Jan 7 (NW) A SL passenger carrying a consignment of Kush‑type narcotics valued at around Rs. 700 million was arrested at BIA. The arrest was made this morning by officials of the Customs Narcotics Control Unit while the suspect attempted to take the drugs out through the airport’s Green Channel. The suspect is a 24‑year‑old businessman from Ja‑Ela, who operates a tourist hotel in Kudapaduwa, Negombo. He had brought the narcotics from Bangkok, Thailand, to New Delhi, India, more..

Jan 7 (DM) The newly established sperm bank at the Castle Street Hospital for Women in Colombo has received an adequate supply of sperm donations to meet current demand and therefore, prospective donors are requested to be patient until further notice, hospital authorities said. Hospital Director Dr. Ajith Kumara Danthanarayana said that the facility has already received sufficient donations and will call for additional donors only if and when the need arises. more..

Jan 7 (AD) U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung will depart Colombo on January 16 after almost four years of dedicated service, marking the conclusion of her tenure as the United States’ top diplomat in the country, according to the U.S. Embassy in SL. Ambassador Julie Chung commenced her tenure in Colombo in Feb 2022. “I have loved every moment of my time in Sri Lanka,” said Ambassador Chung. more..

Jan 7 (AD) A seaplane that was preparing to land plunged into Gregory Lake in Nuwara Eliya at around 12:30 p.m. today. The two pilots on board were injured in the crash and were admitted to the Nuwara Eliya District Hospital. Police stated that the aircraft met with the accident while it had arrived to transport a group of tourists visiting Nuwara Eliya. The two pilots were rescued from the reservoir by individuals engaged in boat rides on the lake. Cinnamon Air said it is working closely with more..

Jan 7 (AD) Sri Lanka and Germany have entered into a bilateral agreement in relation to the external debt restructuring process, Ministry of Finance said. The agreement marks a significant milestone and reflects SL govt’s continued commitment to conclude the debt restructuring process successfully in order to restore debt sustainability and revamp the economy, the Ministry added. Following bilateral discussions after the conclusion of the MoU with the Official Creditor Committee (OCC), more..

Jan 7 (EN) SL’s stock market was closed with all deals cancelled after an error trade on shares of Wealth Trust Securities, which debuted on Wednesday. “Based on the request made by industry participants and to ensure a fair and orderly market the CSE in consultation with the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) has decided to close the market for the day,” CSE said. “As notified earlier CSE has cancelled all orders and more..

Jan 7 (EN) Wealth Trust Securities says the error share trade on its debut on the Colombo Stock Exchange had nothing to do with the firm or its pre-IPO shareholders. “The Company further confirms that no shares have been sold by pre-IPO shareholders in the market,” firm said. “There is no impact on the Company’s fundamentals, operations, or previously disclosed information.” “We urge the Capital Market Regulatory Authorities to investigate and act on this incident to ensure more..

Jan 7 (DM) The Education Ministry has informed all national school principals of the release of transfer orders under the 2025 Annual/Compulsory National School Teacher Transfer scheme and outlined the procedure for submitting appeals, Ministry Secretary said. According to a notification issued by Additional Secretary (Teachers’ Institutions) A.J.S.S. Edirisuriya, transfer orders for teachers in the Primary (General) subject category will be made available online from Jan 6. more..

Jan 7 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his 2026 New Year message stated, “We can collectively recreate a country far better than the one we inherited.” It is a powerful and hopeful statement, one that resonates deeply with a nation repeatedly tested by economic collapse, governance failures, and now yet another natural disaster. The real question is not whether we can rebuild SL better. The question is whether we are learning from past mistakes and rebuilding in the right way, more..

Jan 7 (FT) The United States Govt launched its final assault on Native Americans in the area around Wounded Knee Creek, a tributary of the White River in South Dakota. In December 1890, the US army massacred around 300 Lakota people, many of them women and children, ending Native American resistance to land-grabbing and forced assimilation. With First Nation resistance crushed, the US Census Bureau declared that there was no longer a land frontier to conquer. more..

Jan 7 (TM) The Opposition is likely to commence preparing a no-confidence motion (NCM) against the Minister of Education PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, in connection with her alleged responsibility regarding the error in the Grade Six English language module prepared by the National Institute of Education (NIE), it is learnt. According to SJB MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Opposition will commence collecting MPs' signatures for more..

Jan 7 (TM) Education Ministry has stated that changes to the Grade Six English language module, which was found to contain a reference to an inappropriate website, can be carried out before 22 January, when education reforms are due to commence. Ministry Secretary, Nalaka Kaluwewa said that the State Printing Corporation (SPC) has informed the Ministry that whatever changes are proposed could be implemented within that time frame. He said that several options more..

Jan 7 (CT) The annual St. Anthony’s Festival at Katchatheevu Church is scheduled to take place on 27 Feb 2026. The initial preparatory meeting for the festival was held yesterday at the Neduntheevu DS. The meeting, chaired by Neduntheevu Divisional Secretary N. Prabhakaran, was attended by the Neduntheevu Naval Command Officer and officials from the Divisional Secretariat. During the discussion, officials reviewed issues from last year’s festival, focusing on addressing the difficulties more..

Jan 7 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday reviewed the progress of the national anti-narcotics drive at the third meeting of the A Nation United National Steering Council, a body set up to coordinate efforts to eradicate drug abuse in the country. Addressing the Council, the Prez noted that just as the country’s physical development is important, wellbeing and stability of society are equally vital, and that more..

Jan 7 (DM) Cabinet has approved proposals to expand advanced diagnostic services and hemodialysis facilities in govt hospitals through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mechanisms, subject to performance-based payment schemes. Demand for advanced diagnostic services within public health system has increased significantly due to the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases and the expansion of comprehensive healthcare services at all levels. more..

Jan 7 (FT) Cabinet of Ministers at their first meeting for 2026 held on Monday approved calling for expressions of interest (EOIs) from investors to lease 24 identified bungalows and houses under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, aiming to ensure more productive and economically viable use of underutilised State assets. The selected properties will be offered on a 30-year lease basis, with the Government noting that the process will be carried out without creating social concerns. more..

Jan 7 (DN) Securities and Exchange Commission of SL (SEC), in collaboration with Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), has intensified efforts to improve the quality and efficiency of public listings by conducting an awareness session for Corporate Finance Advisors, underscoring their pivotal role in safeguarding investor confidence and market integrity. The forum brought together Corporate Finance Advisors alongside senior officials from SEC & CSE to clarify regulatory expectations, more..

Jan 7 (FT) Marking a significant milestone in the digital transformation of SL’s legal sector, Bar Association of SL (BASL) has adopted LankaSign Digital Signatures, enabled by LankaPay, to digitally sign electronic documents to drive digital transformation in the legal profession. To commemorate this landmark initiative, several key office bearers of BASL were ceremoniously handed over highly secure LankaSign digital signature tokens on 5 Jan at the premises of BASL. more..

Jan 7 (FT) SL’s digital economy is advancing faster than the trust architecture required to sustain it, creating a growing risk to adoption, confidence and long-term economic value, Supreme Court Judge Arjuna Obeyesekere said. Delivering the keynote address at the 2nd National Data Protection Symposium organised by the Bar Association of SL, Justice Obeyesekere said the country had moved from preparing for more..

Jan 7 (TM) Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) stated that, as the CEB moves ahead with its restructuring into six new companies, the relevant licences will be issued under the names of those companies once they are formally established, and that until then, existing licences will continue to remain valid. PUCSL’s Director - Communication, Jayanat Herat said that PUCSL has currently issued four distribution licences, one transmission licence & generation licences to relevant power plants more..

Jan 7 (FT) Cabinet approved a targeted relief package to support farmers whose export-oriented crops were destroyed by recent extreme and erratic weather conditions, with a focus on restoring long-term agricultural productivity and safeguarding export earnings. The decision follows the issuance of Budget Circulars No. 08/2025 and 08/2025 (i), which set out the instructions for granting relief to farmers affected by climate-related calamities, particularly those cultivating short-term crops. more..

Jan 7 (DM) The daughter of specialist neurosurgeon Dr. Maheshi Wijerathne of the Sri J'pura Hospital, who is charged with verbally abusing and threatening officers of the Bribery Commission and obstructing them in the discharge of their duties, pleaded not guilty before Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga Bodaragama. The suspect, Hemali Wijerathne, who is the daughter of Dr. Maheshi Wijerathne, an alleged suspect in a corruption case involving the sale of neurosurgical equipment more..

Jan 7 (AD) Three Indian nationals have been arrested at the BIA with 50kg of Kush cannabis. The stock of narcotics valued at Rs. 500 million has been seized by SL Customs Narcotics Control Unit officers. The suspects, aged between 25 and 31, arrived at 11:07 a.m. on SriLankan Airlines flight UL 403 from Bangkok, Thailand. According to preliminary investigations by customs officers, drug traffickers had promised to provide the group with a Bangkok trip to smuggle the consignment. more..

Jan 7 (FT) Deputy Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe said that amendments to the Employees’ Provident Fund Act are being discussed at the tripartite National Labour Advisory Council, as the Govt examines whether EPF contributors should be given the option of receiving a regular pension instead of a lump sum upon retirement. He said the proposal is aimed at strengthening long-term retirement income security for private sector and semi-Govt more..

Jan 7 (DM) Govt has decided to hold off on finalising the specific tourism revenue targets for 2026, until the completion of a comprehensive data-gathering exercise under the Tourism Satellite Accounting framework. SLTDA Chairman Buddika Hewawasam emphasised that the future goals would no longer rely on assumptions or outdated metrics but would instead be grounded in a scientific model, once the full suite of surveys—including the critical leakage & domestic tourism data—is validated. more..

Jan 7 (ST) State university academics are threatening to intensify their protests over the UGC’s decision to revise the system of appointing deans and dept heads, a move they say undermines the autonomy of higher education institutions. In a letter to vice chancellors, the UGC urged them not to appoint new deans or department heads until further notice, while a proposed amendment to the system of appointments is pending. The academics launched a one-day token strike on Dec 30, more..

Jan 7 (DN) SL cricket team led by Dasun Shanaka is expected to rectify their previous mistakes and come back strongly with a winning mentality when they play their first T-20 of the three match series against Pakistan at Rangiri Dambulla Int'l Cricket Stadium today, commencing at 7 pm. The series will play for the Rhino Roofing Trophy. Head of Exports, Rhino Roofing Ranil Chandrasekara said that they are very happy more..

Jan 7 (FT) Cabinet on Monday approved awarding the procurement contract for the printing and supply of vehicle number plates to M/s South Asian Technologies Ltd, in a move aimed at resolving prolonged shortages and delays in the country’s vehicle registration system. The decision comes amid a surge in vehicle registrations following the lifting of import controls in 2025, which led to a sharp influx of new vehicles and exposed weaknesses in the existing system. more..

Jan 7 (FT) FACETS SL 2026, the country’s premier int'l gem and jewellery exhibition, on Monday concluded successfully at The Forum, Cinnamon Life – City of Dreams, receiving an overwhelmingly positive response from stakeholders, exhibitors, int'l buyers, and visitors. FACETS 2026 recorded over 4,500 registered visitors, including approximately 450 foreign buyers and int'l visitors, reaffirming its position as a key sourcing and networking platform for the global gem and jewellery trade. more..

Jan 7 (FT) SC Judge Arjuna Obeyesekere yesterday urged the legal profession against turning uncertainty around data protection into a wave of opportunistic litigation, warning that such an approach could weaken trust in Sri Lanka’s emerging digital framework. Addressing lawyers at the 2nd National Data Protection Symposium, he said that while breaches, disputes, and ambiguity are inevitable in a transitioning digital economy, flooding the courts with minor cases would more..

Jan 7 (DM) Singapore Airlines has commenced an additional afternoon flight service between Sri Lanka and Singapore, increasing its operations to three extra flights per week with effect from June 1, marking another milestone in its 52 years of service between the two countries by 2026. The airline has deployed a wide-body Airbus A350-900 aircraft to operate the new afternoon service every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday from Singapore’s Changi International Airport to BIA, Katunayake. more..