Five officers attached to the Narcotics Control Unit of the Department of Excise have been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over the theft of Rs. 102 million from two gold jewelry shops in Colombo. Police said the suspects — an inspector and four corporals — had arrived at the shops on Sea Street, claiming to be conducting an official raid. They allegedly seized the money and later filed a case in court, accusing the shop owners of possessing illegal cigarettes. Investigators said the officers had later returned Rs. 50 million of the stolen funds. The suspects were arrested…
The Sri Lankan Report
The 15th census in the series of population censuses conducted in Sri Lanka, the ” Census of Population and Housing – 2024,” was carried out from 7th of October to the second week of February 2025. The starting hour of the 19th December 2024, i.e. 2024.12.19, 00:00 hours, was designated as the “Census Moment” of this census. As in the 2012 census, the enumeration of persons was carried out according to their placeof usual residence, i.e., according to the de jure method In this census, the total population of Sri Lanka was reported as 21,781,800. Of this…
Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanaga S. Bodaragama today commenced the examination of evidence in the case filed by the Criminal Investigation Department against former State Minister Diana Gamage, who is accused of submitting false information to the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration in order to obtain a passport and remaining in Sri Lanka without a valid visa.
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Ports Minister Anura Karunathilaka visited Mumbai to attend two-day India Maritime Week 2025 and held discussions on advancing maritime technology and enhancing port skilling among many others, Indian High Commission in Colombo said. Minister Karunathilaka held a bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal and joined a Ministerial plenary of the India Maritime Week and met Ministers of several other countries as well. “The visit focused on discussions around advancing maritime technology, enhancing port skilling and training programs, and fostering the exchange of ideas to strengthen regional cooperation in the port and logistics sector,” the Indian High Commission…
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has once again confirmed its commitment to support the development of Sri Lanka’s port sector.
Five more suspects have been arrested over their involvement in the Louvre heist, Paris’ public prosecutor has said.
The National Transport Commission (NTC) has launched a data collection programme to regulate transport services, including three-wheelers, school transport, office transport, taxis, and special services, NTC Director General Commander (Rtd) Dr. Nilan Miranda said.
A gym in China drew mixed reactions after promising a Porsche for 50kg weight loss in three months.
K.P.N. Tharaka Niroshan Devapriya officially assumed duties today as the new Additional Commissioner General of the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT), marking an important milestone for the institution.
The Auditor General has called for urgent action to recover bonds, fines, overpaid salaries, allowances, and loan balances amounting to over Rs. 1.2 billion from medical officers who had breached their agreements and left government service as of October 31, 2024.
The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) announced that it will launch an islandwide strike from 8.00 a.m. tomorrow (31). The association said all hospitals across the country will take part, disrupting regular outpatient and treatment services. However, the GMOA stated that if health authorities provide a fair solution to their demands, the decision to continue the strike will be reconsidered. (Newswire) The post GMOA announces doctors’ strike tomorrow appeared first on Newswire.
The Department of Immigration and Emigration has withdrawn its earlier announcement requiring all short-stay visitors to Sri Lanka to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) from 15 October 2025. The department confirmed that the decision issued on 13 October 2025 has been revoked until further notice, and all ETA and visa-issuance services will continue to operate under the existing procedures. Travellers may therefore apply for visas under the same process that existed before 15 October 2025. (Newswire) The post Sri Lanka revokes mandatory ETA rule for short-stay visitors appeared first on Newswire.
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka stocks closed up 0.27 percent on Thursday ending a volatile session, after a volatile session, Colombo Stock Exchange data showed. The broader ASPI rose 62.41 points to end at 22,839.53; while the more liquid S&P SL20 moved 0.13 percent, or 7.92 points to close down at 6,202.71. Top negative contributors to the ASPI were Ceylinco Holdings (up 121.50 rupees at 3,358.25), Colombo Dockyard (up 38.50 rupees at 338.00), Singer (Sri Lanka) (up 4.80 rupees at 95.00), Ceylon Grain Elevators (up 16.75 rupees at 435.00) and Diesel & Motor Engineering Plc (up 82.75 rupees at 2,546.25). Top…
The 2024 Census of Population and Housing reports that Sri Lanka’s population is 21.7 million, with 51.7% females and 48.3% males. According to the Department of Census & Statistics, the census conducted in 2024 was the 15th Census of Population and Housing in the national census series, and was carried out from 07th October 2024 to the second week of February 2025. In this census, the total population of Sri Lanka was reported as 21,781,800, of which 51.7 per cent were females and 48.3 per cent were males. In the urban sector, 51.9 per cent of the population is female,…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s rupee closed at 304.35/54 to the US dollar in the spot market Thursday marginally stronger from 304.40/55 dealers said while bond yields were almost perfectly flat. The rupee has fallen 302.55/60 from the beginning of the month. Bond investors were taking stock of a 02 basis point rise in Treasury bill yields at yesterday’s auction, amid half the estimated volume of maturities being auctioned, market participants said. Longer term yields fell yesterday on good fiscal news. Longer term and short term yields however may be driven by different reasons, analysts say. In the past, a few…
The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) will launch an islandwide trade union action tomorrow (31) in protest against what it describes as an arbitrary transfer procedure being implemented by the Ministry of Health.
The Cinnamon Gardens Police recovered a bag containing 10 gas cartridges on the roof of the Commons Coffeehouse building located on Flower Road, Colombo 7.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today stressed that a strong people’s movement will be formed to eradictae the drug menace while calling drug addicts and drug dealers to stop their illegal practices.
The foundation stone laying ceremony for a Human Repeat Insult Patch Test (HRIPT) laboratory dedicated to cosmetic product testing was held under the patronage of the Minister of Industries and Enterprise Development, Sunil Handunneththi, today. The laboratory is being constructed jointly by the Ministry of Industries and Enterprise Development, in collaboration with the Industrial Development Board (IDB) and the Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (IBMBB) of the University of Colombo. The laboratory is scheduled to be completed before the end of 2027, with Rs. 24.383 million funded by the Ministry of Industries and Enterprise Development and Rs. 3…
The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) has introduced a 24-hour hotline in support of the government’s new initiative to eradicate the threat of narcotics, titled “United as a Nation – National Drive” (“රටම එකට – ජාතික මෙහෙයුම”). According to the President’s Office, the TRCSL has introduced the hotline’1818’ for this purpose, based on a request from the “United as a Nation” National Operations Committee. The hotline enables the public to report accurate information related to drug trafficking, distribution, or any suspicious drug-related activities. (Newswire) The post ‘1818’ hotline introduced for Govt’s drug eradication initiative appeared first on Newswire.