Nov 2 (FT) Govt rejected all bids for a $ 100 million dollar-denominated Bond offered to local and diaspora investors after bidders sought yields of about 12%, a clear sign of the cost Sri Lanka will face when it returns to international capital markets, former CB Deputy Governor Dr. W.A. Wijewardena said. Speaking at CA SL’s 28th Annual Tax Oration on Thursday, Dr. Wijewardena said the Treasury had issued the bond to test the market and had planned to increase it to $ 300 million. more..

Nov 2 (FT) SL is set to strengthen its int'l air connectivity for the European winter tourism season, with several airlines introducing new services or increasing capacity on routes linking the island with Russia, France, Central Asia and Switzerland. Flights operated by Russia’s Azur Air to MRIA are scheduled to commence today (2), while French carrier French Bee is expected to begin services to BIA in December via the Maldives. S7 Airlines is also scheduled to launch direct flights from Siberia more..

Nov 2 (TM) The recent dip in SL’s apparel export revenue is the result of external macroeconomic pressures and weaker consumer spending in key Western markets rather than domestic operational failures, according to Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe. He added that the Govt was working to diversify market reach while ensuring that trade concessions such as the EU GSP+ remained protected. more..

Nov 2 (DN) Muditha Lakshan smashed a blistering a 16-ball 52, but SL fell agonisingly short as Hong Kong pulled off a thrilling one-run win in their seventh-place play-off at the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes tournament in Mong Kok, Hong Kong, yesterday. It was not the finish SL had hoped for after arriving at the tournament with ambitions of making a strong impression. Their campaign began on a bright note with a one-wicket win over Bangladesh, but defeats to Scotland & Oman more..

Nov 2 (ST) The smooth corporate handoff of HSBC Sri Lanka’s retail banking portfolio to Nations Trust Bank (NTB) with the approval of the Central Bank has hit a wall of consumer friction. While the Rs. 18 billion deal may have been considered a business transaction in boardrooms, the reality is, thousands of the nation’s highly paid professionals including doctors, engineers, pilots, and corporate executives find themselves embroiled in an expensive administrative hassle. more..

Nov 2 (FT) Govt said it will look to stronger tax administration and compliance, rather than new or higher tax rates, for its near-term revenue gains as it targets tax revenue of at least 17% of GDP by 2031. “In the near term, emphasis should be placed on increasing the productivity of existing taxes through stronger administration, rather than relying primarily on new or higher tax rates,” Finance, Planning & Economic Dev more..

Nov 2 (FT) RS Rock Holdings hosted a high-level UK SL Investment Promotion Networking Event at Dover Marina Hotel and Spa, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, on 22 Oct, bringing together senior SL Govt representatives, diplomatic officials, investors and UK business leaders to explore opportunities for bilateral trade and investment. Among the distinguished guests were HC of SL to UK Nimal Senadheera, and Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe, who headed the visiting Govt delegation. more..

Nov 2 (DM) TEDxColombo, one of the most prominent and long-standing TEDx events in SL, announced the 14th edition of its flagship event, scheduled for Sunday (29), at the iconic Temple Trees. Known for pushing boundaries and sparking dialogue, TEDxColombo 2026 promises another unforgettable day of insight, inspiration and bold new ideas - brought to you by a carefully curated lineup of speakers that truly embody this year’s theme - challenging the way we see the world, more..

Nov 2 (FT) Chamber of SL Entrepreneurs (COYLE) concluded its I AM Leadership Forum 2026 at Cinnamon Grand last week, bringing together entrepreneurs and business leaders for an evening of personal stories, shared experience and dialogue on leadership. Held under the theme My Story. My Journey, the forum reflected COYLE’s broader vision for 2026 of Bridging Generations. Building Futures, creating space for established and emerging entrepreneurs to learn from one another. more..

Nov 2 (FT) Diversified Sri Lankan conglomerate Sunshine Holdings PLC (CSE: SUN) reported strong top-line and bottom-line growth during the six months ended 30 Sept 2026 (1HFY27), recording a consolidated revenue of Rs. 40.2 billion, an increase of 24.4% year-on-year (YoY). The Group’s profit after tax (PAT) increased by 44.3% YoY to Rs. 3.7 billion, supported by the resilience of the Group’s diversified portfolio across Healthcare, Consumer and Agribusiness. more..

Nov 2 (EN) Sri Lanka's external current account returned to a deficit in September 2026 after recording a surplus a month earlier, even as merchandise export earnings rose, according to data released by the central bank. Current account posted a deficit of US$ 128 million in September, compared with a surplus in August. Cumulative current account deficit for the first nine months of 2026 stood at US$ 420 million. more..

Nov 2 (Island) Tamil cattle farmers stage a round-the-clock vigil during a protest over alleged land encroachment at Batticaloa in Eastern Province. Tamil cattle farmers stage a round-the-clock vigil during a protest over alleged land encroachment at Batticaloa in Eastern Province Ambalavar Nallathambi Velayutham, a farmer and leader of an indigenous community, points to his disputed paddy field at Kunjankulam village in Batticaloa, Eastern Province. more..

Nov 2 (TM) A decisive legal battle has intensified in Sri Lanka’s political and social circles. The Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill (PSTB), proposed by the Govt to replace the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act, No. 48 of 1979 (as amended) (PTA) which has faced severe criticism over human rights (HR) violations for more than three decades, has caused grave concern and fear among the general public, trade unions (TUs) and legal experts. more..

Nov 2 (Island) The Opposition is seeking help from all quarters to tame the JVP-led govt, which has been bulldozing its way through. While its leaders are urging Colombo-based foreign diplomats to pressure the government to mend its ways, some Opposition activists are turning to deities and demons in the hope of invoking supernatural punishment on government leaders. The past few weeks have seen protesters resorting to occult practices, including chanting vas kavi, more..

Nov 2 (DM) The contemporary world is highly interconnected not only with economic activities through digitalisation but also Taxation, Finance, and many more things. Internationally, Registration of Taxation or having a Taxpayer Identification Number, is a primary requirement for doing various activities in the world. Doing business locally or internationally, especially Imports, Exports and digitalised business with providing services operating across jurisdictions are desired documentary more..

Nov 2 (ST) William Sami Étienne Grigahcine, known by his stage name DJ Snake, an internationally acclaimed French DJ and record producer who is in Sri Lanka for the two-day Senter Music Festival at Port City Colombo held a meeting with Minister Vijitha Herath. During the meeting, the Minister extended his appreciation to DJ Snake and the other international artists for accepting the invitation to perform in Sri Lanka and more..

Nov 2 (TM) For three weekends running, the streets of France have filled with people who say they can no longer make ends meet. What began in September as a protest by school pupils over crumbling classrooms and unfair university admissions has since grown into a broader revolt against the cost of living. On 24 Oct alone, French Interior Ministry counted more than 400,000 demonstrators, while the CGT trade union claimed close to twice that number. more..

Nov 2 (ST) This week’s death of a young man in the custody of the Homagama Police custody reportedly due to assault raises anew, grave fears regarding enhanced powers of arrest and custody conferred on the police by SL’s Organised Crimes Bill. Preliminary medical findings indicate that he suffered broken ribs and head injuries leading to suspected bleeding in the brain. Senior police officers have admitted that he had been assaulted while being held at the Police Crime Division prior to being placed in a cell. more..

Nov 2 (SO) Arecent statement by PHU leader Udaya Gammanpila at a press conference concerning Anuradhapura Sacred Area development plan has sparked considerable controversy and fuelled unfounded public fears. Referring to the plan published through an Extraordinary Gazette, Gammanpila alleged that the Govt was pursuing an anti-Buddhist conspiracy aimed at destroying the Sacred City of A'pura. more..

Nov 2 (CT) I voted for AKD. A profound sense of letdown compels this essay. In search of solace, I find myself turning to the old poets for refuge. It is a terrible thing when the dawn you so long-awaited deliver nothing but the same old midnight. I fervently hope that within the ranks of the 159 NPP parliamentarians, there remain at least a few who have read Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s The Gulag Archipelago & The Red Wheel. It is in that hope that I recall his timeless warnings in this essay. more..

Nov 2 (DM) The drama at the Vihara Maha Devi Park, demanding Prez Dissanayake either resign or release from prison Gnanasara Thera whose pardon was revoked by a court of law, is apparently over. Reverend monks who were staging a satyagraha, threatening not to leave the protest site unless their demands were met, have packed up and left. Satyagraha leaders announced that the Mahanayaka Theras (chief prelates) of the three Nikayas had informed them that more..

Nov 1 (ST) When opposition parties led by the SJB submitted a No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against Parliament Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne on Oct 9, the ruling NPP reacted with the typical bravado of a govt with an overwhelming majority in the legislature. House Leader Bimal Rathnayake proclaimed that the govt was prepared to hold a debate on the NCM against the Speaker at the earliest possible opportunity, perhaps more..

Nov 1 (AD) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism has announced that PM Harini Amarasuriya will lead the SL delegation to the 28th Commonwealth Heads of Govt Meeting (CHOGM 2026), scheduled to be held in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, from Nov 1 to 4. PM will join Heads of State and Govt from the 56 member countries of the Commonwealth under the theme Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth. more..

Nov 1 (TM) Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL) officials will visit prison to record a statement from the former OIC of the Homagama Police Crimes Division, who has been remanded over the death of 29-year-old Ishara Harshakumara in Police custody, former Commissioner of the HRCSL Nimal Punchihewa said. He said that three personnel connected to Homagama Police had been summoned to appear before the commission over the death of a suspect in custody, more..

Nov 1 (MB) SL is yet to achieve the economic and social transformation people voted for two years ago, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake said, while urging professionals to support his reforms. Addressing the National Intellectuals Organization, an arm of the ruling NPP/JVP, Prez said his first two years in office had been devoted to stabilisation. “Our challenge during the first two years has been to establish the economic conditions necessary more..

Nov 1 (DM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has announced that the govt plans to introduce further reductions in certain taxes in the upcoming Budget, while ensuring that state revenue targets are maintained. Speaking on the country’s economic performance, Prez said the govt had achieved its revenue targets without introducing any new taxes since assuming office. “We have not imposed any new taxes since coming to power. In fact, we have significantly reduced some existing taxes. more..

Nov 1 (DM) Minister Vijitha Herath met internationally acclaimed French DJ and music producer DJ Snake and other international artists in Colombo today, during their visit to Sri Lanka for the two-day Senter Music Festival at Port City Colombo. During the meeting, Minister thanked DJ Snake and the other artists for accepting the invitation to perform in Sri Lanka and contributing to the country's growing international entertainment scene. He also invited DJ Snake to revisit Sri Lanka more..

Nov 1 (NW) Senior lawyer and veteran left-wing political figure Lal Wijenayake, a member of the NPP National Operations Committee and Executive Council, has passed away on Saturday evening. Wijenayake was a prominent figure in SL’s left-wing political movement, having served for several decades as a Politburo member of the LSSP. After leaving the LSSP, he played a leading role in establishing the United Left Front. He received his education at Dharmaraja College in Kandy, more..

Nov 1 (NW) SL’s expenditure on foreign travel increased by 62.4% during the first nine months of 2026 compared to the corresponding period last year. The latest External Sector Performance report revealed that spending on travel abroad reached US$ 937.2 million during January–September 2026, compared to US$ 577 million during the same period in 2025. In September alone, foreign travel expenditure increased by 64.9% to US$ 122 million, compared to US$ 74 million in Sept last year. more..

Nov 1 (SO) Approximately 86% of the State and privately owned land occupied by the SL Army in the N&E Provinces has been released to date, with a further 185.73 acres set to be released within the next two months. By Oct 28, Army had returned 73,568 acres of the 85,549 acres it occupied in the two provinces by 2009. Released land comprises 49,304 acres of State land and 24,264 acres of private land. Kilinochchi tops the list, more..

Nov 1 (NW) A Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) certificate will be mandatory for obtaining or renewing vehicle revenue licences across SL from Nov 1, 2026, with the Western Province Department of Motor Traffic issuing detailed instructions to officials on implementing the requirement. The circular, dated Oct 29 and issued by the Western Province Commissioner of Motor Traffic, has been sent to all Divisional Secretaries in the province. The nationwide requirement follows the more..

Nov 1 (NW) A 16-year-old boy was injured after police opened fire on a three-wheeler that allegedly failed to stop when ordered to do so in the Mahakade Junction area of Kadawatha. An officer on duty had signalled the three-wheeler to stop, but the driver failed to comply, prompting police to open fire at the vehicle. The three-wheeler subsequently fled the scene and was later found abandoned in the Gonahena area of Kadawatha, approximately one kilometre from the shooting location. more..