Oct 19 (SO) The trick is to stay calm. Let the water run through your fingers and connect with the ocean. Out in the surf off the fishing village of Kadabeddagama on the Southern Coast of SL is 22-year-old Senuri Madushani, one of few female surfers from the Island nation and the first to compete against the best in the world. On an island where surfing has long been dominated by Men and tourists, Senuri is claiming her space in the water, hoping more girls will follow. more..

Oct 19 (NF) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake says that the country needs a state service that fulfills its professional responsibilities diligently. Addressing a Sri Lanka Air Force event held today in Trincomalee, the President stated that the Air Force will be entrusted with a special responsibility in combating the drug menace. Presidential colours were presented to the No. 3 Maritime Squadron of the Sri Lanka Air Force, cadet officers were commissioned, and flight badges were awarded more..

Oct 19 (TM) Govt has commenced the process of drafting regulations to govern the establishment and operation of electric charging stations as part of its efforts to develop the Electric Vehicle (EV) infrastructure. SL Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA) Director General H.K. Wickramasinghe revealed that at present, the establishment and operation of electric charging stations in the country was not regulated. more..

Oct 19 (Island) The majestic Oval scoreboard clock showed ten minutes to three on a Sunday afternoon when our final wicket fell. We had conceded first innings points by a small margin to Moors in a P. Sara Trophy encounter. The year was 1972 and it was my first game for the club. The many Moors supporters hugged each other and left the venue to return to Braybrook Place to celebrate. With just half an hour left to tea, and two hours thereafter to the end of the game, their optimism was justified. more..

Oct 19 (SO) The Sri Lanka Men’s Team experienced mixed fortunes on the opening day of the Asia Rugby Sevens Series second leg, which commenced at the Racecourse Grounds in Colombo yesterday. The Sri Lanka Tuskers started their campaign with an impressive 26-16 win over Uzbekistan in their Pool ‘C’ opening fixture. After going through some anxious moments initially, the home side cut loose in the second half as they ended up scoring three goals and a try. more..

Oct 19 (TM) Football researcher and civil society activist Dhaniz Ali, representing We Are Football, an independent football reform movement, submitted a complaint to the CIABOC last Wednesday. The complaint is linked to long-standing allegations of financial and administrative corruption within the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL), and Ali has named seven officials, both current and past, from the sport’s local controlling body. Among them are two former Presidents more..

Oct 19 (Island) The govt budget is the nation’s key economic policy document — the primary instrument through which a state translates its political priorities into concrete economic action. SL’s 2026 Budget comes at a crucial juncture, following the severe macroeconomic crisis of 2022, implementation of an IMF-supported stabilization programme, and the ongoing debt restructuring process. As the country enters a phase of gradual recovery, govt faces the delicate task of balancing fiscal discipline, more..

Oct 19 (TM) Limes are no longer the small indulgence they once were. A kilogramme now costs about Rs. 2,500–3,000 in Colombo markets. For a fruit found in nearly every Sri Lankan kitchen, the price shock has drawn both frustration and worry. The lime shortage is not entirely new. Each year, one or two seasonal crops shoot up in price and dominate headlines. Limes have simply joined that list again, this time more dramatically. more..

Oct 19 (ST) Charith Asalanka’s Asia Cup campaign fell short of expectations. The young left-handed batsman, who currently leads SL’s limited over sides, struggled with the bat, amassing only 75 runs throughout the tournament. However, it was his captaincy that attracted the most intense scrutiny. A series of tactical misjudgments on the field has placed his position under significant review, with speculation circulating within Sri Lanka Cricket regarding a potential replacement, more..

Oct 19 (ST) One of the provisions in Resolution passed without a vote at the UNHRC last week was to call for an Independent Public Prosecutor’s Office in SL. The resolution acknowledges with appreciation the Govt’s commitment to establish such an office—independent of the Attorney General. Govt has, since assuming office, been at odds with the AG’s office, accusing it of protecting or procrastinating on prosecutions relating to corruption charges against former govt politicians. more..

Oct 19 (Island) There is no shortage of dog and pony shows in this country. They are usually staged by the govt in power. The SJB-led Opposition has accused the incumbent NPP administration of creating high-profile events almost weekly to distract the public from its unfulfilled promises. Opposition has chosen to call them Kolam (highly entertaining folk dance dramas). Interestingly, among the traditional dance dramas is the Police Kolama. One may argue that latest addition to them is Suspect Kolama, more..

Oct 19 (ST) My dear Kosthaapal Tharinda and Neethigna Wanninayake, I thought of writing to both of you this week because the entire country watched the drama you staged at the courts in Mount Lavinia last week. It is not something that either of you should be proud of. Instead, it was a case of the two arms of the law trying to outdo each other without working together. Kosthaapal Tharinda, we do not know what exactly happened. You have been accused of assaulting a lawyer. more..

Oct 19 (ST) More than a year passed, and NPP’s short-lived Speaker of Parliament Ashoka Ranwala could not find a copy of his Japanese doctorate, which he promised to produce in a few days’ time. Unfortunately, another NPP leader is in an honorary doctorate muddle, though she possesses a genuine PhD. PM Dr Harini Amarasuriya, who graduated from the prestigious Hindu College of the Uni of Delhi, visited her alma mater on Thursday more..

Oct 19 (TM) A little over a year ago, Sri Lanka appeared to turn a new page in its turbulent political history when 43% of registered voters cast their ballots for Anura Kumara Dissanayake, electing him as the ninth Executive President of Sri Lanka. It was an unprecedented moment where, for the first time, a presidential candidate who failed to secure the constitutionally ideal 50% plus one vote of the electorate still ascended to the highest office in the land. more..

Oct 19 (CT) Across SL today, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa is on the move—holding small gatherings, issuing stark warnings, and painting a grim picture of what lies ahead. He warns that if the govt fails to meet its debt obligations, the economy will once again teeter on the brink of collapse, risking another Aragalaya by 2028. He accuses the govt of lacking a coherent economic plan, failing to deliver on promises—such as reducing electricity tariffs by one-third—and warns that he may mobilize more..

Oct 19 (TM) Amidst the many challenges faced by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) in governing the country, the JVP-led NPP is fast becoming the biggest challenge the President has to face. JVP/NPP members including Govt ministers seem to have become accustomed to making controversial statements or engaging in actions that bring ridicule to the Govt, resulting in their Party Leader, President AKD, more..

Oct 19 (CT) On World Food Day 2025, the Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR) did not mince its words. It accused govts and global institutions of offering “fake and so-called solutions” to one of humanity’s most shameful and persistent failures — hunger. It is a charge that should make every policymaker and citizen pause for reflection. For all our progress, our gleaming cities and technological marvels, the world still cannot guarantee a meal for every person. more..

Oct 19 (SO) On Oct 10, an incident at the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court highlighted tensions that threaten the very foundation of our judicial system. A tussle between a police officer and a senior lawyer was captured in a viral video that revealed the involvement of another senior lawyer acting in a manner far removed from the decorum and ethical standards expected within Court premises. What followed – police intervention, the officer’s arrest and subsequent bail, case now pending in Court more..

Oct 18 (NW) Senior journalist Uvindu Kurukulasuriya has released a recent photograph of former CB Governor Arjuna Mahendran, who remains wanted in connection with the Central Bank bond scam in Sri Lanka. Kurukulasuriya, who shared the photo on social media, said Mahendran had contacted him after nearly three years. In a post written in Sinhala, he claimed that Mahendran spoke to him about several matters more..

Oct 18 (NW) Opposition MP Kavinda Jayawardena has called for an inquiry into a statement made by Govt MP Lakmali Hemachandra, who was captured on video telling officials not to implement a court order. The video, which went viral this week, shows NPP MP Lakmali Hemachandra saying, “We told you not to follow the court order,” during a District Coordination Committee meeting held to discuss housing and land disputes in Colombo. Jayawardena said he was awaiting the govt’s response and urged more..

Oct 18 (CT) SL authorities are seeking Interpol Red Notices for the arrest of ten athletes who disappeared after travelling to England for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court was informed. Special Investigation Unit for the Prevention of Sports Offences told Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga Bodaragama that the athletes’ failure to return has resulted in an estimated loss of nearly Rs 50 million to the State. Ten athletes identified in Court more..

Oct 18 (DM) Port City Colombo yesterday announced the completion of the first phase of its infrastructure development, a key milestone in SL’s most ambitious urban development project to date. First phase includes critical linkages connecting the reclaimed land to the CMC’s electricity and water supply systems as well as the city’s wastewater drainage network. “This milestone marks an essential step in the progress of Port City Colombo and ushers in the next stage of development more..

Oct 18 (CT) The Terrorism Investigation Division (TID), on Friday, informed Colombo Additional Magistrate Lahiru Silva that an inquiry has been initiated into 15 suspects identified as having allegedly provided financial and logistical support to extremists linked to the Easter attacks, and worked to expand ISIS terrorist networks within the country. TID told the Court that complaints have been filed against 15 individuals, and a formal investigation has commenced based on a complaint more..

Oct 18 (FT) Minister Vijitha Herath has met Sinopec Vice President Liu Liangong to resolve remaining issues delaying the launch of the Chinese energy firm’s proposed $ 3.7 billion oil refinery project in Hambantota. A senior official said that the talks were positive, but the final decision was still unclear as both the Govt and Sinopec were yet to make an official announcement. Refinery, designed to process 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day, is one of the largest planned foreign investments in SL. more..

Oct 18 (FT) Parliament Secretariat yesterday said that the COPE found Lanka Sathosa had suffered a loss of Rs. 15.15 billion from irregular rice imports in 2014 and 2015, conducted in violation of procurement procedures. The finding was made during a COPE meeting this week which examined the Auditor General’s reports for 2021 and 2022 and the current performance of the state enterprise. According to COPE, Sathosa incurred a cost of Rs. 27 billion on rice imports during the period, more..

Oct 18 (ST) SL’s gem and silver jewellery industry, long famed for precision craft, is experiencing a strong comeback in export markets abroad powered by technology, export diversification, and govt assistance. As evolving consumer tastes demand ethically produced, handmade items, the sector is redirecting itself to tap premium demand in Europe & Asia. Silver jewellery exports grew steadily in 2025, generating US$ 2.1 million from Jan to Sept a 6-7% increase from the previous year. more..

Oct 18 (FT) SL is moving to secure European Union Geographical Indication (GI) status for Ceylon Tea to protect its authenticity, curb counterfeiting, and boost export value, officials said. The certification, backed by a € 1 million French-funded initiative, is expected to give Ceylon Tea stronger global recognition and legal protection. SL Tea Board Chairman Raaj Obeysekere said the move was a major step toward safeguarding more..

Oct 18 (FT) SL’s public spending on education remains among the lowest in its income group, lagging far behind comparable developing economies, according to Tax Giveaways, Struggling Schools – a new report by HRW. Citing data from the WB and UNESCO, the report said SL spends around 2% of its GDP on education, less than half the average for low- and middle-income countries, which stands at 4.5%. In 2010, the country allocated just 1.7% of GDP to education, more..

Oct 18 (DM) The stage is set for the second leg of the Asian Rugby Sevens which kicks off today at the Race Course ground in Colombo taking in both the men’s and women’s segments with two sisters from Australia likely to grab the attention of local fans like bolts from the blues. The countries taking part are Japan, China, Hong Kong China, Thailand, Kazakhstan, India, UAE, Malaysia, SL, Singapore Philippines & Indonesia. In the SL women’s squad are two sisters who are the daughters of more..

Oct 18 (DN) SL’s youngest 1000cc category rider, Chenuka Caldera of Asian International School, and the only racer representing Sri Lanka, left the island last night to take part in the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup Selection Trials scheduled to be held at the Sepang International Kart Circuit in Malaysia. The 14-year-old prodigy will compete against 83 top young riders from 18 countries, including Australia, China, Japan, India, Indonesia, Thailand & South Korea, etc. Caldera’s participation marks more..

Oct 18 (ST) The use of lunch sheets will soon be completely banned, Central Environmental Authority (CEA) Chairman, Professor Tilak Hewawasam said. He said an alternative, non plastic lunch sheet would be introduced. The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) mechanism which is included in the amendments to the National Environmental Act (NEC) will be implemented. In the initial phase the EPR mechanism would be implemented regarding PET bottles. more..

Oct 18 (ST) Police Marine Division’s Life Saving Unit has issued an urgent warning for improved safety measures in private and public swimming pools, following the tragic drowning deaths of three children in Colombo and Dikwella this week. In response to swimming pool accidents, Chief Inspector Mallika Arachchi of the Police Marine Division’s Life Saving Unit noted that there are 71 life-saving units in several areas that require more..