Feb 21 (NW) A 37-year-old SL man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for stabbing his estranged SL wife to death in a car park in Cardiff. Nirodha Niwunhella, known as Nirodha, 32, was killed at South Morgan Place in the Riverside area of Cardiff on Aug. 21, 2025. She died at the scene. Her estranged husband, Thisara Weragalage, from Pentwyn, had been separated from her for several months at the time of the attack. Weragalage initially denied murder but later pleaded guilty at a hearing more..

Feb 21 (DM) The Opposition seems to be not certain of their own stance about the Parliament Pensions (Repeal) Bill that was passed on Tuesday. They criticised the Bill, but did not vote against it. They had left the House when the Bill was put to vote, instead. The JVP from the beginning had been against paying pension for the Parliamentarians and were insisting on the abolition of the Parliamentary Pensions Act since it was adopted in 1977 by the J.R. Jayewardene Govt. more..

Feb 21 (FT) Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) in a statement strongly condemned the illegal commencement of constructing the proposed Jaffna Int'l Cricket Stadium and Sports Complex on Mandaitivu Island by SLC without obtaining the mandatory statutory approvals required under law. Despite SLC’s failure to obtain the requisite approvals, earth-moving machinery is presently in operation on site and construction materials have already been transported there. more..

Feb 21 (ST) Suspects who had smuggled in 144 pigeons from South India into the country and were hiding them in a house in Pungudutivu, Jaffna had set fire to the house along with the pigeons to avoid detection, police said. A few days earlier Kayts police had arrested three people who had brought 44 pigeons to Kurikkatuvan jetty to be transported to Jaffna mainland. Acting on information that an additional 100 pigeons were being held at a residence in Pungudutivu, police prepared to raid the premises. more..

Feb 21 (Island) Former Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews believes the islanders have unearthed a gem in Pavan Rathnayake, backing the 23-year-old middle-order batter to scale the game’s highest peaks. Drafted into the World Cup squad at the eleventh hour, Rathnayake has wasted little time in justifying the selectors’ leap of faith. While much of the spotlight has rightly fallen on Pathum Nissanka’s match-winning heroics, the youngster has quietly gone about his business, compiling runs with more..

Feb 21 (FT) Veteran banker and Impact investor Rajendra Theagarajah recently outlined a patient-capital model aimed at rebuilding Sri Lanka’s Northern Province, arguing that sustainable wealth creation—not charity, was key to reversing decades of underdevelopment. Speaking at the inaugural Lanka Impact Investment Summit 2026 (LIIS), organised by the Lanka Impact Investing Network and the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment Sri Lanka, Theagarajah said his fund, Cinnamon Global, more..

Feb 21 (ST) Internal documents from the Lakvijaya coal power plant show that samples from three consecutive shipments of South African coal, bought through India’s Trident Chemphar Ltd, failed quality tests. The official data proves that each coal shipment registered Gross Calorific Values (GCV)—which represents the heat released upon combustion—well below levels required to generate optimum electricity from the plant’s three units. While the specification of the procurement agency Lanka Coal Company more..

Feb 21 (FT) SL’s tourism authorities are once again polishing the runway lights at Mattala Rajapaksa Int'l Airport (MRIA), promising that this time, the country’s most debated aviation asset will finally take off — at least on paper. SLTDA Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam laid out what he described as a game plan for Mattala to get scheduled flights. A refreshingly simple idea, given that the airport’s principal problem for years has been the absence of exactly that. more..

Feb 21 (Island) Far beneath the waters surrounding SL lies a largely unseen frontier, a deep seabed that may contain cobalt, nickel and rare earth elements essential to modern technologies, from smartphones to electric vehicles. Around the world, governments and corporations are accelerating efforts to tap these minerals, presenting deep-sea mining as the next chapter of the global blue economy. For an island nation whose ocean territory far exceeds its landmass, the question is no longer abstract. more..

Feb 21 (Island) The JVP-NPP government has appointed another Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to study the electoral system under which the Provincial Council (PC) elections are to be conducted and submit proposals and recommendations to Parliament. It is bound to take a month of Sundays to complete that task. In fact, that is exactly what it is intended to do; the government wants the PC elections delayed further as it is not ready for an electoral contest. more..

Feb 21 (FT) In this day and age, when volumes of Buddha Dharma texts are needed to explain the doctrine and the pathway to attain the ultimate objective of liberation from Samsara or cycle of birth, perhaps, genuine belief and adherence to the Buddhist Brahmavihara practices Metta, Muditha, Karuna and Upekkha, could prepare the mind of a person to achieve the ultimate purpose of the doctrine. In a converse context, one could well question whether not believing and adhering genuinely to these practices more..

Feb 21 (CT) There is an emerging environmental crisis in SL. The open dumping, the bursting streets, and the beaches littered with plastics are not only aesthetically unpleasing, but they are also dangerous to the health of the people. A direct result of poor waste management is diarrheal diseases, hepatitis, scabies, typhoid and a myriad of skin and respiratory infections. Plastic waste, especially single-use bottles made of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), requires up to 450 years to break down more..

Feb 21 (SO) As the crescent moon appears in the evening sky in mid-February, Muslims across the world will welcome Ramadan: a month that asks believers to pause, reflect and reconnect with both faith and humanity. This year, Ramadan is expected to begin on February 18 or 19, depending on the sighting of the new crescent moon, which traditionally determines the start of the Islamic month. Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, more..

Feb 21 (DN) Low floor buses are a long standing need for Sri Lanka. During the past several decades Sri Lankan differently able people, elderly, sick and pregnant mothers travelled in ordinary passenger buses with severe difficulties because they could not get on to those buses and they climbed to the buses with the assistance of other passengers. Now after several decades, this burning issue of the ordinary people has been solved by the current NPP Govt. more..

Feb 21 (TM) As SL further embraces the digital economy, the launch of the digital platform Crop Resources, Optimising Operations through Precise Information Exchange System (CROPIX) denotes a significant step in the direction of data-driven agriculture. With the modernisation of SL’s agricultural governance system, the country works to strengthen food security and improve farmers’ services through evidence-based decision-making. However, with the movement of the platform into the real-world, more..

Feb 21 (CT) Sri Lanka’s political landscape this week has been defined less by grand policy pronouncements than by a series of legal and institutional tremors. Taken individually, each development may appear discrete: a summons issued in a high-profile financial investigation; a writ petition challenging a parliamentary suspension; allegations traded before the bribery watchdog; and the resignation of a State enterprise chair citing political pressure. more..

Feb 21 (GV) The theme for this year’s World of Social Justice Day is social protection and decent work for all. At a time when headlines are dominated by economic instability, deepening inequality and protracted conflicts, this day a reminder that justice is not abstract; it is bread on the table, safety in the workplace, equal pay for equal work and the dignity of knowing that illness, disability or displacement will not push a family into destitution. From households struggling with rising costs of living more..

Feb 21 (CT) The current debate over pensions for legislators has captured public attention, and Parliament has already taken steps to address the issue. Yet this moment calls for a perspective broader than narrow political argument. Pensions are not merely a privilege granted to a few—they are a fundamental national responsibility. In any democratic and compassionate nation, pensions represent a social contract. Public funds are generated through the hard work and productivity of more..

Feb 20 (DM) Police have released AI-generated images of a suspect wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of a lawyer and his wife in Akuregoda earlier this month, seeking public assistance to track him down. Western Province Southern Crime Division, which is probing the February 13 double murder, said the images were developed using artificial intelligence technology based on available evidence and witness descriptions. According to investigators, the suspect is believed to be more..

Feb 20 (Island) A 22-year-old monk from the Muruthalawa area in Kandy has been arrested by the Central Crimes Investigation Division (CCID) for allegedly defrauding various companies and individuals of nearly Rs. 5 million using the names of government ministers. According to the police, the suspect created fraudulent WhatsApp accounts using photographs of Ministers Kumara Jayakody and Anura Karunathilaka. The suspect used them to collect funds from private organisations under more..

Feb 20 (AP) Hundreds of Buddhist monks rallied in the capital of SL on Friday to protest alleged government disrespect of their religion and disregard for a long-standing tradition that they be consulted in matters of state. The protest passed without any reported violence. The constitution of the island nation of around 22 million people states that Buddhism is the state religion, though freedom of religion is protected by law. more..

Feb 20 (OC) India A cruised into the Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 summit clash after beating Sri Lanka A by five wickets in their semi-final match at the Terdthai Cricket Ground in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday. Asked to bowl first, the Indian cricket team bundled out Sri Lanka for 118 in 19.4 overs before chasing the target down in just 13.3 overs and with five wickets in hand. India A captain Radha Yadav contributed with both bat and ball and was adjudged Player of the Match. more..

Feb 20 (AD) The Colombo High Court has ordered that further hearing of the case filed against former Minister Johnston Fernando and two others be postponed until March 11, 2026. The case was taken up today before Colombo HC Judge Mohamed Mihal. Former Minister Fernando and former Operational Director of Sathosa, Mohamed Shakir, who are currently in remand custody in connection with another case, were produced before court by prison officials. more..

Feb 20 (Xinhua) SL's govt is drafting laws to enable courts to place suspects under house arrest instead of remanding them in custody, in a bid to ease severe prison overcrowding, said a senior official. Justice and National Integration Minister, Harshana Nanayakkara, said that SL's prisons, built to hold about 10,500 inmates, are currently housing nearly 39,000. He said remand prisoners account for the main problem, more..

Feb 20 (NW) ‎Police have arrested an Assistant Additional Secretary attached to Ministry of Public Administration over an alleged financial fraud involving more than Rs. 22.7 million. The suspect, a 56-year-old assistant additional secretary residing in Nedimala, Dehiwala, was taken into custody on Thursday by the CID following a complaint lodged by a Colombo-based medical doctor. ‎Investigators allege the official obtained the money by promising to secure a luxury vehicle more..

Feb 20 (FT) The American Chamber of Commerce in SL (AmCham SL) will host its flagship CEO Forum 2026 on Wednesday (25), from 9 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., at the Oak Room, Cinnamon Grand Colombo. It will bring together over 250 C-level executives, policymakers, development partners, and global thought leaders for a high-level dialogue on SL’s economic recovery and future growth. Held under the theme Accelerating Sri Lanka’s Rebuild, the Forum aims to serve as a critical platform for more..

Feb 20 (AM) Police in Keppetipola yesterday arrested a 31-year-old mother and her alleged partner over the assault of her two toddlers at a house in the lower section of Warwick Estate, Ambewela. The suspects are accused of assaulting an eight-year-old girl and a two-and-a-half-year-old child with wooden poles, causing injuries and subjecting them to cruelty, police said. The arrested individuals have been identified as the children’s mother, a resident of the lower division of more..

Feb 20 (AD) Nearly 100,000 suspects have been arrested so far during islandwide raids conducted under the Nation United – National Drive campaign aimed at eradicating narcotics from the country. Issuing a statement, Sri Lanka Police stated that a total of 99,540 suspects have been taken into custody under the operation to date. Investigations into illegal assets have also been initiated against 137 suspects in connection with the ongoing operations. more..

Feb 20 (AD) Indian PM Narendra Modi on Friday met Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake in New Delhi. The leaders held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Global AI Impact Summit being held in New Delhi. Indian PM Modi stated that “it was a great pleasure to meet Prez Dissanayake in Delhi. We reviewed the recent progress in India-SL relations. We also discussed the opportunities for cooperation in various fields, more..

Feb 20 (NW) STF has arrested six people suspected of killing wild animals inside Kumana National Park and transporting the meat by boat for illegal sale on Wednesday. ‎STF Officers in Arugam Bay carried out the arrests during a series of raids based on intelligence information, authorities said. ‎Two suspects were taken into custody at a beach area with 57 eggs believed to belong to marine turtles. In a separate operation later the same day, officers seized 17 kilograms of venison, more..

Feb 20 (DM) While claiming that he had predicted a looming gas shortage months ago, Opposition MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake told Parliament that the crisis had materialised because the new supplier selected by the govt lacked the capacity to ensure a steady supply. Dassanayake said he had warned in December last year that awarding the gas supply contract to a Swiss company without sufficient operational capability would lead to disruptions, but his concerns were dismissed more..