Dec 29 (AD) DIG in charge of Traffic Control and Road Safety W.P.J. Senadheera, has stated that motorists found driving under the influence of alcohol or engaging in reckless driving will face action under criminal law in addition to traffic regulations. DIG Senadheera said that the number of road accidents this year has increased compared to last year. Pointing out driving under the influence of alcohol is a major factor behind more..

Dec 29 (DM) Cyclone Ditwah has left in its trail an unprecedented humanitarian and economic crisis involving all 25 districts. Sri Lanka will be hard pressed to get out of this crisis unless leaders from all sections of the polity demonstrate mature leadership and superior management skills devoid of corruption and partisan politics. Given our collective track record, it will be a miracle for this to come to pass. Ditwah has impacted more than two million of our fellow citizens in numerous ways. more..

Dec 29 (Island) A 25-member delegation of dairy farmers from Sri Lanka visited India from 14–20 Dec, to participate in a specialised Training and Capacity-Building Programme. The delegation represented dairy farmers from across SL. The programme was organised pursuant to the announcement made by PM of India, Narendra Modi, during his visit to SL in April 2025, under which India committed to offering 700 customised training slots annually for SL professionals, she mentioned. more..

Jan 29 (Island) Against the continuing controversy over Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake holding up the appointment of Auditor General, a group of NAO personnel recently attended a capacity-building programme in India. The Committee on Public Finance, Bar Association of SL and Transparency International have strongly criticised President Dissanayake over the delay in finalising the appointment due to his nominee not being acceptable to the Constitutional Council. more..

Jan 29 (NF) The NBRO reports that several regions across Sri Lanka are experiencing a dip in air quality, attributed to seasonal weather patterns and wind-borne pollutants. Sarath Premasiri, Chief Scientist of NBRO’s Air Pollution Management Unit, explains that winds originating from India have transported particulate matter into Sri Lanka, elevating the Air Quality Index (AQI) in many areas. Current PM₂.₅ measurements (last 24 hours) reveal a mixed scenario across the country: more..

Jan 29 (EN) Sri Lanka’s vehicle market have been swept away by Cyclone Ditwah with 50 sales plunging 50% as many customers are no longer in a position to go ahead with car purchases, President of the Ceylon Automobile Importers Association Prasad Manage said. Customers in Kandy and many other areas are no longer in a position to complete purchases already initiated, he said. Importers now face a 3% a month penalty on an imported more..

Jan 29 (DM) Minister Vijitha Herath has proposed that China support the installation of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across Sri Lanka as a donation, in line with the country’s plans to import electric vehicles in large numbers, including from China. The Minister said the initiative would be crucial as the government is also planning to introduce more electric buses in the future. He made these remarks during a meeting with Chinese Ambassador to SL, Qi Zhenhong, more..

Jan 29 (AD) Train services between Colombo Fort and Chilaw on the Puttalam railway line will resume from today. Arrangements have been made to resume trains to Chilaw following the completion of repair work on the affected section of the track. Train services between Colombo Fort and Chilaw/Puttalam were suspended after a section of the railway track near the Kadupitiya Oya Bridge, located between Kudawewa and Madampe railway stations, was washed away due to floods more..

Dec 29 (EN) SL’s overall budget deficit fell 73% to 325 billion rupees and revenues grew 35.5% to 4945 billion rupees, as economic activity recovered and CB maintained monetary stability, missing its inflation target. Up to November, there was a current account surplus in the budget, indicating that total revenues were higher than recurrent spending. Tax revenues grew 36.8% to Rs. 4,611 billion, non-tax revenues grew 8.6% more..

Jan 29 (CT) Govt has turned its attention to declaring the Kadugannawa slope a protected reserve, Deputy Minister Anton Jayakody said. He said discussions were already underway with relevant institutions through the CEA, noting that recent landslides in the area had prompted renewed focus on the issue. He stated that with climate change impacts intensifying, it had become necessary to reassess the use of slope areas for human activities. more..

Jan 29 (Island) A private function will be held on Monday (29) at Melbourne’s Spicy Wicket Restaurant to celebrate Asanka Gurusinha’s iconic Boxing Day century at the MCG, the first and still the only hundred by a Sri Lankan at the grand old ground that staged the game’s inaugural Test and has long been cricket’s festive showpiece in Australia. SL featured in the 1995 Boxing Day Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, a match remembered as much for controversy more..

Dec 29 (NF) Sri Lanka has made a stunning leap in popularity among Indian holidaymakers, emerging as the third-most booked international destination for the 2025 holiday season. This surge is confirmed by the latest figures from MakeMyTrip, India’s leading travel booking platform, based on reservations between Dec 20, 2025, and Jan 2026. For years, Sri Lanka has been admired for its sun-kissed beaches, ancient temples, and lush landscapes, but 2025 marks a turning point. more..

Dec 29 (NF) Indian Police have busted a major cannabis trafficking ring with int'l links, arresting eight suspects, including a software engineer from Bengaluru, for allegedly running a large-scale operation that stretched from Odisha and Andhra Pradesh to Tamil Nadu and SL. Investigators say the gang specialized in smuggling high-quality Sheelavathi strain cannabis, sourced from tribal regions along the Andhra–Odisha border. This marks the first known case of ganja from this region more..

Dec 29 (AD) Chief Prelates of the three Buddhist Chapters have written to Prez requesting him to declare 30 May, 2026 as the Vesak Poya Day, since two Poya days fall on the month of May 2026. The letter states that the two Full Moon Poya Days will fall on 1 May and 30 May in 2026. According to the calendar issued by the Ministry of Public Admin, 1 May, has been designated as the Vesak Full Moon Poya Day, while 30 May has been declared more..

Dec 29 (Island) SL Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Shobini Gunasekera recently presented a conceptual framework of seven key vectors that defined contemporary international relations and facilitated dialogue among States. She made the presentation at XI Moscow International Financial and Economic Forum held under the theme “Building Bridges: Partnership without Borders”. In her address, the Ambassador emphasised that these vectors represent the channels more..

Dec 29 (NW) The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has issued a clarification regarding the situation that has arisen concerning the use of the Sugathadasa Stadium for a musical concert. Issuing a statement, the ministry said that the outdoor stadium had been agreed to be provided for a musical concert scheduled to be held on December 28. The current running track at the Sugathadasa Stadium is in a dilapidated condition, making it unsuitable for athletic competitions. more..

Dec 29 (NW) The unveiling of seven new products identified in 2025 by the SL Ayurvedic Drugs Corporation will take place under the patronage of Minister of Health Nalinda Jayatissa, tomorrow in Nawinna. Expanding its portfolio further, the Corporation will introduce medicinal products such as Kubja Prasarini Oil, Bala Koranda Oil, Panchavalkala Churna, and the Corporation’s Bone Marrow Tablet, along with herbal products more..

Dec 29 (AD) Several airport trade unions staged a protest today, calling for the payment of five basic salaries as bonuses for 2025, as previously promised by the Chairman of Airport & Aviation Services SL (pvt) Ltd, Harsha Abeywickrama. Around 50 employees representing several unions participated in the demonstration, including SL Nidahas Sewaka Sangamaya (SLNSS) of the airport, Podujana Sewaka Sangamaya, the Pragathishili Sewaka Sangamaya, more..

Dec 29 (FT) Int'l R&B star Ne-Yo issued a personal apology to his SL fans following the postponement of his scheduled concert in Colombo. In a post, the Grammy-winning singer said he was deeply disappointed about not being able to perform as planned, citing unforeseen circumstances beyond his control. “To my lovely SL fanbase… as much as I was looking forward to rocking out with you all, due to unforeseen circumstances, we’re gonna have to do this another time,” more..

Dec 29 (FT) As the floodwaters recede and the health authorities scramble to contain the re-emergence of vector-borne diseases in early 2025, a familiar narrative is unfolding. The new administration, fresh off a historic mandate in late 2024, finds its ambitious economic agenda hijacked by a natural calamity. To the casual observer, this is just bad luck. To the data analyst, however, it is a statistical certainty. An analysis of SL’s political and environmental history over the last 75 years more..

Dec 29 (FT) The late Dr. Amal Utum Herat, Utum to everybody, ex-Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, was a Jack of all Trades and also a Master of Everything. He did excellently in everything he practised. He was a lay preacher at his Methodist Church in Mount Lavinia, UK-qualified management accountant, master of ceremonies, public speaker, visiting university Don, international civil servant, and an economist par excellence, to mention but a few of the hats he wore simultaneously. more..

Dec 29 (FT) SL crossed the 2.3 million tourist arrivals milestone on 26 Dec, marking its strongest post-crisis performance and edging towards passing the 2018 record of 2.33 million visitors. As per SLTDA data up to 25 Dec, cumulative arrivals stood at 2,298,987, with the 2.3 million mark crossed the following day. This places 2025 marginally ahead of the previous all-time high of 2.33 million visitors recorded in 2018, more..

Dec 29 (EN) Premium vehicle, costing up to 300 million rupees including a Bentley, Ferrari and Mercedese Maybachs have registered in Sri Lanka according to an analysis of registry data by JB Securities, a Colombo-based brokerage. In November 2025, a pre-owned Bentley Continental GT and a pre-owned Ferrari 296 GTB and one brand Mercedes-Maybach GLS SUV and one Maybach S580 sedan. “All these vehicles are in the LKR 200-300 mn range,” J B Securities said. more..

Dec 29 (FT) Digital Mobility Solutions Lanka (PickMe) has formally written to the IGP expressing grave concern over escalating incidents of intimidation, obstruction, and unlawful interference and violence directed at independent transport providers operating voluntarily through ride-hailing applications in key tourist locations. The company’s letter follows a series of disturbing incidents in Ella and other tourist-sensitive areas, where independent drivers using digital platforms more..

Dec 29 (NW) The govt has begun discussions to amend existing laws to take over the trust fund managing Ambuluwawa, following serious concerns over its administration and use of public funds. Officials from the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Ministry of Justice, and Attorney General’s Dept have jointly initiated discussions on legal reforms related to the trust. Ambuluwawa is currently governed under Ambuluwawa Disanayaka more..

Dec 29 (AD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has issued an extraordinary gazette notification declaring a number of services, including the supply of electricity, as essential services. The gazette has been issued by the Prez by virtue of the powers vested in him in terms of Section 2 of the Essential Public Services Act, No. 61 of 1979, due to the severe adverse weather conditions currently prevailing in the country. Other services that have been declared as essential services more..

Dec 29 (AD) If there is a genuine intention to achieve successful outcomes through the implementation of education reforms, it is essential to hold comprehensive and meaningful discussions with school principals and teachers and to act in a flexible manner, stated Nimal Mudunkotuwa, General Secretary of the Graded Principals’ Association. Mudunkotuwa further stated that if such discussions are not conducted and steps are taken to hold schools until 2 p.m. from Jan 5, more..

Dec 29 (FT) Govt yesterday extended the State of Public Emergency in SL, according to an Extraordinary Gazette notification. Proclamation was issued by Prez exercising the authority conferred on him under Section 2 of the Public Security Ordinance (Chapter 40), as amended by Act No. 8 of 1959, Law No. 6 of 1978, and Act No. 28 of 1988. Accordingly, the provisions set out in Part II of the Public Security Ordinance will remain in force more..

Dec 29 (AD) Former Minister Douglas Devananda, who was arrested by the CID on Friday, has been remanded until Jan 9. He was remanded after being produced before Gampaha Magistrate. Devananda was taken into custody on Friday by CID officers in connection with an incident in which his personal firearm reportedly fell into the hands of members of an organized criminal gang. It is reported that the former minister was arrested in connection with an investigation into an incident more..

Dec 29 (AD) An aircraft that arrived at the BIA was subjected to a special security inspection following a false report claiming that several suspicious individuals were on board. The information was received in relation to a flight that arrived at the BIA from Doha at 8.27 a.m. today (28), carrying 245 passengers. According to reports, an email had been sent to the official email address of the BIA stating that four individuals on board were preparing to carry out an explosion. more..

Dec 29 (TM) Ministry of Defence stated that heavy rains are expected after today, and claimed that Govt agencies, including National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) and Disaster Management Centre (DMC), are prepared to take necessary actions to ensure public safety. Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara said that according to the Dept of Meteorology, a weather disturbance near the Andaman Islands is forecast to bring 50 mm to 75 mm of rainfall to North, North Central, Uva more..

Dec 29 (AD) The govt has decided to conduct the final rites of veteran singer Latha Walpola with full state patronage. The legendary singer who was receiving treatment at a hospital in Colombo passed away last night (27) at the age of 92. Meanwhile, the Dept of Govt Information has issued a statement regarding the arrangements for the final rites. Accordingly: The remains of the late singer will be placed at the premises of the Independence Square, in Colombo, for the general public to pay more..