Feb 11 (DN) In a joint effort by the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Transport and Highways, SL Railways has begun installing advanced thermal camera systems on trains at the Dematagoda Railway Yard to prevent collisions with elephants, particularly during night operations. The project, overseen by a special committee led by Minister of Environment Dr. Dhammika Patabendi, Minister of Transport and Highways Bimal Rathnayake, and Deputy Minister of more..

Feb 11 (AD) Four Buddhist monks, including Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thero, and six other individuals, have been granted bail by the Trincomalee High Court. On Feb 9, Trincomalee Magistrate ordered that the ten suspects, including Venerable Balangoda Kassapa Thero be further remanded until today in relation to the incident. They were arrested in connection with the incident of placing a Buddha statue at the Trinco Bodhiraja Viharaya on Nov 16, 2025 in violation of coastal conservation laws. more..

Feb 11 (FT) A high-level discussion on implementing the Cabinet decision to connect critical State institutions to the National Cyber Security Operations Centre (NCSOC) was yesterday, marking a significant step in strengthening SL’s national cyber security framework. The session held at the Old Parliament Building in Colombo, was jointly organised by SL CERT and the Digital Economy Ministry and more..

Feb 11 (NW) Former Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake was ordered to be further remanded until Feb 18 after appearing before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court today. He was initially ordered to be remanded on Jan 8 in a case alleging misuse of state funds by former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe. Ekanayake has been named as the second suspect in the case, which alleges that former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe misused approximately Rs. 16.9 million in public funds to attend his wife more..

Feb 11 (AD) Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board has stated that necessary measures have been taken to provide compensation to farmers whose crops were damaged due to the irregular construction of the salinity barrier across the Nilwala River. The board stated that a provision of Rs. 1,200 million has been allocated for this purpose in the 2026 national budget. Reports further indicate that farmers have been raising complaints since 2019, claiming that their cultivated lands become more..

Feb 11 (AD) Twelve individuals, who were found guilty over the murder of former Polonnaruwa District MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala and his security officer in 2022, have been sentenced to death. The sentence was pronounced by the Gampaha High Court Trial-at-Bar after a lengthy hearing. Another four individuals have been handed six-month sentences suspended for five years. 23 other accused were acquitted more..

Feb 11 (EN) Sri Lanka will remove para-tariffs, such as cess and the port and airport development levy, as part of tariff reform in 2026, the deputy minister of industry has said. “Sri Lanka is preparing for the largest and most decisive shift in its economic transformation, with a new tariff policy set to be implemented in 2026 to better integrate our economy into global value chains,” Chathuranga Abeysinghe said. “Under this reform, para-tariffs such as Cess and PAL will be removed, and more..

Feb 11 (AD) Election Commission has commenced the data collection process for the revision of the electoral register, Commissioner General of Elections, Rasika Peiris stated. Feb 1 has been set as the qualifying date. Accordingly, individuals who turn 18 on or before February 1 and have confirmed residence in the relevant area will be eligible for inclusion in the electoral register. Commission will follow an updated system for 2026, combining door-to-door data collection more..

Feb 11 (FT) The proposed bill defined as the Protection of Occupation Bill has caused considerable attention in the Media and various personalities have expressed their opinions on the impact the bill will cause to the property and real estate market in the country. In this article, I share some of the concerns which will be faced by the connected stakeholders once this bill is enacted and becomes a Law. At present, it is no exaggeration to state many of the property owners termed more..

Feb 11 (FT) Colombo is currently witnessing a striking convergence of religion, diplomacy, and politics at the Gangaramaya Temple, where the sacred Devnimori Buddha Relics are on public display. Excavated in Gujarat and brought to Sri Lanka with full state honours, the relics are being exhibited for public veneration. Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake inaugurated the exposition, underscoring its national and symbolic significance. Framed as a celebration of shared heritage more..

Feb 11 (TM) Transport and Highways Ministry has announced that it would appoint a committee headed by a retired judge to investigate alleged irregularities and long-standing grievances related to the Madatiyawala–Kurunegala stretch, which forms final segment of Mirigama –Kurunegala section of the Central Expressway, following complaints over house damage & unpaid or inadequate compensation. more..

Feb 11 (NW) The govt has approved a pilot project to introduce 10 air-conditioned, low-floor buses equipped with special facilities for persons with special needs. The initiative will be implemented using funds allocated under the Clean Sri Lanka Project, with the aim of improving accessibility and comfort in public transport. Procurement for the purchase of the 10 buses has already been completed, and the vehicles are expected to arrive in the country by Feb 15. more..

Feb 11 (AD) An Additional General Manager of the National Water Supply Board (NWSDB), Dharshana Medawatte and another individual who were arrested by the CIABOC on bribery charges have been remanded. The duo was remanded until Feb 20. The order was issued by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga Bodaragama after considering submissions made by officials of the Bribery Commission and the suspects’ lawyers. The suspects were taken into custody over more..

Feb 11 (CT) Sri Lanka’s worsening air pollution crisis is being driven by a dangerous combination of local emissions and transboundary pollution, according to a new six-year longitudinal study released by the Institute for Ethical Research and Innovation (IERI). The study, which analysed air quality data from 2020 to 2026, warns that the country experiences hazardous pollution levels during the Northeast Monsoon due to more..

Feb 11 (FT) Govt sought to rest concerns of collecting money in schools by assuring that it has not given any authorisation for such activities. Minister Nalinda Jayatissa affirmed under NPP-led Govt no legal provision has been granted for collecting money in schools. He said stressing that the Govt has allocated funds for school development activities through Provincial Councils and the Central Govt. Noting that collecting money in schools has long been a common practice to support more..

Feb 11 (AD) State Vesak Festival for this year will be held at the Midellawala Purana Maha Viharaya in Thihagoda, Matara, according to the General Secretary of the All-Island Sasanarakshaka Bala Mandalaya, Most Venerable Mugunuwela Anuruddha Thero. Thero noted that the decision was taken at the third session of the newly established Buddhasasana Council formed by the present govt. The decision was made following a recommendation by the All-Island Sasanarakshaka more..

Feb 11 (NW) A meeting between spiritual leader of the Bohra community, His Holiness Dr Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin Saheb and Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake took place today (10) at the Presidential Secretariat. More than one million members of the Bohra community reside in several countries, including India, Pakistan, US, UK, Canada, SL and Australia. Engaging in a cordial discussion with Prez, His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin Saheb commended programmes more..

Feb 11 (TM) In the wake of frequent discoveries of mobile phones, subscriber identity module (SIM) cards, and narcotics in Prison premises, the Prisons Department stated that a range of measures are being taken to prevent contraband from entering Prisons, including the installation of CCTV cameras and jammer systems. Prisons Commissioner A.C. Gajanayake said that inspections are carried out by Prison officers under the instructions of Prison superintendents, noting that such searches more..

Feb 11 (FT) SL has officially rolled out its Digital Nomad Visa (DNV), a new long-stay residence facility aimed at attracting foreign professionals who work remotely for overseas employers or clients, as part of a broader strategy to position the country as a preferred digital and lifestyle destination. The initiative, now live on the official website of the Dept of Immigration and Emigration, allows eligible foreign nationals to live and work remotely from SL more..

Feb 11 (NW) Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong said China remains committed to deepening cooperation with SL and advancing a shared future between the two countries, as he addressed a Spring Festival gathering in Colombo. Speaking at the Celebrating Chinese New Year with Warmth and Joy event held at the Shangri-La Hotel Colombo, Ambassador Qi highlighted China’s economic progress, global role, and expanding partnership with SL, while extending New Year greetings more..

Feb 11 (CT) The Attorney General, yesterday, informed the Court of Appeal that the letter issued with the approval of the Chairman of the SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) to implement a tourism promotion project targeting the LGBTQ+ community in Sri Lanka had been withdrawn. This submission was made when the petition was taken up before President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya. During proceedings, the President of the Court of Appeal queried more..

Feb 11 (AD) The verdict in the case pertaining to the murder of former MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala is scheduled to be delivered today. On 14 Jan, Gampaha High Court Trial-at-Bar deferred the announcement of the verdict in the ex-MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala’s murder case until today. Polonnaruwa District MP and his security officer, a Police Constable, were reported dead amidst the unrest in the Nittambuwa area during the nationwide incidents of violence on May 9, 2022. more..

Feb 11 (TM) Govt of SL will hold an investor call today, in line with the disclosure requirements attached to its macro-linked bonds and governance-linked bonds. According to the scheduled agenda, the call will feature a presentation on the Debt Report published on 31 Dec 2025, alongside updates on fiscal, macroeconomic, and governance developments that are relevant to the performance-linked features embedded in the bonds. The briefing is intended to provide investors with visibility more..

Feb 11 (TM) SL is to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and seek amendments to the Online Safety Act (OSA) in its bid to reapply for the GSP+, which provides preferential duty-free access to the 27-nation European Union (EU) bloc, Minister Vijitha Herath said, on his official X account. “I expressed deep appreciation for the EU’s GSP trade facility, which have been vital for SL’s economic growth & conveyed our interest in more..

Feb 11 (Island) Atlas Axillia, together with the generous contributions of its employees, donated exercise books and learning equipment worth Rs. 7 million to support children affected by recent disasters and those from underprivileged backgrounds in the Badulla District. The donated materials were distributed with the facilitation of the Chief Secretariat Office of Uva Provincial Council, supporting over 1,800 schoolchildren at the start of the new academic term. more..

Feb 11 (FT) The Cabinet approved presenting amended Colombo Port City (Development Control) Regulations to Parliament for approval, in line with Section 71(4) of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act No. 11 of 2021. Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said the revised regulations are intended to better align development controls with evolving planning requirements and investment expectations within the Port City, while maintaining regulatory clarity and consistency. more..

Feb 11 (ST) Protection of Occupants Bill (POB) presented to parliament recently has caused alarm among landlords and property owners that renting or leasing out their premises now runs a higher risk of them not being able to dislodge tenants, even errant ones. Some legal counsel argue that conceptually, it is not a bad law and might even be called progressive. But they insist it must be changed to remove ambiguities, lacunas more..

Feb 11 (FT) Colombo Port City offshore banking framework has been materially tightened under recent legislative changes, with access to offshore banking licences now restricted to foreign-incorporated banks, according to a new analysis by Ernst & Young SL. In a tax alert on the Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Amd) Act, No. 1 of 2026, EY said the amendment introduces significant changes to Part VIII of the Port City Act, which governs offshore banking business more..

Feb 11 (FT) Sri Lanka is seeking to position itself as a convening platform for impact investing in South Asia as more than 200 delegates from home and abroad gathered in Colombo yesterday for the inaugural Lanka Impact Investment Summit 2026 (LIIS), against the backdrop of persistent structural financing gaps in the domestic economy. The two-day summit, organised by the Lanka Impact Investing Network (LIIN) and Global Steering Group for Impact Investment SL, brings together more..

Feb 11 (Island) The fall of the once mighty West Indies has been steep across formats, yet in T20 cricket they still land the odd knockout punch. Sri Lanka, too, have slipped from the heady days when they were perennial contenders at ICC events and nowhere is the decline more glaring than in the shortest format. Still, old pros refuse to write them off. Nasser Hussain has tipped the islanders to spring a surprise while Jason Gillespie pencilled them in as semi-final material. more..

Feb 11 (DM) SL Chamber of Small and Medium Industries (SLCSMI) has unveiled a comprehensive blueprint for a Rs. 300 billion Bad Bank to rescue the nation’s embattled small and medium enterprise (SME) sector. The proposal, which aims to absorb toxic assets and restructure an estimated Rs. 460 billion in non-performing loans (NPLs), calls for a mixed funding model that notably includes a levy on commercial bank profits alongside unutilised balances from the EPF and ETF. more..