Nov 11 (CI) So we have arrived at another bilateral ODI series. Believe it or not, these were all the rage back in the first half of the 2010s - used so frequently as schedule-filler, to bulk up tours. T20Is and T20 leagues serve that purpose now, and the ODI World Cup is not till 2027. Still, this is a chance for Pakistan and SL to do some building towards the next big event. Here are five things to watch for the 3-match series starting on Tues. more..

Nov 11 (DM) In a landmark move for SL’s renewable energy sector, Macksons Solar, in collaboration with Macktiles, unveiled the country’s largest rooftop solar project at the Macktiles Lanka (Pvt) Ltd factory complex in Bandaragama. This 10 megawatt (MW) installation comprises over 18,000 high-efficiency solar panels, advanced inverter systems and state-of-the-art monitoring technology. Together, they are expected to generate approximately 12 GWh of clean energy annually, while reducing more..

Nov 11 (CT) Once again, SL is at the mercy of misplaced morality. The Archbishop of Colombo, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, has raised alarm over what he calls an inappropriate form of sex education proposed for schools. He claims that int'l organisations are behind it, that it promotes same-sex relationships, and that it will corrupt our children. It is an argument we have heard far too often, only dressed in different robes each time. Faith, morality, and logic are once again thrown into more..

Nov 11 (ST) When then Presidential hopeful Anura Kumara Dissanayake declared mid last year to the NPP’s overseas faithful that SL’s Provincial Council (PC) system will continue till a new system is identified to create harmony among the Sinhala, Tamil & Muslim communities (London, June 2024), no one quite questioned as to what that new system was going to be. Neither did the JVP- led NPP’s manifesto provide concrete answers to that question. Mr Dissanayake also stated, unsurprisingly more..

Nov 11 (Island) Budget for 2026, proposed by the govt, has been generally well received. The CCC praised the plan, with its Chairperson Krishan Balendra stating that from a private-sector perspective this Budget provides stability and emphasising that with the steps that were taken and the discipline we have seen since 2022, SL avoided going down the same path as countries that suffered years of high inflation and collapsing exchange rates. This budget continues that stability. more..

Nov 11 (CT) After years of discussion, debate, and delays, SL’s Ministry of Education has drawn a definitive line in the sand: the 2026 academic year will be the commencement of one of the most ambitious and profound educational reforms in the nation’s history. In a comprehensive media briefing on Thursday, Education Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewe, flanked by the heads of the nation’s core educational bodies, laid out more..

Nov 11 (GV) Historically, SL has been accommodating both legally and culturally towards its ethno-religious groups. While the Constitution accords Buddhism the foremost place under Article 9, it also safeguards the right to freedom of religion and belief through Articles 10 and 14(1)(e). Supreme Court of SL has identified freedom of religion as an absolute right (Article 10) and, while Buddhism is given priority, the state remains bound to uphold equality and freedom of religion for all. more..

Nov 11 (TM) The recent deaths of two SL workers at a fish farm in South Korea and the disturbing attacks on SL migrant workers in Israel with chemical-laced water have once again brought to light the precarious conditions and situations that SL migrant workers face overseas. These incidents are being investigated by SL authorities as well as the authorities of the respective countries. However, while these incidents may be isolated ones, longstanding challenges faced by SL migrant more..

Nov 11 (TM) SL’s online visa system has come under fire after a new audit revealed serious flaws in how it was implemented. Auditor General’s Dept, in a special report, has called for the Govt to assess and recover the losses caused by the project and to hold those responsible to account. The report also urges that any future e-visa system be awarded through a fair and transparent process. In its latest Special Audit Report on the Online Visa more..

Nov 11 (DM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his capacity as Minister of Finance, presented the 2026 budget to Parliament on the afternoon of Nov 7. It is important to examine the proposals related to mitigating the human–elephant conflict —arguably the most serious socio-economic, environmental, and political problem currently facing SL. Thousands of elephants, and nearly 40% of the country’s land area, on which people live, are affected. NPP promised during the election campaign, more..

Nov 11 (DM) There seems to be insufficient public discourse on the proposed education reforms, except for politically motivated or self-centred criticisms by political parties and trade unions. The students, who are the target group of these reforms and their parents seem to be in the dark. About a month ago, the Education Ministry was denounced for allegedly excluding subjects such as history from the curriculum, and then it seems to have been forgotten, while another issue, more..

Nov 10 (AD) A group from the SLPP, including its National Organizer MP Namal Rajapaksa visited the headquarters of the SLFP today — for the first time in nearly ten years. MP Rajapaksa visited the SLFP headquarters to hold discussions regarding the public rally scheduled to take place in Nugegoda on Nov 21, which will be held in opposition to the actions of the current govt. Representatives of the SLPP arrived at the SLFP headquarters on Darley Road this morning for the discussions. more..

Nov 10 (FT) Diversified conglomerate CIC Holdings has reported a consolidated revenue of Rs. 41.6 billion for the first half of the financial year 2025/26 (1HFY26). Group reported a solid top-line growth of 7.2% and an impressive bottom-line growth of 14.7% with Profit After Tax (PAT) increased to a significant Rs. 3.25 billion, compared to Rs. 2.83 billion in the corresponding period of the previous year. In a statement CIC said the Group’s performance was underpinned by strong margin recovery, more..

Nov 10 (DM) UNESCO adopted Resolution 43 C/22 on the Commemoration of the International Day of Vesak at UNESCO, at its 43rd General Conference in Samarkand on Nov 6. The landmark resolution was initiated by SL, and was adopted by the General Conference as per the provisions of the Executive Board Decision 219 EX/27 of March 2024 which requested the Director-General to transmit the Decision on more..

Nov 10 (AD) Ampara High Court today sentenced six individuals to death in connection with a murder that took place on April 14, 2015. Six individuals were found guilty of assaulting and murdering two individuals in Kehelulla, Padiyathalawa. Group had assaulted and ran over two individuals with a lorry for protesting against the six individuals who had been consuming alcohol inside a vehicle. As a result, HC today imposed the death penalty on the six individuals involved in the incident. more..

Nov 10 (NW) SL’s enduring commitment to safeguarding the rights and well-being of its migrant workforce is underscored by a comprehensive system of protections, including mandatory insurance, contributory pensions, grievance redress mechanisms, and reintegration support, according to Deputy Labour Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe. Addressing the Second World Summit for Social Development held in Doha, Qatar, last week, Jayasinghe outlined some of the policy and more..

Nov 10 (SO) Deputy Minister of Education Madhura Seneviratne said Budget 2026 has strengthened confidence within the Education Ministry and related institutions — including the National Institute of Education (NIE) and the Dept of Education — to roll out the Govt’s planned Education Reforms 2026 from next year. Of the Rs. 300 billion total allocation for the education sector, Rs. 230.1 billion has been set aside for general more..

Nov 10 (AD) The govt of SL has signed the agreement for the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage with Saudi Arabian officials in Jeddah, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The agreement was signed by the SL delegation, headed by the Deputy Minister of Religious and Cultural Affairs, Muneer Mulaffer and the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Abdulfattah Bin Sulaiman Mashat. The agreement outlines the mutual understanding and commitment of both govts to facilitate and more..

Nov 10 (AD) An individual has been confirmed to have died while about 40 others have been injured in the bus accident reported in Thalawa, Anuradhapura, police stated. According to Ada Derana correspondents, the bus had been carrying more than 40 passengers at the time of the accident. Those injured in the accident are still being transported to hospitals. The private bus that met with the accident had been traveling from Thalawa to the ‘411 village’. more..

Nov 10 (CT) Judicial Service Commission (JSC) announced revisions to the qualifications required for recruitment to the post of Magistrate in the Second Class, First Grade of the Judicial Service. According to the new guidelines, four key qualifications have been outlined for eligibility, marking a notable change from the previous criteria. The relevant qualifications are to be a lawyer who is or has been in active practice for not less than three years, or to be a lawyer who has served as more..

Nov 10 (CT) NDF MP Anuradha Jayaratne said that the Govt had spent only Rs 272 million out of the Rs 4,000 million allocated last year for rural road development, leaving more than 90% of the funds unused. He also noted that of the Rs 500 million allocated for young entrepreneurs, only a very small portion had been spent. Jayaratne said the Budget contained elements designed to impress externally, but questioned how much of the 2025 Budget had actually been translated into on-the-ground more..

Nov 10 (TM) SL Customs is set to surpass its 2025 annual revenue target of Rs. 2,115 billion before 15 Nov and is forecast to exceed the target by over Rs. 300 billion by the end of the year. The annual revenue target of Customs for 2025, set at the beginning of the year, was Rs. 2,115 billion and that revenue collection so far had exceeded expectations. Revenue collection by SL Customs as of the beginning of more..

Nov 10 (CT) Police in the Western Province North Crimes Division have seized a bus, a car, and a cab reportedly belonging to Sampath Manamperi, who is currently in Police custody under a detention order. Officers recovered the cab during a search of Manamperi’s residence in Middeniya. Investigators say the suspect had hidden the vehicle and that it had been brought to the house recently, prompting officers to seize it during a follow-up visit. The bus owned by the suspect had been operating on more..

Nov 10 (DM) The CEB is set to introduce a new project to install Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations that will utilize excess solar energy generated across the country, while offering fast-charging facilities with an incentive tariff, CEB Deputy General Manager (Business & Operational Strategy) Noel Priyantha said. Priyantha explained that solar systems installed nationwide are producing extra energy, which will now be redirected to the transport sector. more..

Nov 10 (DM) Police said yesterday that an increasing number of Sri Lankans are reported to be turning to online sexual content production as several adult websites and mobile applications operated overseas offer monetary incentives. It was revealed that many users, particularly young couples, have reportedly been attracted by the belief that their identities will remain concealed and that such activities can be carried out discreetly more..

Nov 10 (DM) Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) has recorded an operating cost of Rs. 3,600.8 million, nearly 14 times higher than its operating income of Rs. 242 million, the 2024 audit of Airport and Aviation Services (SL) (pvt) Ltd (AASL) revealed. This resulted in an operating loss of Rs. 3,358.6 million, although a net profit of Rs. 879.7 million was reported due to foreign exchange gains. Cumulative net losses from 2018 to 2024, however, amounted to Rs. 39,369 million. more..

Nov 10 (DM) Keratoconus, a progressive eye disorder that distorts vision, is increasingly being detected among Sri Lankans, including schoolchildren, National Eye Hospital has cautioned. Marking World Keratoconus Day, Consultant Cornea Surgeon Dr. Kusum Ratnayaka said cases of the condition once considered rare are now emerging even among children as young as eight years old. Keratoconus causes the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye, to gradually thin and bulge more..

Nov 10 (AM) Former MP Harin Fernando officially assumed duties as the UNP’s Deputy General Secretary today and outlined a series of political and organisational initiatives aimed at revitalising the party and strengthening the opposition. Speaking to the media after taking office, Fernando announced the launch of a new educational programme titled Let’s Learn from Ranil (Ranilgen Igenagamu), which will begin on the first day of next month. The two-hour session, designed for young people, more..

Nov 10 (Island) The athletics fraternity lost one of its respected former officials last week. K.L.F. Wijedasa who passed away last week was a top sports administrator, reputed coach and former national record holder in the men’s 100 metres. ‎He was one of the most senior officials in the SL athletics field and was 93 years old at the time of his demise. ‎He held several positions in the SL athletic arena including National Athletics Coach, Chairman of National Athletics Selection Committee and more..

Nov 10 (NW) Minister of Education, PM Harini Amarasuriya, says discussions are underway to introduce an age-appropriate sex education program for children, with the objective of reducing sexual abuse. PM pointed out the increase in sexual abuse of children in SL and the need to educate children in this regard. She further said that Health Ministry, Family Health Bureau, and National Child Protection Authority have requested more..

Nov 10 (EN) Central Bank is calling for public consultation on amendments to the country’s Finance Business Act, No.42 of 2011 (FBA). Proposed amendments aim to strengthen the regulation and supervision of finance companies, investigate and prosecute unauthorized finance business, and for the resolution and winding up of non-viable FCs, CBSL said. CBSL is inviting the general public to submit views, suggestions, and comments on the draft amendments. more..

Nov 10 (FT) With the recent unanimous adoption of the Personal Data Protection (Amd) Bill in Parliament, Data Protection Authority of SL (DPA), has announced several new career opportunities, including the post of Director General. These positions are essential to set up the Secretariat, which will be tasked with the implementation of the strategy and roadmap of the DPA, to enable DPA’s objectives to be fulfilled under the overall direction and supervision of DPA Chairman and more..