Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the brutal killing of a couple using sharp weapons at a house in the Wadigala area of Hungama today. According to the Acting Police Media Spokesman, Minura Senarath, preliminary investigations have revealed that the double homicide was driven by drug-related issues and an illicit relationship. He further stated that one of the victims had previously served time in prison due to multiple prior offences. The bodies of a woman and a man, hacked to death using sharp weapons, were discovered at a house in the Ranna area of Hungama this morning. Police…
The Sri Lankan Report
Sri Lanka’s team of para athletes who competed at the Para World Championships in New Delhi, India, returned to the island early this morning (Oct. 7). The championship, held from September 27 to October 5, featured 980 athletes from 100 countries. Sri Lanka’s Nuwan Indika won a bronze medal in the long jump with a leap of 6.46 meters, while Pradeep Somasiri claimed another bronze in the 1,500-meter event, setting a new Asian record. The returning athletes were welcomed at the airport by officials from the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, along with representatives of the Sri Lanka Paralympic…
A nightclub in Bambalapitiya was raided by the Colombo South Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau on the night of October 6, 2025, Vap Poya Day, for allegedly selling alcohol in violation of the ban on religious holidays. Police said the raid took place around 9:40 p.m. following information that alcohol was being sold at the premises. The manager on duty was arrested for the sale and possession of alcohol without a valid license, and for the possession of foreign cigarettes. Investigations revealed that the establishment is operated by a foreign national. The arrested suspect, a resident of Divuldamana, was handed over…
The post Mahinda Rajapaksa should be hanged : Fonseka appeared first on Newswire.
It’s been a happy few weeks for those who hold stocks of gold and bitcoin in their trading arsenals. The commodities have both reached record highs as investors continue to back them. Gold smashed through the $3,900 (€3,334) a troy ounce barrier this week — a troy ounce being the unit of weight for precious metals and equivalent to 31.1 grams. Meanwhile, on Sunday (October 5), the world’s oldest and best-known cryptocurrency, bitcoin, hit a record when it broke through the $125,000 barrier for the first time, before falling back a little. It has so far been a bumper 2025…
Sri Lanka Customs has recorded its highest-ever monthly revenue in September, collecting Rs. 253.15 billion in September 2025. According to the Customs Department, this marks a 74.6% increase compared to September 2024. Customs revenue stood at Rs. 144.97 billion in September last year. (Newswire) The post Customs records highest-ever monthly revenue in September appeared first on Newswire.
A Southern California cardiologist of Sri Lankan origin has died after choking on a piece of food while flying Qatar Airways from Los Angeles to Sri Lanka, it was reported. According to his grieving family, 85-year-old Asoka Jayaweera was denied the vegetarian meal he had ordered, then died after choking on a piece of food while attempting to “eat around” the meat in the meal he was given instead. The pilot couldn’t make an emergency landing to get 85-year-old Asoka Jayaweera to a doctor because the plane was “travelling over the Arctic Circle/Ocean,” alleges a newly filed wrongful death lawsuit…
Minister of Health Nalinda Jayatissa today acknowledged that Sri Lanka is facing a shortage of dialysis needles, citing an issue with the supplier. Addressing the Parliament today, Minister Jayatissa explained that the supplier selected to provide the needle had failed to provide the required needle type. He further said that, due to this reason, the government was unable to purchase the necessary dialysis needles, resulting in a shortage. The Health Minister said that, however, a different supplier has been selected, and that purchasing was being made from outside. Minister Jayatissa said that funds have been allocated to state hospitals and…
Photo courtesy of World Bank Extreme weather is no longer a distant threat; it’s a daily reality in Sri Lanka. Heatwaves scorch the lowlands while landslides tear through hill country villages. As these disasters grow more frequent and intense, young people are left to deal with the falloutincluding missed school days, disrupted livelihoods, rising health risks and fewer opportunities. At the Climate Youth Forum, hosted by the Sustainable Impact Foundation, students, early career professionals, community organizers and researchers came together to talk solutions. They highlighted the gaps holding youth back – patchy climate education, poor access to early warning systems,…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka should liberalize factors of production including land and labour, and liberalize trade to push growth to a higher level, the World Bank said in a report as the country recovers from a currency crisis that ended in default and high levels of poverty. Sri Lanka is expected to grow 4.6 percent in 2025, and it may slow to 3.5 percent in 2026, the World Bank said in a Development Update for the island. Though revenues are increasing with higher taxes, high debt levels require that money is better spent. After finishing incomplete infrastructure, money should continue…
The 8-year-old boy who was critically injured in an incident at the Colombo Swimming Club last week has died, hospital sources confirmed today. The child, identified as Master Arlan, had been receiving treatment at Nawaloka Hospital after falling into a pool during a private birthday event held at the club. He had been on life support for several days after sustaining severe brain damage. His father, Prasad Panagoda, later lodged a complaint with Police, alleging negligence by the club and its staff. According to the father’s complaint, the lifeguard was not at the pool when the child fell in. Officers…
Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala says the government is open to considering requests made by former Presidents concerning security. Addressing the Parliament today, Minister Wijepala said the government is committed to ensuring the safety of former presidents, despite the introduction of the Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Act. “Several privileges afforded to former presidents were removed after the passage of the Act. Several former presidents have already handed over certain benefits received by them, such as houses and vehicles,” he said. Minister Ananda Wijepala further explained that, however, the security factor does not fall under the Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Act. “As…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka has rejected the draft resolution 60/L.1/Rev.1 by the United Nations Human Rights Council, which would extend the mandate of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), its Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted the resolution to extend the mandate of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka without a vote on Monday. “The extension of its mandate will only serve the interests of elements with vested interests seeking to create divisions and polarize the…
Minister of Trade Wasantha Samarasinghe says Sri Lanka is working to address the trade imbalance with India by utilizing provisions in its existing trade agreement to increase Sri Lankan exports to India. India is Sri Lanka’s largest trading partner and was one of the first countries with which Sri Lanka signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Recently, the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) hosted an interactive business session with a high-level Sri Lankan delegation led by Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe. In an exclusive interview with Pushpita Dey from the New Indian Express, Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe discussed Sri Lanka’s desire…
Sri Lanka’s recent economic performance has been strong. Despite this, the recovery remains incomplete, with growth still below pre-crisis levels and poverty significantly elevated. Strengthening the recovery will require continued macroeconomic stability, urgent structural reforms, and more efficient, better-targeted public spending, says the World Bank. Released today, the latest Sri Lanka Development Update, Better Spending for All, projects Sri Lanka’s economy to grow by 4.6 percent in 2025 — supported by a modest rebound in industry and steady growth in services — before slowing to 3.5 percent in 2026. This outlook is subject to heightened risks, including from elevated global…
The Sri Lankan Rupee remains steady against the US Dollar at commercial banks in Sri Lanka today (07 Oct), compared to last Friday. At Seylan Bank, the buying rate of the US Dollar remains unchanged at Rs. 299.25, while the selling rate is also unchanged at Rs. 304.75. According to NDB Bank, the buying and selling rates of the US Dollar remain unchanged at Rs. 299.25 and Rs. 305.75, respectively. People’s Bank reports that the buying rate of the US Dollar remains unchanged at Rs. 299.02, while the selling rate is also unchanged at Rs. 305.61. At Commercial Bank, the…
Sri Lanka has rejected a draft resolution (HRC 60/L.1/Rev.1) at the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council, citing concerns over an external evidence-gathering mechanism established under a 2022 resolution. According to the statement, Sri Lanka participated in discussions on this resolution in a spirit of open and constructive engagement, which it had demonstrated throughout in its interactions with this Council. “We appreciate the core group’s engagement on language amendments proposed by Sri Lanka. We, however, regret that we couldn’t find agreement on certain key concerns for us. While we thank all delegations for their constructive participation on the…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s L B Finance PLC will issue a hundred million senior debentures and a hundred million subordinated debentures, to raise a total of 20 billion rupees, it said in a stock exchange filing. Both type of debentures will be 100 rupees each. 50,000,000 listed, rated, senior, unsecured, redeemable debentures will be issued, the finance company said, with an option to issue a further 30,000,000 in the event of an oversubscription of the initial issue, and another 20,000,000 if there’s an oversubscription of the second tranche. 50,000,000 listed, rated, subordinated, unsecured, redeemable debentures will be issued, an if…
A rare blooming of the ‘Nelu flower’ has been reported at the Hortain Plains National Park. It is reported that the blooming has taken place after a period of 12 years at the tourist attraction. Strobilanthes (Nelu flower) is a large genus of about 350 species of flowering plants native to tropical Asia, and in many cases, with infrequent, long-cycle mass blooming events. (Newswire) Once every 12 years The rare "Nelu flowers" are now in full bloom across most parts of Horton Plains.#SriLanka #NeluBloom #LKA (Via ITN) pic.twitter.com/zoJPznS88I — Sri Lanka Tweet (@SriLankaTweet) October 7, 2025 The post Nelu…
Photo courtesy of Anera The Gaza Strip has long stood as a symbol of resilience and tragedy in the Middle East. Decades of occupation, recurring military assaults and humanitarian crises have left its population, particularly women and children, in desperate need of aid. The recent escalation of violence has once again thrust Gaza into the international spotlight, prompting people across the globe to step forward in support. Among them is Sameera Mehboob, a clinical psychologist, certified medic, disaster response trainer and advocate for human rights, who has committed herself to humanitarian service in one of the world’s most challenging conflict zones.…