Feb 28 (DM) The Colombo district consumer prices eased in February, as the prices of most food items fell while the non-food prices didn’t budge either way as the prices of petrol were cut. Consumer prices, measured according to the Colombo Consumer Price Index, came at 1.6% in the 12 months to Feb 2026, down from 2.3% through January. Prices measured on a monthly basis fell 0.9% in Feb 2026, after rising 0.6% in Jan more..

Feb 28 (ST) The 2026 amendments1 to the Colombo Port City Economic Commission (CPCEC) Act are aimed at improving governance, streamlining oversight, and providing the regulatory certainty required for large-scale international investment. These amendments introduce a clearer, more predictable statutory framework for identifying, approving, and monitoring BSI, providing investors with greater certainty and transparency for large-scale and strategic capital investments. more..

Feb 28 (FT) European Union said yesterday it has allocated an additional €1 million (over Rs 370 million) to address the continuing humanitarian impact of Tropical Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka. With this additional funding, the European Union reaffirms its commitment to supporting affected communities and strengthening ongoing relief operations across the country. Delivered through humanitarian partner organisations, this funding will support the provision of basic services. more..

Feb 28 (FT) Swedish Trading Company (STC), one of SL’s most established industrial engineering solutions providers, successfully hosted STC TechSphere 2026 on 3 Feb at the Shangri-La Colombo, bringing together industry leaders, engineers, business owners, and international principals for an evening of technical knowledge-sharing and industry dialogue. Held under the theme Legacy of Excellence – Building on Decades of Trust, the event marked over 40 years more..

Feb 28 (FT) A customised capacity-building program for 10 aquaculturists from the National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA) under the Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Ministry of Sri Lanka, was organizsed from 2 to 13 February 2026 at the Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA), Bhubaneshwar, India - the premier research institute for freshwater aquaculture in India under the aegeis of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. more..

Feb 28 (FT) SL’s power sector reforms have hit a critical funding snag, with nearly Rs. 8.8 billion needed to pay 2,010 CEB employees who opted for voluntary retirement now left in limbo after the regulator refused to allow the cost to be passed on to consumers. In a letter dated 20 Feb, Energy Ministry Secretary Udayanga Hemapala informed the Treasury Secretary that the Cabinet had earlier approved recovering more..

Feb 28 (FT) SL Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) will be kicking off its exclusive promotional activities at the ITB 2026, scheduled to be held in Messe, Berlin. This Prestigious event, in which SL has been a regular participant over the years, will be held from 3 to 5 March. The number of participating countries is anticipated to be over 180, also over 5000 global exhibitors, over 100,000 trade visitors (tour operators, media, buyers, decision-makers) and is scheduled to attract top-tier int'l media. more..

Feb 28 (Island) After nearly two decades of on-and-off negotiations that began in 2007, India and the European Union formally finally concluded a comprehensive free trade agreement on 27 January 2026. This agreement, India–European Union Free Trade Agreement (IEUFTA), was hailed by political leaders from both sides as the mother of all deals, because it would create a massive economic partnership and greatly increase the current bilateral trade, which was over US$ 136 b in 2024. more..

Feb 28 (CT) Catholic Church of SL, on Thursday, asked that there be no interference with the ongoing investigation into the massacre of the innocents that was the Easter Sunday attack. Reiterating a firm stand that the Church has not wavered from, Communications Director for the Colombo Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando, insisted that any interference would amount to a grave injustice to the victims. As the investigation approaches attack’s 7th anniversary this April, more..

Feb 28 (FT) Buddhism is a sacred morality, and because it is based on reason and experience, it is a powerful force that can eliminate inequality. My ideal would be a society based on Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity - Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution. Indeed, public debate on racism in Sri Lanka is both necessary and healthy, as no nation can truly progress while prejudice festers beneath its social fabric. However, in confronting these issues, more..

Feb 28 (CT) The former Director of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), Major General (Retd) Suresh Sallay, who was arrested in connection with the Easter Sunday attacks and is currently being held under a 72-hour detention order, is likely to be detained for a further 90 days for continued questioning, reliable sources said. Statements recorded from several witnesses have reportedly substantiated matters relating to his alleged involvement, more..

Feb 28 (TM) NPP–JVP Govt’s bright sunshine over substantial progress in the anti-corruption front is currently threatened by dark clouds due to allegations of malpractices in the purchase of substandard coal for the Norochcholai Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant. Although Ministers and spokespersons tried to deny allegations, they could not stop mounting demands for political, economic, and technical scrutiny. The Opposition raises serious questions about procurement integrity, more..

Feb 28 (DM) On Feb 15, a survey carried out by Verité Research showed the govt’s approval rating stood at 65% in early Feb 2026. The report added perceptions of public confidence in the country’s economic direction also showed marked improvement. On Feb 23, according to the DCS, SL’s national inflation, measured by the NCPI, declined to 2.4% in January 2026 from 2.9% in December the previous year. The two news items undoubtedly warmed our President’s cockles more..

Feb 28 (DM) Let me begin this article with an apology and explanation to readers. This week’s column should have been the second and final part of last week’s article (Is JVP Gen-Sec Tilvin, the power behind Prez Dissanayake’s throne?). However this week’s column would be about the sensational arrest and detention of former Intelligence chief Major General Suresh Sallay. The Tilvin Silva article will be published next week. more..

Feb 28 (DM) A huge controversy has erupted over the arrest of former State Intelligence Service (SIS) chief Suresh Sallay on Wednesday over the suicide attacks on Christians by a group of Muslim terrorists on 2019 Easter Sunday, which fell on April 21 in that year. Hundreds of views and comments are being floated in the mainstream and social media on the incident, but none of those who expressed their views and posted comments have been able to be objective, all see the issue through more..

Feb 28 (GV) A year after Victor Ivan’s passing, the contradictions that defined him still feel alive. He was one of the prominent individuals who braved all odds, including a lifelong partial disability, to leave an indelible mark on media. An activist, political analyst and author shaped by the works of Bertrand Russell and Mahatma Gandhi, he was never politically neutral. His loyalties were often volatile and shifted in unexpected ways. He accommodated opposing views but he did so only on his own terms. more..

Feb 27 (Island) The GMOA has decided to intensify its ongoing trade union action by withdrawing from participation in Arogya Clinics from next Monday (02).The association has been engaged in trade union action for over a month, calling for solutions to issues affecting medical officers. Accordingly, the decision not to take part in the Arogya Clinics was taken by the GMOA’s Central Committee on the 25th, its committee member Dr. Prasad Colombage said. more..

Feb 27 (EN) SL’s central bank should terminate its inflationary swaps and lock in foreign reserves represented by excess liquidity instead of temporarily mopping up excess liquidity overnight to push up interest rates. Falling short term rates will lead to a quick credit recovery from Ditwah without formal rate cuts and discourage speculative capital flows. The converse will lead to permanent monetary stability. Last year a combination of rising overnight rates and rising bill rates in December by more..

Feb 27 (DM) SL’s cost of living continues to climb, with the DCS setting the national poverty line at Rs. 16,730 per person per month for Jan 2026, minimum income required to meet basic needs. The latest figures also identify Colombo as the country’s most expensive district, where an individual must spend at least Rs. 18,044 a month to afford essential living costs. The national poverty line, continuously updated to account for more..

Feb 27 (DM) Sri Lankans will have the opportunity to witness a lunar eclipse on Tuesday (3), Arthur C Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies said. Although the event is classified as a total lunar eclipse, observers in SL will only be able to see it as a partial lunar eclipse. This is because the Moon will be below the horizon during the total phase of the eclipse. As a result, the total phase — when the Moon is completely covered by the Earth’s shadow — will not be visible locally. more..

Feb 27 (CT) Approximately Rs 24.4 billion has so far been released under various relief measures announced for those affected by Cyclone Ditwah, officials told the COPF. Officials also informed that while the majority of allowances for house cleaning, purchase of household items, and assistance for schoolchildren have already been distributed, delays in housing reconstruction and rental assistance payments have occurred due to processes such as damage assessments and land identification. more..

Feb 27 (DM) Sri Lanka is undergoing a brain drain crisis where a new study from the Uni of Peradeniya reveals that over 50% of state uni graduates, rising to 80-90% in critical fields like medicine, engineering, and agriculture, are migrating permanently, never to return, according to a recent article by Ceylon Public Affairs. Article which explores brain drain levels in 2025 mentions that the SL govt spends Rs. 87 billion yearly on more..

Feb 27 (NW) SL Police has announced that its Tell IGP project, a public complaint mechanism currently in operation, will be restructured and further implemented in 2026. The service provides an online platform for members of the public to submit complaints directly to the Inspector General of Police regarding any incident or matter. According to a statement from the Police, both local and foreign individuals can utilize the service to submit complaints in Sinhala, Tamil or English. more..

Feb 27 (NW) A group of civil organization representatives today lodged a complaint with the CID, requesting an investigation into the procurement process of substandard coal and the resulting financial loss caused to the country. Speaking to the media, Convenor of the Samagi Joint Trade Union Alliance affiliated with the SJB, Ananda Palitha, expressed confidence that the current Prez would not interfere with investigations into substandard coal imports, just as more..

Feb 27 (EN) SL’s apparel exports fell 2.66% to US$ 425.44 million in Jan 2026, compared to US$ 437.07 million in Jan 2025, reflecting continued pressure across key export markets. “The January performance highlights uneven global demand and reinforces the need to strengthen diversification and competitiveness,” Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) said. Exports to US fell by 2.73% to US$ 165.11 million. Exports to EU (excluding UK) fell by 1.93% to US$ 126.99 million. more..

Feb 27 (FT) Following a record-breaking year for SL’s largest private sector retail bank, Hatton National Bank (HNB) CEO Damith Pallewatte has been named SL’s Bank CEO of the Year 2025 by the Global CEO Forum. The CEO of the Year Awards, which was hosted at Cinnamon Grand Colombo, recognises leadership excellence in the corporate sector across organisational performance, governance standards, and industry impact, and serves as a national platform that more..

Feb 27 (DM) Govt has tabled sweeping changes to Sri Lanka’s tax framework, proposing higher taxes on capital gains, a wider net for withholding tax and a one-off relief window for those with unpaid dues. A Bill to amend the Inland Revenue Act No. 24 of 2017 was published in a Gazette Extraordinary on Feb 24, by Minister of Finance, Planning & Economic Development, Anura Kumara Dissanayake. more..

Feb 27 (Island) Several months have passed since the Sinhala New Year Nekath Seettuwa (table of auspicious times for this year’s Sinhala and Tamil New Year 2026) was submitted to Dept of Cultural Affairs for approval, but there has been no positive response from the officials, Expert Committee of the National Astrologers’ Association says. Ravishankha Senanayake, National Coordinator of the association, said that the Nekath Seettuwa Committee had been dissolved in 2024. more..

Feb 27 (EN) Fitch Ratings believes the Central Bank of SL’s (CBSL) reintroduction of a consolidation framework for the banking sector is broadly positive for sector credit profiles. Consolidation should strengthen franchises, create better-capitalised banks and support compliance with tightening single-borrower limits, particularly as higher post-merger capital can enable banks to take larger exposures within revised regulatory caps. Fitch expects the initiative to also support more..

Feb 27 (TM) SL’s inflation targets rely on the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) data from 2019, though SL’s spending patterns have weathered the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and an economic crisis in 2022, CB Deputy Governor C. Amarasekara informed the COPF recently. “The country is relying on the 2019 basket of goods. There is no household income and expenditure survey conducted after 2019, more..

Feb 27 (CT) Knuckles Spring Water bottled and marketed by CPC Lanka, a fully owned subsidiary of Cargills (Ceylon) PLC, has recently introduced Sri Lanka’s first tethered bottle cap to the market. Sourced from natural springs in SL’s central highlands and bottled at source, Knuckles Spring Water has long been recognised for its quality and purity. As another nature friendly initiative from KNUCKLES, to protect our planet, this introduction of the tethered cap marks a packaging more..

Feb 27 (EN) Holders of defaulted SriLankan Airlines debt are to vote on March 18 on an exchange to govt bonds, which can lead to the completion of the process and an improvement in the country’s credit profile. “We are expecting within a short period of time, within weeks perhaps, we will be able to reach a good outcome with those creditors as well,” Treasury Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma said. “It is a bona fide approach that we adopted and a constructive engagement that we had with more..