Nov 24 (Island) MEPA Chairman Samantha Gunasekara says the SL govt has not spent any public funds on the extensive beach clean-up operations, following the X-Press Pearl disaster or the more recent Elsa 3 nurdle spill. “Not a single cent from the SL govt,” Gunasekara said, explaining that all costs have been borne by the vessels’ owners and their insurers. He said MEPA teams conducted clean-up work from Colombo to more..

Nov 24 (EN) Sri Lanka’s move to set price controls on 350 medicines is intended to favour Indian medicines in the local market, and pushes out British, US medicines, former minister Wimal Weerawansa has alleged at a pocket gathering. The present NPP govt signed 7 agreements with India, he said, of which one saw SL for the first time approving Indian standard medicines. “They are setting price controls so that Indian manufactured medicines can capture the local market. more..

Nov 24 (NW) The pilot project allowing passengers to pay bus fares using bank cards has been launched on several inter-provincial and provincial routes, as part of efforts to modernise Sri Lanka’s public transport system. The new payment method was inaugurated at the Makumbura Multimodal Transport Centre today and is being jointly implemented by the Ministry of Transport and Highways and the Ministry of Digital Technology, with support from selected state & pvt banks. more..

Nov 24 (CT) Ministry of Health has come under scrutiny for failing to utilise over 80% of the funds allocated to the health sector in the 2025 Budget. According to Ministry’s CFO, G.S. Karunaratne, the entire allocation of Rs 12 billion designated specifically for primary healthcare remains completely untouched. Details, revealed in a report dated 5 July, under the RTI, indicate that out of the total Budget allocation of approximately Rs 48 billion intended for the system’s development, more..

Nov 24 (DM) The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) is in assessment of the current hike of global fuel prices, triggered by multiple factors including sanctions on Russia, an official said. The CPC, in its regular review of prices of refined petroleum products, has taken note of the spike in the world market. The price curve shows an increasing trend during the first three weeks of November, as assessed by the top regulator of petroleum trade in Sri Lanka. more..

Nov 24 (Island) The education sector is bracing for major disruption as teachers and principals have decided to launch a countrywide strike on 12 Dec in protest against the govt’s educational reforms, scheduled to take effect in Jan 2026. The agitation has brought together nearly all education sector trade unions, including the Ceylon Teachers Service Union (CTSU), affiliated to NPP govt, in a rare show of unified resistance. more..

Nov 24 (DM) Despite wildlife officials expressing confidence on the ongoing efforts to drive wild elephants out of Hambantota villages, Environmental law expert Dr. Jagath Gunawardana said it’s only worsening the human–elephant conflict rather than resolving it. He said the practice of chasing elephants from one area to another only aggravates the problem, as displaced herds move into new villages, triggering fresh confrontations. “These drives don’t solve anything — they only more..

Nov 24 (DM) Nearly 5,000 patients are currently on the waiting list for heart surgery at the Colombo National Hospital, and some may have to wait up to four years for their operation, Chairman of the Doctors’ Trade Union Alliance for Medical and Civil Rights Chairman Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa said. Five of the heart surgery wards at the hospital have 600, 756, 2,400, 400, and 761 patients on their waiting lists, with surgery dates expected to take up to four years. more..

Nov 24 (FT) SL’s current approach to Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and trade liberalisation may reinforce inequality rather than reduce it unless access, mobility, and capability gaps are addressed upfront, UNDP Country Economist Dr. Vagisha Gunasekara has warned. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Labour Markets in South Asia, she said: “AI and trade can be very powerful tools for transformation in SL, but only if we change more..

Nov 24 (FT) South Asia’s strong growth outlook masks a deep labour-market imbalance that is now intersecting with rapid technological change, creating new vulnerabilities for SL, World Bank Economist Dr. Jonah Rexer said delivering the Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA) guest lecture. He said the region remains the fastest-growing emerging market bloc, with growth projected at around 6% in 2026. But the underlying jobs problem – a working age population expanding more..

Nov 24 (AD) The Colombo High Court has acquitted and released a former Sri Lanka Army Captain and his personal driver, who were accused of robbing a mobile phone worth Rs. 20,000 from a jewelry store in Wellawatta in 2001. During the incident, the suspects allegedly threatened the store staff with a knife and a firearm. However, after a lengthy trial, Colombo High Court Judge Lanka Jayaratne ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt, more..

Nov 24 (FT) Rupees 704 billion is allocated for education in the 2026 Budget for SL. This amount is the second highest allocation in the Budget and 2% of the projected GDP. This allocation is obviously nowhere near the much-cited goal of 6% GDP for education. What we have is an allocation which, like other allocations for education before, merely bolsters an education system that has been steadily losing its lead in access and quality decades ago. This Budget does not provide money to more..

Nov 24 (FT) The harvesting of cyberspace is necessary and useful for development, but it is also a fertile ground for those who are intent on robbing the gullible people of their wealth and money. Since money is exchanged through financial institutions, the proliferation of these criminal activities poses challenges for their risk management practices and, if not properly handled, causes an erosion in public trust in them. It leads to panic which is the worst enemy of both financial institutions & more..

Nov 24 (TM) Govt doctors have intensified their trade union action, citing concerns over the retainability of doctors in the State health service, outstanding allowances and other perks that have either been reduced or not fully paid as promised. GMOA Association Assistant Secretary, Dr. Hansamal Weerasuriya, said that medical professionals had consistently gone beyond their call of duty to ensure patient care and more..

Nov 24 (AFP) On a lush cricket ground outside Colombo the sharp jingling of a ball cuts through the afternoon air. Every rattle is a pushback against the stigma of disability. Sri Lanka and India are co-hosting the first T20 World Cup for visually impaired women. The semi-finals are on Saturday between India and Australia and Pakistan and Nepal, followed by the final on Sunday. India manager Shika Shetty told AFP that the sport has transformed lives and helped change attitudes. more..

Nov 24 (AD) Department of Examinations has lodged a complaint with the CID requesting an investigation into reports claiming that the Economics question paper of this year’s GCE A/L exam had been leaked prior to the exam. According to the Dept of Examinations, the complaint was submitted last week by the Deputy Commissioner of Examinations. In recent days, various reports circulated on social media alleging that the A/L Economics question paper had been leaked. more..

Nov 24 (FT) Sri Lanka will issue a $ 50 million Domestic Dollar Bond (DDB) next week, the country’s first foreign-currency borrowing instrument since the 2022 default and the first Bond issued under the newly operational Public Debt Management Office (PDMO). The move also comes against the backdrop of an earlier Cabinet proposal in October to raise up to $ 100 million through the DDB window, with the authorities opting to more..

Nov 24 (TG) British Tamils gathered in London this afternoon to protest JVP's General Secretary Tilvin Silva's visit to the city. Outraged by his visit, Tamil protesters tried to push back Silva's car as it entered the car park of Alperton High School in Wembley, where he was attending an event to commemorate those who died during the JVP insurrection in 1987-1989. Protesters chanted Sri Lankan govt, terrorist govt! and Stop, stop genocide! as they gathered ahead of his arrival. more..

Nov 24 (CT) The Railway Locomotive Operating Engineers’ Union says that goods and fuel transport trains operating from Maho to Trincomalee, Batticaloa, and Kankesanthurai will be withdrawn from service. Union Secretary Chandana Viyanduwa said that, starting midnight yesterday (23), all fuel and goods transport trains on these routes will be suspended. In addition, the Union noted that the night mail train operating tomorrow is also expected to be withdrawn from service. more..

Nov 24 (Island) SL’s headline inflation accelerated in Oct 2025, according to the latest Weekly Economic Indicators, driven by a sharp increase in food prices. National Consumer Price Index (NCPI) based headline inflation, measured year-on-year, rose to 2.7% in Oct, up from 2.1% in Sept. A breakdown of the figure reveals that Food inflation surged to 4.1%, while Non-Food inflation was a more modest 1.5%. Meanwhile, core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy items, also saw an increase. more..

Nov 24 (AD) Disaster Management Centre (DMC), in coordination with the SLTB, has arranged a special transportation plan to assist A/L exam candidates who are facing travel difficulties, following yesterday’s landslide in Pahala Kadugannawa. The arrangement will enable students to reach their designated examination centres via the specified alternative routes. During emergency situations such as flash floods, DMC has taken steps to provide the necessary transport assistance for more..

Nov 24 (DM) Only five out of 79 govt construction projects, earmarked to be completed in 2025, have been completed and handed over, SL Builders’ Association Chairman Susantha Liyanarachchi said. He said that 21 govt-funded projects, six foreign grant projects and 10 projects under local loans have been stopped halfway. He noted that although the 2025 Budget allocated Rs. 1,315 billion for capital investment in more..

Nov 24 (TM) Commuters will be able to pay bus fares using bank-issued credit and debit cards on buses equipped with ticket-issuing machines with effect from today. The inaugural programme is scheduled to be held at the Makumbura Multimodal Transport Centre. The programme, jointly conducted by the Digital Economy Ministry and Transport Ministry, will be held under the patronage of Minister Bimal Rathnayake. Rathnayake recently stated that the issue of passengers not receiving more..

Nov 24 (CT) The prevailing inclement weather conditions across the island have claimed nine lives so far, according to the latest update from the Disaster Management Centre (DMC). DMC confirmed that eavy rainfall has triggered flooding in multiple areas and caused hazardous rockfalls on several key roads. In response to the escalating risk, the NBRO has extended landslide warnings to ten districts, including Colombo, Kalutara, Galle, Kandy & Nuwara Eliya. more..

Nov 24 (DM) Blind women from India won the world's first T20 cricket c'ship in SL on Sunday, following a tournament seen as pushing the limits of the visually impaired. The Indian women beat Nepal by seven wickets in the final of the inaugural series, which also involved Australia, Pakistan, SL & US. Adeline Roe, 18, from South Australia said she was thrilled to be part of her nation's first blind cricket team and to have the opportunity to travel and meet fellow sportswomen. more..

Nov 24 (EN) China-backed Hambantota International Port Group said it has struck a deal with SL’s Rank group to set up a cargo inspection yard which speed up the clearing of import-export containers and clear bottlenecks. Founded in 1994, RCT is the largest inland terminal operator and its facility in Colombo has key state agencies including SL Customs in-house. “By leveraging this experience, RCT plans to replicate its successful one-stop-shop model in Hambantota, more..

Nov 24 (ST) A recommendation by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake to extend the services of Acting Auditor General for another three months has been rejected by the Constitutional Council. The presidential recommendation, however, came with an accompanying note that claimed that the Acting Auditor General had accepted six tickets from a state bank to witness the Dalada Perahera in Kandy. This had led to opposition and civil society more..

Nov 24 (FT) National Savings Bank Group (NSB) has reported a solid performance for the nine months ended 30 Sep 2025, delivering sharp improvements in profitability, margins, and asset quality despite a moderating interest-rate environment. State-owned savings giant recorded a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of Rs. 34.8 billion, up 30%, while Profit After Tax (PAT) surged 32% to Rs. 21.2 billion. Chairman Dr. Harsha Cabral, said the results highlight the bank’s ability to uphold its dual more..

Nov 24 (Island) SL have spent close to three weeks in Pakistan and five games in, they are still searching for that elusive first win. Losing, as they say, is part and parcel of the great game, but it’s the manner of these defeats that should set alarm bells ringing. After years of blood, sweat and tears to climb out of a deep rut, the national side looked to have finally turned the corner. Yet on this tour they have gone back to their old ways, undoing hard-earned gains and returning to square one. more..

Nov 24 (TM) The three-member CID team that travelled to London last week has stepped up its probe into the alleged misuse of Rs. 16.6 million in public funds during a two-day visit by former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe to the UK for an event at the University of Wolverhampton. According to sources, Police Dept considers the mission productive, as the officers have uncovered several significant findings related to the incident. more..

Nov 24 (NW) Media rights activists and opposition politicians have raised serious concerns over press freedom after the CID summoned Aruna newspaper Editor-in-Chief Mahinda Illeperuma for questioning over a report on police clearance procedures. Illeperuma was called to the CID following the publication of a news item which claimed that police require an endorsement from the local Public Security Committee when issuing police clearance certificates. Govt later dismissed the report as more..

Nov 24 (FT) A SL business delegation, organised by SL–Canada Business Council (SLCBC) of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, with support from the Canada–SL Business Convention (CSLBC), the Canadian High Commission in SL, and High Commission of SL in Canada, has concluded a trade and investment mission in Canada from 28 Oct to 14 Nov. The delegation represented the agriculture, IT, finance, tourism, education, and investment consultancy sectors, engaging Canadian more..