Jan 11 (ST) The fallout from the govt’s scandal-plagued education reforms shows no sign of abating, especially as new controversies arise almost daily with allegations of yet more errors or questionable content being found in the modules designed for students of Grades 1 and 6, for whom the reforms will be first introduced this year. Much of the blame from opposition parties, trade unions and others who oppose the reforms are being more..

Jan 11 (DM) The energy companies from countries such as Qatar and India have already shown interest in participation in the exploration and development of hydrocarbon resources (oil and natural gas) in four blocks of the Mannar basin, official of Sri Lanka Petroleum Development Authority said. International bidding would be launched very soon with a six-month period for prospective global energy companies and national oil companies of different countries to make their submissions. more..

Jan 11 (AD) The low pressure area over the Gulf of Mannar in SL is weakening further. Therefore, the influence of this system on the island’s weather is further gradually reducing. The warning issued to prevent fishing and naval activities in the deep and shallow sea areas off the coast extending from Colombo to Trincomalee via Puttalam, Mannar and Kankasanthurai is withdrawn, it said. The warning issued to prevent multi-day fishing boats and naval activities in the deep southwest Bay more..

Jan 11 (TM) Amid growing controversy over coal imports for the Lakvijaya (Norochcholai) Power Plant, sealed samples from a recently unloaded 60,000 MT of coal shipped from South Africa by the newest Indian coal supplier have been sent to India’s Cotecna, a testing, inspection, and certification services provider, according to the Lanka Coal Company (LCC). LCC General Manager Namal Hewage said that Cotecna was more..

Jan 11 (AD) PM Harini Amarasuriya stated that the Govt has commenced necessary measures to maintain preschool education under a framework, align preschool education with a unified curriculum, conduct teacher training in a systematic manner, and ensure quality standards. PM made these remarks today (10) at the Temple Trees, participating in the launch of the National Communication Programme for Child Health Promotion, aimed at promoting social and behavioural change (SBCC) more..

Jan 11 (NW) Two protests were held today (10) in Matugama, turning the town into a focal point for opposing demonstrations. A protest organized by women govt supporters condemned the atrocities targeted at women by the opposition. The protest was attended mainly by women, with several female MPs from NPP govt also participating. Meanwhile, another protest was organized by the combined opposition, opposing the harm caused to children through challenges to free education and more..

Jan 11 (EN) Sri Lanka’s official remittances rose 43.2% to a record monthly high of US$ 879.1 million in December 2025, while the total in the last year also reached an all time peak of US$ 8,076.2 million from a year ago, central bank data showed. Last month’s remittances surpassed the island nation’s previous monthly peak remittances of US$ 812.7 million hit in December 2020. The country’s previous annual record high remittances were US$ 7,164 million hit in 2017. more..

Jan 11 (EN) SL’s foreign exchange revenue from tourism in Dec 2025 fell 14.8% from a year ago to US$308.6 million, the central bank said. The island nation’s tourism revenue has been lower since August last year compared to arrival after the relevant authority revising down per day tourism spending, officials have said. The monthly revenue showed a fall for the fourth time in the last six months. It has been falling in July and August before rising marginally in the next two months. more..

Jan 11 (ST) Two different opinions have been put forward within the AG’s Dept on indicting former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe on his alleged misappropriation of Rs. 16.6 million in state funds during a visit to the UK. The different opinions relate to whether there is sufficient evidence for an indictment or if the evidence is insufficient based on the CID investigations on the matter. Deputy Solicitor General Wasantha more..

Jan 11 (NW) Govt will take all necessary steps to resume train services to Kandy within a year, Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena said. The railway track stretch from Rambukkana to Peradeniya has suffered the most damage due to the Ditwah disaster, and repairs are estimated to cost around US$ 74 million. “To restore the Peradeniya bridge, commonly known as the Yaka Palama, alone will cost about US$18 million. Therefore, restoring this track involves a huge cost. more..

Jan 11 (NW) An activist group announced plans to launch an indefinite protest outside Education Ministry on Monday, demanding the withdrawal of new education reforms and calling for the resignation of the education minister. The protest, organized by the group Adults Standing for Children, is scheduled to begin at 9 am on Jan 12, according to the group’s convener, NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa. Weerawansa said parents from across SL are invited to join the continuous sit-in, more..

Jan 11 (Island) SL is one of the world’s richest biodiversity hotspots, with nature deeply intertwined with community life. Reflecting this connection, across the island, small-scale conservation efforts have always thrived in pockets. For MAS Holdings, the urgency of the environmental crisis made it clear that scattered initiatives were not enough- it was time to bring them together into an impactful, long-term approach. Employees have also welcomed the chance to be part of projects that protect more..

Jan 11 (SO) A new chapter will begin in SL’s cycling history when the inaugural Lanka Ride Cycle Race gets underway in three stages on January 16 opposite Lake House in Colombo. The three-day event is conducted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports with Lake House Group joining hands as the official media sponsor. The first stage of the event will commence on Jan 16 opposite Lake House at 9 a.m. and will conclude near the Kandy Agriculture Office covering 105.9km. more..

Jan 11 (TM) The proposal to pay out benefits under the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) through a pension scheme will be a voluntary option among several alternatives the Govt is considering introducing, according to the Secretary to the Ministry of Labour. Ministry of Labour Secretary S.M. Piyatissa stated that the Govt was considering the introduction of a new mechanism for paying out employee benefits from the EPF, more..

Jan 11 (SO) The country can achieve a seven percent GDP growth in the mid to long term because it recorded a positive growth rate of close to 5% in 2025, said Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning and Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando. He said the economy grew at that rate last year despite many headwinds blowing from the previous year in the domestic economy and globally geo-political tension and high trade tariffs imposed by the US. more..

Jan 11 (ST) The Colombo bourse has hit the highest of highs and the lowest of lows but, there has never been a chaos creating day like Wednesday (7), with the market day lasting only 23 minutes, exposing massive weaknesses of the stock market systems, after trades on Wealth Trust Securities first trading day. Some suggested that the events may have been the result of deliberate sabotage. This mayhem at the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), currently being probed by both the SEC more..

Jan 11 (ST) More than 10 years after the island nation’s most contentious financial crime was committed, the case of CB bond scam triggering losses running into billions of rupees remains unresolved. “This saga is like Erle Stanley Gardner’s Perry Mason series detective novel,” a senior economist said describing the episode as symptomatic of broader governance shortfalls that increase risk premia, lower investor trust. more..

Jan 11 (Island) The upcoming T20 World Cup, featuring 20 teams across a frenetic three-week carnival, has whetted appetites among fans, players and administrators alike. Scratch beneath the surface and the contenders fall neatly into three baskets. There are the heavyweights; Australia, England and India, with South Africa firmly in that front rank. Then come the dark horses: Pakistan, NZ and Afghanistan, sides capable of blowing hot and cold but dangerous on their day. more..

Jan 11 (TM) The election of officebearers for the Netball Federation of SL (NFSL) for the 2026–28 term, which has been stalled since May last year, is set to get underway at the Sports Ministry premises at 11 a.m. on 22 Jan, 4-member Election Committee formed to oversee it has officially announced. According to sources from the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, the Election Committee formed to supervise the federation’s AGM during the next fortnight has decided on more..

Jan 11 (TM) The stance of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) in relation to the election of officebearers to the National Olympic Committee of SL (NOCSL) for the 2026–’30 term will be conveyed to NOCSL President Suresh Subramaniam by tomorrow at the latest. Subramaniam said both the IOC and OCA were set to officially announce their decision connected to the delayed election to the NOCSL, with its Executive Committee having already completed its more..

Jan 11 (ST) The third and final T20 International between Sri Lanka and Pakistan at Dambulla has been thrust into must-win territory for the hosts after persistent rain washed out the second game without a ball being bowled. With Pakistan holding a 1-0 lead following a comprehensive 6-wicket win in the opener, Sri Lanka must respond swiftly if they are to avoid another deflating series defeat on home soil. That opening match followed a worrying script that has become all too familiar for Sri Lanka. more..

Jan 11 (ST) SL’s recent Asia Cup campaign ended with three wins and three defeats. On paper, it suggests balance. In truth, it was disorder disguised as arithmetic. Those 3 defeats denied SL the chance to defend a title won only 2 years earlier. More damaging than the results, however, was what followed. Once again, SLC revealed how little it understands elite sport, long-term planning or even fundamentals of professional governance. more..

Jan 11 (Island) Trade unions and professional associations have been cranking up pressure on the NPP govt to put its education reforms on hold and invite all key stakeholders to a serious discussion. PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya struck a conciliatory note in Parliament the other day, indicating that the govt was willing to take dissenting views on board. But Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has said in no uncertain terms that the govt will go ahead with its education reform programme. more..

Jan 11 (Island) Presidential election campaign was drawing to a close. We had campaigned hard but everyone knew that it would be a keenly contested election. A final meeting was scheduled for Saturday December 18, 1999. It was to be held near the Town Hall in Colombo and CBK was to be the chief speaker. I was accommodated in the front row of the stage together with other party leaders. Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, the PM, had invited me to be a speaker at his final meeting in Horana. more..

Jan 11 (TM) What is unfolding in SL today is not a dramatic invasion or an overt loss of sovereignty, but something far subtler and therefore more dangerous: a renewed form of imperial influence advancing quietly through the language of reform, stability, and modernisation. This phenomenon is not new to the Global South, but its present intensity and the ease with which it appears to be gaining ground right before our eyes should give serious pause. The troubling reality is that this occurrence more..

Jan 11 (ST) My dear Harini sahodariya, I cannot help but write to you this week, because you are the talk of the town. Suddenly, you have become the prime target of the opposition. You are being accused of single-handedly trying to destroy our cultural values. A lot of abuse and hate is being directed at you by your opponents. Even before all this, you were subjected to intense scrutiny when you became PM, because you were a lady. You may be the third female PM in the country that gave the world more..

Jan 11 (ST) With a no-confidence motion being launched against PM and Education Minister Harini Amarasuriya in Parliament over the controversy of the school book for Grade Six, one of the opposition political parties, the ITAK, condemned the move and noted PM is subjected to hate speech both online and offline by lawmakers, discrediting her name and office. Following the stand taken by the party, party’s Parliamentary Committee, more..

Jan 11 (ST) The drama that unfolded in faraway Venezuela exposed the JVP-NPP Govt’s two-pronged, some say two-faced, policy of keeping its Marxist ideological base intact domestically but, thankfully, staying alive to the real world of geopolitics. Its party headquarters condemning in the strongest terms the kidnapping of the president of one sovereign country by another, while its own government deftly passing the ball to the United Nations, expressing its deep concern while more..

Jan 11 (SO) How would the world react if Russian Prez Vladimir Putin captures and arrests Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy? Or imagine what would the U.S. and the UN would have said and done if Chinese Prez Xi Jinping sends the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to Taiwan to arrest its Prez Lai Ching-te in a dramatic way? There would have been serious repercussions for these two nations in the BRICS bloc for sure. But, on Jan 3, world witnessed a dramatic escalation in U.S. foreign policy more..

Jan 11 (TM) The impact of the unfolding developments on the global stage is bound to be felt by many countries including Sri Lanka. It would therefore be correct to state that a new set of challenges has now fallen before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) and his JVP-led NPP Govt. Within the first few days of the new year, the masses were treated to price hikes as well as proposed tariff hikes. more..

Jan 11 (GV) The debate over parliamentary pensions has resurfaced in SL, raising critical questions of fairness, accountability and fiscal responsibility. At a time when citizens face economic hardship, tax pressures and reforms to their own retirement benefits, the privileges enjoyed by elected representatives are under unprecedented scrutiny. Globally, many democracies have grappled with similar issues. In response, they have restructured parliamentary pension schemes to reflect more..

Jan 11 (SO) Govt’s decision to abolish lifetime Parliamentary pensions for MPs and their spouses marks one of the most consequential reforms in SL’s political culture in decades. With the Gazette for the Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill, SL is now poised to end an arrangement that symbolises the widening gap between citizens and their elected representatives. This is a long-overdue realignment of political incentives and public expectations at a time when trust in lawmakers remains weak more..