Nov 15 (CI) Babar Azam hit his first international century in more than two years, as Pakistan's senior batters made light work of chasing down the target of 289. SL's middle order had dragged the total to 288 for 8 after they'd lost early wickets. But on a flat Rawalpindi track, they never looked like defending their score, particularly after their opening bowlers were wayward. Pakistan got home with 10 balls to spare, and 8 wickets more..

Nov 15 (FT) Sri Lanka has officially welcomed DENZA, the premium new energy vehicle (NEV) brand from the BYD Group marking its first foray into South Asia, in an exclusive event at Waters Edge on Wednesday. Introduced through a strategic partnership with John Keells CG Auto (JKCG Auto), the launch positions DENZA as the country’s latest contender in the luxury electric mobility space, blending European-inspired design with cutting-edge NEV technology. more..

Nov 15 (CT) In New Delhi recently, SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa, committed his party to the full implementation of the India-inspired 13th Amendment, which guarantees a Provincial Council (PC) form of intermediary administration between the federal govt and the Local Councils. Around the same time back home, ruling JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva was telling his audiences how they would be dumping the PC system under their promised new Constitution, more..

Nov 15 (Island) SL lawmakers, more often than not, are in the news for the wrong reasons. Most of them do not seem to take their legislative duties and functions seriously if their flippant attitude as well as misconduct is any indication. Their theatrics and facetious remarks that pass for witticism make their parliamentary speeches assume the characteristics of low comedies. Worse, debates are replete with unparliamentary language, which has apparently become the norm. more..

Nov 15 (CT) Prez cum Financed Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s 2026 budget has won kudos from several independent observers. Since he and NPP took over the reins of govt pragmatism had been the guiding philosophy of the rulers and as a result the economy has speedily moved over from crisis to stability. Although the budget’s expected growth rate target of 7% by the end of 2026 borders on exaggerated optimism in the context of IMF’s reduced growth rate of only 3.1% and more..

Nov 15 (TM) After 3 years of upheaval, an unprecedented default, gruelling IMF negotiations, and the painful climb back through fiscal tightening, Sri Lankans appear to have stopped expecting miracles from their budgets. What people look for now are smaller mercies such as proposals that ease the cost of living, incentives that give them a bit of breathing space, and, if fortune allows, a lighter tax burden in a year when both direct more..

Nov 15 (CT) The Govt’s proposal in the 2026 Budget to channel public funds towards an attendance allowance for plantation workers has stirred a lively debate. On the surface, it appears a humane intervention: a vulnerable workforce receives an immediate income boost, helping families who have long struggled on wages that barely meet subsistence levels. Yet beneath that compassion lies a more complex and uncomfortable question; should taxpayers shoulder a portion of wages more..

Nov 15 (DM) Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne on Monday has said that an investigation will be conducted by the office of the Secretary General of Parliament regarding the use of unparliamentary language used by some MPs during the previous day’s sessions. It is not clear as to why the Speaker wants to investigate the usage of unparliamentary language of certain members on a particular day while it has been a common occurrence in the House for a long time. more..

Nov 15 (CT) As Pakistan reels from a fresh wave of terror attacks — and New Delhi grapples with its own blast — cricket has once again found itself on the frontlines of regional insecurity. The Sri Lankan team, touring Pakistan during the explosions, for the One Day International and T20 Triangular series, initially wanted to return home but ultimately chose to stay, determined to finish the match for the spirit of the game. more..

Nov 15 (DM) In the countries of South Asia, cricket is looked on as a cultural phenomenon, far more than just another sport. It transcends class and party politics. It evokes images of cricketing giants of the past, and draws comparisons with cricketing maestros in other parts of the world. Cricket is deeply intertwined with the region’s identity, and has brought us together as South Asians –India’s unexpected victory against the mighty West Indies at the World Cup 1983 was a milestone and more..

Nov 15 (DM) Sri Lanka’s fifth executive president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, will celebrate his 80th birth anniversary this week. Mahinda, born on Nov 18, 1945, served two terms as president from Nov 2005 to Jan 2010 and from Jan 2010 to Jan 2015. He was also sworn in as PM on four occasions: April 2004, Oct 2018, November 2019 and August 2020. This is the second of a two-part article commemorating the 80th birthday of Mahinda, whose full name is Mahendra Percy Rajapaksa. more..

Nov 14 (AD) SriLankan Airlines’ Airport and Ground Services, the sole ground handling provider at BIA, has expanded its self-check-in service for passengers of commercial airlines ahead of the upcoming winter travel season. More than 300,000 tourists are expected to visit Sri Lanka in December. The move follows the installation of 20 new self-check-in kiosks at the BIA departure terminal last month, bringing the total to 28. Developed by the airline’s in-house IT team, more..

Nov 14 (DM) Coconut Cultivation Board (CCB) has asked the Defense Ministry to provide security for its officers who are cutting down 5,000 diseased coconut trees in the Matara District. CCB Chairman Dr. Sunimal Jayakody said some coconut growers have threatened to kill or attack the officers and have even used dogs to scare them. Because of these threats, officers are finding it difficult to carry out their work. He said that although legal action could be taken against those who block the officers, more..

Nov 14 (AD) The second reading of the 2026 Appropriation Bill has been passed with a majority of 118 votes in Parliament. 160 MPs voted in favour of the 2026 Budget while 42 MPs voted against it. Eight MPs abstained from voting. SJB MPs Mano Ganesan, V Radhakrishnan and P Thigambaram also voted in favour of the 2026 Budget. Voting for the second reading of the 2026 Budget got underway at around 6:10 p.m. more..

Nov 14 (NW) The Elite Cricket Centre (ECC), a state-of-the-art cricket facility, was inaugurated in Melbourne, Australia, recently (08), offering a world-class indoor facility designed for players of all levels. The cricket facility was co-founded by former SL international fast bowler and an ICC-approved high-performance coach, Prabath Nissanka, and a Cricket Victoria Premier Umpire, Ashan Hewawasam. According to the ECC, the centre features eight long run-up, more..

Nov 14 (CT) The Government has saved money which will be utilised for the development of the economy, said Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti in Parliament yesterday (13). He added that it would not be utilised according to whims and fancies, as was done by previous governments. He made these observations during the debate on the Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill for the financial year 2026, on its fifth allotted day. more..

Nov 14 (NW) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has called for a Rs. 400 wage increase for plantation workers and the transfer of uncultivated lands to empower them as small-scale tea estate owners. MP Premadasa said that the govt has proposed to increase the current daily wage of plantation workers from Rs. 1,350 by Rs. 400, split equally between plantation companies and the govt. While welcoming the increase, more..

Nov 14 (AD) Former Executive Director of the National Lotteries Board (NLB), Thusitha Halloluwa has appeared before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court this morning after a warrant was issued for his arrest yesterday. He has reportedly arrived to surrender to the court with regard to the warrant. Colombo Additional Magistrate Lahiru Silva yesterday issued a warrant for the arrest of Halloluwa for failure to appear before the court over an incident involving a false complaint. more..

Nov 14 (TM) Chairperson of the committee appointed to review and make recommendations on the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act as amended (PTA), President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsecularatne has officially handed over the committee’s report and recommendations to the Justice Minister, Harshana Nanayakkara. The Justice and National Integration Ministry announced on 13 April of this year (2025) that the committee had been established to study the repeal of more..

Nov 14 (AD) SL Professional Principals’ Association has issued a statement today clarifying details regarding the alleged school principal who was arrested with narcotics recently. The individual, a primary school principal in the Eppawala area of Anuradhapura, was arrested on 5 Nov with over one kilogram of heroin in his possession. Regarding the individual in question, the statement says that although the official arrested with drugs was referred to as a Principal, more..

Nov 14 (AM) Serious allegations have emerged against the OIC of the Norochcholai Police Station, accusing him of maintaining connections with drug traffickers and actively facilitating their illicit operations. The accusations are reportedly supported by several audio recordings of phone conversations, which are currently circulating widely on social media. The clips allegedly capture the OIC providing guidance and assistance to individuals involved in drug trafficking. more..

Nov 14 (USE) US and SL today signed a MoU at the Ministry of Defense, formalizing a defense partnership between the Montana National Guard, US Coast Guard District 13, and the SL Armed Forces under the US Dept of Defense’s State Partnership Program (SPP). U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung, Adjutant General of Montana National Guard Brigadier General Trenton Gibson, and the Secretary of Defense Air Vice Marshal more..

Nov 14 (NW) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa today accused the govt of using the newly introduced Praja Shakthi programme as a political tool to expand what he described as JVP-led control across grassroots structures. Premadasa said the govt promotes Praja Shakthi as a poverty alleviation and village development initiative, but the funding allocated is insufficient for such objectives. Instead, he alleged that the govt is imposing higher tax burdens on the public while diverting more..

Nov 14 (NW) SL Medical Council has issued a notice urging medical professionals to adhere to the official guidelines on writing and recommending prescriptions. Council emphasized that these guidelines are essential to ensure clarity and patient safety. Complaints have been received from pharmacists and the public regarding unclear prescriptions issued by certain doctors. Such a lack of clarity has made it difficult to identify the correct medication, posing a threat to patient safety. more..

Nov 14 (CT) Health officials issued a stark warning, stating that SL’s consumption of antimicrobial medicines is significantly higher than in developed countries, fuelling a dangerous rise in drug resistance. The warning was delivered by Dr. Priyantha Athapattu, Head of the National Focal Point for AMR, on the same day as the national awareness ceremony for World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week. more..

Nov 14 (CT) Chairman of the COPE, Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera raised a question of privilege in Parliament, requesting that 3 officials be summoned before the Committee on Ethics and Privileges for allegedly insulting both COPE and Parliament. Dr. Samaraweera stated that the officials’ conduct amounted to a serious affront to the dignity of Parliament, asserting that even the SC could take action against such behaviour. “They have insulted COPE as well as the entire Parliament,” more..

Nov 14 (EN) A Shrimp Industry Information System that provides real-time data and analytics has been launched in Sri Lanka by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, the Ministry of Fisheries and the National Aquaculture Development Authority, and funded by South Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. “The SIIS is more than a platform – it is an ecosystem that connects people, data, and innovation,” said Vimlendra Sharan, FAO Representative in Sri Lanka & Maldives. more..

Nov 14 (AD) Govt has planned to expand the Suwa Seriya ambulance fleet to 500 vehicles by integrating the service with the latest technologies, according to Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa. He made this statement while addressing a special training program held aimed at enhancing the skills of the Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) at the Suwa Seriya Foundation. Minister stated that the necessary plans and measures are currently underway, with efforts focused on more..

Nov 14 (DM) SL has recorded its first birth of conjoined twin girls in 22 years at the Castle Street Hospital for Women in Colombo earlier this week. Hospital Director Dr. Ajith Danthanarayana said that the twins were delivered via Caesarean section to a 29-year-old mother from Pannala. One baby weighed 2.2 kg, with a combined weight of 4.4 kg. Both infants are reported to be in stable condition. “The twins are joined at the abdomen, and their parents have agreed to a separation surgery,” more..

Nov 14 (EN) Sri Lanka’s planned 75,000 in new recruitments announced in the budget is mostly for skilled grades, and there are plans to rightsize the bloated public sector over time, Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe has said. “I think we first have to admit where we are, because it’s been bloated up, not in the levels of executives and skills grades,” Deputy Minister Abeysinghe told a post-budget seminar organized by Deloitte. more..

Nov 14 (DM) An unfortunate incident occurred at the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital when a 37-year-old nurse Isuru Dissanayake from Kandy National Hospital passed away while giving birth to her third child. Hospital sources confirmed that the newborn is in good health. The nurse had previously served for several years at the A'pura Hospital and had joined the pediatric department at the Kandy National Hospital about three months ago. Doctors identified that she was in a high-risk condition more..

Nov 14 (DM) A scam worth Rs 1.4 billion is involved in awarding the tender to import cabs, SLPP MP D. V. Chanaka told Parliament. “The specification of the tenders have been prepared to ensure that a certain company is awarded the tender to import cabs as per the budget proposal which Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake came out in his budget speech. The commission for one cab is said to be Rs 1 million. Therefore, the full value of the commission comes to Rs 1.4 billion,” the MP said. more..