Sep 24 (NW) Jaffna District MP Ramanathan Archchuna has urged Sri Lankans to be proud of the international achievements of Tamil-Canadian actress Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and called for an end to racist comments targeting her on social media. Speaking in Parliament, Archchuna said Sri Lankans should take pride in Ramakrishnan’s success, regardless of their ethnic background, while criticising what he described as racist comments made by some Sinhala social media users more..

Sep 24 (NW) A special parliamentary committee has proposed key policy changes and legislative amendments to streamline the process of obtaining driving licences for persons with disabilities following its inaugural meeting held in Parliament recently. The committee, appointed by the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Transport, Highways and Urban Development, focused on expanding driving licence eligibility for individuals with visual and hearing impairments, introducing district level more..

Sep 24 (TM) Police clarified that although wearing seat belts is mandatory for passengers of vehicles travelling on expressways, certain categories of passengers are exempt from the requirement under regulations introduced in June of last year. DIG W P J Senadheera, who is in charge of the Traffic Control and Road Safety Division, said that the exemptions are specified in a Gazette notification issued on 25 June 2025. more..

Sep 24 (IPS) SL economy has faced a series of external and internal shocks in recent years that weakened its long-term growth outlook. Despite defying post-crisis growth trajectories, fresh uncertainties from oil price shocks and climate-related risks suggest that the policy context to accelerate growth will be even more challenging. In this context, select policy recommendations to strengthen economic foundations toward higher, durable growth are set out in this article. more..

Sep 24 (ST) The SLMC has called for the inclusion of Muslims in state bodies, saying they must be recognised not merely as spectators but as equal participants in nation building. The party included the demand in a series of resolutions passed at its 32nd delegates’ conference held at the Hizbullah Cultural Hall in Kattankudy on Wednesday under the patronage of party leader Rauff Hakeem. The resolution stresses that the recognition of Muslims as equal participants in nation building more..

Sep 24 (ST) Excise Dept has again extended the bid submission date for a tender to purchase a new security sticker and track-and-trace system for liquor-based products. The deadline for the security features and security features management systems (SFSMS) was changed from Sept 1 to Sept 22 and now to Oct 6, 2026. The 5-year build-own-operate contract will replace the foolproof sticker and digital marking code system implemented by more..

Sep 24 (FT) The American Chamber of Commerce in SL (AmCham SL) successfully held its 34th AGM, bringing together its membership, distinguished guests, business leaders and representatives of the diplomatic community. The AGM marked another important milestone for AmCham Sri Lanka as the Chamber reflected on a year of continued advocacy, high-level engagement and initiatives aimed at strengthening trade, investment and commercial ties between SL and the US. more..

Sep 24 (DN) With the conclusion of Major Club T-20 Cricket Tournament, 21-year-old left-handed opener of Tamil Union, Sineth Jayawardena emerged as SL’s new found cricket star. Seneth bagged the Player of the Final award with his sparkling knock of 82 in 32 balls including nine fours and five sixes as they beat SSC in the final at the R. Premadasa Stadium. Notably he reached his half-century in just 18 balls. Furthermore, he played a pivotal role in the match by sharing a 133-run partnership more..

Sep 24 (DN) England produced a superb all-round performance, inspired by Will Jacks’ brilliance with both bat and ball, to defeat SL by 89 runs in the series-opening ODI at Chester-le-Street on Tuesday. England will look to seal the three-match series when the teams meet again today in the second ODI at Headingley, Leeds, commencing at 5 p.m. SL time. While England need only one more victory to wrap up the series, SL face a must-win contest to keep their hopes alive ahead of the third more..

Sep 24 (Island) IMF Mission Chief for SL, Evan Papageorgiou, and accompanying representatives of the IMF met with PM Harini Amarasuriya at the Parliament on Tuesday, with the key objective of sharing the experience and outcomes of SL’s IMF-supported programme, with special emphasis on its seventh review. PM noted the progress made in managing the economy amid challenges, emphasizing the Govt’s commitment to maintaining economic stability and strengthening more..

Sep 24 (FT) Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka yesterday gave Parliament a detailed timeline for SL’s ongoing oil and gas exploration licensing round, setting out the schedule and commercial terms under which the country hopes to secure binding investment in its offshore acreage by the end of 2027. Speaking during a parliamentary debate, he said bids called in August would remain open for six months, more..

Sep 24 (GV) The NPP is conducting a series of mass rallies across the country to celebrate its two years of power. A close look at these rallies and the political rhetoric featuring speeches by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake offers interesting insights into what the NPP is after two years in power and where it intends to head. When the NPP swept into power two years ago, this was a milestone in its political trajectory. The JVP, which is the main constituent force of the NPP, more..

Sep 24 (FT) SL has significantly reshaped the tax landscape for investment gains with the enactment of the Inland Revenue (Amd) Act, No. 11 of 2026, certified on 3 June 2026. Among the important changes introduced by the amendment is a significant revision of the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) rates applicable to gains arising from the realisation of investment assets. With effect from 3 June 2026, the CGT rate applicable to individuals and partnerships has increased from 10% to 15%, more..

Sep 24 (Island) True national stability requires a transition this country has postponed for seventeen years: from a military victory to civic reforms that penalise divisive actors and build a unified identity. Last week showed, with unusual clarity, why that transition keeps failing. It was not a failure of slogans. It was a failure of consistency. Democracy, in the narrow sense of ballots and benches, is still standing. What is unhealthy is the use to which those ballots and benches are put. more..

Sep 24 (Island) Tuesday was a news-packed day. It saw a string of coincidences of judicial significance. Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne announced, in Parliament, the much-awaited Supreme Court determinations on the 22nd Constitutional Amendment Bill, the Judicature (Amd) Bill, and the Anti-Corruption (Amd) Bill; President’s Office announced that Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake had recommended two High Court judges for appointment to the Court of Appeal and more..

Sep 24 (DM) Despite having over 1.5 million citizens working overseas, SL is one among many South Asian countries that is yet to implement Out-of-Country Voting (OCV). Studies indicate that in South Asia, millions of people relocate annually due to factors driven by employment, education, family circumstances, safety concerns or environmental pressures. But, apart from a few exceptions, electoral frameworks more..

Sep 24 (DM) At the time of this writing on Tuesday, a Trial-at-Bar of the Colombo High Court was expected to deliver the verdict on the landmark trial on the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks in 2019. In one of the most exhaustive court cases, the trial had 2,309 witnesses testify on behalf of the prosecution and a total of 23,270 charges filed against the 24 accused. One accused died in prison. Among the accused were Mohammed Naufar alias Naufar Mavilavi, whom the FBI identified as more..

Sep 24 (DM) The reported death sentence imposed on SL migrant worker Sivarasa Anojan in Saudi Arabia over a social media comment demands immediate legal action and high-level diplomatic intervention. Drawing painful parallels to the tragic execution of Rizana Nafeek, SL cannot afford bureaucratic delays, procedural lapses, or uncoordinated legal defense. The government must act with absolute urgency—ensuring competent counsel, competent translation, and more..

Sep 24 (TM) SL’s judicial architecture is a topic that has been hotly debated during the last few months, with its massive caseload, delays, and chokepoints being discussed in multiple forums and in the broader social media landscape. However, few speak of the accessibility to justice – which is a challenge for most Sri Lankans, especially those who struggle with poverty. In many countries, legal aid services, which work pro bono, more..

Sep 24 (DM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake completes two years in office today, seemingly with satisfaction of his thus far performance and perhaps with uncertainty over the future. Although former Presidents R. Premadasa and Maithripala Sirisena also hailed from ordinary backgrounds, they had been elevated to the elite class when they assumed power. However, it was Dissanayake who will go down in history as the first leader to come from both a working-class family and a remarkably more..

Sep 24 (DM) Of late, one cannot help feeling that natural disasters are occurring around us with increasing frequency. Almost every time we switch on the television or look at the news and social media, there seems to be another natural disaster somewhere in the world. SL has had its own share, with the most recent being the devastating effects of Ditwah and subsequent extreme weather. Nepal has experienced destructive floods and landslides, while Philippines, Myanmar, Afghanistan, B'desh, more..

Sep 23 (NW) SL Customs will officially launch its first paperless customs declaration system on Oct 1, as part of efforts to digitalise customs procedures and improve services for the trading community. Under the new system, customs declarations and supporting documents will be submitted and processed electronically, reducing the use of physical documents and manual handling. SL Customs said the system is expected to speed up processing, improve transparency and document traceability, and more..

Sep 23 (NW) Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has welcomed Fitch Ratings’ upgrade of SL’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating from ‘CCC+’ to ‘B-’, with a Stable Outlook, describing it as recognition of progress made in restoring macroeconomic stability. Chamber said the upgrade follows years of economic adjustment involving fiscal consolidation, revenue mobilisation, debt restructuring and structural reforms. It said the improved rating also signals greater more..

Sep 23 (NW) Parliament today approved Supplementary Estimate No. 05 of 2026, providing Rs. 17.213 billion in financial assistance to offer relief to the public in relation to electricity bills. Supplementary Estimate relating to the Ministry of Energy was approved following a debate in the House. Rs. 17,213 million required for the measure will be sourced from funds originally allocated to line ministries for 2026 that have subsequently more..

Sep 23 (DM) Bar Association of SL (BASL) has called upon all the political parties in Parliament to allow the MPs to speak and vote on the 22nd amendment according to their conscience. The BASL said the responsibility now lies with MPs, when called upon to vote, to take a principled position according to their conscience giving due consideration to their constitutional responsibility, their representative capacity and most importantly their duty to the sovereign People of SL. more..

Sep 23 (DM) Sectoral Oversight Committee on Governance, Justice and Civil Protection has approved the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution and the Judicature (Amendment) Bills, which are scheduled for debate in Parliament on September 24 and 25. The committee approved the Bills following consideration at a meeting held yesterday under the chairmanship of MP Najith Indika. Attorney General, President’s Counsel Parinda Ranasinghe, officials from more..

Sep 23 (NW) Catholic Church has welcomed the court verdict against those convicted in connection with the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, but says the judgment should not be considered the end of efforts to uncover the full circumstances behind the bombings. Director of Mass Communications for the Archdiocese of Colombo, Rev. Fr. Jude Krishantha Fernando, said the Church was satisfied that a verdict had been delivered after victims more..

Sep 23 (DM) A 47-year-old man and his 45-year-old wife have been arrested in Padavi Parakramapura in connection with a money laundering investigation, while assets worth more than Rs. 47.5 million have been placed under a 14-day freezing order. The arrests were made by the Illegal Assets Investigation Division following a complaint received by the CID alleging that the man had accumulated significant assets through illegal drug trafficking. Acting on the instructions of the IGP, more..

Sep 23 (AD) The US should consider adopting a more flexible approach to certain tariff measures imposed on SL, Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Sumangala Thero, Chief Prelate of the Malwathu Chapter, told newly appointed US Ambassador to SL Eric S. Meyer. Chief Prelate made the remarks when Ambassador Meyer visited Kandy and paid a courtesy call on the Chief at the Malwathu Maha Viharaya. During the meeting, Chief Prelate also expressed his appreciation to the Amb more..

Sep 23 (NW) Former Maldives Prez Mohamed Nasheed has pledged his full support for efforts to save the life of Sri Lankan Anojan Sivarasa, who has reportedly been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia over a social media post. Faiszer Musthapha, PC and Upul Kumarapperuma, PC met Nasheed in the Maldives on Wednesday as an initial step in their diplomatic mission on behalf of Sivarasa. Nasheed acknowledged the seriousness of Sivarasa’s remarks to the Muslim community but said more..

Sep 23 (DM) Court of Appeal reduced the 7-year prison sentences imposed on a husband and wife convicted of trafficking and procuring a Russian national for prostitution in SL to four years, taking into special consideration the circumstances of their children. A Court of Appeal two-judge-bench comprising Justices P. Kumararatnam and Pradeep Hettiarachchi delivered this judgment in an appeal filed by two accused, husband and wife against their convictions by the Colombo High Court. more..