Sep 16 (FT) The Cabinet of Ministers on Monday approved a proposal to publish the Appropriation Bill for the financial year 2027 in the Govt Gazette and thereafter submit it to Parliament for approval. The move follows a decision taken at the Cabinet meeting held on 30 June 2026, approving the preparation of the Appropriation Bill for 2027. “The Bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman has received clearance from the Attorney General,” Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said yesterday more..

Sep 16 (Island) BBS General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera’s whereabouts have remained unknown since the Supreme Court, on Monday, annulled a presidential pardon granted to him in 2019. Prison officers visited the Thera’s temple in Nawala, Rajagiriya, to take steps to return him to prison to serve the unexpired portion of his six-year sentence. However, monks at the temple had reportedly informed the officials that they were unaware of his whereabouts. more..

Sep 16 (NW) SL-born politician Kamzy Gunaratnam has been appointed Norway’s new Minister of Transport, marking another milestone in her political journey from Jaffna to the Norwegian Cabinet. Norwegian govt officially appointed Gunaratnam to the post on Sept 11, replacing Jon-Ivar Nygård. As Transport Minister, she is responsible for policies relating to the transport of people and goods, as well as more..

Sep 16 (Island) Automobile Association of Ceylon (AAC), in collaboration with the Road Development Authority (RDA) and Police – Traffic Division, will conduct a special Road Safety Awareness Programme to promote the importance of wearing seat belts in vehicles specially on the express highways in order to reduce road fatalities and serious injuries. The official handing-over ceremony took place at the Chairman’s Office of the Road Development Authority on 14th Sept 2026, more..

Sep 16 (FT) SL’s manufacturing and services sectors in August have expanded, as per the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), its compiler the CB said. Manufacturing PMI registered an index value of 53 in August, reflecting an increase in manufacturing activities at a slower rate compared to 55.6 in July 2026. CB said all the sub-indices, except for Production, remained above the neutral threshold in August. New Orders sub-index remained at the neutral threshold in August, indicating more..

Sep 16 (NW) Supreme Court has detailed how a politically motivated complaint, an unusually swift police response and the conduct of investigators were used to pursue a political agenda against former senior police officers Ravi Seneviratne and Shani Abeysekara ahead of the 2024 Prez Election. Court ruled that former IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon and then-CID Homicide Branch OIC Chief Inspector Induka Silva more..

Sep 16 (DN) Sri Lanka’s apparel industry is seeking a fresh Government-industry push to add the next US$3 billion to annual exports, with greater investment, automation, trade access and domestic supply-chain development identified as critical to achieving the target. The sector, which accounts for around 40% of merchandise export earnings and provides employment to 300,000–350,000 people, has recorded exports of about US$5 billion annually over the past five years. more..

Sep 16 (DN) SSC will meet Tamil Union in the Major Clubs T-20 cricket final at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium tonight at 7pm. SSC led by Avishka Fernando registered a comfortable 46 runs win over NCC in the semi final at the same venue last Sunday while Tamil Union produced a thrilling semi final finish against CCC where eventually the winner was decided in a super over as both teams finished on identical 193 for 6 wickets in their 20 at the SSC grounds. more..

Sep 16 (Island) Somewhere in the fine print of every trading app you’ve ever seen advertised on social media, there’s a sentence that almost nobody reads all the way through. It usually says something like this: 77% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. Read that again. Not some people lose money. Not trading carries risk. Seventy-seven out of every hundred ordinary customers who sign up and put their own money in, lose it. more..

Sep 16 (DM) The Sri Lankan Corporate Health & Productivity Awards (SLCHPA) 2026 was officially launched recently, introducing an enhanced edition of the platform that recognises organisations committed to strengthening employee wellbeing, workplace health and productivity across Sri Lanka. The launch marks the beginning of a new chapter for an initiative that continues to encourage businesses to place their people at the centre of organisational success. more..

Sep 16 (CI) Harry Brook led from the front with his second and fastest T20I century as England sent SL swirling down the Utilita Bowl with victory by 119 runs in the first T20I. The limited-overs skipper's 42-ball effort - quicker than every Englishman bar Phil Salt's 39-baller almost a year ago to the day against South Africa - took England to 254 for 4, compelling former Test captain Ben Stokes to wax lyrical on social media. more..

Sep 16 (TM) As Foreign investor holdings have increased their LKR-denominated Govt securities to about Rs 200 b, amidst consecutive weeks of net foreign inflows – it should not be mistaken for renewed confidence in equities, but an early sign of confidence, LOLC Securities Head of Research Ruvini Kaushalya said. “If we look at the weekly numbers, foreign investors have been steadily increasing their holdings of rupee denominated Govt securities. You can see foreign holdings more..

Sep 16 (DM) Sri Lanka sits at a crucial global crossroads, transitioning from a historical focus on India and China to an arena of broader international focus. With rising attention from the United States, Japan, France, and NATO, Colombo faces a vital crossroads. Navigating this heightened geopolitical presence requires a shift from choosing allies to balancing multi-lateral interests. By prioritizing strategic autonomy, technological sovereignty, and a cohesive security framework, more..

Sep 16 (Island) Opposition propagandists are in overdrive trying to portray the JVP-NPP govt as an inefficient regime or a kakistocracy. But there are certain tasks it carries out very efficiently, and they include increasing taxes, tariff, and fuel prices. Speculation is rife that another fuel price hike is in the pipeline. Filling stations, operated by some foreign companies, have stopped dispensing diesel, claiming losses, according to media reports. Opposition-aligned trade unionists and more..

Sep 16 (TM) Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj said a Cabinet paper has been submitted to introduce mandatory clearance certificates for anyone entering, or already serving in, public sector positions that bring them into direct contact with children. Teachers, childcare officers, probation staff and others in similar roles will need to obtain a certificate from the Police or another relevant authority confirming they have not been accused of child related offences, and more..

Sep 16 (TM) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has said that the Govt intends to overhaul Sri Lanka’s healthcare service by introducing a family doctor system, under which patients would require a referral before being able to access major hospitals, a proposal that has drawn a mixed public response and criticism from the Opposition. The planned health reforms programme is expected to be rolled out within three years, it is learnt. more..

Sep 16 (SO) The controversy surrounding the Govt’s proposal to extend the compulsory retirement age of Superior Court judges has generated intense opposition from sections of the legal profession, particularly the BASL. The principal concern expressed is that such an extension could undermine the independence of the judiciary. That concern deserves serious consideration. Judicial independence is a fundamental pillar of democracy and must never be compromised. more..

Sep 16 (GV) As climate shocks intensify and global investors look to water as the next frontier, Sri Lanka faces a defining choice: defend its rivers and aquifers as a public trust or let scarcity turn a basic right into a business opportunity. There is a phrase increasingly used in meetings about Sri Lanka’s future: natural capital. It sounds benign, even sensible. It suggests that forests, wetlands, rivers and groundwater should be properly valued rather than treated as expendable. more..

Sep 16 (TM) Sexual health and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) medicine plays an important role in SL, not only in preventing and treating HIV and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and infections (STIs), but also in addressing sexual health problems that people may find difficult to discuss due to social and cultural sensitivities. We spoke to Consultant Venereologist at the National STD, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome more..

Sep 16 (CT) Apart from Nelson Mandela, there have been many philosophers and social activists who have emphasized the importance of educational reforms for social change and development. Among these were Confucius, Plato, Aristotle, Karl Marx, Mahatma Gandhi, Benjamin Franklin, Albert Einstein etc. We here however are not going to discuss the whole range of philosophical and world issues. We are focusing on SL and raising some crucial issues in the school and university education. more..

Sep 16 (ST) Progress made in terms of women’s empowerment and the many challenges that still lay ahead were discussed at length when Parliament debated the Determination under the Women Empowerment Act, specifying the remunerations and allowances of the Chairperson and Members of the National Commission on Women (NCW). Tabling the motion in Parliament, Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj hailed the passage of the Women Empowerment Act in 2024 more..

Sep 15 (NW) The 1,000-unit Port View Residencies housing complex in Grandpass, Colombo, was officially launched on Sept 15, with the first group of beneficiaries moving into their new homes. Minister Bimal Rathnayake, who attended the launch, said around 250 families had moved into the complex, while the govt expects around 750 families to be settled within the next eight months, before April 2027. Authorities had decided to move residents into the 1,000-unit complex in stages more..

Sep 15 (CI) In flashing bright neon the warning signs are there, clear for all to see. And if you're of SL persuasion, the overhead announcement is likely already underway to assume the brace position ahead of the upcoming spate of white-ball fixtures against England. This one won't be easy, folks. In flashing bright neon the warning signs are there, clear for all to see. And if you're of SL persuasion, the overhead announcement is likely already underway to assume the brace position more..

Sep 15 (NW) Ministry of Women and Child Affairs has announced a new safeguard for public service recruitment, requiring individuals, particularly those entering jobs directly involving children, to obtain a certificate confirming they have not been accused of child crimes. Minister Saroja Paulraj said the relevant Cabinet paper has already been submitted. The measure is designed to ensure that only individuals free of child‑related more..

Sep 15 (NW) A massive water supply initiative, the Kalu Ganga Water Project, is set to begin with the aim of meeting the drinking water needs of nearly 500,000 families in Kalutara and Colombo districts. Project, estimated at Rs. 73 billion, will be implemented under a Japan Int'l Cooperation Agency (JICA) loan assistance. A high‑level discussion on the project was held under the leadership of Minister Susil Ranasinghe, with participation from Honzu Shigeo, more..

Sep 15 (AD) Former Commander of the SL Air Force (SLAF), Air Chief Marshal Donald Perera recorded a statement with the FCID as part of an investigation into the controversial MiG fighter aircraft deal. Former He was summoned by the FCID to provide information regarding the procurement and financial arrangements surrounding the purchase of MiG fighter aircraft by Sri Lanka. He was summoned as part of an ongoing investigation into the controversial transaction. more..

Sep 15 (DM) Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has moved swiftly to replace the competition javelins damaged during transit for SL world champion Rumesh Tharanga, with the cost to be fully covered by the govt. Minister of Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage said that a new set of high-grade competition javelins will be purchased for the athlete, ensuring that the damage does not disrupt his training and preparations for upcoming more..

Sep 15 (NW) SL Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) has urged the public to adopt stronger online safety practices to protect themselves and their families from sextortion, a growing form of cyber‑enabled abuse. Sextortion occurs when perpetrators threaten to release intimate images or videos unless victims comply with demands, often for money, more images, or sexual activity. According to SLCERT, such crimes can affect adults, teenagers, and children, more..

Sep 15 (NW) The Moragolla Housing Project in the Hali Ela Divisional Secretariat Division, which was stalled for more than a decade, is set to resume, with second phase construction beginning tomorrow (16). The project was originally launched in 2011 to provide homes for 54 families displaced by a landslide in the Moragolla estate area. However, despite initial plans, not a single house was completed and handed over by 2025, leaving families in hardship for nearly 14 years. more..

Sep 15 (NW) SL Police have called on the public to actively assist in curbing serious road accidents by reporting reckless bus drivers through a dedicated WhatsApp hotline – 070 4755600. DIG W.P.J. Senadeera, in charge of the Traffic Control, said that the hotline has already received numerous complaints, including dashcam footage and smartphone videos. A majority of submissions point to bus drivers operating after consuming drugs, which Police have identified as a major more..

Sep 15 (NW) Parliament has approved new regulations aimed at ensuring the technical fitness and roadworthiness of vehicles used for passenger transport services in SL. The regulations cover passenger transport services regulated by the National Transport Commission, Provincial Road Passenger Transport Authorities and the Sri Lanka Transport Board. They will also apply to vehicles used for school transport, office transport and special tours operated on a hired basis. more..