Sep 18 (Island) Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for 80% of all deaths in SL, with high blood pressure and diabetes among the leading causes, Secretary to the Ministry of Health, Dr. Anil Jasinghe, said early this week. He pointed out that the two conditions were interrelated and could lead to a range of serious health complications, with heart attacks being among the most severe consequences. more..

Sep 18 (NW) The mother of SL migrant worker Sivarasa Anojan, who has reportedly been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia, has appealed to the SL govt and Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake to bring him back safely to the country. According to reports, the Saudi Arabian Appellate Court has issued a death sentence against Anojan over a Facebook comment deemed insulting to the Prophet Muhammad. Sri Lanka is pursuing both legal and diplomatic efforts to assist him, more..

Sep 18 (FT) George Keyt Foundation (GKF), dedicated to preserving the legacy of modernist painter George Keyt and fostering local art, has announced strategic appointments to its leadership team, bringing together a mix of global academic expertise, corporate leadership, and artistic passion. These enhancements aim to inject fresh expertise and academic depth into the Foundation’s long-term vision. To broaden its operational reach and deepen its engagement with the global art market, more..

Sep 18 (NF) Lawyers appearing for Namal Rajapaksa requested court to grant him bail, citing his invitation to participate in a religious ceremony involving the installation of a temple pinnacle. Referring to a recent Supreme Court ruling, Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara stated that both the Anguttara Nikaya and the Sutta Pitaka emphasize the importance of freedom from corruption. However, he argued that no such more..

Sep 18 (Island) Sri Lanka CERT, in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), held a session to discuss the findings of the Identification and Assessment of Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) in SL last Tuesday. It said: The assessment was conducted under the Advancing Digital Transformation Project, with the support of the ADB, and aims to contribute to strengthening the protection, cybersecurity, and resilience of SL’s Critical National Information Infrastructure. more..

Sep 18 (AD) Select Committee of Parliament appointed to conduct a comprehensive study on the lack of preparedness to face Cyclone Ditwah and report to Parliament, along with proposals and recommendations in that regard, has decided to summon representatives of Pradeshiya Sabhas and Municipal Councils before the Committee to examine how local authorities coordinated their response during the disaster. Committee members particularly highlighted the need for further investigation more..

Sep 18 (FT) Saudi Arabia has ceased to export oil because of damage to its East-West Pipeline that will take more than a month to repair. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is controlled by pro-Iranian Yemeni forces. Ships are under attack as they try to navigate the Strait of Hormuz. World (and especially Asian) oil supplies will continue to be constrained and prices will remain elevated, at least until the midterm elections in the US (first week of November). The oil coming through the two straits is more..

Sep 18 (FT) There are two very different situations within the rural agricultural society in Sri Lanka. The first is a capable farmer becoming poor because farming no longer provides an adequate net income. The second is a household experiencing poverty turning to farming because few alternative livelihood options are available. Both groups require public support, but not through the same policy instruments. If Sri Lanka treats poverty alleviation and agricultural development as if more..

Sep 18 (Island) The process of having former Minister Basil Rajapaksa extradited from the US to SL was being finalised, Police HQ sources disclosed yesterday. The govt has formally sought assistance from the US govt to extradite former Minister Basil Rajapaksa, as multiple courts have reissued arrest warrants over his failure to appear before them in connection with two separate criminal cases, a senior police officer said. more..

Sep 18 (AD) The token strike initiated by railway trade unions over several demands, including the removal of the General Manager of the Department of Railways, remains in effect today, according to SL Railway Station Masters’ Association (SLRSMA). The association’s Chairman, Sumeda Somaratne, stated that the trade union action launched yesterday will continue until midnight today. He further stated that the trade union action was launched due to lack of a proper response, more..

Sep 18 (NW) The CID has arrested an Assistant Controller of the Department of Immigration and Emigration, accused of assisting in the preparation of an illegal foreign travel document for an organized criminal. According to police, officers of the CID’s Special Investigation Division carried out the arrest yesterday (17) morning at the Immigration and Emigration Department premises. The suspect has been identified as a 42‑year‑old resident of Gampaha. more..

Sep 18 (Island) The 5-member bench comprised Chief Justice P. Padman Surasena and Justices Shiran Gooneratne, Janak de Silva, Mahinda Samayawardhana and Arjuna Obeyesekere. The judicial officers had argued that they were not employees of the state or any other person, and that treating them as employees for tax purposes was incompatible with the constitutional principle of judicial independence. more..

Sep 18 (AD) Police say the law requiring all persons of vehicles travelling on expressways to wear seat belts will be strictly enforced from tomorrow (19). Director of the Traffic Control and Road Safety Division, SSP Manoj Ranagala, said the grace period of approximately one year granted for compliance will end today (18). Accordingly, legal action will be taken against drivers and passengers travelling on expressways without wearing seat belts from tomorrow, he said. more..

Sep 18 (Island) Police issued a strong warning about the growing dangers posed by AI-generated Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), stressing that technological advances were creating new risks for children online. CSAM traditionally involved real photographs or videos of children who had been sexually abused. However, with the rapid development of artificial intelligence, offenders can now manipulate ordinary images of children to produce highly realistic, sexually explicit or more..

Sep 18 (AD) A special Public Day programme has been held under the patronage of Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara, at the Deputy Minister's office in Colombo providing an opportunity for retired Tri-Forces personnel, their family members and other public to directly present their concerns and grievances. The programme held on 16 Sept, was organized with the objective of providing prompt solutions to matters requiring the intervention of the Ministry of Defence, more..

Sep 18 (Island) A three-wheeler driver was shot dead in a brazen afternoon shooting beneath the Dematagoda Black Bridge yesterday, police said. The investigators suspected that killing may be linked to notorious underworld figure Najim Mohamed Imran, widely known as Kanjipani Imran operating from overseas. The victim, a 50-year-old resident of Udugama, Galle, was killed with a pistol, according to ASP F.U. Wootler. The victim was rushed to hospital following the incident. more..

Sep 18 (TM) Environmental activist Dr Ajantha Perera, one of the petitioners who obtained the Supreme Court ruling on compensation for the MV X-Press Pearl disaster, has questioned the total compensation received so far and how the funds have been handled, alleging that the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) had, in violation of applicable procedures, dealt directly with relevant shipping company more..

Sep 18 (DN) SL javelin champion Rumesh Tharanga has retained the No. 1 position in the latest world javelin rankings released on Wednesday. The 23-year-old continued his impressive run of form by winning the Diamond League Final in Brussels and the World Ultimate Athletics Championships in Budapest, further strengthening his grip on the top spot with 1,423 points. Grenada’s Anderson Peters occupies second place with 1,363 points, while Germany’s Julian Weber is third with 1,341 more..

Sep 18 (TM) Sri Lanka’s current wretched form in T20Is was laid bare in no uncertain terms as they were blown off the park by a rampant England team, in the first T20I at Utilita Bowl, Southampton to trail 1-0 in the three-match series on Tuesday (15). Placed ninth in the ICC Men’s T20I Team Rankings, Charith Asalanka’s team clearly resembled a deer in the headlights, as they were outplayed in all facets of the game while suffering a 13th loss on the bounce in the format to their hosts. more..

Sep 18 (DM) Illegal Assets Investigation Division of the SL Police has imposed restraining orders on property and luxury assets worth more than Rs. 125 million, allegedly acquired through drug trafficking, in two separate investigations. In the first operation, police froze assets valued at over Rs. 90 million belonging to a suspect from the Wattala area. Acting under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, investigators imposed a 14-day restraining order from Sept 17, preventing the sale, transfer or disposal of the properties. more..

Sep 18 (AD) Sri Lanka reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to the humanitarian objectives of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) and to eliminating the threat posed by cluster munitions worldwide at the Third Review Conference of States Parties to the Convention, being held in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, from 14 to 18 Sept 2026. Addressing the High-Level Segment of the Conference, the Head of the SL Delegation, Manisha Gunasekera, Additional Secretary, more..

Sep 18 (FT) Cabinet has approved the implementation of 39 new development projects aimed at upgrading infrastructure across Govt health service institutions, including hospitals, as part of a broader push to address long-standing infrastructure gaps and modernise health service facilities. Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said earlier this week the projects stem from a review of 41 proposals submitted during 2025 & 2026, more..

Sep 18 (ST) Fifty youths from Kalmunai have completed the Beyond Success Roundtable Initiative, a globally delivered leadership development programme based on the leadership principles of internationally renowned leadership expert Dr. John C. Maxwell. Conducted for the first time in Kalmunai North, the initiative was organised by the Kalmunai North Divisional Secretariat in collaboration with Ms. Sonia Thayakaran, Certified Transformative Leader more..

Sep 18 (NW) Former SL captain Kumar Sangakkara has questioned the national team’s selection decisions, consistency and fitness following another comprehensive defeat to England, saying SL remain far from becoming the T20 side they aspire to be. Speaking during the post-match analysis, Sangakkara said England’s dominance had exposed significant differences between the two teams, particularly in batting, physical conditioning and tactical awareness. “They are miles apart,” more..

Sep 18 (TM) More than 78,000 people have lost their livelihoods due to the dry weather conditions caused by El Niño, but the Labour Ministry says it has no mechanism to intervene as most of those affected are engaged in agriculture and other informal-sector activities. Deputy Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe said that there was currently no situation requiring intervention by the Labour Ministry, noting that its mandate allows it to more..

Sep 18 (FT) SAJ Associates Ltd., is expanding its product range through the growing network of Lakarcade, which currently holds a significant share of Sri Lanka’s souvenir and gift market. Lakarcade has recently strengthened its market presence with the opening of a new souvenir shop at a hotel in Colombo. Through its expanding network of showrooms across the country, the company is taking the skills and capabilities of Sri Lankan craftsmen directly to tourists. more..

Sep 18 (DN) Opener Sineth Jayawardena scored a superb 32-ball 82 as Tamil Union defeated SSC by seven wickets in the final of the Major Club T20 Tournament at the R. Premadasa Stadium under lights on Wednesday. The 21-year-old left-hander produced a superb display alongside Navod Paranavithana, who scored 58 off 38 balls, as the pair added 133 runs for the second wicket from just 56 balls to put Tamil Union firmly in control of the chase. Tamil Union reached their target more..

Sep 18 (TM) While Sri Lanka’s private sector credit expanded by Rs 169.0 billion (b) in July 2026, State sector credit contracted by Rs 189.6 b during the same month, First Capital Research’s Monthly economic report for September said. “Private sector credit increased by Rs 169.0 b in Jul-26, while credit to the public sector decreased by Rs 189.6 b for the same period,” the report said, adding that the month-on-month expansion in the month within private credit was a 1.5% increase, more..

Sep 18 (FT) “SL must move beyond academic qualifications and domestic recognition to build the skills, leadership, innovation and international exposure needed to compete in the global economy,” Women in Management Global (WIM) Founder and Chairperson Dr. Sulochana Segera said. She made the observation at the launch of WIM – The Business & Leadership Night 2026, which will bring together three flagship platforms focusing on women-led enterprise, more..

Sep 18 (CI) Consecutive thrashings in three days saw England take the T20I series against SL with a game to spare. Thursday's victory was just as one-sided as the opener at the Utilita Bowl, which they took by 119 runs; in Cardiff, Harry Brook's side reached a lacklustre target of 146 with 47 balls to spare, with Tom Banton unbeaten on 52 off 24 for the conclusion as England took an unassailable 2-0 lead. Brook was able to give his team their more..

Sep 18 (FT) SL Institute of Directors (SLID) Chairman Dinesh Weerakkody has called for stronger corporate governance and greater director competence as SL businesses navigate a rapidly changing economic and operating environment. Speaking at the SLID’s 25th anniversary celebrations, Weerakkody reflected on the transformation of SL’s corporate sector over the past quarter century, noting that the country had around 240 listed companies and more..

Sep 18 (FT) Global NPO Coalition on FATF Co-Chair Sangeeta Goswami yesterday said Sri Lanka, like most countries undergoing a Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Mutual Evaluation on anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) standards, is prone to over-compliance, adopting restrictions well beyond what the FATF standard actually requires out of desperation of being placed on its grey list. Goswami said the FATF’s Mutual Evaluation process carries more..