Showers or thundershowers will occur in most parts of Sri Lanka after 1.00 pm today, according to the Department of Meteorology. Heavy falls of about 100 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Northwestern and Uva provinces and in the Galle and Matara districts. Showers may occur in the Western and Southern provinces in the morning too. The public is requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers. Meanwhile, showers or thundershowers will occur in the sea areas off the coast extending from Kankasanthurai to Pottuvil…
The Sri Lankan Report
A special discussion was held yesterday (13) at the Presidential Secretariat between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and representatives of plantation companies regarding the proposed increase in estate workers’ daily wage. The discussion focused on the proposal to raise the daily wages of plantation workers in line with the salary increases granted to public and private sector employees in the previous budget. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized the importance of ensuring a living wage for plantation workers and improving their living standards. The President also discussed with the company representatives the methodology for implementing the wage increase. During the meeting, representatives…
Five suspects, including Ishara Sewwandi, wanted in connection with the murder of underworld figure Ganemulla Sanjeewa at the Hulftsdorp Magistrate’s Court, have been arrested in Nepal, police said. Sewwandi, a 25-year-old woman identified as the main suspect, was accused of aiding and abetting the gunman who shot dead Sanjeewa Kumara Samararatne, alias Ganemulla Sanjeewa, inside Court No. 5 of the Hulftsdorp Magistrate’s Court on February 19. Since the day of the shooting, Sewwandi had been evading arrest, with police having little information about her whereabouts. She was reportedly hiding overseas under a false identity. The arrests were made in coordination…
The staff and patients of the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in Galle have been left vulnerable to an increasing number of stray dogs roaming freely within the hospital premises.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake held a special discussion with representatives of plantation companies regarding the proposed increase in the plantation workers’ daily wage.
A tense situation was reported this afternoon after a trade union representative of the Joint National Freedom Employees Union was removed from the discussion with Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody and trade union leaders of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB).
The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) experienced a volatile trading session today, with the market oscillating between the 22,200 and 22,400 levels before closing with mixed sentiment. The All Share Price Index (ASPI) ended marginally higher, while the S&P SL20 dipped into negative territory, reflecting a divergence in investor sentiment across key sectors.
An Economic Development Officer attached to the Niyagama Divisional Secretariat was arrested by the Bribery Commission for aiding and abetting the Housing Officer of the National Housing Development Authority to accept a bribe.
In another landmark ruling reaffirming the constitutional protection against torture, the Supreme Court ordered six police officers attached to the Kottawa Police Station to pay Rs. 1 million in compensation to an omnibus operator who was subjected to inhuman treatment in 2016.
Engineer L. Kumudu Lal Bogahawatta has been appointed as the Secretary to the Ministry of Housing, Construction and Water Supply.
The French government has invited Sri Lankan state leaders for an official visit to France, the National People’s Power (NPP) said.
The Reserve Bank of India has issued a Gazette Notification regarding the amendment to the Foreign Exchange Management (Borrowing and Lending) Regulations, 2018 which permits Indian Banks to lend in Indian Rupees to a bank or individual resident in Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal.
ECONOMYNEXT – The World Health Organization’s (WHO) 78th Regional Committee Session for South and South-East Asia began in Colombo on mainly focusing on Healthy Ageing through strengthened primary health care and combating smokeless tobacco, the Department of Government Information said. The three-day programme is hosted by Sri Lanka and health ministers and senior officials from member states will also discuss expanding the corpus of the South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund (SEARHEF) and accelerating action against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Office-In-Charge for WHO South-East Asia, Catharina Boehme, and other WHO experts participated in the first session…
Expo Leisure has triumphed at the World Travel Awards 2025, becoming one of the first Sri Lankan companies to secure top honors in both inbound and outbound travel categories. The company’s subsidiaries, Classic Travel and Classic Destinations, were recognized for their excellence in the tourism sector at the Asia & Oceania Gala Ceremony held in Hong Kong on October 13, 2025. Classic Travel was named Sri Lanka’s Travel Agency of the Year 2025 for the second consecutive year, while Classic Destinations won the award for Sri Lanka’s Destination Management Company of the Year 2025. Sabry Bahaudeen, Chief Commercial Officer and…
Pakistan have requested to tour Sri Lanka in January 2026 for a three-match T20 International series, with discussions between the two cricket boards currently underway, according to Pakistan’s Express Tribune. The series has been proposed for January 8, 10, and 12 in Colombo, serving as early preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India in February 2026. Before this, the Sri Lankan team is scheduled to tour Pakistan in November 2025, where they will first play three ODIs from November 11 to 15, followed by a tri-nation series involving Afghanistan from November…
Palestine’s Ambassador to India Abdullah Abu Shawesh urged New Delhi to use its relationship with Israel constructively – including to press for accountability – and to be a major partner in any reconstruction plan for Gaza New Delhi: Palestine’s Ambassador to India Abdullah Abu Shawesh appealed to New Delhi on Thursday to take a leading role in ending the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and in shaping any post-war future, saying India’s political weight and ties with Israel uniquely position it to help “put an end to the Palestinian suffering.” In an extended interview to NDTV, Abu Shawesh repeatedly framed India…
With Starmer’s visit and CETA in place, the UK market offers significant opportunities for India. But reduced tariffs alone will not translate into exports unless matched with structural reforms that promote India’s competitiveness UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to India, with a strong business contingent, augurs well for Delhi. This is especially so when India is facing the blow of 50 per cent tariffs from US President Donald Trump. This is not only good diplomacy, but also good business. Starmer himself said that the India-UK trade partnership, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), is a “launch pad for…
Pakistani Taliban militants have claimed responsibility for separate attacks that killed 20 security officers and three civilians in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan. Friday’s attacks came hours after the Afghan Taliban government accused Pakistan of “violating Kabul’s sovereign territory”. The Pakistani Taliban on Saturday claimed responsibility for deadly attacks in several northwestern districts that killed 20 security officials and three civilians. The attacks, which included a suicide bombing on a police training school, were carried out on Friday in several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan. Militancy has surged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since the withdrawal…
ECONOMYNEXT – The Reserve Bank of India has allowed Indian banks to given loans to customers in Sri Lanka Bhutan and Nepal denominated in Indian rupees. Branches of Indian banks in Sri Lanka would also be allowed to give Indian rupee loans to banks in the island or to individuals. “This development will make credit more accessible for businesses in Sri Lanka,” the Indian embassy in Colombo said. “The provision allowing such loans to be denominated in Indian Rupees will be particularly beneficial for Sri Lankan businesses, reducing exchange rate risks and strengthening cross-border trade and financial linkages between the…
French Ambassador to Sri Lanka Rémi Lambert met Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) General Secretary Tilvi Silva n Monday (13) at the party headquarters in Pelawatte, attaramulla, where discussions focuseening bilateral ties and supporting Sri Lanka’s reform program under the National People’s Power (NPP) government. During the meeting, Ambassador Lambert commended President Anura Dissanayake and the NPP-led administration for the progress achieved within the first year in office. He expressed satisfaction that the post-election period in Sri Lanka had remained peaceful and free of violence, adding that France was committed to further deepening diplomatic relations between the two countries. Lambert also…