Jan 2 (FT) Most diversified blue chip Hayleys Chairman and Chief Executive Mohan Pandithage has been named Businessman For The Year 2025 by popular magazine LMD. The business magazine said: “During his term at the helm, Hayleys has been ranked as the leading listed company in SL for seven years – including the last two years.” The LMD feature on Businessman For The Year also stated the following. He has quietly but resolutely steered one of SL’s most storied conglomerates into more..

Jan 2 (NW) SL Police have sought public assistance to identify a suspect linked to a shooting incident in the Kohuwala area that left one person critically injured. Police said the incident occurred on Dec 30, 2025, in the Godiyawatta area within the Kohuwala police division, where two unidentified individuals arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire at a victim. The injured person sustained serious gunshot wounds and was admitted to hospital, police said, adding that further investigations are ongoing. more..

Jan 2 (DN) SL Under-19 team, led by Vimath Dinsara, left yesterday for Namibia to compete in the U-19 Cricket World Cup, scheduled to be held from Jan 15 to Feb 6 in Namibia and Zimbabwe. 15-member squad will undergo an early pre-tournament training programme in Namibia, a move SLC believes is vital to help the young players adapt to local conditions. Junior Selection Committee Chairman Vinothen John said more..

Jan 2 (FT) Ceylon Cold Stores (CCS) has achieved a major national milestone by being named the Winner Award recipient at the Sri Lanka National Quality Awards 2023, under the Large, Manufacturing Category. Presented by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) at the ceremony held In November at Cinnamon Lakeside, this accolade represents the highest level of national recognition for organisational excellence and reinforces CCS’s position as a benchmark for quality, more..

Jan 2 (FT) As Sri Lanka positions itself for a digitally inclusive and globally connected future, the safeguarding of citizens’ personal data has become a matter of national importance. To address these critical issues, the Bar Association of SL (BASL), in collaboration with the Computer Society of SL (CSSL), has announced that the 2nd National Data Protection Symposium will now be held on 6 Jan 2026 at Cumulus, Cinnamon Life Colombo. The symposium, themed more..

Jan 2 (TM) SL’s tourism earnings saw a 8.1% decline in earnings in year-on-year terms in the month of Nov, posting $ 251.6 million in earnings, data from the External Sector Performance for Nov 2025. SL earned $ 272.9 million in Nov of 2024, $ 21.3 million higher than earnings posted this year. In the month of November, the island-nation endured catastrophic weather conditions brought on by cyclone Ditwah, which saw torrential rainfall, severe flooding and landslides. more..

Jan 2 (Island) The latest Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) from the Central Bank suggests SL’s economy is beginning to find its feet after a severe crisis, revealing tentative signs of hope in factories and business activity. It indicates the deepest economic pain may be over. With prices rising more slowly, families and companies are getting some much-needed relief. The Island spoke to an independent analyst for an outside perspective. Elaborating on the report, he struck more..

Jan 2 (FT) Booking.com Regional Head for South Asia Santosh Kumar said rebranding SL and unlocking its next phase of economic growth will require a collective national effort that goes well beyond Govt-led initiatives, stressing that recovery alone is not a long-term strategy for sustainable development. He said platforms that bring together policymakers, industry leaders, and investors are essential at this stage of SL’s more..

Jan 2 (Island) As climate shocks multiply worldwide from unseasonal droughts and flash floods to cyclones that now carry unpredictable fury Sri Lanka, long known for its lush biodiversity and heritage, stands at a crossroads. We can either remain locked in a reactive cycle of warnings and recovery, or boldly transform into the world’s first disaster-proof tropical nation — a secure haven for citizens and a trusted destination for global travelers. The Presidential declaration to transition more..

Jan 2 (TM) The year 2026 will be another new year full of happenings, disruptions and surprises. This assessment is an attempt to forecast what 2026 would hold for us, the island State of SL. Like in 2025, the Indian Ocean is going to be in the centre-stage of geostrategic and geo-economics’ competitions, and our island State is at risk of being directly and indirectly dragged into such competitions. The only way to stay neutral will be to clearly state our own national interests, more..

Jan 2 (Island) SJB yesterday called upon the NPP govt to hold the much-delayed Provincial Council (PC) polls soon. Its call is bound to go unheeded, for the JVP/NPP is not ready for an election. Having suffered a string of defeats in the cooperative society elections during the past several months, govt is trying every trick in the book to postpone the PC elections further. The outcome of last year’s local govt polls is not something the JVP/NPP can be really proud of; its efforts to sweep the polls more..

Jan 2 (TM) Over a year has passed since the NPP Govt assumed office, carried by an extraordinary wave of public expectation. It came to power at a moment of rare civic awakening, in the aftermath of the 2022 aragalaya, when citizens demanded nothing less than a break from the past. System change, an end to corruption, discipline in public spending, and accountability in governance, were not just campaign slogans. They were moral demands from a people exhausted by more..

Jan 2 (CT) As the new year creeps closer and the festive season is in full swing across the nation, new beginnings come with the shedding of old baggage. The holiday season set footprints made of more than just yuletide memories across cities and villages alike, as celebrations reveal a less cheerful legacy of single-use decorations, food wastage, and plenty of plastics which are discarded. more..

Jan 2 (CT) An investigation is being conducted into the controversy surrounding the Govt-issued Year 6 English module containing a weblink that directs students to a website promoting gay relationships. Once the printing error came to light, the political stage was lit up immediately, with some speaking as if the future of the country had already been ruined and calling for the immediate resignation of the Minister of Education. While the anti-govt cries seem a bit over the top, they do have a point. more..

Jan 2 (TM) The Govt is rebuilding the cyclone-devastated lives, livelihoods and infrastructure in the country after the immense destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah. Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has been providing exceptional leadership by going into the cyclone affected communities in person, to mingle directly with the people there and to offer encouragement and hope to them. A President who can be in the midst of the people when they are suffering and in sorrow is a true leader. more..

Jan 2 (FT) The following are excerpts of an interview with UN Industrial Development Organisation’s (UNIDO) Int'l Regulatory Reform Expert Delia Rodrigo and and National Quality Expert Sumathy Rajasingham who are shaping the adoption of Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) in SL under the aegis of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the support of the European Union. In this interview they share insights from their expertise to more..

Jan 2 (ST) Last week we focused on a development problem that China has faced with and discussed how the Chinese govt has been serious about dealing with the issue: Too many people are trapped in the rural sector and in farming communities! How could it be a problem? How much the people who live in Colombo long for holidays to travel to their villages and birth places in the countryside? How much they, while living in Colombo, would appreciate the beauty of rural life as in poems & songs more..

Jan 2 (DM) Sri Lanka stepped into the New Year 2026 not under clear skies, but amid the lingering impact of Cyclone Ditwah. Homes were damaged, livelihoods disrupted and entire communities were once again reminded of the island’s vulnerability to forces beyond human control. Yet, as midnight passed and calendars turned, what defined the nation was not despair, but hope—quiet, determined and shared. Across the country, celebrations were subdued but deeply meaningful. more..

Jan 1 (DM) Education Ministry began the New Year 2026 by contributing a portion of staff salaries to the Disaster Relief Fund, supporting those affected by Cyclone Ditwah. A special programme was held today at the Education Ministry premises to mark the beginning of the new year and seek blessings for the Ministry’s planned activities. During the event, a two-minute silence was observed in memory of those who lost their lives in Cyclone Ditva and members of the tri-services who died during more..

Jan 1 (DM) The restoration work on the Yaka Palama, popularly known as the Devil’s Bridge in Peradeniya, is expected to be completed within the next two to three months, CECB Engineer Mihira Gunasena said. Gunasena said one of the bridge piers had been continuously leaning at a rate of about six millimetres per day following recent floods. Subsequent investigations by engineers, with the assistance of divers, revealed that a large cavity had formed beneath the middle pier of the bridge. more..

Jan 1 (NW) High-Level Committee for Foreign Relief Aid (Supplies) Coordination (HL-FRAC), appointed to ensure the effective distribution of foreign relief supplies among the disaster-affected population, convened for its sixth session at the DMC on Wednesday (31). During the meeting, media personnel were briefed on the foreign humanitarian assistance received as well as services rendered by foreign relief teams more..

Jan 1 (NW) Sri Lanka’s NBRO has warned of deteriorating air quality across several urban centres, with the latest readings showing conditions slipping into slightly unhealthy levels. According to the NBRO, Colombo 07, Vavuniya, Kandy, Kegalle, Galle, Embilipitiya, and Puttalam recorded Air Quality Index (AQI) values above 100 during the past 24 hours. The situation is forecast to persist over the next 24 hours, with AQI levels ranging between 44 and 112 nationwide. more..

Jan 1 (DM) An elephant has died after being swept through the Maduru Oya canal system in Polonnaruwa, marking another tragic end for the island’s wildlife as the year drew to a close yesterday morning. The approximately 25-year-old bull elephant reportedly fell into the Z-D canal. It was then carried away by the current, became trapped under a sluice gate near Allai Wewa, and was later found dead in a canal sluice. Authorities from the Pimburaththewa Field Office, who recovered more..

Jan 1 (DM) After months of highlighting concerns expressed by the tri-forces over the deteriorating fleet of the air force, army and navy, steps have finally been taken to modernise and upgrade the aircraft fleet of the SL Air Force following severe shortages that constrained emergency deployments during the recent Cyclone Ditwah disaster response operations. Despite limited resources, SLAF played a critical role in more..

Jan 1 (AD) Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (CERT) has received more than 12,650 complaints related to social media misuse and cybersecurity incidents in 2025. According to CERT, this represents a significant rise in online fraud, digital fraud, and cyber harassment when compared to prior years. A significant proportion of the complaints involve fake accounts, hacked accounts, and financial scams carried out through social media platforms. more..

Jan 1 (CT) Leader of PHU and former MP Udaya Gammanpila alleged that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is deliberately delaying the appointment of a new Auditor General until the expiry of the terms of three independent members of the Constitutional Council on 18 Jan 2026. Gammanpila claimed it was obvious that the President intends to appoint an Auditor General of his choosing once he is able to secure greater influence within the Constitutional Council. more..

Jan 1 (NW) SL will use the upcoming T20I series against Pakistan to assess two or three backup players in both batting and bowling ahead of finalising its squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Chief Selector Pramodya Wickramasinghe said. He said the Pakistan series will play a key role in strengthening SL’s reserve bench before the final 15-member World Cup squad is announced. “During the T20I series against Pakistan we will be looking at 2 or 3 backup players in batting & bowling. more..

Jan 1 (FT) Govt has released the National Electricity Policy of Sri Lanka for public comment on or before 9 Jan 2026, setting out a binding framework to reform pricing, strengthen regulation and accelerate renewable energy, while reaffirming cost-reflective tariffs and the financial sustainability of the power sector. Issued by the Ministry of Energy under the amended Sri Lanka Electricity Act, the policy marks a decisive shift away from administratively controlled electricity pricing, more..

Jan 1 (AM) British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has paid nearly Rs. 7 million in Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) contributions, including surcharges, to journalist Azzam Ameen after being found in violation of SL’s labour laws. According to the Colombo Labour Office, BBC paid Rs. 6,913,233 following an official order for failing to remit stipulated EPF contributions during Ameen’s period of employment. more..

Jan 1 (AD) Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, who is currently visiting Dhaka, paid a courtesy call on Acting Chairman of Bangladesh National Party (BNP), Tarique Rahman on Wednesday night (December 31). The meeting took place at around 8:30 p.m. (Bangladesh Time) at the BNP Chairperson’s political office in Gulshan. Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dharmapala Weerakkody, accompanied the foreign minister during the meeting, more..

Jan 1 (AD) The process of transferring Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) assets to six newly established companies must be completed before February 1, 2026, the Secretary to the Ministry of Energy, Professor Udayanga Hemapala has notified the CEB. It is reported that Professor Hemapala has issued the relevant directive in writing to the General Manager of the CEB. The CEB has planned to implement it under six companies in the future under the restructuring program. more..

Jan 1 (EN) SL has recorded an US$ 82 million surplus in the external current account in Nov 2025, CB data showed, with the rupee falling faster than the deficit month of October. According to revised data, SL had recorded a US$ 199 million deficit in the current account and US$ 196 million in September. In Sept the rupee fell to 302.61 to the dollar from 302.45 to the dollar with a US$ 196 million current account deficit. more..