Aug 25 (DM) The Cabinet has approved a proposal to develop connecting roads linking Sections I, III and IV of the Central Expressway with the existing road network in the Western, Central and North-Western provinces. The project is aimed at improving connectivity, accessibility and traffic flow between the Central Expressway and the existing road network. Accordingly, a 117.68-kilometre connecting road network has been proposed for Section I of the Central Expressway. more..

Aug 25 (NW) The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal by the Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation to award concessions for operating six travel service counters at the arrival lobby of Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake. The move follows a national competitive bidding process, with ten companies submitting proposals. After evaluation, the High‑Level Standing Procurement Committee recommended awarding the concessions for a three‑year period. more..

Aug 25 (EN) SL will roll out 300,000 smart meters with a Time-of-Use billing system over the next two years to help modernize the national power grid, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. Project will be funded using US$ 12.5 million from an ADB loan facility and will be carried out by Electricity Distribution Lanka (Pvt) Ltd following Cabinet approval. The initiative is part of broader state efforts to upgrade the power network and support the integration of renewable energy sources. more..

Aug 25 (DM) Ministry of Health and Mass Media has called for applications from journalists for the Homagama Journalists’ Housing Scheme, introduced for media professionals working in print, electronic and online media institutions. According to the Ministry, applicants must be permanent residents of SL and should not own a house or land suitable for the construction of a house. Applicants must also have completed at least 10 years of service in the media sector. more..

Aug 25 (EN) Cabinet of Ministers has approved the establishment of a National Business Facilitation Centre under the Presidential Secretariat, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said, to streamline investment approvals and remove administrative bottlenecks. “Local investment in the country faces a number of challenges due to the existence of an approval process spread across various govt institutions, institutions operating in isolation with minimal internal communication.” more..

Aug 25 (NW) Metro bus service is expected to expand in Colombo with all 121 buses currently available to be deployed under a year-long project from the end of September, Minister Bimal Rathnayake said. He said the initial service, which involved 10 Metro buses, had already made a significant impact on the public, although it could not yet be considered a pilot project. He said the govt also plans to introduce Metro bus services in Galle, Kandy and Jaffna next year, more..

Aug 25 (NW) The govt will continue the QR system for fuel distribution as Middle East conflicts remain unresolved, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said today. Responding to a question at the post-Cabinet media briefing, Minister said the QR mechanism must remain in place to manage supplies, noting that while consumption has reduced, the impact is limited. Minister further explained that instability in the Strait of Hormuz continues to affect global oil prices, with barrel costs fluctuating. more..

Aug 25 (CI) Prabath Jayasuriya has been handed an official reprimand and had a demerit point added to his disciplinary record for smacking the boundary wedges with his bat on his way back after being dismissed on the second day of SL's ongoing second Test against India in Colombo. The demerit point is Jayasuriya's first in a 24-month period. The offence is a breach of Level 1 of the ICC's code of conduct for players and player support personnel, which relates to more..

Aug 25 (Island) Australia has declined to provide citizenship details of Finance Ministry Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma. Public interest activist Nagananda Kodituwakku said that he had sought information about the Treasury Chief’s citizenship from the Department of Home Affairs, Australia, following the disclosure of the theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury. Kodituwakku said that having promised to look into his request, Australia declined to do so subsequently. more..

Aug 25 (FT) In Sri Lanka, as in many countries, unpaid and under-supported care responsibilities continue to fall disproportionately on women, creating barriers to employment, entrepreneurship, and economic advancement. Research shows that while Sri Lankan women and girls achieve high educational standards, nearly 75% of working-age women are excluded from the labour force, primarily due to caregiving responsibilities.​ Strengthening social care systems including more..

Aug 25 (CI) Sonal Dinusha was fighting a lone battle unbeaten on 85 as play came to a close on day three, Sri Lanka still 238 runs behind India's 503 for 9 declared, with just two wickets in hand. At the crease alongside him was Lahiru Kumara, who had done well to hold his own during a 50-ball vigil for eight runs. Dinusha's fifty was his third such score in this series as he showcased the resolve that had been sorely lacking across SL's innings more..

Aug 25 (AD) The govt intends to hold the Provincial Council elections as soon as possible, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa stated. He stated that if parliament enacts the necessary legislation and the delimitation process is completed within this year, funds have already been allocated to conduct the elections. Minister made these remarks in response to a question regarding a recent statement by MP Nilanthi Kottahachchi, who claimed that the Provincial Council elections would not be held. more..

Aug 25 (NW) Cabinet has approved contracts worth more than Rs. 5 billion for the construction of a new cardiac unit at the Trincomalee District General Hospital and a cardiac and cardiothoracic surgery complex at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital. The projects are being implemented under a health and medical services improvement programme launched in 2018 with financial assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), according to the Cabinet decision. more..

Aug 25 (ST) National Film Corporation (NFC) has opened the process for selecting the country’s official submission for the Int'l Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards, scheduled to be held in 2027. The NFC, the statutory authority responsible for regulating, promoting and developing SL’s film industry, has established the National Oscars Selection Committee of SL (NOSCSL), which has been duly approved by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), USA. more..

Aug 25 (AD) CIABOC has informed the Colombo Magistrate’s Court that investigations are continuing into the alleged loss of more than USD 6.7 million to the government over the importation of substandard organic fertilizer during the administration of former Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The case has been filed against former Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and other suspects over the alleged importation of a shipment containing 20,000 metric tonnes of substandard organic fertilizer from a Chinese company. more..

Aug 25 (NW) CID has obtained approval to detain and continue questioning retired Major General Suresh Sallay, the former head of the State Intelligence Service, for an additional 90 days in connection with the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks. The extension was granted under Section 9(1) of the PTA No. 48 of 1979, following an order issued by the Minister of Defence. Sallay was arrested on Feb 25 at Peliyagoda and has since been held by the CID as investigations into the 2019 attacks continue. more..

Aug 25 (FT) SL’s post-2022 macroeconomic trajectory has often been described as a textbook recovery. Single-digit inflation, a stabilised rupee, replenished central bank gross official reserves, and primary budget surpluses reflect the fruits of disciplined fiscal management under the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF). Yet, macroeconomic stabilisation is merely the bridge out of insolvency; it is not an engine of long-term prosperity. As the grace periods of external debt restructuring more..

Aug 25 (FT) For many years, widening the tax base has been rightly recognised as one of the most important priorities for SL. A country cannot build a sustainable revenue system if a relatively small group of taxpayers continues to carry a large share of the burden. Bringing previously unregistered individuals and businesses into the formal tax system is therefore essential. The renewed public attention on Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) registration and the expanding role of TINs more..

Aug 25 (TM) SL could face a fresh threat of power cuts as the prevailing El Niño conditions push up electricity demand while reducing hydropower generation, PUCSL Chairman K.P.L. Chandralal warned. He said electricity demand could increase under the prevailing weather conditions, while hydroelectricity generation could decline if water sources begin to dry up. He warned that the combination of rising demand and more..

Aug 25 (TM) The body of an anaesthesiologist attached to the Badulla Teaching Hospital, who had been reported missing since 23 August, was found on a rock near Mapakadawewa in Mahiyanganaya yesterday (24). Police said the doctor had been on duty at the hospital on 23 August but was subsequently reported missing. Investigations found that the doctor’s car had been captured on CCTV cameras in the Meegahakiula area travelling towards Mahiyanganaya. more..

Aug 25 (NW) Colombo Permanent Trial-at-Bar has fixed Sept 22 to deliver its verdict in the case against 25 accused persons charged over the 2019 Easter Sunday bomb attacks. 3-member High Court bench hearing the case announced the date on Monday (24). Attorney General has filed 23,270 charges against the 25 accused, including allegations of conspiracy, aiding and abetting the attacks, collecting arms and ammunition, and attempted murder under the PTA. more..

Aug 25 (FT) The Tourism Ministry has played down concerns surrounding Jewish Chabad Houses, noting the local Muslim community, in particular, has no objection to their presence, and warning that isolated issues were being amplified by parties seeking to disrupt tourism. Tourism Deputy Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe said he had discussed the matter with community representatives and the Minister about two weeks ago and more..

Aug 25 (Island) C. Sallay, mother of former Head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) Major General (retd.) Suresh Sallay, has requested an opportunity to meet Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. In a letter dated 23 August, she has urged the President not to extend her son’s detention. Sallay has been detained in terms of the PTA. Arrested in the last week of February this year, Sallay has been held on second detention order issued by Prez Dissanayake in his capacity as the defence minister. more..

Aug 25 (Island) Bar Association of SL (BASL), in a motion filed in the Supreme Court yesterday, suggested that Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena recuse himself from hearing petitions challenging the 22nd Amendment, which seeks to extend the retirement ages of superior court judges. The petitioners, BASL President Rajeev Amarasuriya and BASL Secretary Nalin de Silva, named the AG as the respondent in the motion filed under Articles 120 and 121 of the Constitution, more..

Aug 25 (DM) National Water Supply & Drainage Board (NWSDB) said the temporarily suspended water supply will be restored within the next few hours following the resolution of an emergency situation that affected water quality at the Kelani River water intake point. The emergency situation was resolved with the support of the tri-forces, according to the NWSDB. Following recommendations from the DMC, laboratory tests were conducted to assess the quality of more..

Aug 25 (ST) A 70 billion-rupee JICA-financed initiative to expand water supply from the Kalu Ganga has been restarted—one year after Japan resumed development aid to Sri Lanka and nearly 10 years since the project was launched. While the bid submission deadline is now September 16, 2026, the loan agreement for JPY 31,810 million (around Rs 66.14 billion rupees, at the prevailing conversion rate) was first signed in July 2017 under the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe administration. more..

Aug 25 (FT) Sri Lanka is facing a fresh export competitiveness challenge in the European Union (EU) as the recently concluded EU-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is expected to give Indian products significant tariff advantages across several labour-intensive sectors, prompting calls for urgent action to protect the country’s market access and strengthen its competitive position. The issue was raised at a meeting between more..

Aug 25 (FT) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed officials to accelerate projects being implemented by Provincial Councils using Rs. 102 billion allocated from the Govt’s Rs. 500 billion provision for the Ditwah disaster situation. The directive was issued during a meeting at the Presidential Secretariat on Friday to review the progress of development projects being implemented by PCs under 2026 Budget allocations and preparations for the 2027 Budget, more..

Aug 25 (FT) SriLankan Airlines is making Mission ShakthiSAT possible for SL’s Official Student Representative, Seneesa Goonewardena, and ShakthiSAT (Devi) Ambassador for SL Dr. Sulochana Segera, by sponsoring their travel to India to participate in the groundbreaking project that will bring together young girls from 108 countries to design and build a satellite for the first time collaboratively. Seneesa Goonewardena was selected following a highly competitive more..

Aug 25 (TM) Although university students cannot be dealt with in the same manner as schoolchildren as they are adults, universities have been instructed to take all possible measures to curb drug use among students, Education Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa said. He said that while the Govt is already paying attention to drug use among both school and university students, universities require a different approach as their students are adults and must take responsibility for staying more..

Aug 25 (ST) The annual donation of elephant costumes for the 2026 Kandy Esela Perahera was held at the Ran Awuda Mandapaya of the Sri Dalada Maligawa last Thursday (13), with the guidance of Diyawadana Nilame. The caparisoned elephants and tuskers who take part in the Kandy Esala Perahera showcase traditional motifs that celebrate the cultural splendour of SL. Sri Dalada Maligawa expressed its appreciation to everyone who contributed to prepare the costumes. more..

Aug 25 (TM) Both upcoming cultivation seasons can be successfully managed without difficulty if the Maha season is commenced early and without delay, according to Mahaweli Authority Director, Nilantha Dhanapala. He said starting the Maha season early would help conserve a portion of the available water, allowing the subsequent Yala season to commence by 15 March or in early April. more..