Sep 10 (AD) The proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution is scheduled to be taken up for debate in Parliament on Sept 24, following a decision by the Committee on Parliamentary Business. The Committee, which met today (10) at the Parliamentary Complex, decided to allocate parliamentary time during the next Parliamentary week to debate the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill and Judicature (Amd) Bill. more..

Sep 10 (DM) Former Commander of the SL Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetileke, arrived at the FCID this morning. His appearance follows a notice instructing him to present himself before the division at 9:30 AM today. The former Air Force Commander was summoned to record a statement in connection with the ongoing investigations into the controversial MiG aircraft transaction. Meanwhile, former royal astrologer Sumanadasa Abeygunawardena arrived at more..

Sep 10 (DM) The commission paid to the buyer is included in the price of an aircraft, and an aircraft purchase transaction could become null and void if the buyer refuses to accept the commission, former Airport and Aviation Services Company Limited (AASL) Board Director Professor Sonal Fernando said. He said the commission offered by the company selling an aircraft must therefore be accepted by the buyer. He said aircraft could be purchased directly from the manufacturer, more..

Sep 10 (DM) Supreme Court today ruled that former President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to grant a presidential pardon to BBS General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Atte Gnanasara Thera was arbitrary and invalid in law. A 3-judge bench of the SC, headed by Justice Janak De Silva, delivered the judgment in response to fundamental rights petitions filed by the CPA and Sandhya Ekneligoda, wife of missing journalist more..

Sep 10 (NW) Colombo High Court today filed indictments against former Minister Duminda Dissanayake and another woman in connection with the discovery of a gold‑plated firearm. Following the serving of indictments, High Court Judge ordered that both accused be released on bail. Court records show that indictments had also been filed on Sept 9 against Dissanayake and the same co‑accused, with bail granted on both occasions. Case stems from the discovery of a gold‑plated T‑56 assault rifle more..

Sep 10 (NW) SL’s urban transport modernization drive took another step forward yesterday with the opening of the third Metro Bus depot at Ja‑Ela, Ekala. The new facility, built to support the Metro Bus service aimed at improving efficiency in public transport, was inaugurated under the leadership of Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways Prasanna Gunasena, with the participation of Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance & Planning Anil Jayantha. more..

Sep 10 (FT) This piece is written in agreement with, and as a complement to, Dr. W.A. Wijewardena's article on the emerging El Niño threat, published in the Daily FT on Monday. Where his warning centres on the macroeconomic exposure — the foreign exchange drain, hydropower shortfalls, and food-import risk that a coming El Niño cycle could trigger — this piece looks upstream, at the physical watershed degradation that makes each of those shocks worse than it needs to be. more..

Sep 10 (FT) Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh landed in Colombo earlier this week for a three-day official visit, the first by an Indian Defence Minister in 38 years. The last such call was by K. C. Pant in 1988. That long silence itself tells a story. For nearly four decades, defence business between the two neighbours was handled by service chiefs, training colleges and quiet staff talks. New Delhi has now chosen to put a political minister at the centre of the relationship, and to do so more..

Sep 10 (FT) Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has pledged that India would stand firmly with SL whenever the island nation faces a crisis, as he began his maiden visit to the country with an interaction with the Indian diaspora in Colombo on Tuesday. Singh, who is on a three-day official visit to SL, said the two countries shared close cultural and civilisational ties that provided a strong foundation for continued development of bilateral more..

Sep 10 (NW) Wildlife officials and other government authorities are carrying out an ongoing operation to provide water to wild animals affected by the prevailing severe drought. Water is being transported by bowsers to fill dried-up ponds and waterholes in the Buddhangala and Gal Oya Valley North-East, also known as the Ampara Sanctuary, in the Ampara District. Authorities said many natural water sources in the area have dried up due to the prolonged dry conditions, creating difficulties more..

Sep 10 (Island) Jaffna District independent MP Ramanathan Aarchuna was given a final warning in Parliament yesterday and told that he would be expelled from the House if he continued to engage in unruly conduct and disrupt proceedings. Deputy Chairperson of Committees Hemali Weerasekera issued the warning after Aarchuna repeatedly interrupted NPP MP Najith Indika, who was speaking during a debate. Indika accused Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and several other more..

Sep 10 (DN) It has been revealed at the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry (SPCoI) investigating allegations of fraud and corruption in coal transactions and power generation that the State incurred a loss of US$ 1,575,630 in the purchase of coal for the Norochcholai Lakvijaya Power Plant during 2015-2016, when President’s Counsel Maithri Gunaratne served as Chairman of the Lanka Coal Company. more..

Sep 10 (DM) World Health Organization (WHO) has presented a special official citation to Sri Lanka in recognition of two significant achievements in the country’s public health sector—sustaining malaria-free status and the elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus for 10 consecutive years. The citation was presented by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa during the 79th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for more..

Sep 10 (Island) Indian High Commissioner in Colombo Santosh Jha has said that security and defence were significant aspects in the Indo-Lanka partnership. Speaking to ANI in Colombo in the wake of Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit, Jha said: “If you look at the last 2-3 years, the engagement between India and SL has acquired a new intensity. There is a regular exchange of ministerial-level visits from India to SL and from SL to India. We need to see this as part of that. more..

Sep 10 (NW) SL technology entrepreneur Sanjiva Weerawarna has raised questions over a Rs. 173.86 million consultancy contract approved by the Cabinet for an ADB-funded tourism development programme. Weerawarna described aspects of the consultancy arrangement as fishy and called on senior govt figures to look into the matter. Cabinet has approved the consultancy contract for the Sustainable Tourism Sector Development Programme, which is being implemented more..

Sep 10 (Island) Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) yesterday urged the govt to disclose the three agreements signed with India on defence matters. Top FSP spokesman Pubudu Jayagoda, of the breakaway JVP group, said that the seven MoUs signed in early April 2025 when Indian PM Narendra Modi visited Colombo hadn’t been presented to Parliament yet. “We have to examine the latest agreements against that background,” Jayagoda said. Jayagoda pointed out that more..

Sep 10 (TM) Sri Lanka must consider its other options before moving towards an IMF Standing-By Agreement (SBA), with the end of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) closing in on March of 2027; as entering into one would coincide with the SL’s Eurobond repayments starting in 2028, International Finance Corporation Country Manager Gregory Smith said, speaking at an event organised by DFCC recently. more..

Sep 10 (FT) EDOTCO Services Lanka Ltd, has signed a $ 10 million investment agreement with the Board of Investment of SL (BOI) to accelerate the expansion of the country’s shared digital infrastructure. Coinciding with its 10th anniversary in the country, the company said the investment reflects EDOTCO’s continued confidence in SL’s long-term growth and digital future. Over the next 30 months, EDOTCO will deploy 130 macro towers, 300 multi-purpose smart lamp poles, and more..

Sep 10 (DN) Sri Lanka has made a remarkable start to the 2026 FISU World University Weightlifting Championships in Doha, Qatar, with Avindu Liyanagedara of the Uni of Sri J'pura winning gold in the men’s 60kg category and Nipun Dissanayake of Sabaragamuwa Uni claiming bronze in the men’s 65kg category. The medals mark a historic milestone for Sri Lanka, as they are believed to be the country’s first at the World University Championships or Games in their more than 60-year history. more..

Sep 10 (DM) Officials say investments secured by the development have surpassed US$ 2bn, with the figure targeted to exceed US$ 4bn in the coming years. Opportunities pitched to UAE businesses spanned real estate development, financial services, regional headquarters and business continuity operations. UAE Minister of Foreign Trade says from immediate reconstruction needs to the immense potential of its logistics, technology, and tourism sectors, SL stands out as one of the most more..

Sep 10 (TM) Govt is exploring alternative ways to develop and utilise the long-idle Oluvil Port on the Southeastern coast of SL, with about Rs 57 million being allocated annually for coastal protection and maintenance linked to the facility, to bring the Port back into productive use and unlock the economic value, Minister Anura Karunathilaka said in Parliament on Tuesday. Karunathilake said: “Govt is exploring the best alternative use of the long-idle Oluvil Port to operationalise more..

Sep 10 (FT) Sri Lanka yesterday invited investors, businesses, and institutions within the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to explore the opportunity that Sri Lanka offers. The invitation was extended by Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe during his remarks at the inauguration of the two-day Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong, China under the theme Advancing High Quality Development, Embarking on a New Journey. more..

Sep 10 (FT) Sri Lanka is targeting a sharp expansion in the economic contribution of its maritime sector, with the Govt seeking to increase it from around 2.5% of GDP currently to between 5% and 10%, Minister Anura Karunathilaka said. Addressing the Colombo Int'l Maritime and Logistics Conference held alongside the 15th anniversary of the Shippers’ Academy yesterday Minister said the Govt recognised the sector’s significant untapped potential and was determined to more..

Sep 10 (TM) The United States has approved $ 15 million in financial assistance for the development of digital infrastructure at the Port of Colombo, according to US Federal Maritime Commission Chairperson Laura DiBella. DiBella said the funding has received approval from the US State Department and is expected to be officially announced once congressional approval is secured in the coming weeks. The announcement came during a meeting between a US delegation more..

Sep 10 (FT) Sri Lanka is overbanked relative to regional peers and should brace for consolidation, 3A Ventures International Partner and Director – Asia Cyrus Daruwala told delegates at The CIO Confluence 2026: Beyond Digital – The Intelligent Banking Era. Daruwala is a senior financial services leader with more than 25 years’ experience across banking, insurance, and capital markets, including in the Middle East. “SL is overbanked,” he said, more..

Sep 10 (FT) SL and Thailand have agreed to establish a formal framework for bilateral cooperation on labour migration, including an agreement to facilitate the employment of SL workers in Thailand. The Cabinet of Ministers approved the signing of a MoU on Labour Cooperation between the two countries, together with a supplementary agreement governing the employment of SL workers in Thailand. Minister Vijitha Herath said he would travel to Thailand more..

Sep 10 (FT) US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Chairperson Laura DiBella yesterday said SL must urgently seize its current window of opportunity to expand Colombo’s maritime and logistics hub by strengthening competition, reducing investment risks, and allowing businesses to take the lead. Addressing the 8th edition of the Colombo Int'l Maritime and Logistics Conference, she said the strategic importance of Colombo was growing as a significant transshipment point for US cargo more..

Sep 10 (DN) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake sought India’s fullest co-operation in the govt’s effort to combat the illicit drug menace when he met visiting Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday. President briefed the visiting Indian Defence Minister on the national programme recently launched by Sri Lanka to combat drug trafficking. He stated that, as the Indian Ocean has become a hub for drug trafficking, SL expects India’s fullest support in its efforts more..

Sep 10 (FT) George Steuart & Company’s Annual Founder’s Day Service was held on 14 Aug at St. Peter’s Church, Colombo Fort, marking the 191st year of SL’s oldest mercantile establishment. The Church’s association with George Steuart & Company dates back to its founding years, with Captain James Steuart and George Steuart, together with their families, maintaining close ties with the Church. Commemorative plaques honouring their families remain displayed within more..

Sep 10 (CI) Sri Lankan cricket is all too familiar with uncertainty brought about by selection committee shake-ups. And there were a few worrying signs during the first five months of SLC's new selection committee, which was appointed in May. Some notable decisions were the Test recall of Niroshan Dickwella, and the u-turn of Charith Asalanka being dropped from the T20 side before being recalled as vice-captain, and more..

Sep 10 (Island) A small fish that vanished from SL’s scientific records for nearly 90 years has resurfaced in the waters of Jaffna, providing researchers with a remarkable rediscovery and fresh evidence that the Northern Province still holds significant, unexplored aquatic biodiversity. The Yellow-stripe Goby, Mugilogobius chulae (Smith, 1932), was recently found in the Karainagar area of Karaitivu Island during a biodiversity survey, almost nine decades after it was last scientifically more..

Sep 10 (Island) SL politicians are notorious for carrying out personal attacks instead of countering arguments. So, the JVP-NPP govt’s attack on the Commonwealth Lawyers’ Association (CLA) in Parliament on Tuesday came as no surprise. The CLA, whose President Steven Thiru attended the recent Supreme Court (SC) hearing of petitions against the 22nd constitutional amendment (22A) bill, as an observer, has raised concern over several key issues, such as the rejection of a request more..