Feb 10 (DM) Sri Lanka secured approximately US $ 1.48 billion in foreign development financing during the financial year ending Dec 31, 2025, as the major multilateral partners ramped up budget support to stabilise the economy and respond to the devastating impact of Cyclone Ditwah. The IMF and ADB were the dominant financiers, collectively contributing nearly 80% of the total disbursed liquidity for the year. more..

Feb 10 (FT) The Mercedes-Benz Club of Sri Lanka has successfully hosted a historic gathering of 640 Mercedes-Benz vehicles, as officially verified and certified by international auditors BDO partners, establishing a new benchmark for the largest gathering of Mercedes-Benz cars in the world in one location. This achievement surpasses the current Guinness-listed record of 479 vehicles, previously set by Mercedes-Benz Ecuador in Quito, Ecuador, on 16 Oct 2021. more..

Feb 10 (DM) Sri Lanka is giving its event management industry a major boost, with the launch of a 25-member advisory council under the Industries Ministry, marking the first time the sector has its own dedicated policy forum. The move is championed by Minister Sunil Handunnetti, in an effort to professionalise and grow the country’s creative service sector. The event management industry has been a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s creative economy for over 30 years, more..

Feb 10 (DM) Human rights activist and the wife of disappeared journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda, Sandya, urged President Dissanayake to ensure her safety following the death threat she received from a person who claimed himself a retired Army Brigadier. Ms. Ekneligoda stated that she received a telephone call on Jan 16 from a mobile telephone number 0751679672 and the caller had threatened her to be quiet or else she would have to face a similar fate as her husband. more..

Feb 10 (CI) Sinhalese Sports Club ground is having a big moment right now. And predictably, in line with its reputation as the poshest cricketing spot in Colombo, it is trying to sell itself as the Lord's of SL. It's a weird sell. And a strange flex. Get up into the rafters of the tallest buildings at the SSC and watch a spectacular tropical sunset come to life as the brand-new floodlights flick on. Get down into the depths of the members' stand and sip some arrack & ginger beer at exceedingly reasonable prices more..

Feb 10 (ST) SL Unique Digital Identity (SL-UDI) project, a key initiative to modernise SL’s digital infrastructure supported by a Rs. 10.4 billion grant from Govt of India is scheduled for launch by the third quarter (Q3) of 2026, The system is built on India’s Modular Open-Source Identity Platform (MOSIP), an open-source framework also used in countries like the Philippines and Ethiopia. SL-UDI will incorporate biometric data, more..

Feb 10 (FT) Opposition MP Dr. Harsha de Silva has criticised successive Govts for what he described as decades of missed opportunities in SL’s economic engagement with India, arguing that the failure to integrate more closely with the regional powerhouse has imposed a heavy cost on the country. Commenting on JVP/NPP Leader Tilvin Silva’s recent meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar in New Delhi, Dr. de Silva said political leaders must confront the strategic more..

Feb 10 (FT) Avlino CEO Ramana Jampala said operational efficiency, not capacity expansion, must be the starting point for modernising ports and terminals, warning that large capital investments without fixing underlying inefficiencies risk delivering suboptimal returns. Delivering the keynote at the inaugural session of the Terminal Technology and Trade Engagement 2026 held under the Colombo Plan Maritime Advisory Program (MAP), Jampala stressed that policymaking and more..

Feb 10 (TM) Electricity Consumers' Association (ECA) claimed there is information suggesting the third and fourth shipments of the controversial substandard coal stocks were unloaded at the same time, raising doubts about a possible attempt to manipulate coal sampling and testing. ECA’s General Secretary, Sanjeewa Dhammika said that usual practice is for only one coal ship to be docked & unloaded at a time. more..

Feb 10 (FT) Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Chairman Sirimevan Ranasinghe underscored the importance of technology adoption, skills development, and strategic international partnerships in positioning the Port of Colombo as a resilient and future-ready maritime hub. Addressing the Terminal Technology and Trade Engagement (TT&TE) 2026 in Colombo, held under the Colombo Plan Maritime Advisory Program (MAP), Ranasinghe said gathering reflected a shared commitment more..

Feb 10 (FT) New Anthoney’s Farms, SL’s only producer of 100% antibiotic-free chicken, is celebrating 40-years of serving families with healthier, safer poultry. What began with Chairman Emil Stanley and his wife, Directress Marie Seetha Lakshmee, and their simple commitment to provide quality chicken to families in 1986 has evolved into a comprehensive journey of listening to customers, responding to their needs, and continuously innovating to deliver the safest chicken in SL. more..

Feb 10 (FT) Bairaha Farms has commissioned a new cold storage facility with a capacity of 500 tons, marking an important step in strengthening product quality, stock management, and operational efficiency across its supply chain. The facility was opened recently, by Bairaha Farms PLC Executive Director Riyal Yakoob in the presence of the company’s Board members, management, and staff. Bairaha Farms PLC Chief Executive Officer Yakooth Naleem said the new facility is expected to more..

Feb 10 (FT) Sri Lanka–Canada Business Council (SLCBC) of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce hosted a Welcome Reception on 29 Jan, in honour of High Commissioner of Canada to SL Isabelle Martin, bringing together members, partners, and guests for an evening of dialogue, celebration, and connection. The event saw a full house with over 180 members and invitees, reflecting the strong and growing interest in strengthening bilateral trade, investment, and professional collaboration more..

Feb 10 (FT) The Govt yesterday reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the country’s ports sector through targeted investment, technology adoption, and international partnerships, underscoring the strategic importance of the Port of Colombo to economic recovery and long-term growth. Ports & Civil Aviation Minister Anura Karunathilaka speaking at the Terminal Technology and Trade Engagement 2026 held under more..

Feb 10 (Island) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has been investing his political capital in going to the public to explain some of the most politically sensitive and controversial issues. At a time when easier political choices are available, the president is choosing the harder path of confronting ethnic suspicion and communal fears. There are three issues in particular on which the president’s words have generated strong reactions. These are first with regard to Buddhist pilgrims going to the north more..

Feb 10 (Island) The Opposition has accused the govt of seeking to exploit the impact of Cyclone Ditwah to postpone the much-delayed Provincial Council (PC) elections. It has challenged the JVP-led NPP to hold the PC polls immediately. PHU leader and former minister Udaya Gammanpila told the media yesterday that the government was all out to avoid an electoral contest on some pretext or another because its vote share had dropped drastically, according to a recent survey. more..

Feb 10 (TM) The satyagraha staged by fishermen demanding the lifting of restrictions on mechanised beach seine fishing, has exposed a fault line in the Nation’s fisheries governance. At its heart lies a tension between environmental sustainability and economic survival, between laws designed for a different era and livelihoods struggling to remain viable in the present one. Beach seine fishing, or ma-del, is among the oldest fishing practices along Sri Lanka’s coast. For generations, more..

Feb 10 (CT) On the 7th of this month, The Honorary Consulate of SL in Western Australia & The SL Cultural Society of Western Australia celebrated the 78th year of Independence Day in Subiaco, Perth. I had the privilege of being invited as one of the guests, and I did attend. It was a two-hour enjoyable evening attended by around 200 expatriates, which as usual ended with SL refreshments. The organizers presented a variety of SL cultural music and dance items all of them representing more..

Feb 10 (TM) With the release of the Progress Report of the CIABOC for the period of 1 Jan to 31 Dec 2025, the data points to significant procedural lapses within key State institutions, coinciding with new investigations into Dept of Motor Traffic (DMT) and Dept for Registration of Persons. In light of these findings, CIABOC Chairman Justice Neil Iddawela has outlined a strategic shift under the Anti-Corruption Act No.9 of 2023, more..

Feb 10 (GV) Worker remittances to SL have set a new all-time high record with $8.076 billion in 2025. This 22.8% growth, compared to the $6.6 billion received in 2024, is shaped by the high number of worker departures experienced in recent years. While migrant workers’ contribution to easing pressure on the country’s balance of payments is widely appreciated, the hardships and sacrifices they endure are often overlooked. This article highlights challenges faced by migrant workers, more..

Feb 10 (ST) Parliament on Friday (6) approved the extension of a state of public emergency, declared by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, amid accusations by the opposition that the govt was attempting to use the legislation to stifle dissent. The Resolution under the Public Security Ordinance to extend the state of public emergency was passed with 106 votes in favour and two against. Most opposition MPs were not present in the House at the time of vote more..

Feb 10 (CT) At a time when SL’s overlapping political, economic and governance crises had laid bare deep structural weaknesses, a new research initiative focused on constitutional reform was launched on 3 Feb, at the BMICH. Convened by the One Text Initiative (OTI), the event brought together legal scholars, political actors, academics, civil society representatives and citizens, signalling a renewed effort to pursue more..

Feb 10 (CT) Introducing periodical medical testing for drivers with a driving licence is proving to be one of the best policies adopted by the Dept of Motor Traffic to ensure safer roads for everyone. According to the report published by the National Transport Medical Institute, nearly 70,000 individuals were temporarily rejected on grounds of being medically unfit in 2024. A vast majority of these cases involved applicants who suffered from vision impairments – nearly 80% of the total, more..

Feb 10 (DM) Govt has postponed the passage of the Protection of Occupants Bill following protests by the Opposition, sections of the corporate sector and the civil society. However, leaders of the Govt stated that the Bill is initially formulated by the previous govt in 2023, which is true. When the Opposition protested against the education reforms for the implementation of which the NPP Govt took steps weeks ago, the govt leaders stated the same. They said that it was not an entirely new set of proposals, more..

Jan 9 (NW) Minister Nalinda Jayatissa has instructed his lawyers to issue letters of demand seeking Rs. 1 billion in damages each from former lawmaker Wimal Weerawansa and TV Swarnavahini, alleging defamation and the dissemination of false information. Minister’s office said the notices relate to remarks made by Weerawansa at a media briefing held on or around Feb 6, 2026, where he claimed that Jayatissa had used the credit card of the owner of an more..

Jan 9 (NW) A beachside restaurant in Tangalle has been called out for refusing to serve locals, with the cashier stating that they only serve foreigners. The incident was brought to light via a video recorded by three Sri Lankans from the UK who had been refused service at the restaurant. “This guy refuses to serve us because we are brown. We are locals, and he says we don’t serve locals. There is nobody else in this restaurant. I get so much pressure on me, especially during the floods. more..

Jan 9 (NF) Sri Lanka is confronting one of its most catastrophic natural disasters in recent memory as new data from the United Nations’ Cyclone Ditwah Situation Report reveals the scale of destruction left behind by the storm. Govt of SL had requested the United Nations' activation of Humanitarian Priorities Plan (HPP) in Dec 2025 to support 658,000 of the most vulnerable citizens through April 2026. more..

Jan 9 (AD) Deputy Minister Rathna Gamage, stated that the Ministry is unable to express a direct opinion at this time regarding the Satyagraha campaign initiated by a group of fishermen, which calls for the lifting of the ban on the use of tractor-mounted winches for Madel (seine nets) fishing activities. Minister made these remarks during a press conference held today. He noted that the fishermen have filed a court case challenging the Ministry’s recent decision, and as such, more..

Jan 9 (Island) Constitutional Council (CC) should ask its head, Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, to step down temporarily pending an investigation by the CIABOC into a complaint lodged by sacked Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne, SJB MP Dayasiri Jayasekera has said. Former Minister Jayasekera said so in response to The Island queries pertaining to Kularatne’s recent complaint to the CIABOC. Jayasekera pointed out that the CC, which is responsible for more..

Jan 9 (Island) Former Deputy Secretary to the Treasury R.M.P. Ratnayake told the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar that under an India–SL loan agreement, funds allocated for the purchase of medicines must be used strictly for that purpose, and any issues should be addressed through a remedial committee. Ratnayake made these submissions during the continuation of evidence in the case filed by more..

Feb 9 (NW) Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath engaged in a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi last week, with discussions focused on maintaining and strengthening ties between the two countries. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath clarified reports that Sri Lanka was on the verge of stopping exports to Iran, fearing further US tariffs, stating that, “There is no such thing”. Minister further revealed that SL was still repaying a US$250 million loan to Iran more..

Jan 9 (Island) Upali Group of Companies, its employees and sales agents countrywide, have made arrangements to invoke blessings on its founder, Upali Wijewardene, who disappeared in his Lear jet 43 years ago. Bodhi Pooja, Pahan Pooja and an alms-giving will be held, in his memory, on 13 Feb. A special Bodhi Pooja will be held at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya at 6 p.m. on 13 Feb., with the blessings of Prof. Ven. Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangarakkhitha Thera, Chief Incumbent of more..