Nov 6 (EN) SL and Bangladesh have agreed to deepen cooperation in maritime connectivity, trade, and green tourism as part of a renewed push to strengthen bilateral ties during the fourth round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held in Colombo on Thursday. The meeting, held after eight years and co-chaired Foreign Secretaries of the both South Asian nations, discussed a wide range of issues spanning trade, investment, agriculture, education, digital economy, defense, tourism, and more..

Nov 6 (AD) The Court of Appeal today suggested to the Commissioner General of Inland Revenue that it would be appropriate to hold discussions to resolve the matter concerning the Inland Revenue Department’s (IRD) decision to impose an Advance Personal Income Tax (APIT) on players of the SL national cricket team. The suggestion was made by President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya, when the writ petition filed by SL Test captain Dhananjaya de Silva and more..

Nov 6 (NW) Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe, has accused think tank Advocata Institute of publishing what he claimed was a politically motivated and misleading analysis on the performance of SL’s state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Responding to Advocata’s recent claims that state enterprises continue to make losses, Abeysinghe alleged that the organisation’s data was fed by the political talk show Bai Thaksalawa more..

Nov 6 (AD) Supreme Court, which has concluded the hearing of the appeal petition filed by the defendants including Swiss Kumar, who was convicted and sentenced to death for the abduction, rape, and murder of schoolgirl Sivaloganathan Vidya in Jaffna in 2015, has reserved its judgment to be delivered at a later date. The case, which drew widespread public outrage at the time, was taken up before a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by CJ Preethi Padman Surasena, more..

Nov 6 (NF) The first phase of the third school term in government schools across SL will conclude tomorrow, marking the beginning of the end-of-year school holidays. The holiday period will run from Nov 8 to Dec 7, allowing students and teachers a break before the final phase of the term resumes. Meanwhile, the GCE A/L Exam is scheduled to take place from Nov 10 to Dec 5, a critical period for thousands of students preparing to enter universities and higher education institutions. more..

Nov 6 (AD) The wife of a principal arrested for the possession of heroin in A'pura, Disna Niranjala, who is a member of the Peliyagoda UC representing the NPP, has been identified as a relative of the large-scale drug trafficker and criminal known as Kosgoda Sujee. Police further stated that an investigation has been launched into the assets of the arrested principal. Husband of Peliyagoda Urban Councilor Disna Niranjala was arrested more..

Nov 6 (AD) Thambuththegama Magistrate’s Court has issued a seven-day detention order permitting police to further question the NPP Peliyagoda Urban Councillor’s husband, who was arrested in Eppawala while in possession of heroin. Court today granted permission to detain and question the husband of NPP Peliyagoda UC member Disna Niranjala, who was arrested with heroin in Anuradhapura yesterday. Thambuttegama Magistrate’s Court granted permission to A'pura Division CID to detain more..

Nov 6 (FT) Taxation serves as one of the most powerful tools in shaping a nation’s economic destiny. Its purpose extends far beyond merely filling State coffers. A sound and just tax system is meant to foster economic growth, promote social equity, ensure fair distribution of wealth, and protect domestic industries from unfair foreign competition and dumping. However, when tax laws are misinterpreted, selectively applied, or exploited by powerful interests, the very objectives of more..

Nov 6 (FT) On Friday, all eyes will turn to Parliament as the President, in his dual capacity as the Minister of Finance, presents Sri Lanka’s Budget for 2026. This annual ritual is far more than a parliamentary formality — it is the single most watched economic event of the year. From the household in Jaffna to the factory in Katunayake, from the small trader in Galle to the banker in Colombo, everyone waits to see what the Budget will bring. Budget is where the Govt reveals its priorities more..

Nov 6 (AD) The NPP member of the Peliyagoda Urban Council, Disna Niranjala Kumari, has resigned from her position as a member of the council following the arrest of her husband and son on drug-related charges. Legal proceedings are currently underway regarding her husband and son, who are both in police custody. NPP councillor says she is personally shocked by this incident that occurred at a time when the NPP govt is focusing its full attention on curbing the drug menace in SL. more..

Nov 6 (CT) Govt has reversed its decision to proceed with the controversial elephant drive in Hambantota following widespread protests from environmentalists, community groups, and the filing of a petition in the Supreme Court seeking an order to halt the operation. After several days of public backlash, Ministry of Environment announced that it had not granted approval for the ongoing campaign to drive wild elephants more..

Nov 6 (AD) A youth, who was rescued after drowning in the Deduru Oya has succumbed while receiving treatment at the hospital, police stated. Accordingly, the death toll from the tragic incident has risen to five. Out of a group of ten people who came from Kiribathgoda to Chilaw for a recreational trip, five drowned while bathing in the Deduru Oya this evening (05). Although area residents attempted to rescue the individuals as they were drowning, only one person was rescued. more..

Nov 6 (EN) Sri Lanka is working on 67 public private partnerships in spread through several sectors, Chief Executive of the National Agency for Public Private Partnerships, Sukakshana Jaywardena said. A PPP law which provides a legal framework for projects is now with the legal draftsman and after revisions including with feed back from the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. After Attorney General’s approval is obtained, the govt will present it to parliament as soon as possible. more..

Nov 6 (Island) CB Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe yesterday said he, or senior representatives of the bank, could appear before Parliament to answer questions raised by the MPs. Dr. Weerasinghe said so in response to queries The Island raised about a reference made to the Central Bank during Tuesday’s proceedings at the COPF. “If our direct intervention could prevent delays in obtaining answers to questions raised by more..

Nov 6 (DM) A principal of a primary school in the Eppawala area of Anuradhapura has been arrested for alleged involvement in heroin trafficking. The arrest was made during a raid carried out by the Anuradhapura Divisional CIU, following information obtained from a 30-year-old suspect who was taken into custody last week in the Nallamudawa Road area. Officers recovered 1 kg and 185 grams of heroin concealed behind a hotel reportedly owned by the school principal in Eppawala. more..

Nov 6 (AD) A Hingurakgoda Pradeshiya Sabha member representing the NPP has been arrested for allegedly obstructing duties of police officers. According to police, the councilor’s brother had earlier been arrested by the Hingurakgoda Police for interfering with the duties of an employee of the Ceylon Electricity Board. It is reported that the councilor later visited the police station and verbally abused and threatened the officers, demanding the release of his brother. more..

Nov 6 (FT) Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal to utilise State funds to complete the remaining section of the Maharagama-Piliyandala road after the OPEC Fund for International Development loan was found insufficient to cover the full project cost. A loan agreement worth $ 50 million was signed with the OPEC Fund to upgrade 46 km of national roads in the Colombo District. Among these, the 6.7 km Maharagama-Piliyandala road was identified as the final project under the loan. more..

Nov 6 (FT) Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) recorded a 17.9% decline in net profit to Rs. 17 billion during the first six months of 2025, compared to Rs. 20.7 billion in the corresponding period of 2024, as falling global fuel prices and a stronger rupee reduced its turnover and cost base. CPC’s turnover fell by 19.3% to Rs. 439.5 billion from Rs. 544.3 billion a year earlier, in line with a reduction in the cost of sales to Rs. 377.9 bil, down 19.2% from Rs. 467.7 bil recorded in first half of 2024. more..

Nov 6 (DN) Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe said that Lanka Sathosa has purchased over 70,000 kilograms of big onions from farmers as of Tuesday (4), and the private sector has also purchased significant quantities. However,the Minister said that local big onion production this year has reportedly quadrupled compared to last year. “To provide relief to local big onion farmers, the import tax on big onions has been raised from more..

Nov 6 (FT) National Sales Average (NSA) of tea for October has declined Month-on-Month (MoM) though reflecting an increase Year-on-Year (YoY). NSA in Oct declined by Rs. 14.48 to Rs. 1,177.14 per kilo (by $ 0.07 to $ 3.87) as against September average of Rs. 1,191.62 ($ 3.94). In comparison to the October 2024 average of Rs. 1,172.15 ($ 3.99), was an increase of Rs. 4.99 and $ 0.12. Total NSA year to date was Rs. 1,161.99 ($ 3.87), a decline of Rs. 74.93 ($ 0.21) against more..

Nov 6 (FT) National Development Bank (NDB) said it has delivered impressive profitability growth backed by sound core banking operational growth in the first nine months of 2025. NDB’s operating income and pre-tax profit expanded by 32.3% and 62.1% to reach Rs. 28.4 billion and Rs. 11.0 billion, respectively. CEO Kelum Edirisinghe said: “Our performance over the nine months’ period ended provides ample testimony to the consistent positive progress made across almost all aspects of more..

Nov 6 (FT) Top legal expert and National Procurement Commission (NPC) Member Dr. Asanga Gunawansa on Tuesday cautioned that Sri Lanka risks creating a maze of overlapping regulatory authorities and legal inconsistencies in its approach to public-private partnerships (PPPs) and procurement, unless urgent steps are taken to align and streamline its institutional framework. Speaking at a high-level forum in Colombo titled PPP: Partnership and Prosperity for People more..

Nov 6 (DN) A brilliant all-round performance led by opener Vimoksha Balasuriya (62) and off-spinner Aseni Thalagune (5/10) powered Sri Lanka Under-19 Women’s team to a commanding 118-run victory over Malaysia in the third T20 match of the five-match series, played at the Colts Grounds yesterday. With this win, SL sealed the series 3–0, with two games still remaining, continuing their dominance throughout the tour. Batting first, SL U-19 Women posted a formidable 166 for 7 in 20 overs. more..

Nov 6 (TM) Ministry of Women and Child Affairs stated that it would launch a programme to educate the public — particularly teachers — on the importance of banning corporal punishment, in the wake of ongoing discussions surrounding the proposed Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to introduce legal provisions against the corporal punishment of children. Deputy Minister Dr. Namal Sudarshana said that teachers and more..

Nov 6 (FT) Top blue chip John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH) has reported a strong second quarter and signalled a far better second half, defying critics and pessimists. JKH has doubled Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortisation (EBITDA) to Rs. 18.3 billion, which includes interest income and the share of results of equity-accounted investees based on the share of Profit After Tax (PAT), but excludes all impacts from foreign currency exchange gains and losses more..

Nov 6 (ST) SL govt has specified a clear fiscal vision before the country’s 2026 Budget presentation on Nov 7 under the theme: A Productive Economy and Foster the Engagement of Everyone in Economic Development. It will not include new taxes. Instead, it will focus on boosting state revenue by strengthening tax administration, primarily through digitisation and widening the tax net. This marks a decisive axis from the work done to date and it will be reforming existing tax instruments, more..

Nov 6 (EN) Sri Lanka planning to 60,000 state workers in the future to fill vacancies after allocating tax money to to hire 30,000 workers in the current year, a media report said. Minister Chandana Abeyratne was quoted as saying by the online portal of Sri Lanka’s Newsfirst televison that the process to fill positions in the Sri Lanka Administrative Service, Sri Lanka Engineering Service, Planning Service, and Accountants’ Service has already started. more..

Nov 6 (FT) Markspen Group, the leading distributor of globally renowned modern agricultural machinery in SL, introduced to the local market the GRANIFRIGOR Grain Cooling Device, an advanced agritech innovation from Germany. This pioneering cooling device, manufactured by Germany’s FrigorTec GmbH, draws from a 60-year legacy backed by specialised knowledge, domain expertise and technology acumen in agricultural cooling systems. Today GRANIFRIGOR™ is used in more..

Nov 6 (ST) In a recent Appeal Court ruling, the govt of SL has been ordered to revoke the gazette notification issued on four local companies established in the Colombo Port City, which deemed the country’s Employment Act will not be applicable to employees working within the port city borders. Four companies operating in the Port City were exempted from certain taxes and the termination of employment laws through new gazettes issued on July 14 this year, more..

Nov 6 (FT) A delegation of SL businesses, is in Canada from 3 to 8 November, exploring opportunities in investment and partnerships in education, agriculture, information technology and tourism. Organised by the SL–Canada Business Council of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the Canada–SL Business Convention, with the support of the High Commission of SL in Canada, the group includes representatives from several key industries more..

Nov 6 (FT) Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDPLC), has secured another repeat vessels contract to build two Cable Laying and Repair Vessels to one the prestigious cable ship operators, Orange Marine. Incidentally this is the largest shipbuilding contract CDPLC has ever signed in the history of the Company. Orange Marine is a French company specialising in the field of submarine telecommunications, from the initial design, engineering, to installation of intercontinental more..