Oct 27 (DM) The Chief Prelates of the Buddhist chapters have not so far made a request to the Government seeking the release of Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said today. He said the Govt would act in accordance with the existing law even if such a request were made, stressing that it had no intention of overriding a judicial decision. He said the Govt had amended the Prisons Dept’s Standing Orders following a letter sent by 4 Chief Prelates more..

Oct 27 (NW) Cabinet has approved the establishment of a National Wildlife Hazard Management Committee for Aviation Safety to minimise the risk of collisions between aircraft and wildlife in SL. The committee will serve as a national coordination mechanism for managing wildlife-related hazards in civil aviation, with representation from all relevant stakeholder institutions. The proposal was submitted by the Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation in line with SL’s obligations more..

Oct 27 (NW) Nearly 40% of SL’s annual fish production is lost due to post-harvest wastage, it was revealed during a discussion chaired by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Prez Secretariat today. SL’s annual fish production stands at approximately 400,000 metric tonnes, with a significant proportion lost after harvesting. The issue was highlighted during discussions on the 2027 Budget proposals of Ministry of Fisheries, more..

Oct 27 (NW) The impact of Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Arnab on weather conditions across SL is expected to gradually decrease from tomorrow, according to the Met Dept. In its latest weather forecast, the Dept said the cyclone was located approximately 800 kilometres northeast of Kankasanthurai at 11.30 a.m. today, over the west-central Bay of Bengal. The system, centred near latitude 16.2°N and longitude 83.7°E, is expected to cross Indian coast through Andhra Pradesh more..

Oct 27 (NW) Bar Association of SL (BASL) has expressed grave concern over the death of a 29-year-old suspect while in the custody of the Homagama Police, calling for an immediate, impartial and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. In a statement, the BASL identified the deceased as Ishara Harshakumara, a father of two from Kiriwaththuduwa, who had been arrested in connection with a drug-related investigation. more..

Oct 27 (AD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake visited the Anuradhapura Sacred City this afternoon (23) to inspect the progress of the proposed Sacred Area Development Project, which aims to improve infrastructure and visitor facilities while preserving the historic and religious significance of the ancient city. The project includes the renovation of access roads, improvements to facilities for devotees and more..

Oct 27 (AD) Litro Gas has increased its daily distribution to between 90,000 and 100,000 cylinders to address the ongoing gas shortage in SL, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. He said Litro Gas normally releases approximately 74,000 cylinders per day. However, the company has increased supplies by around 25% to meet rising demand amid supply issues affecting Laugfs Gas. He said the shortage of Laugfs Gas had affected the market since Sept, resulting in an increase in daily demand more..

Oct 27 (EN) Cabinet has approved a proposal to enter into an agreement with the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) to secure a US$ 60 million loan facility for Phase 2 of the Mahaweli Water Security Investment Program (MWSIP). The total estimated cost for Phase 2 of the program is US$ 536.5 million, which the govt plans to finance through co-financing arrangements with multiple development partners. ADB has already agreed to provide US$ 200 million toward the program. more..

Oct 27 (FT) The relationship between religion and the State in Sri Lanka is frequently examined through the constitutional recognition accorded to Buddhism under Article 9 and the general guarantee of religious freedom under Article 14. These provisions raise enduring questions about the relationship between the State’s special constitutional obligations towards Buddhism and the protection of religious freedom. These questions have recently assumed renewed public more..

Oct 27 (FT) Age and a frail heart keep me confined to my home, yet an alert mind keeps me voraciously curious. Two private TV channels—both epitomising the vulgarity of free-market capitalism—keep me updated on the Sangha mischief in our public square. Pensive in my armchair, far removed from the calibrated, boorish Bana at the Satyagraha sit-in at Viharamahadevi Park, my mind drifted into a desperate daydream. I closed my eyes and wondered: What if? What if the time warp more..

Oct 27 (FT) SL’s export sector posted its highest-ever monthly performance in Sept 2026, with total earnings surpassing $ 1.69 billion and reflecting a 17.23% year-on-year (YoY) growth driven by strong merchandise shipments, despite the challenges faced by the tensions in Middle East and its direct impact on overall costs. Merchandise exports shipped in September were up 21.66% YoY to over $ 1.38 billion, though estimated more..

Oct 27 (AD) More than 10,000 individuals have been affected by the prevailing rainy weather conditions across the country. 10,545 people belonging to 2,736 families across 57 DS divisions in 12 districts have been affected. 182 affected individuals are currently being accommodated at four safety centers. “Considering the districts, 10,545 people have been reported affected by the rainy conditions that began on Oct 23 in Ampara, Colombo, Gampaha, Jaffna, Kalutara, Kandy, more..

Oct 27 (DN) Heavy rainfall between 100 mm and 150 mm is expected across most provinces today and tomorrow as Cyclonic Storm Arnab intensifies in the Bay of Bengal, Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekara stated yesterday. He said there is no direct impact on SL, but the public should remain vigilant without being unnecessarily alarmed. Intermittent rain or thundershowers may occur in the Northern, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, North Western, Central & North Central Provinces more..

Oct 27 (TM) SL is bracing for several days of heavy rain, strong winds and possible flooding as Cyclone Arnab continues to intensify over the Bay of Bengal, even though the storm itself is not expected to directly affect the island, officials said yesterday. The cyclonic storm, which formed over the east-central and adjoining south-east Bay of Bengal yesterday, approximately 1,100 km north-east of Kankesanthurai, after moving more..

Oct 27 (DM) Indian Minister of Culture has shared a special message from Ven. Borelle Seeladassana of Sri Lanka’s Sihanada Int'l Meditation Community, praising PM Narendra Modi’s leadership and India’s efforts to preserve and promote Buddhism worldwide. In a post on X marking Abhidhamma Day, minister highlighted the monk’s message appreciating India’s initiatives to strengthen the global Buddhist community through spiritual diplomacy, sharing of sacred Buddha relics more..

Oct 27 (DN) Sri Lanka’s rising table tennis star, Taavi Samaraweera, has continued his superb form to secure yet another gold medal on the international stage, triumphing at the WTT Youth Contender tournament held in Lignano, Italy, from October 21 to 24. The 11-year-old S. Thomas Mt Lavinia paddler produced an outstanding performance in the Under-11 Boys’ Singles final, defeating his opponent Chang Shang from Hong Kong, China, in a convincing 3–0 victory to claim the gold medal. more..

Oct 27 (FT) A bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justices Mahinda Samayawardhena, Dr. Sobhitha Rajakaruna, and K.M.G.H. Kulatunga delivered judgement overturning an order of the Commercial High Court on 21 October, by which the Commercial High Court had dismissed an action at the pre-trial stage on the basis that there was insufficient evidence to establish the claim to satisfy the minimum monetary threshold of the Commercial High Court to hear a case. more..

Oct 27 (FT) The Organisation of Professional Associations of SL (OPA) presented its proposals and recommendations for the Budget 2027 to Treasury Secretary Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma at a meeting held on 6 Oct. Proposals represent the collective voice and professional expertise of the OPA’s 52 member associations, bringing together knowledge and perspectives from across SL’s professional community. Initiative was undertaken through National Issues Committee (NIC), more..

Oct 27 (Island) A special investigation has been ordered to identify officials allegedly responsible for deliberately delaying the submission of documents required to secure Japanese assistance to arrest and extradite alleged organised crime figure and drug trafficker Prashith Dinuka, alias Dippitigoda Lahiru (31). Lahiru, who operated from Dubai, moved to Japan, while SL drug trafficker Chaminda Dilruk, alias Parevi Suda, who allegedly more..

Oct 27 (NW) ACMC leader Rishad Bathiudeen has expressed disappointment over the recent political direction of the SJB, warning Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa against abandoning the principles on which their political alliance was built. “We are not slaves of the SJB. The SJB is a political party, and we are partners in that alliance,” Bathiudeen said. He said his party had worked tirelessly to support Premadasa during two prez elections, with supporters spending millions of rupees and more..

Oct 27 (FT) Nepalese business leader and investor Binod Chaudhary is looking to further expand his investment footprint in Sri Lanka, building on his group’s existing interests in the country, including its investment in Union Bank and its presence in the hospitality sector. Chaudhary, Chairman of the Chaudhary Group, has indicated continued confidence in Sri Lanka’s long-term economic potential and is exploring opportunities to increase investments across key sectors, with more..

Oct 27 (DM) Jetstar has captured nearly a fifth of Australia’s tourist traffic to Sri Lanka in its first full month on the Melbourne-Colombo route, absorbing the bulk of the market’s growth while SriLankan Airlines, despite adding flights, carried roughly the same number of Australian tourists, as per SLTDA data. Airlines outside SLTDA’s list of named carriers accounted for 18.78% of the 10,951 Australian tourists who arrived in September, up from just 0.92% in July. more..

Oct 27 (FT) Japan has pledged over Rs. 600 million for a five-year project to monitor and improve water quality in the Kelani River basin, with the first consignment of water testing equipment handed over to Environment Minister Dr. Dammika Patabendi yesterday. Implemented through the JICA and JST under the SATREPS program, the 2026-2030 project will set up a basin-wide monitoring network and an aquatic environment data platform to collect and analyse water quality information, more..

Oct 27 (ST) More than 85 govt websites and applications in Sri Lanka are running PHP versions affected by the PHP2Shell vulnerabilities, with GovTech saying 40 had been patched by yesterday (24). PHP is a computer language used to create websites and applications. The security flaws affect PHP versions released over more than 10 years. Security researchers at Wiz and Calif used artificial intelligence tools to help more..

Oct 27 (Island) Sri Lanka must turn its strategic position in the Indian Ocean into economic freedom, investment opportunities and greater diplomatic influence while safeguarding its sovereignty, Professor Patrick Mendis said following a conference in Stockholm. SL-born American scholar-diplomat said the Mahaweli Doctrine offered a framework for navigating intensifying major-power competition while ensuring international partnerships strengthened SL’s ability to determine more..

Oct 27 (TM) Govt is adopting a three-month-ahead forecasting approach to respond to ongoing global uncertainty and energy price shocks, with the aim of maintaining its growth trajectory and export orientation, Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe said. “Basically we will have to keep a watch. So now as a Govt what we are doing is forecasting three months ahead and trying to ensure that we won’t drop our ball on growth trajectory that we are in and also our export orientation” more..

Oct 27 (ST) At least two investigations are ongoing into a possible serious cybersecurity breach at SriLankan Airlines earlier this year and why the incident wasn’t immediately reported to Civil Aviation Authority (CAASL), Deputy Minister Janith Kodituwakku said. MP Dayasiri Jayasekera claimed that the airline’s software and email systems had been compromised and that the hackers had posted a responsibility claim more..

Oct 27 (FT) Bank of Ceylon (BOC), SL’s leading state-owned commercial bank, is set to create another milestone in the country’s capital market with the launch of SL’s largest-ever listed debenture issue, with a maximum issue size of Rs. 30 billion. The bank proposes to initially raise Rs. 10 billion, with an option to increase the issue to Rs. 20 billion in the event of an oversubscription of the initial tranche and a further option to increase the total issue size up to Rs. 30 billion, more..

Oct 27 (CI) Tuesday's face-off between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Lahore is a rare occurrence: it is not often that two sides so defined by chaos and inconsistency peak simultaneously - at least not in a positive direction - and yet, following their respective fate-defying triumphs over England, a genuinely intriguing encounter packed with subplots is upon us. SL arrive in Lahore - home to their finest night ever - hoping to perhaps summon the spirit that evening in 1996 to build on Thursday's more..

Oct 27 (DN) Pakistan U-17 cricket team continued their all-round performance when they recorded a 27-run win in the fifth One-Day match against Sri Lanka U-17 to take the five-match 50-over series 4-1 at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Saturday. Pakistan’s Mohammad Yousaf continued his batting form in the series with his second century which propelled the hosts to 283-7 in 50 overs. In reply, SL U-17 finished with 256-7 in their 50 overs after struggling at 141- for 6 wickets. more..

Oct 27 (FT) Sumathi Holdings marked its 70th anniversary on 9 October, with a celebration at the Sangam Ballroom of ITC Ratnadipa, Colombo, attended by over 500 guests from Sri Lanka’s business, govt, financial and media communities. Held under the theme 70 Years of Sumathi Legacy, the evening looked back to 1956, when founder Mr. U.W. Sumathipala opened Sporting Star’s first betting shop on Maliban Street, Pettah – the business from which the Group grew. more..