Sri Lanka has formally issued the Final Assignment Notice (NoA) for the upcoming 2025 5G spectrum auction, marking a key step toward expanding the country’s digital infrastructure. The announcement was made during a special media briefing at the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) on Friday. Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne, Acting Secretary of the Digital Economy Ministry and Chairman of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) Waruna Sri Dhanapala, TRCSL Director General Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Bandula Herath, Chairman of the 5G Auction Committee and Finance Ministry Director General Dr. Sulakshana Jayawardena, and TRCSL Director…
The Sri Lankan Report
In the wake of the United Nations’ sweeping economic and military sanctions reimposed on Iran—a decade after they were lifted—Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has written to his Sri Lankan counterpart, Vijitha Herath, asking for Sri Lanka’s solidarity, according to Iranian Ambassador Alireza Delkosh.
The Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance reviewed expected loan funding for the Kadawatha–Meerigama section of the Central Expressway at its Sept. 30 meeting, chaired by Dr. Harsha de Silva. Officials from the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation said the 36.475-kilometer section is expected to be financed through a USD 500 million loan from the Export-Import Bank of China, with the balance to be raised locally. Committee members questioned the decision to accept a floating interest rate of up to 3.5% after China’s EXIM Bank rejected an earlier proposal for a fixed 2.5% rate. Officials said further negotiations…
A Kalutara Pradeshiya Sabha member was acquitted by the Kalutara High Court on charges of abducting and sexually abusing a 15-year-old boy, after the court determined that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
Flight services between Katunayake and Colombo were officially launched today using Beira Lake as a water aerodrome, under the patronage of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Minister Bimal Ratnayake.
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s rupee closed at 302.45/55 to the US dollar on Friday, from 302.46/52 the previous day, while bond yields closed up, dealers said. A bond maturing on 15.12.2026 closed at 8.34/44 percent, up from 8.35/40 percent. A bond maturing on 15.02.2028 closed at 9.05/10 percent. A bond maturing on 15.12.2029 closed at 9.67/70 percent. A bond maturing on 15.12.2032 closed at 10.48.58 percent, down from 10.50/60 percent. (Colombo/Oct3/2025)
Punishment is not part of the learning process, describing it as suitable only for farm animals like sheep, horses and cattle, Health and Mass Media Deputy Minister Dr. Hansaka Wijeyamuni said.
The Police Unit for the Prevention of Sports-Related Corruption today informed Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama that the Attorney General has decided to file indictments before the High Court against Tamim Rahman, the owner of the Dambulla Thunders team, in connection with an alleged match fixing incident during last year’s Lanka Premier League (LPL) cricket tournament.
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s stock market closed up on Friday, after both its indices hit records in the day, as the All Share Price Index surpassed 22,000 points, and S&P SL20 surpassed 6,200 points. The broader ASPI rose 0.65 percent. or 143.10 points. to end at 22,094.89; while the more liquid S&P SL20 closed 0.64 percent, or 39.30 points higher, at 6,187.51. Top contributors to the ASPI were Melstacorp (up 11.25 rupees at 191.50), Sampath Bank (up 2.25 rupees at 148.25), Dipped Products (up 5.20 rupees at 71.00), Hayleys Plc (up 3.75 rupees at 191.50) and Commercial Bank (up 1.50…
Tech company Apple removed ICEBlock — the most popular app to track the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency — and similar apps from its App Store, it said on Thursday after it was contacted by US President Donald Trump’s administration. The ICEBlock app alerts users to ICE agents in the area, allowing them to evacuate migrants who may be arrested. Curtailing illegal immigration has been one of the central domestic policies in Trump’s second term at the White House. However, reports suggest that ICE agents, often in masks using unmarked vans, have also detained permanent US residents, visa holders…
The National Freedom Front (NFF) staged a protest outside the Education Ministry in Battaramulla on Friday opposing the proposed amendment to the Penal Code that seeks to ban corporal punishment of children. The demonstrators, including teachers, parents, and union representatives, carried placards condemning the legislation and warning lawmakers not to vote in favor of it. Protesters accused the government of “undermining school discipline” and claimed that the amendment would “send parents and teachers to jail” for disciplining children. The protest, held in front of the ministry’s Isurupaya premises, was led by NFF National Organizer Jayantha Samaraweera. Representatives from education sector…
The owner of the Dambulla Thunders franchise in the Lanka Premier League, Tamim Rahman, will face corruption charges in Sri Lanka’s High Court, officials said Friday. The Police Unit for the Prevention of Sports-Related Corruption told Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama that the Attorney General’s Department has decided to indict Rahman under the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports Act. Rahman, a British national of Bangladeshi origin, is accused of involvement in match-fixing and other corrupt activities linked to the 2024 LPL season. He was first arrested in May 2024 at Bandaranaike International Airport as he attempted to leave…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka has sold 1,927 million rupees of treasury bills offered on tap at average rates of 7.53 percent and 8.02 percent, the state debt office said, bringing the total of bills sold this week to 44.92 billion rupees. The debt office sold 3-month bills at 7.53 percent. The debt office sold 12-month bills at 8.02 percent. On Wednesday (1) the debt office raised 44 billion rupees of 3, 6 and 12 month bills. Read more Sri Lanka sells Rs43bn treasury bills, yields down on short term The date of settlement is October 3. (Colombo/Oct3/2025)
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake visited Kandy this afternoon (03) and met with the Mahanayakes of the Malwatta and Asgiri Chapters. The President held brief discussions with the Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Sumangala Nayaka Thero of the Malwatta Chapter and the Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Nayaka Thero of the Asgiri Chapter, inquiring after their well-being. During the visit, President Dissanayake also presented the ‘Sannas Pathra’ (letter of appointment) to the newly appointed Anunayake Thera of the Asgiri Chapter Venerable Narampanawe Ananda Thera, at the Magul Maduwa in Kandy (Newswire) The post President meets Malwathu, Asgiri Mahanayake Theras appeared first on…
Actor Akshay Kumar has called for schools in Maharashtra to introduce a weekly “cyber period” to educate children about online safety after sharing a personal incident involving his daughter. Speaking at an event, Kumar recounted that his daughter was playing an online video game with strangers when she received a message asking whether she was male or female. After replying “female,” she was asked to send nude photographs. Kumar said his daughter immediately shut down the game and informed her mother. “This is how things begin. This is also a part of cybercrime,” Kumar said, stressing the importance of awareness.…
The Health Ministry has expressed concern over a misleading social media post that promoted the launch of an “LGBTQIA+ Sexual Wellbeing Clinic” at the National Hospital in Kandy, it is learnt.
A recent research conducted by the Wildlife Department and the animal health authorities has revealed that a bacterial infection caused by sexual contact, similar to syphilis has been spreading among monkeys and macaques in several areas in Polonnaruwa.
A month-old baby girl abandoned by her mother was found in a bag yesterday in the Konwewa area, Ipalogama.
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Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara has issued a statement clarifying that the proposed amendment to the Penal Code (Section 19) concerning corporal punishment of children has not been enacted into law. The Minister said that while Parliament held a second reading debate on the Penal Code Amendment Bill on September 24, it was only a discussion and not a passage into law. He further noted that in order for such an amendment to take effect, a corresponding change would also have to be made to the Code of Criminal Procedure. Since that has not yet been done, the Bill remains pending.…