Sep 11 (FT) SL’s much-publicised target of welcoming 3 million tourists in 2025 is slipping out of reach, with the Govt now conceding that actual arrivals will likely fall short by at least half a million. Deputy Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe said the country will not reach its ambitious target of 3 million arrivals, but will not downsize its target. “Realistically, we will not reach the 3 million target this year, but we will not downgrade our target. more..

Sep 11 (Island) Nepal will be really lucky if it can arrest its rapid descent into anarchy, with the military struggling to bring order out of chaos. It has become rudderless without a govt, and the so-called Gen Z uprising has led to arson attacks on Parliament, the Supreme Court, iconic edifices and the houses of political leaders. About 20 people have been killed during protests. A former PM’s wife was burnt alive inside her house; she succumbed to her injuries in hospital. more..

Sep 11 (DM) Nepal is unique among South Asian nations. Alongside Tiny Bhutan, landlocked Nepal was never fully colonised by the British, and its distinguished Gurkha soldiers were first hired by the British military as far back as 1815. Though poor (Per capita income USD 1,447) Nepal has room (147, 181 sq. km) for its 29.6 million people. Despite the poverty, the country looks blessed -- Nagarkot, a popular tourist spot in Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley, offers a stunning view of the Himalayas. more..

Sep 11 (ST) I watched with relish, from the kitchen window, just as Aldoris, the choon-paan karaya, stopped at the gate. I was hankering for a ‘maalu paan’ and this time Aldoris was singing a different tune – meaning playing a new song on his battered loudspeaker. It was the newest creation by the legendary Gypsies and the song – Kasade (marriage) – with its catchy tune has become another hit for the band. Tune in to youtube.com/watch?v=BRcVnNUVLXQ to more..

Sep 11 (CT) The shocking scenes unfolding in Kathmandu this week have alarmed the world. With 22 dead, Parliament in flames, prisons breached, and a nation teetering on constitutional collapse, Nepal’s turmoil is a stark reminder of how quickly democratic institutions can unravel. PM Sharma Oli’s resignation came too late. A sudden, poorly handled ban on social media sparked initially peaceful protests that turned violent after Police opened fire on demonstrators, killing 19 on Monday. more..

Sep 11 (TM) The Ministry of Defence has said that approximately 26,000 firearm licences have been issued across SL under various categories, including around 1,800 licences for personal protection. The 26,000 licences include firearms for private law enforcement, sports, and crop protection/pest control, according to the Ministry of Defence. These figures were provided by Ministry of Defence Spokesperson more..

Sep 11 (DM) Deadly protests in Nepal have so far claimed the lives of at least 19 protesters. What began as an outrage towards a govt-imposed ban on at least 26 social media platforms has dragged the country towards a state of anarchy. On Sept. 29, 2024, the Nepali Supreme Court ordered all social-media platforms in Nepal to register before operating so that authorities could monitor undesirable content, with the text of the court verdict made public in Aug 2025. more..

Sep 11 (GV) Every 45 seconds someone in the world takes their own life. Suicide claims over 700,000 lives annually cutting across borders, classes and communities. It is one of the leading causes of death among young people aged 15-29 and no country is untouched by its toll. According to the WHO, more than 77% of suicides occur in low and middle income countries but the shadow of suicide haunts even the world’s most developed nations. In Asia, suicide accounts for more..

Sep 11 (CT) Govt allocated LKR 479 billion for Health in its 2025 Budget. Although a definitive figure cannot yet be provided for 2025, SL’s public health expenditure was between 1.5 and 1.6% of GDP during the period from 2018 to 2021. Following an actual 14% increase in budgetary allocations for health in 2024, the precise proportion of GDP spent on public healthcare this year can only be determined at the end of the fiscal year. more..

Sep 11 (TM) Sri Lankans watching the prevailing situation in Katmandu, Nepal would have breathed a sigh of relief, with the sobering thought of OMG! That could have been us!. Many Lankans would have patted themselves in the back for what was a more orderly change of govt and a more restrained use of law and order during SL’s recent upheaval. Had SL law enforcement agencies and the defence establishment acted with less restraint, the outcome for Colombo could have been much worse. more..

Sep 11 (SO) “Don’t worry, I will control the situation”, former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe told reporters and supporters as he arrived at court in a van full of lawyers and legal aides on Aug 22. Hours later, local news was flooded with photographs of Wickremesinghe in handcuffs, being escorted by uniformed police officers, and of his silhouette behind the grills of a prison bus. This marks the first time a former Prez has been arrested since SL introduced the office of Exec. Prez in 1978. more..

Sep 10 (AD) The Speaker of Parliament Jagath Wickramaratne today informed the House that the No-Confidence motion submitted by the Opposition against Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekera is not in order and cannot be accepted in its present form. Speaker stated that the motion was carefully considered in light of the provisions of the Constitution, the Standing Orders of Parliament, and established parliamentary practices and presedence. “I also studied the traditions and more..

Sep 10 (DN) MAS Holdings recently hosted a delegation from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) at the MAS Fabric Park in Thulhiriya as part of ADB’s efforts to support the private sector through meaningful partnerships and investment. The visit offered the ADB team an opportunity to experience MAS’ operations firsthand and gain insights into the company’s commitment to manufacturing excellence and sustainable business practices. “Partnerships with leading private sector companies more..

Sep 10 (DM) SL must focus on smarter spending and fairer revenue collection to sustain its economic gains, the World Bank cautioned in a report published yesterday, as the country seeks to consolidate one of the sharpest fiscal adjustments in its history. The report, SL Public Finance Review: Towards a Balanced Fiscal Adjustment, noted that over the past three years, fiscal consolidation equivalent to nearly 8% of GDP more..

Sep 10 (AD) SriLankan Airlines announced that all flights to Nepal have been temporarily suspended until further notice. Most airlines, including Indian carriers, have suspended flights after Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu was forced to shut down on Tuesday afternoon amid escalating violence in the country, grounding hundreds of passengers and cancelling multiple services. Indian media reported that as the day progressed and the situation worsened, more..

Sep 10 (CT) Mano Ganesan, TPA leader and MP, has criticised the current Govt for neglecting the rights of the upcountry Tamil community. He claimed that in the year since coming to power, NPP Govt has attempted to undermine the rights of the Malayaga people. Ganesan specifically highlighted the proposed shutdown of the New Villages Development Authority for the Plantation Region (NEVIDA), urging the Govt not to proceed with the move. He noted that he has written to more..

Sep 10 (AP) The swelling wave of public anger first swept through the island nation of SL in 2022 and ousted the president. Two years later, it erupted in Bangladesh as protesters toppled the ruling govt. On Monday public fury exploded in Nepal, forcing its prime minister to resign a day after. Each protest movement began with a specific grievance that flared up, ending in the rejection of the govt or its leaders. In many ways, more..

Sep 10 (TM) AC Milan’s partnership with the Colombo Athletic and Football Academy (CAFA), gathers more traction as it announced the much anticipated second instalment of their academy camp in SL, marking the third significant youth football exposure program delivered in just nine months. This remarkable frequency of world-class training opportunities demonstrates that these initiatives are far from one-off events. Instead, they represent a structured, long-term more..

Sep 10 (AD) Former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe today expressed deep concern over the situation in Kathmandu, Nepal, condemning the recent violence and calling for the restoration of peace and stability in the country. “First of all, I condemn all kinds of killings, including those of the youth that has occurred in Nepal. Similarly, the burning of the former PM’s house and the killing of the former PM’s wife is an extremely sad situation. I express my condolences over that murder,” more..

Sep 10 (EN) Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a brief statement expressing concern over Israel’s strikes on Qatar, without naming the aggressor. “SL expresses deep concern over the recent strikes reported in Qatar, which might further escalate volatility and undermine regional security,” the ministry said in its 2-sentence statement, a day after the Israeli attack in Qatar’s capital, Doha. “SL emphasizes the need for restraint and to be committed to diplomatic dialogue more..

Sep 10 (TM) Ambewela, SL’s benchmark for dairy excellence, has once again raised the bar in innovation with the launch of its latest creation, SL’s first-ever Faluda Flavoured Yoghurt. This exciting new product brings together the much-loved, nostalgic taste of faluda with the creamy, nutritious goodness of Ambewela yoghurt, creating a first-to-market indulgence that blends heritage with health in every spoonful. Crafted from the pure, fresh milk of Ambewela’s own farms, more..

Sep 10 (TM) Private bus owners noted that paying attention to increasing the road capacity is a key step in improving road safety, especially concerning buses. In the backdrop of the recent accident in Ella that claimed the lives of 15 persons who were on a bus, the Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association’s Chairperson Gemunu Wijeratne further said that drivers’ experience is also a concern. “Experience is necessary for drivers to more..

Sep 10 (NW) Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Namal Rajapaksa has issued a legal notice demanding Rs. 1 billion in compensation from Deputy Minister of Public Security, Sunil Watagala, citing defamation. The notice has reportedly been sent via registered post through Attorney-at-Law Sankha Karunaratne. In the notice, Namal Rajapaksa claims that a recent statement made by Deputy Minister Watagala at a media briefing in Homagama caused him reputational harm. more..

Sep 10 (Island) A special parliamentary committee, headed by the Minister of Environment, Dr. Dammika Patabendi, and Minister Bimal Rathnayake, was appointed to implement practical, immediate solutions to prevent elephants from being hit by trains. Based on the committee’s recommendations, Ministry of Environment and its affiliated institutions have begun implementing these practical solutions. As a step in this process, it was proposed that signboards with elephant more..

Sep 10 (EN) SL parliament passed a law to curtail entitlements of prez and past leaders of the country with a majority of 150 votes. President’s Entitlement (Repeal) Bill was brought before the Parliament to abolish the special privileges and lifelong benefits traditionally enjoyed by former presidents. The bill saw 151 votes in favour of it against a solitary vote. NPP-led ruling party promised to prune excess privileges of prez more..

Sep 10 (AD) Former Mayor of the Moratuwa Municipal Council Saman Lal Fernando, who was arrested by the CIABOC earlier today, has been remanded. He was remanded until Sept 23 by the Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanka Bodaragama. Former Moratuwa Mayor Saman Lal Fernando was arrested at around 12:50 p.m. Bribery Commission stated the former Mayor has been arrested in connection with an allegation of causing losses to the govt by awarding road development more..

Sep 10 (NW) The wife of the late underworld figure Makandure Madush has submitted a letter to IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya, calling for an investigation into her husband’s death. The woman said that there is suspicion over his death while in Police custody. “It wouldn’t have mattered if he had been sentenced by the court and hanged. But it is an incident where he was murdered on the road like an animal. At the time, they said the other underworld gang’s motorcycle was found. more..

Sep 10 (AD) A financial allocation of Rs. 500 million has been set aside under the 2025 Secondary Education Sector Improvement Programme (SESIP) for the purchase of equipment and chemicals for science laboratories in 1AB and 1C category schools across the island. This will be a school-based grant, according to the Ministry of Education. Science Division of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Training is currently in the process of transferring the allocated funds to more..

Sep 10 (DM) A protective embankment was constructed today at the 15th milepost on the Ella-Wellawaya main road, where 15 persons were killed and 18 others injured in a tragic bus accident last week, Uva Province Governor’s Counsel, Attorney-at-Law Kapila Jayasekara said. Accident occurred on the night of Sept 4 when a bus carrying Tangalle Urban Council employees and their families on a picnic plunged about 1,000 feet into a ravine. Governor Jayasekara noted that several more..

Sep 10 (CI) Veteran left-arm seamer Udeshika Prabodhani has returned to the SL squad for the upcoming Women's World Cup after nearly a year-long injury layoff. Batter Imesha Dulani, who was dropped for the home tri-series against India and South Africa earlier this year, is also in the 15-member squad for the tournament in India and SL beginning on Sept 30. Teenagers Rashmika Sewwandi & Manudi Nanayakkara, more..

Sep 10 (CT) An OIC has lodged a complaint with the Peliyagoda Fraud Investigation Division, claiming he was defrauded of Rs 2.1 million by a constable who worked under him. The constable obtained Rs 2.1 million from the Inspector, who was attached to the Expressway Division, promising to provide a car in exchange for the cash. The constable, who was serving at the same Police station, informed the OIC that a vehicle belonging to one of his relatives could be purchased for Rs 3.2 million. more..

Sep 10 (AD) The opposition is prepared to bring a no-confidence motion against the Speaker of House, General Secretary of the SJB Ranjith Madduma Bandara in Parliament. He made this statement when the Speaker announced his decision regarding the no-confidence motion submitted by the opposition against Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekara. MP Madduma Bandara further said that if the Speaker fails to safeguard the democratic rights of the opposition, a no-confidence more..