TikTok’s algorithm recommends pornography and highly sexualised content to children’s accounts, according to a new report by a human rights campaign group.
The Sri Lankan Report
Director General of the Central Cultural Fund (CCF), Dr. Nilan Cooray, said that recent maintenance work at Sigiriya has led to new findings about the ancient fountain system, Newsfirst reported. Dr. Cooray explained that the Sigiriya fountains typically become active during the rainy season each year. However, at the end of last year, they were found to be inactive. The initial assumption was that the underground pipe system had become blocked with sludge, he said. As part of efforts to restore the fountains, authorities launched cleaning and maintenance work. During this process, it was established that the moat surrounding Sigiriya,…
Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) Ranga Dissanayake said yesterday that he would institute legal action against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody over charges against him, depending on the Commission’s conclusion.
Flight services between Katunayake and Colombo were officially launched today, with Beira Lake designated as a water aerodrome, under the patronage of Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Bimal Ratnayake. The service, operated by Cinnamon Airlines using a Cessna 208, reintroduces the Colombo–Katunayake route as part of efforts to expand domestic air travel and boost tourism. Minister Ratnayake said the government will support private operators to extend services to regional airports. Authorities noted that regulatory reforms have enabled the resumption of water aerodrome operations, last attempted in 2011–2012. (Newswire) The post Flight services relaunched between Katunayake & Colombo via Beira Lake…
The Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology has issued a warm weather advisory for Polonnaruwa, Batticaloa, Ampara, Monaragala and Hambantota districts.
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka central government debt to gross domestic product ratio edged up to 99.5 percent in June 2025, from 99.1 percent in December, data from the debt management office showed. The June numbers are up 96.7 percent in March for central government debt and 101.5 percent when SOE guaranteed debt is included. (Corrected) RELATED : Sri Lanka debt to GDP ratio edges up in March 2025 For comparison purposes debt numbers for December are also made from debt data from the Debt Management Office quarterly bulletins. The central government debt to GDP ratio in the central bank annual…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s stock market made history as its S&P SL20 index, which tracks the top 20 largest and most liquid stocks on the Colombo Stock Exchange, crossed 6,200 points during trading hours on Friday. The index tracks the country’s biggest listed companies based on market capitalisation. Earlier in the day the All Share Price Index went beyond the 22,000 point mark, in another first. With an hour left before close, the ASPI was trading up 0.63 percent, or 139.07 points, at 22,090.86; while the S&P SL20 was trading up 0.65 percent, or 39.88 points, at 6,188.09. (Colombo/Oct3/2025
The Sri Lankan Rupee has appreciated slightly against the US Dollar today (03 Oct), compared to Thursday. According to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the buying rate of the US Dollar has decreased from Rs. 298.77 to Rs. 298.76, while the selling rate has also dropped from Rs. 306.27 to Rs. 306.26. The Sri Lankan Rupee has also appreciated against a basket of foreign currencies, while it remains steady against Gulf currencies. (Newswire) The post Today’s CBSL official exchange rates appeared first on Newswire.
The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) reached historic highs today (03) as key market indices crossed record levels during morning trading. The S&P SL20 index surpassed 6,200 points, while the All Share Price Index (ASPI) broke past the 22,000 mark for the first time in history. (Newswire) The post CSE hits record highs as ASPI tops 22,000 appeared first on Newswire.
ECONOMYNEXT – Removing the SVAT mechanism ties up essential working capital in lengthy refund cycles, and puts Sri Lanka at a competitive disadvantage among peers, Sri Lanka Shippers’ Council has said. “A system that immobilizes vital working capital through prolonged refund cycles places Sri Lanka at a distinct disadvantage compared to regional peers, many of who maintain supportive export incentives,” SLSC chairman Trisherman Frink said. “The removal of SVAT sends a discouraging message of policy volatility, signalling that conducting business in Sri Lanka entails hidden costs and uncertainties. Such signals threaten to divert critical foreign investments to competing economies offering…
Vega, the pioneering electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer behind Sri Lanka’s first supercar, is developing the nation’s first autonomous vehicle, leveraging advanced Artificial Intelligence and robotics.
Sabina Yousaf has been crowned Mrs. Sri Lanka World 2025 at the Grand Final held on Thursday (03). The titleholder will now represent the country at the international Mrs. World pageant, recognized as the oldest and largest international beauty contest for married women globally. The beauty pageant offers its winners a global platform as they represent their country on international platforms. (Newswire) The post Sabina Yousaf crowned Mrs. Sri Lanka World 2025 appeared first on Newswire.
Fitch Ratings-London/New York: The U.S. government shutdown does not have near-term implications for the ‘AA+’/Stable U.S. sovereign rating but highlights long-standing policymaking weaknesses and political brinkmanship around budgetary issues, Fitch Ratings says. The shutdown began on Oct. 1 after Congress failed to either agree on the 12 appropriations bills required to fund discretionary federal programs or enact a continuing resolution (CR) to maintain funding at prior levels. A shutdown can see affected federal agencies halt operations and be obliged to furlough employees (with some exceptions), although employees are entitled to payment for this period once the relevant appropriations are passed.…
The Sri Lankan Rupee remains steady against the US Dollar at commercial banks in Sri Lanka today (03 Oct), compared to Thursday. 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 have reduced from Rs. 299.30 to Rs. 299.25 and from Rs. 305.80 to 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…
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday ordered an inquiry into a raid carried out by Islamabad police at the National Press Club (NPC), where several journalists were allegedly attacked. Visuals aired on DawnNewsTV showed policemen armed with batons attacking journalists on the press club premises. Visuals shared on social media also showed police dragging journalists out of what appeared to be the cafeteria. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dawn Today (@dawn.today) Another video shared by a Dawn.com correspondent showed a journalist holding his broken Nikon camera and his shirt ripped across the back. A…
At the heart of the Constitution is the principle of equality. Article 14 explicitly guarantees that all citizens are equal before the law. When India gained independence in 1947, the country’s leaders faced a daunting challenge. How could they unite a nation of more than a billion people, belonging to different religions, languages, castes, and cultures under one common vision of justice and equality? The answer lay in the Constitution of India, adopted in 1950, which stands as one of the world’s most comprehensive and inclusive legal documents. The Indian Constitution does more than set up a framework of government.…
The Ministry of Finance says Sri Lanka’s state-run National Savings Bank (NSB) has provided a Rs. 6 billion dividend to the Treasury of Sri Lanka. According to a Finance Ministry statement, NSB has reported a profit before tax of Rs. 25.5 billion for the first half of 2025, while it had reported a profit before tax of Rs. 28.5 billion for 2024. The official announcement of this contribution was handed over to Treasury Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma at the Ministry recently. (Newswire) The post NSB pays Rs. 6 Bn dividend to Treasury appeared first on Newswire.
Former North Central Province Governor Maheepala Herath has been accused of misusing his official powers to support the operation of a hotel under his wife’s name by illegally constructing buildings within the Perimiyankulama tank reserve, Lankadeepa newspaper reported. According to Nuwaragam Palatha Central Divisional Secretary Sudarshana Dissanayake, the unauthorized buildings, built on 60 perches of reserve land, have since been demolished and removed. Dissanayake had issued a formal notice to the former governor’s wife, On September 18, Ajantha Rupasari Herath, ordering the removal of the illegal constructions within a month, the report said. In response, the former governor is reported…
A syphilis-like bacterial infection spreading among monkeys and macaques has been detected in Polonnaruwa and Giritale, it was reported. According to reports, the infection has been found through a joint study by the Department of Wildlife Conservation and animal health authorities. Wildlife Veterinary Surgeon Dr. Nihal Pushpakumara said blood and PCR tests have confirmed the syphilis-like bacterial infection. He further explained that the infection affects the genital organs, skin, and anus of the animals. Dr. Nihal Pushpakumara advised the public to avoid close contact with monkeys and macaques, especially in places of religious worship frequented by monkeys. He further warned…
A man accused of attempting to run over and kill a police officer with a vehicle has been sentenced by the Colombo High Court to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment. The individual, identified as a drug trafficker, had approximately 17 years ago attempted to run over an officer from the Police Narcotics Bureau during a drug raid in the Dehiwala-Nedimala area. Accordingly, Colombo High Court Judge Lanka Jayaratne delivered the sentence yesterday (02). In addition to the prison sentence, the accused was fined Rs. 10,000. The incident occurred on January 17, 2008, when the accused was travelling in a car…