Rain or Shine, Gear Up for a Thrilling Weekend of Sport

As rain clouds drift across Sri Lanka this weekend, outdoor plans might be off — but that’s hardly bad news for sports lovers. From the Premier League’s late-night battles to India’s crucial ODI in Sydney and the roar of Formula 1 engines in Mexico, it’s shaping up to be a weekend tailor-made for staying in, curling up, and catching every moment of the global action.

AI job demand in South Asia, including Sri Lanka, surges 75% Faster: World Bank

The World Bank has highlighted a rapid rise in demand for artificial intelligence (AI) skills across South Asia, including Sri Lanka, noting that this trend is beginning to influence hiring patterns. Between January 2023 and March 2025, the share of AI-related job postings in the region more than doubled, increasing from 2.9% to 6.5%, growing approximately 75% faster than non-AI job listings.

Gayle named brand ambassador as LPL gears up for 2026 return

The Lanka Premier League (LPL) has appointed West Indies cricket icon Chris Gayle as the Brand Ambassador for its upcoming sixth season, scheduled for 2026.

Govt prioritises primary healthcare strengthening to tackle rising NCD threat

Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa has said that strengthening primary healthcare remains a core priority under the government’s health policy, as Sri Lanka works to curb the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Sri Lanka Navy launches rescue mission for distressed merchant ship

The Sri Lanka Navy vessel Samudura set sail on 24 October 2025 to rescue the crew of the merchant ship MV INTEGRITY STAR, which had encountered distress about 100 nautical miles south of Sri Lanka due to a technical fault in its main engines.

Strong winds, rough seas as depression forms in Bay of Bengal: Met Dept warns

The Department of Meteorology has issued an amber advisory for strong winds, heavy showers, and rough seas affecting the Bay of Bengal and eastern coastal waters around Sri Lanka.

Firefighting awareness holiday programme for children at Ratmalana Airport

Airport and Aviation Services Sri Lanka has announced a special one-day Fire Fighting Awareness Holiday Programme for children this December.

Overpriced drug purchases, unrecovered supplier payments raise concerns

An audit report has revealed major financial lapses at the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC), including losses from overpriced medicine purchases and failure to recover money from suppliers.

SriLankan Airlines clarifies 2024/25 financial losses

SriLankan Airlines has issued a statement to clarify its financial performance for the 2024/25 fiscal year, following recent reports on its reported losses.

Will Sri Lanka experience a spate of political killings?

Opposition MP Jagath Vithane questioned as to whether Sri Lanka is going to experience a spate of political killings with the latest developments, including the killing of the Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman.

Why are we a nation that never develops?

For years Sri Lanka’s geographic location has been spoken about and even envied by many nations. Infact foreigners have always praised our natural resources, our lush greenery, our ideal location in the Indian Ocean and our warmth and friendship.

Sri Lanka on HIV alert: Over 150,000 at risk from unsafe sex, drug practices

Sri Lanka is facing a serious public health crisis, with more than 150,000 individuals engaging in unsafe sexual and drug-related behaviours, health authorities have warned. Experts fear that without immediate intervention, the country could see a sharp rise in HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the coming years.

Female Police Constables return lost wallet belonging to British tourist

Two female Police Constables attached to the Prime Minister’s Security Division have been commended for their honesty after returning a lost wallet belonging to a foreign tourist.

Thailand’s Queen Mother Sirikit, influential style icon, dies at 93

Thailand’s Queen Mother Sirikit, who brought glamour and elegance to a postwar revival in the country’s monarchy and who, in later years, would occasionally wade into politics, has died aged 93, the Thai Royal Household Bureau said on Saturday.

Prison overcrowding can’t be solved with hangings, says CPRP

In response to the Prisons Commissioner’s remarks that drug traffickers sentenced to death should be hanged, the Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) yesterday criticised the statement, saying that executions are not the solution to Sri Lanka’s prison overcrowding.

Fire on ‘Rajarata Rejini’ train delays journey from Anuradhapura

A fire broke out on the ‘Rajarata Rejini’ train operating from Anuradhapura to Beliatta, the Railway Department confirmed.

Showers, strong winds expected during the day

The Meteorology Department has issued a weather warning, forecasting showers or thundershowers at times over Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Northwestern, Northern, and North Central provinces, as well as in Galle, Matara, and Trincomalee districts.

Minister urges prompt Muslim burial rites, calls for adherence to pre-COVID procedures

Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath has addressed concerns over delays in performing Muslim burial rites, said that final rites should be carried out promptly.

Sri Lanka on track for 2026 NSW pilot

Sri Lanka is on track to pilot its transformative Trade National Single Window System (TNSWS) by end-2026, with full operations expected to commence in 2027.

No legal barriers to religious dress for Muslim nurses: Minister

Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath has assured that there are no legal barriers preventing Muslim nurses from adhering to their religious dress requirements while serving in government hospitals.

No concrete plan yet for SriLankan Airlines despite mounting losses

The government has yet to firm up any plan for restructuring SriLankan Airlines, the national carrier, but remains open to possible partnerships with the private sector to increase profitability, an official said yesterday.

Deadline for 2025 A/L and GIT exam amendments ends Oct. 31

The Department of Examinations has announced that the deadline for making amendments to names, medium, and subjects for the 2025 G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination and the 2025 General Information Technology (GIT) Examination will end at midnight on October 31. The Department confirmed that no extensions will be granted beyond this date.

National Climate Finance Strategy for 2025 launched

The National Climate Finance Strategy for 2025-2030 was launched yesterday by the Finance Ministry and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the Climate Finance Network project, which was funded by the UK government.

Sri Lanka wins three gold medals on SASAC opening day

Sri Lankan athletes Pasindu Malshan, Chamod Yodhsingha, and Shafiya Yamick won three gold medals for Sri Lanka on the opening day of the 4th South Asian Senior Athletics Championship (SASAC) 2025.

Time to change laws on election of Nilames in temples, devales

The election of a Diyawadana Niame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa and Basnayake Nilames of other devales came into the limelight in Parliament today with the Opposition calling for the change of traditions enabling women Divisional Secretaries to vote at the polls held to elect such Nilames.

Cyclone threat looms as Bay of Bengal system intensifies

The low-pressure area currently located over the southeast Bay of Bengal, to the northeast of Sri Lanka, is expected to intensify further and move west-northwestward, the Department of Meteorology said today.

BYD clarifies global vehicle recall does not affect Sri Lanka

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD has clarified that its recently announced global vehicle recall does not apply to Sri Lanka, assuring local customers that no BYD models currently operating in the country are affected.

Six Sri Lankan seafarers repatriated from Eritrea

Six Sri Lankan seafarers who had been detained in Eritrea have been successfully repatriated to Sri Lanka through the coordinated efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Mission in Egypt and Eritrean authorities.

’’Was raped by cop 4 times’’: Maharashtra woman doctor’s suicide note on hand

A woman doctor, who was reportedly raped four times in five months by a police sub-inspector (SI), died by suicide at a district hospital in Maharashtra’s Satara on Thursday night.

Court delivers verdict in coconut theft murder case: Death sentence for first accused

Homagama High Court Judge Navarathna Marasinghe today sentenced a man to death after he was found guilty of killing another man using a metal rod used for plucking coconuts, following a dispute over the alleged theft of two coconuts.