ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka planning to 60,000 state workers in the future to fill ‘vacancies’ after allocating tax money to to hire 30,000 workers in the current year, a media report said. Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Chandana Abeyratne was quoted as saying by the online portal of Sri Lanka’s Newsfirst televison that the process to fill positions in the Sri Lanka Administrative Service, Sri Lanka Engineering Service, Planning Service, and Accountants’ Service has already started. Based on the recommendations of a Cabinet-appointed subcommittee, 226 candidates are being recruited to the Sri Lanka Engineering Service, the…
The Sri Lankan Report
In a milestone for representation and grassroots politics, Zohran Mamdani has been elected Mayor of New York City — becoming the first Ugandan-born American to lead the nation’s largest city.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday night responded to the Democratic Party’s dominant performance, where they swept all of the night’s big races, in the first big election since his return to the White House. Trump suggested that the Republican Party’s poor performance was a result of his name not appearing on the ballot and the prolonged government shutdown. “‘TRUMP WASN’T ON THE BALLOT, AND SHUTDOWN, WERE THE TWO REASONS THAT REPUBLICANS LOST ELECTIONS TONIGHT,’ according to Pollsters,” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform. Trump didn’t specify which “pollsters” he was citing in the post, but…
The newly appointed Commissioner General of Ayurveda, A.M.G.N. Deepti Sumanasena, will officially assume duties at the Department of Ayurveda office in Navinna, Maharagama tomorrow (06). Sumanasena is a senior officer of the Special Grade of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service. Prior to this appointment, she served as the Commissioner of Labour at the Department of Labour. Her career includes roles as Assistant Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner within the same department, as well as a tenure as Ministerial Advisor at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Kuwait. With extensive experience in public administration, Deepti Sumanasena brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership…
The Sri Lanka Navy has seized 02 boats with about 38 kilos of Kerala cannabis, with a street value exceeding Rs. 08 million, during a search operation conducted in the Uchchamunai Lagoon in Kalpitiya yesterday (04). The boats were seized following a search operation mounted by deploying a naval craft in the Uchchamunai coastal vicinity by SLNS Vijaya in the Northwestern Naval Command. According to the Navy, the boats loaded with 18 parcels of Kerala cannabis, weighing approximately 38 kilos, were taken into naval custody. The stock of Kerala cannabis and the bots were handed over to the Police Narcotic…
Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa met with Om Birla, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, for a productive discussion focused on deepening parliamentary cooperation and sharing procedural best practices.
The opposition has announced a major rally on November 21, as a first warning to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, demanding that he fulfills the election pledges made to the nation. They say the protest is also to oppose any attempts to suppress opposition parties.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa met with Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar in New Delhi during his official visit to India, engaging in a wide-ranging discussion on strengthening bilateral ties and regional cooperation. The meeting focused on advancing the India–Sri Lanka partnership through enhanced connectivity, trade, and economic collaboration. Minister Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s continued support to Sri Lanka, recalling New Delhi’s assistance during the island’s economic crisis, and stressed the importance of using this period to shape a long-term recovery plan. Premadasa outlined Sri Lanka’s roadmap for sustained growth and reforms, highlighting the need for debt sustainability as…
The Education Ministry has opened applications for the 10th intake of the Interest-Free Student Loan Scheme (IFSL), offering thousands of students the opportunity to pursue degree programmes at recognized non-state higher education institutes.
The Children and Women’s Affairs Ministry has raised serious concern over a rapid increase in the number of women addicted to drugs in Colombo and nearby cities.
Amidst the Tsunami Exercise (IOWave25) scheduled in several coastal districts today, Director General of the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) Maj. Gen. Sampath Kotuwegoda (Retd.) yesterday revealed that all 77 Tsunami Early Warning Towers in the country are not operative at the moment.
At least three people were killed and 11 injured after a UPS (UPS.N), opens new tab wide-body cargo plane crashed in Louisville, Kentucky, erupting into a massive fireball shortly after takeoff, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said on Tuesday.
ECONOMYNEXT – John Keells CG Auto, agents for BYD in Sri Lanka says 3,700 vehicles were delivered to customers in the September 2025 quarter, taking the total sold since vehicle imports were re-opened to 6,000 units. “We currently have a further 3,800 orders for delivery in the ensuing months,” John Keells Holdings told shareholders. “The strong performance of JKCG during the quarter was driven by the number of vehicles handed over to customers. “The business continues to enjoy a dominant market position, particularly in the electric vehicle (EV) segment driven by the strong brands of BYD and JKCG.” JKCG has…
Secretary General of the Sri Lanka–Russia Friendship Society and Head of the Russian Geographical Society in Sri Lanka, Saman Weerasinghe, has been conferred one of Russia’s highest civilian honours, the Order of Friendship (Orden Druzhby). According to reports, one of Russia’s most prestigious civilian honours was conferred on Saman Weerasinghe by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow on Russian National Unity Day (04 Nov). Saman Weerasinghe received the honour in recognition of his decades-long contribution to strengthening diplomatic, cultural, and economic relations between the two nations. “Saman Weerasinghe makes a great contribution to strengthening cultural and humanitarian…
SE Apparels has entered into a USD 6 million agreement with the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI). Star Garments Group and Epic Group Hong Kong have collaborated on this new initiative. The joint venture was formed through the founding of SE Apparels and represents a new chapter of growth strategy and collaboration for Star. This joint venture brings Epic Group’s scale and operational skills together with Star’s precision craftsmanship, creative innovation, and luxury garment leadership, enhancing Sri Lanka’s position in global apparel manufacturing. SE Apparels is founded on the common ideals of sustainability, innovation, and quality, as well…
Sri Lanka’s fast-expanding e-commerce sector is currently operating in a policy vacuum as critical regulatory gaps undermine consumer protection, transparency, and trust in the digital marketplace.
A parcel suspected to contain 10 packets of narcotics has been seized while floating in the seas off the Katukurunda Beach area in Kalutara South this morning. According to the Police, the parcel was found based on information received by the Police Special Task Force (STF) Camp in Katukurunda. Upon inspection, it was confirmed that the parcel contained 11.9 kilos of Hashish. Investigations are ongoing to uncover information regarding the suspects and other details connected to this drug parcel. The drugs have been handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau for further investigation. (Newswire) The post Floating high : 11.9…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s GP Labs, which has started operations as the island’s first plastic testing facility said it will validate recycled material boosting the sector, supporting recycling and polymer manufacturing sectors. “GP Labs is a major step forward for Sri Lanka’s recycling and manufacturing industries,” said Yugantha Perera, Chief Technical Officer at GP Certified. “It not only promotes quality but also builds the credibility of recycled plastics for local and global markets.” The lab is fully equipped to evaluate common plastic types like PET, HDPE, LDPE, PP, PVC, and PS in various forms including pellets, flakes, and finished goods.…
JAT Holdings PLC today announced the acquisition of Mirotone (NZ) Limited, the market leader in industrial wood coatings across New Zealand and a globally respected coatings brand established in 1935. The acquisition of Mirotone gives JAT not only a powerful brand but also a passport to the world — with immediate reach across Australia and future access to markets in Europe and the Americas. With Mirotone’s nine-decade heritage of innovation, technical mastery, and international credibility, JAT now inherits a Company and brand that has supplied advanced wood finishing solutions to premium furniture manufacturers, cabinet makers, and industrial partners worldwide. The…
CCTV footage of the shooting incident near the Ambalangoda Urban Council, in which a businessman was killed, has been released to the media. The video footage shows a red car knocking over the motorcycle of the victim, after which the victim was chased by the gunman and shot. The suspects are later seen fleeing in the car after the shooting. The victim, who sustained serious injuries in the shooting, succumbed to injuries at the Balapitiya Hospital. The deceased is a 54-year-old businessman. The Police are conducting investigations to arrest the suspects involved in the shooting. (Newswire) The post CCTV footage…