Dec 19 (DM) Number of vehicles registered with the Motor Vehicles Dept in Nov slid to 43,810 units, from 48,081 units in Oct. This is as the sharply higher demand seen during the initial months of reopening vehicle imports is fizzling while people will have to put up higher upfront payments for the vehicles they now want to purchase from November onwards. With Nov data, SL has seen 311,592 vehicles being registered in first 11 months. more..

Dec 19 (FT) The Airport and Aviation Services (SL) Ltd, (AASL) has registered a strong financial turnaround in 2025, posting a profit of Rs. 19.06 billion, reflecting an increase of Rs. 5.02 billion compared to the previous year. This was revealed during the company’s 2025 progress review meeting conducted under the patronage of Minister Anura Karunathilaka, with the participation of Deputy Minister Janitharuwan Kodithuwakku and Ministry Secretary W.W.S. Mangala at BIA. more..

Dec 19 (NW) Cricket legend Mahela Jayawardena has issued a public warning against fraudulent advertisements circulating on social media that use artificial intelligence to falsely portray him endorsing financial schemes. He said the advertisements are completely fake and urged the public not to fall victim to such scams. “Please do not believe these things. I have nothing to do with any investment or financial promotions. These videos are created using AI and are meant to mislead people,” more..

Dec 19 (Island) Sri Lanka stands on the brink of an economic transformation, powered not by traditional exports, but by the vast, untapped mineral wealth lying beneath its soil and off its shores. According to a comprehensive new business report launched by the Pathfinder Foundation in collaboration with the Australian Trade and Investment Commission, on 17th Dec in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s mineral sector holds a staggering unrealised export potential of up to USD 2 billion. more..

Dec 19 (DM) SL’s hospitality sector is witnessing a swift return to normalcy following the passage of Cyclone Ditwah, with industry leaders confirming that operational disruptions were minimal and booking trends are already rebounding. The sentiments were expressed at a media briefing at the Crystal Lounge, Nüwa, City of Dreams Sri Lanka, to announce the launch of the One Love Reggae Festival. Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts Chief Operating Officer Kamal Munasinghe more..

Dec 19 (FT) The Govt yesterday raised approximately Rs. 10 billion from SL’s 5G spectrum auction, with Dialog Axiata PLC and SLT-Mobitel, a unit of Sri Lanka Telecom, emerging as the sole bidders and being awarded spectrum licences. The spectrum certificates were handed over at a ceremony attended by Digital Economy Deputy Minister Eranga Weeraratne and TRCSL Director-General Bandula Herath. more..

Dec 19 (EN) Sampath Bank said it plans to issue up to 200 million debentures to raise a total of 20 billion rupees. Basel III compliant-Tier 2, listed, rated, unsecured, subordinated, redeemable debentures and/or Green and/or Sustainability Bonds with a non-viability conversion feature will be issued at 100 rupees each. The debentures will be issued in one or more issuances within two years from the date of obtaining shareholder approval at an Extraordinary General Meeting, the bank said. more..

Dec 19 (GV) As a country seeking to address the legacy of its past war and armed conflicts, SL must roll back the overbroad and dangerous laws that have been repeatedly abused to the detriment of its citizens. The Prevention of Terrorism Act of 1979 (PTA), which has wreaked havoc in the lives of Sri Lankans, particularly minority communities, for 45 years, is the most emblematic of these laws. Successive govts have been under domestic and int'l pressure to repeal this draconian law. more..

Dec 19 (Island) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has accused the govt of interfering with the ongoing disaster relief programmes. Speaking in Parliament, he produced what he described as documentary proof to support his claim that disaster victims were required to have their applications for compensation endorsed by the heads of the Prajashakthi committees controlled by the JVP apparatchiks. Several other Opposition MPs have levelled the same allegation against govt in Parliament. more..

Dec 19 (Island) During a discussion at the RCSS in Sri Lanka on 9 Dec, Dr. Neil DeVotta, Professor at Wake Forest University, North Carolina, USA commented on the “gravity of a geopolitical contest that has already reshaped global politics and will continue to mould the future. For Sri Lanka – positioned at the heart of the Indian Ocean, economically fragile, and diplomatically exposed- his analysis was neither distant nor abstract. It was a warning of the world taking shape around us” more..

Dec 19 (TM) Methamphetamine users in SL are predominantly young males with high rates of dependence, polysubstance use including nicotine and heroin, and significant psychiatric morbidity, specifically substance-induced psychosis and depressive disorder. These findings were made in a non-peer reviewed research paper on Methamphetamine use and psychiatric morbidity in SL: Sociodemographic insights from a tertiary more..

Dec 19 (TM) Cyclone Ditwah swept across SL with destructive intensity, leaving communities submerged, livelihoods disrupted and thousands displaced from their homes. As families struggled to secure food, shelter and safe water, the well-being of pregnant mothers, infants, young children, the elderly and people with disabilities emerged as one of the most urgent humanitarian priorities. These groups face heightened vulnerabilities in emergencies, and safeguarding their more..

Dec 19 (DM) Unsuspecting Sri Lankans often fall prey when getting into land deals. There are still some visuals of billboards circulating on social media platforms which carry advertisements of lands for sale in areas which are prone to floods. There is a billboard, submerged two thirds by flood water, which states that the land on sale is the best available in the area. The question posed now is whether the fourth generation of children is ready to let go of land in areas vulnerable to suffer more..

Dec 19 (TM) Relations between Sri Lanka and Japan have entered a new chapter in terms of security, defence, and economic cooperation following a recent State visit by the SL President to Tokyo, Ambassador of Japan to SL Isomata Akio told The Sunday Morning late last month, before Ditwah Cyclone struck the island. Sharing his views about the visit and the state of bilateral relations between the two nations, Isomata said that more..

Dec 19 (CT) Cyclone Ditwah left some glaring gaps that need to be filled through social and economic development. Apart from the invaluable lives lost, the damage caused by the cyclone is often measured by the extent of infrastructure development required to recover from the devastation. Understandably, this is a costly affair, and the Govt has already released figures showing the scale of loss the cyclone inflicted on some of the major ministries. However, the authorities now find themselves at more..

Dec 19 (DM) The police always face the allegation that law enforcement is not even-handed. The saying ‘one law for the rich and another for the poor’ is commonly heard among the ordinary folks. Or else, they would say big fish escape, small fish get caught. With the politicisation of the police service, people started doubting fairness in law enforcement. The current govt pledged to end politicisation of the law enforcement agencies. At times, the police are used to fear taking action against more..

Dec 18 (FT) Commercial Bank of Ceylon has emerged as the country’s largest lender to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), retaining its position for the fifth consecutive year, according to the Finance Ministry’s Final Budget Position Report for 2024. The report shows that Commercial Bank disbursed Rs. 330.9 billion in SME loans in 2024, representing 30.3% of the Rs. 1.09 trillion provided by 16 State and private sector banks. This places the bank significantly ahead of all other institutions, more..

Dec 18 (FT) The SL Design Festival (SLDF) has announced the launch of Returning Voices: Sri Lanka, a new platform designed to strengthen engagement between Sri Lanka and its global diaspora community. The initiative welcomes diaspora leaders to contribute to areas they care about, from youth empowerment and innovation to entrepreneurship, cultural exchange, and community upliftment. While Returning Voices is envisioned as a broad, multi-focus diaspora movement, more..

Dec 18 (FT) Sri Lanka is set to make history as it hosts South Asia’s first-ever three-day reggae music festival, One Love 2026 – A Tribute to Bob Marley, from 27 to 29 March 2026 on the golden shores of Bentota, the organisers announced on Tuesday. The festival will take place from 5 pm onwards, bringing an unprecedented celebration of global reggae culture to the region. A packed press conference to announce this historic moment more..

Dec 18 (DM) Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), met with the UN Resident Coordinator to SL, Marc-André Franche, at the office of the Deputy Minister of Defence to review ongoing disaster response efforts, institutional reforms, and the coordination of international humanitarian assistance. During the meeting, the UN Resident Coordinator commended the strong national unity and resilience demonstrated by the SL people in responding to the recent disaster. more..

Dec 18 (NW) The Mahaweli Authority announced that sluice gates at three major reservoirs were opened this morning (18) at 10:20 a.m. as part of regulated water release operations. According to the Mahaweli Authority, six sluice gates at the Victoria Reservoir were opened by 70 cm each. At the Randenigala Reservoir, two gates were opened, one by 2.5 meters and the other by 1 meter. Meanwhile, at the Rantembe Reservoir, two gates were opened by 2 meters and 2.5 meters, respectively. more..

Dec 18 (DM) “We became highly suspicious when a large passenger aircraft was flying unusually low and circling several times in the sky. Because of that, we paid close attention. Everyone in our family went up to the upper floor of the house and observed the aircraft. We were all afraid that it would crash. Many people in the village had woken up and were watching the sky. When the aircraft flew directly over our houses, our fear doubled more..

Dec 18 (DM) An Attorney-at-Law was today discharged subject to a formal warning by the Supreme Court after pleading guilty to an act of professional misconduct, with the court cautioning him to exercise greater diligence in the future to avoid conduct that could undermine the integrity of the legal profession and the administration of justice. The rule (charges) relates to a case before the Kaduwela District Court in which the respondent Attorney-at-Law had filed a proxy on behalf of more..

Dec 18 (NW) SL’s economy will not collapse and there will be no shortage of cooking gas, Minister Vijitha Herath told Parliament, dismissing claims circulating in recent weeks as fear-mongering. Herath said the govt has made arrangements to ensure uninterrupted gas supplies through a new supplier, with the first shipment scheduled to arrive in SL on Jan. 5. “The economy is not collapsing. Some in the opposition are engaging in a very low and irresponsible attempt to frighten public” more..

Dec 18 (DM) A fierce fight between two wild elephants on the forest road near Singha ulpotha in Kebithigollewa caused tense situation on Tuesday, as a private bus carrying garment factory workers came under attack and was forced off the road. According to police, the two fully grown wild elephants were engaged in a fierce fight when the bus, carrying around 20 female workers from a garment factory in Welioya, was passing through the area. “Smaller vehicle transporting workers more..

Dec 18 (AD) A proposal seeking to establish a Parliamentary Select Committee to conduct a comprehensive review of the alleged lack of preparedness to minimise the damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah has been submitted to the Speaker of Parliament. Signed by 25 Opposition MPs, including the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, the proposal seeks the appointment of a select committee to examine the govt’s response and the alleged failure to minimize damages more..

Dec 18 (DM) The Colombo High Court on Dec 10 permitted the CIABOC to withdraw the indictments filed against former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal in connection with the controversial Greek bond transaction, subject to stringent conditions recommended by the CIABOC. Colombo High Court Judge Mohammed Mihal granted permission under Section 67(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, allowing the withdrawal of more..

Dec 18 (SLN) SL Navy has successfully concluded specialized diving and technical operations to clear vital infrastructure obstructed by severe flooding from Cyclone Ditwah, while continuing extensive Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations across the island. Adverse weather from the cyclone caused a significant rise in the Mahaweli River, sweeping large quantities of debris, including logs and tree remains, into key bridges. This obstruction posed a dual threat, more..

Dec 18 (DM) SL’s mineral export potential is as much as US $ 778 million annually where the realized amount is only US $ 389 million as estimated by the ITC Export Potential Map, a report compiled by the Pathfinder Foundation says. The report says that primary data suggests that the potential could increase even up to US $ 2 billion with more investments in downstream space. Australian High Commissioner Matthew Duckworth said investing in minerals and renewable more..

Dec 18 (NW) The world‑famous beverage from SL, Ceylon Tea, is set to enter a new era with the infusion of Biotechnology 4.0, marking a knowledge‑based export drive for the country’s botanical market. A major milestone in this science‑led industrialization was reached this week when the BOI granted formal approval for a state‑of‑the‑art botanical extraction facility by Natex Extracts (Pvt) Ltd. The project, backed by foreign direct investment (FDI) of USD 1.5 million more..

Dec 18 (TE) Two SL fishing vessels were seized near Kelaa in Haa Alifu Atoll yesterday during an operation conducted by the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) based on intelligence shared by foreign sources. MNDF said today that the vessels were detained by the Coast Guard for illegally entering the Maldives’ Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The seizure was carried out during a joint surveillance operation involving the Coast Guard and Air Corps, following intelligence more..