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Home » NewsThe way ahead for combined opposition
United National Party leader and former President Ranil Wickremesinghe—who last month endured what may have been the most difficult period in his more than half-century-long political career, marked by arrests, remand custody, and a subsequent health issue—is seen discussing the way forward for opposition parties with Samagi Jana Balawegaya General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara and [...]
CEB seeks tariff hike; cites Rs. 9.5b interim loss and other costs
By Kapila Bandara Sri Lanka’s loss-making state power utility, the Ceylon Electricity Board, is seeking an overall 6.8% tariff increase from October to December, citing a laundry list of multi-billion rupee cost increases, including energy and financing costs in the billions and Mahinda Rajapaksa-era debt for the Uma Oya project. In a detailed submission to [...]
Ranil suggests holding 1000 meetings
Former President and United National Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday suggested the joint opposition to hold one thousand meetings across the country, as the opposition did in 1975 under the leadership of J.R. Jayewardene. He was addressing the 79th party anniversary, for which invitations were sent to all opposition parties, including the Samagi Jana Balawegaya [...]
Palestine will figure in President’s UN speech
President Anura Kumara Dissnayake will address the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday, where he will reiterate Sri Lanka’s unwavering support for the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to statehood. President Dissanayake, accompanied by Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, will leave for New York on Monday to attend the UNGA’s 80th session, which is [...]
CEB unions increase pressure; refuse to engage with PSRS
Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) unions will continue “the second stage” of a trade union action launched this week, whereby all members serving on power sector reform steering committees will refuse to sign, endorse, approve or give consent to any reports, structures, documents, or proposals sent to them by the Power Sector Reforms Secretariat (PSRS). Separately, [...]
CIABOC names those who failed to declare assets last year
A Cabinet minister, several governors, state ministers, ambassadors, senior diplomatic staff, and judges are among the forty-one high-ranking officials who failed to submit their asset and liability declarations for last year, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) said. According to the amended list of non-declarants of assets and liabilities, former Cabinet [...]
Tough new measures to curb drug-impaired driving
The government has brought in tough measures to combat drug-impaired driving, granting the police and medical officers powers to test and prosecute offenders. The Motor Traffic (Drugs) Regulations, No. 01 of 2025, issued by Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Minister Bimal Rathnayake, were published in an Extraordinary Gazette on September 4. Under the new [...]
Police chief warns of criminals posing as security personnel at VIP events
By Damith Wickrameskara Police Chief Priyantha Weerasooriya has instructed his officers to take steps to accurately identify personnel assigned to VIP events in order to thwart attempts by criminals or radical elements to carry out unlawful acts while disguised in security force uniforms. In an internal circular to senior officers this week, the IGP notes [...]
Lanka open to OHCHR’s technical assistance to expedite probes: FM
By Chandani Kirinde Sri Lanka is open to obtaining technical assistance through the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), including that of forensic experts, to expedite investigations into past crimes in the country, a senior government source said yesterday. Such cooperation would include assistance to identify the victims of mass [...]
Firefighters in five-hour battle to douse blaze in Pettah
A major fire erupted in a third-floor shop on First Cross Street, Pettah, Colombo, engulfing the building in flames last evening. The Colombo Fire Brigade deployed 15 fire engines and more than 50 firefighters to the scene, supported by bowsers from the Kotte and Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia fire brigades. A Bell 212 helicopter, a fire engine [...]
Finance Ministry to order fleet of new double cabs
The Finance Ministry has started collecting information from Ministry Secretaries, Chief Secretaries of Provincial Councils and Heads of Department in the run-up to ordering a fleet of new double cabs to facilitate the “swift and efficient” implementation of the government’s development programmes. However, the proposed double cabs should not be used as official vehicles for [...]
New three-judge panel sought for Immunoglobulin case
By Ranjith Padmasiri A request has been made to appoint a new three-judge High Court Trial-at-Bar to hear the case filed against 12 accused including former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella over the importation of counterfeit immunoglobulin injections and distributing them to hospitals. President of the Trial-at-Bar Mahesh Weeraman is due to retire soon while High [...]
“Ali Roshan” convicted on two counts, three others acquitted
By Ranjith Padmasiri The three-judge Trial-at-Bar of the Colombo High Court, this week, sentenced Samarappulige Niraj Roshan Fernando, alias “Ali Roshan” to 15 years in prison after finding him guilty on two counts of keeping an elephant illegally without a permit. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 20.8 million on the accused. A [...]
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe calls on all parties to unite against “constitutional dictatorship”
By Kasun Warakapitiya United National Party Leader and former President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday called on all political parties to unite to rally to stop the constitutional dictatorship and stand together to protect democracy. The former President, delivering his address at the 79th party anniversary, called other parties to unite. He thanked all political parties for [...]
State Literary Festival honours three veterans with Lifetime Awards
One of the highlights of the 68th State Literary Awards ceremony held on Thursday (September 18) at Temple Trees were the Sahitya Ratna Lifetime Awards, presented by Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya to writers for their contribution to literature in the country. The veteran recipients this year were Dr Somarathna Balasooriya (Sinhala medium) and M [...]
Bountiful bumper salt harvest in Puttalam this year
Dry weather conditions in the Puttalam District have helped to increase salt production and are likely to lead to the best harvest in five years. Those engaged in the trade believe that an estimated 100,000 mt could be harvested this season. Salt production had been affected in the past few years due to the rains [...]
BYD faces China price war fallout, while Chery goes public in HK
By Kapila Bandara China’s Chery Automobile, which offers the mass market Chery vehicles in Sri Lanka and elsewhere and which is exiting Russia due to sanctions, is going public in Hong Kong, while Hong Kong-listed Chinese new energy vehicle producer BYD Company and its Sri Lankan distributor are continuing to wrestle in court with Sri [...]
Budget 2026: Biggest allocations go to President’s ministries
Budgetary allocations for the Finance, Planning and Economic Development Ministry and the Defence Ministry—which come under the purview of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake—will exceed Rs.1,000 billion, according to Appropriation Bill 2026 published in the Gazette this week. Allocations to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development stand at around Rs. 634 billion, while for [...]
National Justice Collective calls for a firm stand against UN Resolution 60/21
The proposed UN Resolution on Sri Lanka- 60/21 represents a direct, existential threat to Sri Lanka’s sovereignty, constitution, governance, and armed forces, and thereby immediate, categorical rejection is essential, a civil society led collective said. On behalf of the National Justice Collective (NJC), the National Joint Committee wrote to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake that partial [...]
Amid conflicts and consensus, unions oppose CEB split
By Ishu Bandara The restructuring of the state-owned Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has faced a major snag, with trade unions starting a work-to-rule campaign over the government’s reform plan. While some unions have been demanding change for years to end what they call the engineers’ monopoly, others strongly oppose the breakup of the CEB, warning [...]
Minister denies allegations of privatisation, assures job security
Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody, responding to allegations of trade unions, dismissed claims that the government was privatising the CEB. “That is a lie, and everyone knows it. We have an Act, published in Sinhala, Tamil, and English, that clearly states this remains a 100 percent government owned institution. Despite this, people are creating slogans [...]
Women’s well-being at very heart of congress
Collective effort helped Sri Lanka maintain lowest maternal and perinatal mortality rates in South Asia, says SLCOG President By Kumudini Hettiarachchi The safety and well-being of women were at the very heart of the 58th Annual Academic Congress of the Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (SLCOG) recently, when they deliberated on ‘Improving reproductive health [...]
Sri Lanka has ‘a unique opportunity’ to leapfrog into a cashless economy: Paytm Founder
By Tharushi Weerasinghe Paytm founder and CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma believes Sri Lanka has a unique opportunity to leapfrog into a vibrant cashless economy if it builds strong local champions and adopts cost-effective payment solutions. In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Timesduring his visit to Colombo for Disrupt Asia, Mr. Sharma said he was [...]
Tourism day events cast wide net at youth
By Wasantha Ramanayake World Tourism Day celebrations in Sri Lanka will be marked with the Colombo Travel Mart at One Galle Face, Colombo, on September 27. At the culmination of various events will be the 10th International Tourism Leaders’ Summit with the participation of global and local tourism industry leaders and experts. Under the theme [...]
A breath of new life to the Beira
By Dilushi Wijesinghe A new task force is in charge of the Beria Lake clean-up, which has been plagued by stop-start revival projects for a long time. The task force will work on both short-term remedies and billion-rupee long-term interventions. “This time we are not just skimming the surface. The focus is to stop sewer [...]
Thambuttegama residents get expert medical care with ADB-funded health system
By Ishu Bandara Thambuttegama residents suffering from various illnesses have been offered a ray of hope with an Asian Development Bank and World Bank funded Cluster Health Information System (CHIS). This gives them the opportunity to receive expert consultancy support directly in their communities, ensuring that no patient is left behind because of geographic location [...]
Illegal fishing methods continue to deplete resources, traditional fisherfolk severely affected
By S Rubatheesan If you look at the sea off Mullaithivu at midnight from the coast, you would see a border made of light sources – those are high powered focus lights submerged in the water to attract fish banks. Using light sources for fishing activities is one of the 16 illegal fishing methods banned [...]
Study suggested for Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia coast damage
The coastal belt between Dehiwala and Mount Lavinia has been badly damaged by heavy coastal erosion. And among the most heavily affected is the area near the Kinross Club. Coconut trees have toppled, and buildings built near the beach are crumbling as the sand beneath buildings has washed away. Jehan Peiris, a PADI Master Scuba [...]
Badulu Oya polluted by sewage and garbage
Pix and Text by Palitha Ariyawansa The Badulu Oya is facing severe pollution from unauthorised construction, sewage disposal, and garbage dumping, threatening both public health and the environment. Health officials warn of a growing health crisis, while environmentalists highlight the destruction of the river’s natural beauty. From Bandarawela, Dik Arawa to Badulla, unauthorised houses and [...]
AKD presidency @ 1: Walking the talk or talking the walk?
This week will see President Anura Kumara Dissanayake notch up one year as the ninth Executive President of Sri Lanka. The second youngest to assume the highest office in the land at the age of 55, after Chandrika Kumaratunga, who was 49 when she took office, Dissanayake broke many a barrier when he became president, [...]
Doubts over proposed ways to get rid of invasive, harmful fish
By Kasun Warakapitiya A move to systematically remove four invasive fish species from being reared, bred and distributed has been received with a mixed reaction by hobbyists, while pet shop owners expressed concern. The four fish species are harmful to the environment, being highly carnivorous, exhibiting rapid growth and having a high reproduction rate. They [...]
In East, villagers convinced elephant trenches work
By Wasantha Chandrapala As the struggle to minimise the human-elephant conflict continues, some of the measures taken in the eastern and southeastern parts of the country appear to have achieved some results. Digging ditches had been criticised, but experience gained in the eastern region seems to be different, with some claiming that ditches help to [...]
Nuwara Eliya library goes online
The Nuwara Eliya Public Library on Friday launched an ambitious week-long programme to promote education, literature and the library services in the district. Titled ‘Punarudaye Purawara’, the programme saw the web page of the library being inaugurated by the Deputy Education Minister Madura Seneviratne. Among those who attended the event were Nuwara Eliya Mayor Upali [...]
Mahanayakes call for a decorous Diyawadana Nilame election
By L. B. Senaratne The Mahanayakes of the Malwatta and Asgiriya chapters have cautioned those seeking to contest the position of the Diyawadana Nilame (Chief Custodian) of the Sri Dalada Maligawa to avoid personal attacks on other contestants, since this would adversely affect the Maligawa and the clergy. Already several candidates have announced that they [...]