Dec 14 (ST) Chandika Hathurusinghe has filed fresh legal action against SLC in the Swiss based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over the termination of his contract as Head Coach of the men’s national team in 2019. The latest move revives a long running dispute that began when the Board removed him citing disciplinary concerns and poor on field results. After he was shown the door, Hathurusinghe invoked more..

Dec 14 (ST) Minagi Rupesinghe of Killer Whale Aquatics (KWA) shattered the 11-year-old Women’s 100m Backstroke Senior National record on Day 3 of the 5-day HNB National and Junior National Short Course Swimming Championship, held at the Isipathana College Swimming Pool Complex in Colombo yesterday. 20-year-old Rupesinghe clocked 1:03.17 to claim the gold, erasing the previous mark of 1:03.28 set by Olympian Kimiko Raheem in 2014. This is Rupesinghe’s second individual more..

Dec 14 (TM) Indian Cultural Association (ICA) recently unveiled the official race route for the Janashakthi Life-ICA Int'l Half-Marathon 2025, scheduled to be held today in Colombo. Endorsed by the Indian HC and SL’s Ministry of Sports, along with other statutory bodies, the event will commence at the Galle Face Green, bringing together athletes and communities in a celebration of endurance, unity, and philanthropy. Following the overwhelming success of its inaugural edition, more..

Dec 14 (ST) SL Under-19s opened their Asia Cup campaign in emphatic fashion with a commanding 8-wicket victory over Nepal Under-19s in their Group B encounter in Dubai on Saturday. After opting to field first, SL’s bowlers set the tone early and never allowed Nepal to settle. The standout performance came from paceman Sethmika Seneviratne, who delivered a superb spell to dismantle the Nepal batting line up, finishing with a five wicket haul (5/25) that effectively decided the contest more..

Dec 14 (ST) Former SL Chairman of cricket Selectors Pramodya Wickremasinghe is likely to return to the post, with the Minister of Sports set to appoint a new five-member national selection committee in the coming days. Wickremasinghe, who first assumed office in April 2021, was removed in the aftermath of SL’s disappointing campaign at the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. However, with SL entering another crucial phase in international cricket, his name has once again more..

Dec 14 (CT) Stories of unexplained disappearances at the Dehiwala National Zoo have been doing the rounds for a while now. The latest concerned a young yellow anaconda that had vanished from the reptile enclosure. It was said to be the only one of its kind in SL. The matter came to light after the zoo administration lodged a complaint with the Dehiwala Police. The yellow anaconda was not a long-term resident of the zoo. more..

Dec 14 (Island) Cyclone Ditwah has come and gone, leaving a trail of extensive damage to the country’s infrastructure, including buildings, roads, bridges, and 70% of the railway network. Thousands of hectares of farming land have been destroyed. Last but not least, nearly 1,000 people have lost their lives, and more than two million people have been displaced. The visuals uploaded to social media platforms graphically convey the widespread destruction Cyclone Ditwah has caused more..

Dec 14 (Island) The govt has announced a sweeping compensation package for the Ditwah disaster victims, and the disbursement of money for cleaning the flood-affected houses, is already underway. It is spending funds that belong to the people and not the JVP or the NPP. It must therefore not only disburse state funds responsibly but also be seen to be doing so. Transparency is the most potent antidote to all forms of financial malpractice. Worryingly, complaints abound that govt politicians more..

Dec 14 (ST) In what seems a quirk of fate, the Govt’s Sri Lanka Day planned for this weekend and intended to celebrate national reconciliation did indeed turn out to be a time when the nation stood together—but for a different reason; the entire country is still counting the dead, searching for the missing, and mopping up the debris from Cyclone Ditwah. Up next is a massive exercise in relocation of people, reconstruction of destroyed property and infrastructure, and more..

Dec 14 (ST) My dear Anura sahodaraya, I am writing to you as you criss-cross the country, visiting landslide affected areas, meeting with officials, asking them questions, and urging them to come up with urgent solutions. Much has been said about what happened – and the response afterwards. That is what I wanted to write to you about. As you must surely be aware, there is a big debate about whether the damage from this disaster, the worst ever the country has faced in terms of extent and more..

Dec 14 (ST) Not many in Jaffna are aware that there used to be a bird sanctuary along with a park in the heart of the city until someone went to court and tried to secure an order against the proposed construction of an indoor stadium by removing decades-old, if not centuries-old, trees at the site. A Jaffna-based environmentalist said one of the trees is believed to be around 100-120 years old. Last Friday, Jaffna Magistrate issued more..

Dec 14 (CT) The latest international analysis on the November storms should shake Sri Lankan authorities to their core. The findings are not simply another reminder of the climate crisis. They are a direct warning that the island’s outdated monitoring systems, slow disaster preparedness and preventable human errors are placing lives at unacceptable risk. Sri Lanka cannot afford to wait for another Cyclone Ditwah to prove once again how vulnerable the country has become. more..

Dec 14 (TM) Cyclone Ditwah effectively tested Sri Lanka’s governing capacity in an age of climate risk – a test the State appears to have miserably failed. What unfolded in late November was not simply the fury of nature overwhelming human systems, but also the exposure of institutional paralysis, delayed decision-making, and a troubling attempt to displace responsibility after the fact. In the days following the disaster, the Government found itself facing mounting criticism. more..

Dec 14 (TM) Two weeks since Cyclone Ditwah wreaked havoc in many parts of the country, those affected in many ways are trying to pick up the pieces while Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) is driving the Govt’s push for foreign assistance to rebuild SK stronger and better. It is not an easy task to carry out a rebuilding programme amidst an economic recovery programme and it is yet more challenging more..

Dec 14 (CT) Before writing this, I came across a viral TikTok video allegedly exposing a member of the present government attempting to influence the police regarding an investigation into unauthorized tree felling. Shortly after, news emerged that former Speaker and MP Asoka Ranwala, involved in a Sapugaskanda accident last night, was requested to undergo alcohol testing. What does this signal for the NPP Govt? Simply put: a deterioration of credibility. more..

Dec 14 (SO) On Nov 27-28, Cyclonic Storm Ditwah struck SL with strong winds and very heavy rainfall, causing the worst flooding and landslides since the early 2000s. Ditwah became the deadliest weather-related disaster since the 2004 tsunami. Indonesia, Malaysia & Southern Thailand were experiencing persistent heavy rainfall, intensified by Cyclonic Storm Senyar that made landfall on Indonesia and Malaysia on Nov 26 and 27. Some other parts of Asia were hit by Cyclone Koto more..

Dec 13 (FT) PM Harini Amarasuriya said Govt was committed to rolling out a slew of reforms to help the export sector bridge the competitiveness gap between local producers and global markets. She reiterated that Govt is taking steps to strengthen local exporters by making trade facilitation, Customs procedures, and investment approvals more efficient, and by improving export services. PM made these remarks more..

Dec 13 (CT) Deputy Solicitor General (DSG) Janaka Bandara, on Friday, informed Colombo HC Judge Muhammed Mihal that the prosecution is prepared to prove the charges filed by CIABOC against former Finance Minister and MP Ravi Karunanayake and Perpetual Treasuries Director Arjun Joseph Aloysius beyond a reasonable doubt. Opening the prosecution’s submissions at the commencement of the trial, DSG said the first accused, Karunanayake, had resided with his wife and daughters more..

Dec 13 (DM) People in landslide prone areas have been reluctant to move out as they have been given only Rs. 400,000 as compensation to build a house and another Rs. one million to purchase a land. Claiming that people in landslide prone areas have been reluctant to move out as the compensation was not sufficient, Environment Minister Dhammika Patabedi said the govt was expecting that the people will now move out as a sufficient compensation package was proposed by the govt. more..

Dec 13 (FT) Sri Lanka yesterday marked a major step toward modernising its disaster management capabilities with the launch of the GeoAI for Disaster Resilience initiative at the Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo. The program brings together Artificial Intelligence and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to strengthen early warning systems, improve emergency response and enhance long-term planning. more..

Dec 13 (NF) The Attorney General informed the Supreme Court that the Cabinet has decided to allow women to be recruited for all positions in the Sri Lanka Railway Service. This announcement was made by the Senior State counsel, appearing on behalf of the Attorney General, during the hearing of a fundamental rights petition filed by two women challenging a Gazette notification that previously restricted women from applying for Station Master positions. more..

Dec 13 (FT) Int'l Finance Corporation (IFC) says SL must reposition itself globally as a sustainable, export-driven, and outward-looking investment destination, while fixing long-standing issues around policy predictability and the business environment to unlock its full potential. Speaking at the SL Economic Summit, IFC’s South Asia Regional Director Imad Fakhoury outlined why the institution continues to maintain a strong and diversified presence in the country despite recent economic shocks. more..

Dec 13 (DM) SL placed its export sector at the centre of its economic revival agenda on Thursday as the govt honoured the nation’s top performers at the 27th Presidential Export Awards, underscoring the industry’s role in driving growth, innovation and global competitiveness. Held at the BMICH, under the patronage of PM Harini Amarasuriya, ceremony recognised 107 exporters for their contributions in the 2024/25 financial year. Considered the highest national accolade for export excellence, more..

Dec 13 (NW) CIABOC arrested former Beliatta PS Chairman Cyril Munasinghe on Dec 12 in connection with an ongoing investigation into alleged financial misconduct during his tenure. The arrest is related to suspected misappropriation of Rs. 36,001,344.94 between Jan 1 and Dec 31, 2012. The arrest was made under Section 23(a) of the Bribery Act, the Bribery Commission said in a statement. Officials from the Commission took Munasinghe into custody at approximately this morning. more..

Dec 13 (DM) As of 2025, Sri Lankans have the highest average IQ levels in South Asia with an average IQ level of 102, which has also been ranked in the top 12 countries with the highest average IQ level in the world, according to the data from International IQ Test (IIT). The research done was based on data from 1,352,763 participants worldwide who took the same IQ test on the website, and substantial research on the subject of more..

Dec 13 (FT) Colombo stock market yesterday experienced another volatile trading session before ending the week in green and extending its rally to five days. During the week, ASPI has gained 1,011.18 points or 4.7% and the S&P SL20 was up 172.03 points or 2.9%. The market gained Rs. 320.65 billion in value, regaining 75.6% of the Rs. 424 billion that was wiped out the previous week. Yesterday, ASPI closed on the up, gaining 0.22% or 48.98 points to 22,508.26 and more..

Dec 13 (FT) Canadian Govt has expressed strong support for Rebuilding SL program and signalled its readiness to provide assistance, particularly for the recovery of the agriculture sector following the widespread devastation caused by recent extreme weather. Canadian High Commissioner Isabelle Martin conveyed this assurance during a meeting with Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha at the Ministry of Finance yesterday. She said Canada greatly appreciates Govt’s structured recovery plan more..

Dec 13 (DM) Sri Lanka’s rising chess star, W.I.M. Devindya Oshini Gunawardhana, has made history by climbing to World No. 1 in the Under-13 Girls’ Chess Rankings, becoming the first Sri Lankan player to reach the top spot in any global age category. Oshini began her chess journey at Ferguson Girls’ High School, Ratnapura, before moving to Wycherley International School, Colombo 07 to further develop her talent. more..

Dec 13 (Island) China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd South Asia & Southeast Asia, working in close coordination with the SL Army, the RDA, local authorities and surrounding communities, has recently completed the emergency clearing of the A5 highway, restoring a vital transportation link that had been severely obstructed by landslides and debris in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah. The work was carried out from 04th December to 10th December over a continuous seven-day period. more..

Dec 13 (NW) The Govt of SL and the Govt of Italy formally renewed the Bilateral Agreement for Mutual Recognition of Driving Licenses between Italy and Sri Lanka on Friday (12) in Rome, Italy. The Ambassador of SL to Italy, Satya Rodrigo, signed the agreement on behalf of the Govt of SL while the Deputy Minister and Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Maria Tripodi, signed the agreement on behalf of the Government of Italy. more..

Dec 13 (EN) Global economic uncertainty complicates central banking, the governor of the CB has said, urging for greater research and collaboration. “The world is now navigating a landscape shaped by overlapping and multiple shocks from escalating geopolitical tensions, rising protectionism, leading to geoeconomic fragmentation and rapidly evolving patterns of trade and finance,” Nandalal Weerasinghe told the 14th Annual Int'l Research Conference. more..

Dec 13 (DN) Bangladesh U-17s sealed a comfortable 5-wicket victory over SL U-17s in the third and final one-day match at the Chattogram Stadium yesterday, clinching the three-match series 2–1. Bangladesh produced a superb all-round performance to take the series, bouncing back strongly after losing the second match on Tuesday. Left-arm paceman Rahman Akash was the star of the day, delivering a match-winning spell of 4 for 21 in his 10 overs. In-form batter Adrito Ghosh more..