Sep 18 (AD) 5 MW Diyajanani Floating Solar Power Plant, constructed on the Ibbankatuwa Tank in Dambulla under the Govt’s national programme to generate electricity using sustainable energy, was connected to the National Grid this afternoon under the patronage of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Constructed across an area of 10.5 acres, this solar power plant will provide an annual electricity supply sufficient to meet more..

Sep 18 (DM) Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama today directed the IGP to investigate into whether former Minister Wimal Weerawansa’s remarks made at a rally on Sept 12 amounted to contempt of court and to report the findings to court. Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court that the court should consider whether the remarks made by Weerawansa at the rally concerning an order issued by the court against MP Namal Rajapaksa more..

Sep 18 (NW) A bizarre incident has been reported from the Kokawewa Police Division, where a man thought to be dead, and for whom burial rites and even religious almsgiving ceremonies had been performed, suddenly returned home alive after nearly two months. It is reported that the man had disappeared about two months ago. As he had a habit of leaving home for several days and returning, his family was not initially alarmed. However, after more than a week, his wife lodged more..

Sep 18 (EN) India has extended financial assistance of Rs. 300 million for the passenger ferry service between Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai for another year, its High Commission in Colombo said. The latest assistance marks the third consecutive year of financial support from India for the ferry service, which resumed in Aug 2024. “The financial support is being extended under the Viability Gap Funding mechanism, more..

Sep 18 (NW) Sri Lanka cruised into the semi‑finals of the Asian Games women’s cricket competition with a commanding 86‑run victory over Malaysia in Japan. Batting first, Sri Lanka posted 160 for 4, powered by captain Chamari Athapaththu’s explosive 63 off 37 balls and Kavisha Dilhari’s unbeaten 44 from 27 deliveries. Athapaththu shared an 80‑run stand with Hasini Perera, while Dilhari added a quickfire 62‑run partnership with Harshitha Samarawickrama to ensure a strong finish. more..

Sep 18 (EN) Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) David Myers has assumed his position in September the US Embassy in SL said. “David brings extensive diplomatic experience across Asia and beyond and joins Ambassador Eric Meyer and our U.S. Embassy team in advancing the US–SL partnership.” His appointment follows Eric Meyer’s as ambassador earlier this month. Myers previous assignment was at Embassy Skopje, North Macedonia, where he served as Acting DCM and more..

Sep 18 (NW) MP Sugath Wasantha de Silva, representing the NPP, has been awarded the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) New Parliamentarian Award 2026, in recognition of his exceptional dedication to parliamentary engagement, inclusive governance, human rights, and democratic participation. The award, presented during the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference held in Cape Town, South Africa, on 17 Sept, celebrates emerging legislators more..

Sep 18 (AD) Minister Vijitha Herath has concluded his official visit to Thailand from 14 to 16 Sept, following an invitation from the Thai Minister of Labour Julapun Amornvivat. During the two-day visit, Minister Herath and Thai Minister of Labour Amornvivat signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Labour Cooperation and a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on the Employment of SL Workers in Thailand, opening up 10,000 employment opportunities to Sri Lankan workers, more..

Sep 18 (Island) Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for 80% of all deaths in SL, with high blood pressure and diabetes among the leading causes, Secretary to the Ministry of Health, Dr. Anil Jasinghe, said early this week. He pointed out that the two conditions were interrelated and could lead to a range of serious health complications, with heart attacks being among the most severe consequences. more..

Sep 18 (NW) The mother of SL migrant worker Sivarasa Anojan, who has reportedly been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia, has appealed to the SL govt and Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake to bring him back safely to the country. According to reports, the Saudi Arabian Appellate Court has issued a death sentence against Anojan over a Facebook comment deemed insulting to the Prophet Muhammad. Sri Lanka is pursuing both legal and diplomatic efforts to assist him, more..

Sep 18 (FT) George Keyt Foundation (GKF), dedicated to preserving the legacy of modernist painter George Keyt and fostering local art, has announced strategic appointments to its leadership team, bringing together a mix of global academic expertise, corporate leadership, and artistic passion. These enhancements aim to inject fresh expertise and academic depth into the Foundation’s long-term vision. To broaden its operational reach and deepen its engagement with the global art market, more..

Sep 18 (NF) Lawyers appearing for Namal Rajapaksa requested court to grant him bail, citing his invitation to participate in a religious ceremony involving the installation of a temple pinnacle. Referring to a recent Supreme Court ruling, Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara stated that both the Anguttara Nikaya and the Sutta Pitaka emphasize the importance of freedom from corruption. However, he argued that no such more..

Sep 18 (Island) Sri Lanka CERT, in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), held a session to discuss the findings of the Identification and Assessment of Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) in SL last Tuesday. It said: The assessment was conducted under the Advancing Digital Transformation Project, with the support of the ADB, and aims to contribute to strengthening the protection, cybersecurity, and resilience of SL’s Critical National Information Infrastructure. more..

Sep 18 (AD) Select Committee of Parliament appointed to conduct a comprehensive study on the lack of preparedness to face Cyclone Ditwah and report to Parliament, along with proposals and recommendations in that regard, has decided to summon representatives of Pradeshiya Sabhas and Municipal Councils before the Committee to examine how local authorities coordinated their response during the disaster. Committee members particularly highlighted the need for further investigation more..

Sep 18 (FT) Saudi Arabia has ceased to export oil because of damage to its East-West Pipeline that will take more than a month to repair. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is controlled by pro-Iranian Yemeni forces. Ships are under attack as they try to navigate the Strait of Hormuz. World (and especially Asian) oil supplies will continue to be constrained and prices will remain elevated, at least until the midterm elections in the US (first week of November). The oil coming through the two straits is more..

Sep 18 (FT) There are two very different situations within the rural agricultural society in Sri Lanka. The first is a capable farmer becoming poor because farming no longer provides an adequate net income. The second is a household experiencing poverty turning to farming because few alternative livelihood options are available. Both groups require public support, but not through the same policy instruments. If Sri Lanka treats poverty alleviation and agricultural development as if more..

Sep 18 (Island) The process of having former Minister Basil Rajapaksa extradited from the US to SL was being finalised, Police HQ sources disclosed yesterday. The govt has formally sought assistance from the US govt to extradite former Minister Basil Rajapaksa, as multiple courts have reissued arrest warrants over his failure to appear before them in connection with two separate criminal cases, a senior police officer said. more..

Sep 18 (AD) The token strike initiated by railway trade unions over several demands, including the removal of the General Manager of the Department of Railways, remains in effect today, according to SL Railway Station Masters’ Association (SLRSMA). The association’s Chairman, Sumeda Somaratne, stated that the trade union action launched yesterday will continue until midnight today. He further stated that the trade union action was launched due to lack of a proper response, more..

Sep 18 (NW) The CID has arrested an Assistant Controller of the Department of Immigration and Emigration, accused of assisting in the preparation of an illegal foreign travel document for an organized criminal. According to police, officers of the CID’s Special Investigation Division carried out the arrest yesterday (17) morning at the Immigration and Emigration Department premises. The suspect has been identified as a 42‑year‑old resident of Gampaha. more..

Sep 18 (Island) The 5-member bench comprised Chief Justice P. Padman Surasena and Justices Shiran Gooneratne, Janak de Silva, Mahinda Samayawardhana and Arjuna Obeyesekere. The judicial officers had argued that they were not employees of the state or any other person, and that treating them as employees for tax purposes was incompatible with the constitutional principle of judicial independence. more..

Sep 18 (AD) Police say the law requiring all persons of vehicles travelling on expressways to wear seat belts will be strictly enforced from tomorrow (19). Director of the Traffic Control and Road Safety Division, SSP Manoj Ranagala, said the grace period of approximately one year granted for compliance will end today (18). Accordingly, legal action will be taken against drivers and passengers travelling on expressways without wearing seat belts from tomorrow, he said. more..

Sep 18 (Island) Police issued a strong warning about the growing dangers posed by AI-generated Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), stressing that technological advances were creating new risks for children online. CSAM traditionally involved real photographs or videos of children who had been sexually abused. However, with the rapid development of artificial intelligence, offenders can now manipulate ordinary images of children to produce highly realistic, sexually explicit or more..

Sep 18 (AD) A special Public Day programme has been held under the patronage of Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara, at the Deputy Minister's office in Colombo providing an opportunity for retired Tri-Forces personnel, their family members and other public to directly present their concerns and grievances. The programme held on 16 Sept, was organized with the objective of providing prompt solutions to matters requiring the intervention of the Ministry of Defence, more..

Sep 18 (Island) A three-wheeler driver was shot dead in a brazen afternoon shooting beneath the Dematagoda Black Bridge yesterday, police said. The investigators suspected that killing may be linked to notorious underworld figure Najim Mohamed Imran, widely known as Kanjipani Imran operating from overseas. The victim, a 50-year-old resident of Udugama, Galle, was killed with a pistol, according to ASP F.U. Wootler. The victim was rushed to hospital following the incident. more..

Sep 18 (TM) Environmental activist Dr Ajantha Perera, one of the petitioners who obtained the Supreme Court ruling on compensation for the MV X-Press Pearl disaster, has questioned the total compensation received so far and how the funds have been handled, alleging that the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) had, in violation of applicable procedures, dealt directly with relevant shipping company more..

Sep 18 (DN) SL javelin champion Rumesh Tharanga has retained the No. 1 position in the latest world javelin rankings released on Wednesday. The 23-year-old continued his impressive run of form by winning the Diamond League Final in Brussels and the World Ultimate Athletics Championships in Budapest, further strengthening his grip on the top spot with 1,423 points. Grenada’s Anderson Peters occupies second place with 1,363 points, while Germany’s Julian Weber is third with 1,341 more..

Sep 18 (TM) Sri Lanka’s current wretched form in T20Is was laid bare in no uncertain terms as they were blown off the park by a rampant England team, in the first T20I at Utilita Bowl, Southampton to trail 1-0 in the three-match series on Tuesday (15). Placed ninth in the ICC Men’s T20I Team Rankings, Charith Asalanka’s team clearly resembled a deer in the headlights, as they were outplayed in all facets of the game while suffering a 13th loss on the bounce in the format to their hosts. more..

Sep 18 (DM) Illegal Assets Investigation Division of the SL Police has imposed restraining orders on property and luxury assets worth more than Rs. 125 million, allegedly acquired through drug trafficking, in two separate investigations. In the first operation, police froze assets valued at over Rs. 90 million belonging to a suspect from the Wattala area. Acting under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, investigators imposed a 14-day restraining order from Sept 17, preventing the sale, transfer or disposal of the properties. more..

Sep 18 (AD) Sri Lanka reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to the humanitarian objectives of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) and to eliminating the threat posed by cluster munitions worldwide at the Third Review Conference of States Parties to the Convention, being held in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, from 14 to 18 Sept 2026. Addressing the High-Level Segment of the Conference, the Head of the SL Delegation, Manisha Gunasekera, Additional Secretary, more..

Sep 18 (FT) Cabinet has approved the implementation of 39 new development projects aimed at upgrading infrastructure across Govt health service institutions, including hospitals, as part of a broader push to address long-standing infrastructure gaps and modernise health service facilities. Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said earlier this week the projects stem from a review of 41 proposals submitted during 2025 & 2026, more..

Sep 18 (ST) Fifty youths from Kalmunai have completed the Beyond Success Roundtable Initiative, a globally delivered leadership development programme based on the leadership principles of internationally renowned leadership expert Dr. John C. Maxwell. Conducted for the first time in Kalmunai North, the initiative was organised by the Kalmunai North Divisional Secretariat in collaboration with Ms. Sonia Thayakaran, Certified Transformative Leader more..

Sep 18 (NW) Former SL captain Kumar Sangakkara has questioned the national team’s selection decisions, consistency and fitness following another comprehensive defeat to England, saying SL remain far from becoming the T20 side they aspire to be. Speaking during the post-match analysis, Sangakkara said England’s dominance had exposed significant differences between the two teams, particularly in batting, physical conditioning and tactical awareness. “They are miles apart,” more..