Sep 5 (Island) The 104th National Athletics Championship got off to an impressive start at the Diyagama Stadium, with Rasara Wijesuriya and Arunthavarasa Puvitharan producing record-breaking performances on an action-packed opening day. Rasara dominated the women’s 10,000m to win the gold medal in 33:32.77 seconds, setting a new meet record in the process. G. W. O. N. Fonseka finished second in 38:25.55, while H. I. S. Fernando took the bronze in 39:00.69. more..

Sep 5 (FT) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has called for a more coordinated approach to developing SL’s mineral industry under the export-oriented National Mineral Policy 2026, with discussions focusing on attracting investment, improving licensing processes and increasing value addition. A meeting chaired by the President earlier this week with officials from the SL Mineral Sands Association (SLMSA) and the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau examined measures required more..

Sep 5 (DM) SL’s apparel manufacturing sector is grappling with sharply compressed order horizons from American buyers alongside virtually zero financial relief from tariff refunds, even as the same US court ruling that unlocked those refunds has delivered a windfall to the American brands they supply, according to the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF). JAAF Secretary General Yohan Lawrence more..

Sep 5 (ST) Sri Lanka’s primary industry-specific promotional reserves, specifically the Tea Promotion and Marketing Fund and the Tourism Promotion Fund are at operational crossroads as a result of the state fiscal consolidation initiatives. The Finance Ministry is compelled to absorb independent, industry-financed reserves to meet its strict 2.3% primary budget surplus target and comply with the transitioning Treasury single account framework. The govt’s primary strategy focuses on more..

Sep 5 (Island) Following a statement by Deputy Minister Nalin Hewage that the govt is considering raising the minimum age for three-wheeler drivers to 40, the Advocata Institute has outlined four key reasons against such a restriction, relating to economic freedom, mobility, livelihoods, and dependent sectors. The first reason is that an age limit violates economic freedom, as three-wheeler driving provides a flexible form of self-employment suited to individual circumstances. more..

Sep 5 (FT) Govt has reaffirmed its decision to retain Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT-Mobitel) as a strategic State asset, with Deputy Minister Eranga Weeraratne noting the telecom group’s turnaround has demonstrated the potential of State enterprises when placed under the right strategy and management. Addressing SLT-Mobitel’s latest financial update and strategic outlook recently, Weeraratne said the previous administration more..

Sep 5 (DN) The Asian Development Bank (ADB) under its SMELOC2 loan scheme has provided over Rs 530 million to SMEs in the Northern Province as of end June 2026, a recently held media field visit revealed. The ADB island wide supported 2,433 SMEs covering LKR14.9 billion (USD 49.9 million) worth of loans across agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, export and technology sectors, out of which 657 (27%) were women beneficiaries and 539 (22%) were climate finance projects. more..

Sep 5 (SO) Seabourn has your 2029 plans sorted. The luxury cruise liner has just unveiled its 138-day journey that will take you to some of the most coveted island destinations around the world, with plenty of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, remote isles, to be seen along the way. In total, you will be traversing 58 hot spots across 31 countries and territories, a one-of-a-kind adventure that covers more than 32,000 nautical miles all in. You can channel your inner Jules Verne starting more..

Sep 5 (FT) The Colombo stock market rallied yesterday to end the week on a strong note with both indices gaining over 1% during the session. During the week, ASPI gained 1.42% or 304.53 points and the S&P SL20 was up 0.89% or 53.58%. During yesterday’s session, with 175 counters ending in green against 57 in red, the ASPI was up 1.05% or 225.33 points at 21,620.44 and the S&P SL20 was up 1.06% or 63.67 points at 6,058.92. The top contributors to the ASPI were more..

Sep 5 (Island) CIABOC yesterday arrested SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa in connection with a probe into an alleged Rs.100 million bribe linked to an airbus deal. It also took into custody former Minister Johnston Fernando over an investigation into an allegation that he arbitrarily cancelled a properly awarded contract and procured chairs from a company of his choice for the Polgolla Mahinda Rajapaksa Auditorium thereby causing a loss of Rs. 7.4 million to the state. Rajapaksa was more..

Sep 5 (ST) For decades, families across the Jaffna peninsula and surrounding islands have relied on wells and rationed pipe schemes for water that was often salty, hard, or unsafe to drink – a daily reality shaped by the region’s thin rainfall and absence of any river or reservoir. However, this reality changed with the construction of a Sea Water Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant at Thalaiyadi, as part of the Jaffna-Kilinochchi more..

Sep 5 (Island) Rice is not merely another crop in Sri Lanka. It is our staple food, an integral part of our history and culture, and a foundation of the civilisation that flourished around our ancient hydraulic systems. Revered as Buddha Bhogaya, the Buddha’s crop, rice has sustained our people for more than two millennia. Yet, remarkably, a country with such a profound relationship with rice continues to lurch from one rice crisis to another. At one time, we have a surplus. more..

Sep 5 (DN) A special 2-day digital payments promotion programme aimed at expanding the use of digital financial services was successfully conducted in Jaffna recently, bringing together Central Bank of SL (CBSL), LankaPay (Pvt) Ltd and 16 participating financial institutions. Held under the theme Shaping the Future Through Digital Payments, the programme focused on increasing public awareness of digital payment services and providing assistance to consumers on how to more..

Sep 5 (FT) Economic growth must be one of the most frequently used phrases in public discourse today. Politicians promise it, economists measure it, the media celebrates or laments it, and the people wait for it. But what exactly is economic growth? In simple terms, economic growth is the increase in a country’s output or income from one year to the next, usually measured through the growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or Gross National Income (GNI). more..

Sep 5 (FT) There is an aspect of the management of our national economy which, in my view, deserves far greater public attention than it is receiving today. Much of the current public debate is understandably occupied with immediate political controversies, administrative disputes and other day-to-day issues. But behind all these matters lies a much more fundamental question: Where has Parliament legally directed the SL economy to go, and are we doing enough today to ensure that we get there? more..

Sep 5 (DN) The archaeological excavation at Anaikoddai in the Jaffna Peninsula began in July 2026. It was led by Senior Professor of Archaeology Senior Lecturer Sivarubi Sachitharan Somadeva of the Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology (PGIAR), Univ of Kelaniya, and Senior Lecturer in Archaeology Sivarubi Sachitharan of the Uni of Jaffna. The excavation was the third conducted at Anaikoddai. more..

Sep 5 (DM) El Niño has once again begun to figure prominently in international weather and climate discussions. For SL, however, it should not be treated merely as another international weather phenomenon. It could have direct consequences for agriculture, water availability, electricity generation, food prices and the livelihoods of thousands of people. According to forecasts, El Niño conditions are already present and are expected to strengthen in the coming months. more..

Sep 5 (CT) When Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the NPP sought the people’s mandate in 2024, they did not campaign merely to replace one collection of politicians with another. Their appeal rested upon a much more ambitious proposition: that Sri Lanka required a fundamental transformation of its political culture, institutions and constitutional order. The promise of system change was therefore not an ornamental slogan. It was the moral foundation of the NPP’s campaign. more..

Sep 5 (TM) Nestled beneath the majestic Hanthana mountain range and beside the flowing Mahaweli River, Peradeniya University’s Science Faculty offers something increasingly rare in modern higher education: the opportunity to pursue rigourous science in one of SL’s most inspiring academic environments. Here, a distinguished academic heritage is combined with modern research, interdisciplinary learning, more..

Sep 5 (GV) 17 years after the guns fell silent, thousands of SL families still cannot answer the most basic question about a missing relative: what happened? That unanswered question exposes the distance between ending a war and building peace. The decisive question is no longer simply whether Sri Lanka has prevented a return to organised warfare. It is whether the country has confronted the human suffering, institutional failures and political inequalities that the war left behind. more..

Sep 5 (TM) Democracy rests on three essential pillars — the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary. They have different Constitutional responsibilities, but none exists in isolation. Their relationship must be one of checks and balances, mutual respect and Constitutional restraint, not confrontation. Unfortunately, a debate arose on the powers of the three pillars when the Govt decided to bring in the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution in haste, without allowing a national debate. more..

Sep 4 (DM) SL may experience changes in rainfall patterns and rising temperatures in the coming months as El Niño conditions develop, Met Dept Director General Ajith Wijemanna said. Dept expects temperatures to increase during February, March and April 2027, while rainfall could remain below normal during this period. As a result, relatively dry weather conditions may prevail across several parts of the country. The impact of rising temperatures could also be felt more strongly during more..

Sep 4 (NW) SLPP National Organiser and MP Namal Rajapaksa’s arrest by the Bribery Commission on Friday marks at least the fourth time he has been arrested since 2016, according to a review of previous reported arrests. Rajapaksa was arrested by the CIABOC on Sept 4, after being questioned for more than five hours. The investigation relates to an alleged bribery incident linked to a transaction involving the acquisition of wide-body aircraft for SriLankan Airlines. more..

Sep 4 (NW) Minister Bimal Rathnayake says the govt has proved that it is not anti-business, despite concerns and criticism expressed before the administration came to power. He said various claims had been made about the govt’s economic approach before it took office, including suggestions that it would be hostile towards the private sector and businesses. However, he said the situation had changed, with a large section more..

Sep 4 (NW) UNP has strongly condemned the arrest of SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa, by the CIABOC. UNP said the arrest appears to be aimed at sabotaging a public rally organized by the SLPP, which is scheduled to be held in Anuradhapura on Sept 12, under the leadership of Namal Rajapaksa. Party also said it must be recognized that Namal Rajapaksa, as the SLPP’s National Organiser, has the same democratic right as NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake to travel around more..

Sep 4 (DM) U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Chairman Laura DiBella and FMC Commissioner Robert J. Harvey will visit Sri Lanka September 6–10 to advance US-SL cooperation on maritime trade, investment, and the shipping networks connecting American businesses and consumers to markets across the Indo-Pacific. During her visit, Chairman DiBella and Commissioner Harvey will meet with senior SL govt and maritime leaders. Chairman DiBella more..

Sep 4 (TM) Kumar Sangakkara says that the controversial selection of wicket-keeper batter Niroshan Dickwella for the recently concluded two-Test series against India, was a decision made independently by the Kapila Wijegunawardene-led selection committee. "The selection committee is entirely an independent body,” Sangakkara, 48 told reporters, following his maiden interaction with the local press corps, since becoming a member more..

Sep 4 (NW) Ministerial Consultative Committee on Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs has reviewed measures being taken by police to tackle cybercrime, illegal online gambling and financial fraud. The committee, chaired by Minister Ananda Wijepala, met in Parliament on Aug. 21, with officials outlining steps taken to block websites linked to illegal gambling and other unlawful activities. Officials said legal action has also been taken against foreign nationals allegedly more..

Sep 4 (NW) The Committee on Public Finance turned its attention to the 2027 budget estimates of the National Audit Office, holding detailed discussions on modernising audit processes, retaining skilled staff, and strengthening oversight of state institutions. With Chairman MP Harsha de Silva absent, the meeting was chaired by MP Ravi Karunanayake, appointed temporary chairman under standing orders. Deputy Ministers Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Nishantha Jayawira, and more..

Sep 4 (NW) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake says the government plans to introduce a new uniform for SL Police by the middle of 2027 as part of broader efforts to modernize the service. The President said discussions have already taken place with the IGP on changing the existing police uniform to better suit the requirements of a modern police service. He said the IGP has been instructed to engage a professional fashion design company to develop an appropriate new uniform. more..

Sep 4 (NW) SL’s sweeping anti‑corruption reforms were spotlighted on the opening day of the First Resumed Session of the 17th Implementation Review Group (IRG) at the UN Office on Drugs & Crime (UNODC) in Vienna. Delivering a keynote address, Justice Neil Iddawala, Chairman of the CIABOC, outlined the country’s transformative progress in legislative reform, digital transparency, and institutional strengthening. His remarks drew wide appreciation from int'l delegates, more..