Nov 21 (CT) World Bank has warned that growing reliance on private transport, inefficiencies in public transport, and limited development of rail and non-motorised travel options are worsening congestion, compromising road safety and increasing emissions in Sri Lanka’s urban areas. Concerns were outlined in its publication, Sri Lanka Country Climate and Development Report, released on Tuesday. more..

Nov 21 (CT) Colombo Additional Magistrate Liyan Warushavithana, yesterday, ordered that a broker accused of defrauding Dr. Shafi Shihabdeen, who works at the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital, of Rs 15 million be remanded until 26 Nov. The suspect, identified as Firdous Musthapa, a resident of Colombo, is accused of promising to import a luxury vehicle valued at over Rs 20 million, allegedly available through a UK embassy auction, in exchange for an advance payment. more..

Nov 21 (DM) Court of Appeal today upheld the death sentences imposed on five individuals convicted of trafficking 151.341 kilograms of heroin in 2019, a consignment that was at the time the largest narcotic stock ever detected by the SL Navy. A two-judge bench comprising Justice Pradeep Hettiaratchchi, with Justice P. Kumararatnam agreeing, affirmed the judgment delivered by Colombo High Court Judge Namal Balalle on Sept 27, 2023. High Court had found all five accused guilty on all 3 counts more..

Nov 21 (TM) A delegation from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Cell of the Dept of Revenue, Govt of India, visited Sri Lanka from 12–14 Nov to conduct the second phase of capacity-building and training programmes for officials of the Central Bank of SL (CBSL) and other relevant regulatory agencies. Indian delegation included experts from the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), the FATF Cell, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), more..

Nov 21 (Island) CID is investigating whether in 2023 the then Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe received an invitation from Uni of Wolverhampton to attend an event where the former first lady received an honorary professorship in recognition of her extensive research, training and policy work on gender equity and equality. A team of CID officers has recorded statements from three former members of the SL High Commission in London. They are Saroja Sirisena, Aruna Fernando more..

Nov 21 (DM) The number of juvenile (young male elephants) in Sri Lanka has increased over the past three national elephant surveys, contributing to a rise in elephant–elephant conflict, Acting Director General of the DWC Ranjan Marasinghe said yesterday. He said that the male-to-female elephant ratio, which stood at 1:1.8 in the 1993 survey, had narrowed to 1:1.09 in 2011 and further to 1:1.04 in the 2024 survey. more..

Nov 21 (AD) The school cut-off marks for the admission of students to Grade 06 of schools based on the results of the 2025 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination have been released online by the Ministry of Education. According to the ministry, information regarding the cut-off marks for Grade 6 admissions in 2026 is available on the Ministry’s official website: www.moe.gov.lk. Students and parents may also check the schools to which students have been allocated by visiting: more..

Nov 21 (DN) Brandigala Tourist Zone in Matale District was officially opened to local and foreign tourists under the patronage of Central Province Governor Prof S.P.S. Abeykoon. The launch was organized by the Central Province Dept of Tourism, Trade and Commerce, with support from the Matale District Secretariat, the Yatawatta and Ukuwela Divisional Secretariats, and the respective Pradeshiya Sabhas. The inauguration included the unveiling of the tourist destination’s more..

Nov 21 (DN) Govt has allocated a provision of Rs.330 billion for salary increases in the public service, said Minister Prof. Chandana Abeyratne said. “Rs. 330 billion has been allocated for salary increases in the public service, comprising Rs.110 billion for 2025, Rs.110 billion for 2026 and another Rs.110 billion for 2027, Minister said, adding that this salary increase is being made with the aim of maintaining a more efficient and dignified more..

Nov 21 (EN) Softlogic Holdings said trading of its shares will continue uninterrupted until Dec 31, following a deferment of the suspension granted by Securities & Exchange Commission of SL. SEC has granted a deferment for the suspension of trading of shares that was due to take place on Dec 1. The securities were transferred to the watch list in Nov 2023 and April 2024, due to the emphasis of matter on going concern contained in the Independent Auditor’s Reports for the financial years more..

Nov 21 (EN) SL is planning to invite bids from investors to build 434 MegaWatts of wind power plants in the North of SL, Minister Kumara Jayakody said with bids for two 50 MW plants already opened. “We have already got approval for a 234 MW wind project in Pooneryn,” he said. “There is also 204 MegaWatts in Veravil (Kilonochchi). We will call tenders and proceed with the projects next year.” Evaluations are underway of two 50MW wind plants in Mannar where the lowest bidder was more..

Nov 21 (FT) Last week we took a long walk down memory lane. It was to a time when Sri Lanka then used to be a nation of diplomatists (a few of note of global calibre), demagogues able to move a nation’s mighty spirit and break a people’s backbone in the same breath, and avid pioneers in the spheres of civics and governance. And oh, e pluribus unum... if not quite yet one people, one nation. A handful of readers were probably prone to think of Ceylonese heads of UN agencies and more..

Nov 21 (FT) 99th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Sathya Sai Baba will be observed on Sunday (23). The day will be of great significance to millions of Baba devotees throughout the world. It will however be a red letter day for Ceylon Workers Congress General-secretary and Nuwara Eliya district MP Jeevan Thondaman who bids farewell to bachelorhood on that day. Jeevan Kumaravel Thondaman known as Jeevan Thondaman and Jeevan will tie traditional wedding necklace more..

Nov 21 (AD) Authorities have revealed details and exact weights of the narcotic substances discovered on the multi-day fishing vessel seized by the SL Navy off the southern coast and brought ashore last evening . The vessel, suspected of transporting narcotics, was intercepted yesterday (20) during a joint operation conducted by SL Navy & Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB), based on intelligence received by the security forces. more..

Nov 21 (TM) Survey Dept informed that, per estimates, Sri Lanka has approximately 16.5 million land parcels, of which, only about 2.5 million have been surveyed and mapped. Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability has drawn attention to the importance of accurately surveying and swiftly completing the mapping of all land in Sri Lanka. This matter was discussed when the Committee met on Monday (17) in Parliament, more..

Nov 21 (NW) A Sinhala and Tamil language training program for MPs officially commenced on Nov. 18 at the Parliament premises, under the patronage of Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne. Organized by the Members’ Service Office of Parliament with support from the Department of Official Languages, the initiative aims to strengthen communication skills among lawmakers and promote greater understanding between communities. UNP member Ashu Marasinghe said he would not take part, more..

Nov 21 (DM) A series of recent budget defeats across several Pradeshiya Sabhas—many controlled by the governing NPP, has raised concerns about the stability and functioning of local govt bodies. Budgets of the Yatiyanthota, Badulla, Naula and Kalutara Pradeshiya Sabhas were among those defeated in recent days. Amidst concerns, when inquired, a senior official at the Ministry of Public Administration said that more..

Nov 21 (CT) Mixed signals emerged yesterday (20) from several senior Opposition politicians over whether they would participate in the Mahajana Handa (People’s Voice) joint protest rally scheduled for today (21). The event, organised by a coalition of several political parties led by SLPP and independent politicians, is widely seen as a test of public support for Namal Rajapaksa’s possible presidential bid — a suggestion many Opposition groups have downplayed. more..

Nov 21 (DN) The presentation of the Productivity Master Plan and Accreditation Certificate for SL, hosted by the Asian Productivity Organization, was held in Colombo yesterday. The official presentation of the Certificate of Excellence for Productivity Specialists to SL and the signing of the Strategic Partnership Program by SL and the Asian Productivity Organization were also held at this event. Minister Sunil Handunnetti addressing the event said SL has come out of an era when more..

Nov 21 (NW) SL Police have urged organisers of the opposition’s rally scheduled to take place in Nugegoda on Nov 21 to ensure that their activities do not disrupt the A/L exam centres located in the area. Police said several schools in central Nugegoda, including Anula Vidyalaya, St. John’s College, St. Joseph’s Girls’ School & Samudradevi Balika Vidyalaya, are functioning as examination centres for the 2025 A/L Political Science paper during the same period as planned protest. more..

Nov 21 (AD) A former SJB member of the Pannala Pradeshiya Sabha has been arrested by the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB). He has been arrested in connection with the interception of a multi-day fishing vessel transporting a stock of narcotics in seas off the southern coast and the arrest of its six crew members. The multi-day fishing vessel carrying the narcotics haul, which was intercepted on Thursday by the SL Navy in the southern seas, was later brought to Tangalle Fisheries Harbour more..

Nov 21 (TM) Election Commission (EC) stated that while it is the Parliament that should decide under which system the long-delayed Provincial Council (PC) Elections should be held, the Polls could be conducted sooner if it proceeds under the previous electoral system (proportional representation [PR]). EC Chairperson R.M.A.L. Rathnayake said there are currently two possible paths: either to hold the Elections using more..

Nov 21 (SO) Most officials of the SL Railways Department are highly educated, yet the Department’s adoption of technology remains limited, Minister Bimal Rathnayake told Parliament. He said that despite the introduction of new technologies over the years, many have not been fully utilised. “A GPS system was introduced by a previous Govt, but it is not being used properly,” he said. Minister said the Department was moving very slowly in executing its duties. As a result, more..

Nov 21 (DN) SL’s brilliant young golfer Kaya Daluwatte delivered an outstanding performance to win the Girls’ 21 and Under Championship at the Faldo Series European Grand Final for the 29th Faldo European Championship, completed at the Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club in the UAE yesterday. The 17-year-old dominated the field from start to finish, producing three near-perfect rounds of 68, 67 and 67 to seal a crushing eight-under-par 202 victory. Sweden’s Lova Jansson could not more..

Nov 21 (FT) Oman is accelerating its efforts to attract foreign investment and sees growing opportunities for Sri Lankan businesses and professionals in tourism, manufacturing, agriculture and education, according to the country’s Ambassador’s to Sri Lanka. Ambassador Ahmed Ali Said Al Rashdi said that as part of Oman’s Vision 2040 economic transformation plan, the Sultanate continues to open up its markets in order to attract foreign investors across all sectors. more..

Nov 21 (FT) The Big Bold Brave 2025 (BBB 2025), a transformative platform spotlighting opportunities in the fast-emerging Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, concluded recently in Colombo, gathering renowned industry leaders from across the world for future-focused dialogue. Organised by the Harvard Club of SL, BBB 2025 was held 12-14 November at Cinnamon Life – City of Dreams, Colombo. The 3-day event began with an exclusive welcome event on 12 Nov, with the main conference more..

Nov 21 (FT) Ending months of speculation and delays over completing the country’s debt restructuring, national carrier SriLankan Airlines and the Govt of SL yesterday said that they have reached an agreement in principle with six members of the Ad Hoc Group of Bondholders on the financial parameters of restructuring the national carrier’s $ 175 million Guaranteed Bonds due June 2024. Delivering the 2026 Budget in Parliament on more..

Nov 21 (DM) Sri Lanka has been named one of the 50 Best Places to Travel in 2026 by the magazine Travel + Leisure. The annual list by Travel + Leisure identifies destinations based on accessibility, cultural significance, unique experiences, and emerging travel trends. This year, Sri Lanka was recognized for its diverse attractions, natural beauty, and rich cultural heritage. Experts featured in the magazine recommend exploring the northern city of Jaffna, highlands of Horton Plains, and more..

Nov 21 (FT) Colombo stock market has reached a major valuation milestone in Nov 2025, trading at a price-earnings (PE) level significantly above its long-term norms, First Capital Research (FCR) said yesterday. According to FCR, the ASPI is now valued at a premium to its 18-year historical PER average of 12.0x based on 2025 earnings, marking a rare period in which market valuations have exceeded their typical range. As at yesterday, the ASPI has gained nearly 45% year-to-date (YTD), more..

Nov 21 (CI) Sri Lanka's batting imploded in the face of a disciplined Zimbabwe attack, as they fell to a 67-run defeat in the second match of the men's T20I tri-series in Rawalpindi. They were bowled out for 95, chasing a target of 163. For Zimbabwe, it was the perfect response to their opening game defeat to Pakistan. The wickets were spread among each of the six bowlers used by Zimbabwe. Richard Ngarava was excellent more..

Nov 21 (FT) SL’s licenced finance companies (LFCs) need to pivot from traditional consumption-led lending towards financing industrial and export-linked activity if they are to remain relevant in a changing economy, Lanka Rating Agency (LRA) said in its latest sector review. Agency argues that LFCs have the balance sheet strength and risk frameworks to play a more direct role in capital formation, as firms seek investment to raise productivity, add value, and compete more..

Nov 21 (FT) Paytm CEO for Travel and COO for Consumer Payments Vikash Jalan urged Sri Lanka to position itself as the most frictionless, trusted, and convenient overseas destination for Indian travellers, insisting that digital payments and fintech infrastructure will be just as critical as flights, hotels, and marketing in shaping the country’s next phase of tourism growth. Speaking at the India-SL Tourism Connect forum on the theme Role of Fintech in Tourism Experiences, more..