Two suspects have been arrested in Divulapitiya for attempting to sell two Triton’s Trumpet conch shells valued at Rs. 60 million. Officials from the Western Regional Office of the Department of Wildlife Conservation arrested the suspects during a raid in the Divulapitiya area yesterday (29). Thereafter, the suspects were released on personal bail of Rs. 500,000 each, and are scheduled to be presented before the Minuwangoda Magistrate’s Court on November 4. (Newswire) The post 02 arrested for attempting to sell Rs. 60 Mn Conch Shells appeared first on Newswire.
The Sri Lankan Report
The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has announced that a nationwide trade union action will commence tomorrow (31), in protest against the arbitrary transfer procedure being implemented for doctors. The GMOA emphasized that if this transfer mechanism is enforced today (30), the responsibility for any disruptions in services at hospitals and healthcare institutions across the country must be borne by the authorities. The GMOA further said that the Ministry of Health’s decision to implement arbitrary transfers should be immediately suspended and should be carried out through a proper mechanism with the participation of relevant stakeholders and without any disruption to…
The government’s new initiative to eradicate the threat of narcotics, titled “United as a Nation – National Drive” (“රටම එකට – ජාතික මෙහෙයුම”), was launched under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo today. The event was attended by religious leaders, community safety committees, members of the police and tri-forces, as well as 50 foreign diplomats, all showing support for the national campaign. The primary goal of this initiative is to eliminate the drug menace and trafficking that has endangered the lives of Sri Lanka’s youth and schoolchildren. (Newswire) The post Govt launches national drug eradication programme (watch)…
A promising young Australian cricketer has died after being struck by a ball, with his local club saying Thursday they were “absolutely devastated”. Ben Austin, 17, was reportedly facing an automatic bowling machine in the nets with a helmet on before a Twenty20 game in Melbourne on Tuesday when he was hit in the head and neck area. He was rushed to hospital in critical condition and died Wednesday. “We are absolutely devastated by the passing of Ben, and the impacts of his death will be felt by all in our cricket community,” the Ferntree Gully Cricket Club said in…
Sri Lankan MP Muhammed Hizbullah says he had not been defrauded of $2 million in a fake gold deal in Ghana, clarifying that no monetary transaction had taken place during a business trip to the country. Addressing the media, MP Muhammed Hizbullah revealed he had accompanied three Saudi Businessmen as their advisor for a gold deal in Ghana. “The deal was to legally purchase gold in Ghana and deposit the money into the bank account of the seller. During the negotiation with the Ghanaian party, they requested that we provide the money to obtain the gold. However, we told them…
The artificial intelligence giant Nvidia on Wednesday notched yet another historic milestone, becoming the first company to be worth $5 trillion. The value of Nvidia alone is now worth more than the GDP of every country on earth, except for the United States and China, according to World Bank data. Three months ago, the company was worth $4 trillion and a little over two years ago, it was worth $1 trillion. On Wednesday, the company’s stock closed more than 3% higher, leaving its market value at $5.03 trillion. More than any of its competitors, Nvidia and its record run have…
Deepal Sri Lanka today unveiled its flagship 3S (Sales, Service & Spare Parts) showroom at 482, T. B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10, marking a major milestone in the brand’s expansion and support for the country’s rapidly growing EV community. The opening ceremony was graced by Mr. Gerad Fernando together with senior representatives from Changan Automobile, the global parent of Deepal. Designed as a one-stop destination for customers, the new flagship features dedicated sales suites, a modern service bay with trained EV technicians, genuine spare-parts counters, and a premium customer lounge. To further enhance ownership convenience, two on-site DC fast-charging units…
ECONOMYNEXT – Investors who want to build hotels in Sri Lanka are discouraged by high construction costs as well as energy prices, which is reducing yields, Board of Investment Chairman Arjuna Herath said. “One of the problems that the investors are facing at this moment on, on the hospitality side, is the yields,” Herath said. “The investments may not be very lucrative, given that the cost of construction is high. Energy cost is high and that is a limiting factor. “Despite that, there are fair amounts of investments that are flowing into the hospitality sector.” Sri Lanka has very high…
The National Lotteries Board (NLB) has disclosed that several lottery sales agents have been appointed through political influence, hinting at the involvement of current and former Parliamentarians. Addressing the media, NLB Chairman M.D.C.A. Perera revealed that it has been found that the politically appointed agents have failed to remit millions of rupees owed to the Board for years. He said several district agents have been selling tickets for the National Lotteries Board, with some having not paid their dues for over five years. “One such agent is Lakisha Tharangika Rajapaksha, appointed in 2016 on the recommendation of then Education Minister…
The Central Environment Authority (CEA) says the new directive of the Consumer Affairs Authority, making the SLS Product Certification Mark on water bottles mandatory, is effective from April 1, 2026. Issuing a notice, the CEA said the move has been taken to ensure public safety, particularly for children. According to the CEA, the products that must carry the SLS certification mark are as follows; Plastic bottles suitable for repeated use in carrying liquid beverages must comply with SLS 1616 specifications. Feeding bottles made of plastic materials for infants must comply with SLS 1306 specifications. The CEA further pointed out that…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s rupee opened around 304.45/55 to the US dollars in the spot market Thursday around the same levels as the closing a day earlier while bond yields were flat after a fall. The rupee has fallen from 302.55/60 to the US dollar from the beginning of the month. The central bank is no longer printing money through open market operations and is giving money only for clearing purposes at the ceiling rate, which encourages banks to fund credit with real deposits. Some short term rates have moved up which should support the rupee by discouraging non-deposit finance…
Mainly fair weather will prevail in most parts of Sri Lanka today, according to the Department of Meteorology. However, showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces after 4.00 p.m. Meanwhile, mainly fair weather will also prevail in the sea areas around the island. Winds will be South-westerly or variable in direction, and speed will be 25-35 kmph. The sea areas around the island will be slight to moderate. (Newswire) The post Fair weather expected in most parts of Sri Lanka today appeared first on Newswire.
National People’s Power (NPP) MP Nilanthi Kottachchi says she is not the person seen in the photo circulating on social media appearing alongside former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. She clarified that she did not attend the wedding ceremony mentioned on Mahinda Rajapaksa’s official page and was not invited to the event. The MP also warned that legal action will be taken if the photo has been edited or manipulated in any way. (Newswire) The post “That’s not me” — NPP MP denies viral photo with Mahinda Rajapaksa appeared first on Newswire.
The Police have launched investigations after three unidentified male bodies were discovered in two separate areas on Tuesday (Oct. 29). Two bodies were recovered within the Mattakkuliya Police Division — one along the Kaaka Island beach and another near the Kelani River mouth. Both victims remain unidentified and have been sent to the Colombo National Hospital morgue for post-mortem examinations. Meanwhile, in the Pamunugama Police Division, another unidentified male body was found behind an under-construction two-storey house in the Epamulla area. Police said the man, believed to be aged between 50 and 60 years, was wearing a black trouser and…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lana’s Carsons Cumberbatch Plc, which owns Indonesian oil palm plantations, said a new laws to protect forests had hit 12,152 hectares of land connected to group companies. “Changes relating to spatial planning and forest area management laws in the recent past have introduced additional requirements for plantation companies in Indonesia,” Carsons said in a stock exchange filing. “In compliance, relevant plantation companies of Goodhope Asia Holdings Ltd, a subsidiary of Carson Cumberbatch PLC and Bukit Darah PLC have submitted necessary applications to the relevant authorities. “Based on these new regulations, approximately 5,877 hectares of planted area and…
ECONOMYNEXT – The Federal Reserve will halt the sell down of government securities, from December 01 and switch agency debt and mortgage-backed securities into Treasuries, the monetary authority said. The Fed had sharply reduced its sell-down of government securities to just 5 billion dollars a month earlier as US Treasuries yields jumped on worsening government finances. In the October 29 monetary policy decision, the Fed said it will halt the reduction of its Treasuries holdings. From December 01, the Fed will reduce agency debt and mortgage-backed securities by 35 billion dollars a month and instead purchase Treasury bills. US 10-year…
Photo courtesy of Sri Lanka Barometer The Sri Lanka Barometer (SLB) has just released its latest report based on data from the 2025 SLB National Public Opinion Survey on Reconciliation. The report focused on three major themes: reconciliation, governance and civic engagement. Conducted in January and February of this year, the survey was administered as the new government came into power; a government whose political stance marked a clear departure from its predecessors. For the first time, Sri Lankans voted in a leftist government, signalling a shift in their expectations for governance. Within this changing context, the SLB 2025 Survey…
In the wake of controversy surrounding the government’s move to purchase big onions under several criteria, Agriculture Minister Lal Kantha said today the government has to maintain certain standards when purchasing produces like big onions.
The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) rebounded sharply on Wednesday, recovering from the previous session’s losses as renewed buying interest lifted investor sentiment. The market maintained a positive trajectory for most of the day, despite heightened volatility, with the All-Share Price Index (ASPI) swinging nearly 131 points between the day’s open and intraday high.
ECONOMYNEXT – The US Federal Reserve cut is policy rate by 25 basis points and said it was halting quantity tightening, citing unemployment though inflation was still high. “Available indicators suggest that economic activity has been expanding at a moderate pace,” the Federal Reserve said a statement. “Job gains have slowed this year, and the unemployment rate has edged up but remained low through August; more recent indicators are consistent with these developments. “Inflation has moved up since earlier in the year and remains somewhat elevated. The Committee decided to conclude the reduction of its aggregate securities holdings on December…