Claiming that it was a mistake to have mentioned the Nobel Prize instead of the Guinness record, Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Minister Sunil Hadunnetti today expressed his regret if his statment had caused any inconvenice to any party.
The Sri Lankan Report
Sri Lanka’s opposition leader Sajith Premadasa on Tuesday criticized the government’s decision to abolish the Simplified Value Added Tax (SVAT) scheme for exporters, warning that the move would damage the country’s foreign exchange earnings and undermine competitiveness. Premadasa said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that eliminating SVAT would tie up exporters’ capital, raise costs and make them less competitive in global markets. He urged the government to renegotiate its program with the International Monetary Fund rather than “blindly accepting” conditions that he said risk strangling the export sector. The Inland Revenue Department announced this week that SVAT will…
The Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Ministry has clarified that the minister mistakenly referred to the Nobel Prize when speaking about the latest global achievement of Sri Lankan tea.
The Ministry of Defence has today announced strict measures to curb the illegal production and use of banned explosives known as “Hakka Patas” and “Cheena Patas.”
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is on an official visit to Japan at the invitation of the Japanese Government, met with Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, Founding Chairman of the Nippon Foundation, at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo this morning (30). The discussion focused on further strengthening the long-standing friendship between Japan and Sri Lanka. Mr. Sasakawa reiterated his commitment to enhancing the livelihoods of every community in Sri Lanka and and outlined future plans for the renovation and modernization of 100 schools in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. President Dissanayake conveyed his gratitude to Mr. Sasakawa for his dedicated efforts to…
The government is preparing to implement a secret plan to privatise the import of fertiliser and the supply chain, National Farmers’ Union Chairman Anuradha Tennakoon claimed.
Police have launched investigations after two male bodies were discovered in separate incidents in Grandpass and Dehiwala yesterday.
Three schoolchildren and a van driver were injured this morning when a school van collided with a Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) bus on Vauxhall Street, Colombo 02.
The Feminist Collective for Economic Justice, Sri Lanka has condemned the attack on peaceful protestors in Mannar, claiming that many protestors, including women and children, have ended up in hospital.
Minister of Justice and National Integration, Harshana Nanayakkara, has reiterated Sri Lanka’s commitment to safeguarding and protecting the human rights of all citizens. He further reiterated commitment to the steadfast ongoing work of the Office on Missing Persons (OMP), Office for Reparations (OR), and Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR), and the robust actions being taken by the national authorities in this regard. The Minister also elaborated the vision of the Government to make democratic institutions stronger to enhance public trust, and to bring political, economic and social stability. In this respect, he underscored that engaging with the Committee…
The Department of Meteorology has issued an advisory for warm weather for the North-central and Eastern provinces and Vavuniya, Mullaitivu and Monaragala districts. According to the department, amber alerts have been issued to 08 districts, effective tomorrow (01 Oct). The department states that the Heat index, the temperature felt on the human body, is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the districts. The public has been warned that fatigue is possible with prolonged exposure and activity, and that continuing activity could result in heat cramps. (Newswire) The post 01st Oct : Warm weather alert issued…
University lecturers across the country have launched a one-day strike today, citing the government’s failure to address ongoing problems in the higher education sector.
The Government has not decided to run a specific tourism promotion campaign targeting LGBTQ+ foreign tourists, the Ministry of Tourism said, addressing the recent public discourse surrounding the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau’s (SLTPB) communication regarding LGBTQ-themed events. Issuing a statement, the Tourism Ministry said that while such proposals, among others, have been presented for consideration, they are part of broader discussions aimed at reinforcing Sri Lanka’s image as a safe and welcoming destination for all travellers. The Tourism Ministry went on to note that any future initiatives will be carefully evaluated within the framework of national tourism priorities and…
The Petroleum Distributors Association has warned that many petrol stations may have to close in the near future due to insufficient commissions paid by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, Sri Lanka Petroleum Private Tanker Owners’ Association (SLPPTOA) joint Secretary D.V Shantha Silva said.
Former State Minister Shashindra Rajapaksa, who is currently in remand, was today ordered to be further remanded until October 14 by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama.
Madagascar’s president has said he will dissolve his government, following days of youth-led protests over longstanding water and power cuts.
The Overall Rate of Inflation, as measured by the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI) on a year-on-year basis, has increased to 1.5% in September 2025. According to the Department of Census and Statistics, the increase is in comparison to the 1.2% recorded in August this year. Food inflation has also increased to 2.9% in September 2025 from the 2.0% reported in August 2025. However, non-food inflation has decreased to 07% in September 2025, compared to the 0.8% recorded last month. The full report: https://www.statistics.gov.lk/WebReleases/CCPI_20250930E (Newswire) The post Inflation rises to 1.5% in September appeared first on Newswire.
A wild elephant that roamed into Minneriya Ayurveda Hospital in the early hours of last morning had pulled down a window and taken out and destroyed a bed and an iron box used by the patients to keep their belongings. Several elderly patients were under treatment in the ward.
The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) today (30) launched the first stage of an online system to make the renewal of driving licenses more efficient.
Applications have been called for the appointment to the post of Member to the Office on Missing Persons (OMP). According to a Parliament statement, the applications have been called under the Office on Missing Persons (Establishment, Administration and Discharge of Functions) Act, No. 14 of 2016 (as amended). Persons with previous experience in fact-finding or investigation, human rights law, international humanitarian law, and humanitarian response or those who possess other qualifications relevant to the carrying out of the functions of the OMP, have been requested to apply. The applications are called to fill a vacancy which will arise in October…