Sep 7 (ST) During his 2-day official visit to the North, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake undertook an inspection tour of the uninhabited Kachchativu islet, where Catholic fisherfolk from across the Palk Strait meet once a year in the third week of March to host the annual feast of St Anthony. Presidential visit turned out to be historic, making Prez Dissanayake the first prez to visit the islet since the bilateral and maritime border agreements between more..

Sep 7 (ST) My dear Sajith, I am writing to you as you seem to be facing an unexpected problem these days, just when you thought you could get the telephone party up and running to try and challenge the maalimaawa chaps. I am referring to the problems caused by Uncle Ranil’s recent court appearance, of course. I wouldn’t blame you if you had thought that the Greens as a party were good as dead and with many of the pohottuwa chaps being behind bars or on their way to Welikada, more..

Sep 7 (CT) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake made yet another visit to Jaffna last week. With all good intentions, he may be on course to set a record for visiting Jaffna more times than all his predecessors combined. There is no Lyn Ludowyk among us to make a political satire of presidents going to Jaffna, reversing the time honoured old trope he wrote as a play – He Comes from Jaffna! The President’s visit was primarily to launch development projects in the peninsula. more..

Sep 7 (TM) While there are many challenges facing Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) and his JVP-led NPP Govt, the three most prominent current challenges could be listed as facing the upcoming UNHRC sessions, recording positive progress in the country’s economic recovery programme, and adopting a foreign policy that will support SL’s economic recovery. On the matter of economic recovery, Prez AKD and his Govt more..

Sep 7 (TM) As Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake prepares to mark his first year in office on 23 September, the question dominating both political circles and ordinary conversations is a sobering one: is the NPP Govt losing the plot? What was hailed as a new chapter in SL politics, one that promised a break from the cronyism, corruption, and stagnation of the past, is increasingly looking like it is turning into yet another story of missed opportunities, disorganisation, and disillusionment. more..

Sep 7 (SO) What began as a joyous annual trip to Ella aboard the Galaxy Dream (Sihina Mandakini) turned into a night of horror on Sept 4, the bus carrying employees of the Tangalle Urban Council (UC), plunged 300 metres down a precipice near the 15th milepost on the Ella–Wellawaya road, killing 15 people including children. It was the second major bus tragedy in recent months, following the Gerandiella accident in June which claimed 21 lives. That such mass casualty crashes are more..

Sep 6 (CT) An investigation has been launched to determine how containers of chemicals used in the production of crystal methamphetamine (ice) in SL, reportedly for a facility funded by organised crime leader Mandinu Perera, alias Kehelbaddara Padme, were released from the Port and SL Customs. Reports indicate that the containers were disguised as essential ceramics. On Friday, Western Province North Crime more..

Sep 6 (DM) A SLPP member and his brother have been implicated in the discovery of nearly 50,000 kg of chemicals used in the production of crystal methamphetamine (ice) during a police raid at a property in Middeniya, Thalawa, on Friday (5). The stock had been imported by underworld figure Kehelbaddara Padme, who had earlier rented a house in Nuwara Eliya to manufacture ice with the help of two Pakistani nationals. Raid, carried out by the Western Province North Crimes Division, more..

Sep 6 (CT) Trade unions of the CEB have launched a work-to-rule campaign from midnight on 4 Sept, protesting the proposed restructuring of the CEB. The unions warned that if the Govt fails to meet their demands, they will escalate to a full-scale nationwide strike. The unions have submitted 24 demands to the Ministry of Power and Energy. Among them is a call for every employee to receive by 15 Sept 2025, a formal letter confirming their position, remuneration, workplace and more..

Sep 6 (DM) The govt has delayed the enactment of the proposed piece of legislation for monitoring and supervision of both local and international NGOs despite the availability of a draft worked out during the previous rule. The need for monitoring and supervision of NGOs has been debated for well over a period of two decades because of complaints about unchecked spending and working against national interests of SL. more..

Sep 6 (AD) The President’s Fund has decided to grant compensation of Rs. 1 million each to the families of those who lost their lives in the bus accident that occurred last night (04) on the Ella–Wellawaya main road. A bus, which was carrying a group of Tangalle Urban Council employees and their families returning from a trip, veered off the road near the 24th km post on the Ella–Wellawaya main road at around 9 p.m. last night (04). It first collided with an oncoming SUV vehicle more..

Sep 6 (NW) The National Milad-Un-Nabi commemoration ceremony was held this afternoon (05) under the patronage of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Masjidul Aroosiya Jumma Mosque premises in the Malay Colony village, Ambalantota. The event was organised by the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, together with the Department of Muslim Religious And Cultural Affairs, to mark the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad. more..

Sep 6 (DN) Sri Lanka team led by Charith Asalanka is brimming with confidence to take on Zimbabwe in second T -20 after winning first game win when they meet at Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club today at 5 pm (Sri Lanka time ). Sri Lanka team want to make good fight to get series win before their Asia Cup which will commence from September 9 in UAE .The winning mentality from this Zimbabwe series in more important for Asia Cup series and they want to continue their momentum. more..

Sep 6 (EN) Cigarette smuggling occurs across the country, and a better understanding of this is needed to develop policies to curb it, increase government revenue, and minimise adverse health impacts, a study by the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) has found. Sri Lanka’s smuggling is a result of incentives given by high tobacco taxes. High import duties have also promoted corruption in the trade of other goods including foods in Sri Lanka analysts have pointed out. more..

Sep 6 (ST) Colombo’s ageing underground sewage system has been identified as the main factor behind the recent road collapses and sinkholes in the city. The two road failures leading into Colombo caused severe traffic jams between Model Farm Road Junction and D.S. Senanayake Junction in Borella on August 20 and 27. These busy roads are used by thousands of people daily, and diversions through Baseline Road & Cotta more..

Sep 6 (DN) Former cricketer Roshan Mahanama has stepped down from his role as a member of the National Sports Council (NSC) with immediate effect. Mahanama was appointed to the National Sports Council for the 2025–2028 term by letter dated 14 Feb 2025 and formally accepted the position on 20 Feb 2025. Announcing his resignation, Mahanama stated that he was reluctantly compelled to discontinue his role due to personal reasons. A former ICC match referee, more..

Sep 6 (ST) By late August, Sri Lanka had already counted 147 forest fires this year. That is an average of two a day, Director and Media Spokesman of the Disaster Management Centre Pradeep Kodippili said. The DMC says the numbers are neither unusually high nor low when compared with the past decade. Yet the frequency and the scale in districts like Badulla, Matale and Ratnapura have left officials worried. “We have had 30 fires in August alone,” Mr. Kodippili said. more..

Sep 6 (ST) An Aldabra tortoise has found its forever home at the Dehiwala Zoo three months after being dumped in the ocean by suspected wildlife smugglers. The Director General of the National Zoological Gardens, Dr. Chandana Rajapaksa told the Sunday Times that the Department of Wildlife Conservation handed over the tortoise to the zoo this week. Dr. Rajapaksa said that the reptile was in good health, but it was not yet decided if it would be put on public display. more..

Sep 6 (ST) Many university students are increasingly using artificial intelligence tools, particularly for writing literature reviews in their theses and for preparing assignments and presentations. While plagiarism detection software is available to monitor AI use, some educators believe generative AI can be beneficial if applied responsibly. “AI tools are available for this generation to use and it can be a valuable resource, however, students must develop a solid understanding of more..

Sep 6 (CT) It was just past 9 pm on 4 Sept when residents along the Ella–Wellawaya road heard the terrible sound of metal grinding against rock, followed by an echoing crash that reverberated through the valley. A bus, carrying around 30 passengers, had collided with an oncoming jeep, broken through a roadside barrier, and plunged nearly 1,000 feet down a cliff. Scene that unfolded in the darkness was one of devastation. more..

Sep 6 (ST) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has once again drawn attention for the manner in which its finances are managed. A review of SLC’s latest financial statements shows extensive related-party transactions, raising questions about governance, transparency, and possible conflicts of interest within the organisation. Payments categorised as Transactions with Related Entities amount to over Rs. 2bn (Rs. 2,041,383,177) in 2024 and again over Rs. 2bn (Rs. 2,078,418,418) in 2023. more..

Sep 6 (Island) Deputy Minister of Technology and Innovation Chathuranga Abeysinghe has called on Sri Lanka’s engineering community to take the lead in driving industrialisation and positioning the nation as a global hub for innovation. Besides he stressed that engineering must extend beyond infrastructure, with a greater focus on research, development and exportable solutions. Speaking at the National Engineering Conference 2025 held for the second consecutive year recently, more..

Sep 6 (ST) SL’s number plate issuance has been at a halt for months with Dept of Motor Traffic (DMT) conceeding that an estimated 95,000 vehicles and more than 80,000 motorcycles are yet to be issued official number plates. An investigation found the shortage was due to a cancelled contract in Apr 2025, chronic delays in tenders, and an outdated registration system that is unable to cope with the demand. more..

Sep 6 (Island) Vigneshwaran Akash and Chamika Heenatigala took four wickets each before the top order batting line up clicked together as Sri Lanka Under 19s beat their West Indies counterparts by eight wickets to take a 2-1 lead in the five match Youth ODI series in Antigua on Thursday. ‎Chasing 139 runs to win open batsman Viran Chamuditha cracked an unbeaten 64 runs to seal the victory with 28 overs to spare. Chamuditha’s opening partner Puleesha hammered 21 runs with four fours. more..

Sep 6 (NW) A group of 16 SL journalists has arrived in Israel on a five-day study program aimed at providing foreign media and policymakers with a clearer understanding of the country’s current situation, SL Ambassador to Israel Nimal Bandara said. The visit, organized by the Israeli Embassy in New Delhi, would give the delegation opportunities to meet senior officials from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defense. “Our journalists will also observe humanitarian aid operations in more..

Sep 6 (DM) Global cybersecurity giant Kaspersky is calling on SL regulators to establish clear cybersecurity guidelines for mobile financial services amid a surge in digital threats. As SL embraces a mobile-first digital economy, the growing reliance on smartphones for banking and shopping is exposing millions to significant financial cyber risks. According to a 2024 Kaspersky cybersecurity report, the threat landscape is worsening globally, with data foreshadowing an imminent rise more..

Sep 6 (ST) Following the recent impressive rise in FIFA global rankings, Sri Lanka has shown keen interest in upholding their growth at the international level, with more international games to follow. Next week, Sri Lanka is set to host Maldives at the Racecourse Ground in Colombo for two international friendlies, just a month before they resume their campaign in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers. Sri Lanka will meet Maldives on September 6 for the first time since June 14, 2022, and more..

Sep 6 (FT) Virtusa’s new leadership has set an ambitious vision to transform the company into a $5 billion enterprise by 2030, positioning it as the world’s leading domain-driven engineering partner for the AI-enterprise. On his first visit to SL since taking over as CEO earlier this year and in what marks his first series of global media engagements, Nitesh Banga sat down for an exclusive interview. He outlined Virtusa’s immediate priorities in AI more..

Sep 6 (FT) The curious case of an ex chief executive’s indictment has brought on a battery of psychiatric symptoms among denizens of the Demotic Social-media Republic of SL. Demotic in the sense of the common people and Social-media is self-explanatory. The hoi polloi have waged psychological warfare online – hat in hand, a PDA in the other – ever since the shock arrest. Far more interesting to followers of social studies is the plethora of symptoms suggesting that more..

Sep 6 (FT) UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has been in politics for more than five decades. Wickremesinghe who has served as MP, Deputy Minister, Cabinet Minister, leader of the Opposition, PM and Prez has often been described as a spent force in politics. Resilient Ranil has always proved his detractors wrong by bouncing back into the ring spiritedly. Recent events seem to indicate that the irrepressible Ranil Wickremesinghe may yet again demonstrate that he is a person who more..

Sep 6 (Island) Laws are said to fall silent in times of war, but in this country, they fall silent even when the ruling party politicians go on the offensive to further their interests. The FSP has complained that a group of JVPers who grabbed its party office in Yakkala, the other day, by attacking its members and driving them away, continues to occupy it, under police protection. In the aftermath of Tuesday’s barbaric attack on the FSP office and its workers, the JVP members produced a document calling it more..

Sep 6 (CT) If someone thought that Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s surprise visit to the barren Katchatheevu islet would provide adequate diversion from his everyday hiccups in office, he is mistaken. Yes, the brief speedboat ride in the open seas with breeze gently hitting your face might have been refreshing for the Prez and his civilian entourage on board, but to the nation at large, it was at best a Page 3 news bit. Certainly, the Katchatheevu ride by itself, and even Prez’s public engagement more..