Nov 24 (Island) SL’s headline inflation accelerated in Oct 2025, according to the latest Weekly Economic Indicators, driven by a sharp increase in food prices. National Consumer Price Index (NCPI) based headline inflation, measured year-on-year, rose to 2.7% in Oct, up from 2.1% in Sept. A breakdown of the figure reveals that Food inflation surged to 4.1%, while Non-Food inflation was a more modest 1.5%. Meanwhile, core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy items, also saw an increase. more..

Nov 24 (AD) Disaster Management Centre (DMC), in coordination with the SLTB, has arranged a special transportation plan to assist A/L exam candidates who are facing travel difficulties, following yesterday’s landslide in Pahala Kadugannawa. The arrangement will enable students to reach their designated examination centres via the specified alternative routes. During emergency situations such as flash floods, DMC has taken steps to provide the necessary transport assistance for more..

Nov 24 (DM) Only five out of 79 govt construction projects, earmarked to be completed in 2025, have been completed and handed over, SL Builders’ Association Chairman Susantha Liyanarachchi said. He said that 21 govt-funded projects, six foreign grant projects and 10 projects under local loans have been stopped halfway. He noted that although the 2025 Budget allocated Rs. 1,315 billion for capital investment in more..

Nov 24 (TM) Commuters will be able to pay bus fares using bank-issued credit and debit cards on buses equipped with ticket-issuing machines with effect from today. The inaugural programme is scheduled to be held at the Makumbura Multimodal Transport Centre. The programme, jointly conducted by the Digital Economy Ministry and Transport Ministry, will be held under the patronage of Minister Bimal Rathnayake. Rathnayake recently stated that the issue of passengers not receiving more..

Nov 24 (CT) The prevailing inclement weather conditions across the island have claimed nine lives so far, according to the latest update from the Disaster Management Centre (DMC). DMC confirmed that eavy rainfall has triggered flooding in multiple areas and caused hazardous rockfalls on several key roads. In response to the escalating risk, the NBRO has extended landslide warnings to ten districts, including Colombo, Kalutara, Galle, Kandy & Nuwara Eliya. more..

Nov 24 (DM) Blind women from India won the world's first T20 cricket c'ship in SL on Sunday, following a tournament seen as pushing the limits of the visually impaired. The Indian women beat Nepal by seven wickets in the final of the inaugural series, which also involved Australia, Pakistan, SL & US. Adeline Roe, 18, from South Australia said she was thrilled to be part of her nation's first blind cricket team and to have the opportunity to travel and meet fellow sportswomen. more..

Nov 24 (EN) China-backed Hambantota International Port Group said it has struck a deal with SL’s Rank group to set up a cargo inspection yard which speed up the clearing of import-export containers and clear bottlenecks. Founded in 1994, RCT is the largest inland terminal operator and its facility in Colombo has key state agencies including SL Customs in-house. “By leveraging this experience, RCT plans to replicate its successful one-stop-shop model in Hambantota, more..

Nov 24 (ST) A recommendation by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake to extend the services of Acting Auditor General for another three months has been rejected by the Constitutional Council. The presidential recommendation, however, came with an accompanying note that claimed that the Acting Auditor General had accepted six tickets from a state bank to witness the Dalada Perahera in Kandy. This had led to opposition and civil society more..

Nov 24 (FT) National Savings Bank Group (NSB) has reported a solid performance for the nine months ended 30 Sep 2025, delivering sharp improvements in profitability, margins, and asset quality despite a moderating interest-rate environment. State-owned savings giant recorded a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of Rs. 34.8 billion, up 30%, while Profit After Tax (PAT) surged 32% to Rs. 21.2 billion. Chairman Dr. Harsha Cabral, said the results highlight the bank’s ability to uphold its dual more..

Nov 24 (Island) SL have spent close to three weeks in Pakistan and five games in, they are still searching for that elusive first win. Losing, as they say, is part and parcel of the great game, but it’s the manner of these defeats that should set alarm bells ringing. After years of blood, sweat and tears to climb out of a deep rut, the national side looked to have finally turned the corner. Yet on this tour they have gone back to their old ways, undoing hard-earned gains and returning to square one. more..

Nov 24 (TM) The three-member CID team that travelled to London last week has stepped up its probe into the alleged misuse of Rs. 16.6 million in public funds during a two-day visit by former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe to the UK for an event at the University of Wolverhampton. According to sources, Police Dept considers the mission productive, as the officers have uncovered several significant findings related to the incident. more..

Nov 24 (NW) Media rights activists and opposition politicians have raised serious concerns over press freedom after the CID summoned Aruna newspaper Editor-in-Chief Mahinda Illeperuma for questioning over a report on police clearance procedures. Illeperuma was called to the CID following the publication of a news item which claimed that police require an endorsement from the local Public Security Committee when issuing police clearance certificates. Govt later dismissed the report as more..

Nov 24 (FT) A SL business delegation, organised by SL–Canada Business Council (SLCBC) of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, with support from the Canada–SL Business Convention (CSLBC), the Canadian High Commission in SL, and High Commission of SL in Canada, has concluded a trade and investment mission in Canada from 28 Oct to 14 Nov. The delegation represented the agriculture, IT, finance, tourism, education, and investment consultancy sectors, engaging Canadian more..

Nov 24 (FT) 2026 National Budget focuses on growth while advancing development and debt sustainability. This was highlighted at a seminar on Impact of the Budget on the National Economy –Way Forward organised by the Organisation of Professional Associations of SL. Keynote Speaker was Secretary to the Treasury Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, while the panel of expert guest speakers consisted of former CB Deputy Governor J.P.R. Karunaratne, more..

Nov 25 (FT) CoPF has reviewed the financial performance of major revenue-generating agencies under the Finance Ministry for the period up to Sept 2025. The review was carried out last week when the Committee, chaired by MP Dr. Harsha de Silva, convened in Parliament. Senior officials from the Inland Revenue Dept (IRD), SL Excise Dept, and SL Customs presented updates on the progress of their respective institutions, outlining revenue performance and operational outcomes for the year thus far. more..

Nov 24 (FT) Govt is seeking to accelerate reserve accumulation, attract higher foreign investment, and maintain fiscal discipline to manage the rise in external debt repayments after 2028, Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe told an online forum last week. He said SL’s external debt service will rise by about $ 785 million from 2028, making it essential to build a stronger reserve buffer ahead of those obligations. more..

Nov 24 (ST) The expenditure head of Ministry of Health & Mass Media was debated yesterday, where claims by opposition MPs regarding shortages of certain essential medicines were hotly disputed by the govt. Opening the debate for the opposition, SJB MP Dr Kavinda Jayawardena said the country was facing a crisis owing to a shortage of essential medicines. While 862 medicines were currently listed as essential medicines, there were shortages in more than 300 of them, he claimed. more..

Nov 24 (DM) As the first party to govern Sri Lanka outside the long-standing two-party system in generations, NPP ran on a bold platform: wiping out corruption, rebuilding the struggling economy, boosting investment in public education, passing a new constitution giving more power to the regions, scrapping harsh anti-terrorism laws, and ending decades of failed two-party rule. A year later, the record shows both real gains and troubling shortfalls that reveal an uncomfortable truth: more..

Nov 24 (Island) Trade unions representing school teachers and principals have resolved to launch a countrywide strike on 12 December. They accuse the NPP govt of continuing to ignore their problems and trying to railroad them into accepting its educational reforms, which they have rejected as ill-conceived. The school system is already grappling with various delays, and a strike by teachers and principals will make an already bad situation far worse. But the govt does not seem to care. more..

Nov 24 (Island) Digital transformation has become a cornerstone of modern economic growth, driving efficiency, productivity, and innovation across sectors. The integration of digital tools, automation, and AI has optimised operations in manufacturing, services, and public administration while enabling new business models, startups, fintech solutions, e-commerce platforms, and digital services. Digital payment system has facilitated seamless financial transactions for millions of small businesses, more..

Nov 24 (SO) Namal Rajapaksa is again facing scrutiny over the educational qualifications he used to enter the SL Law College. But at a gathering in Nugegoda on Friday, his supporters were unmoved. From former MPs to grassroots organisers from Dambadeniya, SLPP members said that these allegations were nothing new. Similar claims were made during the Yahapalanaya administration, they said, yet investigations more..

Nov 24 (DM) To mark World Fisheries Day 2025, SL and countries bordering the Bay of Bengal came together to celebrate the contributions of small-scale fisheries to coastal livelihoods, food security, and sustainable development. According to a communique by the Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN, this year’s celebrations are especially significant as they coincide with FAO’s 80th anniversary. FAO has dedicated eight decades to support sustainable fisheries, food security more..

Nov 24 (TM) SL woke up last Saturday to yet another tragedy, this time in Pahala Kadugannawa, when a landslide claimed several lives and left more injured. According to the DMC and other sources, 10 individuals were trapped under the rubble after the slope above a roadside shop gave way. The landslide crushed not only the small establishment but also several nearby vehicles, turning an ordinary day into a devastating reminder of the island’s vulnerability to natural disasters. more..

Nov 24 (TM) Amid concerns about recent media promoting home births, professionals have expressed strong reservations about SL’s readiness to facilitate such deliveries. WHO notes that SL’s maternal mortality rate per 100,000 live births has been improving since 2019, with Family Health Bureau data indicating a drop from 47 in 2021 to 25 in 2023. UNICEF data shows an under-five mortality rate of 6.1 deaths per 1,000 live births, more..

Nov 24 (CT) Sri Lanka is facing a quiet but serious health warning. Leprosy, a disease many believed belonged to the past, is once again rising. It is happening at a time when our public health system is weak, medical services are strained, and national priorities are often misplaced. If we continue to ignore the warning signs, we risk allowing an old illness to grow into a new crisis. A recent review by the National Audit Office shows how serious the situation has become. more..

Nov 24 (DM) After one full year out of power, sections of the parliamentary opposition in our country are attempting to join hands to oppose the year old NPP govt. Today, Nov 21, a number of these political parties have called for a joint rally demanding that govt fulfils the plethora of election promises it made in the run-up to the Nov 2024 general election. Let’s face it; the govt has failed to implement most of its election promises. It promised to redraft the agreement signed by more..

Nov 23 (ST) With the main opposition, SJB, announcing well in advance that it would not be taking part, it posed a challenge for the collective of other opposition parties to gather a large enough crowd in Nugegoda for last Friday’s Maha Jana Handa (Voice of the People) anti-govt rally to make a political statement. Even several other parties, such as the National Freedom Front led by former Minister Wimal Weerawansa more..

Nov 23 (DM) A prominent Indian businessman, Mohan Suresh, has selected Sri Lanka as the destination for the wedding of his son, Jahraan Suresh, marking a significant boost to the country’s tourism and hospitality sectors. The lavish ceremony is scheduled to take place on 23 Nov 2025 at the Cinnamon Bentota Hotel, Bentota. Around 300 Indian guests are expected to attend the event, which is estimated to generate Rs. 350 million in revenue. The wedding presents a valuable more..

Nov 23 (NW) Emphasising that every citizen of the country must have the freedom to live while respecting all religious and cultural identities, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that the Govt will not allow SL to fall into any form of racist trap. He invited all parties to support the programme the Government is implementing towards this end. Prez made these remarks while attending a meeting held this afternoon (22) at the Prez Secretariat to brief representatives of Tamil & Muslim parties more..

Nov 23 (ST) Sri Lanka Customs, the most powerful revenue-generating agency and the country’s frontline guardian of imports and exports, is facing an escalating crisis of credibility despite recording its strongest fiscal performance in history. Customs revenue as of the first 10 months of 2025 topped Rs. 2 trillion. It has been reaching around Rs. 2,004 billion or 95% of the full-year target of Rs. 2,115 billion. more..

Nov 23 (AD) Another individual trapped in the Pahala Kadugannawa landslide has been found dead, bringing the total number of confirmed fatalities to six. According to hospital sources and the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), a total of ten individuals were discovered under the rubble following the landslide. Four survivors are currently receiving treatment in hospital, while the remaining six have been confirmed dead. Rescue operations have now concluded, authorities said. more..

Nov 23 (TM) Although gold prices in the world market have been on a downward trend amidst dimming likelihood of a further rate cut by the US Federal Reserve, the depreciation of the SL Rupee against the US Dollar has prevented local prices from falling in parallel with international rates. The gold prices in the local market remained volatile during the preceding week, fluctuating daily in either direction. “Over the past seven days, the prices have been moving in either direction daily. more..