Jan 9 (DM) A minor tremor with a magnitude of 2.2 was recorded in the Ududumbara area this evening (8), Seismic Data and Tsunami Center confirmed. Authorities from the Geological Survey & Mines Bureau clarified that the tremor was not related to recent floods or landslides. They noted that minor tremors, typically below magnitude 3.0, are common in the central hills, particularly near reservoirs. The tremor was reported at 5:05 pm at a shallow depth in the Ududumbara area. more..

Jan 9 (FT) CB Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe yesterday said SL’s Gross Official Reserves (GOR) climbed to over $ 6.8 billion by end-2025, marking the highest reserve level registered since the country’s economic crisis, despite continued external pressures. He noted that reserves hovered between $ 6 billion and $ 6.3 billion for most of the year, even as SL faced challenging conditions including the need to service external Govt debt without matching inflows & sharp increase in foreign exchange more..

Jan 9 (FT) Central Bank of SL (CBSL) yesterday outlined an ambitious and wide-ranging policy agenda for 2026 and beyond, placing price stability, financial system resilience, climate risk management & institutional modernisation at the centre of the country’s transition from post-crisis recovery to durable, inclusive growth. Delivering annual policy address, CBSL Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said more..

Jan 9 (FT) SL exports to Saudi Arabia recorded a 19% increase from Jan to Sept 2025, compared to the corresponding period in 2024. Ambassador of SL to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Ameer Ajwad, stated that this double-digit growth represents an outstanding accomplishment in 2025, achieved through sustained and well-coordinated efforts undertaken by the Embassy of SL in Riyadh in close collaboration with the Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Ministry, more..

Jan 9 (FT) Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake, a distinguished maritime, logistics, and corporate leader, has been appointed Adviser to the President on Maritime, Ports and Logistics with immediate effect. Dr. Dissanayake is currently Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Aitken Spence and holds several senior leadership roles within the Group. He previously served as Secretary to Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Southern Development and has twice held the position of Chairman of the SLPA. more..

Jan 9 (NW) A proposal has been made to appoint an expert committee under the leadership of the Minister of Environment to investigate issues related to the Ambuluwawa Environmental Zone, following concerns raised over recent landslides in the area. A group of young journalists and social activists, including journalist Tharindu Jayawardene, who has been reporting on the landslides, met the Minister of Environment on Wednesday morning (8) to discuss the situation. more..

Jan 9 (EN) India will disburse around 350 million dollar equivalent of 450 million dollars of aid committed for cyclone recovery to Sri Lanka in Indian rupees, High Commissioner Satosh Jha said. India is giving 100 million dollars of the of the reconstruction aid in grants. “The assistance will be multi-pronged, assisting SL in sectors that are the worst hit,” he said. “The five categories of support are rehabilitation and restoration of road, railway and bridge connectivity, more..

Jan 9 (FT) SL garment manufacturers have now gained unprecedented access to UK markets under liberalised trade rules. The changes allow manufacturers to source up to 100% of inputs for garments from any country worldwide whilst maintaining tariff-free access to the UK market. Fewer processing requirements now apply, removing the previous rule that two significant manufacturing processes must take place more..

Jan 9 (FT) CB Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe yesterday said its efforts to build a more resilient and stable financial sector will continue under the Master Plan for the consolidation of banks and finance companies, with a strong focus on long-term sustainability and systemic stability. Delivering the annual policy address, he said the CB has commenced enhanced monitoring of finance companies based on scores achieved under the revised Phase II assessment framework. more..

Jan 9 (FT) Overseas School of Colombo (OSC) turned sport into service, raising Rs. 1.1 million for the Colombo Friend-in-Need Society (CFINS) at SAISA Swimming Meet - 2025. Over the three - day tournament, OSC’s Gecko Gear Service Group ran a merchandise stall, channelling student energy into community support. Founded in 1831, CFINS is SL’s oldest charitable organisation, providing free prosthetic limbs to those affected by landmines, accidents, or illnesses such as cancer, more..

Jan 9 (DN) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that the programme to provide compensation for fully damaged houses and to construct new homes for families affected by the disaster will commence in Anuradhapura and Kurunegala today. The families whose houses were fully damaged due to the cyclone Ditwah will receive a compensation of Rs.5 million for the construction of new houses and this programme will more..

Jan 9 (Island) The first T20 International against Pakistan in Dambulla underlined, yet again, how heavily Sri Lanka lean on their talismanic opener Pathum Nissanka. When he gets going, Sri Lanka can push into the 180 plus scores that win you games. When he fails, the innings tends to unravel like a loose sweater. On Wednesday night, they were skittled with four balls to spare. Ranked third in the world in T20Is, Nissanka has been a model of consistency over the past 24 months, more..

Jan 9 (FT) CH17 Loyalty has announced the launch of a comprehensive Human Resource Management (HRM) suite with a fully embedded rewards and loyalty module—a first-of-its-kind Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution developed for the modern enterprise. Unlike conventional HR systems that focus primarily on administration, CH17’s newly introduced platform brings together HR operations, employee engagement, appreciation, recognition, attendance & rewards within a single, more..

Jan 9 (DN) Pakistan produced a dominant all-round performance to take a winning start in the opening T20 International, leaving SL facing a must-win situation today to keep the series alive. The hosts will need a significant improvement in their batting if they are to pose a stronger challenge. In the T20 format, a solid total when batting first is crucial to give bowlers confidence. Although SL possess a capable batting line-up, they failed to convert starts, particularly in the middle overs. more..

Jan 9 (Island) SJB-led Opposition is in overdrive to move a no-confidence motion against PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who is also the Minister of Education, for numerous shortcomings in the govt’s education reforms, including content deemed unsuitable for children, flaws in modules, etc. Opposition’s move is bound to fail in Parliament, where the govt commands a two-thirds majority. But a debate on the no-confidence motion will provide the Opposition with an opportunity to gain some propaganda more..

Jan 9 (TM) Dept of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) has rejected allegations that its officers deliberately fail to respond to incidents of wild elephants entering villages, saying practical limitations and staffing shortages often prevent officers from attending to multiple locations at the same time. Responding to allegations made by the Minister Chandana Abeyrathna, Director General of the DWC, Ranjan Marasinghe more..

Jan 9 (Island) The year 2025 began with grim news. On 1st January, a baby elephant was struck and killed by a train in Habarana, marking the start of a tragic series of elephant–train collisions that continued throughout the year. In addition to these incidents, the nation mourned the deaths of well-known elephants such as Bathiya and Kandalame Hedakaraya, among many others. As the year drew on, further distressing reports emerged, including the case of an injured elephant that was burnt more..

Jan 9 (FT) Agribusiness solutions provider Hayleys Agriculture Holdings Ltd. Has been appointed as the exclusive distributor for Evonik Industries AG’s globally recognised specialty nutrient portfolio, marking the first-ever introduction of these advanced animal nutrition solutions to the SL poultry industry. Headquartered in Germany and active in over 110 countries, Evonik is among the world’s top five animal nutrition companies and one of the largest specialty chemicals manufacturers globally. more..

Jan 9 (ST) Come sun or rain, Aldoris, the choon-paan karaya, will come down the lane on any January 1st of the year, hoping for some calendars and diaries from customers. But wait a minute! In recent years, diaries are few and far between with corporates and public institutions focusing more on calendars and notebooks. Is this because of Google diary where you can schedule events, appointments etc, and you get an alert on that day? So on this Thursday morning, Aldoris comes to our gate more..

Jan 9 (TM) A growing reliance on illicit liquor amongst some segments of our society is not merely a law enforcement problem. It is a clear symptom of a policy imbalance that has ignored economic reality, public health consequences and social behaviour. While successive Govts have justified steep excise hikes on alcohol as a means of raising revenue and discouraging consumption, unintended result has been the steady expansion of an unregulated, dangerous and deeply entrenched illicit more..

Jan 9 (SO) Latha Walpola was a name that resonated with the timeless melody in SL music. She rendered yeoman service to the nation’s musical heritage for decades, lending her voice to songs that blended classical purity with emotional strength. At a time when SL music was evolving, she set high standards in vocal training, performance and artistic integrity. This iconic songstress passed away on Dec 27, at the age of 91, more..

Jan 9 (DM) On Jan 3, under the cover of darkness, US invaded Venezuela and kidnapped its democratically elected leader, Nicolas Maduro, along with his wife. In doing so, it destroyed an edifice that, since the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, has symbolised the inviolability of state sovereignty. Following the West’s victory over Communism in 1991, Francis Fukuyama advanced his End of History theory, arguing that liberal democracy has reached the final form of govt—the zenith of more..

Jan 9 (CT) Govt is mulling over making the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) a pension scheme rather than a one-off payment at retirement. These sentiments were recently shared by Deputy Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe, who went on to elaborate that the move is being considered because the social security of private-sector employees is at risk when they receive the EPF in a single instalment. Hence, the Govt has paid attention to introducing a system similar to a pension more..

Jan 9 (DM) SL’s decision to reopen motor vehicle imports after a prolonged suspension has been framed largely as an economic and fiscal recalibration. The new framework, introduced through updated import control regulations, seeks to manage foreign exchange exposure while restoring access to private transport. Yet as imports resume, questions are emerging within the industry over whether the regulatory system adequately more..

Jan 9 (CT) Dear Harini, Although I am writing this letter in the form of an article intended for public dissemination, there is a possibility you may never see or read it. Nonetheless, I believe it is my responsibility to address this matter with you. As the PM and the Minister of Education of our country, it is crucial to consider whether you have truly and thoroughly defined your responsibilities in these roles. Given that you hold a PhD, I trust you are well-versed in your areas of expertise as more..

Jan 9 (DM) The prolonged delay in appointing a permanent Auditor General has quietly, but dangerously exposed a fault line in the govt’s accountability. The issue, in fact, strikes at the very heart of public accountability and governance - topics touted much by the govt made in the pre-election era as a force in the opposition. Ridding the country of corruption was the key campaign slogan of the current govt. Investigations into past crimes and incarceration of political opponents more..

Jan 8 (FT) Asia’s third best performer, Colombo stock market, yesterday suffered the worst humiliation in its 130-year history with trades and orders up to the first 24 minutes cancelled after questionable maiden transactions of shares of a new listing. In a statement, Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) said it observed unusually high prices of certain transactions of Wealth Trust Securities Ltd, due to market orders being more..

Jan 8 (AD) The depression over the Bay of Bengal, located to the southeast of SL, was centered about 490 km southeast of Pottuvil, at 11:30 p.m. yesterday, Dept of Meteorology has announced. It is expected to move west-northwestwards and towards the eastern coast of SL during the next 24 hours. The system is likely to intensify further into a deep depression during the next 12 hours, Met Dept noted. Accordingly, cloudy skies can be expected over most parts of the island today. more..

Jan 8 (DM) A CCD officer requested the Chief Magistrate to issue an order referring the 15th suspect, Ishara Sewwandi, to a forensic examiner for a facial examination. However, the Magistrate rejected the request, stating that the court cannot issue orders concerning a suspect who had not been produced before it, as Ishara Sewwandi was still in detention. Today, Colombo Crimes Court also produced two suspects accused of aiding and abetting murder of Ganemulla’s Sanjeewa. more..

Jan 8 (EN) Sri Lanka has passed new law for Colombo Port City, limiting tax holidays to 15 years for billion dollar investments and progressively reduced rates for smaller investments, based on pre-determined rules, Deputy Minister Anil Jayantha Fernando said. “Earlier very long tax holidays up to 25 years were given without pre-set criteria,” Minister told parliament. “We have introduced criteria based on investment volume and more..

Jan 8 (FT) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday instructed officials to encourage small and medium businesses (SMEs) to register their enterprises while accelerating access to a 3% interest credit scheme for Ditwah-hit businesses. Prez Dissanayake hosted the second meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Finance, Planning and Economic Development of the 10th Parliament, where discussions focused on the implementation of relief & recovery measures more..

Jan 8 (TM) National Institute of Education (NIE) has approved the removal of the questionable lesson from the Grade Six English module which created huge controversy after it was confirmed that the material contained a reference to an inappropriate website, PM and Education Minister, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has confirmed. PM made this revelation in response to a question raised in the Parliament yesterday. Meanwhile, steps have been taken to prepare a code of guidelines on more..