Sep 14 (NW) The foundation stone for new hospital buildings in Anuradhapura, Trincomalee, Mullaitivu, and Mannar, with an investment of Rs. 7,148 million, will be laid on Wednesday under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The initiative, supported by loan assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Govt of India, aims to strengthen the health system and expand treatment services in the Northern, North Central & Eastern provinces. more..

Sep 14 (AD) Railway Joint Trade Union Alliance has decided to proceed with its planned two-day token strike on September 17 and 18, after talks with the Ministry of Transport failed to produce a decision on the future of the incumbent General Manager of Railways. Alliance Co-Convener Kasun Chamara Jayasekara said the unions would not alter their previously announced strike plans as the government had yet to reach a firm decision on the matter. Decision follows a meeting held today more..

Sep 14 (NF) Sri Lanka and Thailand have taken steps towards strengthening bilateral labour cooperation, signing two landmark agreements that will pave the way for the structured recruitment and employment of SL workers in Thailand while ensuring their rights, welfare and legal protection. The agreements, a MoU on Labour Cooperation and a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on Employment of SL Workers more..

Sep 14 (DM) Certain Individuals are engaged in blackmailing Members of Parliament facing court cases in the guise of helping them to resolve such cases with the respective plaintiffs, MP Jagath Vithane alleged today. “These individuals, who claim to be media activists, actually engage in blackmailing MPs, saying they will provide information to the media on the allegations they face if they don’t pay the amount of money demanded,” the MP told the Daily Mirror. more..

Sep 14 (AD) Former SL fast bowler Chaminda Vaas is set to make his IPL coaching debut in 2027 with Delhi Capitals appointing him as their bowling coach. Cricinfo has reported that Vaas and former India legspinner Amit Mishra will be part of the coaching staff led by former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who will be head coach, with former India allrounder Yuvraj Singh taking over as batting coach. Vaas, SL's most successful fast bowler with 355 wickets in Tests and 400 in ODIs, more..

Sep 14 (FT) SL’s Budget swung to a deficit of Rs. 119.23 billion in July, wiping out the Rs. 9.51 billion surplus the Govt had accumulated over the first half of the year, as expenditure continued to outpace revenue collection into the third quarter, the latest data showed. The July reversal followed a similar pattern in June, when a Rs. 197.34 billion surplus recorded at end-May had narrowed to just Rs. 9.51 billion by end-June, more..

Sep 14 (AD) National List MP M.S. Abdul Wahid has resigned from parliament, with effect from today. Abdul Wahid, who represents the SLMC, formally submitted his resignation to the Acting Secretary-General of Parliament, Hansa Abeyratne. In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Election Commission, Abeyratne confirmed that Abdul Wahid had tendered his resignation from the office of MP, effective Sept 14. Following the resignation, Acting Secretary-General formally informed more..

Sep 14 (AD) Around 30% of road accidents in the country are caused by dogs, according to Dr. Chamith Nanayakkara, the founder of the Association of Veterinarians for Humane Management of Animal Population. Dr. Nanayakkara also revealed that approximately Rs. 1 billion is spent annually on rabies vaccinations for people who are bitten by dogs. He said the growing population of stray dogs is having a significant impact on the country’s economy. more..

Sep 14 (EN) Foreign investors bought a net 2,750 million rupees (US$8.5 million) worth of Sri Lanka rupee bonds in the week ended on September 11, CB data showed, amid a steady rupee currency. The latest buying boosted the foreign buying in the govt securities to 92 billion (US$280 million) in the last 13 straight weeks since June 19. The inflows boosted foreign holding to 213.4 billion rupees, the highest figure the Central Bank has published in its Weekly Economic Indicators. more..

Sep 14 (NW) Crude oil prices have risen sharply in the international market, and SL’s fuel pricing will once again be calculated at the end of the month based on these global rates, Minister Anura Karunathilaka said. According to the Minister, while fuel is currently sold domestically at prices lower than world market levels, private distributors have repeatedly warned they cannot continue under such conditions. He said the govt is considering several measures to address the situation. more..

Sep 14 (NF) For Weerasinghe, every day now begins with the same struggle: finding water. The farmer from Kalugammulla in Monaragala has spent decades working the land, but today he finds himself fighting a battle unlike any he has faced before. The wells are drying up, crops have withered away, and even the simple act of finding drinking water has become a challenge. "There is no water. We spend our days searching for water. more..

Sep 14 (NW) A Railway Department report has revealed a critical shortfall in operational train engines, with only 50 engines currently in service out of a fleet of 98. The report notes that at least 74 engines are required to sustain normal train operations and further highlights that in 2024, the Department had 53 engines available for operation, underscoring the decline in capacity. Power sets, which are mainly used for office trains, are also in short supply. more..

Sep 14 (AD) Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa stated that, with the probability of El Niño conditions reaching 100%, the govt, the opposition and the entire population of 22 million must unite to effectively address the challenges posed by the extreme weather phenomenon. Addressing the Parliamentary Caucus on Climate Change, the Opposition Leader stressed the need to initiate an inclusive and transparent national dialogue, free from partisan politics, more..

Sep 14 (TM) The claimants involved in the dispute arising from the X-Press Pearl disaster have urged the SL Govt to provide security assurances for members of their delegation ahead of an in-person meeting scheduled for 22 and 23 Sept. The demand has been made by international law firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan UK, representing the claimants, in a letter dated 10 Sept 2026 to Director General (Acting) of more..

Sep 14 (DN) A tense situation arose in Parliament yesterday (10), when SJB MP Dayasiri Jayasekara was denied an opportunity to present his case on a matter of privilege in Parliament by Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne regarding an investigation being conducted by the CIABOC against the Speaker. MP Jayasekara expressed regret and objected to the Speaker’s decision to examine his privilege issue first before allowing the MP to present it formally on the floor. more..

Sep 14 (NW) Serious concerns have been raised over medical arrangements at a major SL Cricket domestic tournament after cricketer Chamika Gunasekara suffered a serious injury during the SLC Major Club T20 semifinal at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Gunasekara was injured while bowling during the SSC-NCC semifinal, which was played under lights at the international venue. The match was part of the SLC Major Club T20 Tournament. He appeared to land awkwardly more..

Sep 14 (AD) Senior SL artist, Virindu vocalist, and veteran dance instructor Daya Nellampitiya has passed away at the age of 91. According to family sources, she passed away at her residence in Kalubowila. Daya Nellampitiya served as a dance instructor at several leading schools across the island for many years. She was widely recognised as an outstanding teacher who dedicated herself to preserving and passing on the Kandyan dance tradition to thousands of children. more..

Sep 14 (NW) Former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa is to be questioned by the FCID over the deposit of Rs. 10 million from the NSB into the Siriliya Saviya account, which she headed, it was reported. According to state newspaper Dinamina, the investigation concerns the alleged misuse of funds collected under the claim of purchasing a CT scanner for the Lady Ridgeway Hospital. It has since been revealed that the scanner was donated free of charge by the Chinese govt. more..

Sep 14 (FT) Workers’ remittances surged to a record high in August, driving one of the strongest eight-month performances in SL’s history, despite heightened economic uncertainty from the ongoing Middle East conflict, a region that hosts a large share of SL migrant workers. Inflows rose 10% year-on-year (YoY) to $ 748.6 million. August marked the 7th consecutive month of exceptionally strong remittance inflows, highlighting more..

Sep 14 (AD) New modules on social cohesion, law and ethics are to be introduced for students in Grades 12 and 13 under the govt’s education reforms scheduled for implementation from 2027. The proposal was discussed at a meeting of the Parliamentary Subcommittee on Education Reforms, chaired by PM Harini Amarasuriya. The reforms also include plans to introduce seven subjects, including History and Aesthetic Studies, for the GCE O/L examination, while more..

Sep 14 (NW) SL cricket legend Sanath Jayasuriya has been appointed Brand Ambassador for Global Housing & Real Estate (Pvt) Ltd (GHR), as the property developer prepares to expand its luxury real estate portfolio along SL’s southern coast. The partnership was announced in Colombo on Sept 14 under the theme Two Gamechangers, A New Beginning. GHR said the partnership comes as the company enters its next phase of expansion, including plans for a new high-rise more..

Sep 14 (TM) A total of 27 trade unions (TUs) within the Railways Department are set to launch a 48-hour token strike on 17 and 18 Sept, demanding the removal of Railway General Manager (GM) Ravindra Pathmapriya and the withdrawal of a letter seeking an explanation from SL Railway Station Masters’ Union (SLRSMU) General Secretary Kasun Chamara Jayasekara over comments made to the media on issues more..

Sep 14 (DM) Start with a managed demonetization and withdrawal of the Rs. 5,000 note, make it harder to hoard illicit cash, conduct anonymous transactions and keep money beyond the reach of the formal economy. Bring hidden cash into the banking system, widen the tax net, curb bribery and illicit transactions and strike at Sri Lanka’s shadow economy. This is not an untested experiment. Our big brother India and several other countries have already travelled this road, more..

Sep 14 (DM) Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama today ordered the acquittal of former Mrs. World Caroline Jurie and model Chula Padmendra in a case filed against them over an incident in which the crown worn by 2021 Mrs. Sri Lanka winner Pushpika de Silva was allegedly forcibly removed, causing injuries to her. The order was made when the Chief Magistrate delivered the judgment in the case today. Delivering the judgment, the Chief Magistrate held that more..

Sep 14 (FT) The current economic situation in Sri Lanka makes the Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) consultation on investment related to power generation important. The country is emerging from a deep economic crisis at a time when it is vulnerable to a range of external shocks, including due to the war in Iran and climate related disasters. SL is particularly vulnerable in terms of energy. At the same time, the possibility of a food crisis, affected not only by climate change but more..

Sep 14 (FT) In the global fight against ecological collapse, contemporary policymakers have routinely adhered to a top-down policy application tactic. The prevailing assumption is that sweeping international accords, macro-level economic policies, and institutional directives will naturally trickle down to alter individual behaviour. It is, therefore, believed that people in both developed and emerging economies would change themselves to make the policy work. more..

Sep 14 (DM) Dog owners in SL will be required to vaccinate and register their dogs annually with their respective local authorities under a new Bill aimed at eliminating rabies and regulating the country’s dog population. Elimination of Rabies and Registration of Dogs Bill, published as a Gazette supplement in September, seeks to introduce a new legal framework covering rabies vaccination, dog registration, population control and more..

Sep 14 (DM) Dr. Rosh Jalagge, the first Sri Lankan to own a private long-haul jet, arrived at the Ratmalana Airport in his private aircraft, according to airport sources. Dr. Jalagge arrived in Sri Lanka aboard his private jet, marking a notable development in the country’s private aviation sector. Sri Lanka’s first privately owned aircraft was a Learjet 35A purchased by businessman Upali Wijewardene in the 1980s. The aircraft had a flying range of around 4,000 kilometres. more..

Sep 14 (FT) Sri Lanka’s official reserve assets rose to $ 6.9 billion as of end-August 2026, up 4.6% from $ 6.6 billion a month earlier, according to Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) data released on Friday. This is a five-month high and the third-highest reserves position recorded this year, after $ 7.3 billion in February and $ 7 billion in March, respectively. Foreign currency reserves increased 5% to $ 6.69 billion, while gold reserves rose 9.4% to $ 210 million. more..

Sep 14 (NW) Private fuel distribution companies operating in SL have sought a cost-reflective pricing mechanism amid rising global fuel and shipping costs, as limited diesel stocks are reportedly being released to some privately operated filling stations despite adequate fuel stocks being available in the country. Private filling station employees have said they are receiving limited quantities of diesel, while signs indicating that more..

Sep 14 (NW) Sri Lanka has launched the first project under a programme aimed at adding 300 megawatts (MW) of solar power to the national electricity grid, as the country seeks to increase its reliance on renewable energy. The first ground-mounted solar project, with a capacity of 3MW, was inaugurated in Veyangoda on Sunday by Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka. It is the first in a series of solar projects planned across the country with a combined capacity of 300MW. more..

Sep 14 (AD) Blocks 1 and 2 of the Yala National Park have been temporarily closed from today due to the prevailing dry weather conditions, Dept of Wildlife Conservation and Forest Conservation said. Accordingly, the closure will remain in effect for one month, until Oct 15. Yala National Park is home to 44 species of mammals, 215 species of birds, 47 species of reptiles and 21 species of fish. The park generally attracts the highest number of tourists from August to March. more..