Nov 25 (ST) Ahead of the annual collective commemorative Heroes Day event known as Maveerar Naal to be observed next Thursday (27), final preparations are in full swing in the Northern and Eastern provinces to commemorate LTTE members and civilians who perished during the three-decade-long armed uprising for a separate state that ended in May 2009. Similar to last year, cemeteries where LTTE cadres were buried more..

Nov 25 (FT) Container volumes at the Colombo Port rose 6.7% year-on-year in the first nine months of 2025 to nearly 6.2 million TEUs, up from 5.8 million TEUs a year earlier, as the Govt aims to improve efficiency while industrialists warn of recurring vessel omissions leading to production shocks. As per latest data, throughput in September increased 14.4% to 742,116 TEUs from 648,647 a year ago. Compared with August’s 741,124 TEUs, Sept’s total was broadly flat, rising 0.13%. more..

Nov 25 (FT) MakeMyTrip Chief Commercial Officer – Holidays and Experiences Jasmeet Singh last week called for stronger strategic collaboration between Sri Lanka and India’s largest online travel platform to accelerate tourism growth, noting that SL has all the right building blocks to scale its presence in the world’s fastest-growing outbound travel market. Speaking at the India–SL Tourism Connect forum titled From the Ganges to the Kelani: A voyage of friendship and discovery, more..

Nov 25 (Island) A pilot project has been launched to enable passengers to use bank cards to pay bus fares on some long-distance routes. This is a long-felt need, and it is hoped that the new scheme will be expanded to cover all bus routes gradually. Teething problems are bound to crop up as the new system gets underway, and they must not be allowed to stand in the way of the continuation of digital payment of bus fares. President of the Lanka Bus Owners’ Association Gemunu Wijeratne has more..

Nov 25 (FT) Browns Agriculture was recently honoured with the prestigious Gold Award for Global Brand of the Year for its Browns SUMO WORLD Harvester at the SLIM Brand Excellence Awards 2025. Organised by the SL Institute of Marketing (SLIM), the national body for marketing in SL, the event is one of the country’s most respected platforms that celebrates outstanding brands, strategic excellence and impactful marketing leadership. Held at the Monarch Imperial, more..

Nov 25 (FT) Govt’s Medium Term Debt Management Strategy 2026-2030 report warns that refinancing pressure is heavily concentrated in the domestic debt portfolio, even as external debt obligations appear more spread-out following restructuring. The report compiled by the Public Debt Management Office said the composition and maturity structure of domestic liabilities present the most immediate risks to liquidity and more..

Nov 24 (DM) Sri Lanka has reinforced its partnership with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) during the Dubai Air Show 2025 (DAS25). Capt. Daminda Rambukwella, CEO of the Civil Aviation Authority of SL (CAASL), held productive discussions with the ICAO delegation, building on outcomes from the 42nd ICAO Assembly in Montreal, Canada. The talks focused on safe and secure aviation, environmental sustainability, and efficient global air transport. more..

Nov 25 (ST) In SL, where engineered community tensions can erupt out of the blue, so to speak and as suddenly subside, it was no surprise to see that, just two days after the so-called unrest in Trincomalee this week between local monks aggravated by the rhetoric of political monks further aggravated by politicians of the Govt and the Opposition catapulting themselves into the controversy, the site itself was singularly devoid of any movement beyond a rundown beach café more..

Nov 25 (Island) Minister Vijitha Herath’s participation at a civil society organised event to mark the 25th anniversary of UNSC Resolution 1325 indicated a willingness on the part of the govt to work with civil society. So far the govt has not been engaging proactively with civil society organisations and actively seeking their inputs. His speech at the event suggested a rethinking by the govt of its relationship with civil society. Symbolism of his presence was not lost on those who attended. more..

Nov 25 (DM) Studies indicate a surge in the conversion of people from the Anglican and other Protestant churches to the Catholic church in the UK and the US. The converts are mainly young people but there is also a growing number of ordained Anglican priests among them. Anglican priests desiring conversion are using a new facility in the Catholic church to retain their priesthood and marriages after joining the Catholic clergy. Accretions by the Catholic church signify more..

Nov 25 (CT) UNICEF SL Representative Emma Brigham says the country is at a promising moment for advancing child rights, but warns that significant challenges, from rising child poverty and persistent malnutrition to learning gaps and violence, continue to demand urgent and coordinated attention. Brigham, who returned to Colombo in August after serving as UNICEF’s Deputy Representative in Bangladesh, more..

Nov 25 (GV) On the night of May 15, 2005 a 12 foot tall Buddha statue was set up near the public market in Trincomalee. It was the work of a group of monks, the North-East Sinhala Organisation and the Trincomalee Three Wheeler Drivers’ Association. The installation was illegal since the land was a public property and no permission had been obtained. Perhaps the forces behind this provocative act hoped the LTTE would intervene and destroy the statue, leading to an outbreak of civil violence more..

Nov 25 (CT) On 5 Nov 2025, I wrote an article for Colombo Telegraph titled The opposition has no trump cards to play against the govt. That analysis was published well before the Opposition hastily announced its so-called Nugegoda Rally scheduled for 21 Nov 2025. The political landscape was already clear: the Opposition had run out of ideas, narratives, and credibility long before they attempted to gather crowds. In my article, I demonstrated—with evidence echoing across speeches, more..

Nov 25 (SO) Sri Lanka and Thailand are working through delicate diplomatic channels after concerns resurfaced over the welfare of two Thai elephants gifted to Sri Lanka decades ago. The issue — involving Plai Srinarong (Kandula) and Plai Pratu Pha (Thai Raja) — has revived scrutiny following last year’s high-profile repatriation of Plai Sak Surin, another Thai elephant ambassador sent back amid health complications. more..

Nov 25 (CT) Although SL appears to be making a steady recovery from its unprecedented and most devastating economic crisis, economic indicators continue to indicate that for many Sri Lankans, the effort to maintain everyday life is a constant battle for survival, where belts are tightened and spending for things that improve the quality of life comes with significant consideration. This is evident with the reports presented by the DCS, which pointed out a continued rise in cost of living for SL families. more..

Nov 25 (DM) NPP Govt is under fire these days after the CID summoned a Newspaper Editor to question him over a news item published in his paper. Free Media Movement (FMM) and SL Working Journalists Association (SLWJA), leading media organisations have decried the govt’s move as a threat to media freedom. While the govt ministers allege that the news item in question was factually wrong and a part of the smear campaign by the Opposition, some journalists and Opposition parties contest more..

Nov 24 (NW) Construction of the first-ever indoor stadium in the Jaffna District commenced today (23) under the patronage of the Minister of Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage, marking a major step in strengthening sports infrastructure in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province. The event was attended by Minister Bimal Rathnayake, MP K. Ilankumaran, Director General of the Dept of Sports Development V. Premachandiran, the District Governor of Jaffna, along with several govt officials more..

Nov 24 (AD) The Executive Board of the IMF is scheduled to meet on December 15, 2025 to discuss and approve the fifth review of Sri Lanka’s EFF programme. In October, the IMF and SL authorities reached a staff-level agreement on economic policies to conclude the fifth review of Sri Lanka’s reform program supported by the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility. Once the review is approved by the IMF Executive Board, Sri Lanka will have access to about US$347 million in financing. more..

Nov 24 (TM) SL’s total number of active credit cards saw a 5.2% increase by the third quarter of the year, from the numbers recorded by the end of 2024, data from the CB shows. The number of active credit cards reached 2,117,378 in Sept this year, from the 2,008,456 active cards recorded in Q4 of 2024. Further, the outstanding balance of credit cards saw a 4.8% increase in Q3, with a recorded increase from Q4 balance more..

Nov 24 (DM) GMOA has warned that it will decide on further action within 48 hours if no specific time frame is announced for addressing the problems of doctors and the health system. An emergency executive council meeting of the GMOA held today stressed the need for a clear schedule for implementing solutions. If the responsible authorities fail to provide a time frame within 48 hours, GMOA Central Committee will discuss more stringent professional actions at its meeting on more..

Nov 24 (DM) A cross talk popped up between opposition MP Chithral Fernando and Minister Bimal Rathnayake in Parliament where the former said there is a conflict of interest on the part of current Chairman of the national carrier, Sarath Ganegoda. MP Fernando said Ganegoda is the chairman of another domestic airline and this situation leads to a conflict of interest. "The govt should look into this matter," MP said. He said the govt should appoint businessesman Dhammika Perera as more..

Nov 24 (EN) SL will begin value added tax refunds for exporters who are considered lower risk within days, with early applications coming in the first week of the month, Director General of Inland Revenue R P H Fernando said. Exporters are expected to make the refund application for input VAT credits by November and the Inland Revenue will keep the cash for a maximum of 45 days before returning them, under the new law. “The first applications came on November 2-3,” Fernando said. more..

Nov 24 (FT) The Halal Assessment Council Ltd., (HAC) has been recognised with a Merit Award at the SL National Quality Awards 2023 (SLNQA) — the country’s most prestigious recognition for organisational excellence, conducted by the SL Standards Institution (SLSI). The awards ceremony, held on 11 Nov, was graced by MinisterChrishantha Abeysena. The event celebrated public- and private-sector organisations that demonstrate outstanding commitment to quality, innovation, and more..

Nov 24 (CT) Data released by CSD last Friday highlight a continued rise in the cost of living for SL families. For the second month in a row, the overall monthly budget for a household has increased by more than Rs 2,000 compared to the same time last year. Specifically, in Oct 2025 alone, total cost of living for a family rose by Rs 2,721.55 compared to Oct 2024. This surge is driven by countrywide inflation, which has accelerated more..

Nov 24 (DM) Sri Lanka Ayurvedic Drugs Corporation (SLADC) has earned Rs. 1,343 million from the sale of Ayurvedic medicines in the first 10 months of this year. SLADC Chairman Geethamani Karunaratne said, last year, the corporation’s total revenue from pharmaceutical products was Rs. 1,350 million, and this year it is expected to surpass Rs. 1,500 million, She highlighted that despite a shortage of imported dry medicines, production levels have remained high compared to last year. more..

Nov 24 (DM) PM of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, hosted SL, Zimbabwe & Pakistan cricket teams for a state luncheon at his house on 19 Nov . The event was attended by the Federal Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control, Mohsin Naqvi, the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and Federal Minister for Information, Attaullah Tarar, the Ambassador of Zimbabwe, and High Commissioner of SL. In his remarks, the PM highly commended the SL team’s decision to continue the tour. more..

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..