Nov 21 (SO) Most officials of the SL Railways Department are highly educated, yet the Department’s adoption of technology remains limited, Minister Bimal Rathnayake told Parliament. He said that despite the introduction of new technologies over the years, many have not been fully utilised. “A GPS system was introduced by a previous Govt, but it is not being used properly,” he said. Minister said the Department was moving very slowly in executing its duties. As a result, more..

Nov 21 (DN) SL’s brilliant young golfer Kaya Daluwatte delivered an outstanding performance to win the Girls’ 21 and Under Championship at the Faldo Series European Grand Final for the 29th Faldo European Championship, completed at the Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club in the UAE yesterday. The 17-year-old dominated the field from start to finish, producing three near-perfect rounds of 68, 67 and 67 to seal a crushing eight-under-par 202 victory. Sweden’s Lova Jansson could not more..

Nov 21 (FT) Oman is accelerating its efforts to attract foreign investment and sees growing opportunities for Sri Lankan businesses and professionals in tourism, manufacturing, agriculture and education, according to the country’s Ambassador’s to Sri Lanka. Ambassador Ahmed Ali Said Al Rashdi said that as part of Oman’s Vision 2040 economic transformation plan, the Sultanate continues to open up its markets in order to attract foreign investors across all sectors. more..

Nov 21 (FT) The Big Bold Brave 2025 (BBB 2025), a transformative platform spotlighting opportunities in the fast-emerging Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, concluded recently in Colombo, gathering renowned industry leaders from across the world for future-focused dialogue. Organised by the Harvard Club of SL, BBB 2025 was held 12-14 November at Cinnamon Life – City of Dreams, Colombo. The 3-day event began with an exclusive welcome event on 12 Nov, with the main conference more..

Nov 21 (FT) Ending months of speculation and delays over completing the country’s debt restructuring, national carrier SriLankan Airlines and the Govt of SL yesterday said that they have reached an agreement in principle with six members of the Ad Hoc Group of Bondholders on the financial parameters of restructuring the national carrier’s $ 175 million Guaranteed Bonds due June 2024. Delivering the 2026 Budget in Parliament on more..

Nov 21 (DM) Sri Lanka has been named one of the 50 Best Places to Travel in 2026 by the magazine Travel + Leisure. The annual list by Travel + Leisure identifies destinations based on accessibility, cultural significance, unique experiences, and emerging travel trends. This year, Sri Lanka was recognized for its diverse attractions, natural beauty, and rich cultural heritage. Experts featured in the magazine recommend exploring the northern city of Jaffna, highlands of Horton Plains, and more..

Nov 21 (FT) Colombo stock market has reached a major valuation milestone in Nov 2025, trading at a price-earnings (PE) level significantly above its long-term norms, First Capital Research (FCR) said yesterday. According to FCR, the ASPI is now valued at a premium to its 18-year historical PER average of 12.0x based on 2025 earnings, marking a rare period in which market valuations have exceeded their typical range. As at yesterday, the ASPI has gained nearly 45% year-to-date (YTD), more..

Nov 21 (CI) Sri Lanka's batting imploded in the face of a disciplined Zimbabwe attack, as they fell to a 67-run defeat in the second match of the men's T20I tri-series in Rawalpindi. They were bowled out for 95, chasing a target of 163. For Zimbabwe, it was the perfect response to their opening game defeat to Pakistan. The wickets were spread among each of the six bowlers used by Zimbabwe. Richard Ngarava was excellent more..

Nov 21 (FT) SL’s licenced finance companies (LFCs) need to pivot from traditional consumption-led lending towards financing industrial and export-linked activity if they are to remain relevant in a changing economy, Lanka Rating Agency (LRA) said in its latest sector review. Agency argues that LFCs have the balance sheet strength and risk frameworks to play a more direct role in capital formation, as firms seek investment to raise productivity, add value, and compete more..

Nov 21 (FT) Paytm CEO for Travel and COO for Consumer Payments Vikash Jalan urged Sri Lanka to position itself as the most frictionless, trusted, and convenient overseas destination for Indian travellers, insisting that digital payments and fintech infrastructure will be just as critical as flights, hotels, and marketing in shaping the country’s next phase of tourism growth. Speaking at the India-SL Tourism Connect forum on the theme Role of Fintech in Tourism Experiences, more..

Nov 21 (FT) Dialog Axiata PLC, has renewed its strategic partnership with the Japan Int'l Cooperation Agency (JICA) to further their shared mission of driving positive transformation and sustainable progress across SL through impactful social development initiatives spanning multiple sectors. The renewed partnership seeks to amplify the outcomes of a series of ongoing and future development projects across critical sectors including digital transformation, more..

Nov 21 (Island) Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa mounted the high horse and went for a ride in Parliament yesterday. He read a newspaper group the riot act. What irked him beyond measure was a Sinhala newspaper report, which he described as a total fabrication aimed at discrediting the govt. The news report said a police clearance certificate could not be obtained at present without a letter from the head of the Civil Security Committee in the police area. more..

Nov 21 (ST) An urgent plea is going out to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to drive a National Policy for Water Management in reservoirs with grassland-dependent elephants, which would benefit both farmers and the wild elephant population during the Dry Season. It is all to do with balancing the storage and release of water from large tanks for irrigation during the Dry Season and also safeguarding more..

Nov 21 (FT) The agreement-in-principle with Bondholders of SriLankan Airlines marks a crucial breakthrough for the Govt few thought possible, although Sri Lanka still needs IMF and Official Creditor Committee non-objection to proceed. Last September, when S&P Global Ratings raised its long- and short-term foreign currency sovereign credit ratings on SL to ‘CCC+/C’ from ‘SD/SD,’ it said that the upgrade reflects SL’s efforts to complete the restructuring of remaining commercial debt, more..

Nov 21 (Island) It is quite some time since things began to fall apart rapidly in the international political order that came into existence post-1945 and left most sage minds baffled. However, the int'l community cannot evade the responsibility of trying to figure out ‘where to go from here’ and what needs to be done to bring a measure of order out of the chaos that is upon the world. More specifically, the question cannot be avoided as to what must be done to halt the relentless undermining of humanity more..

Nov 21 (CT) Educational qualifications of politicians and the manner in which some of the politicians have acquired those qualifications have been a hot topic for decades. The latest of such is the controversy surrounding SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa’s law degree, which has come to light following a statement made by Minister Nalinda Jayatissa in Parliament. However, it is not the first time the educational qualifications of the said MP have come under scrutiny. more..

Nov 21 (ST) Last week we examined a compelling issue in SL’s historical budgetary practices. SL has followed a deeply flawed formula in managing govt revenue and expenditure. On the revenue side, SL adopted an East Asian–style taxation system, which produced relatively low tax yields for the govt. On the expenditure side, however, it embraced Western-style high spending. This mismatch has proven disastrous. A nation that generates limited tax revenue must necessarily maintain more..

Nov 21 (SO) For 76 years since Independence, Sri Lanka has struggled to build a cohesive national identity. Successive Govts have spoken of unity and reconciliation, launched campaigns, slogans and cultural initiatives. Yet, for many Sri Lankans, the idea of a single, inclusive nation remains an aspiration rather than reality. Several leaders have tried to foster a sense of togetherness through national programs. more..

Nov 21 (FT) SL Business Council UAE (SLBC), under the Dubai Chamber of Commerce will begin its 35th Anniversary celebrations in 2026 with the launch of the inaugural SLBC EXPO Pavilion 2025, scheduled to be officially inaugurated today, at 2 p.m. at Pullman Dubai Creek City Centre. Chief Guest will be Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the UAE Prof. Arusha Cooray and Guests of Honour are SLBC Eminent Senior Advisers, Farook Kassim and Gamini Kannangara. more..

Nov 21 (TM) The debate between the Police and tourism service providers about whether foreign tourists driving three-wheelers for travel purposes is legal has sparked a conversation in the society. This discussion points to both legal concerns as well as safety concerns. Recently, the Police issued a reminder to foreign tourists that driving any vehicle in the country without a valid int'l driving permit (IDP) or a domestic driving licence from their home country is prohibited. more..

Nov 21 (TM) The alcohol industry is strongly linked with the tourism industry in the country, and therefore, harm reduction approaches rather than total absenteeism, should be advocated by the health and education authorities as a realistic goal to promote population health. Moreover, effective alcohol control policies need to be developed based on scientific evidence considering gender, age, ethnicity & income variations of alcohol users more..

Nov 21 (GV) During a recent discussion with members of the Islamic community in Mawanella, an elderly Muslim woman shared a thought that captured the essence of SL’s long struggle toward reconciliation. “Women have a leading role to play in peace and in reducing violence,” she said. “Peace is not only for men. Maybe war is men’s work but peace is for all.” Her words, shaped by decades of witnessing conflict and coexistence, remind us that women have always carried the weight of more..

Nov 21 (DM) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his recent remarks to Parliament, outlined how the government acted on specific intelligence to pre-empt what could have been a terrorist attack in Arugam Bay. He described how security authorities had received advance information about a potential plot targeting this internationally renowned tourist destination and convened urgent meetings—even at 1.00 a.m.—to make rapid decisions and deploy preventive measures. more..

Nov 20 (DM) Sri Lanka marked World Children’s Day and the anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child with the official opening of Little Amaya – See Me, Hear Me, an immersive, interactive child-rights experience and art exhibition at the Lotus Tower. The initiative, led by UNICEF SL, together with the Department of Probation and Child Care Services (DPCCS) and the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), was launched this morning in the presence of Emma Brigham, more..

Nov 20 (EN) CEB has got 153 bids to set up batter energy storage systems (BESS) in the grid which were now being evaluated, Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody said. The CEB tendered for sixteen 10MW/40MHh battery energy systems, as a build operate own system. “We have got a record setting 153 bids,” Minister Jayakoday told parliament. “We can get a price around 17 rupees a kilowatt hours to get power after charging a battery. The evaluation is ongoing so we cannot give an exact price.” more..

Nov 20 (AM) Five wildlife officials at the Kaudulla National Park have been interdicted for allowing safari jeeps carrying foreign tourists to enter the park without tickets and pocketing the admission fees. Director General of Wildlife, Ranjith Marasinghe, stated that legal action has also been initiated against 10 safari jeeps that entered the park illegally during this period. Additionally, the services of four volunteer guides at the park have more..

Nov 20 (NF) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa issued a blunt challenge to the govt: stop talking and start acting against media institutions allegedly tied to the narcotics trade—a claim made by Prez Dissanayake in Parliament earlier this week. "It was said that the media sector in the country is connected to the drug trade. You don’t need to come to Parliament and say so. Arrest them. Enforce the law against them. If media institutions are engaged in drug trade, enforce the law against them" more..

Nov 20 (NW) Thirty kilograms of Kush cannabis, valued at approximately Rs. 150 million, have been discovered at the Central Mail Exchange in Colombo. The haul was recovered during an operation carried out by officers of the Police Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB). Police said the stock of narcotics was found inside a consignment at the mail exchange and has since been taken into custody. Further investigations are underway to trace the recipients & identify the network involved. more..

Nov 20 (DM) SL’s healthcare system has the opportunity to save up to GBP 8.2 billion in around 30 years, through comprehensive Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR), a medical expert on tobacco regulation declared recently. This amounts to Rs. 3.32 trillion, according to today’s exchange rate. Dr Rohan Sequeira, a leading consultant cardio-endocrine physician, also revealed that the healthcare sector spends around GBP 400m more..

Nov 20 (FT) SL will assume the Chairmanship of the Asia Tea Alliance (ATA) for 2026-2027, with Tea Small Holdings Development Authority (TSHDA) Chairman Nimal Udugampola taking on the role. Announcement coincides with Colombo hosting the 6th ATA Annual Meeting at Lotus Tower, on 27 Nov, convened by Solidaridad Asia Managing Director Dr. Shatadru Chattopadhayay, followed by the Asia International Tea Summit 2025 under the theme Tea Reimagined: Regenerative, Resilient, and more..

Nov 20 (TM) Instructions have been issued to police stations to initiate legal action against foreign nationals driving three-wheelers without valid licences, Police Headquarters stated. Authorities clarified that an international driving licence alone is insufficient. Foreigners must obtain a temporary licence from the Dept of Motor Traffic, provided their existing credentials cover the relevant category. Foreign nationals must obtain a temporary licence to drive three-wheelers more..