Sep 10 (ST) The Attorney General has decided to directly indict suspects arrested over 11 high-profile murders without subjecting them to non-summary proceedings. Those arrested over the murders include police officers and members of underworld groups. On a request by the CID, the AG has considered the extracts on these particular cases and decided to directly indict suspects involved in these murders in the high court without holding non-summary proceedings in magistrate’s courts. more..

Sep 10 (EN) SL parliament passed a resolution on the agreements signed between SL and the UAE early this year with a majority 163 votes against none opposing in the 225-member legislature. The agreement is for the promotion and protection of investments in SL by nationals of the UAE or by corporations, societies or other associations incorporated or constituted under the laws of that State. It was signed between the two nations on Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of more..

Sep 10 (EN) Sri Lanka has repaid US$ 952 million to foreign creditors in the second quarter of 2025, picking up from US$ 406.6 million in the first quarter including a US$ 330 million sovereign bond, official data shows. In the second quarter, principal repayments to bilaterals picked up US$ 200 million from US$ 17 million in the first quarter. “On 24 March 2025, Sri Lanka concluded the restructuring process with the Govt of Japan” more..

Sep 10 (FT) Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in SL (AHK SL) yesterday hosted the SL-German Tourism Conference 2025 under the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy’s (BMWi) Market Entry Program. The forum brought together German and SL industry leaders, Govt officials, and tourism professionals to discuss how SL can better position itself for German travellers. It also focused on encouraging partnerships and promoting sustainable more..

Sep 10 (DN) The signing of a MoU between the Govts of India and Sri Lanka for the construction of a building for the Accident and Emergency Unit of the Mannar District General Hospital as well as the supply of medical equipment was held at the Health and Mass Media Ministry, yesterday. The meeting between Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa and Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha marked the further strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries. more..

Sep 10 (Island) Sri Lanka’s elephants are among its most powerful symbols of heritage and natural wealth. They are also one of the island’s most valuable economic assets, contributing directly and indirectly to tourism and rural livelihoods. Yet, the escalating Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) continues to extract a devastating toll on both people and elephants, underlining the urgent need for sustainable solutions. In a bid to draw fresh attention to this issue, Spa Ceylon, more..

Sep 10 (DN) Ayomal Akalanka of Ambagamuwa Central College lit up the second day of the 93rd Sir John Tarbat Senior Athletics Championship with a stunning performance in the Boys Under-20 400m Hurdles, setting a new meet record of 50.51 seconds at the Diyagama Stadium in Homagama yesterday. Akalanka slashed almost two seconds off the previous record to win the gold medal, as the Ritzbury-sponsored four-day championship produced 10 new meet records on the day. more..

Sep 10 (FT) Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said yesterday that the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the draft Appropriation Bill for 2026 and cleared its publication ahead of being tabled in Parliament 3 Oct. The Budget Speech is scheduled for 7 Nov, with the Parliament debate the following day. The Bill, prepared by the Legal Draftsman’s Dept, has received clearance from the AG and will be published in the Govt Gazette more..

Sep 10 (Island) Fresh from a morale-boosting series win in Zimbabwe, SL are in the UAE sharpening their skills ahead of the Asia Cup, with their opening encounter against Bangladesh pencilled in for Saturday in Abu Dhabi. With the T20 World Cup less than six months away, this year’s Asia Cup will be staged in the shortest format too. SL, fittingly, are defending champions of the T-20 format, having last lifted the trophy in Dubai. The side flew straight from Harare after pocketing both ODI & T20 spoils. more..

Sep 10 (DN) Two Javelin throwers Sumedha Ranasinghe, Rumesh Tharanga and 400m women’s athlete Nadeesha Ramanayake left yesterday to take part in the World Athletic Championship which scheduled to be held from Sept 13-21 in Tokyo. Both javelin throwers Rumesh Tharanga and Sumedha Ranasinghe earned their spots for this major event through direct qualification, with throws of 86.50m and 85.78m,, following strong performances in domestic and regional competitions. more..

Sep 10 (FT) ITAK has strongly criticised Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath’s statement at the 60th session of the UNHRC, highlighting what it calls the Govt’s continued failure to address accountability, reconciliation and the rights of Tamil communities in SL. Following is the full statement; “We refer to the statement made by Vijitha Herath at the 60th session of the UNHRC. At the outset, we must record our deep disappointment in more..

Sep 10 (FT) Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said the Cabinet of Ministers approved the declaration and implementation of the SL National Climate Finance Strategy (2025–2030) to mobilise private capital into climate-resilient and low-carbon sectors. “Sri Lanka has been identified by the Global Climate Risk Index as a country at high risk of climate-related catastrophic weather events, with annual losses estimated at more than 2% of GDP. To mitigate and adapt to these risks, more..

Sep 10 (FT) The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the appointment of Capt. Daminda Rambukwella as the new Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Civil Aviation Authority of SL (CAASL), a move that has already stirred controversy in political and professional circles. Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Deputy Minister Eng. Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku officially handed over the letter of appointment to Rambukwella yesterday at the Ministry premises. more..

Sep 10 (FT) International Chamber of Commerce SL (ICCSL), through its Research, Knowledge Management, and Taxation (RKMT) Committee, recently successfully hosted a hybrid webinar titled VAT on Digital Services and Cross-Border Compliance, attracting businesses, professionals, and policymakers eager to understand the newly implemented VAT framework for digital services. The session opened with a welcome note by ICCSL Chairman Shanil Fernando who emphasised more..

Sep 10 (FT) National Engineering Conference (NEC) 2025, organised by Institution of Engineers, SL (IESL), was held recently at Hotel Galadari, bringing together engineering professionals, academics, policymakers, and industry leaders to deliberate on engineering-driven solutions for national development. Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe attended as the Chief Guest. In his keynote address, he emphasised that a collective force of engineers could change the trajectory more..

Sep 10 (TM) A loss of Rs. 24 billion has been uncovered at the Lanka Sathosa, with billions more in unpaid loans and supplier dues adding to a crisis within the institution, Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce, and Food Security R.M. Jayawardana said. He said that the Sathosa has suffered a loss of Rs. 24 billion over the past years, in addition to failing to repay loans amounting to Rs. 5 billion, while more than Rs. 11 b is owed to suppliers. more..

Sep 10 (Island) Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Bill has passed muster with the Supreme Court (SC), which has held that no provision therein is inconsistent with the Constitution. Therefore, it can be ratified with a simple majority, Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne has said, announcing the SC decision in Parliament. Now, the NPP govt can go ahead with its plan to deprive the former Presidents of their special perks and privileges. The former Presidents or their spouses are not so poor more..

Sep 10 (Island) Dharman Wickremaratne’s latest book Premakeerthi Ghathanaye Sulamula meticulously examines the killing of radio announcer, producer and lyricist Premakeerthi de Alwis in late July 1989, at the height of the JVP-led terror campaign. Having examined various claims, accusations and assertions by interested parties, including Premakeerthi’s first wife, Daya, the author on the basis of the proceedings at the Colombo High Court, during the UNP rule, more..

Sep 10 (ST) One sometimes wonders who is teaching whom and who is learning from whom. This is no joke. There are too many jokers already on the streets, and now the streets are becoming overcrowded with defeated and decayed politicians taking to them and shoving the legitimate comedian occupants from their abodes. Before long it will get worse. After all, we have been promised system change, and what better change is there than throwing a few carping commentators more..

Sep 10 (CT) Supreme Court’s decision to hear a petition on climate inaction marks an important moment for SL. The case, filed by the Centre for Environmental Justice, argues that successive govts have failed to act on climate change in ways that protect the rights of citizens. By granting permission for the case to be heard, the Court has sent a strong message that climate justice is not a distant, abstract issue but a matter of fundamental human rights. In fact, this very shift in framing is vital. more..

Sep 10 (DM) Dudley Sirisena purchased Hotel Sudu Araliya, which once belonged to Hotels Corporation around 1995. The hotel is situated near Theppan Ela, which flows into Parakrama Samudraya, within the Polonnaruwa Sanctuary. Parakrama Samudra was built by King Parakramabahu The First (Reign from 1153-1186) by combining several smaller tanks. This combined reservoir came to be known as Samudraya. more..

Sep 10 (DM) The politico-underworld nexus propelling the illicit drug trade has come to the surface for yet another time, after the police seized two containers of substances allegedly used for manufacturing crystal methamphetamine, popularly known by its street name, Ice. Police seized a large stock of chemical substances in the estate of a former SLPP provincial councillor, Sampath Manamperi of Middeniya, based on information provided by underworld kingpin Backhoe more..

Sep 10 (DM) From the beginning of this month, our prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has engaged in visiting the northern capital of this country. Dissanayake’s visit needs to be appreciated. No other head of state has visited the peninsula so many times as Prez Dissanayake has done during the short time since he was elected to power. The people of the north –- who voted him and his govt into power over regional political parties - - have responded to president’s overtures positively. more..

Sep 10 (SO) The second phase of excavation work at the Chemmani mass grave in Jaffna was completed yesterday. The site at the Sindhubathi Hindu cremation grounds, has become the second-largest mass grave in Sri Lanka. Nineteen skeletons were identified in the investigations that began with the first phase, which concluded on June 7. The second phase commenced on June 26 and was carried out more..

Sep 10 (CT) Since the war ended bloodily on the military battlefield in 2009, SL has been subjected to repeated and increasingly intrusive scrutiny by the international community that has rankled successive governments and induced them to react defensively. This year’s UN Human Rights Council session is no different, with fresh emphasis on accountability and reconciliation. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath will be representing Sri Lanka at the UNHRC’s 60th session that commenced this week. more..

Sep 10 (TM) The controversial news of Police finding a site where plans were underway to produce synthetic drugs – crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as ‘Ice’ has thrown a spotlight on the evolving nature of narco-crime in SL. A key issue with the latest organised crime operation is the fact that a large amount of chemicals – suspected to be precursors used in manufacture of methamphetamine. While the chemicals have not yet been clearly identified by a relevant more..

Sep 9 (Island) US and SL officially yesterday launched PACIFIC ANGEL (Pac Angel) 25 at Katunayake Air Base, with U.S. Defense Attaché Lt. Col. Matthew House joining SL Air Force leaders to open the exercise. The five-day multilateral program, running from Sept 8–12, brings together nearly 90 U.S. and 120 SL Air Force personnel, along with participants and observers from Australia, Bangladesh, India, Japan & Maldives, to strengthen disaster response and save lives. more..

Sep 9 (NW) A new report by the International Truth and Justice Project says Sri Lanka has systematically shielded the killers of journalists for over a quarter of a century. The new report focuses on the failures of the police investigation into the October 2000 assassination of BBC Jaffna reporter, Nimalarajan Mylvaganam. Stating that at least 44 journalists and media workers were killed while reporting on the civil war between 2000 and 2010, the report claims that to date, more..

Sep 9 (NF) PM Harini Amarasuriya issued a strong and unequivocal statement in Parliament, declaring that no individual involved in drug trafficking will be protected under her administration. Her remarks came in response to a fiery exchange sparked by MP Namal Rajapaksa, who raised concerns over the recent seizure of chemical substances suspected to be used in the production of crystal meth (ice) in Middeniya. more..

Sep 9 (AM) Recognising the absence of a formal legal framework covering all children in Sri Lanka who require alternative care, the govt has taken steps to introduce a new law on foster care. The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) has presented a concept paper to establish a foster care mechanism aimed at implementing this family-based alternative care system, which has become an urgent need. The proposed mechanism is expected to operate under two main components: more..

Sep 9 (NF) China has called on the international community to respect Sri Lanka’s sovereign right to determine its own path in human rights development, urging an end to external political pressure and intervention in the country’s internal affairs. Speaking at the 60th Session of the UNHRC in Geneva, the Representative of China emphasized that any efforts to address human rights issues should be constructive, cooperative, and rooted in dialogue. more..