Sep 30 (AD) SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa, who had been remanded over alleged money laundering in connection with the Airbus case, has been ordered to be released on bail by the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court. Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena ordered that MP Namal Rajapaksa be released on a cash bail of Rs. 500,000 and two surety bails amounting to Rs. 100 million each. The court also imposed a travel ban on the suspect and directed that the relevant order be more..

Sep 30 (DM) Digital technology will be integrated into the teaching-learning process, school administration and teacher transfer mechanisms, while policies will be formulated to ensure student safety in the digital space, Deputy Minister Dr. Madhura Seneviratne said. He made the remarks while participating in the foundation-laying ceremony for a new three-storey building with Advanced Level science laboratories at Kirimatiyana Buddhist Girls' National School on Sept 29. more..

Sep 30 (AD) The overall rate of inflation, as measured by the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI) on Y-on-Y basis, stood at 8% in Sept 2026, compared to 8% in Aug 2026, according to the Department of Census and Statistics. Food inflation has increased to 8.7% in Sept 2026, from 8.5% in Aug 2026, the department stated. Meanwhile, the Y-on-Y inflation for the non-food group remained unchanged in Sept 2026, at 7.7% which was reported in Aug 2026. more..

Sep 30 (TM) Govt yesterday denied any fuel shortage in the country and urged the public not to form queues, as it moved to absorb a further Rs 40.65 billion in diesel costs over the next three months amid rising international petroleum prices. Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said there was no shortage of fuel, noting that the CPC and other fuel companies had imported sufficient stocks to meet domestic demand. more..

Sep 30 (ANI) A delegation of SL’s ruling Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), led by its General Secretary Tilvin Silva, visited the Delhi BJP office on Wednesday and was welcomed by Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra. The visit was part of the JVP delegation’s ongoing India visit from September 27 to October 1 at the invitation of the Bharatiya Janata Party. The five-member delegation comprises Tilvin Silva, General Secretary; Chandrika Adikari, Central Committee Member; more..

Sep 30 (NW) Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court today ordered that the case filed by the CID against former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe and former Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake be taken up again on Nov. 11 to obtain the Attorney General’s advice. The case was heard before Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena, with both Wickremesinghe and Ekanayake appearing in court. Court issued the order after considering the progress of the investigations and the need to obtain more..

Sep 30 (AD) Minister Vijitha Herath has concluded his visit to New York to participate in the High-Level Segment of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), today. Addressing the General Debate of the 81st Session of the UNGA on 28 Sept, Minister Herath reaffirmed SL’s commitment to multilateralism and to strengthening a UN that delivers for all, Permanent Mission of SL to UN in New York said more..

Sep 30 (NW) Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has reminded taxpayers that today is the deadline for making the final income tax payment for the 2025/2026 year of assessment. The dept said all taxpayers paying income tax on behalf of companies, individuals and partnerships must use payment period code 25260 when making the payment. Taxpayers can make payments online or at any branch of the Bank of Ceylon. IRD warned that interest and penalties will be imposed on more..

Sep 30 (TM) Public Security Ministry is holding discussions with China regarding the introduction of a new uniform for the Police, with suggestions being made to include body cameras as part of the new uniform. According to the Ministry, a smaller number of body cameras will be introduced initially, with plans to purchase a larger number after assessing the success of the initiative. Minister Ananda Wijepala said that discussions are being held with China regarding five uniforms. more..

Sep 30 (Island) In a significant move to deepen academic research and strategic cooperation between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, a MoU was signed today between Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) and South Asia Sustainability and Security Research Institute (SASSRI), Pakistan HC said in a press release. The virtual signing ceremony took place on Monday (28) in the presence of Dr. Nayyar Naseer, HI (M), High Commissioner of Pakistan to Sri Lanka. more..

Sep 30 (NW) Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill for 2027, marking the presentation of the govt’s Budget proposals, will take place in Parliament on Nov 12. Budget Speech will be delivered by the President in his capacity as the Minister in charge of Finance, while the entire Budget process is scheduled to continue until Dec 14. Timetable was approved by the Committee on Parliamentary Business at a meeting held on Sept 25 under the chairmanship of Speaker Wickramaratne. more..

Sep 30 (Island) Senior Vice President of ITAK C.V.K. Sivagnanam has rejected TNPF’s allegation that the removal of the bronze Thileepan statue, from the Nallur memorial, was carried out at his instigation, or at his party’s request. “An outrageous allegation has been levelled that I and the ITAK were opposed to the placing of the statue, that we abetted the actions of the police, and that the police acted on the basis of more..

Sep 30 (EN) Cabinet has approved an estimated 180 million rupee project to prepare baseline maps for assessing and regulating the country’s groundwater resources. The initiative will be carried out over a three-year period starting in 2027. It will focus on 5 districts across the island: Kurunegala, A'pura, Gampaha, Jaffna & Hambantota. The initiative is needed to address growing threats to underground water supplies, including source contamination, rising water demand, and more..

Sep 30 (EN) Central Bank left its Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at the current level of 8.75% citing higher inflation was due to the pass-through of the energy shock across multiple sectors of the economy following the Middle Eastern escalation. Headline inflation hit 8% in August. “Headline inflation is projected to remain in high single digits through Q1-2027, before easing towards the 5% target,” CB said. “Core inflation also increased as a result of spillovers from higher energy prices. more..

Sep 30 (NW) A bill published in a Gazette supplement proposes that the next SLC chairperson be selected from among seven Independent Directors, with the board choosing the chairperson by majority vote. The proposed SLC Act does not make the chairperson’s post a separate elected position. A candidate must first qualify as an Independent Director, be nominated by the Nomination Committee and appointed to more..

Sep 30 (DM) Deputy Minister Eranga Gunasekera said the govt is committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that allegations of political crimes are investigated through the country’s legal system. He said the government is working to strengthen the independence of SL’s legal and investigative institutions, including the police and the judiciary. Gunasekera said individuals found responsible for political crimes, murders or actions that contributed to the country’s economic collapse more..

Sep 30 (AD) PM Harini Amarasuriya stated that the upcoming 2027 Budget will place priority on waste management, waste reduction and recycling, emphasizing that what should be left for future generations is not contaminated soil or seas filled with plastic, but a clean and green environment where they can breathe freely and live healthy lives. PM made these remarks while delivering the keynote address at Int'l Conference on Plastic, Innovation & Environmental Sustainability, more..