Sep 26 (ST) Although the state hospitals are supposed to provide free healthcare, with the prevailing shortage of medicine and medical equipment, it seems that free health is gradually in decline. Patients, caretakers and nurses claim that free healthcare is in name only. Most patients are often told to buy medicine from outside. Medical practitioners said that in emergency situations specific drugs are needed, while specific more..

Sep 26 (Island) Commemorative events held at the newly installed bronze statue of the late Rasiah Parthipan, alias Lt. Colonel Thileepan at Nallur, Jaffna, caused controversy. A section of the Opposition accused the NPP govt of encouraging separatist movement by turning a blind eye to the growing hero worship of an LTTEer. Unveiling of the statue took place on 15 Sept, day the Tiger launched his fast unto death, in 1987, to become a hero in the eyes of his equally misled community. more..

Sep 26 (Island) The outcome of yesterday’s parliamentary vote on the 22nd Amendment (22A) came as no surprise. The ayes had it with a two-thirds majority. Now, the Speaker will sign the 22A bill into law posthaste, increasing the mandatory retirement ages of the judges of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. However, even a special majority cannot make a bad law good. It was speculated in some quarters that some NPP MPs would break ranks and vote against 22A. more..

Sep 28 (TM) The much-awaited verdict delivered this week in the marathon Easter Sunday attacks case marked an important moment for Sri Lanka's criminal justice system. After more than seven years of uncertainty, investigation and political controversy, a 3-Judge High Court Trial-at-Bar convicted 15 of the 24 accused in the principal case, while nine were acquitted. The case involved 23,270 charges and more than 2,300 prosecution witnesses. This perhaps is the most eagerly awaited case more..

Sep 28 (FT) First, the good news. The second iteration of the Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill (PSTB2), law to replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), has addressed certain shortcomings in the previous version (PSTB1). But there’s bad news. The current Govt, like past Govts, seems determined to cling to repressive provisions that do not adhere to human rights standards. Why would a Govt that won the election on a mandate of system change refuse to ensure that more..

Sep 28 (TM) SL’s expanding reliance on digital payments for Govt services highlights the importance of platforms like GovPay, which were launched to make public sector payments more convenient, transparent, and efficient. As more Govt agencies and services adopt the platform, the volume and significance of transactions and services processed by the system are also growing. GovPay was officially launched on 7 Feb 2025, and more..

Sep 28 (ST) SL is growing old — and it is happening faster than many of us realise. For decades, when we spoke about the country’s population, our attention was naturally directed towards children, schools, maternal health, employment for young people and the needs of a growing workforce. Today, however, SL is entering a very different demographic era. According to Census of Population & Housing 2024 around 18% of Sri Lankans are now aged 60 years or older, compared with 12.4% in 2012. more..

Sep 28 (FT) Two years after the NPP swept into power, Sri Lanka is still neither the nation its then-opposition promised, nor the country that the present regime inherited. That may be both its achievement and its dilemma. Two years ago, Sri Lanka gave Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the National People’s Power an extraordinary mandate to change the system. First, with the Presidency in September 2024; and then, two months later, with a mammoth 159 of 225 parliamentary seats. more..

Sep 28 (DM) Rainwater harvesting is the practice of collecting the rain that falls on your roof, storing it in a covered tank or drum, and using it later. In SL, it can cut water bills, help households through dry spells, and ease pressure on drains. A single 100 m² roof collects about 2,000 litres from one heavy shower. The timing matters this year. As of Sept 19, drought has affected 169,071 people from 51,959 families across 10 districts, more..

Sep 28 (GV) As the NPP govt completes two years in office, the question before SL is not merely whether it has governed differently from previous regimes but whether it has changed the deeper political culture of the country. A successful democracy is not measured only by elections, parliamentary numbers or popular slogans. It is measured by whether the state protects the equal rights, dignity, land, language and political voice of minorities even when the majority may not more..

Sep 28 (CT) The inauguration of SL’s National Business Facilitation Center (NBFC)—known locally as ViYASA—Visionary insight of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake marks a profound turning point in the nation’s economic history. For decades, the island nation has grappled with structural trade and fiscal imbalances, chronically spending more than its income and relying heavily on foreign debt to survive. Moving past the conceptual phase, this institution translates visionary reforms into more..

Sep 25 (DM) A surge in Influenza A H1N1 infections is currently being detected in SL, with an increase in positive samples identified by the National Influenza Centre at the MRI, Consultant Virologist Dr. Chrishan Jude Jayamaha said. He said laboratory surveillance at the National Influenza Centre had detected the recent increase in Influenza A H1N1 cases. He said people should seek medical advice before taking medication for fever, body aches or other symptoms associated with influenza. more..

Sep 25 (DM) Electronic filing of Court cases has been introduced at the Colombo District Court as part of the island-wide e-Courts Project implemented under the Judicial Service Commission. Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena inspected the new system at the Small Claims Court of the Colombo District Court in Colombo 7 on Wednesday. Facility has been introduced for Small Claims cases for the first time and is expected to be expanded gradually to other types of cases and Courts across the country. more..

Sep 25 (AD) Second Reading of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill has been passed in the Parliament, with a special majority. A total of 158 MPs voted in favor, while 63 voted against, with no abstentions. The vote was concluded a short while ago, following a two-day debate on the proposed constitutional amendment. Accordingly, the Bill was passed with a majority of 95 votes. Two Bills were presented to Parliament on Aug 18 by Minister Harshana Nanayakkara. more..

Sep 25 (NW) Wildlife veterinarians and officers are continuing treatment today for Kawanthissa, the elephant of Siyambalangamuwa, as efforts remain underway to save the animal’s life, Ministry of Environment said. A wildlife team led by Dr. Isuru visited the location today and commenced administering the necessary treatment while continuing to monitor the elephant’s condition. A veterinary team led by Dr. Pubudu had treated Kawanthissa yesterday, administering antibiotics and more..

Sep 25 (USE) The U.S. Embassy in SL, through the U.S. Dept of State’s Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction and in partnership with the Atlantic Council, conducted a 3-day training Sept 9–11 in Colombo to strengthen SL’s ability to detect and respond to maritime sanctions evasion that threatens U.S. security interests and legitimate global commerce. More than 40 officials from SL Atomic Energy Regulatory Council, Central Bank of SL, SL Coast Guard, Merchant Shipping Secretariat, more..

Sep 25 (TM) Five people, including a 70-year-old man from Jaffna and operators of communication centres in Nuwara Eliya, Hatton & Kotagala, have been arrested for allegedly collecting money from residents by promising Govt jobs, housing and loans using forged Nuwara Eliya DS documents. The arrests were made by the Nuwara Eliya Divisional Crime Investigation Unit, which also seized several forged seals, official letterheads and computers allegedly used to produce more..

Sep 25 (NW) PM Harini Amarasuriya says the govt is making every effort to introduce a change to the VAT currently imposed on books. Speaking at the opening of the 27th Colombo Int'l Book Fair, PM said Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake had personally spoken to her and asked her to convey the govt’s position on the issue. “Prez called me today specifically and asked me to say this. He said we are making every possible effort, and we hope we will be able to make a change to the VAT currently imposed on books,” more..

Sep 25 (AD) PM Harini Amarasuriya met with a high-level delegation from the UAE at Parliament to discuss the possibility of collaboration to strengthen the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector of SL with a view to gradually increase the number of skilled workers demanded by various traditional and emerging industries. During the meeting held yesterday, PM outlined the govt’s ongoing education reforms, including the introduction of vocational education pathways, more..

Sep 25 (CI) It was a tale of two hamstrings. SL have looked like a far stronger side since the return of Kusal Mendis, who missed last week's T20Is with a strain, and his brilliant century and brave captaincy helped them level the series in Leeds. But this gripping ODI really turned on Jos Buttler's twinge during England's run chase. England were cruising towards a target of 322 when Buttler scurried back for two, raising a 50-run fourth-wicket partnership with Will Jacks in the process. more..

Sep 25 (DM) SL Navy has seized illicit drugs estimated to be worth more than Rs. 55 billion through maritime and coastal anti-narcotics operations conducted so far this year. Around 300 suspects and 50 vessels allegedly linked to local and int'l drug trafficking networks have been taken into custody during the operations. Detailing the massive hauls recovered during these operations, the forces have intercepted over 1,080 kg of heroin, 590 kg of crystal methamphetamine (Ice), and 256 kg of cocaine. more..

Sep 25 (Island) Frontline Socialist party accused the govt of seeking to introduce a new anti-terror law containing provisions that could restrict fundamental rights and suppress dissent. Janatha Aragala Sandhanaya National Executive Council member Duminda Nagamuwa said the govt had gazetted the Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill, despite the NPP’s previous pledge to repeal repressive laws, including the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act (PTA). more..

Sep 25 (DM) The CIABOC today arrested former Secretary to the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Kamal Bandara Dissanayake, over an alleged corruption case involving government book-printing contracts. According to CIABOC, the suspect allegedly bypassed established govt procurement procedures on three occasions to award contracts for the printing of a book titled Dahami Niwahanai Apekama Radhi Heta Dinayai to a preferred entity. The total value of the three contracts was Rs. 4.79 million. more..

Sep 25 (Island) Marking the completion of two years of the Vision Programme, students from Pinnawala Central College and Matale Siri Seevali College were given an opportunity on Thursday to visit the Presidential Secretariat. The Vision Programme was launched for schoolchildren jointly by the Presidential Secretariat, Ministry of Education and the Dept of Communication of the Parliament of SL. Following a visit to the former Parliament building at the Presidential Secretariat, more..

Sep 25 (FT) Finance Ministry has rejected media reports on SL’s latest talks with the IMF, saying the discussions concluded in Colombo on Wednesday were a technical round ahead of the Seventh Review of the EFF, not the final round of negotiations for the release of the seventh tranche. Some local media had reported that the IMF mission ended without a staff-level agreement. Such an agreement is a preliminary deal between IMF staff and more..

Sep 25 (NF) Japan’s Ambassador to SL, Isomata Akio, has reaffirmed Japan’s continued support for SL’s economic development, social progress and efforts to further improve the human rights situation during a series of engagements in the Northern Province. During a meeting with Nagalingam Vedanayagam, Governor of the Northern Province, the Ambassador discussed a range of issues affecting the people of the North, including land-related concerns and the issue of missing persons. more..

Sep 25 (AD) SL Navy has brought ashore 25 distressed Indonesian fishermen safely to Colombo port, following a multi-agency operation. The crew members were reportedly aboard the Indonesian fishing trawler KM Garuda Jaya VI, which capsized on 22 Sept south of SL, the Navy said. The incident had occurred within the Australian search and rescue region, where the crew members were initially reported distressed. Meanwhile, the merchant vessel MV Moonstone, yesterday had rescued the 25 survivors more..

Sep 25 (DM) Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama today ordered that the former Private Secretary to former Minister Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, who was arrested over an alleged corruption offence, be further remanded till Oct 9. Officials of the CIABOC told court that the suspect had allegedly facilitated arrangements for only three selected companies to export phosphate, thus deviating from the prescribed procedure. Investigators further informed court that more..

Sep 25 (FT) At Sleep Conference 2026 held on Wednesday, tourism expert Dileep Mudadeniya and Spa Ceylon Co-Founder and wellness expert Shalin Balasuria explored how SL could turn its natural, cultural and wellness heritage into a credible sleep-tourism proposition, extending beyond hotel amenities into structured, measurable guest experiences. SL has traditionally sold tourism through beaches, wildlife, heritage, culture and hospitality. But as global travel increasingly shifts towards wellness, more..

Sep 25 (NW) A valid Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) Certificate will become compulsory for a range of key transactions in SL from Nov 1, including opening bank accounts, registering vehicles and land, registering businesses and obtaining credit cards, the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has announced. In a notice to the public, the IRD said the requirement is being introduced in accordance with provisions of the Inland Revenue (Amd) Act, No. 11 of 2026, more..

Sep 25 (FT) Finance and Planning Deputy Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando has attributed Fitch Ratings’ upgrade of Sri Lanka to economic gains made over the past two years, pointing chiefly to stronger revenue collection and a primary surplus well above target. Fitch on 22 Sept upgraded Sri Lanka’s Long-Term Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) to ‘B-’ from ‘CCC+,’ with a Stable Outlook. IDRs measure a borrower’s relative vulnerability to defaulting on its debt. more..

Sep 25 (NW) Opposition MP Harsha de Silva says the govt will have to reach an understanding with the IMF on its fiscal plans before presenting the upcoming Budget. De Silva said the absence of a staff-level agreement following the latest discussions was linked, in his view, to ongoing discussions over the govt’s medium-term fiscal framework, which includes the Budget. "IMF has to agree with the basic framework of this Budget. Without an understanding with the IMF, more..