YoY to Rs. 31.5 billion. HNB Chairman Nihal Jayawardena said: “The period under review has been one of steady progress for both HNB and the broader SL economy. more..

Nov 13 (FT) Commercial Bank of Ceylon group has reported a net profit of Rs. 16.86 billion in the third quarter of 2025, up 33.4% from a year ago. The group reported a gross income of Rs. 268.49 billion and net interest income of Rs. 103.48 billion at the end of 3Q 2025, with strong year-on-year (YoY) growth of 34.60% in the loan book and curtailed interest expenses, contributing to an impressive nine-month performance. Comprising of SL’s largest private sector bank, its subsidiaries, and more..