SAWM–SL hold AGM, appoints new Exco for 2025–2026

The South Asian Women in Media – Sri Lanka Chapter (SAWM–SL) held its Annual General Meeting recently at the Mandarina Hotel, Colombo, where Office Bearers were re-appointed and new members appointed to the Executive Committee to lead the organization’s activities for the term 2025 – 2026.

New Rs. 30,000 subsidy for coconut growers in Northern Coconut Triangle

The Coconut Cultivation Board announced that the government will provide a subsidy of Rs. 30,000 per acre to coconut growers in the newly established Northern Coconut Triangle.

Five persons drown in Deduru Oya

Five persons who went for a bath at Deduru Oya have been washed away. It was reported yesterday.

Probation officer arrested for rape

A probation officer was arrested yesterday by Ampara Division Women and Children’s Bureau on suspicion of rape of two underage girls in a Home for the Children in Dehiattakandiya in Ampara.

Ambassador (Retd.) Ravinatha Aryasinha appointed Executive Director of RCSS

Ambassador (Retd.) Ravinatha Aryasinha, former Foreign Secretary of Sri Lanka, has been appointed Executive Director of the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies (RCSS).

Englishman ordained at Vijeyananda temple

A British national Gareth Thompson (58), entered the order of Bhikkhus at Weliwatta Vijeyananda Pirivena temple by the name of Ven. Englanthaye Buddhdasa Thera.

SPMC suffers major losses, audit reveals

The Sri Lanka State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation (SPMC) has suffered serious economic losses due to inefficiencies in supplying essential medicines and the use of substandard or expired imported chemical raw materials, the National Audit Office report for 2024/2025 reveals.

Former Railways GM granted bail over unlawful reinstatement of suspended driver

Former General Manager of the Department of Railways S. M. Abeywickrama, who was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption in connection with the alleged unlawful employment of a suspended train driver, was released on bail yesterday by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama.

Sri Lanka, Russia hold first joint counter-terrorism drills at Maduruoya

Ambassador of Russia Mr. Levan Dzhagaryan attended the Russian-Sri Lankan Joint Tactical Counter Exercise - WOLVERINE PATH 2025 (October 25 - November 04, 2025, Army Training School, Maduruoya).

Court rules interdiction on audit query illegal

A petition filed by a principal of a government school against his interdiction based on an audit query was upheld by Anuradhapura Predecessor High Court Judge (Monaragala present High Court Judge) Dr. Nalin Hewawasam, who ordered the reinstatement of the petitioner with back wages for the period under interdiction.

Government to open cannabis cultivation project to local investors

The government plans to offer local investors the opportunity to participate in the country’s cannabis cultivation project, which has so far been limited to foreign companies, Deputy Minister of Health Hansaka Wijemuni said.

Taxpayers’ money go up in smoke as docs abandon service

Billions of rupees of taxpayers’ money have gone down the drain as hundreds of government doctors have deserted their posts and forfeited their foreign training opportunities.

Over 100,000 houses built with mud, rocks, and thatched with Palmyra leaves, cadjan or straw

Over 100,000 houses in Sri Lanka currently have been built using mud and rocks for walls and roofed with Palmyra leaves, cadjan or straws, highlighting the lack of weather–prone housing conditions, according to the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS).

Saudi national sentenced for assaulting Sri Lankan Airlines flight attendant

Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama yesterday imposed a three-month suspended prison sentence for five years and a fine of Rs.10,000 on a Saudi Arabian national who pleaded guilty to assaulting a Sri Lankan Airlines flight attendant on board a flight.

Highest revenue generated through vehicle imports

Sri Lanka Customs revealed that the highest revenue had been generated through vehicle imports by October 14, 2025, which had earned Rs. 587.11 billion, constituting 37% of the total revenue by that date.

High-profile corruption arrests continue across public sector

A number of former top government officials are now under the radar of the Bribery Commission over alleged corruption, as the Commission intensifies its probe into the misuse of public resources.

SLIIT Alumni Association Launches Tickets for “Night in Vegas” Dinner Dance 2025

The SLIIT Alumni Association officially launched tickets for its highly anticipated annual Dinner Dance 2025 on October 27, 2025, at the SLIIT Malabe Campus. The event marked the beginning of celebrations for one of the most awaited gatherings in the university’s alumni calendar.

Another girl engaged in higher studies commits suicide

The Galaha police have initiated a formal investigation of the death of a female student of Bellwood Aesthetic Studies Institute in Gampola whose body was found hanging from roof of a hostel on Saturday evening(01)

Fined Rs. 500,000 for selling overpriced bottled water

A trader who had sold a bottle of drinking water for more than the maximum retail price was found guilty and fined Rs.500,000 by Nuwara Eliya magistrate.

Some SJB allies to participate in November 21 rally

Some parties or MPs who are currently supporting the Samagai Jana Balawegaya (SJB) have come up with favorable ideas on the joint opposition rally which is to be held in Nugegoda on November 21 2025 and seemed to be on the fence when it comes to participating in it.

Aquinas College launches book on research articles

The book comprising of research articles published by the Social Science and Humanities Faculty of Aquinas College of Higher Education was launched on Saturday the 25th October, at the Cardinal Cooray Auditorium.

Six companies given green light to cultivate cannabis: Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera

Six companies have been given the green light to cultivate cannabis and had been given 66 acres for the project, a prominent monk said over the week end.

60-year-old woman sentenced to life for possessing heroin

An accused who stood indicted with possessing heroin was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment yesterday by Galle High Court Judge Purnima Paranagama

Lifelong journey of learning…

Young Sri Lankans embark on a journey of learning and cultural exchange as the Yoshioka Japanese Language Scholarship Programme, organised by the Yoshioka Cultural Education Association of Japan, was inaugurated

Another successful business forum by SLAP

The Sri Lanka Association of Printers (SLAP), in collaboration with FESPA, successfully organised another insightful seminar and business forum on the future of the printing industry. The full-day workshop was held at the Hotel Grand

Lankan Professor to attend Global Forum on Bioethics in Ghana

Professor Athula Sumathipala, Director of the Institute for Research and Development in Health and Social Care in Sri Lanka, and the current Secretary General and President-elect (2026–2027), has been invited to attend the Global

Türkiye, Sri Lanka make strides in developing ties: Ambassador

Over the past year, Sri Lanka and Türkiye have taken meaningful strides to deepen bilateral engagement, Turkish Ambassador Semih Lutfu Turgut said. Delivering his remarks at the national day reception of his country in Colombo

Handunnetti’s FR against alleged sugar fraud fixed for January

The Fundamental Rights petition filed by Minister Sunil Handunnetti, while he was in the opposition, seeking an order to recover Rs. 15.9 billion from those responsible for the alleged sugar fraud that occurred during sugar imports in 2020, was yesterday fixed for support by the Supreme Court.

Tourism Bureau to streamline drone use for foreign tourists

The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) announced that it will act as a facilitator for foreign tourists seeking permission to operate drone cameras in the country for tourism promotion purposes.

Drug dealers attempt to enter political mechanism by becoming MPs, Chairpersons: President

The drug menace has developed into a situation where some drug dealers attempt to enter the political mechanism by becoming Members of Parliament and Chairpersons of local bodies, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday.