Feb 23 (FT) More than 20 pieces of legislation are at various stages of review and are expected to be implemented within the year, Treasury Secretary Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma said last week, outlining the reform agenda set out in the 2026 Budget. With the Govt earning acclaim for stabilising the economy and creating buffers that are now helping the country absorb Ditwah-related shocks, the focus on the reforms agenda more..

Feb 23 (CI) SL's batters could have taken better options, according to Vikram Rathour, after the hosts crashed to 95 all out against England, chasing 147. Rathour has been the side's batting consultant since January, but SL have been a modest T20 batting side for years now, falling short of the Super Eight in the last T20 World Cup, and having had to qualify for the two previous iterations. And still, in front of a full house in Pallekele, and with a relatively low total to chase, SL lost 5 wickets in the powerplay. more..

Feb 23 (AD) A 90-day detention order has been obtained to question the suspected gunman arrested in connection with the killing of a lawyer and his wife in Akuregoda, the Homagama Divisional Crime Investigation Bureau said. The detention order has been issued under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, enabling investigators to detain and interrogate the suspect for an extended period. The suspect was arrested in Delduwa, Ambalangoda by a team of officers yesterday, following more..

Feb 23 (CMC) Jannillea Glasgow’s brave effort with the bat fell just short for the second consecutive match, as Sri Lanka Women recorded a tense 14-run win over West Indies Women on Sunday, to clinch their One Day International series with a match remaining. Glasgow struck an even half century, her second of the series, but West Indies Women were dismissed for 194 in 48 overs in pursuit of SL’s total of 208 in 47.1 overs at the National Stadium. It gave the visitors more..

Feb 23 (ST) SL veteran badminton players won an impressive tally of 25 medals at the IMGA Open Masters Games Abu Dhabi 2026, pocketing nine each of gold and silver medals and an addition of seven bronze medals. SL shuttlers were among the top performers of the multi-sport event annually organised and conducted by the International Masters Games Association, where over 25000 athletes of above 30 years competed under 38 different sports disciplines during Feb 6 and more..

Feb 23 (CI) England have jumped to the top of Group 2 of the Super Eight with a dominant, Net Run Rate-boosting 51-run win over SL in Pallekele. In pursuit of what should have been a manageable target of 147, the hosts were snuffed out for 95 in an error-strewn innings that continued a grim 12-match losing streak to England, who lead Pakistan and NZ by a point after their washout on Saturday. Yet again, Will Jacks came to more..

Feb 23 (Island) The govt has introduced two Bills, namely, Rent (Repeal) Bill and Protection of Occupants Bill which – if enacted – will have the effect of radically reforming the rent laws of our country. These two Bills were gazetted in Sept 2025 and tabled in Parliament on 20th Jan. Although several petitions were filed before the Supreme Court, challenging the constitutionality of these Bills, Attorney-General informed the court that the two Bills would not be proceeded with more..

Feb 23 (ST) It is doubtful that anyone, including academics and politicians, emotionally calling upon Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake to issue a presidential pardon for the twelve accused sentenced to death for the brutal killing of a MP and his security officer in the thick of the aragalaya (peoples’ protest) in 2022, had actually taken the time, trouble and the energy to read the majority verdict of the Trial-at-Bar of the Gampaha High Court. No such considered scrutiny appears more..

Feb 23 (Island) The JVP-NPP govt is in overdrive trying to defend the indefensible. Its MPs and propagandists are all out to mislead the public into believing that the procurement of coal from a new company for the Norochcholai power plant has been free from malpractice. Theirs is a Sisyphean task. The Opposition has produced a recent report issued by the CEB to support its argument that the last eight shiploads of coal were low quality and have caused huge losses to the state coffers. more..

Feb 23 (CT) From the time the search for reconciliation began after the end of the war in 2009 and before the NPP’s victories at the presidential election and the parliamentary election in 2024, there have been four presidents and four gots who variously engaged with the task of reconciliation. From last to first, they were Ranil Wickremesinghe, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena and Mahinda Rajapaksa. They had nothing in common between them except they were all different more..

Feb 23 (CT) Thirty-eight years completed on 16 Feb since the assassination of Vijaya Kumaratunga — an actor adored by millions, a politician of growing influence, and a figure many regarded as a rare humanist in a time of brutality. Even today, questions linger. Who truly killed Vijaya? What was gained by silencing a man so widely loved? Among his admirers, another question still surfaces with quiet anguish: how could anyone more..

Feb 23 (CT) The call by the Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) for dedicated detention facilities for transgender individuals demands serious and measured consideration. Its Chairman, Attorney-at-Law Senaka Perera, has urged the authorities to establish distinct sections within prisons to accommodate transgender detainees, rather than defaulting to the conventional male or female wards. At present, most transgender individuals who are arrested are placed more..

Feb 23 (DM) Parliament has embarked on an ambitious reform of long-standing political privileges, sparking intense debate over fiscal responsibility, fairness, and the future of the public service. In recent months, lawmakers have moved to abolish both parliamentary pensions and state-funded entitlements for former presidents, measures aimed at curbing perceived excesses and reshaping political culture. Minister Harshana Nanayakkara presented Presidents’ Entitlements Bill, more..

Feb 23 (TM) “How a society treats its most vulnerable is always the measure of its humanity.” The words, spoken by former Ambassador of the UK Mission to the United Nations (UN) Matthew Rycroft at a 2015 Security Council debate on children and armed conflict, resonate far beyond the chambers of the UN. In Sri Lanka, they carry particular weight. Children remain among the most vulnerable in society, yet the systems designed to protect more..

Feb 23 (DM) Sri Lanka can no longer treat climate change as a distant issue discussed only at global conferences. It is unfolding before our eyes. From increased rainfall and stronger winds to deadly landslides and floods, the weather patterns we once relied on are changing rapidly. Lives are being lost. Homes are being destroyed. Yet as a country, we still seem to be reacting instead of preparing. In recent years up to 2026, Sri Lanka has experienced repeated natural disasters. more..

Feb 23 (TM) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s address at the recent AI summit in India, was both timely and ambitious. He spoke of a future shaped by artificial intelligence, digital innovation, and technological self-reliance. He emphasised that Sri Lanka must not remain on the margins of this transformation, but actively participate in shaping it. It was a speech that resonated with optimism, particularly for a country seeking renewed momentum after years of economic strain. more..

Feb 22 (ST) It was a good week for the govt on the international front, with high-level visitors calling on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, followed by his two-day visit to India to attend the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, where he rubbed shoulders with several prominent world leaders, including Indian PM Narendra Modi, French President Emmanuel Macron and Brazilian President Lula da Silva. more..

Feb 22 (TM) Several parties have voiced opposition to the CEB's proposal to increase electricity tariffs by 13.56% for the second quarter of 2026. Trade union representatives allege that the govt is attempting to recover losses linked to the coal procurement controversy through higher electricity charges. Members of the public have also expressed concern over a further tariff hike amid rising prices of essential goods. Under the quarterly tariff revision mechanism, CEB had earlier proposed more..

Feb 22 (DM) The ongoing trade union action launched by the GMOA entered its 12th day today, with the union claiming that the Health Ministry has still failed to provide concrete solutions to the issues raised. The GMOA, from time to time, decided to intensify its action, a move that is increasingly affecting hospital services and causing mounting inconvenience to patients who depend on the state health sector for treatment, medicines and medical advice. more..

Feb 22 (TM) Litro Gas Lanka Ltd. is working with the Ministry of Trade to establish an emergency mechanism to manage future Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) supply disruptions, alongside long-term plans to strengthen storage capacity. Litro Chairman Channa Gunawardana said that the current supplier, Swiss-based Geogas, was the only source even for the additional quantities required to stabilise the market. more..

Feb 22 (TM) Several parties have voiced opposition to CEB's proposal to increase electricity tariffs by 13.56% for the second quarter of 2026. Trade union representatives allege that the govt is attempting to recover losses linked to the coal procurement controversy through higher electricity charges. Members of the public have also expressed concern over a further tariff hike amid rising prices of essential goods. Under the quarterly tariff revision mechanism, CEB had earlier proposed more..

Feb 22 (TM) The CID does not expect an immediate response to its request for information from the University of Wolverhampton in the UK regarding a visit made by former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe during his tenure in office, it is learnt. Highly-placed sources within the CID told The Sunday Morning that a set of questions had been sent on 4 Feb via email and EMS Speed Post to the British university. The correspondence seeks clarification on whether the invitation extended to the then Prez more..

Feb 22 (TM) Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation, Anura Karunatilaka, revealed that the President is set to appoint an expert committee to ensure the proper implementation of the education reform process. The Minister made these remarks yesterday (20) during a programme held in Jaffna. The event, organized by the People’s Movement for Education Reforms, was part of a series of programmes aimed at raising public awareness about the proposed educational changes. more..

Feb 22 (DM) Despite assurances from the Health Ministry that medicines are available, medical associations say shortages of essential drugs continue to plague govt hospitals. Antibiotics, painkillers, and medications for chronic illnesses are reportedly either unavailable or critically low in stock, with some hospitals struggling to provide even basic life-saving treatments. Dr Chamal Sanjeewa, President of the Medical and Civil Rights Doctors' Trade Union Alliance, said more..

Feb 22 (ST) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, during talks with French Prez Emmanuel Macron in India, has sought his assistance to retain GSP+ trade concession after the facility lapses at the end of the year. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the AI summit in New Delhi and held bilateral talks. Mr Macron had assured that France would extend its fullest support for SL to retain the GSP+ facility and also pledged more..

Feb 22 (AD) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa stated that no individual has the right to insult Buddhism or any religious leaders. He made these remarks while attending the foundation stone-laying ceremony for a proposed Sanghavasa building, where monks reside and conduct religious teachings, at the Sri Vishuddharama Temple in Gamunupura, Tissamaharama. During his address, Premadasa claimed that the country’s entire temple system is currently facing neglect and more..

Feb 22 (CNBC) Prez Donald Trump on Friday evening said he signed an executive order imposing a new 10% global tariff, hours after the Supreme Court struck down his sweeping reciprocal import duties in a major rebuke of his trade agenda. The Section 122 tariffs will take effect almost immediately, Trump said in a Truth Social post. They come on top of the levies that remain intact following the high court’s decision, which invalidated the tariffs Trump had imposed using the IEEPA. more..

Feb 22 (NW) SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa has commenced his visit to the UK, paying homage at the London Buddhist Vihara and extending wishes as the temple marks its 100th anniversary this year. Rajapaksa also received blessings from members of the Maha Sangha during the visit, his team said. His office stated that the Cambridge Union had informed that his scheduled address there had been cancelled due to security concerns arising from planned protests against his visit. more..

Feb 22 (AD) One of the two gunmen involved in the recent shooting and killing of a lawyer and his wife at Akuregoda has been arrested by the police. The suspect, who is reportedly an army deserter, has been arrested in the Ambalangoda area. Police sources revealed that the arrested suspect is one of the two gunmen involved in the shooting and is believed to be the individual seen in CCTV footage opening fire using a T-56 assault rifle in the Akuregoda shooting. more..

Feb 22 (EN) After wildcat reciprocal tariffs, including on SL were struck down by the Supreme Court, Prez Donald Trump has threatened a 10% tax under a separate law or laws, some of which however require some processes to be followed, according to analysts. US Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 judgement that Trump did not have the authority to impose the ad hoc tariffs citing a national emergency under the IEEPA. more..

Feb 22 (TM) The Supreme Court has refused to grant leave to proceed with a Fundamental Rights (FR) application filed by the Telecommunication Engineers’ Union (TEU) of Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT). The union had alleged that SLT’s move to seek interim orders from the District Court of Colombo – preventing the union from engaging in a strike action against the sale of Govt-owned shares of SLT to private investors – amounted to a violation of their Fundamental Rights. more..

Feb 22 (Hindu) The longheld view that SL’s leftist JVP is antiIndia must change, accepting the shift in its stance over time, according to Tilvin Silva, general secretary of the party that leads SL’s ruling NPP coalition that rose to power in late 2024. Speaking to The Hindu following his recent visit to India — his first — Mr. Silva said he had “a very amicable and friendly discussion” with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in New Delhi, who “emphasised that India will be a friend and more..