Nov 5 (FT) High Commission of India, in collaboration with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), yesterday hosted a high-level forum in Colombo titled PPP: Partnership and Prosperity for People, bringing together Govt officials, policymakers, private sector leaders and development partners to discuss pathways for unlocking SL’s Public–Private Partnership (PPP) potential. Event comes as the Govt finalises long-awaited PPP legislation more..

Nov 5 (FT) UK Trade Envoy for SL, Lord John Hannett, yesterday praised SL’s resilience, beauty and growing appeal as a global travel destination, while reaffirming the UK’s commitment to deepening trade and tourism partnerships, at the opening of the SL Pavilion at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London’s Excel Centre. Addressing the gathering, Lord Hannett said it was a privilege to represent the UK as Trade Envoy to SL, a country he described as a story of strength and renewal. more..

Nov 5 (DN) Sri Lanka made a flying start to the CAVA Women’s Under-19 Volleyball Championship when they crushed Maldives 3-0 in the opening match at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo yesterday. The home side, led by captain Sulakshana Pasiduni, dominated from the very first serve and never looked in trouble. Sri Lanka took the first set easily by 26-9, maintaining their rhythm to secure the second set 25-9, and finished off the match in style by winning the third set 25-15. more..

Nov 5 (DM) Several former top government officials are now under the radar of the Bribery Commission over alleged corruption, as the Commission intensifies its probe into the misuse of public resources. In the latest development, a former General Manager of SL Railways and a former Executive Director of the SL State Engineering Corporation were arrested last morning by the CIABOC on alleged corruption charges. more..

Nov 5 (DM) Australian education has become one of the most powerful and enduring links in its bilateral relationship with Sri Lanka, emerging as a critical pillar for building the advanced skills and capabilities that will define the nation’s future economy. Australian High Commissioner in SL Matthew Duckworth recently emphasised the strong and reliable educational alliance between Australia and SL. Speaking in Colombo at the 10th Anniversary and Alumni Reunion of Monash College more..

Nov 5 (Island) The commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe, felicitated the SLAF athletes who medals at the 4th South Asian Athletics Championships, held in India. The felicitation ceremony was held at Air Force Headquarters on Monday. ‎A total of 59 athletes represented SL at the championships, including nine outstanding athletes from the SLAF. Demonstrating exceptional talent and determination, the Air Force contingent made a significant contribution more..

Nov 5 (Island) Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club, one of SL’s proudest cricket clubs, celebrated its 125th anniversary in grand style at the City of Dreams in Colombo on Friday. It was a night to remember, with over 300 guests — past and present Test cricketers, club members, officials from sister clubs and SLC — gathering under one roof to salute a club that has stood tall for a century and quarter. The P. Sara Oval, Tamil Union’s cherished home, has been the stage for many golden chapters more..

Nov 5 (CT) Five years ago, when COVID-19 hit Sri Lanka, rising star Tharushi Karunarathne needed a guiding hand. Her elder brother Harsha, who had already given up on athletics, returned to the track — not as a champion, but as a brother. That quiet act of support reignited his own fire. Together, they revived a family legacy in the 800m. Now both international medalists, Harsha is determined to follow his sister’s golden path at next year’s continental championships. more..

Nov 5 (TM) The visiting Secretary for Relations with States and Int'l Organisations of the See of Rome, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher told Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake that both he and Pope Leo the XIV admire the progress that SL has made, particularly in advancing peace and unity among all ethnic and religious communities, adding that based on this progress, Pope may consider a visit to SL in the near future. more..

Nov 5 (DN) The young leg spin all rounder Dunith Wellalage will lead the SL ‘A’ team for the Asian Cricket Council’s (ACC) Rising Stars T-20 tournament which will be played in West End Park Int'l Cricket Stadium Doha, Qatar, from Nov 14 to 23. Selectors decided to leave the 21-year-old Wellalage out of the senior squad for the Pakistan tour as he is unlikely to feature in the playing XI during the Pakistan series. Instead, the move aims to give him more leadership experience more..

Nov 5 (FT) Ceylon Institute of Builders (CIOB) recently handed over its SL Construction Industry Budget Proposal 2026/2027 to the Ministry of Construction in the presence of the Minister, Deputy Minister, and Secretary to the Ministry. The proposal outlines a comprehensive roadmap to revive and expand Sri Lanka’s construction sector, positioning it once again as a key driver of national growth. It calls for urgent policy intervention and financial relief to help the industry recover from more..

Nov 5 (Island) Retired High Court judge Manikavasagar Illancheliyan recently said that he had been deprived of an opportunity to serve for four more years for no fault of his. Illancheliyan presided over many high profile criminal cases including the rape and murder of Sivaloganathan Vithya. He was the target of a failed assassination attempt in July 2017 near the Nallur Kovil in Jaffna where the police officer escorting him was killed. Addressing a gathering in London, more..

Nov 5 (Island) TN Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday urged External Affairs Minister of India S. Jaishankar to initiate immediate diplomatic efforts with the SL govt to secure the release of all the arrested fishermen along with their boats, Indian media reported. The SL Navy detained 31 fishermen from Nagapattinam along with their three fishing boats on Nov 3, Chief Minister said, adding that in a separate incident, four fishermen from Ramanathapuram were also apprehended, more..

Nov 5 (TM) The CIABOC has launched an investigation into allegations that former Minister Basil Rajapaksa misused over Rs. 1.03 billion in public funds during the period from 2010 to 2015. In a complaint lodged with the CIABOC, the Citizens Power Against Bribery, Corruption & Waste organisation President Kamantha Thushara said that the alleged misuse of State resources is detailed in the final report of Prez Commission of Inquiry more..

Nov 5 (DM) The local tourism industry, once hailed as the country’s third-largest foreign exchange earner, is under scrutiny for the reliability of its earnings data, with experts warning that flawed accounting methods are distorting the true picture of the sector’s performance. According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance, current tourism earnings remain clouded by flawed calculations, with official estimates still based on a 2018 survey by SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA). more..

Nov 5 (AD) A tsunami mock drill covering the entire island is scheduled to be held today in conjunction with World Tsunami Awareness Day. The exercise is organized by a regional body comprising 28 member countries of the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC). The drill will be conducted in five Grama Niladhari Divisions across the coastal districts of Batticaloa, Kalutara, Galle & Jaffna. The main national-level exercise will be held in the Kalutara District and is scheduled more..

Nov 5 (TM) Teachers’ and Principals’ Trade Union Alliance has announced that it will give the Government time until 7 Nov to reverse the decision to extend the duration of each school day. The Union further warned that if the decision (to extend school hours by 30 minutes till 2 pm) is not changed, it will launch island-wide trade union action during the second week of next month. General Secretary of Ceylon Teachers’ Union more..

Nov 6 (DM) After several months of protests, the people of Mannar won their battle to save their soil from unplanned development projects. According to the cabinet decision on Tuesday, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake had instructed Power and Energy Ministry officials to refrain from continuing any major projects in Mannar without obtaining the consent from people. This is a positive development in terms of sustainable development, particularly because people’s consent is paramount more..

Nov 6 (DM) How far can a country go in accommodating its multicultural, multi-faith, and multi-racial character without amplifying the fault lines and developing parallel societies? This is not a question unique to SL, but a global one. That, however, is the question one should ask about the recent govt proposal, now seems to have been aborted, to accommodate long dresses and head coverings for Muslim health care workers. The govt proposal stemmed from a discussion more..

Nov 6 (TM) SL’s Constitution clearly states that every person charged with an offence is presumed innocent until proven guilty, as enshrined in Article 13(3). Further, torture, cruel treatment, or humiliation, including the public shaming of suspects is strictly forbidden under Article 11. Yet, in today’s social media-driven society, these protections are often tested, and sometimes, tragically, undermined by the actions of law enforcement officers more..

Nov 6 (DM) The incident I am going to relate now may seem unrelated to what follows. But it is related to the theme of this week’s column – the chronic lack of accountability that SL society suffers from. Its moral compass is spinning wildly out of control. I went to the post office to post a registered letter. There was a young man ahead of me. I stood behind him, forming a queue. A young woman came rushing with a big bundle of letters. Not even noticing the queue, she gave the bundle to postal clerk, more..

Nov 6 (GV) Mannar stands at the frontline of a new conflict: the cumulative impact of large scale development projects, in particular the proposed wind farms. While renewable energy is crucial for SL’s future, the approach and location of these projects should be carefully considered. Environmental concerns raise urgent questions about transparency, governance and survival for local communities. For over 70 continuous days, people of Mannar have maintained more..

Nov 6 (SO) The country’s education system is on the brink of a transformation unlike any in recent memory. Beginning next year, sweeping reforms promise to move classrooms beyond the rigid, exam-driven traditions that have long shaped the nation’s schools – towards a model that celebrates every child’s individual strengths and talents. Framed under the metaphor of Wings (Aththatu), the reforms aim to replace more..

Nov 6 (TM) The Chinese authorities have introduced a new set of regulatory rules for social media-based content creators, commonly known as influencers, requiring those who wish to discuss certain serious topics to first provide proof of the relevant professional credentials or expertise. This means possessing a valid university degree, recognised training, a license or certification before publishing or broadcasting content on regulated areas such as finance, health, medicine, law or education. more..

Nov 6 (CT) The Cabinet’s decision to open operational roles in the SL Railways to women marks a historic stride towards gender equality in one of the nation’s oldest State institutions. For the first time in over 165 years, women will be eligible to serve as Railway Engine Drivers, Station Masters, Superintendents, and Supervisory Managers — positions that have for too long remained the preserve of men. It is, by any measure, a progressive and commendable move. more..

Nov 6 (Island) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake is scheduled to perform an unenviable task tomorrow—presenting Budget 2026. The JVP-led NPP raised people’s expectations beyond measure to win elections, and it is now under tremendous pressure to honour its pledges. State sector trade unions are demanding pay hikes and tax relief, as usual. Govt Medical Officers’ Association is prominent among them. It has called for a salary increase and a PAYE tax reduction for its members. more..

Nov 6 (Island) In a developing country like Sri Lanka, one of the main challenges, is developing attitudes and social values of its citizens. Attitudes are the behaviours and beliefs that shape an individual’s or society’s actions. These attitudes have a significant impact on personal and societal development. Therefore, developing the right attitudes is crucial for the progress of a nation. Attitude development has a profound impact on various aspects of society. For instance, promoting more..

Nov 6 (ST) Civil Aviation Authority of SL (CAASL) has advertised 15 critical vacancies, including air safety and oversight personnel, ahead of a crucial audit by the Int'l Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) scheduled to take place in the next 24 months. Among the posts that the CAASL expects to fill are senior civil aviation inspector (aircraft flight operations); senior civil aviation inspector (air traffic management-technical); more..

Nov 6 (FT) Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDPLC), has secured another repeat vessels contract to build two Cable Laying and Repair Vessels to one the prestigious cable ship operators, Orange Marine. Incidentally this is the largest shipbuilding contract CDPLC has ever signed in the history of the Company. Orange Marine is a French company specialising in the field of submarine telecommunications, from the initial design, engineering, to installation of intercontinental more..

Nov 6 (FT) A delegation of SL businesses, is in Canada from 3 to 8 November, exploring opportunities in investment and partnerships in education, agriculture, information technology and tourism. Organised by the SL–Canada Business Council of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the Canada–SL Business Convention, with the support of the High Commission of SL in Canada, the group includes representatives from several key industries more..

Nov 6 (ST) In a recent Appeal Court ruling, the govt of SL has been ordered to revoke the gazette notification issued on four local companies established in the Colombo Port City, which deemed the country’s Employment Act will not be applicable to employees working within the port city borders. Four companies operating in the Port City were exempted from certain taxes and the termination of employment laws through new gazettes issued on July 14 this year, more..

Nov 6 (FT) Markspen Group, the leading distributor of globally renowned modern agricultural machinery in SL, introduced to the local market the GRANIFRIGOR Grain Cooling Device, an advanced agritech innovation from Germany. This pioneering cooling device, manufactured by Germany’s FrigorTec GmbH, draws from a 60-year legacy backed by specialised knowledge, domain expertise and technology acumen in agricultural cooling systems. Today GRANIFRIGOR™ is used in more..

Nov 6 (EN) Sri Lanka planning to 60,000 state workers in the future to fill vacancies after allocating tax money to to hire 30,000 workers in the current year, a media report said. Minister Chandana Abeyratne was quoted as saying by the online portal of Sri Lanka’s Newsfirst televison that the process to fill positions in the Sri Lanka Administrative Service, Sri Lanka Engineering Service, Planning Service, and Accountants’ Service has already started. more..

Nov 6 (ST) SL govt has specified a clear fiscal vision before the country’s 2026 Budget presentation on Nov 7 under the theme: A Productive Economy and Foster the Engagement of Everyone in Economic Development. It will not include new taxes. Instead, it will focus on boosting state revenue by strengthening tax administration, primarily through digitisation and widening the tax net. This marks a decisive axis from the work done to date and it will be reforming existing tax instruments, more..

Nov 6 (FT) Top blue chip John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH) has reported a strong second quarter and signalled a far better second half, defying critics and pessimists. JKH has doubled Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortisation (EBITDA) to Rs. 18.3 billion, which includes interest income and the share of results of equity-accounted investees based on the share of Profit After Tax (PAT), but excludes all impacts from foreign currency exchange gains and losses more..

Nov 6 (TM) Ministry of Women and Child Affairs stated that it would launch a programme to educate the public — particularly teachers — on the importance of banning corporal punishment, in the wake of ongoing discussions surrounding the proposed Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to introduce legal provisions against the corporal punishment of children. Deputy Minister Dr. Namal Sudarshana said that teachers and more..