Oct 8 (FT) The amendments to SL’s Children and Young Persons Ordinance (CYPO) and the push for a new comprehensive Compact Act are being hailed as long-overdue reforms, aligning the nation with international child rights conventions. Yet, beneath the veneer of progress lies a profound anxiety: will these rights-centric laws, particularly the outright ban on corporal punishment and the shift toward rehabilitation, inadvertently dismantle the traditional mechanisms of discipline more..

Oct 8 (FT) SL enters the period of 2025-2030 at a critical juncture, having emerged from its severe economic crisis in the recent past. SL’s economic landscape once in the brink of collapse in the aftermath of the 2022 crisis has demonstrated a remarkable turnaround, yet the path to sustained growth is weighted with significant challenges. Though the country achieved a swift rebound through decisive policy measures, a strategic roadmap with deep structural transformation is imperative to establish more..

Oct 8 (FT) SL’s economy is expected to grow by 4.6% in 2025, supported by a modest rebound in industry and steady growth in services, before slowing to 3.5% in 2026, according to the World Bank’s latest SL Development Update. The report, launched yesterday in Colombo, warns that the recovery remains fragile and heavily dependent on the country’s ability to implement deep and sustained reforms. more..

Oct 8 (AD) Speaker of the Parliament, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, today (7) endorsed the certificate on the Convention against Doping in Sport (Amendment) Bill. The Second Reading Debate on the Convention against Doping in Sport (Amendment) Bill was held from 11.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. today, and the Bill was passed without a division and amendment. Bill was presented to Parliament for First Reading on Sept 12, by Minister of Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage. more..

Oct 8 (DM) SL designer Chathuri Samaraweera’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection shined at the Paris Fashion Week, making it the first time that a SL designer has presented their collection at the international event. Calling it a proud moment for SL in international fashion, SL Embassy in France congratulated Chathuri, Founder & Artistic Director of ANAYA Collection, for showcasing her beautiful womenswear collection at an official sideline show of the Paris Fashion Week 2025. more..

Oct 8 (TM) Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekara alleged that Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake and Speaker of the Parliament Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne have violated the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act by presenting false information to the Constitutional Council (CC) with the intention of deceit. He expressed these concerns in a letter addressed to the Speaker through which he raised a question of privilege. more..

Oct 8 (FT) People’s Tower, the new head office building of People’s Bank, was ceremonially declared open yesterday at No. 374, Dr. Colvin R. de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 2, under the patronage of the CB Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe, and the Treasury Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma. For over 64 years, People’s Bank has been deeply committed to the development of the nation by providing financial facilities to the public and making an unparalleled contribution to more..

Oct 8 (Island) Election Commission of SL (ECSL) has been named the Electoral Commission of the Year at the 2025 Int'l Electoral Awards Ceremony held in Gaborone, Botswana, on Friday (3). The award was accepted by Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Rathnayake. The annual awards recognise outstanding contributions to promoting democratic integrity and excellence in electoral management across the globe. In selecting the recipient, the awards committee more..

Oct 8 (DM) One man has found the guts to speak out against a monopoly in rugby as some schools are causing heartburn and promoting the win-at-any-cost syndrome. Zahira College’s Chairman of Board of Governors, Fouzul Hameed, has issued a passionate warning against what he described as a growing school rugby mafia, accusing a handful of elite schools of monopolising the sport, poaching players, showing no ethics, no values and focusing only on winning trophies - destroying more..

Oct 8 (CT) Minister Nalinda Jayatissa yesterday acknowledged that SL is currently experiencing a shortage of dialysis needles, attributing the situation to a failure by the selected supplier. Addressing Parliament, Minister explained that the supplier contracted to provide the dialysis needles had failed to deliver the type specified by the Medical Supplies Division (MSD). “Due to the supplier being unable to provide the needle type as per MSD specifications, govt was unable to procure necessary stock, more..

Oct 8 (HRW) UNHRC on Oct 6 extended a project to gather evidence of human rights violations and war crimes associated with Sri Lanka’s civil war for at least two more years. The resolution adopted by consensus offers a ray of hope to victims of abuses and their families that they may one day see justice, despite the efforts of successive SL govts to block accountability. SL’s civil war between separatist LTTE & the govt more..

Oct 8 (DM) SL is currently experiencing inter-monsoon rains, which typically bring evening showers, according to Deputy Director of the Met Dept, Merril Mendis. He said that the country is presently in the transitional period between the Southwest and Northeast monsoons. “You can expect evening thundershowers during this time,” he explained. Southwest Monsoon generally occurs from May to Sept, while the Northeast Monsoon sets in between Dec and Feb. more..

Oct 8 (TM) Nearly 5,000 medical officers across Sri Lanka are yet to receive a concessionary vehicle license at any point in their careers, according to the Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors (MCPA). MCPA President Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa said that the issuance of tax-free concessionary vehicle permits for doctors has been suspended since 2019, leaving thousands without access to a benefit previously available to the medical profession. more..

Oct 8 (CT) Despite recent media buzz suggesting Indian cricketers might participate in the upcoming Lanka Premier League (LPL), sources close to the LPL committee have clarified that no current India players will be part of the tournament. Instead, it is recently retired Indian cricketers who have shown interest in joining the cash-rich league. The 2025 edition of the LPL is set to be the longest in its history, running from 1 to 23 Dec. Matches will be held across three major Sri Lankan cities more..

Oct 8 (AD) The President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Jin Liqun, affirmed AIIB’s commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s development, particularly in the promotion of the green energy sector. This statement was made during a meeting at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (07), where AIIB Head Jin Liqun, accompanied by senior management, met with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, according to the President’s Media Division (PMD). more..

Oct 8 (Island) CEB Engineers’ Union (CEBEU) has issued a stark warning that the govt’s sweeping power sector restructuring, under the SL Electricity Act No. 36 of 2024, could unleash serious economic and operational risks — destabilising the state utility, burdening consumers, and discouraging investor confidence in the long run. CEBEU Executive Comittee Member, Dhanuska Parakramasinghe, said restructuring effort, more..

Oct 8 (FT) Leading industry experts last week underscored the urgency of strategic collaborations to support exporters, particularly Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), to navigate challenges and help them remain competitive in the European market. They emphasised that if SL’s struggling exports are to transform from challenge to opportunity, compliance needs to be tapped as a unique selling proposition (USP). These and other useful insights were shared at a program jointly hosted by more..

Oct 8 (DN) The swimming pool at the Mannar District Sports Complex was officially opened to athletes last Friday under the patronage of Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage. Speaking at the event, Minister said he had visited Mannar in January this year to identify the sporting needs of children in the area, and promised to establish the sports complex within a year.Today, we are fulfilling that promise,” he said. Minister added that previous govts had paid limited attention to the development of more..

Oct 8 (FT) SL will start its third mutual evaluation on anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) next year – and officials admit the stakes are high. The exercise is carried out in conjunction with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and its regional affiliate, Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG), every 5-10 years. It was initially scheduled to begin in March, but was postponed owing to the two major more..

Oct 8 (FT) Opposition lawmakers yesterday submitted a motion in Parliament calling for the appointment of a Select Committee to investigate the release of 323 containers from the Colombo Port without mandatory physical inspection, a breach of standard Customs procedures that has raised serious concerns over national security and public safety. The motion cites findings from a Committee of Inquiry appointed by the Treasury Secretary on the instructions of Prez Anura Kumara more..

Oct 8 (FT) UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED) yesterday raised serious concerns over SL’s limited progress in addressing thousands of unresolved disappearance cases, weak accountability mechanisms, and inadequate forensic capacity in investigating mass graves. In its latest findings released after reviewing SL’s implementation of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, Committee noted that more..

Oct 8 (Island) The JVP-led NPP govt has a proclivity for locking horns with trade unions although it pledged to champion workers’ rights during its Opposition days. It has antagonised state workers in several key sectors to the point of driving them to protest or even strike. Workers have played a pivotal role in unsettling govts and bringing about regime changes in post-Independence Sri Lanka. They were an integral part of the so-called Pancha Maha Balavegaya (Five Great Forces)— more..

Oct 8 (TM) There is much chatter about the level of protection afforded to Presidents and former Heads of State in SL. Most question why SL political leaders need any protection at all. There is no war, so what’s the need? many questions. Sri Lankans often draw parallels to how some leaders of European nations travel and use public transport, seemingly without massive motorcades. What they fail to recognise is that, even in such countries, when protection is deemed necessary, more..

Oct 8 (TM) Environment Ministry has urged the public to come forward with any information regarding past irregularities or acts of corruption within institutions such as Central Environmental Authority (CEA) and Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB). The ministry stated that all credible complaints would be investigated, and that firm action would be taken against those found responsible. Deputy Minister Anton Jayakody more..

Oct 8 (FT) The inaugural South Asian Bitumen Conference (SABIT 2025) will be held on 13–14 Nov at the Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams, Colombo, bringing together decision-makers, policymakers, and industry specialists from across the bitumen value chain themed, Bridging Trade, Infrastructure and Supply Chains Across South Asia and Beyond. Organised by Conference Connection, together Events and Hospitality Partner, Helanka Vacations Colombo, SABIT 2025 marks the expansion more..

Oct 8 (Island) The country’s rightfully proud Army celebrates its 76th anniversary in October this year with some of its illustrious officers placed under a cloud with regard to their conduct during the war by those who cannot stomach their dream victory over the LTTE, achieved despite various attempts made by powerful Western nations to deny us that worthy triumph over the world’s most ruthless terrorist organisation, even acknowledged by the American Federal Bureau of Investigation. more..

Oct 8 (DM) Two great filmmakers emerged from SL and India three-quarters of a century ago – Lester James Peries and Sathyajit Ray. Both had a great deal in common, culturally speaking, and the first features they made, establishing them as masters of cinema, paid homage to rural cultures, folklore and identities, though both came from urban, westernised backgrounds. Sathyajith Ray (1921-1992) was born in Calcutta (now Kolkata), India. Lester James Peiries (1919-2018) was born more..

Oct 8 (CT) Sri Lanka is proud of a healthcare system that punches well above its weight compared to other developing nations – usually. However, the recent shortage of AVF needles critically needed for the care of SL’s many patients in need of regular dialysis treatment adds to the mountain of shortcomings in the State’s administrative system for healthcare which is holding back many struggling families and individuals from receiving the necessary treatment, forcing us to question once again, more..

Oct 8 (TM) At a supermarket in London, a 10 oz bottle of Harmless Harvest coconut water sells for $ 48 per pack of 12. Across the Atlantic, Vita Coco occupies shelf space at Whole Foods and CVS, backed by a market capitalisation of $ 2.27 billion as of September. In 2022, global coconut water market was worth $ 4.3 billion. By 2032, it is projected to reach $ 22.8 billion, according to The Brainy Insights. more..

Oct 8 (CT) The govt is investing its time and money in northern development in a way that no previous govt has in a long while. The topmost leaders of the govt no less, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake, have been spending a great deal of their time and effort in the north. During their visits they meet face to face with persons from different walks of life and launch new development projects that will benefit the people. more..

Oct 8 (DM) In July this year, the parliament took a historic step. It amended the Penal Code, banning all forms of corporal punishment inflicted on children. The govt needs be appreciated for taking this bold step. From ancient times, our country has recognised the criminality of imposing corporal punishment as a form of discipline on children. Our ancient chronicle the Chulavamsa -- dating back to the 13th century -- records a law banning the use of corporal punishment on both more..