Feb 1 (TM) Few political figures in Sri Lanka’s post-independence history have remained as persistently visible or as polarising as Ranil Wickremesinghe. For nearly half a century, he has occupied centre stage – alternately vilified, vindicated, discarded, and recalled. Today, he finds himself once again in the public eye, this time as the subject of criminal proceedings relating to the alleged misuse of State funds during a visit to the UK in 2023, while serving as Executive President. more..

Feb 1 (ST) My dear Uncle Ranil, I am writing to you because you are in the headlines again, appearing in court because of a trip you undertook to England a few years ago. That has resulted in more trips to court now and even a trip to hospital where, at first, we feared the worst after your lawyers told court you were on borrowed time. Nevertheless, even before your most recent court appearance we saw you out and about, visiting the chief priests in Kandy and several other places of worship. more..

Feb 1 (ST) With influential medical unions on trade union action alleging critical shortages of certain drugs, some of them raised concerns as to why the Swastha, an information management system of medicinal drugs, is not available online anymore. Launched in 2023, the comprehensive system was designed to ensure that pharmaceuticals, surgical items, and consumables are readily available to healthcare providers more..

Feb 1 (ST) The coming Wednesday (4) marks the 78th anniversary of SL’s Independence from over 450 years of foreign rule, and yet, the country continues to be confronted with the challenges of modern nation-statehood in all its complexities. While SL regained her Independence, her sovereignty, both internal and external, however, has been compromised in the process of nation-building and aspiring to be a pluralistic, economically and socially advanced democratic state. more..

Feb 1 (SO) The theme of Pope Leo’s message for this year’s World Day of Peace January 1 was Towards an unarmed and disarming peace. The armed conflict ended in 2009, but Sri Lanka is still heavily armed and militarised. The military is running farms, hotels, restaurants, denying ordinary people income generating opportunities. A Defence University, headed by military personnel, runs courses on law, medicine, engineering, management, social sciences and humanity. more..

Feb 1 (TM) That the honeymoon period for President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) and his JVP-led NPP Govt is now long gone is evident by the continuing crises and controversies faced by them. Criticism towards the President and Govt which was slow last year is seen to be gradually changing with an increase in criticism among the public and a decline in the number of individuals defending them. more..

Feb 1 (CT) Global temperatures in January have been polar opposite – plus 50 Celsius down under in Australia, and minus 45 Celsius up here in North America. Between extremes of many kinds, not just thermal, the world order stands ruptured. That was the succinct message in what was perhaps the most widely circulated and listened to speeches of this century, delivered by Canadian PM Mark Carney at Davos, in January. But all is not lost. Who seems to be getting lost in mayhem of his own making more..

Feb 1 (SO) The world is shifting – not only in terms of plate tectonics but also in terms of geopolitics. The US has explicitly staked a claim to the Western Hemisphere, a geopolitical term that alludes to the Americas and the Caribbean under the newly-defined Donroe Doctrine. US Delta Force incursion into Venezuela and the capture of its former Prez Nicolas Maduro is part of this agenda, apart from diverting proceeds from that country’s oil sales to US offshore accounts. more..

Jan 31 (FT) There is a high level of public satisfaction in the response of Governmental and non-Governmental agencies in the aftershock of Cyclone Ditwah, and with Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake in particular, according to a recent survey conducted by Social Scientists’ Association (SSA), Colombo. The objective of the study was to learn citizens’ perceptions of institutional responsiveness following Cyclone more..

Jan 31 (FT) Digital Economy Deputy Minister Eranga Weeraratne said that the Ministries of Education, Women and Child Affairs, and Digital Economy are planning to initiate a national assessment and policy review on the impact of social media on children. Deputy Minister emphasised that the initiative is expected to be advanced by giving due consideration to the insights of experts across all relevant fields, including child protection, education, health, mental health, cyber security, more..

Jan 31 (Island) Flawed, poorly planned and rushed education reforms could widen inequalities between urban and rural schools, teachers’ unions warned, criticising govt’s newly launched education reform programme, despite its formal inauguration earlier in the day. Union leaders said essential resources needed to implement the reforms, including teachers’ guides, have yet to be issued, raising serious concerns over how educators are expected to deliver lessons under new framework. more..

Jan 31 (DN) More than 60% of bus drivers engaged in passenger transport services on several short-distance routes in Colombo and its suburban areas are driving under the influence of narcotics, Minister Bimal Ratnayake said. However, the Govt has not conducted a full study in this regard and that this data was provided by the Bus Associations. Speaking to the media after the establishment of the Kandy District Transport more..

Jan 31 (AD) Gangodawila Magistrate Ruwanthika Marasinghe today (30) ordered the CID to record statements from teachers trained using the controversial education module and to conclude investigations without delay. CID is investigating the inclusion of a website considered inappropriate for children in the Grade 6 English subject module introduced under the new education reforms. The matter was reported to the Gangodawila Magistrate’s Court by the CID, and officers today updated more..

Jan 31 (FT) In line with the Govt’s program to build a clean, transparent and corruption-free public service, a workshop to brief heads of 250 state institutions that have been instructed to establish Internal Affairs Units was held this week at the auditorium of the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, under the patronage of Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake. As the first phase of this program, Internal Affairs Units were previously established in 106 state institutions more..

Jan 31 (FT) Govt has made several key decisions to accelerate tourism development. A meeting to this effect was held yesterday between Minister Vijitha Herath and members of the Presidential Task Force responsible for implementing the SL Tourism Development Program. The discussion focused on the progress of introducing a digital entry pass to streamline access to tourist attractions for foreign visitors, as well as on measures to expedite the processing of tourist visas. more..

Jan 31 (AD) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has decided to hold discussions with a group of School Development Officers who are currently staging a hunger strike in front of the Presidential Secretariat, demanding permanent employment. The decision was conveyed to the protesters today (30) by Director General of Public Relations at the Presidential Secretariat, Dharmasiri Gamage. Accordingly, the discussion has been scheduled for 6.00 p.m. on 03 February 2026. more..

Jan 31 (CT) CEB employees are at a crossroads, facing severe financial, professional, and psychological hardship due to delays in the Board’s restructuring process and the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS), according to the Ministry of Power & Energy. The VRS, which was gazetted by the Govt last year, comes amid growing uncertainty for nearly 23,000 employees. Govt’s plan to restructure the CEB involves forming more..

Jan 31 (FT) Common wealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) Chairman Lord Marland of Odstock will undertake an official visit to SL on 9 to 10 Feb. The visit underscores the CWEIC’s commitment to supporting SL’s economic trajectory and fostering deeper integration within the Commonwealth’s global trade network. During his two-day mission, Lord Marland is scheduled to call upon Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake to discuss the ongoing economic recovery and more..

Jan 31 (EN) Colombo Consumer Price Index based headline inflation, year-on-year, accelerated in January 2026 after remaining at the same level for three consecutive months, central bank said. “Headline inflation (Y-o-Y) was recorded at 2.3% in Jan 2026 compared to 2.1% in Dec 2025, broadly in line with CB’s near-term projections,” CBSL said. Widely-watched Colombo Consumer Price Index rose 0.6% in January to 197.0 points from 195.8 points the previous month. more..

Jan 31 (EN) Sri Lankans should be extra vigilant on investments in crop cultivations with higher returns as many people had ended up in such unregulated investment to find out they are also similar to illegal pyramid schemes, Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said. In recent years, SL has witnessed a surge in unregulated investment schemes targeting agricultural lands, often luring investors with promises of land ownership and assured monthly incomes in signed agreements. more..

Jan 31 (DM) A former Deputy Speaker is alleged to have received Rs.200,000 as compensation, claiming that his business establishment was damaged during the recent disaster. This transpired during the Ratnapura District Coordinating Committee that met yesterday under the chairmanship of MP Shantha Padmakumara. Chairman pointed out that compensation paid to the owners of small-scale businesses has been paid to the wrong individuals, whose business more..

Jan 31 (ST) It is a first not just for the flag-bearing Liver Transplant Programme of the National Hospital of SL (NHSL) but also for the state health sector. First adult living donor liver transplant – securing part of a liver from a person and implanting it in a critically-ill person – has been done this month at the NHSL bringing hope for the poorest of the poor who cannot afford this life-saving surgery. Most people who face end-stage liver failure more..

Jan 31 (DN) Central Province Governor Prof. Sarath Abhayakoon with officials received the ICC T-20 Men’s Cricket World Cup trophy in front of the Sri Dalada Maligawa yesterday. A large crowd gathered in Kandy city to catch a glimpse of the Trophy during its visit. SLC organised the tour to display the trophy in several major cities across the country, with support from the Central Province Tourism Dept. In a notable highlight of the Kandy leg, officials transported the trophy by boat more..

Jan 31 (CI) Former SL allrounder Shehan Jayasuriya is set to make his USA debut at the 2026 T20 World Cup. The 34-year-old, who bats left-handed and bowls offspin, has been named in USA's 15-man squad for the tournament, which is set to begin in India and SL on Feb 7. Jayasuriya, who played 12 ODIs and 18 T20Is for SL from 2015 to 2020, is one of two players in the squad who are yet to earn their first USA caps. The other is the 29-year-old Peshawar-born legspin-bowling allrounder more..

Jan 31 (CI) Sam Curran bounced back from a bruising opening spell to claim a memorable hat-trick, while Adil Rashid served notice of his World Cup readiness with another commanding performance, as England sealed a rain-shortened victory in the first T20I against SL in Pallekele. After persistent rain had forced a 90-minute delay, thus reducing the series opener to a 17-overs-a-side contest, it later returned with England just more..

Jan 31 (FT) As SL navigates the fragile transition from economic stabilisation to sustainable growth, a critical question emerges: what will drive the nation’s relevance in a competitive global economy over the next half-century? Beyond immediate recovery lies the longer, harder task of building a modern, resilient, and high-value economic model. It is in this context that Port City Colombo must be understood, not as a mere real estate venture or a short-term stimulus, but as a foundational platform more..

Jan 31 (FT) Colombo stock market ended the week in the red amidst profit taking, elevated turnover and foreign selling. ASPI closed down 0.37% or 88.58 points at 23,812.31 and the active S&P SL20 was down 0.22% or 14.51 points to 6,641.15. During the week, ASPI lost 144.2 points and the S&P SL20 lost 8.35 points. Net foreign outflow during the week was over Rs. 2.36 billion. Yesterday, turnover was nearly Rs. 9.2 billion, around 40% higher than the average, on over 211.5 million shares traded. more..

Jan 31 (FT) Hayleys Agriculture Holdings Ltd. reaffirmed its commitment to transforming the Sri Lanka agriculture industry at the Jaffna International Trade Fair 2026, which was held from 23 to 25 January at the Muttraweli Grounds in Jaffna. The company’s presence at the exhibition underscored its focus on bringing modern agricultural technology and value-added agricultural products closer to farming communities, particularly in the Northern Province, while reinforcing its position as more..

Jan 31 (FT) SL’s apparel industry marked a milestone with its first country pavilion at Source Fashion 2026. The exhibition was held from 13 to 15 Jan at Olympia London, one of Europe’s leading apparel sourcing events. The pavilion was officially inaugurated on 13 January with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. High Commissioner of SL in the UK Nimal Senadheera and UK’s Trade Envoy to SL Lord Hannett of Everton OBE presided over the event. Apparel & fashion industry representatives, more..

Jan 31 (FT) SL must pursue a big bang reform agenda to convert its post-crisis stabilisation into durable, investment-led growth, former ADB Institute Research Director Dr. Ganeshan Wignaraja said, warning that incremental reform would leave the economy exposed to renewed shocks. Delivering the keynote address at the Asia Securities Investor Conference 2026, Dr. Wignaraja said SL’s recent recovery, while credible, remained more..

Jan 31 (DM) Dr. Rohan Edrisingha in his illuminating essay Federalism: myths and realities makes the following observation – It is significant to note that long before Tamil political leaders advocated federalism, the young S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike in the mid 1920’s and the Kandyan Sinhalese representatives before the Donoughmore Commission in the late 1920’s were advocates of a federal SL. The Kandyan Sinhalese proposed a federal Ceylon with three provinces including more..

Jan 31 (CT) The recent intervention by the four Mahanayake Theras regarding the appointment of the Auditor General has reignited a perennial debate in SL politics: what is the appropriate role of the Buddhist clergy in governance? History shows that while the Sangha serves as the nation’s moral compass, success lies in counseling rather than intervening or requesting. This article explores the delicate balance required to maintain a comfortable zone between prelates and govt, more..