Oct 3 (AD) The Police Unit for the Prevention of Sports-Related Offences Unit informed the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today that the Attorney General has decided to file indictments against Tamim Rahman, owner of the Dambulla Thunders team, who was previously arrested and released on bail in connection with a match-fixing incident during last year’s LPL cricket tournament. The case was taken up before Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanka S. Bodaragama today, more..

Oct 3 (NF) SL marks World Temperance Day today, focusing on the health and social impacts of alcohol consumption. The observance aims to raise public awareness about the dangers of alcohol use and promote healthier lifestyles. A series of nationwide programs have been launched to educate communities on the risks associated with alcohol. According to Dr. Ananda Ratnayake, Chairman of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol, 21% of Sri Lankans consume alcohol, more..

Oct 3 (TM) Farmers’ groups urged the Govt to take immediate measures to reduce the production cost of key crops, adding that unbearable costs have prompted an exodus of farmers from the agriculture sector. National Agrarian Unity organisation pointed out that concerns have been raised about paddy, potato, green gram, black-eyed pea, corn and big onion farmers leaving the agriculture sector. more..

Oct 3 (EN) Sri Lanka’s state-run National Savings Bank has given a 6 billion rupee dividend to the Treasury, a Finance Ministry statement said. National Savings Bank has reported a profit before tax of 28.5 billion rupees for 2024, and a profit before tax of 25.5 billion rupees for the first half of 2025, according to the statement. “This significant contribution has been made possible due to its operational excellence and good governance practices.” more..

Oct 3 (CT) The representative of the New Vithanakande Tea Factory, which won a Guinness World Record for the highest-priced tea sold at an auction in Osaka, Japan, on 26 Sept, arrived in Sri Lanka on Wednesday morning. Pubudu Gunasekara, the CEO of the New Vithanakande Tea Factory, which presented the FF Extra Special Black Tea that won the Guinness World Record for the most valuable and expensive tea product in the world, arrived at Katunayake Airport more..

Oct 3 (DM) The Notice of Assignment (NoA) for the long-awaited 2025 5G spectrum auction was officially announced today at a special media briefing held at the ICTA. The announcement marks a decisive step toward the launch of 5G services in Sri Lanka, a move expected to transform connectivity, strengthen the digital economy, and support the country’s growth in key industries. more..

Oct 3 (DM) The Court of Appeal today fixed Oct 23 for the delivery of the judgment regarding two writ petitions challenging the legality of the Returning Officers of the Kekirawa and Galnewa Pradeshiya Sabhas in implementing their letters requesting the nomination of women members for the seats obtained by the SJB under the proportional representation system at the Kekirawa and Galnewa Pradeshiya Sabha elections. Meanwhile, Court of Appeal further extended its interim orders more..

Oct 3 (PMD) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake called on the Chief Prelates of the Malwathu and Asgiri Chapters today and received their blessings. Upon arriving at the Malwathu Vihara, the President paid his respects to the Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Sumangala Thero, the Mahanayake of the Malwathu Chapter and engaged in a brief discussion and received blessings. Subsequently, Prez visited the Asgiri Vihara and called on the Most Venerable Warakagoda more..

Oct 3 (FT) The recent flash floods in Uttarakhand, India where over 100 people went missing, are just one among thousands of climate-related disasters in recent years. For banks, the impact is direct washed-out assets, loan defaults, and rising credit risk. This is not tomorrow’s threat; climate risk is already reshaping financial stability today. In the end, banks become the ultimate receivers of climate shocks, bearing the financial fallout of environmental catastrophes. more..

Oct 3 (FT) For Sri Lanka, the United States is more than just a trading partner. It is the single most important destination for Sri Lankan exports, particularly apparel, and a market that sustains hundreds of thousands of jobs and contributes significantly to national GDP. Yet, beneath this success story lies a structural imbalance. While Sri Lanka exports billions of dollars’ worth of goods to the United States each year, its imports from America remain comparatively small. more..

Oct 3 (DM) Sri Lanka’s revenues jumped 27% in the first seven months of 2025, pushing the island nation into a primary surplus and helping foreign reserves recover to US$ 6.2 billion. However, Fitch Ratings warned that debt and interest burdens will remain far above peer levels despite reforms. The rating agency projects average primary surpluses of 2.7% of GDP between 2025 and 2027, after a sharp turnaround from a deficit of 5.7% in 2021 to more..

Oct 3 (AD) Another individual connected to the large haul of narcotics uncovered from three lorries in Seenimodara, Tangalle has been arrested by the Tangalle Divisional Crime Investigation Unit. The suspect, known as Beliatta Sanaa, was arrested yesterday (1), according to police. Recently, police seized over 700 kg of heroin and crystal methamphetamine (Ice) hidden in three lorries in Seenimodara. The haul of drugs had been smuggled into the country from abroad more..

Oct 3 (FT) The CIABOC yesterday expressed deep concern over what it described as baseless and misleading statements made by certain individuals and organisations, warning that legal action would be taken against attempts to discredit its work. Speaking at a media briefing, CIABOC Director-General Ranga Dissanayake said the Commission has observed that some parties, acting with hidden agendas, are spreading false narratives through electronic, print and social media. more..

Oct 3 (DM) SL’s tourism industry yesterday unveiled the Ruhunu Ring, a landmark private sector-led initiative designed to transform the southern tourism landscape by promoting experiential travel and aiming to boost the average daily tourist expenditure. The novel tourism product was officially launched at the Int'l Tourism Leaders Summit 2025, held at the BMICH. The initiative, branded with the tagline Culturally Wild, more..

Oct 3 (TM) A gazette notification has been issued by the Minister of Transport and Highways, making it mandatory for drivers and all passengers of vehicles traveling along expressways to wear seatbelts. According to the gazette notification, driver of a motor vehicle driven or used on an expressway and every passenger and individual occupying any seat and travelling in the motor vehicle are required to wear an individual safety seatbelt while such motor vehicle is being driven or used on the hiway. more..

Oct 3 (Island) Fourteen DIGs, including two female DIGs, have been transferred with immediate effect. The transfers were made on the request of IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya and with the approval of the National Police Commission. Police sources said the changes followed the recent promotions of several senior police officers to the rank of DIG. The DIGs transferred are as follows: DIG G. N. de Soysa – from Police Welfare Division to Colombo Division DIG; more..

Oct 3 (NW) Director General of the CIABOC Ranga Dissanayake said that legal action would be filed against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody if the Commission decides to proceed with such a decision. Dissanayake clarified that the decision to prosecute or not under the Bribery Act rests with the three-member Commission, not the Director General. However, once a decision is made, it is his responsibility as DG to file the indictment based on the commission’s recommendation, he noted. more..

Oct 3 (DN) SL’s Australian-based swimmer Akalanka Peiris broke the SL national short course record in the 100m Individual Medley and also finished among the top swimmers in Australia at the Australian National Short Course Swimming Championship in Melbourne. On the opening day, the 25-year-old, who is based in Australia, clocked 55.89 seconds in the 100m Individual Medley, finishing among the top six in the whole of Australia. With this performance, he erased his own SL short course national more..

Oct 3 (CT) Minister Nalinda Jayatissa revealed that a new National Health Policy, aligned with the country’s needs for the next decade, is currently being drafted. He added that the main health plan for SL is being formulated based on policies developed thus far. Dr. Jayatissa, yesterday, pointed out that SL’s health service is being steered with clear targets and emphasised that work is currently underway to draft a new health policy in line more..

Oct 3 (DN) Nuwan Indika Gamage won Sri Lanka its first medal, a bronze, in the Men’s Long Jump T44 at the 13th World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, achieving a leap of 6.46 metres, held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, India, yesterday. Nuwan set his seasonal best against a strong field of world-class athletes, including Olympic and World Championship medalists. Coached by Y.K. Kularatna, he described it as a superb accomplishment for the country. more..

Oct 3 (CT) Former State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa, yesterday, withdrew the revision petition he had filed at the Colombo High Court seeking bail. Rajapaksa had filed the petition after being remanded by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court under Public Property Act, following a directive from the CIABOC. He had sought bail, claiming his detention was unjustified. The matter was heard before Colombo HC Judge Manjula Thilakaratne. Representing Rajapaksa, more..

Oct 3 (FT) The Commonwealth Union (CU) has announced the appointment of Alston Koch, internationally recognised artist, award-winning entertainer and global influencer, as its Envoy to Australia and the Pacific Region. Koch will represent the Commonwealth Union and promote its objectives in line with the People’s Charter of the Commonwealth. His work will focus on strengthening regional collaboration, advancing the Commonwealth Union’s mission of inclusivity more..

Oct 3 (CT) Sri Lanka will look to bounce back and capitalise on home advantage when they take on defending champions Australia in their second group match of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Saturday (4). The co-hosts had a disappointing start to their campaign, suffering a defeat at the hands of India in their tournament opener in Guwahati. Despite flashes of brilliance, SL’s batting collapse in the middle order cost them a chance at victory. more..

Oct 3 (TM) The Election Commission (EC) stated that if the Provincial Council (PC) Elections are to be held after a fresh delimitation process, it would be better to commence the process at the earliest possible time, as it takes considerable effort and nearly a year to complete. The PC Elections have been stalled for years due to a legal issue stemming from an amendment introduced by the UNF led Govt during 2015-2020. more..

Oct 3 (FT) The publisher of leading business magazine LMD, Media Services, unveiled the top 20 line-up in the forthcoming LMD 100 annual edition. Hayleys takes the top spot in the 32nd edition of SL’s pioneering listed company rankings for financial year 2024/25. With a consolidated revenue exceeding Rs. 492 billion, the leading conglomerate secures top spot in SL’s version of the Fortune 500 for the second consecutive year – it also helmed the rankings back in 2020/21. more..

Oct 3 (FT) SL Hospitality Graduates’ Association (SLHGA), the largest body of professional hoteliers, marked a historic milestone with the appointment of its first-ever woman President Dr. Gitanjali Chakravarthy, a trailblazer who has been shaping SL hospitality for decades. From her beginnings as a Senior Lecturer at SL Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management to leading world-class properties such as Hilton Yala Resort and Uga Ulagalla, Dr. Chakravarthy has seamlessly combined more..

Oct 3 (ST) The long-delayed Aruwakkalu Sanitary Landfill in Puttalam, promoted as a long-term solution to Colombo’s garbage crisis, is now expected to begin operations by the end of this year, with full-scale disposal likely from early 2026, says Urban Development Ministry’s Solid Waste Management Project Director W.H. Dias. He said that efforts were underway to resolve the final technical barrier at Kelaniya Transfer Station, more..

Oct 3 (DM) Vega, the pioneering electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer behind Sri Lanka’s first supercar, is developing the nation’s first autonomous vehicle, leveraging advanced Artificial Intelligence and robotics. The announcement was made by Dr. Harsha Subasinghe, the founder and CEO of Vega’s parent company CodeGen, during a panel discussion at the National AI Expo and Conference 2025 in Colombo, organised by the Ministry of Digital Economy and SLT-Mobitel. more..

Oct 3 (FT) SL Shippers’ Council (SLSC) urged the Govt to urgently reconsider the abolition of the Simplified Value Added Tax (SVAT) scheme as it would erode export competitiveness and investor confidence, deepen the mistrust between businesses and the State and threaten supply chains and livelihoods. “While we commend the ongoing efforts to reform and modernise our taxation policies, it is imperative to carefully evaluate the unintended consequences that this change more..

Oct 3 (FT) Sri Lanka’s creative and craft sector has marked a landmark moment with the launch of SEVA, a transdisciplinary cultural diplomacy project uniting international artistry with SL heritage. Beyond its artistic merit, SEVA showcases the untapped trade potential of SL’s artisan economy, an area poised to grow into a high-value export sector and attract new investment. An outcome of the EU–SL Matchmaking Program, delivered with the SL Export Development Board (EDB), more..

Oct 3 (FT) Telbedde Estate, managed by Balangoda Plantations, has emerged as the Overall Gold Award Winner at the prestigious Ceylon Specialty Estate Tea of the Year 2025. The award, presented by the SL Tea Board in collaboration with the Colombo Tea Traders Association and Colombo Brokers’ Association, celebrates excellence in single-origin Ceylon teas. Telbedde Estate’s Orange Pekoe 1 (OP1) tea stood out from a competitive field, judged for its exceptional quality, unique character more..

Oct 3 (FT) Export Development Board (EDB) said that it was moving to finalising the National Export Development Plan (NEDP) 2025–2029 by November, with the aim of sharpening trade competitiveness, building stronger regional and global linkages, and positioning exports as a driver of sustainable growth even as US Prez Donald Trump is upending the world trade order. The EDB, working with the ADB, has begun more..