Oct 8 (NW) The Dept of Prisons has decided not to transfer former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, who is currently in remand custody, to a private hospital in Colombo today. Commissioner of Prisons Senaka Palletanna said Rajapaksa was examined by a specialist doctor at the Prison Hospital today. Following the examination, the specialist recommended that she be taken to the National Eye Hospital in Colombo tomorrow for further specialist consultation. more..

Oct 8 (AD) Janathawadi Joint Opposition has stated that it does not condone the removal of Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero’s saffron robes under any circumstances. The position was outlined in a special statement issued by the political group, led by former minister G.L. Peiris, to clarify its stance on the matter. Statement emphasizes that action concerning Buddhist monks should be taken in accordance with the traditions and disciplinary rules established within the Buddha Sasana. more..

Oct 8 (DN) Montana Governor Greg Gianforte and a delegation from the US state of Montana, will visit SL tomorrow to strengthen agricultural trade and defence cooperation between the two countries. Visit is expected to create new opportunities for US agricultural exports to SL while further strengthening security cooperation through the Montana National Guard’s State Partnership Program. Montana is a leading US producer of pulses, including chickpeas, lentils and dry peas. more..

Oct 8 (TM) SL Cricket Transformation Committee Chair Eran Wickramaratne says that the then Govt should not have allowed the International Cricket Council (ICC) to suspend SL’s membership over the dissolution of the Ex-Co of SLC in 2023. He said no international sports governing body has a right to interfere arbitrarily with the laws of a free and sovereign nation, and maintained that therefore he does not more..

Oct 8 (AD) Due to the prevailing heavy rainfall, Irrigation Engineer’s Office in charge of the Deduru Oya Reservoir took measures to open two spill gates of the reservoir by one foot each last night. The decision was taken after the water level of the reservoir rose to its spill level following heavy rainfall in the upper and central catchment areas of the reservoir over the past few days. With the opening of the spill gates, approximately 1,400 cubic feet of water per second more..

Oct 8 (NW) Colombo High Court has rejected the preliminary objections raised by former State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa and two other defendants seeking the dismissal of a corruption case filed against them by the CIABOC. Colombo HC Judge Ravindra Premaratne accordingly ordered that the case proceed under the existing indictments. The case relates to allegations that the defendants used their official influence to obtain Rs. 8.85 million in compensation for property damaged more..

Oct 8 (NW) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed the appointment of a committee to review existing laws governing the treatment of Buddhist monks while in prison and when they are taken outside prison, and to propose amendments, new standing orders and regulations. Committee will comprise representatives from Attorney General’s Dept, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Public Admin, Ministry of Buddhasasana, more..

Oct 8 (EN) Sri Lankans’ confidence in the stability of the financial system had improved in both the short and medium terms in H2 of 2026, a Systemic Risk Survey (SRS) conducted by CB found, despite perceived global macroeconomic risks and heightened concerns over geopolitical tensions. Survey respondents perceived global macroeconomic risks as the most prominent source of risk to financial system stability in H2 2026, with their share increasing notably from more..

Oct 8 (FT) The sight of Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara in a White tunic Shirt being escorted to Court was more than an exceptional visual metaphor. It pierced the psyche of the Sinhala-Buddhist polity. As I write this, it has been announced that some have planned a peaceful protest for the removal of his robes. That is understandable. He loomed large in our firmament ever since he launched his Bodhubala Sena movement under the patronage of the then Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse. more..

Oct 8 (NW) High Commissioner of SL to India, Mahishini Colonne, has invited Indian business leaders, investors and buyers to take part in the upcoming SL Expo 2027, emphasising the growth potential for bilateral economic partnerships. Addressing the Conference on Business Opportunities in BIMSTEC Countries in New Delhi on Oct 5, HC Colonne pointed to SL’s strategic geographic location, robust connectivity and long standing economic ties with India. more..

Oct 8 (FT) Refused copies of two complaint letters held against him by the Health Ministry, a consultant oncologist turned to the Right to Information Act, No. 12 of 2016, and in Aug 2026 Right to Information Commission (RTIC) ordered them released. In TISL v. Prez Secretariat, the Commission described its purpose as ensuring that citizens have the information required to participate meaningfully in the democratic process and to hold the governors accountable to the governed. more..

Oct 8 (NW) Mahanayake Theras of SL’s main Buddhist chapters have expressed serious concern over the decision by prison authorities to produce Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera before court in civilian clothing instead of his robes. In a letter addressed to the Commissioner General of Prisons, Mahanayake Theras said that while they fully respect the Constitution and judicial process, the removal of a Buddhist monk’s robes or more..

Oct 8 (FT) Govt is seeking Rs. 4.99 trillion to meet its expenditure in 2027, under the Appropriation Bill presented to Parliament yesterday for its First Reading. Deputy Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando tabled the Bill. Besides allocating funds for Govt spending, the Bill also authorises the Govt to borrow, among other provisions. Under the Appropriation Bill, the largest allocation this year goes to Finance, Planning and Economic Development Ministry at Rs. 856.853 billion. more..

Oct 8 (FT) Board of Investment (BOI) is moving to fast-track the proposed Export Processing Zones (EPZs) at Paranthan and Kankasanthurai (KKS), with internal infrastructure development at both sites scheduled to begin by early Jan 2027. With Paranthan and KKS now assigned early-2027 infrastructure milestones, the BOI’s focus is increasingly shifting towards converting the Northern Province’s investment potential into operational projects through faster approvals, more..

Oct 8 (DM) Any individual serving a prison sentence of more than 3 years, regardless of their position or status, including the Prez of the country, is required to wear the prison-issued uniform when appearing before a court, Prisons Commissioner Senaka Pallathtenna said. Commenting on the imprisonment of Ven. Gnanasara Thera, Pallathtenna said the Prisons Dept had acted strictly according to more..

Oct 8 (AD) A discussion between Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake and a group of Buddhist monks representing the Chief Prelates of the 3 Buddhist Nikayas, is scheduled to be held today at the Presidential Secretariat to discuss the issues outlined in the letter that the Chief Prelates had sent yesterday to the Commissioner General of Prisons regarding the decision to produce Ven. Gnanasara Thero, who is currently serving a prison sentence, before the court in prison attire. more..

Oct 8 (DN) India yesterday donated a consignment of essential anti-tuberculosis (TB) medicines for SL’s public health requirements. The donation, at the Health Ministry in Colombo, was in response to a request from the SL Govt to the Indian Govt to ensure availability of essential anti-TB medicines in Sri Lanka. The medicines were sourced with the support of India’s Health and Family Welfare Ministry. The consignment comprising about three tonnes of medicines, more..

Oct 8 (FT) SL’s record recovery in consumption has come alongside a downward shift in household incomes, with a new study showing that about 0.4 million households have slipped out of the middle class since 2020 even as average incomes rose in nominal terms. According to The Changing Path to Purchase in SL: How Consumers Discover, Select and Transact Today, released by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), the number of households rose to 6.7 mil from 5.7 mil between 2020 and 2026. more..

Oct 8 (Island) Sri Lanka will begin their three match T20I series against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Friday with an opportunity for several youngsters to stake their claims, although the absence of Pathum Nissanka leaves a sizeable hole at the top of the order. Nissanka, Sri Lanka’s highest-ranked batter in the ICC T20I rankings, has been one of the side’s most consistent performers in recent years and his absence deprives the tourists of a proven match-winner against a Pakistan attack more..

Oct 8 (FT) Govt and the Petroleum Development Authority of SL (PDASL) took the country’s offshore oil and gas acreage to global investors, presenting the SL Licensing Round 2026 (SL2026-01) at the World Energies Summit in London on 29-30 Sept, the opening leg of an int'l roadshow ahead of a 2 Feb 2027 bid deadline. The Round offers four exploration blocks covering approximately 33,964 km² in Mannar Basin, more..

Oct 8 (FT) SL Export Development Board (EDB) yesterday presented appointment letters to members of its 24 Advisory Committees for 2026-2029 and launched the Export Performance Indicators 2025 at a ceremony at The Grand Maitland, Maitland Place, Colombo 7. Chief Guest Minister Sunil Handunnetti said: “Building on the growth achieved by all export sectors over the past two years, we must move towards new targets that surpass our own past records. By amending outdated laws and more..

Oct 8 (Island) Two individuals, who pleaded guilty to charges relating to the illegal storage of firearms, ammunition and explosives at the Lactowatta estate in Wanathawilluwa, Puttalam, were sentenced to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment each by Colombo HC yesterday. The sentences were imposed by a 3-member Trial-at-Bar comprising HC Judges Lal Bandara, Rashmi Singappuli & Nayomi Wickramasekara. Two accused, Abu Musif and Ameer Hamas, pleaded guilty. more..

Oct 8 (AD) Judicial Services Commission (JSC) has exonerated interdicted Colombo Fort Magistrate Kosala Senadheera of all charges against him and ordered his reinstatement to his former position, along with the payment of back wages. Following the decision, steps have been taken to assign Senadheera to the Colombo Magistrate’s Court, with his back wages to be paid accordingly. Senadheera had been interdicted from service with effect from July 10, 2024, following allegations that more..

Oct 8 (FT) SL’s banks are leaving a large pool of consumer demand untapped, with a new study finding credit concentrated among higher-income urban households and penetration low enough to leave substantial room for credit-led consumption growth. According to The Changing Path to Purchase in SL, released by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) 19% of consumers hold credit cards, 18% gold loans, 13% personal loans, 10% auto loans & 9% home loans. more..

Oct 8 (TM) Energy Ministry will seek legal advice and take action against private fuel suppliers in accordance with their agreements with the Govt and the powers vested in the Ministry if they continue to restrict fuel supplies to filling stations, Minister Anura Karunathilaka said. He said the Ministry was already in discussions with private fuel suppliers and would consider action if they continued to withhold fuel from the market. more..

Oct 8 (NW) A 25-year-old man has been arrested in SL over allegations that US$25 million was transferred to overseas accounts without any goods being imported into the country. FCID arrested the suspect, a resident of Wellampitiya, as part of an investigation into the movement of funds through commercial banks using Telegraphic Transfers (TT). Investigators allege that six companies in SL were used to make the transfers, with transactions presented as payments to foreign companies more..

Oct 8 (NW) Social activist Piyath Nikeshala, former MP J. Sri Ranga and four others were released today (7) following instructions from the Attorney General in connection with the arson attack on former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe’s private residence. The case relates to the May 9, 2022 incident, during the Aragalaya protest movement, when the residence was set on fire and the suspects were named in connection with the incident. Several suspects had previously been discharged more..

Oct 8 (TM) The accumulated loss of Lanka Sathosa Ltd had reached Rs 22 billion by Dec 2025, with 212 of its 423 outlets currently operating at a loss, Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe told Parliament yesterday. Samarasinghe said Sathosa had been facing serious financial difficulties, with Rs 14 billion owed to suppliers as of December last year, while the value of stocks held by the Company stood at only Rs 5.8 billion. more..

Oct 8 (DN) SL’s Methuli Naotunne and Kiara Jayamanne created major upsets by knocking out the top two Indian seeds in the girls’ singles quarter-finals of the ATF 16 & Under Colombo 2026 Week 1 Tennis Tournament at the SL Tennis Association courts in Colombo yesterday. Naotunne fought back from a set down to defeat Indian top seed Yashmitha Santhosh 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 in a gripping three-set battle. After narrowly losing the opening set, the Sri Lankan stayed composed under pressure and more..

Oct 8 (Island) The govt is yet to address fully the needs of the Cyclone Ditwah affected populace though one year has elapsed. The devastation cost the country more than US $ 4.1 billion, an Australia-based Chartered Engineer of SL origin said. ‘Cyclone Ditwah affected more than 2.2 million people in 25 districts, which is considered to be one tenth of the population. However, only 39% of the allocated funds have been spent to date, speaker, a one-time General Secretary of the JVP, more..

Oct 8 (DN) SL women’s Under-19 team, led by skipper Chamudi Praboda, will look to carry their winning momentum when they meet Bangladesh Under-19 today in their T20 Tri-Series fixture at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. The two sides will meet for the fifth match of the tournament, with Bangladesh currently leading the table with two wins, while SL and Pakistan have recorded one victory each. With the league still wide open, all three teams remain in the race for a place in the final. more..