Mar 24 (TM) The Department of Prisons will review the request made by suspended Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon to receive home-cooked meals during his time in custody, it is learnt. Prisons Media Spokesperson and Prisons Commissioner Gamini B. Dissanayake confirmed that Tennakoon has formally requested permission to have home-cooked food from his residence. In response, the department has instructed him to provide valid reasons to support his request. more..

Mar 24 (NW) The Sri Dalada Maligawa has issued a statement clarifying that a widely circulated message on WhatsApp requesting donations for the upcoming Dalada Perehera is completely false. All facilities required for the Dalada Perehera are provided by the Sri Dalada Maligawa in collaboration with the government. The Maligawa emphasized that it has not authorized any individual, group, or organization to collect funds or carry out related organizational activities on its behalf. more..

Mar 24 (ST) The local agent of papaverine hydrochloride—the only registered supplier of this heart medication in SL—has placed a bid to supply 1,800 injections of the drug to the SPC at Rs. 49,000 per ampule, authoritative sources said. This is the fourth time since last year Yaden International Ltd has placed the bid after a Health Ministry technical evaluation committee (TEC) turned down 3 previous offers on the basis more..

Mar 24 (AD) PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has emphasized the urgent need for prompt and decisive measures to address the challenges, barriers, and discriminatory practices encountered by women both domestically and globally. The PM made these remarks on Saturday (22) while addressing the International Women’s Day celebration organized by the United Nations Association in Sri Lanka, held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute in Colombo, according to the PM’s Media Division. more..

Mar 24 (AD) Ministry of Education (MOE) states that a fake announcement misusing the names of the Ministry of Education and the Dept of Examinations is presently circulating on social media. It said that this false statement claims the 2024 (2025) GCE O/L science question paper has been designed with a change in the question pattern, going beyond the syllabus. It also claims that all students who have sat for the Science subject exam will receive 8 additional marks and that the grade boundaries more..

Mar 24 (Island) DIG in charge of the Children and Women Bureau, Renuka Jayasundara says that rape remains the most frequently reported crime in Sri Lanka, with alarming statistics on sexual harassment and domestic violence surfacing in 2023. 2,252 cases of sexual harassment against women had been reported in 2024, with the highest number of incidents occurring at home (1,420 cases). Other locations included public transport (261 cases), online platforms (192 cases), more..

Mar 24 (ST) The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has sought information regarding the failure of judicial officers, excluding judges, to submit their 2024 annual asset and liability declarations. JSC Secretary H.S. Somaratne issued a circular to all High Court judges, who function as department heads, requesting that they provide details of officers under their supervision without delay. The district and magistrate courts too have been covered by the circular. This is in keeping with the provisions more..

Mar 24 (EN) SL’s central bank has limited back-door money printing, opposition legislator Rohini Kaviratne said, thanking the agency for limiting its liquidity injections through open market operations in display of increasing parliamentary scrutiny of its inflationary operations. “I have to thank the central bank because subsequent to my revelation in parliament in October about the 100 billion rupees printed through the backdoor, more..

Mar 24 (Island) In a landmark moment for SL’s transport sector, the Int'l Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) unveiled The Palace—a brand new welfare facility for seafarers—while declaring its commitment to partner with the nation’s entire transport workforce. ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton delivered a stirring message at the launch on March 20, hailing SL as a union country with robust labour laws and a resilient worker-led culture; a rare endorsement from a global labour leader. more..

Mar 24 (Island) SL men’s 4×400 metres relay team established a new national indoor record at the World Indoor Athletics C'ship concluded in Nanjing China yesterday. Team inclusive of Kalinga Kumarage, Randima Madushan, Shashintha Silva and Sadew Rajakaruna finished fifth in the 4×400 metres final won by the USA. Their finishing time of 3:10.58 seconds improved on the previous mark held by Prasanna Amarasekara, Rohitha Pushpakumara, Shivantha Weerasooriya more..

Mar 24 (TM) Govt plans to interlink bank accounts to prevent people from evading the tax net without obtaining a Tax Identification Number (TIN), Deputy Minister Harshana Suriyapperuma said at a meeting of the COPF. Upon being questioned by COPF about the implementation of the TIN during the meeting, Dept of Fiscal Policy Tax Policy Adviser Thanuja Perera revealed that since the relevant act was still being amended, more..

Mar 24 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake in his final Budget speech in Parliament on Friday revealed that seven key State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) continue to operate at a loss, placing a significant financial burden on the country. He underscored the urgent need for reforms within these institutions, which have accumulated billions in losses and debts over the years. Among the worst-performing enterprises is the national carrier – SriLankan Airlines – with an outstanding debt more..

Mar 24 (FT) SL’s apparel industry posted a 2.3% export growth in February, reaching $ 407.93 million compared to the same period in 2024. As per provisional data, although overall numbers show an upward trend, performance varied across key markets such as the US and UK, which experienced significant declines. Exports to the US dropped by 7.43%, amounting to $ 153.11 million, while shipments to the UK saw a sharper fall of 14.58%, bringing in $ 54.85 million in Feb 2025. more..

Mar 24 (Island) Deshabandu Tennakoon, IGP of SL, surrendered to the Magistrate’s Court in Matara on the morning of 19 March. He had unbelievably evaded what was described as a massive, concerted police hunt for near 21 days. Of course, if the hunt had been so massive, concerted and an all-out attempt, he could barely have evaded being caught, SL being so small in size, and its people ever ready to spill the beans or sneak, more so when tempted with a hefty monetary reward. more..

Mar 24 (FT) Round Table SL presents Bridging Borders: Fostering Regional Cooperation and Global Impact, a landmark fireside chat set to take place on 23 May at Monarch Imperial, Sri J'pura, Kotte. This event will bring together 500-600 influential leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and experts from Sri Lanka, India, and Nepal to strengthen trade, investment, and regional cooperation. As part of the Asia Pacific Area (ASPA) Round Table Regional Meeting, Bridging Borders will serve as more..

Mar 24 (FT) SJB MP Kabir Hashim on Friday raised serious concerns over the Govt’s economic policies during the final Budget debate, accusing Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake of betraying public trust. He accused the Govt of abandoning its campaign promises and embracing a neoliberal economic model they opposed for over six decades. Hashim claimed that the Govt’s economic policies are nothing more than a repackaged version more..

Mar 24 (FT) In its March edition, pioneering business magazine LMD reports: The optimistic outlook (for the economy) prevails amid signs of a fragile investment climate. “Confidence in the economy remains strong in corporate circles, bolstered by yet another hike in business sentiment à la the Business Confidence Index (BCI),” it adds. According to PepperCube Consultants however, concerns about long-term growth and strategy loom large despite the healthier perceptions in corporate circles. more..

Mar 24 (DM) Any govt in the world, whether developed or not needs sufficient Revenue for govt activities. To achieve the people’s aspiration from bottom to top, govt uses fiscal policy and other methods. Govts use fiscal policy to promote strong and sustainable economy. The basic tools used by govt for fiscal policy are spending and taxation. A sound fiscal policy of any govt helps to achieve macro-economic stability allocation of resources, increasing of production, distribution of income. more..

Mar 24 (Island) Anything is possible in Sri Lanka. In the popular sci-fi movie, Transformers, we have alien robots disguising themselves as cars, etc. That is Hollywood fantasy, but in this land like no other, there has been a real-world instance where tractors became cars, as it were! SL, blessed with fecund land, is described as a country where seeds thrown anywhere sprout and mature in record time. Sadly, it has also become a fertile ground for corruption, which has eaten into its vitals. more..

Mar 24 (CT) SL has become a nation where anger boils over at the slightest spark. From city streets to rural villages, violence is becoming a disturbingly common response to frustration. Once, this island was known for its warmth and resilience. Now, it seems we are raising a generation that does not know how to handle disappointment, rejection, or failure. Look around. Youth and adolescents—the ones who should be shaping the future—are spiralling into dangerous behaviour. more..

Mar 24 (GV) Let’s begin with a story. Once upon a time, the prime minister of an island nation was plagued by an outbreak of labour unrest. He summoned the police chief and ordered him to break the strike by arresting the trade union leaders and locking them up. The IGP did not say yes sir. He didn’t get the trade union leaders arrested under the PTA (for colluding with terrorists/planning terrorist actions) or for possessing drugs/illegal more..

Mar 24 (TM) Almost every govt since the 1970s has either announced that they have struck oil or has made plans to extract black gold from Sri Lanka’s coastal waters. However, despite much hype, little progress has been made. Extracting petroleum products from the sea-bed is an expensive, often lucrative and high-risk affair which requires the right expertise, infrastructure, economic planning and a good regulatory process for a nation to exploit safely and profitably. more..

Mar 24 (CT) Sri Lanka stands at a crossroads. The newly elected NPP govt has set its sights on an ambitious, transformative vision: a Clean Sri Lanka. This vision seeks to eradicate rural poverty, build a thriving digital economy, and revitalize the nation socially, environmentally, and ethically. The goal is to create a prosperous and sustainable society founded on four critical pillars of sustainability: environmental, economic, social, and governance. But while the vision is bold, more..

Mar 24 (FT) Canada’s new Liberal party leader Mark Carney assumed office as the 24th PM of Canada on 14 March 2025. Carney born on 16 March 1965 is a well-known economist who has served as the eighth Governor of the Bank of Canada for five years (2008-2013) and the 120th Governor of the Bank of England for seven years (2013-2020). He graduated from Harvard University in 1988 with an economics degree and went on to obtain more..

Mar 24 (ST) As predicted, the combined result of an enterprising Al Jazeera journalist hunting for a sensational angle to trip the target of his interrogation and the eccentric ramblings of an ex-Prez of SL on a twenty seven year old human rights atrocity that is the Batalanda torture camp, has created an eagerly applauded diversionary red herring for the JVP led-NPP Govt. The emergence of the long hibernating Batalanda ghost has conveniently lessened public heat on more..

Mar 24 (DM) The history of policing in SL dates back to the 17th century when the Dutch introduced paid guards in 1659, the first official policemen. After the British took control in 1796, the military briefly maintained order for few years, when the role of Fiscal was reinstated. A clearly defined police service emerged in the 1910s. In 1866, G.W.R. Campbell was appointed by Governor Frederick North as Chief Superintendent of Police, overseeing the Police Force in Ceylon. more..

Mar 23 (ST) Anura Kumara Dissanayake, leader of the NPP-JVP govt, hit a significant milestone last Friday—six months at the helm as SL’s Prez. Sept 21 presidential election last year was nothing short of a political earthquake. Dissanayake’s victory sidelined traditional heavyweights Ranil Wickremesinghe and Sajith Premadasa, both of whom had already tasted defeat in two prior presidential bids. more..

Mar 23 (NW) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa announced that Dr. Ruvaiz Haniffa will be the SJB candidate for the post of Mayor of Colombo, with the aim of further developing the city into a world-class urban hub. Premadasa said that residents of the Colombo Municipal area deserve a highly developed and modern city, and Dr. Haniffa is being presented as a leader capable of delivering that vision. He described Dr. Haniffa as a public-spirited, people-friendly professional, equipped with more..

Mar 23 (ST) The CIABOC has begun a probe on the assets of suspended IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon. The investigation began following the discovery of a large stock of foreign liquor, hampers filled with gifts and various food items during a search of Mr Tennankoon’s Hokandara residence. The Sunday Times understands that the CID has also launched a probe to look into whether the suspended IGP had committed any offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in acquiring assets. more..

Mar 23 (ST) A Cabinet-appointed committee that looked into reforming state-owned non-commercial institutions has recommended a string of restructuring measures, including winding up some state institutions, ending state intervention with several other institutions and amalgamation of some. The liquidation of 12 non-commercial state entities coming under six ministries has been recommended by the committee along with more..

Mar 23 (Island) Deputy Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe informed Parliament that a CID probe had been called into land deals involving former first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa in Gampaha. Jayasinghe said a request has been made by the Acting IGP in that regard. The Deputy Minister said the lands in the Imbulgoda and Makola had been purchased in 2012 and sold in 2023. He said that a plot of land purchased in Ihala Imbulgoda in 2012 under the Mahinda Rajapaksa Spiritual Foundation for more..

Mar 23 (Island) Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has been able to collect only 10 percent of taxes due from the eight million strong workforce, it was revealed during a probe conducted by the Committee on Public Finance of Parliament. This was revealed during a COPE probe on IRD at the parliamentary complex on Tuesday (18), parliament sources said. The COPF summoned to discuss the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill to amend the Inland Revenue Act, No. 24 of 2017. more..