Nov 6 (Island) Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) has raised serious concerns over the inclusion of generation capacity costs in the proposed electricity tariff revision for the fourth quarter of 2026, declaring that such costs should not be passed on to electricity consumers. In a presentation made at a public consultation on the proposed tariff revision at the BMICH in Colombo yesterday, the regulator described more..

Nov 6 (ST) SL Customs has announced plans to auction individual spare parts of 60 illegally assembled vehicles that were caught during police raids. Customs Director Chandana Punchihewa said that the decision was taken by the higher management following comprehensive technical evaluations conducted by the Dept of Govt Analyst and RMV. Both authorities confirmed that the illegally assembled vehicles fail to satisfy national roadworthiness standards and cannot legally more..

Nov 6 (NW) In a landmark milestone for SL’s luxury real estate and eco-tourism sectors, Bhoomi Realty Holdings, a member of Prime Group, officially laid the foundation stone for its visionary development, Rozella: The Ceylon Estate, on Oct 22. As Sri Lanka’s first dedicated agro-tourism villa project, this prestigious venture introduces an unprecedented lifestyle and investment concept. Nestled in the world-famous Hatton-Rozella region, perched amidst emerald, mist-covered mountains more..

Nov 6 (FT) Hemas Holdings said it delivered a strong second quarter, with revenue growing 17% year-on-year (YoY) to Rs. 37.8 billion as all four sectors recorded growth, led by hospitals (+19.3%) and consumer brands (+18.3%). EBITDA rebounded to Rs. 4.5 billion, up 10.5% YoY and nearly double the first quarter. Group earnings more than doubled from 1Q to Rs. 2 billion. For 1H FY27, the strong second quarter turned a 14.1% EBITDA decline at the end of 1Q into growth of 0.9%, more..

Nov 6 (FT) What happens when different traditions, diverse stories, transformative ideas, cross-cultural conversations and intergenerational hope come together on shared platforms? This December, Colombo will host a cultural gathering that seeks to answer that question through the universal languages of music, literature, heritage and human connection. The Festival of Sacred Sounds of South Asia and Friends 2026, presented by Mindful Collective Expressions (MCE) more..

Nov 6 (ST) Gross disregard of the Police Ordinance and Human Rights Commission guidelines and recommendations had led to ill-treatment of people held in police custody, a human rights expert said. Nimal Punchihewa, lawyer and former commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL), said that although laws and regulations are available in the Police Ordinance as well as circulars issued by the IGP more..

Nov 6 (Island) In every tea shop, in every office, and on every street during the last election, one sentence was heard again and again: 76 years of national curse. It was shouted in anger. And it was not without reason. Corruption, incompetence, lawbreaking, and callous disregard for human dignity had brought public trust to its lowest point. But in that anger, are we throwing away the good with the bad? Because society, deep down, is not asking for revolution alone. It is asking for more..

Nov 6 (TM) How should one understand post-war Tamil politics in the North? To observers outside the Northern political arena, Tamil politicians often appear committed to defending Tamil rights and advancing the aspirations of their community. Yet, the reality is far more complex. In the 17 years since the defeat of the separatist armed struggle, Tamil politics has frequently been marked by fragmentation, inconsistencies, competing agendas, and demands that often appear detached more..

Nov 6 (Island) The midterm battle has been lost and won in the US. Republicans are licking their wounds while Democrats are painting the town red. Prez Donald Trump is making a feeble attempt to flex his executive muscles in a bid to save face, claiming that he has veto power, which he will not hesitate to use if push comes to shove. True, the President retains his veto even when his party controls neither chamber of Congress. Congress can override a presidential veto only with more..

Nov 6 (DM) For nearly two years, supporters of both the UNP and SJB have been eagerly anticipating the formation of an alliance between the two parties. In this context, remarks made over the weekend by UNP Leader and former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe regarding alliance-building would have undoubtedly left the supporters of both parties stunned and disappointed. He stated that a UNP and SJB alliance does not spell victory and emphasised that to win the next election, they must win over 8 m more..

Nov 6 (DM) Every morning, hundreds of thousands of SL women set out for work. They board crowded buses to garment factories in Katunayake and Biyagama, take their places at bank counters and hospital wards, teach in our schools, pluck tea on our estates and staff the offices of both the public and private sectors. They are, without exaggeration, the backbone of our economy. Yet, far too many of them carry an additional burden that more..

Nov 6 (DM) SL College of Pharmacy Professionals (SLCPP) brings together pharmacists with postgraduate qualifications working across different areas of the profession. As we celebrated the World Pharmacists Day recently, SLCPP wishes to take readers along the journey of a medicine - from its early discovery and development to its eventual use by patients by highlighting the many roles pharmacists play along the way. A pharmacist is much more than the person behind more..

Nov 6 (CT) America has delivered a formidable electoral rebuke to Donald Trump. What had been unfolding before the electorate’s eyes—political retribution, controversies surrounding personal enrichment, extravagant displays of presidential grandeur and an increasingly bitter argument over the character of American govt—has now found expression at the ballot box. From Texas to Kansas, from South Carolina to the industrial heartland, Democratic victories have penetrated territory more..

Nov 6 (TM) The Middle East conflict has sent shockwaves across the globe, disrupting oil markets and maritime trade as restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz threaten vital energy supplies and the Houthis intensify attacks on shipping routes. The widening conflict has also raised security concerns across the region, with attacks on strategic infrastructure and threats involving religiously significant sites adding to tensions. more..

Nov 6 (DM) In roughly nine out of every ten journalist killings worldwide, nobody is held accountable. The International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, observed every year on Nov 2, is meant to stop such impunity and indifference on the part of the State and also Society. The day commemorates the murder of two French radio journalists, Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon, in Mali on Nov 2, 2013 when they were reporting for their station RFI. Since 1993, more than 1,700 journalists have more..

Nov 6 (DM) The 2026 US midterm polls held on Nov 3 produced a series of historic firsts across the country. Women and candidates in minorities broke longstanding barriers in races for governor and Congress flipping seats in Republican strongholds. Keisha Lance Bottoms became the first Black woman governor in US history defeating Republican businessman Rick Jackson in Georgia. Former US Interior Secretary Deb Haaland became the first Native American woman to secure a seat. more..

Nov 5 (NW) Two German tourists and a local tourist guide have been arrested by the Dept of Wildlife Conservation for allegedly collecting and possessing live wild animals and animal parts in the Babawa Uddakandara forest area near Tissamaharama. The arrests were made on November 2 following intelligence that the suspects were collecting reptiles and insects in the area. Acting on the information, Wildlife officers disguised themselves as tourists and conducted surveillance more..

Nov 5 (DM) The procurement of cancer radiation therapy machines for the Apeksha Cancer Hospital and the Galle National Hospital has come under fresh scrutiny following allegations of conflicts of interest involving suppliers and govt officials. Consultant Physician Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa has called for an independent investigation into the tender process, claiming that medical physicists involved in evaluating the bids had attended a promotional event organised by a company more..

Nov 5 (NW) Deputy Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando has defended several tax changes introduced by the Govt, rejecting claims that they have imposed an additional tax burden on the public. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance, Deputy Minister addressed eight tax-related measures, including increased duties on alcohol and cigarettes, higher taxes on vehicle imports, withholding tax on bank interest, and more..

Nov 5 (TM) Subham Ferry service operating between Nagapattinam (NGP) in India and Kankesanthurai (KKS) in SL has announced special fare reductions and additional concessions for passengers travelling this month. The revised fares were announced at a media briefing held at the Ferry service office in KKS. Under the special offer, the economy-class fare for adults travelling in either direction has been reduced to approximately Rs 19,250. Fare for children has been reduced to more..

Nov 5 (TM) Sugar production at the Sevanagala unit of the State-owned Lanka Sugar Company (Pvt) Ltd has declined significantly, falling from 16,215 metric tonnes (MT) in 2020 to 8,091 MT last year (2025), according to information provided by the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development. Opposition Parliamentarian H M Dharmasena raised a question in Parliament yesterday (4) regarding the State-owned sugar manufacturing facilities in Monaragala. more..

Nov 5 (DM) In a move to strengthen monitoring and accountability in the city’s food service sector, Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has introduced a QR code-based complaint system to enable the public to report food safety and hygiene violations at restaurants and food outlets. The initiative, launched today by the CMC’s Public Health Department, allows consumers to submit complaints directly to the relevant Medical Officers of more..

Nov 5 (AD) Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) has 7,130 registered buses, Deputy Minister Dr. Prasanna Gunasena stated. Of the total, 6,987 are ordinary buses, while 143 are luxury buses, Deputy Minister said. However, he revealed that only around 5,000 of these buses are currently in a condition suitable for operation. Meanwhile, the number of private buses operating in the Western Province stands at 5,524, while 2,433 operate in the Central Province and 1,326 in the Southern Province, more..

Nov 5 (NW) A former Civil Defence Force officer arrested in connection with the suspected removal of a tusk from a dead elephant in Kahatagasdigiliya, Anuradhapura, has been remanded until Nov 19. According to the Department of Wildlife Conservation, the suspect was produced before the Kahatagasdigiliya Magistrate’s Court today, along with several items seized during investigations. Wildlife officers conducted a special search operation on Wednesday in connection with more..

Nov 5 (NW) SL’s North-Western blue swimming crab fishery has become the first fishery in SL to be certified against the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Fisheries Standard, world’s leading benchmark for sustainable wild-caught seafood. It is also the first blue swimming crab fishery in South Asia to achieve MSC certification. Certification took effect on 4 Nov 2026, after the MSC accepted the fishery’s Public Certification Report. It was confirmed by independent assessment body Control more..

Nov 5 (NW) Colombo High Court today ordered the freezing of four bank accounts and two luxury vehicles belonging to Attorney-at-Law Rakitha Rajapakshe, son of former Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, for a period of three months. The order was issued after considering submissions made by the CIABOC regarding assets previously frozen by the Commission. The Bribery Commission had earlier frozen four bank accounts containing approx. Rs. 40 mil & two luxury vehicles more..

Nov 5 (AD) Sri Lanka is preparing to reapply for trade concessions under the European Union's Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), with the govt aiming to secure continued preferential access to the EU market beyond 2027 under a revised 10-year framework. Deputy Minister Prof. Anil Jayantha Fernando disclosed this in Parliament, responding to a question raised by MP Karunanayake under Standing Order 27(2). more..

Nov 5 (EN) Govt will award around 89 bus route permits in November under a revised scoring process approved by the Cabinet, Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena said. National Transport Commission (NTC) will abandon its previous issuance methods and instead select permit recipients through public advertisements and clear scoring criteria. “In that, we have established a scoring procedure. Through that, most likely for around 89 bus permits, we believe we will be more..

Nov 5 (AD) SL Customs has seized a container carrying 457 cartons of cigarettes valued at Rs. 792 million, which had been brought from India in an attempt to smuggle them into the country using fraudulent import documentation. The consignment had been falsely declared as paper products, including photocopy paper, in documents submitted to Customs in an attempt to conceal the actual contents of the container. The raid was carried out by the Central Investigation Directorate of more..

Nov 5 (EN) A contentious debate in parliament today has exposed mounting alarm over SL’s expanding legislative net, with critics accusing the ruling administration of exploiting international treaty obligations to enact repressive security measures. At the center of the controversy are the proposed Prevention of Organised Crimes (POC) Bill, the Protection of the State from Terrorism (PST) Bill, and sweeping amendments to the more..

Nov 5 (DM) South Korea has agreed in principle to support a programme to develop Mirissa Harbour as a fisheries and tourism port, while also exploring cooperation with SL in fisheries technology, aquaculture and marine biotechnology. The preliminary agreement was reached during bilateral discussions between SL's Secretary to the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, Dr. Kolitha Kamal Jinadasa, and South Korean representatives during his visit to Busan. more..

Nov 5 (NW) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has revealed that a total of 11,970 individuals aged 21 and below were arrested in connection with drug trafficking during the 2025–2026 period, warning that the drug menace is destroying the country’s younger generation. Addressing an event held today to commemorate the first anniversary of the Nation United – National Drive (Ratama Ekata) drug eradication programme, the Prez presented statistics on arrests involving children & young people. more..