Oct 22 (ST) While countries clamour to adopt AI, a development that promises a utopian era of abundance and prosperity, experts warn of a turbulent time in human history, waiting to happen. They said adopting AI can result in job losses, creating social upheaval in developing countries and hitting the working class the hardest. This will result in the world’s economy being held by a few, the corporate bosses and those with more..

Oct 22 (Island) Power cuts have returned, much to the resentment of the public. They however did not come as a surprise. Given the generation shortfall at Lakvijaya power plant due to the use of low-quality coal, power cuts were expected much earlier, but the govt stepped up diesel power generation to avert them. Having groped in the dark and resorted to obfuscation, following Saturday’s nationwide power outage, which lasted for nearly 6 hours, govt now says power supply will return to normal soon. more..

Oct 22 (Island) Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur in West Bengal State has set an uplifting example. It has taken technology to the streets by developing a solar-powered food vending cart complete with digital payment facilities, allowing street vendors to move from one location to another easily without having to occupy public spaces permanently, according to a news item published in this newspaper today. Mounted on a three-wheeler, the vending machine was unveiled more..

Oct 22 (ST) So the conversations have begun over another programme with the IMF with Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake joining this discussion in comments he made on Monday, speaking at the annual economic summit of the CCC. In our Kussi Amma Sera column on Sept 20, we alluded to this possibility after comments by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and CCC Chairman Krishan Balendra who went on record saying there is a need to go for another programme after more..

Oct 22 (TM) The latest island wide power breakdown was a weary confirmation of a pattern that has run for years. Each time, explanations arrive quickly, and each time the public is left with more questions than answers. One comment keeps returning: substandard coal. Many engineers and commentators argue that the repeated failures at our coal-fired plants cannot be separated from the quality of the fuel fed into them. Poor coal, they say, damages boilers, lowers efficiency and more..

Oct 22 (SO) The death of Kavanthissa, one of SL’s celebrated wild tuskers, after weeks of treatment for a suspected gunshot injury has opened a wider investigation into not only who shot the animal, but whether SL possessed the equipment, veterinary infrastructure and monitoring capacity needed to save him. DWC insists that its veterinarians administered the correct treatment and rejects allegations that excessive antibiotics more..

Oct 22 (CT) Colombo Port City was conceived as the glittering symbol of SL’s economic future. A new financial metropolis rising from the Indian Ocean, attracting international capital, multinational corporations, luxury developments and thousands of employment opportunities. It was to become SL’s answer to Singapore and Dubai. Twelve years after its inauguration, however, an uncomfortable question demands an answer: has Colombo Port City become a functioning international business center, more..

Oct 22 (DM) SL has yet to recover from its long economic downturn. The central challenges facing the country are avenues to increase employment and livelihoods, and ensure income streams to meet the rising cost of living. Therefore, there is the need to increase sustainable production, and fair distribution of the returns on such production to the working people. Furthermore, given the drastic rise in wealth inequality in the country, there is also the need for redistribution of wealth. more..

Oct 22 (TM) SL’s petroleum sector is heading towards a fresh confrontation between the Govt and private fuel suppliers, with mounting losses, restrictions on fuel distribution, and disagreements over pricing rights threatening to undermine the very objectives of the country’s petroleum market liberalisation. While private operators have reportedly demanded diesel price increases exceeding Rs. 100 per litre, more..

Oct 22 (TM) For almost half a century, Prevention of Terrorism Act has hung over this country like a monsoon cloud. Successive Govts promised to repeal it, yet none ever found the courage to do so. It is therefore no small matter that the present administration, which campaigned on a pledge to abolish oppressive laws including the PTA, has finally placed a replacement before Parliament. However, the Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill, gazetted on 22 Sept, now stands before more..

Oct 22 (DM) Sri Lanka calls itself a land of elephants. They feature in our history, religion, tourism campaigns and national celebrations. Yet behind this proud image is a shameful reality: elephants are dying year after year, often because of human actions, while the country struggles to protect them. Respect must be measured by whether they are safe. The figures should alarm every citizen. DWC data reported by the Daily Mirror shows that 397 elephants died in 2025. more..

Oct 21 (DM) Police have discovered 2,078 undelivered letters hidden under the bed of a postman in Haldummulla, where they had allegedly been kept for more than six years. The discovery was made during a police raid on the suspect’s residence in Harankahawa, Soragune, on October 20, following information that he was allegedly involved in the illegal sale of liquor. 42-year-old suspect is attached to the Soragune Sub-Post Office. A police team searched his residence more..

Oct 21 (NW) Dept of Meteorology has warned of increased rainfall across Sri Lanka after a low-level atmospheric disturbance near the island developed into a low-pressure area. According to the weather forecast issued at 4 p.m. on Wednesday (21), the system is expected to bring enhanced rainfall to the island and surrounding deep and shallow sea areas on October 21 and 22. Heavy rainfall exceeding 100 mm is likely in some areas of the Western, Sabaragamuwa & North-western provinces. more..

Oct 21 (NW) SL’s 100 leading listed companies have recorded a combined revenue increase of approximately 20% during the 2025/26 financial year. Media Services, the publisher of LMD, revealed the top 20 companies in the forthcoming 33rd edition of the LMD 100 rankings, with Hayleys, John Keells Holdings (JKH) and LOLC Holdings securing the top three positions. Hayleys retained the top position for the third consecutive year, reporting more..

Oct 21 (NW) Gampaha Magistrate Bandula Gunaratne has referred a case file to the President of the Court of Appeal to initiate contempt of court proceedings against IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya over his failure to comply with a court order. Magistrate ruled that the IGP had disregarded the court’s instructions and accused the police of attempting to mislead the judiciary. The dispute arose from two drug-related cases filed against the same individual by officers of Gampaha more..

Oct 21 (NW) The govt is paying close attention to the salary concerns of engineers employed in the public sector, including issues relating to inadequate remuneration and facilities, Minister K.D. Lal Kantha stated. Minister made the remarks while addressing the Annual General Conference of the Public Service Engineers’ Association, held in Colombo yesterday. Minister Lal Kantha said the govt recognised the contribution of engineers to national development and remained committed to safeguarding more..

Oct 21 (DM) Bar Association of SL (BASL) has called on the govt to withdraw the proposed Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill and the Prevention of Organised Crimes Bill in their present forms, warning that the legislation could undermine fundamental rights and weaken judicial oversight over arrests and detentions. In a statement, BASL President Rajeev Amarasuriya and Secretary Nalin De Silva said the two bills, more..

Oct 21 (EN) SL’s nation-wide inflation index, as measured by National Consumer Price Index (NCPI) on a year-on-year basis, was 8.1% in Sept 2026, steady from a month ago, data from the state statistics office showed. It stood at its highest since June 2023. NCPI, an alternative to the widely watched Colombo Consumer Price Index, rose 0.1%, in Sept 2026, registering 224.2 compared to 223.9 in Aug 2026. The year-on-year inflation of the food group increased to 6.9% more..

Oct 21 (NW) Minister Bimal Rathnayake has held discussions with ministers from Sweden, Finland and Norway to explore opportunities for strengthening cooperation in SL’s transport, highways and urban development sectors. According to the SL Embassy in Stockholm, Minister met Swedish Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Andreas Carlson, Finnish Minister of Transport and Communications Lulu Rane and Norwegian Minister of Transport Kamzy Gunaratnam during more..

Oct 21 (NW) Sri Lanka is hosting the 69th World Congress of the International Police Association (IPA), marking the first time the int'l event is being held in an Asian country. The Congress officially commenced in Colombo today, with Minister Vijitha Herath attending as the Chief Guest. IGP Priyantha Weerasuriya, who also serves as President of the IPA SL Section, was also present at the event. The Congress, held from Oct 20 to 25, brings together more than 400 delegates more..

Oct 21 (FT) Access Engineering PLC expects to recover about Rs. 1.45 billion of the Rs. 1.76 billion it invested in the South Asia Commercial and Logistics Hub, after the venture’s shareholders agreed not to proceed with the project, leaving the company to recognise a loss of about Rs. 310 million in its own financial statements. The shareholders of South Asia Commercial and Logistics Hub Ltd. mutually agreed to abandon the project in view of changes in external circumstances, more..

Oct 21 (DM) Counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioners in the Special Determination petitions challenging the constitutionality of the Bill titled the Protection of the State from Terrorism yesterday informed the Supreme Court that the proposed legislation would significantly curtail people’s liberty, making it far more dangerous than the PTA. They made these remarks when 25 Special Determination petitions challenging the constitutionality more..

Oct 21 (NW) Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe has expressed support for the intentions behind recent demonstrations involving black magic rituals and curses in Colombo targeting individuals accused of harming the country. “Those who performed rituals and curses asked for harm to come to those who harmed the country. So far, 60 politicians and their relatives who caused such harm have been imprisoned and faced court cases,” the Deputy Minister said, commenting on more..

Oct 21 (DM) SriLankan Airlines has denied media reports and public statements claiming that its information technology (IT) systems had been hacked or compromised, insisting that its systems were not under the control of hackers. The airline said the allegations stemmed from a cyber-related claim published externally on June 29, 2026. Upon becoming aware of the claim, the airline immediately conducted investigations, technical assessments and precautionary measures. more..

Oct 21 (NW) Minister of Ports Bimal Rathnayake has revealed that concerns over the agreement to allocate 10 acres of land at the Colombo Port were among the reasons behind the govt’s opposition to the proposed USD 280 million logistics project involving a Chinese company. Minister said the agreement involved allocating 10 acres of land located between the East and West Container Terminals at the Colombo Port to more..

Oct 21 (EN) SL’s Inland Revenue Department (IRD) and the Excise Department (entered into an agreement to share intelligence information aimed at preventing tax evasion and money laundering, the Finance Ministry said. MoU will see a joint mechanism and conducting parallel investigations over the information they share. “In parallel with SL’s third mutual evaluation against money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing, offenses relating to tax evasion more..

Oct 21 (NW) SL Police have recorded statements from 14 individuals, including politicians, in connection with the installation of a statue of former LTTE member Rasaiah Parthipan, also known as Thileepan, in Nallur, Jaffna. Minister Ananda Wijepala, speaking in Parliament, said the statements were recorded from individuals allegedly involved in funding, constructing, promoting and organising the ceremony related to the statue. Minister said Police had launched more..

Oct 21 (NW) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa questioned Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage in Parliament over the delay in paying Rs. 50 million to Sri Lankan javelin thrower Rumesha Tharanga in recognition of his international achievements. Premadasa said the athlete had brought significant recognition to Sri Lanka through his performances at international competitions and questioned why the promised financial reward had not been paid. He also claimed that a road leading to more..

Oct 21 (NW) A special commemorative postage stamp has been issued in honour of renowned SL athlete Ranatunge Karunananda, who gained international recognition for his determination and perseverance at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. The stamp was officially issued yesterday at the Ministry of Mass Media, under the patronage of Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, with the aim of preserving SL’s sporting heritage and inspiring future generations. Karunananda gained worldwide recognition more..

Oct 21 (Island) The proposed Prevention of Organised Crime legislation could be used to suppress dissent rather than combat organised crime, Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) Education Secretary Pubudu Jayagoda says. Addressing a media briefing at the FSP office in Nugegoda, Jayagoda said the Bill, gazetted on Oct 6, had been presented to Parliament along with other legislation which, he claimed, more..

Oct 21 (DM) SL Police have warned the public about the growing threat of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered deepfake scams, cautioning that criminals are increasingly using sophisticated technology to deceive people, steal money and obtain sensitive personal information. According to the police, INTERPOL has highlighted the growing use of AI technology in fraud schemes, in which criminals create convincing fake videos and voice recordings to impersonate real individuals. more..

Oct 21 (AD) England Women have confirmed a white-ball tour of SL with a T20I and ODI series set to take place in Feb and March 2027. The tour takes place on either side of the ICC Women's Champions Trophy in India, with a three-match T20I series scheduled for early February, followed by an ODI series in early March, after the tournament conclude. A red-ball training camp for England Women will also take place in India in January, with players set to be selected in the coming weeks. more..