Sep 15 (DM) Cabinet approval has been granted to award the contract for providing global network infrastructure services to SriLankan Airlines Limited to SITA Switzerland SARL for a period of five years. The contract will cover the period from Oct 1, 2026 to Sept 30, 2031, and is intended to provide a secure, resilient and efficient global network infrastructure platform for the airline's critical operations. The network is required to interconnect key systems involved in air travel, more..

Sep 15 (EN) UNDP in SL has handed over 17 critical equipment to strengthen DNA laboratory of the Govt Analyst Dept to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the laboratory where evidence relating to SGBV and other crimes are concerned. Equipment includes an RT PCR machine, PCR system and Crime Lite Serology Kit. This initiative was a part of UNDP’s Ensuring Justice for Victim Survivors of SGBV in SL project funded by Govt of Canada and jointly implemented by UNFPA more..

Sep 15 (DM) GMOA has called for transport facilities or a special transport allowance for specialist doctors serving in remote areas, arguing that failing to provide such benefits amounts to an injustice. The demand is likely to trigger debate over whether additional privileges should be granted to already highly paid public-sector professionals, with the GMOA insisting that the issue is not about personal perks but about retaining specialist doctors more..

Sep 15 (NW) Cabinet has approved a proposal by the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs to declare 25 Sept to 1 Oct 2026 as National Children’s Week – 2026, coinciding with the annual Children’s Day celebrations on Oct 1. The initiative aims to strengthen social attention on children’s rights, education, health, and well‑being, while addressing the evolving challenges faced by children today. Officials noted that risks now extend beyond traditional child protection concerns to more..

Sep 15 (AD) Cabinet has approved the allocation of an additional Rs. 2.5 billion to the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) to purchase paddy harvested during the 2026 Yala season. The funds will be provided from the additional Rs. 7.5 billion allocated to Ministry of Agriculture to implement an accelerated paddy purchasing programme for the 2026 Yala season Cabinet approval was granted to a proposal submitted by Minister of Agriculture to provide Rs. 2.5 billion to PMB on a reimbursement basis. more..

Sep 15 (FT) For nearly a decade, the Hingurana Sugar Factory in Ampara stood as a monument to lost potential. Built in 1959 as a state-run enterprise and privatised in 1991, the factory drifted through years of underinvestment before the govt shut its doors in 1997. For the thousands of sugarcane farming families in the Gal Oya region who depended on it as their only buyer, the closure was the collapse of a livelihood. more..

Sep 15 (NW) Cabinet has approved a proposal to designate Prime Melwa (Pvt) Ltd as a primary enterprise of strategic importance under the provisions of Section 53 of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act No. 11 of 2021. The company is set to invest USD 112.2 mil (Rs. 15.95 bil) in a Landmark Mixed‑Use Waterfront Project within Colombo Port City. The development, which combines commercial, residential, and recreational facilities, is expected to generate around more..

Sep 15 (FT) I too, was about to succumb to the disease of forgetting. Fortunately, someone challenged a claim in a Facebook repost criticising the Govt’s sluggish response to the Ditwah displaced. So, I looked for official data to see if things have changed since 3 March 2026 when I wrote about housing for the Ditwah displaced. First thing I noticed was that the Govt had ceased to publish Ditwah-related situation reports after 17 April. Even international Govt organisations more..

Sep 15 (FT) I am in solidarity with the concerns of the legal profession about ensuring the independence of the judiciary. I am simultaneously in solidarity with the simple, less than privileged citizens of our country, whether from the village, town or city, who have endured years of laws delays in land, family and marital disputes, in enterprise related issues or in criminal cases. Thus, I enter this debate neither to defend nor to critique the legal profession, the Judiciary or the Govt, but more..

Sep 15 (NW) The Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena today issued a notice to the Director of Colombo National Hospital to appear in court on 22 Sept and explain the failure to submit medical reports concerning former State Intelligence Service Director Suresh Sallay. The order was made after Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris, appearing for the CID, requested the court to take action over the non‑submission of the reports. The reports were expected to clarify whether more..

Sep 15 (EN) Sri Lanka is considering all options in its fuel price review after private fuel retailers complained of a loss of up to Rs.160 per liter of diesel, Minister Anura Karunathilaka said. His comment comes amid a demand for diesel from private fuel retailers with some pumps have gone empty. Minister said some private retailers having said they incur a loss of Rs.160 per liter of diesel and they are unable to continue in the same manner. more..

Sep 15 (Island) The Sri Lanka Navy recovered its Fast Attack Craft P 4447 following a successful salvage operation, bringing a multi-stage emergency response to a close. The craft sank during a routine patrol, on 15 August 2026, off Angulana, after colliding with a previously sunken bulk carrier. It was brought to the surface on 11 September from a depth of approximately 80 feet. It was subsequently towed to the Colombo Dockyard premises. The initial phase of the operation, more..

Sep 15 (NW) People leaving institutional care will receive housing assistance of up to Rs. 2 million under a govt programme aimed at helping them establish permanent and secure homes after entering society, Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj said. The first phase of the Diviyata Saviyak housing assistance programme will be launched on Sept. 17 at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Paulraj announced the programme on Monday (14) more..

Sep 15 (ST) Europe’s Airbus company provided material evidence to SL’s investigators showing that Hambantota MP Namal Rajapaksa, son of the then Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa, communicated directly with Airbus in the 2013 procurement of 10 aircraft for SriLankan Airlines, state prosecutors claim. Corroborating documentation provided by Police includes an email from Airbus dated March 23, 2013, more..

Sep 15 (Island) The absence of Agriculture Minister Lal Kantha and his Deputy Namal Karunaratne at the NPP’s farmers’ rally at Polonnaruwa, on Saturday revealed the govt’s failure to address the problems faced by the farming community, the SLPP says. Former SLPP MP Sanjeewa Edirimanna said that politburo member Lal Kantha, who represented the NPP’s highest decision-making body, and his Deputy, Karunaratne, couldn’t face the farmers, and hence their absence at Saturday’s rally. more..

Sep 15 (FT) Former Ambassador Mahinda Samarasinghe called for an early conclusion of the bilateral agreement with the US on the new tariff regime so as to safeguard the former’s interests in terms of crucial exports and future investments. Delivering the keynote at the SL Institute of Directors (SLID) Annual Members Meeting at the Cinnamon Grand, Samarasinghe who was SL’s envoy to the US, said that the US accounts for 25% of exports and protecting it was of vital importance. more..

Sep 15 (AD) Police have uncovered several new details surrounding the hand grenade attack on a house in Dehiwala that claimed the lives of two innocent children. Investigators suspect the attack was linked to a dispute between factions associated with organized criminals Badowita Asanka and Kudu Avishka. Police have obtained telephone data belonging to the suspect who hurled the grenade and driver of the three-wheeler used in the attack. CCTV footage has also been recovered, more..

Sep 15 (DM) A complaint has been lodged with the CID over the alleged promotion of the LTTE at the SLPP rally held in A'pura. Police Spokesman ASP F.U. Wootler confirmed today that the complaint was lodged by a group of civil society members named joint opposition following allegations that statements made during the rally amounted to promoting or supporting the LTTE, which remains a proscribed organisation in Sri Lanka. On Sunday, the opposition had raised concerns over remarks more..

Sep 15 (TM) Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees’ Trust Fund (ETF) should not be merged despite shortcomings in their administration, as the two Funds serve different purposes, National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) member Anton Marcus said. He said that while reforms such as requiring the Central Bank to submit a performance report on the EPF and ETF to the NLAC once every three months could more..

Sep 15 (NW) Court of Appeal has appointed a three-judge bench to consider a complaint against former ministers Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila, MP Dilith Jayaweera and three others over alleged contempt of court. The complaint, submitted to the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court by the CID, relates to statements allegedly made during protests against the arrest of former State Intelligence Service Director Suresh Sallay in connection with investigations into more..

Sep 15 (NW) Tamil political groups and activists staged protests over the weekend, accusing Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s govt of failing to fulfil commitments made to the Tamil community two years after taking office. The protests coincided with events marking two years since the President’s 2024 election victory. Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA) held a one-day fast near the Chavakachcheri bus terminal on Saturday, highlighting demands including the release of more..

Sep 15 (DN) SL’s javelin champion Rumesh Tharanga continued his remarkable international medal hunt by winning the men’s javelin throw at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary on Sunday, overcoming a field of several world’s leading throwers of this event. The pre-competition favourite Rumesh got off to an inauspicious start in Budapest, though, opening with 75.89m. European champion Julian Weber impressed with his first throw which landed comfortably beyond more..

Sep 15 (FT) Sri Lanka and Germany last week identified practical avenues for cooperation with regard to maritime and logistics. This was at the sector-focused briefing titled Positioning Sri Lanka as a Competitive Maritime, Logistics and Export Hub: Opportunities for German–Sri Lankan Business Cooperation convened by the Foreign Affairs Ministry in association with the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) in Colombo. more..

Sep 15 (FT) SL Retailers’ Association (SLRA), in partnership with the CCC, last week successfully concluded the Sri Lanka Retail Forum 2026 under the theme Retail Without Boundaries: Building the Next Growth Engine, bringing together retailers, business leaders and industry experts to explore the changes shaping SL’s retail sector and its next phase of growth. Speaking at the event, SL Retailers’ Association (SLRA) President more..

Sep 15 (Island) Heartbreak of the T-20 World Cup earlier this year is still fresh. SL failed to reach the semi-finals despite enjoying home advantage throughout the tournament, with their batting proving the Achilles heel. Those concerns have hardly disappeared as they head into a three-match T-20 series against England, beginning today in Southampton. Batting misfired in both warm-up games against England Lions and how SL respond when real business begins remains to be more..

Sep 15 (FT) The Gem Sri Lanka 2027 was unveiled in Bangkok on 6 Sept, bringing together key stakeholders to promote SL’s gem and jewellery industry ahead of its fourth edition in Jan 2027. The launch was organised by the Ceylon Gem and Jewellery Traders Association (CGJTA). The event was attended by the Chief Guest, Minister Sunil Handunnetti, who delivered the keynote address. He highlighted the importance of value addition, innovation and international collaboration more..

Sep 15 (TM) National Olympic Committee of SL (NOCSL) Chair Asanga Seneviratne, in a scathing attack on officials of certain domestic sports federations, said it has become embarrassing to sit on behalf of the country at top global sporting events anymore. He charged that to be physically present at high-profile events such as Commonwealth Games and Asian Games on behalf of SL has become a degrading experience, for want of local more..

Sep 15 (FT) The Institution of Engineers, SL, will hold the National Engineering Conference 2026 on 24 Sept from 3 p.m. at Cinnamon Grand Colombo. The conference will bring together policymakers, senior govt officials, engineers, academics, industry leaders, investors and development partners to discuss practical solutions for several important national challenges. NEC 2026 is designed as more than a professional conference. IESL will present four policy papers prepared by more..

Sep 15 (FT) Hayleys Solar marked a major milestone in its renewable energy journey with the opening of its 3MW Veyangoda Ground-Mounted Solar Project, with Energy Minister Anura Karunathilake gracing the occasion. The project marks the first of Hayleys Solar’s planned 300MW portfolio of ground-mounted solar power projects across Sri Lanka, further strengthening its commitment to expanding large-scale renewable energy solutions. Hayleys Solar is part of more..

Sep 15 (FT) SL Economic and Investment Summit 2026, organised by The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce on 12-13 Oct will host a session titled Linking SL to Asia’s Growth Networks: Trade, Corridors, and Value Chains. The session will form part of the second day of SLEIS 2026, held under the theme Positioning Sri Lanka in a Changing Global Economy: Resilience, Reform, and the Future of Economic Policy. It will examine the opportunities for SL to deepen its integration with more..

Sep 15 (FT) Can AI bring the joy and imagination that a book gives? Can it provide the warmth of a conversation that brings soul-to-soul connection? Can it inspire a love of reading and, most importantly, can it give us the smell of a new book? These questions were among those raised at the recently held Readers’ Summit 2026, organised by Pick a Book under the theme Human edge begins with reading, which brought writers, leading entrepreneurs, readers & publishers together. more..