Nov 28 (Island) Committees and commissions come in handy for a govt embroiled in scandals and desperate to play for time. They also help obfuscate issues under public scrutiny and open escape routes for the culprits with direct links to the ruling party. A Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) is the optimal choice for a govt struggling to stave off the adverse political impact of a scandal. Successive governments have misused the PSC process to further their interests. more..

Nov 28 (TM) Jaffna University’s Medical Faculty stands today as one of SL’s most resilient and rapidly evolving academic institutions. Its growth has taken place against a backdrop of regional challenges, limited resources, and national financial instability; yet, it has continued to progress through carefully planned initiatives, sound governance, and a firm commitment to education, research, and service. In recent years, this growth has become more coordinated and visible, more..

Nov 28 (SO) SL’s election administration is often praised for its professionalism, despite the many political and institutional pressures surrounding it. Few people understand the inner workings of this system better than Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Rathnayake who recently retired after decades of election duty. He reflected on how he entered election management by chance, how the institution evolved from more..

Nov 28 (ST) More than two thousand years ago, the Buddha was asked by his chief disciple whether he could erect a statue of the Buddha for the benefit of those who came to worship him in his absence from the grove where he usually dwelled. The Buddha’s response to Ananda was a firm ‘no’. He said to Ananda, ‘Do not erect statues of me, Ananda, for statues will only divert them from following the Dhamma. I’m only the Tathagata, the teacher of the Dhamma.’ more..

Nov 28 (CT) Recently, NMRA announced maximum retail prices (MRP) for 350 drugs, including common medications for blood pressure and some cancer medications. On the face of it, this looks like a commendable initiative, but there are concerns raised by the industry itself. Understandably, the pharmaceutical industry is not particularly pleased with the decision and with how the NMRA now holds the legal authority to impose controlled prices for all medicines sold in Sri Lanka. more..

Nov 28 (TM) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has strengthened his public stance against drug trafficking, money laundering, and high-value contraband smuggling, particularly gold, which law enforcement agencies have increasingly identified as a preferred financial instrument for criminal networks. On 30 Oct, Prez launched a national counter-narcotics initiative, warning that the drug trade must be stopped. more..

Nov 28 (Island) The unique strength of Sri Lanka’s public education system is that it has been free up to university level. When we look at the massive level of student debt in other countries, including in the West, we realise what a great boon free university education has been for our youth. With the current worrying trajectory, once the floodgates of privatisation are opened with formal recognition of private universities, higher education will become unaffordable for many more..

Nov 28 (DM) The Supreme Court, in a judgment delivered on a Fundamental Rights petition filed by 66 graduates from foreign universities, observed that they too, are proud citizens of this country, just like those graduating from state universities. It is a landmark observation by the highest court of Sri Lanka. Education is a fundamental right of individuals. It is a universally acknowledged right. Whatever the background, anyone is entitled to pursue education. more..

Nov 27 (AD) The number of deaths reported thus far owing to the prevailing adverse weather conditions across the country over the past couple of days has increased to 47, according to the Disaster Management Center (DMC). DMC further said that 37 of those deaths were reported within the last two days and that another 21 individuals remain missing amid the ongoing disaster situation. A total of 5,893 people from 1,729 families have been affected by the inclement weather conditions. more..

Nov 27 (AD) Dept of Wildlife Conservation has announced that multiple national parks will be temporarily closed due to the prevailing rainy weather conditions across the island. Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the Yala National Park will remain closed to tourists, while only the Kalu Palama access road in Zone 6 will be open for tourist entry. The Department further informed that Horton Plains National Park, Wasgamuwa National Park, Kumana National Park, Wilpattu National Park, more..

Nov 27 (DM) Sri Lanka remains under severe weather conditions as heavy rainfall, rising floodwaters and continuous landslides disrupt daily life across multiple districts. The persistent low-pressure system remains anchored over the island, pulling in moisture-heavy winds and generating repeated waves of intense rainfall. Soil across the highlands is fully saturated, making slopes unstable, while major reservoirs are more..

Nov 27 (NW) The govt has introduced hotlines for reporting emergency disaster situations arising in the Colombo District due to the prevalent adverse weather conditions. The emergency contact numbers were introduced during a meeting of the Colombo District Disaster Management Coordinating Unit today. The meeting was held at the Parliamentary Complex under the patronage of PM Harini Amarasuriya to discuss precautionary measures and necessary actions to be taken more..

Nov 27 (DM) Women and Child Affairs Minister Saroja Savitri Paulraj has revealed that 75% of women using public transport in Sri Lanka have experienced abuse at least once in their lives. She made the statement yesterday at a function held at Sethsiripaya, Battaramulla, marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, observed annually from Nov 25 to Dec 10. “One in every five women in Sri Lanka, or 20%, has faced domestic violence,” Minister Paulraj said. more..

Nov 27 (DM) Supreme Court, in a judgment relating to a Fundamental Rights petition filed by 66 graduates holding bachelor’s degrees from various foreign universities, observed that just as much as those who graduate from State universities, foreign university graduates too are proud citizens of this country. SC declared that the former Secretary to the Ministry of Public Services J.J. Rathnasiri violated fundamental rights of 66 graduates more..

Nov 27 (AD) HIV infections in SL have increased despite a decline in cases globally, according to data by the National STD/AIDS Control Programme. Venereologist Dr. Vino Dharmakulasinghe made this revelation during a media briefing to announce the programmes organized in view of World AIDS Day, which falls on Dec 1. Dr. Dharmakulasinghe further said that the increase in HIV infections is particularly evident among young adults between the ages of 20 and 24 in SL. more..

Nov 27 (AM) A group of Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) officers have been praised for going out of their way to help an A/L candidate reach her examination centre on time, after she mistakenly boarded a long-distance train that did not stop at her station. The incident came to light through a detailed Facebook post by a commuter travelling on the Colombo–Batticaloa train on 22 Nov, who described how a schoolgirl wearing her uniform became distressed upon realising the train had passed both more..

Nov 27 (PMD) Minister K.D. Lalkantha stated that the govt will consider farmers’ proposals on introducing a guaranteed price for maize based on production costs, govt intervention in purchasing harvests and establishing an appropriate mechanism for the process. He made these remarks during a meeting held this morning (26) at the Presidential Secretariat with a group of maize farmers. He further noted that attention is being paid to purchasing maize at a minimum of Rs. 140 per kg more..

Nov 27 (CT) The Govt plans to auction the 5G spectrum by 23 December, aiming to generate over Rs 9 billion in revenue and enable telecom companies to launch 5G services, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne told Parliament yesterday. Highlighting the significance of the move, he noted that this would be the largest spectrum auction in the country’s history. He made these observations while joining the Committee Stage Debate on the 2026 Appropriation Bill, more..

Nov 27 (AD) The number of deaths reported owing to adverse weather conditions across the country in the past few hours has increased to 39, DMC noted. A further 10 persons have sustained injuries while 14 individuals are reported missing, the DMC added. According to latest estimates, over 4,000 persons residing within 79 divisional secretariat areas in 17 districts have been affected owing to heavy rains, flooding & gusty winds more..

Nov 27 (AD) Parliament is scheduled to convene tomorrow morning for a brief session lasting only thirty (30) minutes, while no sitting will be held on Saturday (29). The Department further stated that Parliament will meet on December 1 and 2 to continue the ongoing budget debate, with proceedings running until midnight. It was earlier announced that Parliament sittings scheduled for tomorrow (28) and Saturday have been cancelled due to the adverse weather conditions. more..

Nov 27 (DM) A woman arrested over the death of a street dog allegedly run over intentionally in Pannipitiya has been remanded until Dec 9 by the Homagama Magistrate’s Court. Magistrate issued the order on Tuesday after the suspect, a resident of Delgahawatta, was produced before court. According to police reports submitted to court, the street dog — which lived near Alubogahawatta Road, close to Pannipitiya Vidyalaya junction — died on Nov 14 after being struck by a car more..

Nov 27 (AD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed the President’s Fund to provide Rs. 1 million in compensation for each individual who died as a result of the emergency disaster situation caused by heavy rainfall, including floods and landslides. Accordingly, the President’s Fund has approved Rs. 1 million in compensation for each disaster fatality and has made arrangements to swiftly provide this payment to the relatives more..

Nov 27 (Island) The economic impact of the Treasury Bond scam had not been assessed, PM Harini Amarasuriya told Parliament. The Prime Minister said the Central Bank of SL had filed cases in the Colombo District Court seeking to recover losses from Perpetual Treasuries Ltd. Investigations into profits generated through the scam were being conducted by the CID, under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, with the Supreme Court recently granting permission to proceed, she added. more..

Nov 27 (CT) Fort Magistrate Isuru Neththikumara, yesterday, ordered that two suspects, including the Officer in Charge (OIC) of the Batticaloa Divisional Intelligence Unit, be further remanded until 10 December. The suspects are accused of conspiring to mislead the investigation regarding the killing of two Police officers in Vavunathivu, an incident that occurred prior to the Easter Sunday terror attacks in 2019. CID arrested the individuals under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. more..

Nov 27 (DM) It is assumed that the famous bond scam of 2015 has cost more than 7 billion to the Central Bank (CB) and EPF though the total impact on it to the national economy is yet to be computed, Parliament was informed yesterday. “The impact of the bond scam on the national economy is currently under review. An investigation has not been conducted in this regard although ten years have passed since the scam. Results of a complete assessment of the matter will be conducted more..

Nov 27 (SLN) In a display of naval cooperation, three warships representing Bangladesh and India made port calls in Colombo on 25 and 26 Nov, for the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2025, scheduled to be held on 30 November. The visiting ships were welcomed by the SL Navy in accordance with time-honoured naval traditions. SL Navy is hosting this capstone event in celebration of its proud 75th anniversary. Warships from Iran, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan & Russia are also scheduled to more..

Nov 27 (DM) Serious security lapses have been reported in SL prisons, with 995 prisoners or suspects escaping custody over the past six years, and 554 of them still not rearrested, according to a recent audit. The audit highlights that it is the duty of the Prisons Dept to ensure the security and protection of all prisoners and remand inmates under the jurisdiction of SL courts, while also rehabilitating and socialising them as responsible citizens. more..

Nov 27 (EN) The Japan-Sri Lanka Committee on Business Environment discussed the issues faced by investors when they met this week, the Japanese Embassy in Colombo said. The second Japan-Sri Lanka Committee on Business Environment was convened on Thursday (27) at the Board of Investment (BOI) of SL. Representatives from the Embassy of Japan, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), more..

Nov 27 (DM) Pathum Nissanka has officially climbed to the top of SL’s T20I batting records, becoming the nation’s highest run scorer in the format. His rise from a promising young opener in 2021 to the leading figure of SL’s T20 batting unit in 2025 reflects a steady, disciplined and impactful journey. Across 77 matches and 76 innings, Nissanka has scored 2,326 runs, surpassing every Sri Lankan who has played the format before him. He averages 32.30 with a strike rate of 126.89, more..

Nov 27 (AD) Dept of Meteorology announced that the deep depression which had formed near the SL coast in the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a cyclone a short time ago today. Cyclone has been named Ditwa. The name was suggested by Yemen and refers to the Detwah Lagoon on Socotra Island, known for its distinct coastal ecosystem. World Meteorological Org (WMO) and UN ESCAP Panel on more..

Nov 27 (NW) A Bell 212 helicopter of the SL Air Force (SLAF) has rescued three persons who were trapped on the rooftop of a two-storey building in Mahawa due to floods caused by prevailing inclement weather. It is reported that the three persons were trapped on the building’s roof in Ella, Mahawa due to the flood situation owing to the overflowing Deduru Oya. The rescue was carried out by a team attached to the SLAF Ratmalana camp while flood victims have been safely rescued more..

Nov 27 (AD) Dept of Irrigation has issued a warning of a potential flood situation within the next 48 hours in low-lying areas along the Mahaweli River Basin. According to the Dept, heavy rainfall received since last night (26) across several upstream catchment areas has resulted in the release of water from most of the major reservoirs in the Mahaweli River Basin. Therefore, the Irrigation Dept cautions that significant flooding may occur in low-lying areas along the Mahaweli River within more..