Tomorrow Parliament is to debate the move to transfer Police Commission powers to the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
The Sri Lankan Report
Theripahala Siridhamma Thero of Rathupaswala has commenced a hunger strike in Tangalle this afternoon (08), protesting the government’s decision to withdraw the security detail of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The monk began his protest at around 1.00 p.m. in front of the D. S. Senanayake statue, located opposite the Carlton House in Tangalle. Reports said that the hunger strike is being carried out to demand that security be reinstated for former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as well as other former Presidents. Ven. Siridhamma Thero has stated that the decision to remove security for a former head of state who once served…
US special envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner will join Gaza peace plan talks between Israeli and Hamas negotiators in Egypt on Wednesday.
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka has witnessed 787 million dollars inflows as foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first nine months of this year including foreign loans by companies registered under the Board of Investment (BOI), a government document showed. The document signed by the BOI director general showed the island nation had attracted 121.8 million dollars from new projects, and 665.2 million from companies already in Sri Lanka under BOI registration. The total amount also includes foreign equity, invested retained earnings, foreign intra-company loans, and foreign commercial loans. The BOI, however, did not give a breakdown of each category. The…
Renowned Sri Lankan singer, radio voice actress, and stage performer Chandrani Gunawardena has passed away at the age of 82.
Former Sri Lanka and Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club captain Pavithra Fernando has been elected as the new President of Sri Lanka Rugby. Fernando was elected to the post during the Annual General Meeting of Sri Lanka Rugby held at the Duncan White Auditorium Hall at the Sports Ministry complex earlier today. The newly elected office bearers for the 2025/2026 term are as follows: President – Pavithra Fernando Deputy President – Shanitha Fernando Vice President – Chinthaka Perera General Secretary – Subash Jayatilaka Treasurer – Neomal Ekanayake Female Representative – Thilini Rangani Athlete Representative – Stephan Gregory (Newswire) The post…
A special meeting between officials from the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development and representatives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) took place at the ministry today (08), during which ministry officials presented a detailed analysis of their goals and strategies for 2030 to the IMF representatives. According to the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship, key performance indicators (KPIs) such as increasing the contribution of industries and manufacturing to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), enhancing entrepreneurship, and boosting exports were among the key topics discussed. The meeting also focused on the ministry’s strategic reforms, measures to facilitate business operations, and…
The second edition of the Matara Festival for the Arts (MFA) will be held at the Matara Fort from 12–15 December 2025. The arts festival, which aims to revitalize and rebuild Matara City, will feature several artists, musicians and speakers across the exhibitions, concert evenings, learning sessions, workshops, and community markets to be held. This year, the festival will work with the Matara Zonal Education Office to provide guided tours to 2200 Matara students. MFA is once again in collaboration with Sri Lanka Tourism, with John Keells Foundation leading the charge for a second year as Festival Patron & Arts…
The Maritimepattu local council has issued a notice to the military to shut down a beauty salon operated by the army in Mullaitivu, citing serious harm to the livelihoods of war-affected residents. According to reports, Chairman of the Maritimepattu Pradeshiya Sabha, Chinnarasa Logeswaran, stated that the decision was made following complaints from local residents. The notice pertains to the closure of the “Blue Bells Salon,” a beauty salon run by the military on forest department land in Kepapulavu, which falls under the Maritimepattu Divisional Secretariat in Mullaitivu. Condemning the military’s involvement in such activities, Logeswaran pointed out that these actions…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s rupee closed at 302.65/69 to the US dollar on Wednesday, slightly weaker from 302.52/59 the previous day, while bond yields closed broadly steady, dealers said. A bond maturing on 15.12.2026 closed flat at 8.35/45 percent. A bond maturing on 15.09.2027 closed flat at 8.85/90 percent. A bond maturing on 15.02.2028 closed at 9.05/10 percent. A bond maturing on 15.12.2029 closed at 9.70/74 percent, up from 9.70/73 percent. A bond maturing on 15.12.2032 closed flat at 10.50/55 percent. (Colombo/Oct8/2025)
A huge scam has been uncovered in the printing of driving licences by a single private company for more than two decades, Minister of Transport Bimal Ratnayake told Parliament today.
In the wake of the controversy over promoting LGBTQ tourism in Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya said today the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairman had issued a letter with regard to LGBTQ tourism without consulting the political authority.
UN-Habitat, together with the National Water Supply & Drainage Board (NWSDB), has officially launched a new project in Sri Lanka entitled: Safe and Resilient Water Supply for Western Cities – Integrating Climate Resilience into Water Safety Plans of the Ambatale Water Supply Scheme. This project is funded through a US$469,232 (LKR 142 million) grant from the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)’s trust fund, IRAF, with financial support from the Government of India. The project was officially launched at “Temple Trees” – the office of the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka – during the national World Habitat Day celebrations organized…
ECONMYNEXT – Sri Lankas foreign reserves were 6,243 million US dollars in September 2025, up 77 million US dollars from a month earlier, but reserve have been stagnant for 11 months, official data show. Sri Lanka’s central bank has cut rates, amid warnings that flexible inflation targeting is a spurious statistical doctrine that rejects classical economics and a note-issue bank that has obligations to provide reserves cannot cut rates on a historical inflation statistic. Sri Lankas foreign reserves hit 6,472 million US dollars in October 2024, and has failed to grow since then. However net reserves have improved as monthly…
In a landmark move to strengthen integrity, transparency, and accountability in governance, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has launched a digital Case-File Tracking System to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of handling bribery and corruption cases in Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lankan Rupee has depreciated slightly against the US Dollar today (08 Oct), compared to Tuesday. According to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the buying rate of the US Dollar has increased from 298.74 to Rs. 298.78, while the selling rate has also increased from Rs. 306.23 to Rs. 306.29. The Sri Lankan Rupee has changed slightly against a basket of foreign currencies, including Gulf currencies. (Newswire) The post Today’s CBSL official exchange rates appeared first on Newswire.
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to extend the concessionary period exempting airlines operating scheduled flights to and from Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) from the deviation tax until June 26, 2027. The exemption was first introduced following a Cabinet decision on January 6, 2025, to encourage international airlines to use the southern airport. Several carriers have since begun operating scheduled flights under the concession, while others have expressed interest in launching services. Authorities said the extension aims to sustain current airline operations and attract more international carriers to the airport. The proposal was presented by the Minister…
The price of gold has hit a record high of more than $4,000 (£2,985) an ounce as investors look for safe places to put their money over concerns about economic and political uncertainty around the world.
A paramotor attack on a festival and protest in central Myanmar has killed at least 24 people and wounded 47 others, a spokesperson from the exiled National Unity Government told BBC Burmese.
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Colombo Stock Exchange closed down on Wednesday after 15 consecutive days of gains, brokers said. The All Share was down 0.29 percent, or 65.24 points, at 22,097.99; while the S&P SL20 was down 0.46 percent, or 28.32 points, at 6,163.22. “We saw 15 consecutive days of gains and the market crossing the 22,000 mark; we have not seen profit taking in awhile,” First Capital Holdings PLC’s Chief Research and Strategy Officer Dimantha Mathew said. Retail and high net worth participation was high, he said, “We think capital gains are being realized.” Turnover was 7.32 billion rupees.…