Former Minister of Tourism and Aviation Prasanna Ranatunga was granted bail today (12) by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court after being arrested earlier in the day by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). According to the Bribery Commission, Ranatunga was taken into custody over allegations of causing a financial loss exceeding Rs. 4 million to the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation in 2021. Investigations revealed that while serving as the Minister of Tourism and Aviation, Ranatunga had allegedly intervened in the procurement process for direct insurance covers for employees of several state tourism bodies, including the Sri…
The Sri Lankan Report
Sri Lanka on Wednesday launched a pilot project to deliver national birth certificates through the Sri Lanka Postal Courier Service, the Department of Registrar General announced. The initiative was inaugurated at the Gampaha District Secretariat under the patronage of Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government Chandana Abeyratne. It marks the beginning of a coordinated effort between the Registrar General’s Department and the Postal Department to ensure secure, accurate, and timely delivery of official documents. The program is being implemented under the “e-Civil Registration Programme,” through which birth certificates are now issued for children born after January 1,…
A three-wheeler driver has been arrested for allegedly overcharging a Nepali woman Rs. 30,000 for a short hired ride during her visit to Sri Lanka, police said Wednesday. The incident was reported to the Police Tourist Division on October 25. Following an investigation based on the suspect’s vehicle and physical description, officers arrested the driver on November 11 after identifying him during a motorcycle patrol. He was handed over to the Area Police for further legal action. Police said two other drivers from Imbulgoda and Wellampitiya had previously been arrested for similar incidents involving Brazilian and Belgian women who were…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka Customs has achieved its revenue target for 2025 on Tuesday (11), its spokesman said, helped by boosted vehicle tax after the import restrictions were relaxed early this year. “Sri Lanka Customs is very happy & proud to announce that on 11th November, it surpassed the revenue target set for the year 2025,” Customs Spokesman Chandana Punchihewa said. As of end Tuesday, 50 days before the end of 2025, it had collected a revenue of Rs 2117.2 billion (USD 7.06 billion), he stated in a statement sent to the media. Sri Lanka Customs revenue jump is largely…
By PM Heblikar Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya’s visit to India in October 2025 may not have produced major announcements or financial deals, but it could well mark a quiet turning point. By placing education and people-to-people learning at the heart of the conversation, both countries have added a new and thoughtful layer to their relationship — one built not on aid or defence, but on ideas, innovation, and shared growth. A People-Centred Approach to Neighbourhood Policy The visit fits naturally into India’s Neighbourhood 2.0 vision, which emphasises regional cooperation through shared knowledge and capacity-building rather than trade or…
The Sri Lanka Navy has seized around 742 kilos of Kendu leaves along with 03 dinghies during two separate operations in Chilaw this week. According to the Navy, the raids were conducted in the Negombo Lagoon and Karukapane Lagoon on Sunday (09) and Monday (10). SLNS Kelani, belonging to the Western Naval Command, recovered 16 packs of Kendu leaves weighing approximately 513kg from a suspicious dinghy during a search operation near the Kotalawala Bridge in the Negombo Lagoon. In another search operation conducted by the Rapid Action Boats Squadron (RABS) Headquarters in the Northwestern Naval Command in the Karukapane Lagoon,…
Australia has recently introduced important updates to its Skilled Migration and Work Visa programs announcing the Migration Program for the financial year 2025/26 commenced in July this year. Australian Government announced 185,000 new migration places, with 132,000 dedicated to skilled migration, this is a clear reflection of the nation’s strong and continuing demand for skilled professionals. Consequently, State and Territory Governments in Australia had opened State Nomination programs to attract skill migrants securing nomination allocations by Australian Government. Among Australian states, Victoria stands out for its exceptional opportunities, particularly for onshore applicants. Sri Lanka and Victoria share a close and…
The Sri Lankan Rupee has depreciated slightly against the US Dollar today (12), compared to Tuesday. According to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the buying rate of the US Dollar has increased from Rs. 300.50 to Rs. 300.58. Meanwhile, the selling rate of the Sri Lankan Rupee has also increased from Rs. 307.96 to Rs. 308.07. The Sri Lankan Rupee has also depreciated slightly against a basket of foreign currencies, including Gulf currencies. (Newswire) The post Today’s CBSL official exchange rates appeared first on Newswire.
Authorities have confirmed that 15 out of 82 Sri Lankan fugitives wanted under INTERPOL Red Notices, including for murder and other serious crimes, are currently residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), it was reported. State newspaper Dinamina reported, citing a senior police official, that UAE security agencies have notified INTERPOL of the presence of these individuals and are reportedly monitoring them closely. Among them is Lalith Kannangara, a notorious drug trafficker linked to organized crime, who was arrested by Dubai Police in October. Although efforts were made to extradite him to Sri Lanka, he has since filed an appeal…
Sri Lanka have fallen to fifth place in the ICC Men’s ODI rankings following their six-run defeat to Pakistan in the first ODI of the three-match series. The drop comes after a remarkable rise over the past year. Sri Lanka had climbed to fourth in the world following a dominant run of home series victories against Australia, India, New Zealand, West Indies, and Bangladesh. In early 2024, Sri Lanka were ranked ninth, having failed to qualify for the ICC Champions Trophy. However, the resurgence under new leadership and strong home performances propelled them into the top four of the global…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s first Automobile Industry Awards 2025 will recognize excellence and innovation, Chartered Automobile Engineer Ravith Silva said announcing the event to be held in February, 2026 at Temple Trees. “We often operate in our own silos, manufacturers, service providers, trainers, regulators and countless others, each doing remarkable work,” Silva said, adding that the awards aim to create a culture of recognition, setting both local and global benchmarks. The awards process will use the Malcolm Baldrige criteria in evaluating nominees and winners, Silva said. The event is planned with the goal of increasing global recognition of industry personnel…
The Dambulla Thunders franchise owner, Tamim Rahman, was formally indicted today (12) before the Colombo High Court over allegations of attempting to pressure a player into match-fixing during the 2024 Lanka Premier League (LPL). The case was heard before High Court Judge Udesh Ranatunga, where the Attorney General’s Department presented the indictment. Following the proceedings, the suspect was released on cash bail of Rs. 200,000 and two sureties of Rs. 1 million each. Appearing on behalf of the accused, President’s Counsel Kalinga Indatissa stated that Rahman had previously been remanded and later released on bail, and that the case had…
The Government of New Zealand has announced that applications will open for 2 new seasonal visa options from 8 December 2025. The new seasonal visa options which fall under the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) framework, are the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) and the Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV). According to the New Zealand Immigration Department, job checks and visa applications will commence in December for the two visas. These visas are being introduced to help accredited employees access more workers during periods of peak season activity. Full details of the visa requirements are as follows; The post New Zealand…
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Commission says former minister Prasanna Ranatunga has been arrested for causing a loss of over Rs.04 million to the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation in 2021. The former minister, who was arrested this morning, is scheduled to be produced before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Colombo. According to the Bribery Commission, Prasanna Ranatunga has been arrested on allegations that while serving as the Minister of Tourism and Aviation in 2021 he was involved in a corrupt transaction concerning the procurement of direct insurance covers for the employees of institutions under the Ministry of…
The Sri Lankan Rupee has depreciated slightly against the US Dollar at commercial banks in Sri Lanka today (12), compared to Tuesday. At Seylan Bank, the buying rate of the US Dollar has increased from Rs. 300.95 to Rs. 301.25, while the selling rate has also increased from Rs. 306.20 to Rs. 306.50. According to NDB Bank, the buying and selling rates of the US Dollar have increased from Rs. 300.90 to Rs. 301.25 and from Rs. 307.40 to Rs. 307.75, respectively. People’s Bank reports that the buying rate of the US Dollar has increased from Rs. 300.75 to Rs.…
ECONOMYNEXT – A Sri Lankan business delegation will visit Cambodia from November 14-18 to explore trade and investment opportunities in agriculture, logistics, manufacturing, renewable energy, tourism, and technology, The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said. The visit is organized by the chamber’s Sri Lanka – Greater Mekong Business Council (SLGMBC). “This visit is an important step in deepening Sri Lanka’s engagement with Cambodia and the Mekong region,” Nimal Ratnayake, SLGMBC President said. “There is real potential for collaboration across multiple sectors, and we hope to forge partnerships that bring long-term value to both nations.” The team will participate in the Cambodia…
Qatar Charity (QC) has constructed some 418 wells over the past 20 months in Sri Lanka, providing clean and safe drinking water to more than 28,100 people in underserved communities where public water networks are unavailable. The initiative aims to ease the daily struggle of thousands of families who previously had to walk long distances to fetch water, a challenge that posed health risks, physical and financial strain, particularly for children. Qatar Charity ensured that the wells were tailored to the needs of each targeted area. The initiative includes 45m-deep wells with overhead tanks and electric pumps, 22m wells with…
The Sri Lanka – Saudi Arabia Joint Business Council was established following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), making it the first-ever B2B Forum between the two countries. The MOU was signed between the Federation of Saudi Chambers (FSC) and the Sri Lanka Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (SLFCC) at the headquarters of the FSC in Riyadh on Tuesday (11). Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath said the Joint Business Council would serve as a catalyst to enhance the much-needed closer private sector interactions between the two countries. “I witnessed the launch of the historic Sri…
The Monaragala Division Crime Investigation Unit has arrested a suspect after a year for allegedly raping and impregnating an underage girl, it was reported. The 25-year-old suspect, a resident of Badulla, is reported to have allegedly raped an underage girl and fled from the area when she was found to be pregnant. Thereafter, he was employed at a livestock farm in Guruthalawa. Following a complaint filed by the victim, the Police had conducted investigations since August 2024. The suspect was arrested on Monday (10) and has been handed over to the Wellawaya Police for further investigations. (Newswire) The post Suspect…
A man who had been arrested for earning money by selling Facebook pages created using unauthorized photographs of women has been granted bail. It is reported that the suspect was presented before the court yesterday by the Cyber Crimes Division of the Criminal Investigation Department. The suspect had reportedly created Facebook pages using photographs of women, increased their reach and views to each having between 10,000 to 20,000 followers, and later sold those pages. Investigations found that he had sold the Facebook pages for between Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 2,000 and had transferred ownership of the pages by including the…