Jan 23 (TM) SL will formally initiate discussions with neighbouring countries within this year to address the growing challenge of seasonal transboundary air pollution, Environment Minister Dammika Patabendi said. He emphasised that regional cooperation was the only viable pathway to managing a problem that lay largely beyond the country’s borders. Minister’s comments come amid renewed public concern over recent dips in more..

Jan 23 (DN) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake received a rousing welcome in Jaffna during his visit, which coincided with Thai Pongal celebrations. His visit and the cheerful welcome he received from people in the North carry greater symbolic meaning. In national politics, long polarised along ethnic lines, such a reception for a visiting Head of State elected with majority votes from the majority community is an achievement in healing past wounds and bringing about reconciliation among more..

Jan 23 (DM) Bar Association of SL has strongly emphasised that it is the duty of the govt and law enforcement agencies to ensure that there is no unwarranted interference with the exercise of the powers of the Attorney General. A wave of social media attacks has targeted Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe. Silent protests were held in Jan 2026 outside courts and the AG's Dept, with some groups demanding his removal, alleging corruption and bias in legal decisions. more..

Jan 23 (CT) In the bustling heart of Colombo, amidst the constant noise of traffic and daily scurry, there exists a sanctuary that has stood the test of time. It is a place where the frenetic pace of the city falls away, replaced by the rustle of pages and the quiet contemplation of knowledge. As you enter, the calmness of the landscape with its water fountains and flowering trees immediately detaches you from the urban chaos outside. more..

Jan 23 (CT) Is the Sara Jasmine Narrative a Red Herring? Six years after the devastating Easter Sunday terrorist attacks of 21 April 2019, Sri Lanka continues to grapple not only with unanswered questions but also with growing public frustration over unfulfilled promises of closure. On that tragic morning, coordinated suicide bombings ripped through three churches—Katuwapitiya, Kochchikade, and Batticaloa—and three leading hotels in Colombo, claiming 267 lives and more..

Jan 23 (CT) According to the CEB officials, 1 Feb could be a crucial day on which chaos could potentially erupt as uncertainty over the gazetting of new electricity reforms coincides with the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) deadline. Govt is tentatively set to gazette the new Electricity Act of 1 Feb and several CEB trade unions have already warned that they will oppose the reforms, on the same day, citing unresolved issues related to collective agreements, human resources more..

Jan 22 (NW) Former minister Wimal Weerawansa has made a controversial disclosure concerning the death of former politician Nandana Gunathilaka, revealing details of a letter Gunathilaka had shared before his passing. Addressing the media at Gunathilaka’s funeral, Weerawansa said the late politician had shown him a letter sent to an international organisation, outlining what action should be taken in relation to it. He added that Gunathilaka had also sent him a WhatsApp more..

Jan 22 (AD) Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara, stated that no discussion regarding the removal of the Attorney General took place during the Cabinet meeting. The Minister made this statement while speaking to the media following a discussion held at the Vavuniya District Secretariat today. Minister Nanayakkara said that despite various reports circulating on social media, no such Cabinet discussion has taken place regarding the removal of the Attorney General. more..

Jan 22 (CT) A blue-shining stone found within a large rock boulder that came down during a landslide caused by Cyclone Ditwah in Galaha, Kandy, has been identified as a low-value semi-precious mineral, labradorite, officials confirmed. The boulder was discovered along a river adjacent to the Sri Muthumari Amman Hindu Kovil premises in the Deltota Estate area of Galaha. Following public interest and reports of a more..

Jan 22 (AD) Venerable Ulapane Sumangala Thero, President of the Association of Educational Professionals, has arrived at the CID this morning to provide a statement regarding the Grade 6 English language module issue. The CID has recorded Ven. Sumangala Thero’s statement for nearly two hours. Speaking to the media afterwards, Ven. Ulapane Sumangala Thero alleged that a conspiracy had been deliberately hatched to jeopardize the future of children. more..

Jan 22 (DM) In what appeared to be a wake-up call for the improvement of the business environment in SL, Turkish Ambassador Semih Turgut said that SL’s investment climate is difficult and bureaucracy is complex. At a roundtable discussion organized by Pathfinder Foundation, the Ambassador briefed the Turkish foreign policy and took questions from the participants including media representatives, diplomats & academics. Asked about his assessment of the investment climate, more..

Jan 22 (FT) Minister Nalinda Jayatissa clarified that while a Chinese national is among the shareholders of the proposed Ambuluwawa cable car project, no Chinese company pulled out of the venture, amid growing public debate and scrutiny over the development. He said the Govt had taken note of public concerns surrounding the project, but cautioned against narratives that could undermine investor more..

Jan 22 (DM) The govt is planning to organise a donor conference, Leader of the House Minister Bimal Ratnayake said yesterday no country in the world had been able to raise even 10% of the cost of the damage caused due to a natural disaster, through donors. The Minister told Parliament that in all natural disasters, no country including countries like Afghanistan, Philippines or America had raised even 10% of the cost of damages caused by disasters through donors. more..

Jan 22 (AD) Four petitions have been filed before the Supreme Court challenging the Bill seeking to abolish the pension scheme for MPs. Speaker of House Jagath Wickramaratne informed Parliament today that he has also received a copy of an additional petition that has been filed before the Supreme Court. Speaker noted that the petitions have been filed in terms of Article 121(1) of the Constitution. Bill to abolish pensions for MPs was presented to Parliament on January 7 by more..

Jan 22 (Island) At the request of the Supreme Court of SL and SL Judges’ Institute, a special capacity-building programme for 30 District Court Judges from SL was organised at the Indian National Judicial Academy, Bhopal, from 12 to 16 Jan, the Indian HC said. IHC statement: “The week-long programme encompassed eleven sessions covering key themes such as court and case management for efficient judicial systems; juvenile justice; judicial interventions to combat money laundering; more..

Jan 22 (FT) Writer Corporation, one of India’s leading business groups, yesterday announced the launch of its subsidiary, Writer Business Services Ltd., and the commencement of its operations in Sri Lanka. The expansion reflects Sri Lanka’s strategic importance in Writer’s regional growth plans and its role in supporting a highly regulated digital and financial services market which is currently undergoing digital transformation. Sri Lanka’s continued focus on strengthening more..

Jan 22 (DN) Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena has described the discovery of drug use among bus drivers as an alarming and troubling situation after 10 out of 56 drivers tested positive during surprise mobile laboratory inspections in Colombo. Tests, conducted at Bastion Mawatha in Fort yesterday, revealed that drivers had used drugs including ice, heroin, and cannabis. Initial urine samples confirmed the positive results, more..

Jan 22 (AD) Court of Appeal today ordered that the written order and audio recording of the directive issued by the Trincomalee Magistrate’s Court on 19 January pertaining to the Buddha statue incident, be produced before court without delay. Accordingly, the Appeals Court sought the Magistrate’s decision to remand Ven. Balangoda Kassapa and another monk in connection with the Trincomalee Buddha statue incident. The Appeals Court order was issued when the writ petition filed by more..

Jan 22 (NW) A commemorative stamp marking 100 years of SL cinema, featuring the image of veteran actress Iranganie Serasinghe, was unveiled. The national celebration was held yesterday at the premises of the National Film Corporation to mark 79 years of Sinhala Cinema and 54 years since the establishment of the National Film Corporation. The event was held under the patronage of Minister Sunil Senevi, with Deputy Minister of Mass Media Kaushalya Ariyarathna also in attendance. more..

Jan 22 (DM) Electrician Licensing System aimed at enhancing electrical safety and professional standards in the electricity sector has been implemented from this year under the provisions of SL Electricity Act and SL Engineering Council Act. Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL), which is responsible for regulating and standardizing the country’s electricity industry, said the new system is intended to improve safety and more..

Jan 22 (CT) Former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe said that religion remains essential even as artificial intelligence continues to advance, stressing that human consciousness cannot be replaced by technology. He made these remarks while attending a religious ceremony held in Galle, where he reflected on the growing global influence of artificial intelligence and its relationship to the human mind. Referring to the ceremony’s welcome song, he said he was informed that it had been generated more..

Jan 22 (AD) Former Minister Ramesh Pathirana has rejoined the SLPP and has been appointed as the party’s Benthara-Elpitiya Electoral Organiser. He received his letter of appointment today from SLPP National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa at the party headquarters. Additionally, Ramesh Pathirana has been appointed as the Convener of the SLPP Health Professionals’ Association. Pathirana had notably expressed support for former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe during the last prez election. more..

Jan 22 (CT) Sri Lanka reports 1,282 new leprosy cases in 2025, with nearly 10% of patients being children under the age of 15, health authorities say, highlighting the need for early detection and greater public awareness. Speaking at a media briefing to mark World Leprosy Day on 25 January, Yasoma Weerasekara, Director of the Leprosy Eradication Campaign at the Ministry of Health, says 123 of the newly identified patients are children below 15 years of age. more..

Jan 22 (NW) The GMOA has ended the doctors’ strike that had been launched in all hospitals in the Eastern Province, as of 2 pm today. The strike had been initiated, demanding the removal of the Medical Superintendent of the Akkaraipattu Base Hospital, citing administrative and financial irregularities, and the appointment of another director to the post. Accordingly, Medical Superintendent in question has now been immediately removed from the position, more..

Jan 22 (NW) The GMOA has announced a 48-hour token strike across state hospitals islandwide, scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. tomorrow, citing the Health Ministry’s failure to implement previously agreed solutions. Emergency services will continue during the strike. The association said trade union action had earlier been temporarily suspended based on written assurances given following discussions with Prez Anura Kumara more..

Jan 22 (DM) Minister K.D. Lal Kantha has said that no group or individual, regardless of their attire or identity, is immune from criticism. Addressing a public gathering, the Minister said that wearing a black coat, national dress or even a robe does not grant anyone protection from criticism. He added that those who choose to enter politics must be prepared to set aside such matters and face responses directed at them as individuals, irrespective of what they wear. more..

Jan 22 (NF) The Port of Colombo hosted a double display of maritime diplomacy today as two friendly navies made scheduled logistics stops and courtesy visits, reinforcing SL’s role as a trusted maritime hub in the Indian Ocean. In separate arrivals, the Royal Navy of Oman Ship (RNO) AL SEEB and the Indonesian Naval Ship KRI SULTAN ISKANDAR MUDA – 367 berthed in Colombo for replenishment, professional interaction, and goodwill engagements. Both vessels were welcomed with full naval more..

Jan 22 (NW) CIABOC has informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court that indictments have been filed in the Colombo High Court against former minister Arjuna Ranatunga and his brother Dhammika Ranatunga over an alleged financial loss of about Rs. 800 million to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC). Bribery Commission told the court that the alleged loss occurred through inflated local tenders awarded by more..

Jan 22 (EN) Sri Lanka launched a raft of tools and a national digital platform for cultivation data and data-driven decision making with the support of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Gates Foundation. The government on Thursday launched the Agriculture Enterprise Architecture Framework, Agriculture Interoperability Framework, Data Sharing Policies, and CROPIX, a national digital platform for crop data and decision-making. more..

Jan 22 (NW) The 147th Royal Thomian Joint Match Organizing Committee has announced that preparations are under way for the 147th Battle of the Blues annual cricket encounter between Royal College and S. Thomas’ College. The three-day match is scheduled to be played on March 12, 13 and 14, 2026, at the SSC grounds in Colombo. Meanwhile, the 49th Mustangs Trophy limited-overs encounter will be played as a day-night 50-over match on March 28, also at the SSC grounds. more..

Jan 22 (FT) SL’s modern higher education landscape rests on a deep social commitment established nearly a century ago. The transformative reforms led by Dr. C.W.W. Kannangara in the 1940s made free education a cornerstone of national development. As scholars such as Jayaweera (1969), Little (2010), and Fernando (2017) have shown, this investment produced one of the most literate populations in the developing world and laid the foundation for university education to more..

Jan 22 (FT) The Grade 6 English textbook scandal has exposed more than publishing incompetence. It has revealed a system in crisis. As half a million children compete for scholarship places to escape failing schools, as 270,000 Advanced Level students face a future with only 30,000 university seats, and as unemployed graduates multiply while the digital economy races ahead, Sri Lanka stands at a crossroads. This is not merely about fixing textbooks or managing examinations. more..