Feb 19 (DM) New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has drawn attention among SL social media users after a recent Instagram and TikTok video showed him in a casual street-side conversation with a SL comedian. In the video, Mamdani is seen walking and chatting with New York-based SL comedian Shenuque in a light-hearted exchange. During the conversation, the comedian asked the mayor, “My mom wants to know how can I be a good SL boy?” noting that many South Asian parents more..

Feb 19 (NW) Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka has made a special appeal to the President to grant a pardon to the individuals sentenced to death over the killing of former MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala and his security officer. Fonseka urged that clemency be granted to the young men who were handed the death penalty in connection with the incident. He said that exempting such individuals from capital punishment could be carried out by the President with a single signature. more..

Feb 19 (NW) An opposition MP has tabled a motion urging the govt to make a humanitarian appeal regarding the detention of former Pakistani PM Imran Khan. SJB MP Ajith P. Perera submitted the adjournment motion in Parliament, citing concerns about Mr Khan’s health and wellbeing while in custody. The motion refers to what it describes as credible reports raising humanitarian concerns and calls on SL govt to engage more..

Feb 19 (AD) A total of 29,608 individuals were inspected yesterday (18) as part of the daily search operations carried out across the country, police stated. Issuing a statement, police said that these operations resulted in the arrest of 549 suspects. Police also confirmed that 26 individuals directly linked to criminal activities were identified during the search operations. Additionally, 519 individuals on outstanding warrants were apprehended, police stated. more..

Feb 19 (AD) Sri Lanka Army Spokesman, Brigadier Waruna Gamage, says steps will be taken to suspend the Sergeant attached to the Kuttigala camp in Embilipitiya, who was remanded on charges of covering up the death of a soldier who died after coming into contact with an unauthorized power line at the camp. The CID arrested four individuals, including the Army Sergeant, in connection with the incident on Monday (16), nearly a year after the soldier’s death. more..

Feb 19 (NW) Artificial intelligence should be harnessed to promote the cultural values and capabilities of humankind,” Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake said in his address during the Heads of State Session held alongside the AI IMPACT SUMMIT 2026 in New Delhi, India. Addressing fellow leaders, Prez said that if AI is limited to a few select languages and perspectives, it risks overlooking the world’s unique cultural diversity. more..

Feb 19 (AD) A stock of essential technical equipment worth Rs. 556 million has been provided to the Police Department by Minister Ananda Wijepala. The Public Security Minister symbolically handed over the relevant equipment to the IGP, Priyantha Weerasooriya, at the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs premises. It is stated that this is the largest allocation of funds spent in recent history to provide equipment to the Police Dept. Accordingly, the items handed over to more..

Feb 19 (EN) A report by the COPE found that state-owned National Savings Bank (NSB) has 7,972 million rupees in non-performing loans (NPLs), including a multi-million dollar facility to a foreign firm, its chair told parliament. “The investigation focused on the bank’s outstanding loan balances exceeding Rs. 5 million as of Sept 30, 2025. Under this category, out of a total of Rs. 96,046 million, approximately Rs. 7,972 million has been classified as non-performing loans,” more..

Feb 19 (NW) Litro Gas Lanka Ltd has assured the public that there will be no gas shortage, stating that sufficient stocks have been secured following a temporary supply disruption earlier this month. The company said recent concerns in the market were due to a temporary shortage of LP gas cylinders caused by an unexpected surge in demand combined with a two-day supply interruption on 14 Feb. Litro said immediate measures have been taken to restore normal distribution. more..

Feb 19 (AD) Admiral Steve Koehler, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, is scheduled to visit SL from Feb 19 to Feb 21. During his visit, Admiral Koehler will engage with SL govt officials and military counterparts to discuss shared values of advancing cooperation in maritime security, regional stability, and to enhance collaboration and interoperability. U.S. Pacific Fleet, the largest naval fleet command in the world, operates across half the globe, protecting vital sea lanes and more..

Feb 19 (NW) Former OIC of the Cyber Crime Investigation and Intelligence Analysis Unit of the CID, M.M.U. Subhasinghe, today expressed his regret in writing to civil activist and comedian Ms. Nathasha Edirisooriya at the Supreme Court regarding her arrest under the ICCPR Act. Attorney General’s Dept, appearing on behalf of the respondents, informed the court that the IGP will issue a set of guidelines via a circular to more..

Feb 19 (Island) Jaffna District MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam has raised serious concerns over the conduct of the police following the fatal shooting of a teenager in Jaffna, warning that those accused of wrongdoing were often the very ones tasked with investigating it. The MP said so in responding to the incident at Allaipiddy, where a young boy was killed in police fire on a vehicle that had allegedly failed to comply with an order to stop. Ponnambalam said that the use of lethal force more..

Feb 19 (TM) Health authorities have reported a significant increase in rabies transmission linked to cats in SL, with most infections recorded last year attributed to household pets rather than stray dogs. According to the Ministry of Health, rabies, a nearly always fatal viral disease, can spread through bites or scratches from infected animals including dogs, cats, bats, mongooses, cattle and horses. Laboratory testing of animal brain samples shows a noticeable rise in rabies among cats. more..

Feb 19 (AD) Sri Lanka Police have warned that foreign nationals who drive without a valid driving license in the country will be prosecuted to ensure the safety of both visitors and local residents amid rising traffic accidents involving foreign nationals. Welcoming foreign tourists to enjoy the beauty of Sri Lanka, ASP F.U. Wootler, emphasized that the safety of visitors and the general public is a top priority. more..

Feb 19 (EN) Sri Lanka and Belgium successfully concluded their inaugural political consultations in Brussels this week, setting a dynamic course for a modernized partnership, Foreign Ministry said. Led by Sugeeshwara Gunaratna, Director-General for Europe and North American region and his Belgian counterpart Birgit Stevens, the high-level talks breathed new life into an agreement first envisioned in 2017. Both sides undertook a comprehensive review of the bilateral relations, more..

Feb 19 (Island) The Muslim Left Front has sought registration with the Election Commission of SL. Its General Secretary M.R.M. Faizal told The Island that the Muslim Left Front had been established to promote political rights of the Muslim community, social justice, equality, good governance and national unity. Faizal said that they had sought EC’s recognition following engagement in public welfare activities, rights-based advocacy and social awareness initiatives. more..

Feb 19 (AM) Venerable Muruththettuwe Ananda Thera has rejected allegations circulating on social media regarding his association with women, challenging critics to substantiate their claims with evidence. Thera stated that he interacts with approximately 45,000 women through various religious and community engagements, and invited detractors to produce even a single photograph suggesting impropriety. He alleged that Buddhist monks are increasingly subjected to insults more..

Feb 19 (NW) TNA MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam says he strongly opposed an attempt in Parliament to include Provincial Council elections under a new parliamentary select committee tasked with reviewing election laws. MP said a parliamentary select committee on Provincial Councils already exists and has been given a three-month timeframe to submit its report. Creating another committee to examine the same issue would lead to legal confusion and potentially delay more..

Feb 19 (TM) In the wake of JVP-led NPP Govt securing the passage of the Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill, former JVP MP Pemasiri Manage said he would initiate legal action in the coming days to recover Rs. 6.8 million in salaries that he claims were taken by the Party during his years in political office. Manage, who is also the Retired MPs’ Collective’s Secretary, said he had served as a Member of a Pradeshiya Sabha, more..

Feb 19 (AD) Muslims in SL will begin their Ramadan fasting at dawn on Thursday (19), after the crescent for the month of Ramadan was sighted in the country, this evening (18), the Colombo Grand Mosque confirmed. It said that the crescent of the month of Ramadan was sighted today (18) as per the reports of the Hilaal subcommittees appointed around the country. Accordingly, ACJU Hilaal Division, the Colombo Grand Mosque and the Dept of Muslim Religious & Cultural Affairs more..

Feb 19 (FT) Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) Executive Vice President Okumura Akiko said it is looking to reset and deepen economic ties with SL, positioning the island as a potential export hub linking India, the Middle East and Africa. “Japan and SL are undergoing structural economic shifts, creating an opportunity to redefine bilateral cooperation over the next three to five years,” she told the Daily FT, during her first official visit to Colombo as a senior JETRO official. more..

Feb 19 (DM) Sri Lanka has been named the most affordable destination to retire in 2026 by the prestigious Travel + Leisure magazine. The recognition comes at a time when nearly a quarter of seniors in the United States delayed their planned retirement in 2025 — a 14% increase from the previous year — according to a report by F&G. Report cited growing concerns about overall financial readiness for retirement. more..

Feb 19 (Island) Minister Dr. Upali Pannilage has been appointed to the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) probing the release of 323 containers from the Colombo Port without mandatory physical inspection. Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne announced the appointment in Parliament yesterday (18), stating that it was made in terms of Standing Order 106. Dr. Pannilage fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Ports and Civil Aviation Minister Anura Karunathilaka. more..

Feb 19 (NW) An attorney-at-law and SLPP local councillor has been sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment after being found guilty of preparing forged deeds to fraudulently sell land, court officials said. Alex Nishantha Fernando and a co-accused were convicted of preparing 26 forged deeds for the sale of two plots of land measuring 3 acres, 2 roods and 24 perches. The sentence was delivered by High Court Judge Naomi Wickramasinghe at the Chilaw High Court. more..

Feb 19 (FT) At the end of 2025, we must naturally have a low energy level to start the new year 2026 in the local context because of the lessons we learned from the devastating floods and cyclones. In the global perspective, it's clear that some issues that everyone believed would never be discussed are suddenly coming to light because of Jeffry Epstein's files. On the other side, a group of gentle monks are walking across the United States to promote peace and provide respite to people more..

Feb 19 (FT) Sri Lanka stands at a critical crossroads in its tourism development. As visitor numbers steadily increase, we face a fundamental choice: pursue volume-based tourism that prioritises quantity over quality or implement a premium tourism model that maximises revenue per visitor while preserving our natural and cultural assets. The math is clear: it is far more profitable to attract 500 high-spending tourists than 5,000 budget travelers. This article presents a business case more..

Feb 19 (DM) SL Air Force is planning a major reinforcement of its fleet at a cost of US$ 18 mil (Rs.5.4 bil) by acquiring new aircrafts while overhauling the existing ones as it celebrates its 75th anniversary this year amid persistent challenges in maintaining them. Despite facing significant economic constraints and geopolitical hurdles, SLAF has announced a series of strategic acquisitions and overhauls, ranging from more..

Feb 19 (FT) IMF Managing Director Dr. Kristalina Georgieva visited the Central Bank of SL (CBSL) on Tuesday (17) during her visit to Sri Lanka. This coincided with the 75th anniversary of SL’s IMF membership as well as the CBSL’s 75th anniversary. Dr. Georgieva met CBSL Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe and senior officials. During this meeting, Dr. Weerasinghe expressed sincere gratitude to the IMF Managing Director and her team for the steadfast support provided under more..

Feb 19 (FT) Tourist arrivals from SL’s second largest source market could face short-term disruptions following a temporary technical issue affecting the delivery of Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) approval notices to travellers in the UK. SL High Commission in the UK announced that the disruption impacts ETA approval notices issued by the Dept of Immigration and Emigration in SL. In a notice, the Consular Section of the High Commission in London noted that the issue arose due to unforeseen more..

Feb 19 (Island) On a bright Colombo morning, beneath the polished lines of Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams SL, SL quietly redrew the contours of its global image. This was not merely a programme launch. It was a recalibration. For the first time, a SL-made food and travel series will premiere across South Asia on National Geographic — a platform synonymous with global storytelling. In a region where culinary diplomacy more..

Feb 19 (DN) SL will look to maintain their winning momentum when they face Zimbabwe in their final Group match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the R. Premadasa Stadium today, starting at 3.00 p.m. Both teams have already secured qualification for the Super Eight stage with unbeaten records and will be keen to finish the group phase on a winning note. SL have been in outstanding form, recording victories over Ireland, Oman & Australia. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, defeated Oman & Australia, more..

Feb 19 (DM) Energy Ministry is on track to award the contract for the construction of the aviation fuel pipeline from Muthurajawela to BIA in April 2026. The project, which involves the construction of a transfer pipeline and jet fuel storage tanks, is a critical step in securing the country’s aviation fuel supply chain. According to the latest progress reports filed by the ministry, the second round of bid invitations was successfully concluded, with the bids opening on Nov 14, 2025. more..