President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has raised concerns over a building project at the historic Peliyagoda Vidyalankara Pirivena that has remained incomplete for nearly two decades, despite repeated allocations of public funds. Speaking at the “Yelasiya Abiman” 150th anniversary celebration held at the Kelaniya Vidyalankara International Buddhist Conference Hall on Sunday (2), the President said the construction, which began in 2005, has yet to be completed due to inefficiencies and neglect within the State mechanism. He noted that a large section of the building remains unused, with issues such as missing copper wiring, lack of electricity, and deterioration of walls, despite…
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A suspect known as ‘Madusankha’, alias ‘Samaposha’, who is believed to be a member of an organized criminal gang, has been arrested by the police. The arrest was carried out by the Colombo North Division Crime Investigation Unit. According to the Police, the suspect is a close associate of Gamagedara Saranga Pradeep, also known as ‘Welle Saranga’, a notorious organized criminal and major drug trafficker. The suspect was apprehended in the Grandpass area, and the Police recovered 26.890 grams of ICE narcotics in his possession. The Police further stated that the suspect is also connected to five separate murder cases.…
A large catch of Thick-lipped Trevally fish valued at over Rs. 10 million has been reported from the Udappuwa area in Chillaw. According to reports, with the start of the fishing season, a stock of approximately 15,000 kilos of fish was found in a fishing net in Udappuwa. The owner of the net was informed by fishermen that a large number of fish had been caught while inspecting the net around noon on Saturday (01). Due to the inability to handle the catch with a single net and to prevent the fish from escaping back into the sea, two additional…
A 46-year-old woman from Dematagoda, arrested for obstructing police duties and acting aggressively during a traffic law-enforcement incident, has been further remanded until November 10. She was produced before the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court, which issued the extension order. Police said the woman had continued to drive her car despite being ordered to stop for a traffic violation, leading to her arrest and subsequent remand. (Newswire) The post No bail again for fake DIG Sister appeared first on Newswire.
ECONOMYNEXT – DFCC Bank’s proposed blue bond to raise 3 billion Sri Lanka rupees has been given a final national long-term rating of ‘A(lka)’ by Fitch Ratings. The bonds will be the first listed blue bond issuance in Sri Lanka. The Fitch statement is reproduced below: Fitch Assigns DFCC Bank’s First Blue Bond Final ‘A(lka)’ Rating Fitch Ratings – Colombo – 03 Nov 2025: Fitch Ratings has assigned DFCC Bank PLC’s (A(lka)/Stable) proposed Sri Lankan rupee-denominated senior unsecured listed blue bonds of up to LKR3 billion a final National Long-Term Rating of ‘A(lka)’. The final rating is the same as…
The Judicial Service Commission has removed twenty officials, including judges, from their duties within the judicial service, it was reported. According to the Lankadeepa newspaper, among those removed are a High Court judge, several District Court judges, and Magistrates. Out of the twenty individuals, the services of seven have been completely terminated, while the remaining officials have either been suspended from duty or subjected to compulsory retirement. The Judicial Service Commission took these actions following investigations into public complaints received against certain judicial officers. Those facing serious allegations, such as corruption, were formally charged and subjected to disciplinary inquiries. Following…
The Sri Lankan Rupee remains steady against the US Dollar at commercial banks in Sri Lanka today (03), compared to last Friday. At Seylan Bank, the buying rate of the US Dollar remains unchanged at Rs. 301.15, while the selling rate also remains unchanged at Rs. 306.40. According to NDB Bank, the buying and selling rates of the US Dollar are unchanged at Rs. 301.25 and Rs. 307.75, respectively. People’s Bank reports that the buying rate of the US Dollar remains unchanged at Rs. 301, while the selling rate is also unchanged at Rs. 307.63. At Commercial Bank, the buying…
Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations of the Holy See, arrived in Sri Lanka today, on an official six-day state visit. According to Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher was received by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arun Hemachandra upon his arrival in Sri Lanka. Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher will remain in Sri Lanka until 08th November, the visit being undertaken at the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the Holy See, in the…
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa left for India on an official three-day tour today. During the visit, he is expected to meet several government ministers and high-ranking officials. MP Sajith Premadasa is also expected to attend several events while in India. The Opposition Leader left the country for India a short while ago. (Newswire) The post Sajith leaves for India on official visit appeared first on Newswire.
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s JAT Holdings subsidiary, JAT Exports DMCC, has acquired Mirotone (NZ) Limited in New Zealand for 4 million Australian dollars. “This acquisition includes the company’s intellectual property portfolio, including proprietary formulations, brands, technology assets, and international business,” the company said in a stock exchange filing. “This includes an acquisition value of AUD2.5 Million for 100% ownership of Mirotone (NZ) Limited and an additional AUD 1.5 Million for working capital infusion, modernization of manufacturing operations in New Zealand, and the relaunch of Mirotone’s legacy brand in the Australian market.” The asset sale and purchase agreement was signed on…
The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has ordered the dismissal of three petitions filed seeking a writ order to nullify a directive issued by the Colombo High Court to freeze assets belonging to family members of former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella. The asset freeze was linked to an investigation conducted by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption. Members of Keheliya Rambukwella’s family had submitted these petitions. After reviewing the preliminary facts of the petitions, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, presided over by Justice Janak de Silva, issued the order for dismissal. (Newswire) The post SC dismisses…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka average coconut prices rose 0.86 percent after falling over three weeks at a weekly auction, Coconut Development Authority (CDA) data showed. The average price for 1,000 nuts was 129,171.51 rupees on October 30. The number of nuts offered declined to 347,005 from 302,679 a week earlier, while nuts sold moved to 288,464 from 214,469. In the local market, the wholesale price for a large nut was 175-185 rupees, while small nuts were 150-165 a piece on October 30. The Farmgate price in Kurunegala was 130-140 rupees a nut. Copra was 100,000 to 112,500 rupees per 250…
A powerful magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck northern Afghanistan early on Monday near the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of Balkh province. A health department spokesperson for the neighboring Samagan province said at least seven people have died and 150 were injured, Reuters news agency reported. Afghanistan’s national disaster management agency said on X that five had died and reported a similar number of injuries. Hurriyat Radio Pashto reported a higher death toll in Samagan, saying that 20 people had been killed there. The pro-Taliban radio said that another 19 people have died in Kholm district. The death toll from the…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s rupee opened at 304.45/55 to the US dollar in the spot market Monday from 304.35/45 the previous day, dealers said, while bond yields were steady. A bond maturing on 15.02.2028 was quoted at 9.00/07 percent. A bond maturing on 01.07.2028 was quoted at 9.15/17 percent, up from 9.12/17 percent. A bond maturing on 15.09.2029 was quoted at 9.55/60 percent. A bond maturing on 15.12.2029 was quoted at 9.57/62 percent. A bond maturing on 01.07.2030 was quoted at 9.75/76 percent. A bond maturing on 15.03.2031 was quoted at 10.00/10 percent. A bond maturing on 15.10.2032 was quoted…
Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces after 2.00 pm today. According to the Department of Meteorology, mainly fair weather will prevail in the other areas of Sri Lanka. Misty conditions can be expected at some places in the Central, Sabaragamuwa and Uva provinces during the midnight and early hours of the morning. Meanwhile, mainly fair weather will prevail in the sea areas around the island. Winds will be South-westerly or variable in direction, and speed will be 20-30 kmph. Wind speed can increase up to 40-45 kmph at times in…
Deepti Sharma and Shafali Verma guided India to a historic 52-run victory over South Africa which saw the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 hosts lift the trophy for the first time.
Two men have been arrested by the Wattala Police for allegedly behaving in a disorderly manner and verbally abusing a female Buddhist monk near the Rathnawali Temple in Kerawalapitiya, Wattala. Police said the suspects, aged 58 and 67, are residents of Wattala. The incident, which occurred on Sunday night (2), was captured on video and has since gone viral on social media. Both suspects are to be produced before the Welisara Magistrate’s Court today (3). (Newswire) The post Two arrested for verbally abusing Buddhist nun in Wattala appeared first on Newswire.
Police said five men and five women were arrested in connection with obstructing duties and attacking Police officers of the Kilinochchi Special Task Force during an illegal liquor raid in the Sudalakulam area on Sunday morning (Nov 2). During the operation, a group armed with iron and wooden poles reportedly attacked the officers and helped a suspect escape. Two STF officers were injured and admitted to the Kilinochchi Hospital. The arrested suspects, aged between 16 and 45, are residents of Ramanadapuram. They are to be produced before the Kilinochchi Magistrate’s Court today (Nov 3). Ramanadapuram Police are conducting further investigations.…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s central bank has bought 177.3 million dollars from people in September 2025, a month in which an external ‘current account’ deficit was recorded for the first time in the year, official data shows. Post World War II central banks which print money to cut rates, rejecting classical economics, usually blame ‘current account deficits’ for forex shortages and depreciation, reverting to beliefs held by classical Mercantilists that the trade deficit (deficit in the commercial balance) depreciated money and not the flawed operating framework of the note issuing authority. RELATED : Sri Lanka’s central bank, IMF, World Bank…
India have won by 52 runs. They have won the Women’s World Cup for the first time!