Nov 1 (CT) In a charged atmosphere at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium on Thursday (30), President Anura Kumara Dissanayake declared what he called a decisive, nationwide war on narcotics. The launch of A Nation United: Eradicating the Menace of Narcotic Drugs was not merely another policy announcement. It was a fiery call to arms against what he described as a black State entrenched within the country’s official institutions. more..

Nov 1 (SO) PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya was in China and India in quick succession, the latest demonstration by the NPP Govt that it is keen on balancing its two most consequential relationships. Dr. Amarasuriya was in China first. In Beijing, she met Chinese Prez Xi Jinping on October 14 on the sidelines of the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women. During the meeting, China pledged to keep SL a priority in China’s neighbourhood diplomacy and the two sides emphasized continued cooperation more..

Nov 1 (CT) The joint opposition in SL recently declared that it will center its campaign on issues like governance, corruption, and democratic decline — the very principles it spent decades undermining. It is a shocking display of political hypocrisy. Those who corrupted public institutions, backed criminals, and weakened democracy now claim moral superiority. But the people of SL are no longer deceived by empty slogans and recycled promises. For decades, the parties now united as more..

Nov 1 (ST) Street animal feeding, a difficult activity, has become even more challenging during the last couple of days due to the prevailing bad weather. Animal rights activists as well as concerned civilians who have become animal feeders braved the heavy rains, partially flooded roads, and roads with potholes to reach animals awaiting their meals. The animal feeders explained that sometimes they had to rush their feeding more..

Nov 1 (ST) Some people around the world are feeling happier today than they were just a few months ago. Why? Because their wealth—if held in gold—has grown faster than ever. You might be one of them too, especially if you owned gold or at least gold jewellery. I have written about gold price in this column a few times—most recently on November 17, 2024. Since early last year, gold prices have been climbing rapidly. But in 2025, the rise has been nothing short of explosive. more..

Nov 1 (CT) Another elephant has fallen victim to a speeding train. Another majestic life reduced to a lifeless form beside a railway track. It is a story that repeats itself with tragic regularity across Sri Lanka’s landscape, which was once celebrated for the gentle coexistence between human and elephant, now marred by negligence, bureaucracy, and the slow death of compassion. The recent hearing before the Supreme Court, initiated by the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ), more..

Oct 31 (NW) Former chairman of the SL State Trading Corporation (STC), Hussein Ahamed Bhaila, has been arrested by the Bribery Commission for allegedly causing a loss of Rs. 99,679,799.70 to the govt in 2015. According to the Bribery Commission, he is accused of having imported 50 temporary warehouses without any need during his tenure, causing a loss to the govt and a gain equivalent to that amount to external parties. Ahmed Bahila was arrested by the Bribery Commission today more..

Oct 31 (NW) Ambassador Cup 2025 International Uni Badminton Championship commenced today at the Uni of Colombo Indoor Stadium, with a friendly exhibition match between Deputy Minister Anil Jayantha and Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong marking the ceremonial opening. The match, played in a spirit of camaraderie and goodwill, symbolized the strengthening of sporting and diplomatic ties between SL and China. The opening ceremony was held under the patronage of Deputy Minister more..

Oct 31 (TTW) As of today, int'l travelers do not need any more to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization or ETA for SL ETA applications prior to embarking on a journey to SL. The order comes just a few weeks after the order dated Oct 15th went into effect. Ever since then, Directorate General of SL Immigration and Emigration has instituted the policy which clearly highlights the reason for travel does not need more..

Oct 31 (DM) MP Ravi Karunanayake has alleged that the govt is preparing to purchase 1,775 new double-cab vehicles while bypassing the standard international tender procedure. He claimed that a previous proposal to import 2,000 double cabs for Members of Parliament, which was earlier shelved, has now re-emerged in a different form. “There was a proposal from the government to bring in 2,000 double cabs for MPs. At that time, I said MPs don’t need vehicles. But if you want to give these more..

Oct 31 (DM) SL Navy received a set of firearms for Onboard Security Teams (OBST), as part of its maritime security operations project to provide services and facilities to foreign Private Maritime Security Companies (PMSCs). The formal handover took place at the OBST Armoury Complex in Galle, where the Navy accepted firearms, ammunition, and associated equipment, in accordance with Gazette Extraordinary dated 13 Aug 2025. Under agreements with local PMSC representatives, more..

Oct 31 (DM) SL is the second most expensive SAARC country to live with cost of living for an individual being $506 or Rs. 153,899 excluding rent to live a comfortable life according to Numbeo, a user-generated cost-of-living statistics website. For a family of four living in the city of Colombo, the monthly costs are Rs. 570,997 excluding rent to live comfortably. This includes the cost of childcare, groceries, outings, dining, school fees, more..

Oct 31 (NW) A special training programme on Artificial Intelligence (AI) was conducted at the Northern Provincial Chief Secretary’s Office this week (27) to promote the use of AI among public officials. The training program titled AI for Transforming Public Service was conducted by the Presidential Secretariat, in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Economy. The program seeks to foster innovation and reform within the public sector through digitalization and AI technology, more..

Oct 31 (EN) Six Sri Lanka supermarket operators have said they will start charging customers for disposable bags provided when purchasing goods at their outlets from November 1. “In line with govt efforts to reduce single-use plastic, we are required to charge for shopping bags,” they said in a joint statement. Softlogic Glomark, Spar, Cargills Food City, Laugfs, Arpico and Keells said the following charges will now apply: Medium handle bag – Rs. 3; Large handle bag – Rs. 5. more..

Oct 31 (TM) Malaysian National Women’s Cricket Team will embark on a tour of Sri Lanka from late October to mid-November. The team arrived in SL on Wednesday (29), ahead of a five-match T20 series against the Sri Lanka U19 National Team. This bilateral series forms part of SLC's ongoing drive to promote and strengthen women’s cricket among ICC Associate Member Nations, fostering international relations on the sporting sphere and competitive opportunities for emerging teams. more..

Oct 31 (NW) The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today granted bail to the wife of underworld figure ‘Backoe Saman’, who has been held in remand custody under the Money Laundering Act. Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama today (31) ordered Sadhika Lakshani to be released on a cash bail of Rs. 50,000 and three personal sureties of Rs. 2 million each. The court also issued an order prohibiting the suspect from travelling abroad, imposing an overseas travel ban. more..

Oct 31 (DM) SL’s education system faces a critical test as the govt prepares its upcoming budget, with experts warning that funding decisions could determine whether children finally gain access to schools with much resources or continue to bear the cost themselves. HRW emphasises that the upcoming budget is a crucial moment, since reducing allocations for education could directly affect children’s ability to pursue a solid edu. more..

Oct 31 (AD) 2025 Lanka Premier League (LPL), the sixth edition of the Twenty20 franchise cricket tournament is likely to be played in July-August 2026, according to sources. Although the 2025 edition of the LPL was slated to be held in December this year, SLC decided to postpone the tournament to facilitate the preparation of grounds for the T20 World Cup 2026. Meanwhile, the next season of the LPL will have five teams. Colombo, Dambulla, Galle, Jaffna & Kandy will battle it out for the trophy. more..

Oct 31 (DM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Western Province Governor Hanif Yusoof as the President’s Special Envoy for Foreign Investment. The appointment has been made in accordance with the powers vested in the President under Article 41(1) of the Constitution. It recognises Yusoof’s experience in global investment partnerships and his long-term contribution to the development of SL’s private sector, as well as his ability to assist in Govt’s economic revival more..

Oct 31 (TM) SL women’s cricket team has still not made the cut to feature in Tests according to SLC CEO Ashley de Silva. He made this comment when sought his views as to why SL has still not featured in the red-ball version of the game, in comparison to their exploits in the short formats. “To date we (SL) are not yet up to scratch to feature in Tests in women’s cricket,” de Silva explained. “At this moment we are yet to take that leap to play more..

Oct 31 (DM) SJB MP Jagath Vithana said IGP Priyantha Weerasuriya expressed regret over the statement he had made in Kandy. He told reporters after the meeting held in Parliament over the opposition MPs security, attended by the IGP and the Speaker. MP said Speaker Jagath Wickramarante and the IGP agreed to provide security to all MPs who request for security. MP Vithana said IGP informed that he had threats from several groups and assured to pay special more..

Oct 31 (AD) The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has ordered the release on bail of Neville Wanniarachchi, Chief Security Officer to former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was arrested and remanded by the Bribery Commission on suspicion of illegally acquiring assets and properties worth Rs. 28 million. Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanka S. Bodaragama issued the order after considering facts presented by officials of the Bribery Commission and the suspect’s lawyers. more..

Oct 31 (NW) Govt of SL and Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a loan agreement of USD 90 million for phase 5 of the Second Integrated Road Investment Program (iROAD 2). Loan agreement has been signed after the govt successfully concluded discussions with the ADB. The objective of this program is to enhance road transport efficiency by improving connectivity between selected rural communities and key socio-economic centres, while also strengthening more..

Oct 31 (AD) The overall rate of inflation, as measured by the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI) on a Y-o-Y basis, increased to 2.1% in Oct 2025, compared to 1.5% in Sept 2025. The CCPI for all items for Oct 2025 was 193.8, recording an increase of 0.1 index points compared to 193.7 in Sept 2025. Y-o-Y inflation of the Food Group rose to 3.5% in Oct 2025, from 2.9% in Sept 2025, while the Y-o-Y inflation of the Non-Food Group increased to 1.4% from 0.7% in Sept 2025. more..

Oct 31 (EN) Population under 15 years of age has declined by 4.5% in Sri Lanka while the number of people aged more than 65 years has increased by 4.7% in the 15 years through last year, the island nation’s latest Population Census showed. It also shows, the people aged 15-64, which is considered as the working-age population, have declined marginally by 0.2%. The country is undergoing demographic aging alongside more..

Oct 31 (NW) The Chairman of the Kuchchaveli Pradeshiya Sabha, Ainiya Pillai Mubarak (50), and his private driver, M.M. Irshad (34), have been arrested by officers of the CIABOC for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs. 500,000 to issue a land permit. The arrests were made in the Iqbal Nagar area in Kuchchaveli following a complaint lodged by a woman resident of Mullaitivu. PS Chairman had earlier accepted Rs. 160,000 from the complainant for a permit covering 20 perches of land more..

Oct 31 (EN) SL women continue to face barriers to political participation because of the country’s electoral system and other social dynamics, an Institute of Policy Studies article said, quoting International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) research. “The research shows that women running for office face multiple obstacles because of voting systems, funding shortages, media restrictions and violence against women in elections (VAWE),” Thaviksha Bulathsinhala, more..

Oct 31 (AD) The Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) has revealed that there are currently around 100,000 patients in the country suffering from diabetic ulcers. Professor Rezni Cassim, a vascular surgeon at the Colombo National Hospital, stated that wounds in diabetic patients are more serious than cancer. He explained that even a minor wound on the foot of a diabetic patient can lead to serious complications, more..

Oct 31 (FT) Seylan Bank said it recorded a Profit Before Income Tax (PBT) of Rs. 12.8 billion in Q3 2025, up 20.75% from Rs. 10.6 billion in Q3 2024. For the 9 months ended 30 Sept 2025, Profit After Tax (PAT) recorded by Seylan Bank was Rs. 8.3 billion, up 26.30% from Rs. 6.6 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2024. Bank said that net interest income decreased from Rs. 27.2 billion to Rs. 27 billion, a marginal decrease of 0.75% over the previous year for the 9 months ended more..

Oct 31 (SHCUK) On 28 Oct, High Commissioner of SL to the UK, Nimal Senadheera, presented his Letter of Credence to His Majesty King Charles III at a ceremonial event held at Buckingham Palace. High Commissioner Senadheera, accompanied by his spouse and diplomatic officers, was escorted by Ms. Eleanor Mackewn, Assistant Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps, to the Palace in the traditional horse-drawn carriages of the Royal Mews, in keeping with the distinguished protocol more..

Oct 31 (FT) SL’s immediate tourism neighbour, Kerala, is setting a new benchmark in inclusive tourism by placing women at the heart of its tourism development strategy. Through its Responsible Tourism Mission (RT Mission) and the newly launched Gender-Inclusive Tourism Policy, the State has emerged as a national model for gender-responsive and women-friendly tourism. The initiative, which began under the Women-Friendly Tourism Project in 2022, has now expanded more..

Oct 31 (FT) Almost every day I make a mental note of some smidgen of armchair wisdom that promises peace if only one would let go, let it go or let it be. It may come from some platform on social media, where the world and its brother obtains their outlook on life. Or emanate from the warm, woozy worldview of some philosophically oriented friend. The imperative is often couched in semi-religious jargon: non-attachment, compassionate distancing or let go and let God! more..