Sep 8 (TM) Sri Lanka’s commercial occupancy has risen above 70% by the end of July, signalling stronger demand as Colombo land prices have surged over 11% in the first half of the year. Most properties now have over 70% commercial occupancy with flexible pricing as deflation increases the purchasing power of people. Properties such as the East Tower at Seylan Towers by Seylan Developments and HQ Colombo by more..

Sep 8 (NW) Former Parliamentarian Nimal Lanza was granted bail by the Negombo High Court today. Lanza was arrested after surrendering to the Kochchikade Police last week over an alleged assault and unlawful entry during a protest in 2006. He was remanded till September 12 after being produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court. The order was issued today after considering a revision application filed challenging the Negombo Magistrate’s court order to refuse bail. more..

Sep 8 (NF) Following the conclusion of his official term, Pradeep Nilanga Dela has been reappointed as the Acting Diyawadana Nilame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy. The decision was made with the consent of the Mahanayake Theros of both the Malwathu and Asgiri Chapters, the two highest monastic orders in SL. Dela’s previous term officially ended at midnight on Sept 7, 2025, marking the completion of his tenure as the Chief Lay Custodian of more..

Sep 8 (NW) The SL Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) has partnered with The Barn House Sri Lanka to introduce Whispers of Ceylon, a novel wedding and engagement offering, in a strategic move to attract the growing Polish tourism market. According to the SLTPB, this initiative, launched on 24th Aug 2025, with a Polish couple, aims to position SL as a premier destination for high-end European weddings by blending indigenous customs with luxury and eco-conscious hospitality. more..

Sep 8 (TM) SJB, alleged that the Govt-led restructuring process of the CEB appears to be arbitrary and that no step has been taken to ensure the wellbeing of CEB employees. SJB MP and attorney Ajith P. Perera said the Govt’s announcement that the CEB will be restructured into four institutions and that those unwilling to join these institutions have the opportunity to retire with a compensation of up to Rs. 5 million, he claimed: “However, the letter issued to the employees more..

Sep 8 (Island) The Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL) has released its report on the violent events in Digana, and surrounding areas, in March 2018, stressing that the attacks on the Muslim community were premeditated rather than spontaneous reactions to local tensions. The report, made public on 1 Sept 2025, calls for a wide-ranging set of reforms across law enforcement, education, and govt institutions to prevent more..

Sep 8 (TM) A group of former JVP politicians are preparing to form a movement to demand the return of their salaries and allowances as Pradeshiya Sabha (PS), Provincial Council (PC), and Parliamentary representatives, which they claim were taken by their Party. Retired MPs’ Collective’s Secretary and former JVP MP Pemasiri Manage said that he has formally requested Parliament to provide details of all salaries and allowances paid to him between 2004 and 2010, during more..

Sep 8 (NW) Police say the stock of a chemical substance that was found in Kandana was placed as decorative rocks in the garden of a house. The chemical substance, suspected to be used in the manufacturing of crystal methamphetamine (ICE), was also found disposed of in an adjoining land. Over 100 kilos of chemical substances were found in the property in Kandana following Police investigations into a suspect, currently in custody. It is reported that the stock of chemicals more..

Sep 8 (TM) The Govt will address concerns raised by the Catholic Church and community about the controversial Katchatheevu tourism project. This, as the Govt has reiterated its commitment to move forward with the project. Deputy Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Gamagedara Dissanayake said that the Govt would take steps to address the concerns of the Catholic community regarding more..

Sep 8 (TM) The People’s Struggle Alliance (PSA) urged the Govt to reveal the names of all the State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) that it is planning to shut down, alleging that the Government has not been fully transparent about the decision and its implementation. The alliance’s member Duminda Nagamuwa expressed these concerns while addressing a media briefing yesterday (7), where he highlighted that the Govt announced the names of only nine of these institutions. more..

Sep 8 (AD) Dr. Palitha Rajapaksha attached to the Badulla Teaching Hospital has been summoned before the Public Service Commission for a disciplinary inquiry. This is in connection with a statement he made regarding the recent shortage of medicines at state hospitals. Dr. Palitha Rajapaksha stated that he is currently at the Public Service Commission following a summons issued through the Ministry of Health. Dr. Palitha Rajapaksha was commended for discharging his duties more..

Sep 8 (DM) The Supreme Court has granted leave to proceed with a Fundamental Rights petition filed challenging the state’s failure to adopt and implement adequate measures to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change. A 3-judge bench comprising Justice Janak De Silva, Justice Sobhitha Rajakaruna and Justice Sampath Wijeratne after considering the submissions, allowed the petition to proceed. With this order, it paves the way for a full hearing on the merits of the case, more..

Sep 8 (NW) The Kala Wewa Back to the Elephants project was successfully carried out over three days in the floodplains surrounding the Kala Wewa National Park, in line with the govt’s Clean Sri Lanka national programme. According to the govt, the tender grass that usually grows in these areas and serves as vital food for elephants has been destroyed due to the spread of invasive plant species, including common water hyacinth, across several tank beds in North Central Province. more..

Sep 8 (AD) UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk today presented the report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to the 60th session of the UNHRC in Genève. Through the report, Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk urged the SL govt for the establishment of a dedicated judicial mechanism, including an independent special counsel, to handle cases involving alleged human rights violations more..

Sep 8 (NF) Geological Survey & Mines Bureau (GSMB) has announced new restrictions on the transportation of mineral sand during school hours, effective from Sept 7. According to GSMB Director General Deepani Weerakoon, mineral transport vehicles will now be prohibited from operating between 6:30 am and 7:45 am, and again from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm on school days. During these hours, trucks must be parked in designated areas with adequate roadside space to avoid more..

Sep 8 (NW) The driver of the SUV who narrowly escaped the deadly bus accident near Ella recently says the bus came like a decorated pandal with lights, at lightning speed, before colliding with his vehicle and plunging into a ravine. Crash occurred on the Ella–Wellawaya main road near the 15th milepost on Sept 4, killing 15 people and injuring 18. Police said moments before the tragedy, the bus carrying municipal employees returning from a Nuwara Eliya excursion struck a luxury SUV more..

Sep 8 (AD) Minister Vijitha Herath says SL rejects any external interference or mechanisms to investigate alleged human rights violations that occurred during the conflict with the LTTE. Responding to the report presented on SL by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker at the 60th session of the UNHRC in Genève today, Minister Herath on behalf of the govt said SL is committed to the accountability process more..

Sep 8 (NW) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has questioned how two containers of raw materials used in the production of Crystal Methamphetamine (ICE), discovered by security forces, were able to leave the port. MP Premadasa said that while the discovery marks progress in the effort to curb drug trafficking, it also raises several troubling questions that the govt must clarify. “The core issue is how these two containers exited the port. International intelligence agencies regularly more..

Sep 8 (FT) SL’s economy is at a critical juncture, where digital transformation is no longer a luxury but a necessity. From mid-sized enterprises to large corporations and technology-driven start-ups, companies are adopting Salesforce solutions to streamline operations, boost customer engagement, and unlock new growth opportunities. The platform’s ability to integrate customer data across multiple channels — from call centres and websites to mobile apps and social media — eliminates more..

Sep 8 (DM) General Secretary of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Tilvin Silva, dismissed speculation that Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya will be removed from her position. Speaking at a public meeting, Silva said the Opposition had been spreading baseless claims for a long time, but none of them had materialised. “Earlier, they said Harini Amarasuriya would lose her ministerial portfolio. Now they claim she will be removed as PM. These are nothing more than their dreams,” more..

Sep 8 (FT) Chairing the late H.L. de Silva Memorial Events in 2012, the ex-Foreign Secretary H.M.G.S. Palihakkara openly questioned whether it is the rule of men or the rule of law which would usher prosperity to a nation.1 He answered his own question and opined that what was prevailing in Sri Lanka was not the rule of law but ‘a rule’ of men. For Sri Lanka to prosper, he said that the latter should be defeated. What he presented 13 years ago is valid for Sri Lanka even today. more..

Sep 8 (TM) SL has responded to the report filed by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, by stressing that external initiatives will only serve as hindrances to the ongoing national efforts and serve to polarise the population. SL’s response and the UN report will be discussed at the upcoming UNHRC session. Govt of SL said that it does not agree with the conclusions and recommendations in the report more..

Sep 8 (IW) Excavation at the Chemmani mass grave in SL’s northern province has been suspended after 45 days due to insufficient funding from the Justice Ministry, according to lawyers involved. The site, discovered during routine development in February, has yielded 240 skeletal remains so far, with operations halting at noon on Saturday, Fresh allocations are expected within two weeks to resume the judicially supervised work, which began on May 15 following a court order. more..

Sep 8 (DN) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake stressed that it is the responsibility of state officials in each district to ensure that development projects implemented at district level are not delayed and that their benefits reach the people within the stipulated timeframe. He further stated that once a development project is initiated, officials must maintain a target plan up to its completion date. Prez pointed out that failing to complete previously launched development projects on time and more..

Sep 8 (Island) The SJB, won’t support the UNHRC call for SL to recognise the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC).Top SJB spokesman Dr. Harsha de Silva said that there was no need for SL to accept the ICC. The UNHRC proceedings continue until 8 Oct. Dr. de Silva said so in response to The Island query in the wake of Geneva-based UNHRC asking the NPP to have SL submit to the ICC jurisdiction. more..

Sep 8 (FT) Sri Lanka’s workers’ remittances surged to $ 680.8 million in August, marking the highest monthly inflow so far in 2025. The figure reflects an 18% year-on-year (YoY) increase and represents the fifth consecutive month of record inflows, underscoring the steady recovery of foreign worker earnings. August’s inflow is also the second-highest monthly remittance in the country’s history, just behind the $ 708.09 million recorded in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. more..

Sep 8 (Island) In the latest economic indicators report, CB has painted a picture of an economy showing some encouraging signs while grappling with significant challenges. The Island asked an economic analyst to explain the latest indicators to help understand what they mean for everyday Sri Lankans. His analysis is as follows: For the first 7 months of 2025, govt revenue has increased significantly, reaching Rs. 2,734.9 bil compared to Rs. 2,161.8 bil in the same period last year. more..

Sep 8 (FT) Despite the shortfall in arrivals, Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has managed to rake in over $ 2 billion in revenue during the first eight months of 2025. Tourism earnings from January to August registered over $ 2.03 billion, reflecting a substantial 7.8% year-on-year (YoY) increase. However, the sector is still grappling with a 46.3% shortfall in revenue, compared to its benchmark performance in 2018. In August, the industry registered earnings of $ 318.5 mil, down 3.1% more..

Sep 8 (AD) The strict enforcement of laws against drivers operating vehicles with dangerous and unauthorized modifications will begin today, according to Deputy Minister of Transport Dr. Prasanna Gunasena. In a statement, the Deputy Minister emphasized that special attention would be directed towards vehicles equipped with excessively loud sound systems and multi-colored, flashing lights, which are installed in violation of transport regulations. more..

Sep 8 (Island) An organised crime syndicate led by Padmasiri Perera, alias Kehelbaddara Padme, is believed to have manufactured large quantities of crystal methamphetamine (ICE) in a clandestine facility in Nuwara Eliya and distributed it countrywide. Investigations have revealed that chemicals, unearthed recently in Middeniya, had been used for manufacturing ICE. On several occasions, group attempted large-scale more..

Sep 8 (EN) SL is planning to install barrier nets in 250 reservoirs to protect fish stocks and boost harvests, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. An estimated 20,000 to 40,000 km are washed way annually from each reservoir when water is released for agriculture, reducing fish harvest for human consumption. The loss of mature fish in of reproductive age also leads to depletion of fish stocks. The cabinet of ministers had approved a plan by National Aquaculture Dev Authority more..

Sep 8 (Island) Post-harvest losses of fruits and vegetables in Sri Lanka amount to Rs. 180 billion a year, and, according to a new study by the Department of Agriculture and several partners, the quantity lost is sufficient to feed the entire nation for two to four months. The research has found that more than 500,000 metric tons of produce goes to waste annually, during transportation alone. Of this, around 200,000 metric tons are vegetables and 300,000 metric tons are fruits. more..