Oct 13 (TM) SL Sevens rugby coach Fazil Marija says that he has given time for Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR), to withdraw and invalidate the findings of what he calls a purported finding of guilt against him as the coach of the Kandy Tuskers team arising from an inquiry. He stated that if the SLR fails to respond positively to his written submission, he would contemplate punitive action against the sport’s local governing body, over what he deems to have caused him serious reputational injury, more..

Oct 13 (FT) Embassy of SL in Rome hosted a promotional event on SL Expo 2027 under the theme Exploring Partnerships for a Prosperous Tomorrow on 5 Oct 2026 at Circolo degli Esteri, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Club in Rome. The event brought together representatives of the Italian Govt, chambers of commerce, diplomatic corps, and Italian and SL business communities in Italy. The event was organised to promote SL Expo 2027, scheduled to be held from 14 to 17 Jan 2027 in Colombo, more..

Oct 13 (NW) Association of Creators and Publishers of SL (ACPOSL) has announced the temporary suspension of all licensing activities following concerns and criticism raised by stakeholders in the entertainment industry. In a statement issued on Oct 12, ACPOSL said its board had decided to suspend licensing activities until its AGM, scheduled for Nov 2026. The association said the decision followed feedback received more..

Oct 13 (FT) Yaden Laboratories Ltd, a pioneering SL manufacturer of sterile injectable pharmaceutical products, has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first SL pharmaceutical manufacturing company to exhibit at CPHI Europe 2026, held in Milan, Italy, from 6 to 8 Oct. The achievement represents a significant step forward for SL’s pharmaceutical manufacturing industry, highlighting the country’s growing capabilities and ambitions to establish itself within the global more..

Oct 13 (Island) Opposition and the govt engaged in an interesting thrust and parry over secret political deals in Parliament the other day. SJB MP Mujibur Rahman lashed out at the JVP, accusing it of having struck a deal with what he described as the corrupt political forces and helped them rise to power in 2005. He argued that the JVP’s political history was replete with similar deals. PM Harini Amarasuriya promptly stuck her oar in to defend the JVP, arguing that even if the SJB’s points were conceded more..

Oct 13 (TM) Every year, as we get closer to the national budget, excitement builds among different stakeholders. Businesses look for tax concessions, industries expect incentives, Govt institutions seek larger allocations, and the general public hopes for some relief on the cost of living. Budget time has traditionally been about what the Govt is going to give and how much it is going to spend. With the Appropriation Bill for 2027 now presented to Parliament, the conversation is once again more..

Oct 13 (GV) In Aug 2026, journalist Khalidha Naushad exposed Facebook groups where men were sharing intimate images of women and girls, including family members, without their consent, alongside degrading commentary. SL police arrested a 21-year old suspect connected to some of the content. But the arrest is only able to answer who committed the crime and, even that, only partially. It does not answer the even more uncomfortable questions such as how these groups operate more..

Oct 13 (ST) A former UN Human Rights High Commissioner, Navi Pillay, whose infamous run-ins with the Govt of Mahinda Rajapaksa are well documented, was announced as the winner of the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. The then govt accused her of bias towards the LTTE, sidetracking the terror group’s atrocities due to her ethnicity. She visited Sri Lanka in Aug 2013 and visited the North amidst hostility from some supporters of the govt. more..

Oct 13 (ST) Arguments over who supports corruption and who is more committed towards eradicating it dominated proceedings when the Anti-Corruption (Amd) Bill was passed in Parliament on Thursday with amendments and without a vote. Thursday’s debate was noteworthy for the list that minister Bimal Rathnayake tabled in Parliament containing the names of 50 politicians, former govt officials and other prominent figures who have corruption and other criminal court cases against them. more..

Oct 13 (DM) Prez did not come to power promising to be just another Prez. He came promising to be different. That was the bargain he struck with a country exhausted by corruption, political privilege, economic disaster and broken promises. Voters gave JVP-led NPP a mandate for change. Two years into that experiment, AKD deserves credit for one important development: his govt has shown a willingness to pursue former rulers and officials accused of corruption and abuse of power. more..

Oct 13 (TM) The national conversation surrounding the newly proposed Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) (Registration and Supervision) Bill has largely locked horns over a false dichotomy. On one side, critics argue that the Legislation introduces bureaucratic overreach and constricts civic freedom. On the other, proponents defend it as a necessary tool for State regulation and compliance. more..

Oct 13 (DM) In recent weeks, SL has witnessed a series of arrests and remand orders involving members of the Rajapaksa family, former ministers and former MPs over allegations of fraud and corruption. The developments have attracted considerable public attention, with journalists and television crews gathering outside courts almost daily. For a country that has suffered enormously from corruption, abuse of power and the misuse of public funds, these investigations matter. more..

Oct 13 (TM) Minister Ananda Wijepala said that 574,000 people linked to drug activity have been arrested over the past two years. Any Govt has a duty to go after traffickers who poison communities, and the public wants to see that effort. But an arrest count measures activity, not results. The question that matters is the one the figure leaves unanswered: what happens to these people next? The honest answer is uncomfortable. Early this year, more than 27,000 of roughly 37,000 inmates more..

Oct 12 (EN) Nearly one in every four rupees lent by Sri Lanka’s banks and finance companies is now secured against a vehicle or gold, the central bank said, warning that the growing concentration has left lenders exposed to falling collateral values. The combined share of motor vehicle credit and gold-backed loans in total financial sector credit rose to 24.9% by end-June 2026 from 19.6% at end-2024, the Central Bank of SL (CBSL) said in its Financial Stability Review 2026. more..

Oct 12 (NW) A new fully equipped hospital complex costing Rs. 12 billion is planned for Dambulla to address overcrowding and space shortages at the Dambulla Base Hospital. Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa inspected the proposed site on October 10. The project will be developed on approximately five acres of land in Pohoranwewa, within the Dambulla Divisional Secretariat Division. The land has been allocated by the Rangiri Dambulla Raja Maha Viharaya. During the inspection, more..

Oct 12 (DM) SL’s youth unemployment rate stood at 17.8% in the second quarter of 2026, rising to 22.4% among young women, highlighting the challenges faced by youth in securing employment. Labour Force Survey for April to June 2026 estimated that 150,684 people aged 15 to 24 were unemployed. Unemployment rate among young men was 15.5%, compared with 22.4% among young women, indicating a more..

Oct 12 (AD) Charith Sandakelum, alias Ran Malli, a major drug trafficker linked to several organised criminal activities, including the trafficking of approximately 345 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine (Ice) recently recovered from the Kirinda Beach, has been arrested in Bulgaria. Bulgarian security authorities arrested the suspect based on Red Notices issued by INTERPOL and information available through border security databases. more..

Oct 12 (NW) A coalition of six SL media organisations has strongly condemned what it described as a campaign of hate speech, insults and incitement to violence targeting Sandya Ekneligoda following the reimprisonment of Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera. In a joint statement, organisations warned that the campaign could endanger Ekneligoda’s safety and further fuel a culture of hatred in the country. The organisations said Ekneligoda had been seeking truth and more..

Oct 12 (TM) Electricity Consumers’ Association (ECA) has called on the Govt to disclose the operating costs, fuel expenses and contractual payment arrangements of the Yugadhanavi, Sobadhanavi and Sahasdhanavi power plants, questioning their impact on electricity tariffs and the lack of public information on their costs. ECA General Secretary Sanjeewa Dhammika said the Govt should disclose how many days each more..

Oct 12 (NW) SL Transport Board (SLTB) Chairman Sajeewa Kanakarathna has said the board plans to curtail unnecessary stops for tea breaks, particularly on short-distance bus routes such as Colombo–Kandy services. He said the measures would be implemented based on the distance travelled and the destination, while taking into account the needs of drivers and conductors. Breaks may still be necessary on longer journeys to help reduce driver fatigue and the risk of accidents, more..

Oct 12 (Island) Communist Party of SL (CPSL) has alleged that the ruling UNP, in a ridiculous bid to whitewash illegal US sanctions on Iranian oil carriers stranded off SL, has taken on itself the blame for refusing to supply humanitarian aid to the trapped crews of the oil tankers. Text of the statement issued by Dr. G. Weerasinghe, General Secretary, CPSL: “SPSL condemns the attempts by the USA to prevent essential supplies of food and water to the 19-20 Iranian oil tankers stranded off more..

Oct 12 (EN) The local distributor of China’s BYD says it plans to sell 3,000 RACCO units in SL over the next year, as consumers shift to electric vehicles which provide lower operating expenses compared to fossil fuel alternatives. “With RACCO, BYD is entering the KEI car segment in SL, a category that is already very popular with SL buyers,” John Keells CG Auto CEO Charith Panditharatne said. Kei cars are a category of ultra-compact vehicles engineered in Japan to meet strict dimensions, more..

Oct 12 (DM) An expert committee has been appointed to formulate a national policy for engineering education aimed at improving the quality of engineering education in Sri Lanka and aligning it with the country's development needs. The committee was appointed by Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa under the directives of the Minister. It is chaired by Professor Udayanga Hemapala, VC of the Uni of Moratuwa, more..

Oct 12 (Island) As part of the new govt’s initiative to formulate scientifically grounded, long-term solutions to the human-elephant conflict, a programme aimed at sustainably fulfilling the natural food and water requirements of wild elephants within forest ecosystems is being successfully implemented. Spearheaded by the Ministers of Environment, guided by the Secretary to Ministry of Environment, and supported by more..

Oct 12 (EN) Sri Lanka’s Increasing frequency and severity of extreme climate events present a growing threat to the island nation’s financial system stability, the Central Bank warns. In its Financial System Stability Review 2026 report, CB signaled that climate shocks threaten asset valuations, borrower repayment capacities, credit quality, and overall macroeconomic stability. The warning underscores how physical climate catastrophes disrupt economic activity, damage productive assets, more..

Oct 12 (DM) Environment Ministry is moving to establish a coordinated national mechanism to manage electronic waste (e-waste) in SL, with plans to strengthen regulations and expand collection and recycling facilities. The initiative was discussed at a stakeholder consultation held at the Ministry of Environment ahead of International E-Waste Day on Oct 14. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Environment Minister Anton Jayakody, with the participation of Ministry Secretary more..

Oct 12 (TM) Attorney-at-Law Dr Chanaka Senanayake filed a petition with the Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday, challenging Gazetted SL Cricket Bill, which was tabled in Parliament by Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage early last week. Dr Senanayake-a former head of the Legal Unit of SLC, stated that certain clauses contained in the new Bill, if allowed to be ratified without any amendments will seriously imperil the sport in the country. more..

Oct 12 (FT) The Colombo Commercial High Court last Friday dismissed a petition filed by M. Thiyagaraja seeking permission to take action against National Development Bank (NDB), its Directors, and external auditors over an alleged Rs. 13.2 billion fraud. High Court Judge Viraj Ranatunge issued the order on 9 Oct, stating that the requirements for proceeding with the case had not been met. The petitioner had raised concerns about the bank’s corporate governance, more..

Oct 12 (NW) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has announced that SL is expected to receive substantial financial assistance from the Indian Govt for the development of the Anuradhapura Sacred City. Prez said the financial assistance would be provided as part of the strong bilateral relations between SL and India. He recalled that India had provided USD 100 million in assistance following Cyclone Ditwah, along with a significant number of temporary bridges and loan assistance for construction of more..

Oct 12 (DM) Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL) has issued a landmark ruling declaring that the continued detention of two Tamil-language books by SL Customs is a direct violation of the author's fundamental rights. The case involves author B. Piratheepan from Kilinochchi, whose consignment of 288 imported books printed in Chennai, India, was seized by customs officials over claims that the publications could damage national harmony. Disputed consignment comprised four titles: more..

Oct 12 (Island) An ex-LTTE cadre Sumathipala Suresh Kumar, alias Thavendran Murali, has told a 3-member bench of the Colombo High Court, hearing the disappearance of media personality Prageeth Ekneligoda, that during the war they discussed plans to assassinate President Mahinda Rajapaksa and a group of govt people. The alleged meeting took place in Habarana. The bench consisted of A.G.U.S.N.K. Seneviratne (Chairperson), Dr. Nalin Hewawasam and more..

Oct 12 (NW) PHU Leader Udaya Gammanpila has alleged that Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera was forcibly stripped of his monastic attire and made to wear a prison uniform while in custody at Welikada Prison. Addressing a press conference in Colombo today (12), dressed in black, Gammanpila claimed that the incident had taken place despite strong objections from both Gnanasara Thera & prison officers involved. more..