Jan 18 (ST) Is it possible for a govt that won an election with overwhelming popularity—especially one that captivated the younger generation—to become so unpopular that it loses power just two years after securing a landslide victory? The answer is yes, and there are political lessons to be learned in recent history. Despite promising wealth redistribution, the nationalisation of key industries, a staunch opposition to austerity, more..

Jan 18 (FT) Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) has given a special approval to Lanka Electricity Company (LECO) to roll out a prepaid tariff scheme for retail users towards the end of the first quarter of the year. PUCSL Director Communications Jayanath Herath said the prepaid scheme offers flexibility for electricity users from Negombo to Galle to have greater control over usage. “The move aligns with the Commission’s broader agenda to enhance electricity user more..

Jan 18 (FT) Planters’ Association(PA) commended the Govt for its decision to postpone the abolition of the Simplified VAT (SVAT) system to 1 April 2025. This decision, initially planned for 1 Jan 2024, followed strong opposition from a broad coalition of exporters and business chambers. While the postponement provides some relief, the PA called on the Govt to further ensure that the SVAT system would be retained until a proper and effective alternative can be implemented more..

Jan 18 (ST) Choon-paan karaya, Aldonis, came merrily down the lane on this Thursday morning with his tuk-tuk blaring the popular baila hit Sumihiri Pane, quite popular amongst the trio too. Stopping at the gate where the trio had gathered, he beamed and asked: “Madam, ada monawada mata denna puluwan (Madam, what shall I sell you today)?” “Apita maalu paan denna (We need maalu paan),” said Kussi Amma Sera, speaking on behalf of her two friends. “Ei ada oya bohoma santhosen more..

Jan 18 (CT) At the inauguration of a mobile exhibition series titled, Buddham Sharanam Gachchami organised by the Indian High Commission the other day, High Commissioner Santosh Jha declared that no one can break the relationship between the two nations and that both of them would continue to remain together even in the future. ‘We must work together like all brothers and sisters, to work for a shared future,’ he said. Of course, the rest of the speech andy more..

Jan 18 (CT) Sri Lanka envisions becoming the hub of South Asia’s port trade, with a clear mission to provide world-class port facilities and logistics services to all stakeholders while contributing to national economic development. However, ongoing challenges such as container backlogs and frequent ship diversions from the Colombo Port continue to impede progress. The most alarming development is, according to more..

Jan 18 (FT) If you’ve spent time in Sri Lanka’s beach towns recently, you’ve probably noticed something interesting: a boom in foreign-run businesses. That trendy café with perfect flat whites, the popular surf school, the Instagram-worthy yoga retreat – many of these spots, while adding character to our tourism landscape, are operating without proper licence or approvals. From Arugam Bay to Mirissa, unauthorised foreign-operated businesses have become part of the scenery. more..

Jan 18 (CT) There has been substantial discussion in recent weeks on what follows next after a convincing victory by the JVP/NPP. Informed and analytical articles have appeared in the country’s main media outlets outlining the varied tasks at hand for the new govt to fulfil its mandate to the people. This Paper is intended to highlight a few priority areas for initiating development guided by the principles of good governance. Good Governance has been singled out as the most important more..

Jan 18 (CT) Chinese President Xi Jinping extended a grand welcome to SL Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Wednesday and the two leaders held comprehensive discussions, culminating in the signing of 15 MoUs in Beijing. The agreements span education, media, cultural heritage and other areas, towards deepening bilateral ties. Prez Xi assured continued support for SL’s future endeavours, while Prez Dissanayake emphasised more..

Jan 18 (DM) We may die in our thousands; you may destroy our dwellings, hospitals, and infrastructure; and you may deny us access to food, water, and electricity, but never shall we let injustice triumph. With such feelings of victory, Pyrrhic or otherwise, the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip celebrated Wednesday night’s announcement of a ceasefire that will come into force from Sunday. When the ceasefire announcement was declared, the death toll had topped 46,000. more..

Jan 18 (DM) Many political alignments are being planned in the North as well as South these days in view of the forthcoming local govt and provincial council elections. However, the only proposed plan that might have a significant bearing on the political map of the country would be the one to unite SJB and UNP. The idea was mooted subsequent to obvious signs at the tail end of 2022 that NPP led by Anura Kumara Dissanayake who is also the leader of the JVP was going to win the Prez election. more..

Jan 17 (DM) A bus carrying a group of Russian tourists collided with a cement truck travelling in the same direction near the 138-mile post on the Southern Expressway towards Tangalle early this morning. The driver of the bus, who was injured in the accident, succumbed to his injuries, while the foreign nationals on board were admitted to the Tangalle Base Hospital with various injuries. It is reported that approximately 30 foreign nationals were travelling in the bus at the time more..

Jan 17 (DM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed the Ministry of Defence to take steps to develop necessary infrastructure facilities and provide technical assistance and labour support from the Tri-Forces to repair warehouses belonging to the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) and Sathosa to facilitate the purchasing of paddy in the upcoming Maha season. Accordingly, a coordinating conference in this regard was held at Hector Kobbekaduwa Agricultural Research and more..

Jan 17 (HRW) The govt of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, which took office on Sept 23, 2024, has promised to address longstanding human rights issues that have plunged Sri Lanka into repeated crises, Human Rights Watch said in its World Report 2025. Dissanayake has pledged to introduce more equitable economic policies and to repeal the notoriously abusive Prevention of Terrorism Act, but he has not backed more..

Jan 17 (TM) An agreement was signed yesterday (16) for the construction of 60 smart classrooms for estate schools. The agreement was signed between Prabath Chandrakeerthi, Secretary of the Ministry of Irrigation and Rural Infrastructure, and High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka. This initiative aims to bridge the digital divide in estate communities in Sri Lanka and focuses on building smart classrooms for estate schools in the districts of Nuwara Eliya, Nuwara, and Badulla. more..

Jan 17 (Island) Secretary General of the Constitutional Council, Dhammika Dassanayake alleged that attempts were being made to tarnish his reputation. Former Secretary General of Parliament said so when The Island sought his response to an allegation that he had moved into a room designated for ministers. Parliamentary sources said Dassanayake, who took over the room during his tenure as Secretary General, had turned down a request for allocating an office room for AG, more..

Jan 17 (USE) Today, U.S. Embassy in SL, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Central Cultural Fund, launched a new conservation project to protect the ancient Thuparama Image House, a key site within the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Polonnaruwa Ancient City. This initiative, funded by a $109,000 grant (Rs. 32 mil) from U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), reflects more..

Jan 17 (CT) A high-level delegation from the Institute for Security Governance (ISG), USA, led by the Regional Programme Leader Michael Rembold accompanied by representatives from the US Embassy, met with the Acting Minister of Defence, Major General (Retd) Aruna Jayasekara at his office in Colombo on Wednesday to gain valuable insights into SL’s defence priorities and decision-making processes, thereby laying a strong foundation for the development of more substantial partnerships more..

Jan 17 (AD) Former SL Ambassador to Russia, Udayanga Weeratunga, has been granted bail, after being produced before the Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court. Accordingly, Nugegoda Magistrate has ordered Weeratunga to be released on two surety bails and a cash bail of Rs. 10,000. The former diplomat was arrested by the Mirihana Police on January 10, for allegedly assaulting his neighbour. The incident had reportedly occurred on January 9 during an argument between them over more..

Jan 17 (DM) Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa arrived at the CID a short while ago to record a statement. He reportedly arrived at the back gate of the CID. It was reported, he was summoned to the CID to record a statement concerning a land issue in Kataragama. Earlier this month, the CID summoned Yoshitha Rajapaksa, the second son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, to provide a statement concerning ownership of a govt-owned plot of land in Kataragama. more..

Jan 17 (AD) Thisara Nanayakkara, the brother of former Minister Manusha Nanayakkara, has been granted bail after being produced before the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court. Accordingly, he was ordered to be released on four surety bails of Rs. 10 million each. The ex-minister’s brother, Thisara Iroshana Nanayakkara, was arrested by the CID on Dec 28, 2024 in connection with a complaint related to alleged financial fraud. The arrest was made in the Bibile area, according to police. more..

Jan 17 (PMD) President Anura Kumara Disanayake, currently on a four-day state visit to China, met with Wang Xiaohui, Secretary of the Communist Party of China for Sichuan Province, this morning. Chengdu, one of the happiest cities in China, is the capital of Sichuan Province and a leading city where the blend of cultural heritage and development harmoniously flourishes, offering its residents a high quality of life. more..

Jan 17 (Island) Sri Lanka has received an assurance from Thailand to help rescue victims of human trafficking stranded in that country. The following is the text of statement issued by Embassy and Permanent Mission of SL in Bangkok following high level talks with the focus on human trafficking issues: “Ambassador and Permanent Representative of SL in Thailand, Wijayanthi Edirisinghe met with Vice Minister for the Office of the PM of Thailand, General Nipat Thonglek to discuss more..

Jan 17 (DM) SLPP MP D.V. Chanaka criticised the govt for failing to show progress in the first 110 days, despite expectations of improvement within 100 days. Chanaka stated that the govt should have prioritised providing three proper meals for the people, but many are now struggling to afford even one. He stated that there has been a sharp rise in rice prices since the previous govt handed control to the NPP, with red rice increasing from 185 to 340 per kilo and now unavailable in the market. more..

Jan 17 (DM) An under-construction luxury hotel property in Colombo has come under the scanner as part of a money laundering probe linked to a Gurugram-based realty company. Indian Enforcement Directorate, a govt agency tasked with investigating offences of money laundering and foreign exchange laws, said that the property is part of a collection of assets worth more than Indian Rupees 200 crore, linked to Krrish Realtech Pvt Ltd, more..

Jan 17 (CT) Patients being brought to the Accident Service of the National Hospital (NHSL), Colombo would face a crisis if hospital authorities fail to take action regarding the X-ray machines installed in it. Health sources, yesterday (16), explained that one of the two X-ray machines at NHSL, Colombo Accident Service has been out of order for over one year while the only other operational X-ray machine available for the service was almost at the end of its life span. more..

Jan 17 (NW) Sri Lanka has been ranked among The 25 best places to travel in 2025, according to BBC Travel. In the BBC’s inaugural guide to the best places to travel this year, Sri Lanka is ranked 09th. Describing SL, journalist Claire Turrell says from its misty hilltop tea plantations and roaming wild elephants to its ancient temples and rolling surf, SL is a country that ticks lots of boxes. “In April 2022, the former prime minister announced SL’s bankruptcy, but more..

Jan 17 (Island) A special meeting between PM Harini Amarasuriya and members of the Voice of plantation people organization was held at the PM’s Office on Thursday. In this meeting, issues related to fundamental rights including land, housing and education of Malaiyaha plantation workers, a marginalized community of Tamils living in the Southern and Western provinces of the country were discussed. PM paid special attention to the declaration of basic demands of Malaiyaha more..

Jan 17 (EN) China has extended its 10 billion yuan (approximately $1.4 billion) worth currency swap facility to Sri Lanka by another three years, following the tenure of the swap ended in Dec 2024, SL’s Central Bank said. “The Central Bank of SL and the People’s Bank of China, in Dec 2024, successfully renewed the Bilateral Currency Swap Agreement signed in 2021, for a period of another three years, under the terms and conditions stipulated in the original agreement.” more..

Jan 17 (DM) Three employees of Parliament who were found guilty of sexual harassment on female staff of Parliament have been dismissed. Three employees of Parliament who were found guilty of sexual harassment on female staff of Parliament have been dismissed, the Communications Dept of Parliament said. They were dismissed after an investigation confirmed that these employees were found guilty of the offences. more..

Jan 17 (EN) Power regulator Public Utilities Commission of SL’s (PUCSL) higher projected surplus of 44 billion rupees helped the independent body for 20% reduction electricity tariffs from Jan 17, against a proposal by state-owned CEB to maintain the same price, officials said. The PUCSL has the authority to decide the prices, as per law. CEB’s request to maintain the same tariffs for the first six months of 2025 comes with its projection of only 2.3 billion rupee surplus in the period. more..

Jan 17 (NW) Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court has issued a conditional order to a group of employees of the Newscenter media organization, prohibiting them from broadcasting false and defamatory statements regarding the Hiru Media Network, or former MP Duminda Silva. The magistrate issued this order after considering a request by Asia Broadcasting Corporation under the provisions of the Online Safety Act. The petition was prompted by a statement aired on Newscenter by more..