Mar 27 (AD) A three-day special mosquito control program has been implemented in eight districts, starting today. Accordingly, the mosquito control program will be carried out in the Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Ratnapura, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Matale, and Matara districts where mosquito density is reported to be high. The National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) pointed out that there is a risk of dengue spreading again due to the ongoing intermittent rains. more..

Mar 27 (NF) Colombo High Court Judge Manjula Thilakaratne has recused himself from the ongoing case involving allegations of misappropriation of Rs. 70 million related to the Krrish transaction. The case, which has drawn significant public attention, involves SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa. The Attorney General filed the case against Rajapaksa, accusing him of misappropriating funds provided by the Indian company Krrish for the development of rugby in SL. Judge Thilakaratne announced his decision more..

Mar 27 (TM) Singaporean incorporated digital payments solution platform, Alipay+, is open to work with Sri Lankan tourism authorities to boost tourism to the island by targeting the South East Asian region and tourism source markets, Alipay+ Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand General Manager Edward Yue said. “We always take an open collaborative approach and work with local partners to support the travel ecosystem. In our past more..

Mar 27 (CT) Free Media Movement (FMM) urged the Govt to ensure transparency and public accountability in its proposed restructuring of State-owned media institutions. Concerns were raised over the financial losses of SL Rupavahini Corporation, SLBC, and Independent Television Network, prompting the Govt to consider placing them under a unified management structure. While acknowledging the need for financial sustainability, FMM stresses that any restructuring more..

Mar 27 (NW) ITAK General Secretary and former MP M.A. Sumanthiran has welcomed the recent sanctions imposed by the UK Govt on four individuals, three of whom are former military commanders of the SL armed forces. “We welcome the sanctions imposed by the UK today, which include former senior SL military commanders, and a former LTTE military commander who later led the paramilitary Karuna Group, operating on behalf of the SL military against the LTTE,” more..

Mar 27 (NF) MP Chamara Sampath Dasanayake has been remanded until April 1 in connection with corruption charges. The charges stem from his tenure as Chief Minister of Uva Province. Dasanayake was produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court, where he was remanded until April 1. Dasanayake was taken into custody by the CIABOC this morning after arriving to provide a statement. more..

Mar 27 (AD) Four suspects who surrendered to the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) in connection with an assault incident that took place in front of a nightclub at Union Place in Colombo on Saturday (22) night have been remanded until April 1. This order was issued after the suspects were produced before the Fort Magistrate’s Court today. The suspects were arrested after their statements were recorded at the CCIB yesterday. Meanwhile, Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former Prez more..

Mar 27 (NW) A discussion has been held between US Ambassador Julie Chung and senior members of the UNP at the party HQ in Sirikotha today. Accordingly, Ambassador Julie Chung had engaged in discussions with UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardana and General Secretary Thalatha Athukorala. It is reported that the discussion, which had taken place for over an hour, had focused on the current political state and the UNP’s political activities. more..

May 27 (FT) A country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the standard measure of the total value of all goods and services produced within its borders during a specific period, typically a year. The services component of GDP includes the value of all final services produced, such as transportation, communication, finance, healthcare, education, and many others. SL GDP was estimated to be $ 84.36 billion, and it is reported that the country achieved a GDP growth of 5% in 2024. more..

May 27 (FT) The UK govt took time off from cutting social welfare, ramping up its military budget and undermining a possible US-Russia détente which would end the Ukraine war, to sanction four Sri Lankans for (alleged) human rights abuses in wartime. This from the country that hasn’t jailed any military officer involved in the Bloody Sunday massacre (1972) where British army paratroopers shot 26 unarmed civilians participating in a protest march. It was broad daylight and more..

May 27 (AD) Governor of the CB Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe says it will take at least two years for SL to reach a real GDP value similar to that of 2018. Governor further said this year’s economic growth will depend on policies implemented within the year, mainly fiscal and structural policies. Dr. Weerasinghe, who further clarified that the negative inflation is temporary, noted that it is mainly due to repeated reductions in electricity tariffs more..

Mar 27 (AD) The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval for the execution of the Timely Food Package programme, which aims to provide essential food items at a concessionary price during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year season. Minister Nalinda Jayatissa stated that this initiative aligns with the 2025 Budget proposal by President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Under this programme, a Timely Food Package valued at Rs. 5,000 will be made available for just Rs. 2,500. more..

May 27 (AD) Chief Incumbent of the Mihintale Raja Maha Viharaya, Ven. Walawahengunawewe Dhammarathana Thero, says that he will withdraw from all organizational activities related to this year’s State Poson Festival. Thero stated that his decision was prompted by pressure from archaeological authorities, which has hindered his involvement in the management of the Mihintale sacred site. He emphasized that the ongoing interference had compelled him to step away from more..

May 27 (TM) Govt's recent decision to revise the tariff paid per unit of electricity generated by rooftop solar panels could harm over 600 to 700 active solar panel businesses in SL and jeopardise the livelihoods of around 20,000 employees working in this sector, warned Electricity Consumers' Association (ECA). ECA General Secretary Sanjeewa Dhammika claimed that the reduction in tariff could result in those who have installed more..

Mar 27 (ST) A new Statistics Act along with SL National Strategy for Statistics Development is being worked on by the Dept of Census and Statistics (DSC) in a bid to disseminate data accurately to policymakers. The DCS operates under the Statistics Ordinance and the Census Ordinance, which govern the conduct of censuses and surveys on households and establishments. However, traditional data collection methods are increasingly insufficient for meeting current demands for more..

May 27 (Island) DPF MP Mano Ganesan said that new Trump administration may expect SL to increase imports from the US and US cotton fabric raw material could be one such possible import. Ganesan said so after meeting US Ambassador Julie Chung on Tuesday. Ganesan represents SJB in the current Parliament. Claiming that he had a productive meeting with Ambassador Chung, Ganesan said that US accounted for 23% of SL’s annual exports, valued at $16 bn but more..

Mar 27 (AD) The former Opposition Leader of the Central Provincial Council, Chanaka Ailapperuma, who was arrested for allegedly soliciting and accepting bribes in exchange for govt jobs, has been remanded in custody. Accordingly, the suspect is accused of demanding bribes of Rs. 200,000 and Rs. 150,000 under the pretense of providing govt jobs. The CIABOC further stated that the former Opposition Leader of the UNP, Chanaka Ailapperuma, was arrested by more..

Mar 27 (FT) The Govt dismissed speculation that Senior Economic and Financial Adviser to the Prez, Duminda Hulangamuwa has been selected as the next Treasury Secretary. His remarks came following rumours gaining traction after Hulangamuwa’s appearance on a talk show on Monday (24), where he acknowledged discussions about the possibility of taking up the role. When asked about the appointment, Hulangamuwa responded: “There is a discussion, let’s see what will happen.” more..

Mar 27 (DM) Under a prisoner exchange agreement signed between Kuwait and SL in 2007, a group of 32 out of 104 SL prisoners serving sentences for drug-related offenses in Kuwait's Central Jail who were released, arrived at the BIA. This marks the first implementation of the agreement in history, with the prisoners transported on a special flight from Kuwait. These Sri Lankans had been arrested by Kuwaiti security forces more..

Mar 27 (DN) A spirited 200th-ranked Sri Lanka put up a fierce fight against 97th-ranked Thailand but ultimately fell to a narrow 0-1 defeat in their AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifier Third Round match at the packed 40,000-seater Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand last night. The decisive moment came in the 44th minute when Thailand’s forward Patrick Gustavsson found the net, sending the home crowd into jubilation. The goal came after a well-placed cross from more..

May 27 (CT) Colombo Fort Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura ordered SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa to appear in the Magistrate Court when notice is issued in connection with the Krrish deal case. FCID informed the Magistrate yesterday that the investigation into the alleged Rs 70 million misappropriation by Namal Rajapaksa through the Krrish deal has not yet been completed. This submission was made in response to the order issued by the Magistrate on the previous more..

Mar 27 (Island) Fueling the next generation of tech innovators, HUTCH is revolutionizing industry-academic collaboration through its Future Connect initiative. By partnering with SLIIT, HUTCH is not just providing students with real-world exposure it is reshaping how undergraduates engage with networking, cloud infrastructure, and data communication technologies through hands-on, immersive learning experiences. The first session of the Future Connect Program, more..

Mar 27 (DM) A total of 6.8 million Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TINs) have been issued so far for the citizens in the country, making it easier for them to obtain govt services, Inland Revenue Commissioners Association President M.A. Priyanka said. Addressing the media at the annual conference and election of the Inland Revenue Commissioners Association, he said a digital identification code will be given to every citizen in the country to make it easier for them to receive govt services. more..

Mar 27 (TM) Taking into account the frequent incidents of foreigners driving three-wheelers without proper driving licences and documentation, Traffic Police HQ has warned that those who allow such individuals to operate three-wheelers without valid licences will face legal consequences. Police Media Division stated that the rising trend of foreign nationals, both male and female, driving three-wheelers in SL has become a serious issue. more..

Mar 27 (DN) The National Senior Weightlifting Championship which has confirmed the participation of many national and international medalists will be held from March 29 to April 02 at the Gallella National Sports Complex in Polonnaruwa. The Sri Lanka Weightlifting Federation, the organizers, have taken steps to organise the National Junior Men’s and Women’s Championships as well as the National Youth Championship for Boys’ and Girls’ in parallel with this tournament. more..

Mar 27 (AD) President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently received the letter of credence from the newly appointed Ambassador of SL to Ukraine, Ms. Hasanthi Urugodawatte Dissanayake. The Head of State congratulated the Ambassador on the start of her diplomatic mission in Ukraine and expressed hope for the intensification of cooperation between the countries, according to the Ukrainian President’s Office. In his conversation with the Ambassador of SL, Prez Zelenskyy noted more..

Mar 27 (FT) The Monetary Policy Board on Tuesday (25) decided to keep the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at 8.00% at its meeting. The Board arrived at this decision after carefully considering the developments, both domestically and globally. The Board remains confident that the prevailing monetary policy stance will ensure that inflation will move towards the target of 5% while supporting growth of domestic economy. more..

Mar 27 (FT) Hayleys Group, Sri Lanka’s largest and most diversified conglomerate, has launched the 2nd edition of the Hayleys Lifecode – its pioneering Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) roadmap, strengthening its commitment to strategically embedding ESG principles across its business. The refreshed framework reflects the Group’s evolving sustainability priorities and the significant progress made since the inaugural edition in 2022. more..

Mar 27 (ST) An infrared camera that uses artificial intelligence is being tested on a train on the Batticaloa railway line to detect elephant intrusions onto tracks in a collaboration between the Railway Department and the University of Peradeniya. A research engineer will handle the equipment throughout the trial run to collect vital data, which will be used to improve detection accuracy over time. It will perform its core functions while the data are collected. more..

May 27 (Island) A visit to Cargills Food City Pelawatte last weekend would have been a unique experience for any shopper. The Food City outlet was home to several small local businesses, all eager to showcase their products to the extensive customer base of Cargills. This event, called Cargills Village to Home, is a unique programme initiated by Cargills to support small businesses by connecting them directly to the market. The 32nd edition of the programme held on March 22nd and 23rd, more..

Mar 27 (FT) Indo-Lanka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ILCCI) of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce hosted a discussion with Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe, on SL’s industrial growth plan and Indo-Sri Lanka trade and economic cooperation. The event, brought together key stakeholders to explore the Government’s economic vision and growth strategies. ILCCI President M. Raghuraman, welcomed Deputy Minister more..