Oct 2 (DN) The Sri Lankan Pavilion at Hotel Asia 2026, held in Hulhumalé, Maldives, was officially opened with the participation of Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the Maldives, Mohamed Rizvi Hassan, highlighting the growing importance of trade and business ties between Sri Lanka and the Maldives. High Commissioner Hassan joined Sanjeewa, President of the Sri Lanka–Maldives Business Council, in cutting the ceremonial ribbon to mark the opening of the pavilion. more..

Oct 2 (Island) Commercial Bank of Ceylon recently handed over Wards No. 03 and 04 of the De Soysa Hospital for Women, after the completion of a comprehensive renovation project launched in March this year to mark International Women’s Day. Wards 03 and 04 handle a substantial share of the hospital’s patient load, and account for approximately 2,500 to 3,000 deliveries and 4,000 to 5,000 admissions annually. Their refurbishment was designed to significantly enhance patient care, safety and comfort, more..

Oct 2 (FT) US State Department has toned down its assessment of the ruling NPP, but not of Sri Lanka’s investment climate. A Daily FT comparison of the Dept’s 2025 and 2026 Investment Climate Statements shows it has dropped all reference to the NPP leadership’s ideology. Its verdict that the climate remains challenging, and much of the criticism behind it, is repeated word for word. Last year’s statement said many investors remained wary given more..

Oct 2 (TM) By implementing a unified ocean accounting framework whereby aquaculture yields, mangrove extent, port infrastructure economic inflows will be recorded, Sri Lanka would be able to introduce credible ocean statistics alongside its GDP and other economic metrics, IUCN SL Country Representative Dr Shamen Vidanage said, speaking on a webinar recently. “By recording both ocean stocks, such as fish stocks, mangrove extent and port infrastructure and economic flows, ocean accounting more..

Oct 2 (TM) A small fish that vanished from SL’s scientific records for nearly 90 years has been found again in the Jaffna Peninsula, giving researchers a rare opportunity to connect a historical record from 1936 with a living population in Northern Sri Lanka. The fish, identified as the Yellow-stripe Goby (Mugilogobius chulae), was recently recorded at Karainagar on the Karaitivu Island during a survey of aquatic habitats in the North. Its discovery is particularly significant because more..

Oct 2 (DM) Akram Cassim was re-elected as President of the SL Gem and Jewellery Association (SLGJA) for a third term, at the association’s AGM held this week. AGM also elected a new board representing a strong mix of youth and experience, bringing together the members from across the gem, jewellery and lapidary sectors and from key gem and jewellery regions of SL. Joining Cassim in the new leadership team are Shezan Mansoor as Vice Prez and COO, Shezard Careem as Head of Jewellery Segment, more..

Oct 2 (FT) Sri Lanka’s tourism industry in September came just 414 visitors shy of its highest-ever arrivals for the month last year, with a late surge in Indians providing fresh momentum ahead of the crucial winter season despite the sector remaining behind 2025’s pace and well short of its original 2026 target. Sri Lanka welcomed 158,557 tourists in September, falling just short of the Sept 2025 record of 158,971 and registering a marginal 0.26% year-on-year (YoY) decline. more..

Oct 2 (FT) Colombo West Int'l Terminal (CWIT) on Wednesday celebrated a double milestone – the commissioning of its second phase and handling of more than 2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). Phase 2 doubles the Terminal’s handling capacity to 3.2 million TEUs from 1.6 million. PM Harini Amarasuriya was the Chief Guest at the grand celebrations, along with CWIT investors Adani Ports and SEZ CEO Ashwani Gupta, John Keells Holdings (JKH) Chairperson Krishan Balendra, more..

Oct 2 (Island) It was with a great sense of sadness that I received the news about the death of Ananda Ganegoda at the age of 80 years; the last of the famous industrialist Ganegoda brothers to depart. Ananada was a businessman par excellence but he ought to be remembered specially for his outstanding contribution to popularising Sinhala music by founding the music label Singlanka in 1980. Unfortunately, I lost touch with him, having seen him only once since I left Sri Lanka in May 1988. more..

Oct 2 (Island) An inquiry conducted by the Police Special Investigation Unit (SIU) into some allegations concerning the circumstances that surrounded the 31 Aug drug detection at the Colombo Port has revealed that there may have been dereliction of duty on the part of Senior DIG Ranmal Kodituwakku and several other officers. The plot thickens. Acting on information reportedly received from US Drug Enforcement Administration, Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) more..

Oct 2 (GV) In the early hours of Sept 27, over 20 SL police officers, including Jaffna’s Officer in Charge, arrived at the Nallur memorial to Lt. Col. Thileepan and swiftly removed the statue. The bronze figure had been unveiled on Sept 15 to mark 39 years since Thileepan began the fast that ended in his death. It was taken down just one day after hundreds of Tamils gathered at the site to remember him. The memorial stands where Thileepan began his hunger strike in 1987, more..

Oct 2 (TM) When the Prez rises in Parliament on 12 Nov, to present the 2027 Budget, he will be speaking to two audiences. One is the chamber. The other is the family that has spent the past few years trimming expenses and doing sums at the kitchen table. Formal process begins on 7 Oct with the first reading of the Appropriation Bill, and the outline of the numbers is already visible. Bill authorises service expenditure of Rs 4.99 trillion and caps net Govt borrowing at Rs 3.8 trillion for 2027. more..

Oct 2 (DN) CPC is set to launch its new Jet A-1 aviation fuel storage complex and dedicated pipeline project on 2 October, establishing a direct and dedicated fuel-supply connection between Muthurajawela and BIA. The project marks a significant investment in SL’s petroleum and aviation infrastructure, bringing together large-scale aviation-fuel storage, a dedicated underground pipeline and modern monitoring and safety systems in a single integrated facility. more..

Oct 2 (ST) On Tuesday, Fitch Ratings upgraded SL’s Long-Term Issuer Default Rating to B- from CCC+ with a stable outlook. While CCC+ stand for the substantial risk – the status of credit worthiness that SL improved in December 2024 after the default. Accordingly, this week upgrading was the second notch granted by Fitch Ratings to SL after the economic crisis. The B- status means a speculative grade which indicates that repayment may be vulnerable to more..

Oct 2 (DM) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa claims that he would repeal the recently adopted 22nd Constitutional Amendment once he takes office someday. Yet, we don’t believe he will do so. Firstly, Premadasa’s party, SJB must have the two-thirds parliamentary majority to roll back this Constitutional Amendment. Yet, given the political antics staged by the Opposition parties -- including the SJB -- we cannot imagine a day when the SJB would secure a two-thirds parliamentary majority, more..

Oct 2 (DM) Road traffic accidents are now being described as a man-made disaster. According to the Sri Lanka Medical Association’s (SLMA) expert committee on road accidents, over 2500 fatal accidents were recorded in 2025 resulting in over 2700 deaths. Medical experts have identified various causes ranging from defects in road infrastructure to lack of adequate rest among drivers and ignoring safety practices such as wearing helmets. more..

Oct 2 (DM) Every child has the right to grow up healthy, safe, loved and respected. Children have the right to learn, play, dream and express their views. Yet, millions continue to face poverty, conflict, violence, displacement, malnutrition and unequal access to education and healthcare. This year, Universal Children’s Day observed in SL on Oct 1 carries the message My Day. My Rights. My Future. The theme calls on children to speak about their lives, rights and aspirations, while urging adult more..

Oct 2 (DM) Accountability has been a buzz word for many lawmakers that SL produced. It had been a promise that was rarely fulfilled on the political stage. This is why people rejected corrupt leaders and their associates. People rejected political nepotism, dynastic politics and demanded transparency and accountability. SL has surpassed turbulent periods in history. From insurrections to a prolonged armed conflict, and unfortunate events such as the Easter Sunday attacks and the economic crisis, more..

Oct 1 (NW) India secured a place in the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket gold medal match after routing SL by 124 runs in the second semifinal at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan. India posted 169 for seven before bowling SL out for just 45. SL won the toss and elected to bowl, and managed to make early inroads. However, Ishan Kishan powered India to a competitive total with an unbeaten 80 off 46 balls, hitting 5 sixes and 4 fours. 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi contributed a quick 38 more..

Oct 1 (EN) SL’s National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) expects to enforce maximum retail prices (MRPs) for roughly 90% of imported medicines over the coming year, NMRA chairman Ananda Wijewickrama said. The regulator is carrying out brand-specific price determinations across more than 6,000 registered formulations as pharmaceutical companies submit applications for their annual import permits. “These 6,000 medicines exist under various brand names. more..

Oct 1 (NW) Sri Lanka will procure all immunisation vaccines required by the country entirely using govt funds in 2027 for the first time in its history, Minister of Health Nalinda Jayatissa has announced. The minister said the govt intends to use 100% state funding for the procurement of vaccines required for the national immunisation programme next year. He made the announcement at an event in Colombo marking the 49th death anniversary of more..

Oct 1 (NW) A group of Swedish schoolchildren was introduced to SL literature and culture through a special programme featuring the Swedish translation of Martin Wickramasinghe’s celebrated children’s novel Madol Duwa, organised by Embassy of SL in Stockholm. Programme aimed to familiarise young Swedish readers with the literary work of Martin Wickramasinghe, widely regarded as the father of modern Sinhala literature, while providing an insight into SL traditions & cultural heritage. more..

Oct 1 (NW) Court of Appeal has issued a writ order preventing the arrest or detention of former Minister Tiran Alles and directors, representatives and employees of Ceylon Newspapers (Pvt) Ltd over a complaint arising from a commercial transaction. The order was issued by a Court of Appeal bench comprising Justices Shashi Mahendran and Pradeep Hettiarachchi following the hearing of a writ petition filed by Ceylon Newspapers, which publishes Mawbima and Ceylon Today newspapers. more..

Oct 1 (TM) The Sri Lanka Cricket’s (SLC) Transformation Committee Chair Eran Wickramaratne states that although they would prefer results on the field from the national team to be positive than at present, they have no concerns of any of those involved in the backroom staff. “Certainly we want to see results, there is no question on that front,” he told reporters, during the Transformation Committee’s media briefing more..

Oct 1 (DM) National Police Commission (NPC) has cancelled, with immediate effect, the transfers of several police officers, including Senior DIG Ranmal Kodituwakku and DIG of the Police Narcotic Bureau Ashoka Dharmasena. NPC took the decision at a meeting held today, following a request from the IGP. Cancelled transfers reportedly include those of the Director of the Police Narcotic Bureau, two Superintendents of Police and several female Police Inspectors, among other officers. more..

Oct 1 (DM) Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva and his delegation from Sri Lanka this morning. A 5-member delegation of JVP had arrived in India for a five-day visit from Sept 27 to Oct 1, as part of JVP-BJP meeting. Following his interaction with the Mr. Silva, Mr. Jaishankar posted on X that it was pleasure to meet him and his Sri Lankan delegation. “Had a good discussion on strengthening our deep bonds of friendship,” he said more..

Oct 1 (NW) SL Customs has uncovered a consignment of metal scrap, including iron, concealed in an export container that had been declared as containing rice, Customs Spokesman Chandana Punchihewa said. The discovery was made during a joint examination conducted by SL Customs and Police today at the TRICO Export Facilitation Centre (EFC), located near the port access road from Ingurukade Junction. According to Punchihewa, container had been prepared more..

Oct 1 (NW) A two-day cultural festival titled Rhythm of Lanka will be held on Dec 19-20, 2026, aimed at reconnecting the younger generations of overseas Sri Lankans with their homeland, cultural identity and heritage. According to the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat, organised by Ranwala Balakaya, national-level initiative will primarily focus on third and fourth-generation Sri Lankans living abroad, particularly those with limited direct cultural and social connections to Sri Lanka. more..

Oct 1 (FT) Port City Colombo hosted an exclusive investor forum at The St. Regis Abu Dhabi on 25 Sept, bringing together senior UAE business leaders, investors, and institutional stakeholders for a focused morning of dialogue on SL’s investment proposition and the opportunities available within Port City Colombo’s Special Economic Zone. The forum formed the centrepiece of a structured seven-day Gulf roadshow more..

Oct 1 (NW) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa says Sri Lankans who once dreamed of purchasing a Toyota Vitz for Rs. 1.2 million are now struggling to settle their vehicle leasing installments, with some allegedly facing intimidation and physical assault at the hands of vehicle repossession agents, commonly known as seizers. Speaking during a meeting with representatives of the Association of Leasing and Loan Instalment Payers at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition more..

Oct 1 (DM) Govt will provide Rs. 70 per litre of diesel as part of a Rs. 41 billion fuel subsidy approved by the Cabinet to cushion consumers and fuel distributors from the impact of surging global oil prices, Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka said. The subsidy is intended to prevent the full impact of rising international fuel prices from being passed on to consumers. Karunathilaka said fuel distribution companies have reported varying levels of losses under the current pricing structure more..

Oct 1 (NW) Tusker Kawanthissa, who sustained a gunshot injury to his front right leg after falling victim to a trap gun in the Siyambalangamuwa area, has shown significant signs of recovery and rejoined a herd of approximately 15 wild elephants following continuous treatment by wildlife veterinarians. Tusker’s condition has gradually improved after receiving antibiotics and other necessary medication over several days, more..