Namal meets Indian High Commissioner

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Namal Rajapaksa met with Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha in Colombo, where the two discussed ongoing developments in both countries and ways to further enhance bilateral relations.

DNA urges President to reconsider reappointment of Diyawadana Nilame amid allegations

The Democratic National Alliance (DNA) has urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to reconsider the potential reappointment of Nilanga Dela as the Diyawadana Nilame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy, citing serious allegations against him.

Cabinet approves amending laws to enable Sri Lankans overseas to cast their votes

The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval for the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government to take action to appoint a committee to study particulars relevant to amending the laws and formulating new laws to safeguard the voting rights of Sri Lankan citizens overseas.

President to sign Rs. 1.94 Bn Japanese grant agreements during state visit

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is set to sign key bilateral agreements during his upcoming state visit to Japan, securing a total grant of 963 million Japanese yen (approximately Rs. 1.94 billion) from the Government of Japan.

Cabinet approves obtaining additional funds to purchase paddy in Yala season

The government has allocated Rs. 6,000 million for the programme to purchase paddy for the 2025 Yala season, and the Paddy Marketing Board has already purchased 43,891 metric tons of paddy, incurring Rs. 5,288 million in 16 districts.

9-hour water cut in Colombo on Thursday

The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) has announced a 9-hour water cut in Colombo on Thursday, September 18.

Govt approves feasibility study to ease traffic at Colombo’s Lotus Roundabout

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to conduct a detailed feasibility study to address increasing traffic congestion at the Lotus Roundabout, one of Colombo’s most congested intersections during peak hours.

UN inquiry finds Israel’s war on Gaza to be genocide

A United Nations inquiry has found that Israel’s war on Gaza is a genocide, a landmark moment after nearly two years of war.

NPP Ministers growing in wealth is eighth wonder: SJB MP

Ministers including Wasantha Samarasinghe increasing their wealth is the eighth wonder of the world, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Kavinda Jayawardene said today.

Admissions open for 2025 Korean language proficiency test

The issuance of admissions for the Korean Language Proficiency Test (KLPT) for employment opportunities in South Korea’s manufacturing and fisheries sectors has commenced, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) announced.

CEB Engineers’ Union to intensify protest against restructuring plan

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Engineers’ Association has decided to step up its protest against the government’s proposal to divide the CEB into four separate entities.

Government expands school nutrition program covering 1.4 million students

The government’s national school nutrition program is now being implemented across all 100 education zones in every province, with Rs. 32 billion allocated for 2025 to support the initiative.

SL Navy rescues six victims abandoned by human smugglers

During a search operation off the Sand Dunes area in Talaimannar, the Sri Lanka Navy rescued six Sri Lankan nationals who were victims of human smuggling and were abandoned.

Digital signatures introduced for public officials

The Ministry of Public Administration has introduced digital signatures for public officials in a move aimed at streamlining administrative processes and enhancing efficiency across government services.

Trump says he will sue the New York Times for $15bn

Donald Trump has announced he will file a $15bn lawsuit for defamation and libel against the New York Times, calling it a virtual “mouthpiece” for the Democrats.

Man accused of pouring hot water on dog in Bhagwanthalawa

A shocking incident of animal cruelty has been reported from Bhagwanthalawa, where security camera footage captured a dog being chased away with hot water while it was sleeping in front of a shop yesterday (15).

Risk of low-quality medicines reaching the public

Testing of certain medicines sold at unusually low prices in private pharmacies has confirmed that some do not contain the correct ingredients, raising serious concerns about patient safety, Specialist Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, President of the Professional Association of Doctors for Medical and Civil Rights, told the Daily Mirror.

One dead, six injured in Southern Expressway crash

A 35-year-old woman died and six others, including three children, have been injured in a road accident on the Southern Expressway early this morning.

US says ’framework’ for TikTok ownership deal agreed with China

Washington has reached a ’’framework’’ deal with China on TikTok’s US operations, paving the way for American ownership, as the world’s two biggest economies negotiate a trade deal.

Senthil Thondaman survives Kathmandu hotel fire, rescues others

Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC) President Senthil Thondaman, who was in Nepal recently, had a narrow escape when the hotel he was staying at was set ablaze by protesters during the uprising.

New EU laws after 2027 set to pose fresh hurdles for Sri Lanka’s exports

In the wake of Sri Lanka facing headwinds in its export growth because of U.S. tariffs and GSP+, it is now poised to encounter further challenges to overcome in accessing the European Union market because of new laws that will come into effect after 2027, according to a German expert.

SL’s financial system confidence improves short term: CBSL survey

Confidence in Sri Lanka’s financial system has improved in the short term but concerns over medium-term risks persist, with the market participants flagging global economic and geopolitical tensions as the biggest threats, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) said in its latest systemic risk survey.

Exporters seek urgent reforms, labour solutions in Budget 2026

The National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCE) has submitted a comprehensive package of proposals for the upcoming national budget, calling for bold reforms to strengthen the export sector, attract investment and enhance the country’s global competitiveness.

Synchronous expansion pushes 2Q GDP up 4.9%

Gross domestic product (GDP), the value of the total goods and services produced by the economy, in the second quarter of 2025 rose by a robust 4.9 percent. This is a pickup from the 4.8 percent growth seen in the first quarter, reflecting the persistent strength in the economy for the last eight quarters straight, since the economy broke the declining spiral two years ago.

Nissanka fifty helps SL edge sloppy HK in a thriller

Sri Lanka were made to work much harder than they would have liked before sealing a nervy four-wicket win over Hong Kong China in their second Asia Cup match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium last night.

14th world record & third world title for Duplantis

History-maker Armand Duplantis soared to his 14th world record with his final attempt as the Swedish superstar continued his pole vault domination by winning a third consecutive world title.

Sri Lanka survive Hong Kong scare in Dubai; Snuryakumar’s men proceed to next round as UAE beat Oman

UAE beat Oman by 42 runs in Abu Dhabi in the first of the twin Asia Cup clashes on Monday (15). The result meant that India secured a place in the Super Four with a match in hand while making the UAE-Pakistan clash on September 17 a virtual knockout.

Politician not bound by feelings with people can never become peoples’ leader: MR

A politician who is not bound by feelings with the people can never become a peoples’ leader, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said today.

Poacher dies after gun misfires in waist

A 33-year-old poacher from Radaniara in Walasmulla died yesterday morning after a gun he was carrying in his waist accidentally misfired while he was riding a bicycle.

Namal denies allegations over drug containers

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Namal Rajapaksa, responding to media questions today, condemned reports regarding two containers of raw materials allegedly intended for the production of “ICE” (Crystal Methamphetamine), which had left the port after being detected by the security forces.