Feb 25 (DM) Sinhalese Sports Club's (SSC) staggering relegation from the top division could only be compared to the incredible fall of Rajapaksas in recent times. Like Rajapaksas who dominated politics for decades, SSC were the top dog of SL's first class cricket for such a long period until last week when it was confirmed they were relegated to Division 2. Rajapaksas despite having plenty of very known politicians suffered defeat more..

Feb 25 (EN) SL’s CBL group, makers or Munchee and Ritzbury, buiscuits and chocolates said it has up a distribution hub in Kenya, which will serve the local and African markets. “We are in the midst of a global expansion drive, focusing on taking our confectionery business to international markets,” Shea Wickramasinghe, Group Managing Director of CBL said. “We see significant potential for growth in emerging markets, and these are the regions where we can drive innovation forward.” more..

Feb 25 (EN) Cabinet has extended the operational time for Project Management Unit of the Colombo Port City Development Project until June 2027, a govt document said, amid delays in the Chinese-investment project, the island nation’s largest. Project Management Unit is the main unit that connects the SL govt and the CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd for project supervision, resolution of issues, and coordination of utility services. The govt in its cabinet decision document said more..

Feb 25 (FT) The multi-billion rupee local food and beverage (F&B) industry renewed calls for regulatory clarity following a high-level meeting with Health Ministry officials on proposed amendments to food labelling and advertising standards. Representatives from Lanka Confectionery Manufacturers Association (LCMA), SL Food Processors Association (SLFPA), and All Ceylon Bakery Owners Association (ACBOA) more..

Feb 25 (EN) Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi, a former Reuters’ photojournalist who fled SL in the face of threats 17 years ago has been appointed as Director of Int'l Media and Strategic Communications at Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s Media Division. Lokuhapuarachchi worked with the Reuters news agency for nearly two decades. He was forced to flee the country under former prez Mahinda Rajapaksa regime in 2008. Veteran journalist who holds an honorary degree in photography more..

Feb 25 (AD) A meeting between Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Indonesian Ambassador to SL, Dewi Gustina Tobing, took place today at the Prez Secretariat. During the discussion, Ambassador Tobing extended Indonesia’s well wishes to the new govt and reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to strengthening the 70-year-long friendship between the two nations. Ambassador highlighted that both SL and Indonesia recently held simultaneous elections and established new govts. more..

Feb 25 (AD) PM and Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, says that the salaries of school principals and teachers have been brought to within the top 10 salary grades. Speaking in Parliament today, PM clarified that following the latest salary revisions, the principals are placed 7th among the salary grades, while teachers are placed 8th. Addressing concerns raised by some MPs regarding the fulfillment of the govet’s promise, more..

Feb 25 (TM) A discussion on SL’s current security situation was held today at the Presidential Secretariat, under the leadership of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The meeting attended by Senior Army Officials, focused on future measures regarding the security situation in SL. Deputy Minister of Defence, Aruna Jayasekara, Secretary to the Prez Nandika Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha and Commander of the Army more..

Feb 25 (TM) Electricity Consumers Association (ECA) has requested the Legal Draftsman's Dept to immediately discard the draft amendments to the Electricity Act, No. 36 of 2024, submitted by the Ministry of Energy, alleging that it violates the Constitution and the Official Language Policy. A notification was published on the ministry's official website on 28 Jan 2025, inviting proposals from interested parties regarding more..

Feb 25 (AD) Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath is scheduled to address the UNHRC in Geneva, Switzerland today (25). Minister is expected to deliver his speech at 3.30 p.m. Geneva time (20:00 Tuesday IST). Minister Herath departed the island on Sunday to attend the 58th session of the UNHRC in Geneva, Switzerland. During his visit, he held a bilateral meeting with the UK’s Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Lord Collins of Highbury. more..

Feb 25 (NW) Faculty of Engineering of Peradeniya University has produced a special device as a solution to the incidents of train-elephant collisions reported in SL. The unique device has been created using artificial intelligence to prevent the deaths of elephants, a recent incident in which nearly six elephants were killed. According to Professor Lilantha Samaranayake, the dean of that faculty, the new device has been tested and has provided successful results. more..

Feb 25 (EN) SL’s debt service in 2025 is estimated at US$ 2,454 dollars made up of US$ 1,369 million in capital repayments and 1,085 million dollars in interest, Deputy Minister Anil Jayantha has said. In 2026, principal payments are 1,191 million dollars and interest US$ 931 million. In 2027, principal are US$ 1,196 million and interest US$ 893 million. In 2028, principal are US$ 2,133 million and interest US$ 974 million. more..

Feb 25 (DM) Heated arguments erupted in Parliament with ruling party MP Gamagedara Dissanayake and Opposition MP Rohini Kaviratne coming up with murder charges during the 1989 insurrection. Argument erupted when MP Kaviratne accused MP Gamagedara of making a false claim that her father, a former Minister, had murdered eight persons while campaigning for the general elections of 1989. “My father never murdered anyone as he was not out of his mind,” more..

Feb 25 (NW) The govt has taken all necessary measures to bring back former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran to stand trial over the Central Bank Bond Scam, Minister Nalinda Jatissa said. He said the authorities were facing some legal issues in bringing back Arjuna Mahendran to Sri Lanka. Stating that the government was taking all measures to extradite him to SL, Minister Jayatissa assured that the case against him would continue in his presence or absence. more..

Feb 25 (FT) In Sept 2023, the Anti-Corruption Act No. 09 of 2023 was signed into law, extending the regulation of bribery to include corporate entities in SL. Previously, only public officers were liable for prosecution under bribery offences. However, this landmark legislation now encompasses the private sector, expanding the definition of bribery to cover a broader range of corrupt activities. 106. (1) Any person who, in the course of any economic, financial or commercial activity, more..

Feb 25 (FT) The fragrant steam rising from a pot of rice, once a symbol of comfort and abundance in SL households, now carries a bitter scent of anxiety. Families across the island nation grapple with a rice crisis that threatens to unravel the social and economic fabric of their lives. While Govt pronouncements boast a surplus of rice production, consumers face empty shelves and inflated prices. This stark paradox exposes deep-seated flaws in SL’s agricultural policies and more..

Feb 25 (EN) SL is expected to establish an independent prosecutor office very soon, Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said after a meeting with key stakeholders, amid delays in prosecution in some high profile cases. The stakeholders met for the first time on Monday consisted of representatives from Attorney General Dept, Police, Bar Association of SL (BASL) and SC judge Yasantha Kodagoda among others. more..

Feb 25 (AD) Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) has arrested two more suspects in connection with the fatal shooting of notorious underworld figure Ganemulla Sanjeewa, at the Aluthkade Magistrate’s Court. The latest arrests, made on Feb 24, bring the total number of suspects in custody to ten. The arrested individuals have been identified as the mother and younger brother of Ishara Sewwandi, a key suspect accused of aiding and abetting the crime and concealing information. more..

Feb 25 (DN) The govt is focusing on preparing a systematic program to add the total income from the sale of each gemstone to the national income, Minister Sunil Handunnetti said elaboration that steps will also be taken to establish a gem industrial zone in Ratnapura that will provide technical services to the gem industry. Minister made these observations while participating in the Face to Face – Meet the Minister program held at the Ratnapura District Secretariat recently. more..

Feb 25 (TM) The Acting IGP, Priyantha Weerasooriya pointed out that organised crime activities primarily revolve around the drug trade and that efforts are being made at a diplomatic level to identify and apprehend those directing these activities from overseas and to repatriate them. He stated this while addressing the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs of the tenth Parliament, more..

Feb 25 (DM) It is likely that a large number of SJB MPs will form an alliance with the UNP leaving out SJB leader Sajith Premadasa, former MP Rajitha Senaratne said. "There are many SJBers who want to form an alliance with the UNP and they are likely to abandon SJB leader and join the alliance," he said. "It looks like Premadasa is not interested in an alliance. It seems that he is not willing to bury hachets," Dr. Senaratne added. In response to this, SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma more..

Feb 25 (ST) SL’s tea industry is once again in a quandary as to how the govt arrived at a decision to propose a Rs. 1750 wage for estate workers when they there was no discussions, so far with relevant stakeholders. Galle and Kalutara Tea Smallholders Association President Ushan Samarasinghe said that this matter should have ideally been discussed with all stakeholder prior to arriving at a decision in this regard. He noted that when queried from other stakeholder associations it was found that more..

Feb 25 (ST) The pause in US foreign assistance is affecting many important programmes in Sri Lanka, including ones critical to advancing food security, economic reforms, democratic governance, anti-corruption, border security, and orderly migration management, according to Marc-André Franche, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka. He said these programmes were being carried out with the support of civil society, the private sector and development partners. more..

Feb 25 (DM) SriLankan Airlines reported a pre-tax loss of Rs.1.96 billion for the seven months ended October 2024, reversing a profit of Rs.4.13 billion in the same period last year, the Finance Ministry said. The ministry attributed the downturn to a 14.9% decline in net traffic revenue, which fell to Rs.152.32 billion, from Rs.178.82 billion a year earlier. The govt, which previously sought to restructure and privatise the state-owned airline, said it would explore alternative models to more..

Feb 25 (FT) When analysing the solutions that the 2025 Budget should provide for the country, it is crucial to examine the mandate given to implement such a Budget and how that mandate has been executed. The policy framework presented to secure the mandate was A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life and Country to Anura. We must assess how much of these policy features are reflected in the 2025 Budget. more..

Feb 25 (DN) SL National Rifle Association is set to host National Rifle Championship from March 6 to 8 at the iconic Pooneryn Naval Shooting Range in the Jaffna Peninsula. The 3-day national event, held as part of the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) competition, will feature 216 shooters from SL and overseas, and is officially recognised on the International Rifle Shooting Calendar. This will be the first time in six years that the National Rifle C'ship is being held, more..

Feb 25 (Island) Barista, one of SL’s most prominent coffee brands, is on a mission to make coffee a staple in every Sri Lankan’s life, says its CEO Dilupa Pathirana. Pathirana outlined the company’s plans to continue its rapid expansion, bringing the coffee culture to every city across the island. “We want to make coffee a social, accessible beverage that fits into every part of life, said Pathirana. “Whether you’re studying, working, meeting a friend, or just relaxing, we want coffee to be there. more..

Feb 25 (DM) Senior journalist Chandana Sooriyabandara has been appointed as the Media Advisor to the President. Meanwhile, Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachch, a veteran journalist, has been appointed as the Director of International Media and Strategic Communications under the President’s Media Division. Both officials received their letters of appointment this afternoon from the Secretary to the Prez Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake at the Presidential Secretariat. more..

Feb 25 (FT) SL’s tourism sector continues its strong momentum in 2025, with over 175,000 tourists arriving in the first 20 days of February, marking a 15% growth compared to the same period last year. According to the latest data, 175,436 tourists visited SL between 1 and 20 Feb, bringing the year-to-date (YTD) total to 428,197 arrivals, marking a year-on-year (YoY) increase of 19%. The first week of February saw a total of 61,667 visitors, followed by 63,164 tourists in the second week, more..

Feb 25 (Island) Bar Association of SL (BASL) has said the govt’s failure to take action against those responsible for extra-judicial killings has led to allegations of a culture impunity. The BASL has emphasised the need for the police to take all necessary action against officers who are responsible for custodial deaths and extra-judicial killings. The text of the statement issued: “On 19th Feb, a suspect was shot dead inside more..

Feb 25 (FT) Hatton National Bank (HNB) said it has posted robust overall performance in the year 2024, demonstrating marked improvement on all fronts. Group Profit After Tax (PAT) improved to Rs. 44.8 billion in 2024, up from Rs. 23.6 billion in 2023 while the bank’s PAT increased to Rs. 41.3 billion, compared to Rs. 20.3 billion in the previous year. Commenting on the performance in 2024, HNB PLC Chairman Nihal Jayawardena stated, “With the improving economic landscape in 2024 more..

Feb 25 (DN) The 26th edition of the Guwan Hamuda Papadi Sawariya 2025 is set to take place in conjunction with the 74th Anniversary Celebrations of SL Air Force. Organised by the Air force Cycling Federation under the guidance of Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe the 4 Comander of the SL Air Force, the prestigious event will feature both Men’s and Women’s races. The men’s Race will unfold over three stages across three days, while women’s race will be a one day event. more..