Sri Lanka’s Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage defended the appointment of a new national cricket selection committee, stating the process adhered strictly to legal requirements and dismissing criticism that the picks were influenced by personal favoritism. The ministry confirmed that former fast bowler Pramodya Wickramasinghe has returned as chairman of the five-member committee. Other members include Indika de Saram, Tharanga Paranavitana, Vinothen John, and Rasanjali de Alwis. The appointments were made under Section 39(1) of the Sports Law No. 25 of 1973 and a recent extraordinary gazette notification, which now mandates gender representation when the committee oversees women’s sports. “For…
The Sri Lankan Report
Sri Lanka Police have reiterated that the 119 emergency telephone service must be used strictly for reporting genuine emergencies, warning that misuse of the hotline is a punishable offence under the Penal Code. Issuing a statement, the Police Department said that the 119 emergency telephone service is intended only for reporting emergencies. The Police emphasize that this service must be used strictly for urgent situations and genuine emergencies, and that all calls are monitored. Accordingly, in the event of an emergency, the public is advised to immediately contact the 119 emergency call centre to provide accurate information so that swift…
A Sri Lankan court has ordered the destruction of a stock of illegal float operated valves seized in Kadawatha after finding that the products were sold without mandatory labeling and certification, the Consumer Affairs Authority said. The Mahara Magistrate’s Court ordered that the seized valves, valued at approximately Rs. 500,000, be destroyed after determining they violated labeling regulations under consumer protection laws. The Consumer Affairs Authority had taken legal action against two business establishments in the Eldeniya area of Kadawatha for selling float operated valves without displaying the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLS) registration number, a requirement for such products.…
Sri Lanka has taken a significant step toward strengthening its national cybersecurity framework, with the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) convening its first stakeholder consultation under the Ministry of Digital Economy to discuss the country’s path to ratifying the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime. Acting Secretary to the Ministry of Digital Economy, Varuna Sri Danapala, chaired the stakeholder consultation attended by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Defence, Attorney General’s Department, National Child Protection Authority, Bribery Commission, and Sri Lanka Police. At the commencement of the meeting, SLCERT…
The world‑famous beverage from Sri Lanka, Ceylon Tea, is set to enter a new era with the infusion of Biotechnology 4.0, marking a knowledge‑based export drive for the country’s botanical market. A major milestone in this science‑led industrialization was reached this week when the Board of Investment (BOI) granted formal approval for a state‑of‑the‑art botanical extraction facility by Natex Extracts (Pvt) Limited. The project, backed by foreign direct investment (FDI) of USD 1.5 million (over LKR 450 million), will be established in the Pallekele Export Processing Zone in Kandy. It will introduce advanced biotechnology to the heart of Sri Lanka’s…
The measures implemented by the Sri Lankan Government and health authorities to prevent the spread of communicable diseases during the recent disaster situation have been commended by the Director‑General of the World Health Organization (WHO). Today marks the second day of the WHO’s Second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine. The summit began yesterday (17) at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, India. Representing Sri Lanka, Minister of Health Nalinda Jayatissa met with WHO Director‑General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus this morning (18) on the sidelines of the summit. Joining the meeting were Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe, WHO South‑East Asia Regional Director…
The Sri Lanka Navy has completed key diving and technical operations to clear major bridge blockages caused by Cyclone Ditwah while continuing extensive humanitarian relief efforts across the country. Following severe flooding from the cyclone, a surge in the Mahaweli River swept large debris, including logs and tree branches, into several bridges, disrupting water flow and threatening infrastructure, the Navy said. In response, a specialized Navy diving team was deployed on December 4 to the Yaka Palama (Devil’s Bridge) in Peradeniya, where significant blockages had formed. Working in coordination with the Sri Lanka Railways Department, Navy personnel cleared the debris…
ECONOMYNEXT – A delegation from Hai Dang Global Logistics Company Limited (HDG Logistics) is visiting Sri Lanka from December 20 to 24 to seek local partners, the embassy of Vietnam in Colombo said, as the South East Asian seeks closer relations with the Indian Ocean Island. HDG Logistics provides specialized services to foreign invested and other companies in Vietnam, to reach key markets including warehousing and customs service in addition to sea and air freight. Vietnam Airlines is to planning to start direct services to Colombo three times a week from August 2026. Vietnam and Sri Lanka could develop a…
United National Party (UNP) Leader and former President Ranil Wickremesinghe says he is prepared to step down from the party leadership at any time if his position becomes an obstacle to unity between the UNP and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB). The Lankadeepa newspaper reported that during Wednesday’s (17) Executive Committee meeting at Sirikotha, the UNP headquarters in Pitakotte, Ranil Wickremesinghe stated he would have no objection to stepping down as party leader if a merger with the SJB is agreed upon. Currently, discussions on cooperation between the UNP and SJB are underway. The UNP has appointed a committee comprising…
The baby yellow anaconda reported missing from the Dehiwala National Zoo has been found. The discovery was made inside a metal box in the reptile section, about 24 hours after the reptile keeper responsible for the enclosure was suspended following the disappearance. Earlier, on September 15, 2025, six snakes belonging to four species, including a yellow anaconda illegally brought into the country by a woman, were seized by officials at the Katunayake Airport and handed over to the Dehiwala National Zoo for safekeeping. The snakes were placed in quarantine at the reptile section. Among them was Sri Lanka’s only baby…
Sri Lanka’s economy will not collapse and there will be no shortage of cooking gas, Cabinet Minister Vijitha Herath told Parliament on Wednesday, dismissing claims circulating in recent weeks as fear-mongering. Speaking in Parliament, Herath said the government has made arrangements to ensure uninterrupted gas supplies through a new supplier, with the first shipment scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka on Jan. 5. “The economy is not collapsing. Some in the opposition are engaging in a very low and irresponsible attempt to frighten the public,” Herath said. He also rejected concerns that recent adverse weather conditions had negatively affected the…
ECONOMYNEXT – Around 58,340 hectares of paddy lands in Trincomalee and Batticaloa alone were affected by floods brought on by Cyclone Ditwah, according to data maps compiled by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation and Sri Lanka’s Department of Agriculture. The maps show flood-affected areas of paddy, vegetables, and other field crops, with the most significant damage concentrated in several major agricultural districts. New data from the Department of Agriculture, compiled with FAO support, highlights the scale of flood impacts on agriculture across Sri Lanka. “These impacts threaten livelihoods, food production, and household food security, particularly for smallholder farmers,” FAO…
ECONOMYNEXT – Only one third of Sri Lanka’s railway system is operable, deputy minister of transport Prasanna Gunasena told parliament. “The railways department got harmed the most. We can only use about 1/3 of the entire system,” Gunasena said detailing the damages. “Landslides and rock falls damaged 91 places on railway tracks.” 73 larger bridges were damaged, he said, and 38 smaller culverts. Trees or branches had fallen on tracks in 149 places. Another 177 places were damaged or obstructed in some way. 27 railway stations were also damaged. RELATED : Sri Lanka railway tracks ‘left hanging’ by Cyclone Ditwah…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka plans to spend 115 billion rupees protecting slopes on major roads as the damage from Cyclone Ditwah is repaired, Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways, Prasanna Gunasena said. About 572 sections of A and B grade roads totalling 1456.64 kilometres have suffered damage, during Cyclone Ditwah he said. About 723 kilometres were in the central province. “The rough estimate for repair work is 68.84 billion rupees,” Gunasena told parliament Thursday. “About 52 billion rupees is to restore A and B roads in the central province and 32 billion is for the Kandy district. About 40 bridges…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s state-run National Insurance Trust Fund, will take a bigger hit from Cyclone Ditwah losses, while other insurance companies have substantial re-insurance cover, Fitch Ratings has said. NITF is a domestic re-insurer which gets compulsory premiums from others. “Early industry estimates by most Fitch-rated non-life insurers indicate that a handful of large commercial losses and a cluster of motor claims will form the bulk of insured losses,” the rating agency said. “The full loss assessment will take time due to operational challenges. Some areas are not yet fully accessible, and garages and assessment facilities are already operating…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s rupee depreciated further, opening at 309.75/80 to the US dollar in the spot market Thursday, from 309.65/72 the previous day, dealers said, while bond yields were broadly steady. A bond maturing on 15.02.2028 was quoted at 8.90/97 percent. A bond maturing on 15.10.2029 was quoted at 9.45/48 percent. A bond maturing on 15.03.2031 was quoted at 9.85/88 percent. A bond maturing on 01.10.2032 was quoted flat at 10.20/25 percent. A bond maturing on 15.06.2035 was quoted at 10.62/66 percent. The telegraphic transfer rates for the American dollar were 306.0000 buying, 313.0000 selling; the British pound was…
Photo courtesy of Ceylon Today As a country seeking to address the legacy of its past war and armed conflicts, Sri Lanka must roll back the overbroad and dangerous laws that have been repeatedly abused to the detriment of its citizens. The Prevention of Terrorism Act of 1979 (PTA), which has wreaked havoc in the lives of Sri Lankans, particularly minority communities, for 45 years, is the most emblematic of these laws. Successive governments have been under domestic1 and international2 pressure to repeal this draconian law. In September 2018, the Yahapalanaya government gazetted a Counter-Terrorism Act (CTA) to replace the…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka will breach the primary spending limit of 13 percent of gross domestic product on 2026 cyclone relief but will maintain the targets in an International Monetary Fund debt sustainability plan, Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Anil Jayantha Fernando said. Approval is being sought from the parliament to spend 500 billion rupees extra in 2026. The supplementary estimate involves around 1.4 percent of GDP in extra spending breaching the 13 percent of GDP primary spending limit, with the total spending likely to reach 7,657 billion rupees, Minister Fernando said. “We are exceeding the target because it…
80+ Festive Designs with Personalized Options for Every Little One Sri Lanka’s beloved kidswear brand Kia &Kel has officially launched Santa’s Market 2025, unveiling the country’s largest Christmas-themed kidswear collection. Featuring over 80 unique festive T-shirt designs, the collection combines the brand’s signature comfort, quality, and irresistible cuteness, just in time for the most magical season of the year. A Festive Celebration of “Little Moments, Big Smiles” From jolly Santas and dancing reindeer to sparkling snowflakes and gingerbread friends, Kia&Kel’s Santa’s Market captures the joy and wonder of Christmas in every tiny detail. For the first time ever, parents can…
Fresh Additions to City of Dreams with More to Explore The Shoppes at City of Dreams Sri Lanka has just gone a level higher—literally. With the opening of the 8th floor, the lifestyle and retail destination welcomes a vibrant mix of dining, shopping and feel‑good experiences that invite visitors to shop, explore and linger a little longer. From homegrown favourites to exciting pop‑ups and soon‑to‑open concepts, the 8th floor is shaping up to be a joyful new hub above the city. Now Open: Where the Celebrations Begin Queen Kuweni by Namal Balachandra – A refined destination for premium menswear and…