Oct 31 (DM) Auditor General has called for urgent action to recover bonds, fines, overpaid salaries, allowances, and loan balances amounting to over Rs. 1.2 billion from medical officers who had breached their agreements and left govt service as of Oct 31, 2024. There has been a significant increase in the number of doctors quitting govt service and vacating their posts, often without settling the required security deposits, fines, more..

Oct 31 (DN) Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga Boderagama ordered the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank of SL (CBSL) to provide the CID with the account reports that have not yet been provided to the department in connection with the investigations into the Central Bank bond scam. The magistrate issued this order based on a notification made to the Court by the CID, stating that although the Court had previously issued an order to the CBSL to provide several account reports more..

Oct 31 (AD) The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has temporarily called off the island-wide strike that was scheduled to commence at 8.00 a.m. today (31). Issuing a statement, the GMOA said that the decision to temporarily call off the strike was taken based on the agreements reached during a special discussion held last night (30) between the Minister of Health, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, the Director General of Health Services, and the GMOA. more..

Oct 31 (TM) In the wake of recent discussions regarding the attire of Muslim nurses, Ministry of Public Adm, PCs & LG stated that no official change has been made to the nurses’ uniform as of now. Minister Prof. A.H.M.H. Abayarathna said ministry has not received any formal recommendation from the relevant ministries regarding a revision of the existing dress code for Muslim nurses (at present, it is the standard more..

Oct 31 (FT) Launched in Feb 2025 by Prez and Digital Economy Minister Anura Kumara Disanayake, Govt’s national digital payment platform, GovPay, has surpassed Rs. 568 million in transactions as of 30 October, marking a milestone in SL’s shift toward digital governance and cashless payments. As of end-Oct, 37,715 transactions have been processed and 184 Govt institutions are connected to the platform. The system is operated by LankaPay Ltd. under the supervision of more..

Oct 31 (TM) SL’s Budget 2026 is unlikely to introduce new major taxes or rate hikes but could bring in marginal tax relief, such as the removal of Social Security Contribution Levy (SSCL) on financial services or adjustments to Value Added Tax (VAT) thresholds, Capital Alliance Limited (CAL) Head of Research Trisha Peries said. In a statement on the upcoming budget, she said that even without new taxes, the Govt’s revenue should stay strong to keep the primary surplus at 2.3% of GDP. more..

Oct 31 (DM) Dept of Immigration and Emigration has announced that the previously mandated Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for all short-stay visitors (tourism and business) to SL, which was to take effect from 15 Oct 2025, has been temporarily revoked until further notice. All ETA services and visa procedures will continue as they were before 15 October 2025. The department reminded travelers to follow immigration rules to avoid penalties, imprisonment, or legal issues, including more..

Oct 31 (Island) Korea’s National Forensic Service (NFS) has concluded a four-year initiative aimed at enhancing Sri Lanka’s forensic drug analysis capacity, under the project titled Strengthen Capacity Building of Forensic Drug Analysis in the Criminal Justice System in Sri Lanka (2021–2025). A closing ceremony marking the successful completion of the project is scheduled to be held today at 10 am in Colombo, co-hosted by the NFS and Govt Analyst’s Department (GAD). more..

Oct 31 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake yesterday launched a sweeping national campaign against drug trafficking and organised crime, declaring that SL must dismantle the black State that has taken root within the official State. He said the narcotics trade has corrupted State institutions, destroyed families, and crippled the economy, and warned that the coming months would mark a decisive battle against more..

Oct 31 (DM) Management Club (TMC) announced the launch of Northern Investment Summit 2026 (NIS26), a major initiative to promote investment, entrepreneurship and regional growth in SL’s Northern province. The summit will be held on Jan 21-22, 2026, at the Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre in Jaffna, under the theme Empowering Growth, Driving Innovations. NIS26 aims to position the Northern province as a new hub for trade and investment by connecting both local and more..

Oct 31 (ST) Jaffna Municipal Council (JMC) is set to move a resolution to retain revenue collected from Value Added Tax (VAT) to meet its revenue target and partially finance its own expenses. The move comes after the govt introduced revenue targets for local councils to encourage them to manage their own expenditure without relying on central govt funds. In terms of the govt directive, municipal councils are required to generate 40% of the total expenditure on their own. more..

Oct 31 (CT) While Safiya Yamick stole the spotlight at the South Asian Athletics Championship with her sprinting dominance, another rising star quietly made history in the shadows — a young jumper who claimed double Gold and showcased immense potential at just 20 years of age. Nethmi Madushani Herath, from Bibile in Uva Province, marked her debut senior season in athletics with remarkable success — winning Gold Medals at both int'l meets she competed in this year. more..

Oct 31 (CI) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has clarified that the appointments of Julian Wood and Rene Ferdinands as national batting and bowling coaches will not impact the continued roles of Thilina Kandamby and Piyal Wijetunge within SLC's coaching structure, and that each coach will link up with the men's national side on a rotational basis. "All these coaches, they are not being specified to say that they would be working with the national team," SLC CEO Ashley de Silva said. more..

Oct 31 (FT) The COPE has raised serious concerns over ownership changes, conflicts of interest, and lack of Govt audit at LTL Holdings, a key company partly owned by the CEB, following a detailed inquiry held on 24 Oct under the Chairmanship of MP Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera. As an extension of its ongoing probe into the CEB, COPE summoned LTL Holdings and its subsidiaries to clarify issues surrounding the company’s more..

Oct 31 (DM) The long-awaited lighting project at the Demodara Nine-Arch Bridge, one of SL’s most iconic tourist attractions, has been delayed due to objections from private landowners, the Central Cultural Fund (CCF) said. CCF Director General Dr. Nilan Cooray said the delay arose after landowners refused permission for the installation of power lines needed to operate the transformer that will illuminate the bridge and its surroundings. Alternative arrangements are now being made to more..

Oct 31 (Island) Australia’s High Commissioner to SL, Matthew Duckworth, highlighted the economic and strategic significance of education as a driver of bilateral relations between Australia and SL, highlighting the Monash–UCL partnership as a model of transnational collaboration that continues to power SL’s human capital development. Speaking at the 10th Anniversary and Alumni Reunion of Monash College and the Uni College of Lanka (UCL) on Wednesday at City of Dreams in Colombo, more..

Oct 31 (DM) Strict legal action will be taken against the wife of MP Hesha Withanage and sister-in-law of former Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, National Lotteries Board (NLB) Chairman M.D.C.A. Perera said. They are accused of misappropriating over Rs. 120 million by selling more than 500,000 lottery tickets as NLB district representatives. Several other individuals, recommended by former ministers more..

Oct 31 (ST) Emirates, world’s largest and most profitable int'l airline, is scouting for top-tier aircraft engineering and technical talent worldwide. The airline’s next official stop is SL, where it is hosting information sessions in Colombo on Nov 4 and 5. The role aircraft technicians is based at the airline’s hub – vibrant & dynamic city of Dubai. Roadshows come on the back of Emirates Group’s global recruitment drive to onboard 17,300 professionals across 350 roles this financial year. more..

Oct 31 (NW) Five officers attached to the Narcotics Control Unit of the Department of Excise have been arrested by the CID over the theft of Rs. 102 million from two gold jewelry shops in Colombo. Police said the suspects — an inspector and four corporals — had arrived at the shops on Sea Street, claiming to be conducting an official raid. They allegedly seized the money and later filed a case in court, accusing the shop owners of possessing illegal cigarettes. Investigators said more..

Oct 31 (DM) The demutualisation of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) is awaiting a final policy decision from the new government regarding its share allocation, according to Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Senior Professor Hareendra Dissabandara. He revealed that beyond the original ownership structure, a role for a strategic investor is now being considered. This move comes as the SEC prepares to capitalise on a surge in foreign investor interest and more..

Oct 31 (DN) “David Pieris Automobiles (DPA) and global automative leader GWM by building a landmark partnership introduce a new era of hybrid and new energy vehicles (NEV) to SL. We are on a quest to provide Sri Lankans with freedom to experience hybrid performance backed by the trust and service excellence of DPA. GWM delivers the global innovation while DPA provides the bedrock of local assurance, which means every GWM owner is backed by DPA’s four-decade legacy of more..

Oct 31 (FT) China’s Ambassador to SL Qi Zhenhong on Wednesday said broader use of the Chinese Yuan, or Renminbi (RMB), could strengthen SL’s macroeconomic stability and help lower foreign-exchange risks as the country seeks to rebuild from its recent economic crisis. Speaking at the RMB Internationalisation Forum in Colombo, Qi said that for a developing country like SL, this process is of significant and practical importance. more..

Oct 31 (GV) Sri Lanka Barometer (SLB) has just released its latest report based on data from the 2025 SLB National Public Opinion Survey on Reconciliation. The report focused on three major themes: reconciliation, governance and civic engagement. Conducted in Jan and Feb of this year, survey was administered as the new govt came into power; a govt whose political stance marked a clear departure from its predecessors. For the first time, Sri Lankans voted in a leftist govt, more..

Oct 31 (Island) Walk through any SL town and you’ll hear it before you see it—the familiar hum of the three-wheeler, or tuk-tuk, weaving through traffic, carrying workers, schoolchildren and market goods. To some, it’s a noisy nuisance. But to millions of Sri Lankans, that sound is the rhythm of economic survival. The three-wheeler is not merely a transport option; it is one of the country’s most effective poverty-eradication tools—an informal social safety net on wheels that has done more for more..

Oct 31 (Island) The govt yesterday launched a campaign, Nation United – National Drive, to rid the country of the drug menace. There is no doubt a pressing need to neutralise the netherworld of crime and drugs. This task is best carried out without big shows, which might give the wrong impression to the rest of the world that SL finds itself in the same predicament as countries like Colombia and is not safe for investors. Nevertheless, the public must fully cooperate with the law enforcement more..

Oct 31 (TM) Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development has reportedly called for bids to purchase 1,775 four-wheel-drive diesel-powered double cabs, a massive, multi-billion-rupee tender, with a mere 12 days given for submissions. Tender closes on 4 Nov and according to media reports, the vehicles are to assist in work progress of the Govt’s development programmes. At first glance, such a purchase might appear as a logistical necessity for development work, particularly more..

Oct 31 (TM) For the first time in several years, life in Sri Lanka feels less unpredictable. The morning bus fare is the same as last week. The supermarket shelves are full, although not everything fits the budget. The rupee holds steady and salaries, though still stretched, seem to last a little longer. That quiet relief is what the Central Bank of SL (CBSL) describes in its Financial Stability Review (FSR) 2025. more..

Oct 31 (CT) Just over a year has passed since the establishment of the current Govt, and realistically speaking, the progression thus far is one that not just the Govt but the whole country could be reasonably content with. Although the bigger picture is satisfactory, zooming in on minor details could produce arguments both in support of and critical of the Govt’s performance, and this is exactly what the Opposition is doing. Focusing on trivial matters, or stubbornly dwelling on a minuscule mishap more..

Oct 31 (DM) National security in the twenty-first century can no longer be confined to the traditional domains of political sovereignty, territorial integrity, and regime stability. For nations like Sri Lanka, emerging from decades of internal conflict and adapting to global transformations, the concept of security must evolve into one that safeguards people, ecosystems, and institutions from multifaceted threats — both man-made and environmental. more..

Oct 31 (MB) In a landmark ruling hailed as a major victory for SL’s wildlife conservation, Colombo High Court in September convicted a person for the illegal possession of a wild-caught elephant and sentenced him to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of 20.6 million rupees (nearly US$ 70,000). A 3-member bench after a trial at bar, a specialized court proceeding where a case is heard by three judges more..

Oct 31 (ST) The margosa tree conversations have become an integral part of this column. Adding some spice and flavour has been Aldoris, the choon-paan karaya, whose music-blaring tuk-tuk of breakfast food wakes up the neighbourhood, with the young man getting involved in a lively conversation with the trio. Very often a topic, subject or view by the trio forms the discussion of this column. That was the case on Thursday morning, when Aldoris came calling, stopping at the gate where the trio more..

Oct 31 (DM) Public transport is, in a way, a yardstick that measures the level of a country’s socio-economic development. In the developed world, people rely heavily on well-structured systems that include monorails, light rails, low-floor buses, high-capacity electric trains, and trams- all designed for efficient urban mass transportation. Unfortunately, Sri Lanka’s public transport sector today stands as one of the most visible symbols of the country’s decaying public systems. more..