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Home » NewsFrom reed to leather, economy upgraded
A step up budget bag: In February President Anura Kumara Dissanayake carried the budget proposals in a locally- manufactured bag with reed, but this time it was a leather bag he used.
Double cabs on use-and-return basis for all MPs
Announcement comes three days after tender closed for 1,775 pickup trucks — short notice breaches procurement guidelines By Namini Wijedasa Three days after closing the tender for an expedited multibillion-rupee double cab tender, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced in his budget speech that every Member of Parliament will receive a pickup truck each. The Finance [...]
Lower tax thresholds to create 30,000 new files, with inevitable price hikes
By S. Rubatheesan and Damith Wickremasekara With the government’s proposal to reduce the registration threshold of the Value Added Tax and the Social Security Contribution Levy, some 25,000 to 30,000 new tax files are expected to be opened, targeting revenue of over Rs 150 billion. The 2026 budget has proposed that the annual thresholds of [...]
Archbishop Gallagher’s sudden illness disrupts Lanka visit
The Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, fell ill in Sri Lanka while on a visit to commemorate 50 years of relations with the Holy See. Archbishop Gallagher, who arrived in Sri Lanka on November 3, met with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha [...]
CIABOC’s independence is undermined if Govt. controls funds, says DG
Commission and Fianance Ministry lock horns over interpretation of two Acts passed in 2023 and 2024 By Namini Wijedasa The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) is locked in a tug-of-war with the government over who controls its purse strings. CIABOC Director General (DG) Ranga Dissanayake insists that the framers of the Anti-Corruption [...]
Budget fails to redress retired teachers’ and principals’ grievances, protests to continue
By Dilushi Wijesinghe Despite weeks of protests and appeals by retired teachers and principals to their long-standing salary and pension grievances, they failed to get a response from the Budget. To gain attention to the issue, they held a protest outside Parliament on Friday ahead of the Budget proposal being read. The National Organisation of [...]
Tax holidays slashed for strategic development projects
The government this week gazetted an amendment to the 2008 Strategic Development Projects Act, reducing the maximum tax holiday period granted to any such project from 25 years to 10 years. Additionally, the Strategic Development Projects (Amendment) Bill prohibits the extension “under any circumstances” of the tax holiday period, which must commence on the certified [...]
Making exam centres mosquito-free
With the G.C.E. Advanced Level examination set to begin tomorrow, education and health authorities conducted final preparations to ensure a safe and conducive environment for candidates across the island. In addition to routine cleaning and maintenance work at examination centres, special dengue eradication programmes were carried out. Fogging operations were stepped up around schools and [...]
Businessmen arrested for unlawful selling of Sathosa garlic discharged
The Welisara Magistrate’s Court has ordered the discharge of two businessmen arrested over the incident where 54, 860 kilograms of garlic belonging to Lanka Sathosa had been unlawfully sold to a private business establishment. The two businessman, Velayudan Sridharan and Sinnathambi Kamala Kumar alias Kumara were ordered to be discharged from the case after Attorney [...]
Cabinet approves multi-million dollar bid for overhaul of four MI 17 helicopters
By Damith Wickremasekera Cabinet has approved a multi-million dollar bid for the overhaul of four MI-17 helicopters urgently needed by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF). The tender was awarded to the lowest evaluated substantially responsive bidder M/s Winsley Defence Group d.o.o. of Bosnia and Herzegovina whose local agent is M/s Securatec Lanka (Pvt) Limited. [...]
‘Swiss Kumara’ planned to sell Vidya rape and murder video to foreign underworld, SC hears
By Ranjith Padmasiri One of the suspects accused in the rape and murder case of Sivaloganathan Vidya in Punuguduthivu, Jaffna in 2015, had plans to sell the video of the incident to a foreign underworld gang, the Supreme court was told this week. Additional Solicitor General Azad Nawawi told the five-judge Supreme Court bench that [...]
Sri Lankan illegal activity in Maldivian waters apprehended
A Sri Lankan fishing boat with six fishermen was seized by the Maldivian Coast Guard with 300 kilograms of heroin and ‘Ice’ (crystal methamphetamine), Navy sources said. The detection was made based on intelligence reports from the Sri Lankan Navy. The drug consignment was reported to be owned by a large-scale drug trafficker. In a [...]
Longer school hours rational stirs questions
By Tharushi Weerasinghe and Sajeniya Sathanandan The Government’s decision to extend school hours as part of education reforms has drawn mixed responses from teachers, and unions. The Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education issued detailed guidelines last Tuesday, outlining a comprehensive restructuring of school timetables across Primary and Secondary grades, aimed at reducing the [...]
Infamous haul of ‘ice’ chemicals a red herring to cover drug traffickers’ tracks
By Ishu Bandra Tests carried out by the Government Analyst’s Department (GA) and the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) on samples taken from two sites in Kandana and Middeniya suspected to contain chemicals used for the production of methamphetamine (Ice) have found little or no trace of illicit substances. While the samples taken from [...]
Opposition questions lack of revenue generation proposals, action plans in budget
By Kasun Warakapitiya Opposition political parties reacting to the budget proposals for 2026 have questioned the practicality in implementing some of the plans, and say the proposals lack clarity. The opposition pointed out that though the expenses were spelt out, the ways of generating revenue, action plans and mechanisms to reach economic sustainability were not [...]
Depot falling to ruin
A building belonging to the Uva regional office of the Badulla Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) depot located in the Hindagoda area is in a state of neglect. The building was initially put up as a garment factory during former President Ranasinghe Premadasa’s programme and was later used for Covid patients. However, the building owned [...]
Banyan tree damages Ampitiya devala
A large Banyan tree collapsed onto the historic Ampitiya devala in Kendagolla, Badulla causing damage to the structure. The clearing operation and restoration was held up as wasp nests too were damaged in the process. Pic by Prasad Rukmal
Three individuals taken to custody related to Kotahena shooting
Three individuals– two men and a woman– were taken into custody last evening during an alleged attempt to flee the country, amid investigations into the recent fatal shooting in Kotahena believed to be tied to underworld figure Balachandran Pushparaj, alias “Pukudu Kanna.” The trio was arrested in Jaffna on suspicion of preparing to illegally cross [...]
President allows SriLankan Airlines strategic plan to work, if not, open to other options
By Kapila Bandara Other options will be considered for the national carrier if the strategic plan by the board and its management does not produce a justifiable outcome, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told Parliament Friday in his Budget 2026 presentation. “The board has been given a timeline. They have given us a plan. And if, [...]
Estate workers feel ‘déjà vu’ about budget bounties
By Sajeniya Sathanandan This year’s budget for the estate workers being almost similar to last year’s budget proposal which went unimplemented has prompted trade unions and workers to express displeasure and mistrust about the proposal. The difference between last year’s budget proposal and this year’s is that there has been an increase of Rs 50. [...]
Disappointing news for lit fans, no GLF in 2026
Organisers say financial model needs a refresh before festival returns in 2027 By Yomal Senerath-Yapa The much-anticipated 2026 edition of the Galle Literary Festival has been postponed with no new date set. The organisers have explained that the postponement is because they are “(undertaking) a comprehensive review of their financing model and operations to ensure [...]
6,500 million for Clean Sri Lanka programme
Rs 6,500 million has been allocated under the 2026 Budget for the continuation of the government’s Clean Sri Lanka programme. According to the budget proposal, the Clean Sri Lanka project is intended to go beyond environmental cleanliness and address broader ethical and social issues. The government says the initiative will focus on building a “clean [...]
Airport upgrades, destinations, and workforce buildup for tourism sector
By Tharushi Weerasinghe Several substantial allocations have been outlined in Budget 2026 to strengthen Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, with funding drawn mainly from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority and underused Tourism Development Funds. Rs 3.5 billion was allocated for a tourism destination development project focused on nature and historical heritage, including programmes for the [...]
Multi-billion support for differently-abled
The 2026 Budget introduced a series of measures aimed at improving the welfare and inclusion of Sri Lanka’s differently-abled community, estimated at around 1.6 million. Rs 19 billion has already been allocated for a monthly subsidy of Rs 10,000 to Rs140,000 under the Aswesuma programme. In addition, the existing gazette on accessibility regulations will be [...]
Lankan fruit exporter sentenced, fined for failure to pay seller
By Ranjith Padmasiri A Lankan businessman who had evaded payment amounting to more than USD 5 million for two container-loads of fruits he had imported from the US has been sentenced to three years’ rigorous imprisonment by the Colombo High Court. In addition to the prison sentence, High Court Judge Nadee Aparna Suwandurugoda ordered the [...]
Divisional Secretary fined for obstructing the Ambuluwawa cable car project
By Ranjith Padmasiri The Court of Appeal (CA) has issued a writ preventing Udapalatha Divisional Secretary Athma Dilrukshi Jayaratne from interfering or obstructing the Ambuluwawa cable car project. The CA also ordered the Divisional Secretary to pay Rs 100,000 as legal costs from her personal funds to the petitioner company, Amber Adventure (Pvt) Ltd. It [...]
AG directs CID to submit medical reports of former president to JMO
By Ranjith Pathmasiri The Attorney General (AG) has directed the CID to submit all medical reports presented to court to obtain bail for former President Ranil Wickremesinghe to the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) and obtain a full report. The AG has also directed that statements be recorded from the six medical doctors including a cardiologist, [...]
New three-judge High Court Trial-at-Bar to hear case against former minister and others
By Ranjith Padmasiri Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena has appointed 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 purchase of counterfeit immunoglobulin injections by the Health Ministry’s Medical Supplies Division. The new three-judge bench is headed by High Court Judge Priyantha [...]
SC judge Thurairaja-appointed acting Chief Justice
Supreme Court Justice S Thurairaja was appointed as the Acting Chief Justice by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake until the return of Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena from overseas. The Chief Justice is currently on an official overseas visit. Justice Thurairaja is the most senior Supreme Court judge and member of the Judicial Service Commission.
Chasing off elephants viewed with scepticism
By Kasun Warakapitiya Widespread concerns have been expressed over the impacts of ad hoc elephant drives launched last week and measures taken by the government to address the human elephant conflict. Environmentalists, researchers, conservationists as well as wildlife officers and senior officials expressed concerns over the impacts of the drives while communities living near area [...]
Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela at the helm of the Maligawa again
By L. B. Senaratne and Shane Seneviratne Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela was reappointed to the office of the chief lay custodian of the Dalada Maligawa with 195 votes from the electoral college and would be in office for 10 more years. Basnayake Nilame of the Kataragama Devale Daminda Bandara Udurawana came second with 50 [...]
Elephant drive ends up with flattened crops
By Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe Paddy farmers expressed displeasure over the government’s elephant drive as their crops get destroyed when elephants stampede across cultivated land. The farmers of Mahakumbukkadawala Mohoriya complained that a herd of 30 elephants have destroyed 50 acres of freshly cultivated paddy land within three days, laying waste to months of their toil [...]
Pioneers in battling diabetes highlight simple ways to keep silent killer at bay
On its 30th anniversary, the National Diabetes Centre pledges to continue the good work By Kumudini Hettiarachchi It was a commemoration and a commitment – the National Diabetes Centre (NDC) has been providing a ‘silent’ service to the public for 30 long years, while assuring the continuance of its work in combating the ‘silent’ [...]
Railway work environment found wanting for women
By Sajeniya Sathanandan Railway trade unions fear that recruiting women as engine driver, superintendent, station master and supervisory manager without addressing underlying issues will lead to problems. The concerns are related to inadequate washroom facilities, accommodation, leave and night duties. Unions insist that the railway is not suitable for women due to logistics and safety [...]
Uptick in living conditions as houses and housing units on the rise, census reveals
Gampaha overtakes Colombo as housing leader North/East provinces drive sharpest housing growth as modern amenities expand By Dilushi Wijesinghe Sri Lanka’s latest Census of Population and Housing has revealed a significant rise in housing units and steady improvement in living conditions. According to preliminary findings from the Department of Census and Statistics, the number [...]
Discovery of new reef ridge draws attention to these overlooked biodiversity hotspots
By Tharushi Weerasinghe New mapping has revealed that the Yakampita and Gingiripita patch reefs, located a few kilometres off the coast of Colombo, are connected by a reef ridge, creating a much larger ecosystem than previously recorded. An Urban Reef Biodiversity Mapping Project in Colombo, conducted by the Blue Resources Trust and funded by the [...]
Rare mammal makes public appearance
By Kasun Warakapitiya Visitors to the Dehiwela zoo can now catch a glimpse of a newborn Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx), at the Dehiwela zoo. The Director General at the National Zoological Gardens, Chandana Rajapaksa told the Sunday Times that the oryx was exhibited one month after birth. “This is not the first birth of an [...]
SCOPE programme concludes with “Echoes of Unity”
The closing event of the Strengthening Social Cohesion and Peace in Sri Lanka (SCOPE) programme, titled “Echoes of Unity”, took place on October 30, at the Galle Face Hotel, marking the culmination of three and a half years of work to advance social cohesion in Sri Lanka. Since March 2022, SCOPE has worked with more [...]
