Sep 6 (NW) SL’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage continued his impressive run in the men’s javelin by winning the Diamond League Final on Saturday night with a best throw of 89.04 metres. Pathirage finished ahead of Poland’s Dawid Wegner, who recorded a personal best of 87.47m, while Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott took third place with a season-best 83.99m. Grenada’s Anderson Peters finished fourth with more..

Sep 6 (DM) The Illegal Assets Investigation Division has issued a freezing order on property valued at over Rs. 15 million, alleged to have been acquired through illegal means. Following information received by the IGP regarding an individual residing in Pathegama, Weligama, who was allegedly conducting illegal drug trafficking using the EZ Cash platform, an investigation was initiated by the Custodial Investigation Unit of the Illegal Assets Investigation Division under Prevention of more..

Sep 6 (Island) The Institute for Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES) is to examine the 2024 and 2025 declarations of assets and liabilities submitted by all 225 MPs to the CIABOC. The study will compare the declarations to identify significant changes in MPs’ income, assets, liabilities and other declared financial interests. IRES will also examine the annexures to the declarations and cross-reference relevant information with campaign finance returns submitted to more..

Sep 6 (Island) Intermittent rain has transformed the Kudawa entrance to the Sinharaja Forest Reserve into a spectacular natural attraction, with waterfalls roaring to life and the rain forest displaying its lush beauty in all glory. While several parts of Sri Lanka are experiencing dry conditions, Sinharaja is living up to its reputation as a wet-zone rainforest, receiving frequent showers that have kept its numerous waterfalls flowing and the forest floor cool and moist. more..

Sep 6 (ST) The Supreme Court verdict on the hearing of the petitions related to the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution will be conveyed to the Speaker on Sept 18, the Sunday Times learns. More than 110 petitions were received against and in favour of the 22nd Amendment and were taken into consideration by a five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena. Constitutionally, the decision should be conveyed by the Supreme Court within three weeks. more..

Sep 6 (TM) Former SL Captain Kumar Sangakkara has called for a balanced int'l cricket calendar that gives Sri Lanka and other countries greater opportunities to play red-ball cricket, while acknowledging that the financial realities of the format remain a stumbling block to be overcome by administrators. Sangakkara, 48, said that concerns over the future of Test cricket beyond SLC had been repeatedly broached at ICC fora and within more..

Sep 6 (SO) SL’s veteran javelin thrower Dilhani Lekamge launched a brilliant throw to claim the Gold Medal with a new meet record on the second day of the 104th National Athletic Championships 2026, which continued at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Sports Complex in Diyagama yesterday. Nadeesha cleared a distance of 59.46 metres to win the first place of the Women’s javelin throw event while D.H. Madhuwanthi (49.71m) secured the Silver Medal and D.M.I. Hasanthi took the Bronze more..

Sep 6 (SO) Two years ago, SL voters rejected a political establishment that had governed the country since Independence in 1948. NPP candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake won the Presidency in Sept 2024 and his party won the Parliamentary Election several weeks later. NPP secured 6.86 million votes and won 159 of the 225 Seats, reducing several once-dominant parties to the margins of Parliament with only one or two MPs. NPP’s mandate arose from the economic collapse of 2022 and the anger it produced among more..

Sep 6 (Island) There is a growing sense of disappointment that, after all that early promise, Kamindu Mendis has faded away somewhat. A player who brings such a multidimensional skill set should by now have cemented his place in SL’s white ball sides. But part of the problem with our cricket has been a chronic lack of patience, compounded by some awful choices. A case in point is Dunith Wellalage. Not many people realise that he made his Test debut two years before more..

Sep 6 (Island) Hardly a day passes in this country without major drug detections and underworld killings. IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya, speaking at this year’s Police Day ceremony in Colombo on Thursday, said police had seized large amounts of narcotics, including 1,416 kg of Crystal Methamphetamine, 946 kg of heroin, and 1,282 kg of cannabis and taken into custody 1,612 illegal firearms, including T-56 assault rifles and pistols, so far this year. SL is awash with illegal firearms, more..

Sep 6 (SO) For a country such as Sri Lanka, grappling with a heavy debt burden, the industrial sector is of vital importance to its economic future. The direction in which the country’s industries develop will have a significant bearing on its ability to generate investment, employment, exports and sustainable economic growth. Understanding where the industrial sector is heading, therefore, offers important insight more..

Sep 6 (Island) In March 2027, SL’s Extended Fund Facility with the IMF will expire. It is the seventeenth arrangement the country has entered into with the Fund since 1965. That number is not a footnote; it is the argument. Sixteen previous left the underlying structure of the economy intact – an economy that imports what it consumes, exports what it cannot process further, and borrows to cover the difference. Each programme ended, and the conditions that produced it reassembled themselves. more..

Sep 6 (GV) On Aug 23, The Sunday Times published a searing report titled A Price Tag on Lanka’s Water, revealing a concerted effort by the ADB, international experts and private interests to transform Sri Lanka’s upper watersheds into a tradable natural capital asset. The timing of this revelation could not be more grotesque. On the same day the report appeared, Irrigation Department confirmed that the country’s 74 major reservoirs held only 35.8% of their effective storage capacity. more..

Sep 6 (TM) With the Govt’s image bruised by its desire to railroad the proposed 22nd Amendment and its reluctance to face a referendum, the Opposition has found a cause to unite. Last week, former Prez and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe met party faithful at his Flower Road office, where he stressed the need for the Opposition to build momentum and seize the opportunity at hand to build a robust parliamentary opposition. more..

Sep 6 (CT) It is with a deep sense of sadness that I record the passing of Dr Upatissa Pethiyagoda, who died on 27 August 2026 at the age of 94. To many, he was a distinguished scientist, an accomplished administrator, a diplomat and a public intellectual. To me, he was much more than that. Dr Pethiyagoda was a proud product of Trinity College, Kandy. At a time when a first class in Botany was a rarity, he obtained one and subsequently pursued postgraduate studies in London. more..

Sep 6 (SO) War. Pestilence. Famine. These are the Three Fears espoused in Buddhism and many other philosophies. At least three major wars are happening as this is written. The entire world experienced a pestilence just six years ago as Covid-19 spread rapidly, killing over seven million people. Though no country is experiencing a famine per se right now, WHO surveys have revealed that around 650 million people go hungry every day (a staggering 8% of the global population), more..

Sep 5 (NW) SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa was arrested following an investigation that included an affidavit from businessman Nimal Perera alleging that he handed Rajapaksa Rs. 100 million linked to funds received in connection with the controversial SriLankan Airlines Airbus deal, the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court was told. Nimal Perera is a prominent SL businessman and investor whose name has surfaced in several more..

Sep 5 (DM) Mohamed Hisham Jamaldeen, the son of former Western Province Governor and former Colombo Mayor A.J.M. Muzammil was arrested at the BIA on Wednesday. Jamaldeen, 47, was arrested by Immigration and Emigration officials while he was preparing to board SriLankan Airlines flight UL-503 to London at around 1.45 p.m., according to the police. The arrest was made in connection with a travel ban imposed on him as part of an ongoing investigation by the FCID. more..

Sep 5 (DN) Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will arrive in Sri Lanka on Sept 8 for a two day official visit, during which he is expected to hold comprehensive discussions with SL leaders on bilateral defence cooperation, maritime security, and other areas of mutual interest. During the visit Singh is scheduled to meet President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and PM Harini Amarasuriya on September 9. He will also hold talks with Defence Secretary Sampath Thuyacontha. more..

Sep 5 (DN) UN Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Türk on Thursday called for a moratorium on the use of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, pending its repeal, as well as the release of long-term detainees held under it. High Commissioner urged SL to redouble its reconciliation and accountability efforts. Türk also called for all individuals credibly accused of human rights violations to be excluded from senior more..

Sep 5 (Island) The Supreme Court yesterday concluded hearing 15 petitions challenging the constitutionality of the Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Bill presented to Parliament by the Government. A three-member bench, comprising Justices Shiran Gooneratne, Mahinda Samayawardhena and Sampath Wijeratne, heard the petitions over two days. Following the conclusion of oral submissions, the bench directed the relevant parties to file any written submissions by noon on Monday. more..

Sep 5 (NW) The 21st model village constructed in SL with grant assistance from the Government of India was handed over to beneficiaries in Polonnaruwa on Friday. Indian HC Santosh Jha and Deputy Minister T.B. Sarath jointly inaugurated and handed over 24 houses at the Suhada Gama Model Village. Speaker of Parliament Jagath Wickramarathna also attended the ceremony. The Model Village Housing Project is being implemented across all 25 districts in partnership with more..

Sep 5 (NW) A Panadura Magistrate’s Court officer responsible for handling fiscal and summons-related duties has left SL for Thailand amid an investigation into two missing case files, police said. The missing files are linked to organised crime and drug trafficking suspect Salindu Gunaratne, alias Kudu Salindu. The court registrar lodged a complaint with Panadura South Headquarters Police on Sept 1, following which the Panadura Division Crime Investigation Bureau began an inquiry. more..

Sep 5 (ST) A man had been wrongfully indicted for robbery due to misidentification, and this has been revealed after 13 years at the Kurunegala High Court. Instead of the actual suspect, Prasad Kumara, wanted for the robbery that took place in the Maha Mukalanayaya area in 2013, his elder brother Priyantha Kumara had been indicted. Though the brother was not involved in the robbery, assuming that he too had been made a suspect in the case, he had turned up at Kurunegala HC more..

Sep 5 (NW) SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa has questioned the timing of his arrest and remand, pointing to upcoming political rallies by both the govt and the SLPP. In a statement issued after he was remanded until Sept 18, Rajapaksa said the govt would hold a political rally on Sept 5 to mark two years in office, with the President scheduled to address the gathering. He said the SLPP was also preparing for its own political meeting on more..

Sep 5 (FT) Recognising the strategic importance of the Marine and Offshore sector to SL’s export development, the National Export Development Plan (NEDP) 2026–2030 has identified marine-based industries, including boat and shipbuilding, as one of the country’s priority export sectors. In line with this national priority, the Export Development Board (EDB), in collaboration with the Institution of Engineers, SL (IESL), conducted a one-day capacity-building workshop more..

Sep 5 (CI) Kusal Mendis and Binura Fernando have been ruled out of SL's upcoming T20I series against England, with the SLC saying that the two were still undergoing rehabilitation after injuries picked up at the 2026 Lanka Premier League. The update came just over a day after the two were named in the 16-member squad, with Kusal retained as captain of both the T20I and the ODI sides. Charith Asalanka, who had returned to the vice-captain's position for the series, will now lead the side in the T20Is. more..

Sep 5 (Island) The 104th National Athletics Championship got off to an impressive start at the Diyagama Stadium, with Rasara Wijesuriya and Arunthavarasa Puvitharan producing record-breaking performances on an action-packed opening day. Rasara dominated the women’s 10,000m to win the gold medal in 33:32.77 seconds, setting a new meet record in the process. G. W. O. N. Fonseka finished second in 38:25.55, while H. I. S. Fernando took the bronze in 39:00.69. more..

Sep 5 (FT) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has called for a more coordinated approach to developing SL’s mineral industry under the export-oriented National Mineral Policy 2026, with discussions focusing on attracting investment, improving licensing processes and increasing value addition. A meeting chaired by the President earlier this week with officials from the SL Mineral Sands Association (SLMSA) and the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau examined measures required more..

Sep 5 (DM) SL’s apparel manufacturing sector is grappling with sharply compressed order horizons from American buyers alongside virtually zero financial relief from tariff refunds, even as the same US court ruling that unlocked those refunds has delivered a windfall to the American brands they supply, according to the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF). JAAF Secretary General Yohan Lawrence more..

Sep 5 (ST) Sri Lanka’s primary industry-specific promotional reserves, specifically the Tea Promotion and Marketing Fund and the Tourism Promotion Fund are at operational crossroads as a result of the state fiscal consolidation initiatives. The Finance Ministry is compelled to absorb independent, industry-financed reserves to meet its strict 2.3% primary budget surplus target and comply with the transitioning Treasury single account framework. The govt’s primary strategy focuses on more..

Sep 5 (Island) Following a statement by Deputy Minister Nalin Hewage that the govt is considering raising the minimum age for three-wheeler drivers to 40, the Advocata Institute has outlined four key reasons against such a restriction, relating to economic freedom, mobility, livelihoods, and dependent sectors. The first reason is that an age limit violates economic freedom, as three-wheeler driving provides a flexible form of self-employment suited to individual circumstances. more..