Jan 21 (FT) Sri Lanka’s tile and sanitary ware importers, already battered by the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis, are now grappling with an even harsher blow—hefty import taxes under the guise of protecting domestic manufacturers. Stakeholders warn this could spell disaster for both businesses and consumers. The latest proposal includes the introduction of anti-dumping duties, on top of existing taxes, more..

Jan 21 (ST) The highly delayed operational expansion of the Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) is affecting operations at the Colombo Port while doubling the building cost along with the procurement of new gantry cranes. In fact, according to its latest report by the National Audit Office, the revised cost of the project has been estimated at Rs.10 billion as against the earlier cost estimate of Rs.5 billion. The new up-gradation is designed to extend and modernise the JCT. more..

Jan 21 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake will inaugurate The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce- organised SL Economic Summit titled Shaping Sri Lanka’s future: Transformational growth rooted in sound economic policies on 28 January at the Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo. As a key feature of the inauguration, Prez Dissanayake will engage in a Fireside Chat on the vision for sustainable economic development, with the Ceylon Chamber Deputy Vice Chairman Bingumal Thewarathanthri. more..

Jan 21 (FT) Civil Appeals High Court of Colombo Justices Frank Gunawardhana and Priyantha Fernando issued an interim order staying the operation of the writ of execution evicting the Rabbi and/or his agents from Chabad House in Colombo. Petitioner, Rabbi of Chabad House, Shneor Maidanchik in his petition stated that the predecessors of the Petitioner entered into a Lease Agreement with registered owner of impugned property in 2007 for a period of 2 years. more..

Jan 21 (FT) SL Institute of Nanotechnology (SLINTEC) recently unveiled the revolutionary development and delivery of a groundbreaking oil-absorbing material based on graphene, designed to tackle large-scale oil spills with unprecedented efficiency. Developed in Sri Lanka and now set to be deployed in collaboration with Inovartic of UAE and a major oil services company in the UAE, this innovation marks a significant milestone in sustainable marine environmental protection. more..

Jan 21 (FT) Sri Lanka’s tourism industry experienced a remarkable growth in 2024 with over 2.05 million visitors, as unconventional markets outpaced traditional powerhouses in growth. Despite traditional markets like India and Russia retaining their dominance in terms of total arrivals, a deeper analysis of year-on-year (YoY) growth trends revealed intriguing shifts, with new markets showcasing noteworthy increases. more..

Jan 21 (Island) Reforming SL’s education system in ways that cater to global needs appears to be a central focus of the new govt. This pronouncement first appeared in the NPP’s election manifesto with reference to vocational education. Later, in October 2024, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that our education system should be rebuilt in alignment with global demands. PM and Minister of Education Harini Amarasuriya mentioned in a speech in Dec 2024 that building a skilled workforce more..

Jan 21 (ST) So President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has completed his Indo-Pacific official tour with visits to India and China. It is now very much a habit for Sri Lanka’s presidents and prime ministers to head for the two countries once they have been anointed with the powers of office. It would not come as strange to some, for history records that lesser or smaller countries have been subjugated by the big or have paid tribute to more powerful nations in their time. more..

Jan 21 (Island) A string of defeats in cooperative society elections during the past few weeks, indicating a sharp decline in the JVP-led NPP’s approval rating, and growing public disillusionment with the incumbent dispensation, has jolted the NPP leaders into making a determined bid to turn things around with the next LG elections slated for April. They are however labouring under the misconception that their pre-election tactics will help boost their popularity as a govt. more..

Jan 21 (TM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s ambitious Clean Sri Lanka project has received both positive and negative comments. During the Parliamentary Election campaign, the Prez told the nation that his Govt would launch a special project with the aim of making SL the cleanest country in the Asian region. However, following criticism that arose as a result of the initial approach of the Presidential Task Force appointed to Clean SL, Govt leaders were compelled to explain that the project more..

Jan 21 (TM) Ministry of Mass Media is scheduled to begin stakeholder discussions on amending the Online Safety Act (OSA), while stakeholders maintain that the amendment bill published by the previous Govt fails to address the fundamental issues with the act. Ministry of Mass Media Additional Secretary N.A.K.L. Wijenayake said that ministerial level discussions were underway regarding the amendment process. more..

Jan 21 (CT) Four months after coming to power, NPP govt is facing growing criticism from those in the opposition and also scepticism regarding its ability to make policies necessary to revive the country and its economy. The catchy stories in the media are invariably in relation to some mishap or shortcoming in the past of govt leaders. Some of these relate to the inexperience of the new decisionmakers, many of them having spent their lives in academia rather than in politics or more..

Jan 21 (TM) Yesterday (20) marked a remarkable moment in global history. Donald Trump is back in the Oval Office, and the world takes a deep breath with anxiety and confusion, wondering what tomorrow holds. The global implications of leadership change in the US is not a trivial matter. Many still struggle to grasp how Trump managed to return to office, and will view the change with apprehension and extreme optimism. SL, were we too have seen a major political upheaval more..

Jan 21 (SO) Sports Minister Sunil Gamage, a chartered accountant by profession and first-time MP has been entrusted with the monumental task of overhauling and revitalising Sri Lanka’s sports sector. Minister outlined his vision for transforming Sri Lanka’s sports landscape, navigating the challenges of corruption and mismanagement. He discussed the Govt’s proactive efforts to clean up the sector, support athletes and implement more..

Jan 21 (DM) On Tuesday, the Mothers’ Movement of SL (MMSL) will submit to the US embassy here, a petition addressed to President-elect Donald Trump, urging him to keep up his fight against LGBTQIA++ Woke values and help restore traditional social and familial values in America, SL, and the world at large. LGBTQIA++ is an acronym that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual. The ++ represents other identities that are not included in the acronym. more..

Jan 21 (DM) There seems to be an issue with the govt’s decision-making process which is sometimes manifested by conflicting statements or acts by govt institutions or ministers on various issues. For instance, while the police had commenced removing unnecessary and hazardous accessories from buses and even ministers had participated in cleaning various places such as drainage systems, railway stations under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s Clean Sri Lanka project, more..

Jan 20 (NW) The inaugural ceremony to mark the Chinese New Year festival was held under the patronage of PM Harini Amarasuriya in Colombo on Sunday. Event was jointly organized by the Chinese Embassy in SL and the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Colombo. The inaugural ceremony took place at the Cinnamon Life Hotel, under the patronage of PM Harini Amarasuriya. PM delivered a congratulatory message from Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, for the occasion of more..

Jan 20 (AD) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake assured that the govt has implemented measures to ensure that there will be no shortage of rice during the upcoming ‘Maha’ cultivation season. Prez emphasized the importance of maintaining rice reserves to stabilize food security. Speaking at the event, which was part of a NPP meeting in the Horana electorate of the Kalutara District, the President outlined key relief measures planned from the forthcoming national budget. more..

Jan 20 (FT) SL’s tea production hit a three-year high in 2024, bouncing back from detrimental policy decisions in 2021 and the lingering impacts of climate change. The cumulative tea crop for the year reached 262.15 million kilos, marking an increase of 6.07 million kilos or 2.4% year-on-year (YoY) growth compared to 256.08 million kilos in 2023. All tea-growing elevations posted positive variances in 2024, with the exception of more..

Jan 20 (NW) Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs announced two appointments today, with seasoned professionals taking over key leadership roles to drive national initiatives in their respective fields. Gamini Wickramapala officially assumed duties as the Director General of the National Youth Corps. He received his appointment letter from the Minister Sunil Gamage, at the ministry premises. With over 30 years of experience in the SLAS, Wickramapala brings extensive expertise to his new role. more..

Jan 20 (FT) Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the recent shooting incident in Mannar which left two persons dead and injured two others, Police said. One of the arrested suspects, who is believed to be the gunman, is a member of the Sri Lanka Army in active service, while the two suspects had aided and abetted in the crime, Police said. Two individuals were killed while two others were injured in the shooting incident in front of the Mannar Court on 16 January. more..

Jan 20 (Island) The FSP expressed concern about SL becoming entangled in the ongoing Indo-Pacific power rivalries. FSP Central Committee has in a media statement noted that the joint declarations with both China and India, within a span of a month, reflect SL’s increasing involvement in these geopolitical rivalries. The party called on the public to actively intervene to protect SL’s economic, political, and geopolitical sovereignty, warning of more..

Jan 20 (FT) With an exciting mix of literature conversations, film discussions, exhibits and workshops by renowned local and international voices, day two of the HSBC Ceylon Literary and Arts Festival 2025 was a celebration of creativity, craft, and intellectual exchange. The second edition of the festival that was first introduced in 2024 and organised by HSBC, was held at the Colombo Public Library, which also celebrates its centennial this year. The festival included 32 thought more..

Jan 20 (AD) CID has reported to the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today (20) that it has initiated an investigation into an alleged major racket involving e-Tickets sold for up-country trains including to Ella. It is stated that this investigation has been initiated following a complaint filed by the Department of Railways in this regard. Accordingly, Computer Crime Investigation Unit of the CID has informed the court that certain groups are purchasing all available tickets through dubious means online more..

Jan 20 (TM) The injuries sustained by two key SL players, namely Pathum Nissanka and prolific batter Kamindu Mendis, are reportedly giving the team management sleepless nights. This in view of the looming two-match Test series against Australia starting later this month. Nissanka, a vital cog in the Lankan batting order, has picked up an injury during the third and final T20I against New Zealand, in their recent white-ball tour of that country. Adding to the injury woes, star batter in the red-ball format more..

Jan 20 (TM) Sri Lanka has net foreign currency asset drains amounting to $ 1.36 billion for 2025, out of which $ 541 million are in interest payments, CB data showed. Accordingly, CBSL has predetermined short-term net drains on foreign currency assets amounting to $ 1.363 billion in the next 12 months. Majority of net payments, amounting to $ 1.03 billion is expected between in the next three to 12 months. Out of the outflows, $ 822 million are as principal payments and $ 541 million. more..

Jan 20 (AD) SLPP MP, Namal Rajapaksa says his father is prepared to vacate the official residence in Colombo, if required. MP said, “That house was granted to former presidents under the Constitution. It’s primarily a matter of security. However, if the current Prez wishes to sell the house and requires former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa to vacate, we are ready to comply. This is not a house we requested. It is something provided to a more..

Jan 20 (TM) TPA Leader MP Mano Ganesan has called for the establishment of special courts to expedite corruption cases with daily hearings. Welcoming Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s anti-corruption drive, Ganesan highlighted the need to strengthen key institutions like the Bribery Commission, AG’s Department, and CID with additional resources and legal powers. He praised the Prez’s initiative to reopen high-profile corruption files, with cases expected to be filed by Feb, more..

Jan 20 (FT) It is no wonder that the digital landscape evolves at an unprecedented pace and with that, the convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity is emerging as a transformative force in safeguarding our interconnected world. With cybercrime costs projected to reach an astronomical $ 10.5 trillion annually by 2025, according to Cybersecurity Ventures, the stakes have never been higher. At the same time, AI’s market value is expected to surpass $ 1.5 trillion more..

Jan 20 (DM) Central Bank of SL (CBSL) said today that it has completed investigations into various companies suspected of engaging in activities prohibited under Section 83(C) of the Banking Act, No. 30 of 1988 (as amended). As a result, the CBSL has identified a total of 21 companies involved in such schemes. However, the CBSL has withheld the name of one company due to a court order that restricts its disclosure. more..

Jan 20 (Island) SJB raised concerns over continuing significant delays and congestion at the Colombo Port, already forcing some vessels to bypass it.The SJB has also warned that the vital money spinner, serving as a shipping hub to the sub-continent, is at risk of dropping in international rankings if the problem persists, to the benefit of rivals like Singapore and Dubai. SJB MP Gayantha Karunathilake said that despite directives from Prez to clear container backlogs more..

Jan 20 (AD) Former Minister Manusha Nanayakkara’s attorney has informed the Colombo Magistrate’s Court that he is prepared to provide a statement to the CID tomorrow regarding the matter of providing job opportunities for Sri Lankans in South Korea. Appearing on behalf of the former Minister, Prez’s Counsel Saliya Peiris informed this to the court when an anticipatory bail application filed by Nanayakkara seeking anticipatory bail before his possible arrest in connection with more..