Police Canine Division on standby to assist school-level drug inspections

The Police Official Canine Division is on standby to assist school-level drug inspections if requested by the principals of schools, Police said.

Liquor store sealed for selling alcohol on Poya Day

A retail liquor store (Excise RB 04) in Ja-Ela has been sealed by excise officers for selling alcohol on Poya Day, in violation of excise regulations.

Cabinet approves 2026 budget

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the budget for 2026, the Government Information Department said.

AI-powered chatbot introduced to strengthen vocational education support

The Ministry of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education has introduced an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered chatbot to make vocational education information more accessible to students.

Former President appears before Bribery Commission

Former President Maithripala Sirisena appeared before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) to provide a statement this morning.

Principal suspended after drug arrest

The North Central Provincial Education Director has decided to suspend the principal who was arrested with a large stock of heroin.

Plastic loops in main canals, waterways in Colombo to prevent blocking on rainy days

Plans have been afoot to implement a project under the Clean Sri Lanka Initiative to erect plastic loops in main canals and waterways in Colombo city to collect plastic and polythene as a solution to the blocking of waterways on rainy days.

Elon Musk’s $1tn pay deal approved by Tesla shareholders

Tesla boss Elon Musk has had a record-breaking pay package that could be worth nearly $1tn (£760bn) approved by shareholders.

CEB plans solar-powered EV charging stations with incentive tariffs

The Ceylon Electricity Board (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.

Hype of activities in P’ment for budget

Hype of activities were witnessed in the Parliamentary complex yesterday with cleaning and colour washing for the budget which is to be presented today.

Sri Lanka starts work on national plan to improve care system

Sri Lanka has begun the first steps to build a stronger and fairer care system to better support families, workers, and communities. The move comes as the country faces a fast-growing older population and a rising need for quality care services.

Tourist on bicycle has narrow shave with leopard

A tourist riding on bicycle along the Galge road in Buttala who ignored the advise of a tourist guide transporting a tourist couple, to be cautious of wild elephants and leopards frequenting the road had encountered a leopard within a short distance.

MRIA’s operations cost 14 times higher than income in 2024

The 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 (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited (AASL) revealed.

2026 budget attuned to IMF programme to be unveiled today

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will present his government’s budget for 2026 in Parliament today, the second by him upon election to office, and it is expected to be aligned with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) economic reform agenda.

Three Sri Lankans attacked in chemical assaults in Israel

Three Sri Lankan nationals who were attacked have reported their experiences to the Sri Lankan Embassy in Israel, following a series of chemical-laced water cannon assaults targeting foreign migrant workers.

Suresh Raina, Shikhar Dhawan’s assets worth Rs 11 crore attached in betting app case

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has attached assets worth Rs 11.14 crore belonging to former Indian cricketers Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan in connection with the investigation into betting platforms.

Sri Lankan pleads guilty, gets life for Ottawa family murders

The Sri Lankan man who pleaded guilty to killing a mother, her four children and a family friend in a gruesome mass stabbing in an Ottawa suburb in 2024 has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years.

Mexico’s President Sheinbaum takes legal action after groping incident

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum is pressing charges against a man who she said was “drunk” and harassed her on Tuesday, calling the incident “an assault on all women.”

Longer periods, fewer subjects, extended school days

The Education Ministry announced that under the new education reforms for Grades 1 to 6, starting next year, the duration of each subject period will be increased to 50 minutes, while the number of subject periods will be reduced to seven, and the school day extended to 2 p.m., Education Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa said.

Inside the World’s Largest Visa Application Centre

Inside Dubai’s Wafi City stands a place that quietly moves the world. The world’s largest visa application centre, operated by VFS Global, spans 150,000 square feet and processes up to 10,000 applications daily.

After eight years behind bars, Court frees man sentenced to death

A man who had spent eight years in prison under a death sentence for drug trafficking was acquitted by the Court of Appeal, which found that the raid and recovery of productions in the case had not met the test of probability.

Locally manufactured school shoes to replace vouchers in pilot programme: Minister

The government will implement a pilot project to provide quality, locally manufactured school shoes to replace the vouchers currently given to schools with fewer than 250 students, Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Minister Sunil Handunnetti said.

Writ petitions by national cricketers: Court proposes administrative resolution

The Court of Appeal today proposed that the writ petitions filed by Sri Lanka National Cricket players challenging the classification of Sri Lanka’s national cricketers as employees of the national association Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) should be resolved with a meeting of the stake holders in the interest of the game of cricket.

Vijitha Herath to attend UNWTO General Assembly in Riyadh

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, will undertake an official visit to Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from November 8 to 11, 2025, to attend the 26th Session of the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Supreme Court reserves verdict on appeals by seven in Vidya murder case

The Supreme Court today reserved its judgment in appeals filed by seven accused who were sentenced to death for the murder and gang rape of Sivaloganathan Vidya.

Tree falls on bus in Kandy, one killed, 10 injured

A man was killed and ten others injured when a pine tree fell over a Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) bus plying from Kandy to Hewaheta at Halwatte this afternoon.

NPP Peliyagoda UC member resigns after husband’s arrest over drugs

The National People’s Power (NPP) Peliyagoda Urban Council member, whose husband and son were arrested for drug smuggling, has resigned.

GMOA confident Govt will resolve issues within health service

The Secretary of the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA), Dr. Prabath Sugathadasa, expressed confidence that the 2026 Budget is a positive step toward addressing the issues in the health sector and that the government will take the necessary measures to resolve them.

‘Ratama Ekata’ nets 980 drug suspects

Police conducted 1,053 anti-drug raids across the country under the ongoing ‘Ratama Ekata’ national operation, arresting 980 suspects yesterday.

Torrential rain causes flooding in Ratnapura

Low-lying areas in Ratnapura, Kuruvita, Elapatha, and Kiriella have been inundated this afternoon following more than 12 hours of torrential rain.