Jan 27 (AD) The Kelanitissa Combined Cycle Power Plant should be operated in order to compensate for the electricity generation loss suffered by the national power grid due to the importation of substandard coal, energy experts have stated. It is reported that the electricity generation capacity that can currently be supplied to the national grid has dropped significantly because the coal imported into the country does not more..

Jan 27 (AD) SL Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), operating under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, has announced a target to deploy 310,000 SL workers for overseas employment in 2026. According to the Bureau, Kuwait has the highest demand, with a projected intake of 77,500 workers. Other major destinations and their respective targets include the United Arab Emirates (63,500), Qatar (44,000), and Saudi Arabia (31,000), along with 17 other more..

Jan 27 (CT) Representatives of Sri Lanka’s trade, logistics, shipping, freight forwarding, Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) and export–import associations have jointly urged the Government to institutionalise regular Time Release Studies (TRS) as a national trade facilitation tool, warning that the lack of periodic, data-driven measurement continues to conceal systemic delays and inefficiencies in the cargo clearance process. In a joint letter dated 26 January, more..

Jan 27 (FT) Sri Lanka today is not suffering only from an economic crisis. It is suffering from a system crisis. Across the country, we see delayed projects, stalled investments, struggling businesses, rising unemployment, declining public services, and increasing dissatisfaction among citizens. While much attention is given to financial indicators such as debt, inflation, and reserves, far less attention is given to a deeper issue that silently drains national value every day: our systems are outdated, more..

Jan 27 (FT) SL’s globally renowned gem and jewellery industry has received a timely boost with the introduction of a revised tax calculation method for gem imports. The new framework for applying the Social Security Contribution Levy (SSCL) and Value Added Tax (VAT) is expected to ease the financial burden on importers, revive declining import volumes, and strengthen the country’s gem export performance. The announcement was made by National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) more..

Jan 27 (Island) Chamindra Kularatne, the suspended Deputy Secretary General of Parliament and Chief of Staff, has told the Opposition that he will seek the intervention of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Association of Secretaries General of Parliament (ASGP) and UNHRC. Kularatne has also declared his intention to move the Court of Appeal against suspension more..

Jan 27 (NF) MP Namal Rajapaksa was summoned to the CID today (26) to provide a statement regarding ongoing investigations into Kehelbaddara Padme, a member of an organized crime syndicate. However, Police confirmed that Rajapaksa has requested a one-week extension to appear, as he is currently on an official trip to India. In a separate development, Shiranthi Rajapaksa, wife of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, has been summoned to the Police FCID tomorrow. more..

Jan 27 (FT) Trade unions representing employees of the CEB have warned of strict industrial action if the Govt fails to address a series of demands related to employee rights, salaries, and the ongoing restructuring of the national power utility. In a letter addressed to Power Minister Kumara Jayakody, the unions said they had consistently supported efforts to strengthen the CEB and had worked closely with successive administrations, including the current Govt, to ensure more..

Jan 27 (DM) A tale of contrasting velocities has emerged in the Port of Colombo, with the private sector-led Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) rapidly outpacing the state-managed East Container Terminal (ECT) in 2025, prompting renewed calls from industry heavyweights to open the latter for private investment. While the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) celebrated the commissioning of ECT’s third berth last week, more..

Jan 27 (NW) SL recorded 1,375 road accidents in the first 25 days of 2026, with 147 fatal crashes claiming the lives of 155 people, highlighting ongoing concerns over road safety in the country. DIG in charge of Traffic Control and Road Safety, W.P.J. Senadheera, said the figures underscore the persistent dangers on SL’s roads, particularly during peak travel periods and holiday seasons. Road safety advocates say the early-year statistics reflect long-standing structural issues, more..

Jan 27 (FT) Colombo High Court yesterday ordered that the case filed against former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and former IGP Pujith Jayasundara be taken up again on 23 March. The case, instituted by the Attorney General, was called before the Colombo High Court during yesterday’s proceedings. Both Fernando and Jayasundara appeared before Court when the matter was taken up. They are accused of criminal negligence and failing to prevent the Easter Sunday more..

Jan 27 (DM) Former United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Eric Solheim asserted that Sri Lanka must look beyond visitor numbers and focus on pricing its unique environmental assets higher to drive economic growth. Speaking on the potential of the tourism sector during a recent visit to Sri Lanka, Solheim highlighted that while the industry is a primary job creator globally, SL has yet to fully monetise its natural and cultural resources effectively. more..

Jan 27 (Island) The clink of cutlery, youthful laughter and the unmistakable energy of ambition filled the SLIIT Campus in Malabe as the Colombo Academy of Hospitality Management (CAHM) officially unveiled CAHM-7 Star Junior Chef Season 1, a pioneering national culinary competition designed to ignite the dreams of Sri Lanka’s next generation of chefs. CAHM chairman Errol Weerasinghe said the initiative was born out of a pressing need to attract young talent into what he described as more..

Jan 27 (FT) Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (IRCSL) has intensified its national effort to ensure the expeditious settlement of insurance claims following the catastrophic impact of Cyclone Ditwah. Working in close collaboration with all 14 licenced general insurers, IRCSL has established a unified mechanism to provide expeditious financial relief to affected families, households, businesses & property owners. more..

Jan 27 (FT) Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in SL (AHK SL) successfully organised the SL National Pavilion at Grüne Woche, the world’s largest B2C trade fair for food, beverages, and agriculture, currently taking place in Berlin, Germany. Grüne Woche attracts over 400,000 int'l visitors annually and serves as a premier global platform connecting producers, traders, and consumers. This year’s exhibition holds special significance as Grüne Woche celebrates its 100th anniversary, more..

Jan 27 (TP) Sri Lanka registered a hard-fought win over Afghanistan in their first Super Six encounter of the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2026, played today (26) at Bulawayo. After winning the toss, Sri Lanka opted to bowl first and were rewarded with a disciplined bowling performance that kept Afghanistan to a manageable total of 193. The Lankan bowlers applied consistent pressure, denying the Afghan batters the freedom to accelerate despite a few resistance efforts. more..

Jan 27 (DN) Wanindu Hasaranga will play in the third and final ODI against England which will commence today and skipper Charith Asalanka confirmed Hasaranga’s inclusion in the team yesterday to strengthen the spin department. Two teams are level in the series at one all and looking to give their best effort to win the series today in this deciding game. SL team is planning to make few changes to come back strongly in this game rectifying their previous match mistakes. more..

Jan 27 (CI) SL's captain, Charith Asalanka, has questioned England's condemnation of the pitch at the R Premadasa for the second ODI in Colombo by pointing out that 440 runs were scored in the match. Harry Brook said after Saturday's game that it was the worst pitch he had ever played on, while Joe Root, who scored a match-winning 75 off 90, said that he didn't think it was a great wicket for ODI cricket. That was after England had reached a target of 220 with 22 balls to spare more..

Jan 27 (ST) State-owned Airport and Aviation Services (SL) (Pvt) Ltd, the aviation services provider, has reported a 25% drop in profit for 2024 at Rs 21.108 billion versus Rs 28.122b the year before. But, the company has paid Rs 664.6 million in bonus, the national auditor observes. Audit note refers to 2025 bonus, while it may be for 2024. In 2023, AASL even paid Rs 50,000 bonus advance totalling Rs 178.8 million to 3,589 employees. more..

Jan 27 (ST) Modern limited-overs cricket is unforgiving to imbalance. Teams that enter global tournaments with a long tail or an overworked bowling unit rarely survive the business end. The importance of a genuine all-rounder is no longer a luxury but a necessity, particularly in a format where flexibility often outweighs flair. Sri Lanka’s victory against England in Colombo on Thursday underlined that truth yet again, and it also pointed clearly to what lies ahead. more..

Jan 27 (NW) Former England captain and International Cricket Commentator Nasser Hussain believes SL are primed to exceed expectations at the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, backing the team’s settled core of players and the country’s strong talent pathway to make an impact. Speaking ahead of the tournament, Hussain said the current group appears ready to deliver after years of promise without consistent results. “It feels like the right sort of time to deliver for this core of more..

Jan 27 (FT) SL Customs officials must be rewarded through a fairer and more credible incentive system if the Govt is serious about reducing corruption risks and sustaining reform, Finance Deputy Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando said yesterday, acknowledging that existing mechanisms remain weak and uneven. Addressing an event at SL Customs to mark International Customs Day, Dr. Fernando said more..

Jan 27 (NF) SL cinema witnessed a landmark moment over the weekend as Dharmayuddaya II stormed the local box office, setting a new all-time record for the highest-grossing opening weekend by a Sinhala film. From Friday to Sunday, the film surpassed the previous opening-weekend benchmark and firmly etched its name into the annals of local film history. What makes this achievement particularly significant is its historical context: this record has been set against more..

Jan 27 (FT) Yaden Laboratories, 100% SL-owned and the nation’s leading pharmaceutical manufacturer, has announced a major expansion of its manufacturing footprint by initiating a new state-of-the-art project. This was formalised through the signing of a strategic agreement with the BOI to establish Unit II within Katunayake Export Processing Zone (EPZ). CMD Shashimal Dissanayake said: “Our signing with the BOI reinforces Yaden’s mission to strengthen more..

Jan 27 (FT) As transparency becomes a defining requirement among European buyers, Mabroc Teas Ltd, a member of the Hayleys Group and one of SL’s leading tea exporters, has launched TeaTrace, a data-driven traceability platform designed to meet evolving global standards in ethical and sustainable sourcing. Developed in collaboration with ITechro, the platform ensures buyers and consumers gain end-to-end visibility from tea estate to retail shelf, embedding sustainability directly into more..

Jan 27 (DM) Air pollution is having a devastating effect on large parts of South Asia, particularly Northern India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Sri Lanka too is affected, but only seasonally and that too due to cross border flows from its northern neighbours. The lack of proper Air Quality Management (AQM) in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent is causing diseases and deaths, while also slowing down economic development, says a World Bank report. more..

Jan 27 (FT) Sri Lanka’s export sector continued its positive growth momentum in 2025, recording a notable year-on-year (YoY) growth of 5.6%. Based on Sri Lanka Customs statistics and estimated export figures for Gems & Jewellery, Petroleum Products, and services, total export earnings reached $ 17,252.15 million in 2025, reflecting sustained growth and improving external trade conditions. more..

Jan 27 (Island) The NPP govt’s efforts to abolish MPs’ pensions have met with stiff resistance. All members of the current Parliament, including 159 NPP legislators, will lose their retirement benefits unless the govt walks back its plan. Several petitions have been filed before the Supreme Court against the bill seeking to abolish the MPs’ pension scheme. The matter is now best left to the judges of the apex court. Interestingly, former Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has pointed out more..

Jan 27 (Island) Neo-liberal economists assess economic development using parameters like GDP growth, inflation rate, interest rates, debt/GDP ratio and such and recommend measures to improve these expecting a resultant improvement in poverty rates, employment and household income, but this seldom happens as revealed by increasing inequality, decline in real incomes, malnutrition and school dropouts. Increased GDP doesn’t always translate into improved living standards or more..

Jan 27 (FT) Nearly two years into office, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake faces a question that no amount of electoral arithmetic can dodge: is delivery being delayed by resistance — or by hesitation? When AKD sought office, his promise was unambiguous and resonant. Those who robbed the Treasury would be held to account. Not investigated indefinitely. Not reviewed. Held accountable. It was a pledge that cut across class, party, and ideology — because it spoke to something more..

Jan 27 (GV) Academic and linguist Noam Chomsky once wrote: if we adopt the principle of universality: if an action is right (or wrong) for others, it is right (or wrong) for us. Those who do not rise to the minimal moral level of applying to themselves the standards they apply to others – more stringent ones, in fact – plainly cannot be taken seriously when they speak of appropriateness of response; or of right and wrong, good and evil. This principle of morality has guided my work as a filmmaker and journalist more..