Nov 10 (FT) SJB MP Harsha de Silva has slammed the 2026 Budget as a betrayal of public trust, built on false narratives and unrealistic promises. “In my detailed response to the 2026 Budget speech, I exposed a Govt that has not only failed to deliver on its core election promises but has presented a Budget that is a betrayal of the very people who voted for it,” he said. While acknowledging that the Govt has maintained more..

Nov 10 (FT) Colombo Port City Economic Commission Chairman Harsha Amarasekera, said the project has the potential to become the single catalyst of growth for Sri Lanka, positioning the island as the Switzerland of the region for trade, investment and services, backed by an attractive incentive regime and renewed policy stability. He said the Port City, as the country’s first and only service-oriented Special Economic Zone (SEZ), can connect SL to high-value global sectors more..

Nov 10 (SO) Pelwatte Dairy Industries plans to expand its exports to Japan and Saudi Arabia in the near future to widen the presence of the SL brand in the global market. At present, the company is working on exporting butter to the two countries with the Export Development Board and once the path is clear exports would commence. “We hope to dispatch the first consignments to these countries shortly when the green light is on,” Chairman Pelwatte Dairy, Ariyaseela Wickramanayake more..

Nov 10 (ST) Three days after closing the tender for an expedited multibillion-rupee double cab tender, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced in his budget speech that every MP will receive a pickup truck each. Finance Ministry’s tender to buy 1,775 diesel-powered double cabs closed on Nov 4, seven working days after it was first advertised. On Friday, Prez said every MP would be given a fully-insured double cab, more..

Nov 10 (EN) State-run SriLankan Airlines will be re-looked at if the plan by the new board and current management fails, Prez said delivering budget speech for 2025. “We all think there is a need for a national carrier,” Prez said. “The there is question before all of us whether this much of a cost should be borne by the people to keep it. The govt has had discussions with the Board and Management. “They have given a strong plan. They have given confidence that this company can be re-built. more..

Nov 10 (FT) Sri Lanka’s workers’ remittances soared to $ 712 million in October 2025, the highest monthly inflow so far this year and the second-highest in the country’s history, reflecting strong overseas worker earnings and sustained recovery in external inflows. According to the latest data released by the CB, October’s figure marks a 21.2% year-on-year (YoY) increase, extending the streak of record inflows for the 7th consecutive month. Surge underscores the continued resilience of SL expatriates, more..

Nov 10 (Island) They may not have too many trophies to show for their efforts, but since the disappointment of finishing ninth at the 2023 World Cup — which shut the door on Champions Trophy qualification — SL have moved on with a real sense of purpose, tightening screws in key areas of their white-ball game. Fielding and fitness, long the Achilles heel, have been given a serious polish. During the recent Asia Cup in the UAE, the islanders looked the sharpest fielding outfit in more..

Nov 10 (EN) SL’s private credit hit a new monthly high of 236.3 billion rupees in Sept 2025, up from the previous high of 226.8 billion rupees, taking total credit disbursed so far this year to 1,364 billion rupees. 12-month private credit growth hit 22.1% in Sept 2025, up from 20.5% in August. However, credit is growing from a low base. Except for the last quarter of 2024, when aggressive inflationary open market operations were deployed to suppress rates and distort the workings of interbank market, more..

Nov 10 (FT) The Govt has moved to slash long-term tax concessions granted under the Strategic Development Projects (SDP) Act, with the publication of the Strategic Development Projects (Amd) Bill, 2025 in the Gazette issued on 7 Nov. The amendments seek to limit tax holidays to 10 years from the previous 25 years, strengthen oversight, and introduce transparency measures for investment-related tax expenditures. more..

Nov 10 (Island) Electricity consumers have criticised the budget allocations for the Power Sector Reform Secretariat (PSRS), alleging wasteful spending and attempts to undermine renewable energy development. Addressing a press conference in Veyangoda, Electricity Consumers’ Association National Secretary Sanjeewa Dhammika questioned the govt’s decision to allocate Rs. 78 million to the PSRS, which was originally established to function on a voluntary basis. more..

Nov 10 (FT) ITAK has urged Prez Dissanayake not to appoint members with security backgrounds to the Office of Reparations (OoR), which has four vacancies. In a letter to the Prez, the ITKA has stated that it reliably understands that four names have been recommended for the four vacant positions in the OoR and that two of those names – Wasantha Perera and Joseph Sundaram – have security sector backgrounds. It stated that the OoR was generally promoted as a mechanism more..

Nov 10 (TM) In the wake of reports that Indian intelligence agencies have uncovered a new alliance between Indian organised crime group Dawood Ibrahim syndicate and remnants of the LTTE, Ministry of Public Security stated the Police and other relevant authorities would take firm action against any illegal activity taking place within Sri Lanka. Responding to questions about the alleged collaboration, Minister Ananda Wijepala said that he was not aware of this particular information more..

Nov 10 (Island) The Maldives Coast Guard has seized a Lankan fishing vessel carrying a massive stock of narcotics, with a street value of over Rs. 3 billion. Five Lankan fishermen on board were arrested in what authorities believe to be one of the region’s largest recent drug interceptions. Defence Ministry sources said that the operation had been conducted, based on intelligence shared by the Sri Lanka Navy. The vessel was found to be carrying approximately 300 kilos of heroin and more..

Nov 10 (DN) PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that this year’s Budget covers all sectors of the country, and that the Govt does not act based on short-term personal agendas or interests. PM made these remarks in Parliament while commenting on the Appropriation Bill presented for 2026 on Saturday. PM stated: If the MPs, setting aside the divisions, had truly listened to the Prez’s Budget speech, they would have more..

Nov 10 (TM) All arrangements have been made for the 2025 GCE A/L examination, which is scheduled to commence today. The examination will be held at 2,362 centres islandwide and will continue until 5 Dec. A total of 345,525 candidates have qualified to sit for this year’s examination, comprising 246,521 school candidates and 94,004 private candidates. 325 examination coordination centres and 32 divisional paper collecting centres have been established across the country more..

Nov 10 (FT) Minister Ananda Wijepala yesterday revealed that seven SL nationals involved in drug trafficking and currently hiding in Middle Eastern countries have indicated their readiness to surrender to local authorities. The Minister made the disclosure, while participating in the Colombo District Operation held under the Ratam Ekata national anti-drug campaign at the Colombo District Secretariat. Wijepala said the development marks a significant breakthrough in ongoing efforts more..

Nov 10 (DM) Indian intelligence agencies have issued a serious alert over a new alliance forming between the Dawood Ibrahim syndicate and remnants of the LTTE. Officials say the D-syndicate is now exploiting South Indian and SL routes to expand its drug trade after suffering major losses in western and northern India. D-syndicate, long known for its narcotics and smuggling networks, has been hit hard in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and other more..

Nov 10 (FT) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake or AKD, in a marathon Budget speech taking more than four and a half hours to finish, presented his second Budget for 2026 in Parliament last week. Though it is an exhausting exercise, throughout the Budget speech, there was the usual calm composure which he maintains when addressing the public countering the occasional catcalls of opposition members with well-articulated humour treating everyone with a savouring appetiser. more..

Nov 10 (FT) NPP Govt’s second Budget was a unique opportunity to make innovative public policy. Sadly, the opportunity may be missed. But there still is time. Public Financial Management Act (PFMA), No. 44 of 2024, which extends the revenue and expenditure limits of 15.3% and 13% of GDP, respectively, beyond the duration of the Extended Fund Facility constitutes a disciplinary framework. Our Budget makers are not used to this kind of discipline. But such limits will keep us safe more..

Nov 10 (AD) The Court of Appeal today ordered that the writ petition filed by Attorney-at-Law Gunaratne Wanninayake —seeking an order preventing his arrest by police over an incident that occurred within the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court premises—be taken up once again on Jan 14, 2026. The petition was called before a bench of the Court of Appeal comprising its President, Justice Rohantha Abeysooriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando. At the hearing, Prez’s Counsel Upul Jayasuriya, more..

Nov 10 (SLN) During an operation conducted on the night of 09 Nov 25, the SL Navy and Coast Guard seized an Indian fishing boat and apprehended 14 Indian fishermen, while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters off the Analativu Island, Jaffna. Recognizing the detrimental effects of poaching on marine resources and the livelihoods of local fishing communities, SL Navy and Coast Guard continue to conduct regular operations as proactive measures to deter such activities. more..

Nov 10 (ST) The CIABOC is locked in a tug-of-war with the govt over who controls its purse strings. CIABOC Director General (DG) Ranga Dissanayake insists that the framers of the Anti-Corruption Act (ACA) of 2023 intended to create a highly independent—that means, one hundred percent independent—Bribery Commission. Under that law, it is interpreted that the Commission has the authority to decide its own budget, more..

Nov 10 (FT) With the recent unanimous adoption of the Personal Data Protection (Amd) Bill in Parliament, Data Protection Authority of SL (DPA), has announced several new career opportunities, including the post of Director General. These positions are essential to set up the Secretariat, which will be tasked with the implementation of the strategy and roadmap of the DPA, to enable DPA’s objectives to be fulfilled under the overall direction and supervision of DPA Chairman and more..

Nov 10 (EN) Central Bank is calling for public consultation on amendments to the country’s Finance Business Act, No.42 of 2011 (FBA). Proposed amendments aim to strengthen the regulation and supervision of finance companies, investigate and prosecute unauthorized finance business, and for the resolution and winding up of non-viable FCs, CBSL said. CBSL is inviting the general public to submit views, suggestions, and comments on the draft amendments. more..

Nov 10 (NW) Minister of Education, PM Harini Amarasuriya, says discussions are underway to introduce an age-appropriate sex education program for children, with the objective of reducing sexual abuse. PM pointed out the increase in sexual abuse of children in SL and the need to educate children in this regard. She further said that Health Ministry, Family Health Bureau, and National Child Protection Authority have requested more..

Nov 10 (Island) The athletics fraternity lost one of its respected former officials last week. K.L.F. Wijedasa who passed away last week was a top sports administrator, reputed coach and former national record holder in the men’s 100 metres. ‎He was one of the most senior officials in the SL athletics field and was 93 years old at the time of his demise. ‎He held several positions in the SL athletic arena including National Athletics Coach, Chairman of National Athletics Selection Committee and more..

Nov 10 (AM) Former MP Harin Fernando officially assumed duties as the UNP’s Deputy General Secretary today and outlined a series of political and organisational initiatives aimed at revitalising the party and strengthening the opposition. Speaking to the media after taking office, Fernando announced the launch of a new educational programme titled Let’s Learn from Ranil (Ranilgen Igenagamu), which will begin on the first day of next month. The two-hour session, designed for young people, more..

Nov 10 (DM) Keratoconus, a progressive eye disorder that distorts vision, is increasingly being detected among Sri Lankans, including schoolchildren, National Eye Hospital has cautioned. Marking World Keratoconus Day, Consultant Cornea Surgeon Dr. Kusum Ratnayaka said cases of the condition once considered rare are now emerging even among children as young as eight years old. Keratoconus causes the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye, to gradually thin and bulge more..

Nov 10 (DM) Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) has recorded an operating cost of Rs. 3,600.8 million, nearly 14 times higher than its operating income of Rs. 242 million, the 2024 audit of Airport and Aviation Services (SL) (pvt) Ltd (AASL) revealed. This resulted in an operating loss of Rs. 3,358.6 million, although a net profit of Rs. 879.7 million was reported due to foreign exchange gains. Cumulative net losses from 2018 to 2024, however, amounted to Rs. 39,369 million. more..

Nov 10 (DM) Police said yesterday that an increasing number of Sri Lankans are reported to be turning to online sexual content production as several adult websites and mobile applications operated overseas offer monetary incentives. It was revealed that many users, particularly young couples, have reportedly been attracted by the belief that their identities will remain concealed and that such activities can be carried out discreetly more..

Nov 10 (DM) The CEB is set to introduce a new project to install Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations that will utilize excess solar energy generated across the country, while offering fast-charging facilities with an incentive tariff, CEB Deputy General Manager (Business & Operational Strategy) Noel Priyantha said. Priyantha explained that solar systems installed nationwide are producing extra energy, which will now be redirected to the transport sector. more..

Nov 10 (CT) Police in the Western Province North Crimes Division have seized a bus, a car, and a cab reportedly belonging to Sampath Manamperi, who is currently in Police custody under a detention order. Officers recovered the cab during a search of Manamperi’s residence in Middeniya. Investigators say the suspect had hidden the vehicle and that it had been brought to the house recently, prompting officers to seize it during a follow-up visit. The bus owned by the suspect had been operating on more..

Nov 10 (TM) SL Customs is set to surpass its 2025 annual revenue target of Rs. 2,115 billion before 15 Nov and is forecast to exceed the target by over Rs. 300 billion by the end of the year. The annual revenue target of Customs for 2025, set at the beginning of the year, was Rs. 2,115 billion and that revenue collection so far had exceeded expectations. Revenue collection by SL Customs as of the beginning of more..

Nov 10 (CT) NDF MP Anuradha Jayaratne said that the Govt had spent only Rs 272 million out of the Rs 4,000 million allocated last year for rural road development, leaving more than 90% of the funds unused. He also noted that of the Rs 500 million allocated for young entrepreneurs, only a very small portion had been spent. Jayaratne said the Budget contained elements designed to impress externally, but questioned how much of the 2025 Budget had actually been translated into on-the-ground more..

Nov 10 (CT) Judicial Service Commission (JSC) announced revisions to the qualifications required for recruitment to the post of Magistrate in the Second Class, First Grade of the Judicial Service. According to the new guidelines, four key qualifications have been outlined for eligibility, marking a notable change from the previous criteria. The relevant qualifications are to be a lawyer who is or has been in active practice for not less than three years, or to be a lawyer who has served as more..