Sri Lankan sports fans have plenty to look forward to this weekend. Whether it’s Premier League football, top-level cricket, or the thrill of Formula 1 in Brazil, there’s a full line-up of matches and moments waiting to be enjoyed.
The Sri Lankan Report
A writ petition has been filed at the Court of Appeal by notorious organized criminal and drug trafficker Salindu Malshika Gunarathne, alias “Kudu Salindu”. It is reported that the writ petition has been filed requesting the court to suspend the INTERPOL red notice issued for his arrest by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The writ petition filed through Kudu Salindu’s lawyers was taken up for consideration by the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya, and Justice Priyantha Fernando yesterday. The court granted leave to proceed with the petition on 30 January 2026. The Attorney General’s Department informed…
Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs, Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, has issued a special gazette notification appointing a new Archaeological Advisory Committee. The committee comprises 19 members, both monastic and lay, and is chaired by Venerable Wendaruwe Dharmakeerthi Sri Rathanapala Upali Nayaka Thera, Chief Incumbent of the Polonnaruwa Solosmasthana Rajamaha Viharaya, Anunayaka Thera of the Asgiri Maha Vihara Chapter of the Maha Viharawanshika Shyamopali Maha Nikaya. According to the gazette, the committee’s term will be effective from 10th March 2025 to 09th March 2027. Gazette : https://documents.gov.lk/view/extra-gazettes/2025/11/2460-56_E.pdf (Newswire) The post Gazette issued appointing 19-member Archaeological Advisory Committee appeared first…
A key associate of organized criminal Avishka Eshan, alias “Kalubowila Avishka”, has been arrested with 9.4 grams of heroin. The suspect was apprehended while transporting the narcotics in a three-wheeler, allegedly for distribution within the Kohuwala Police Division. Investigations have revealed that the suspect is a primary operative in the drug trafficking network run by “Kalubowila Avishka”, a large-scale drug trafficker currently residing overseas. (Newswire) The post Key associate of organized criminal ‘Kalubowila Avishka’ arrested appeared first on Newswire.
An 11-year-old boy from Katukurunda has tragically died after being hit by a lorry while riding a bicycle near the Wettumakada junction on the Galle -Colombo main road. The incident occurred last night (07) when a lorry travelling from Galle towards Colombo collided with the child, who was cycling along the road. The boy, who sustained critical injuries, was rushed to the Kalutara Nagoda Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. The driver of the lorry has been taken into custody. The Kalutara South Police are conducting further investigations. (Newswire) The post 11 yr old boy killed in a…
Three suspects were arrested in the Seenigama area in Galle today (08) in possession of over 3 kilos of heroin. The arrest was made during a joint raid conducted by officers of the Southern Province Special Operations Unit of the Police Special Task Force (STF), acting on intelligence received from military intelligence officers. The suspects are currently in custody as investigations continue. (Newswire) The post Three arrested with over 03 kilos of heroin in Galle appeared first on Newswire.
The Colombo Permanent Trial-at-Bar has rejected bail applications submitted by former minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and former Lanka Sathosa Chairman Nalin Fernando, who were sentenced to prison in connection with the Carrom Board case. The bail requests were filed on the grounds that both individuals had appealed their convictions, but the court ruled that the reasons presented were not sufficiently exceptional to warrant release pending appeal. The decision was delivered by a three-judge bench comprising Priyantha Liyanage, Viraj Weerasuriya, and P.M.T. Bandara yesterday (07). In its ruling, the bench emphasized that when a convicted individual seeks bail during the appeal process,…
The individual killed in the shooting reported in Kotahena yesterday (07) has been identified as a 41-year-old man from the area. According to CCTV footage of the incident, the victim, who was walking on the road, was shot by gunmen who had arrived in a car. The suspects are seen fleeing the area in the car following the shooting. The Police suspect that the victim was a follower of organized criminal Kanjipani Imran and that the shooting may have taken place due to a dispute between two criminal gangs. The Kotahena Police have launched a probe to arrest the suspects.…
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Finance Ali Sabry has praised the National People’s Power (NPP) Government for staying on course with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) parameters in the Budget 2026. Issuing a statement, former MP Ali Sabry said President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s administration took decisions that few would dare to take in the face of public anger, decisions that cost him the presidency but saved the nation from bankruptcy. He pointed out that yesterday’s budget presented by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is the continuation of the same path, determined to stay on course with IMF parameters. “Yet, leadership is…
A 56-year-old Sri Lankan was saved from drowning while bathing in the seas off the Ethukala beach in Negombo. According to the Police, the man had suddenly been swept away by a strong wave while bathing last evening (07). He was rescued by three lifeguards attached to the Ethukala Police who were on duty at the time. The rescued individual has been identified as a 56-year-old man from Gampola. (Newswire) The post Sri Lankan rescued from drowning in Negombo appeared first on Newswire.
The Court of Appeal has issued a writ order against the Gampola Divisional Secretary, preventing any unauthorized interference or obstruction in the operations of Sri Lanka’s first cable car project, currently under construction in the Ambuluwawa area. The court yesterday (07) also ordered the Divisional Secretary to pay Rs. 100,000 in legal costs to the petitioner. The ruling was delivered by Justice Gihan Kulatunga in response to a writ petition filed by Amber Adventure (Pvt) Ltd, the company implementing the project. In its petition, the company stated that all necessary approvals had been obtained from relevant government agencies to proceed…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka should control the pressure on the exchange, President Anura Kumara Disssanayake said, presenting a budget for 2026, as the so-called ‘flexible’ exchange rate weakened steadily over 2025, amid current account surpluses. “We saw two billion rupees of imports in September,” President Dissanayake said. “There are inputs for export and also machinery. We have to capture exports. “So we have to control the pressure on the dollar. We have some time.” Sri Lanka’s rupee has weakened from 297.57 to the US dollar by end January 2025 to 304.42 rupees to the end of October 2025, amid record…
ECONOMYNEXT – Bank of Ceylon will issue a two hundred million debentures to raise a total of 20 billion rupees, it said in a stock exchange filing. The Basel III compliant, tier 2, listed, rated, unsecured, subordinated, redeemable 5-year sustainability bonds with non-viability write down features will be issued at 100 rupees each. Initially hundred million debentures will be issued, the bank said, with an option to issue a further 50,000,000 in the event of an oversubscription of the initial issue, and another 50,000,000 if there’s an oversubscription of the second tranche. The issue is subject to obtaining necessary regulatory…
WEATHER FORECAST FOR 08 NOVEMBER 2025 Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 08 November 2025 Showers or thundershowers will occur at most parts of the island after 1.00 p.m. Fairly heavy falls above 75 mm are likely at some places in Uva, Southern, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces. Showers or thundershowers may occur in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western and Southern provinces and in Ampara district in the morning too. The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers. The post Weather today: Showers expected in most parts of…
ECONOMYNEXT- Sri Lanka is expecting to restructure the defaulted debt of the national carrier by December, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said, presenting a budget for 2025. Sri Lanka had borrowed 175 million dollars through a 5-year bond which now has coupon arrears. The bond has a sovereign guarantee. “The debt is now around 210 million US dollars,” President Dissanayake said. “We hope to restructure it before December. “We hope our credit rating will improve further then.” Fitch and Standard and Poor’s had raised Sri Lanka’s sovereign rating from default to CCC+, and Moody’s to Caa1, President Dissanayake said. Creditors to…
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, during his budget speech today, took a brief detour from fiscal matters to make a light-hearted remark aimed at an opposition MP.
The budget of the NPP–controlled Soranatota Pradeshiya Sabha was voted out today by three votes.
The President seems to be confused with his new neo-liberal free market ideology and his party’s protectionist industrial policy production economy concept, SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva said today.
The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) saw a strong rally today, with the All-Share Price Index (ASPI) crossing the 23,300 milestone, fueled by investor optimism ahead of the upcoming GOSL 2026 budget discussions. Momentum was largely driven by blue-chip and heavyweight counters, sustaining bullish sentiment throughout the session.
The Ape Janabala Party has announced its decision to extend full support to the current government led by the National People’s Power (NPP).