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Home » NewsA vow to serve people
Following a New Year tradition, public servants took a pledge on January 1, vowing to serve the people and the nation to the best of their abilities. Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, embroiled in a textbook controversy, is seen here taking her oath, while the inset shows Deputy Media Minister Dr Kaushalya Ariyaratne and the staff [...]
Light bill hike proposal linked to Rs. 11.5bn golden handshake
By Kapila Bandara A ‘golden handshake’ worth Rs 11.554 billion for workers choosing voluntary early exit will be funded by raising electricity tariffs from January to March, the Ceylon Electricity Board has proposed to the regulator. This generous payout, offered as a part of the CEB carve-out, is for 2,158 employees. Some staff could be [...]
In daring military raid, US captures Venezuela’s president Maduro
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) – President Donald Trump said yesterday that US forces had captured Venezuela’s leader Nicolas Maduro after bombing the capital Caracas and other cities in a dramatic climax to a months-long standoff between Trump and his Venezuelan arch-foe. After the capture of the Venezuelan President, Trump said he would not allow anyone to [...]
Recalled Grade‑Six English textbooks to be reissued minus two pages
The Education Ministry will not withdraw the controversial Grade Six English Language module textbook but will distribute it to schools after removing the references to the inappropriate website, Deputy Education Minister Madura Seneviratne said. He said all the books had been recalled and would be reissued after removing the two pages which refer to the [...]
E-passport tender: Award of Rs. 5.5bn contract imminent
The Department of Immigration and Emigration (DIE) has reportedly announced its “intention to award” the tender for a Rs. 5.5bn contract to personalise its upcoming e-passport consignments. While the name of the winning bidder has not been publicly released, authoritative sources revealed it to be Thales DIS Finland OY and its Sri Lankan partner, Just [...]
FACETS gem and jewellery exhibition unfolds in Colombo
FACETS Sri Lanka 2026 was officially inaugurated at Cinnamon Life – The City of Dreams, marking what the organizer calls was a significant milestone for Asia’s premier gem and jewellery exhibition. Now in its 33rd edition, the exhibition highlights Sri Lanka’s rich gem heritage while positioning the industry for its next phase of global growth. [...]
Farewell, nightingale
The final rites of legendary singer Latha Walpola were held on Wednesday at the Borella cemetery with full state honours, following a public viewing at Independence Square. Pic by Indika Handuwala
Extension of emergency regulations to be debated in Parliament Tuesday
Parliament will debate the extension of emergency regulations on Tuesday after President Anura Kumara Dissanayake extended by another month the regulations under the Public Security Ordinance. The emergency regulations were promulgated by the President on November 28, 2025 following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah. The regulations provided for the appointment of a Commissioner-General of [...]
New laws to deal with organised crimes and drug-related offences
By Damith Wickremasekera New legislation to deal with organised crimes and drug related offences will be presented to Cabinet this month as the Government moves to toughen laws relating to such crimes. The Organised Crimes Bill is in the last stages of being finalised, a senior government official said. “At present those engaged in organised [...]
CIABOC to probe complaint against five ministers and a deputy
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) is to study previous asset declarations of five Cabinet ministers and a deputy minister to ascertain whether they have amassed wealth illegally, a source said. This follows a complaint by a civil society activist, Kamantha Silva, against ministers Bimal Ratnayake, Dr Nalinda Jayatissa, Sunil Handunnetti [...]
Opposition Leader’s Office seeks clarification on constitutionality of COPE, COPA meetings
By Ranjith Padmasiri The Office of the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament has requested the Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadheera to clarify whether it is constitutional for the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) and Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) to hold meetings when the post of Auditor General is vacant. The Opposition Leader’s [...]
CIABOC to fill vacancies via secondment with 25% salary bonus
Officers with relevant experience are to be recruited on secondment to fill a large number of vacancies in the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). Officers recruited on secondment will be entitled to the salary and allowances applicable to their substantive post/position in the permanent service, together with a secondment allowance equivalent [...]
Ranil probe: AG requests extracts from CID team which travelled to UK
By Ranjith Padmasiri The Attorney General has informed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to submit extracts of further investigations conducted by a CID team which travelled to the UK as part of the probe into the alleged misappropriation of Rs. 16.6 million by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe. The AG has informed this in writing to [...]
Rs 11.5bn CEB ‘golden handshake’ to be funded with tariff increase
By Kapila Bandara A multibillion rupee ‘golden handshake’ for state workers choosing voluntary early exit will be funded by raising electricity tariffs from January to March, the Ceylon Electricity Board has proposed. The generous payout for 2,158 employees is estimated at Rs 11.554 billion. It is offered as a part of the CEB shakeup into [...]
Envoy nominee hearings show US, Sri Lanka on same wavelength on shared interests
By Kapila Bandara Sri Lanka has expressed interest in working closer with the United States, a veteran career diplomat nominated as the next ambassador to Colombo told Senate hearings, while promising he will protect US strategic interests. Eric S Meyer, a career Foreign Service officer who speaks five languages including Russian, Khmer, and French, told [...]
No signs of China Exim Bank loan for Central Expressway despite talks
By Namini Wijedasa A loan sought by the Sri Lankan government from the Exim Bank of China as part-funding for Stage 1 of the Central Expressway Project (CEP 1) has still not come through despite protracted negotiations, official sources said. The government has allocated Rs. 66.15bn through the 2026 budget to resume work on CEP [...]
Crash deaths rising; police advocate driver discipline
By Kasun Warakapitiya The police are calling on drivers to maintain self-discipline rather than depending on enforcement and awareness programmes as the road accident death toll continues to rise. Deaths in 2025 due to road accidents increased by 317 compared with 2024. The number of road accident deaths soared to 2,838 last year; it was [...]
Dispute between tuk tuks and app-based vehicles takes nasty turn amidst regulatory vacuum
By Sajeniya Sathanandan The disparity in fares between app-based hire vehicles and non-app-based tuk-tuks is fuelling disputes and sometimes violent clashes, while the government is still grappling with a standardised regulatory framework to address issues. In a recent incident, a 43‑year‑old taxi driver, Samanthi Pathiranage Wijesinghe, was assaulted by a group of about 30. It [...]
Racket selling chicken dead from various illnesses busted
Pix and text by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe A racket involving the illegal sale of dead chicken meat was busted in the Pallama area following a raid by Public Health Inspectors (PHIs), leading to the arrest of two suspects and the seizure of a large stock of meat that had been distributed to several other areas. [...]
Key study urges awareness-building as ‘cornerstone’ of cancer control
Poor public awareness on colorectal malignancies impede early detection for better survival outcomes By Kumudini Hettiarachchi It creeps up on unsuspecting people who not only ignore the tell-tale signs but are simply ignorant of the red flags. “Substantial gaps” have been found with regard to public awareness on colorectal cancer, by a new study, a [...]
UGC stops dean, department head appointments; FUTA decries interference in university autonomy
By Sajeniya Sathanandan State university academics are threatening to intensify their protests over the University Grants Commission’s decision to revise the system of appointing deans and department heads, a move they say undermines the autonomy of higher education institutions. In a letter to vice chancellors, the UGC urged them not to appoint new deans or [...]
A New Year awash with colour and hope
By Dilushi Wijesinghe As the clock struck midnight, bursts of colour lit up the skyline as Sri Lanka stepped into 2026 with a blend of devotion and celebration in the wake of recent hardships caused by Cyclone Ditwah. While some welcomed the New Year with music and fireworks, thousands marked the transition with religious observances. [...]
Deminers prepare ground for livelihoods pushing through funding challenges
By Kevin de Alwis Clearing Sri Lanka’s remaining landmines is not only dangerous it is expensive, time-consuming, and increasingly underfunded. Despite steady progress over the years, The HALO Trust now faces mounting financial and operational challenges that threaten efforts to clear all mines from Sri Lanka by 2028 under the Ottawa Convention. “It costs about [...]
Some thorny issues to fix for a greener 2026
By Malaka Rodrigo As Sri Lanka enters 2026, it carries forward a familiar set of unresolved environmental crises, which are long-standing problems that resurface year after year with little lasting progress. From climate-driven floods and landslides to human–wildlife conflict, forest loss, coastal erosion and pollution, these issues persist not for lack of answers but due [...]
Laws to shift responsibility for packaging on to producers
By Nidarshani Wickramasinghe Laws will be introduced to make manufacturers take responsibility for polythene and plastic products, Environment Minister Dammika Patabendi told the Sunday Times. The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) concept has already been included in the proposed amendments to the National Environment Act. The draft Bill, approved by the Cabinet, is likely to be [...]
Chief Justice visits Kandy court, revival of complex in progress
By Ranjith Padmasiri Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena has suggested practical steps in reconstruction of cases in the wake of a large number of documents and case files being destroyed due to the flooding of the Kandy Court complex. The Chief Justice who visited the Kandy Court premises has suggested that among the practical steps [...]