Oct 27 (DM) Jetstar has captured nearly a fifth of Australia’s tourist traffic to Sri Lanka in its first full month on the Melbourne-Colombo route, absorbing the bulk of the market’s growth while SriLankan Airlines, despite adding flights, carried roughly the same number of Australian tourists, as per SLTDA data. Airlines outside SLTDA’s list of named carriers accounted for 18.78% of the 10,951 Australian tourists who arrived in September, up from just 0.92% in July. more..

Oct 27 (FT) Japan has pledged over Rs. 600 million for a five-year project to monitor and improve water quality in the Kelani River basin, with the first consignment of water testing equipment handed over to Environment Minister Dr. Dammika Patabendi yesterday. Implemented through the JICA and JST under the SATREPS program, the 2026-2030 project will set up a basin-wide monitoring network and an aquatic environment data platform to collect and analyse water quality information, more..

Oct 27 (ST) More than 85 govt websites and applications in Sri Lanka are running PHP versions affected by the PHP2Shell vulnerabilities, with GovTech saying 40 had been patched by yesterday (24). PHP is a computer language used to create websites and applications. The security flaws affect PHP versions released over more than 10 years. Security researchers at Wiz and Calif used artificial intelligence tools to help more..

Oct 27 (Island) Sri Lanka must turn its strategic position in the Indian Ocean into economic freedom, investment opportunities and greater diplomatic influence while safeguarding its sovereignty, Professor Patrick Mendis said following a conference in Stockholm. SL-born American scholar-diplomat said the Mahaweli Doctrine offered a framework for navigating intensifying major-power competition while ensuring international partnerships strengthened SL’s ability to determine more..

Oct 27 (TM) Govt is adopting a three-month-ahead forecasting approach to respond to ongoing global uncertainty and energy price shocks, with the aim of maintaining its growth trajectory and export orientation, Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe said. “Basically we will have to keep a watch. So now as a Govt what we are doing is forecasting three months ahead and trying to ensure that we won’t drop our ball on growth trajectory that we are in and also our export orientation” more..

Oct 27 (ST) At least two investigations are ongoing into a possible serious cybersecurity breach at SriLankan Airlines earlier this year and why the incident wasn’t immediately reported to Civil Aviation Authority (CAASL), Deputy Minister Janith Kodituwakku said. MP Dayasiri Jayasekera claimed that the airline’s software and email systems had been compromised and that the hackers had posted a responsibility claim more..

Oct 27 (FT) Bank of Ceylon (BOC), SL’s leading state-owned commercial bank, is set to create another milestone in the country’s capital market with the launch of SL’s largest-ever listed debenture issue, with a maximum issue size of Rs. 30 billion. The bank proposes to initially raise Rs. 10 billion, with an option to increase the issue to Rs. 20 billion in the event of an oversubscription of the initial tranche and a further option to increase the total issue size up to Rs. 30 billion, more..

Oct 27 (CI) Tuesday's face-off between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Lahore is a rare occurrence: it is not often that two sides so defined by chaos and inconsistency peak simultaneously - at least not in a positive direction - and yet, following their respective fate-defying triumphs over England, a genuinely intriguing encounter packed with subplots is upon us. SL arrive in Lahore - home to their finest night ever - hoping to perhaps summon the spirit that evening in 1996 to build on Thursday's more..

Oct 27 (DN) Pakistan U-17 cricket team continued their all-round performance when they recorded a 27-run win in the fifth One-Day match against Sri Lanka U-17 to take the five-match 50-over series 4-1 at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Saturday. Pakistan’s Mohammad Yousaf continued his batting form in the series with his second century which propelled the hosts to 283-7 in 50 overs. In reply, SL U-17 finished with 256-7 in their 50 overs after struggling at 141- for 6 wickets. more..

Oct 27 (FT) Sumathi Holdings marked its 70th anniversary on 9 October, with a celebration at the Sangam Ballroom of ITC Ratnadipa, Colombo, attended by over 500 guests from Sri Lanka’s business, govt, financial and media communities. Held under the theme 70 Years of Sumathi Legacy, the evening looked back to 1956, when founder Mr. U.W. Sumathipala opened Sporting Star’s first betting shop on Maliban Street, Pettah – the business from which the Group grew. more..

Oct 27 (DN) Diplomatic Corps accredited to SL commemorated International Diplomat Day 2026 at the Indonesia’s Embassy in Colombo on Saturday (24). The event brought together more than 150 participants representing over 21 diplomatic missions, UN, and SL’s Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Ministry, along with family members and other guests. The gathering reflected diplomatic community’s more..

Oct 27 (Island) Chemmani mass grave site has today become a focus of public concern in the North and a challenge to the govt’s credibility among the Tamil people. After months of excavation and the recovery of more than 580 human skeletons, a report by SL’s leading forensic archaeologist, Prof Raj Somadeva, has concluded that the site bears greater similarities to a formal burial ground than to clandestine burial sites with signs of criminal activity and non-conventional burial. more..

Oct 27 (ST) Two key bills to amend the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance were passed in Parliament on Thursday. The main purpose of the two bills, according to the Govt, is to enable authorities to more efficiently combat drug trafficking while also protecting the human rights of suspects arrested on charges of drug possession. They were passed with amendments and without a vote. Opposition MPs, though, questioned whether the govt had a coherent strategy to control more..

Oct 27 (SO) The controversy surrounding Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera emerged as one of the most contentious political issues in SL last week. In an unusual turn of events, figures from across the political spectrum rallied around what they described as the right to the robe. From Ven. Balangoda Kassapa Thera to Wimal Weerawansa, from Rajitha Senaratne to Lakshman Kiriella, and from Ven. Samantabhadra Thera to Sajith Premadasa, an array of voices converged on more..

Oct 27 (Island) Former Minister A.H.M. Fowzie has published an apology in a govt-controlled newspaper for having misused a state vehicle while in power. He has done so in compliance with a Supreme Court (SC) order. The case concerned an SUV donated by the Netherlands for disaster-management activities. Fowzie used the vehicle for personal purposes, and state funds were spent on its maintenance while he was Minister of Disaster Management. SC also ordered him to pay Rs. 6.6 million to more..

Oct 27 (SO) Sri Lanka’s economic difficulties are pushing more people towards investment schemes promising attractive returns, but the desire to make money quickly could leave unsuspecting investors facing financial ruin, Professor Emeritus of Sociology, Siri Hettige said. “Due to the economic problems currently facing the country, more people are turning to such activities,” Prof. Hettige said, highlighting more..

Oct 27 (TM) When the US ordered its own diplomats and their families out of a country, it was acting on intelligence the rest of the world did not see. Last week, Washington ordered non-emergency govt staff & their families to leave Saudi Arabia, citing Houthi attacks on civilian airports and critical infrastructure. Meanwhile, India is working to bring home some 3,000 Umrah pilgrims. SL’s response, however, as we reported on Sunday, is simply that no Sri Lankan has been reported affected. more..

Oct 27 (DM) Sri Lanka has won many battles throughout its history, but one of its biggest challenges remains defeating the racism that has divided its people. Education Ministry’s proposed introduction of Social Harmony as a subject for senior students in state schools, with the subject becoming compulsory for A/L students, offers an opportunity to address this problem at its roots. Under the leadership of PM Harini Amarasuriya, this is a welcome initiative that could help shape more..

Oct 27 (SO) For 421 people in SL prisons, an unpaid fine of between Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 15,000 stands between them and freedom. They are among 1,454 prisoners currently behind bars because they cannot settle court-imposed fines, according to Minister Harshana Nanayakkara. The figures bring into focus the link between poverty and imprisonment, raising questions about the consequences of financial hardship in more..

Oct 27 (GV) Prevention of Organised Crimes Bill gazetted on October 6 proposes a new legal framework to combat organised criminal groups by implementing the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and strengthening law enforcement powers in investigation, detention and prosecution. Bill contains several positive safeguards that we were not seen in some earlier security legislation, including requirements to notify relatives of detained persons, access to more..

Oct 27 (DM) On 10th Aug 1950, a young wild bull at Panamure broke through one-inch wire ropes, and when the gate of the kraal was finally opened for him, he ran out towards the forest, stopped, and turned back to rejoin his herd. He could have escaped alone. He chose not to. Within hours he was dead, shot in front of several hundred people. Few Sri Lankans today know his story. Yet in his time that single rifle shot echoed around the world. Seventy-five years later, shooting of Tusker more..

Oct 26 (DM) Three police officers attached to the Homagama Police Station have been suspended with effect from October 26 following the death of a suspect in police custody, Police said. The suspended officers include two Sub-Inspectors serving as the Officer-in-Charge of the Crime Branch and the OIC of the Anti-Corruption Raids Unit, along with a Police Constable. The 29-year-old suspect, a resident of Moonamalewatta, Kiriwaththuduwa, was arrested by Homagama Police on Oct 25 more..

Oct 26 (NW) Litro Gas Lanka says steps are being taken to distribute 700,000 domestic gas cylinders across the country by tomorrow, in response to high market demand. The company stated that measures have been taken to accelerate gas distribution to meet increasing consumer requirements. The vessel GOODWILL arrived in Sri Lanka on Oct 24 carrying 3,900 metric tonnes of gas, in addition to a shipment that arrived on Oct 22 and another shipment scheduled to arrive today. more..

Oct 26 (NW) Activist Wasantha Mudalige has accused officers attached to the Homagama Police Station of brutally assaulting a 29-year-old man who died after being taken into police custody on October 25. The deceased, identified as Ishara Harsha Kumara, a resident of Kiriwaththuduwa, was arrested during a drug-related investigation. Mudalige alleged that the young man had been assaulted inside the police station more..

Oct 26 (NW) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has congratulated Brazilian leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on his reported election victory, describing it as a victory against corruption, division and political dishonesty. In a post shared on his official ‘X’ account, Prez said the people of Brazil had achieved more than an electoral victory. “Today, the people of Brazil did not just win an election; they defeated the forces of corruption, division and political lies,” he stated. more..

Oct 26 (DM) All necessary arrangements, including security, were made for Thai Deputy PM Supajee Suthumpun during her visit to SL, and the visiting delegation expressed its sincere appreciation to the Foreign Affairs Ministry for the assistance provided, Minister Vijitha Herath told Parliament. Herath made these remarks while responding to SJB MP Prasad Siriwardana’s criticism over the govt’s handling of Suthumpun’s visit. “This is Parliament, not the Mirigama tuition class,” more..

Oct 26 (NW) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has held discussions with representatives of diplomatic missions and international organisations in Colombo over concerns surrounding the govt’s proposed anti-terrorism and organised crime legislation. The meeting focused on the proposed Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill and Prevention of Organised Crimes Bill, particularly their implications for fundamental rights, more..

Oct 26 (NW) US Navy ship USS Canberra (LCS 30) arrived at the Port of Colombo today for its second visit to SL this year, as part of a routine port call. According to a statement issued by the US Embassy in SL, the Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship previously visited Colombo in June 2026. The Embassy stated that the visit highlights the longstanding partnership between the US and SL navies and their shared commitment to strengthening maritime security across more..

Oct 26 (NW) SL Railways has launched a new programme to carry out major repairs on three S11-type trains in collaboration with the Govt Factory Dept, at an estimated cost of Rs. 25 million per train. Initiative, introduced this year, aims to strengthen railway services through cooperation between govt institutions while reducing the maintenance workload at the Ratmalana Main Railway Workshop. Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena inspected the ongoing repair work at the Maligawatta Railway Yard more..

Oct 26 (NW) Any Police officer wearing the official uniform is authorised to take legal action against traffic offenders under the Motor Traffic Act, ASP F.U. Wootler has clarified. Addressing the media, the Police Spokesman said that the authority to take action over traffic violations is not limited to officers attached to the Traffic Police. He explained that any Police officer in official uniform can initiate legal action over traffic offences, even when carrying out duties alone. more..

Oct 26 (DM) Right to Information (RTI) Commission has ruled that a private bank operating under a licence issued by the Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka falls within the definition of a public authority under the Right to Information Act, No. 12 of 2016. The decision was delivered in an appeal filed by Udara Ranasinghe, a customer of SANASA Development Bank (SDB Bank), seeking information on how the interest rate applicable to his loan had been reviewed. more..