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Sri Lanka will celebrate its 77th Independence Day on Tuesday with a shortened and economised ceremony at Independence Square in Colombo. Our picture shows the Sri Lanka Army’s special commandos rehearsing for the event, which is the first under the National People’s Power government since it took office in November last year. President Anura Kumara [...]
Vehicle import restrictions lifted, but prices soar
Treasury announces new taxes, including surcharge on Customs duty A string of taxes has sent the imported vehicle prices soaring, with the five-year restriction on imports being lifted with effect from yesterday. Vehicle importers were finalising their prices yesterday, but the initial calculation of the taxes is set to have a severe impact on the [...]
Remittances surpass forex reserves and garments income
By Kapila Bandara Billions in foreign currency sent home last year by Sri Lankans working and living overseas have, as expected, anchored the country’s external sector resilience at a time of persistent economic vulnerability. Remittances of Sri Lankans jumped to US$6.575 billion in 2024, year-end figures show, exceeding the meagre gross official reserves of US$6.1 [...]
NMRA’s new measures bring down medicinal drug prices
By Namini Wijedasa The National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) has started verifying prices directly with global pharmaceutical manufacturers whenever it notices significant discrepancies between the rates quoted for certain drugs by local suppliers (intermediaries) and their regional/domestic prices. The regulator is also expediting the approval of new registrations for suppliers and manufacturers to break the [...]
Four Appeal Court vacancies: CJ sends four names; AG sends two to President
By Ranjith Padmasiri Chief Justice Murdu Fernando has forwarded the names of four senior high court judges to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to fill four existing vacancies in the Court of Appeal. Accordingly, the names of Kandy High Court Judge Sumudu Premachandra, Colombo High Court Judge K. Priyantha Fernando, Trincomalee High Court Judge Prema Shankar [...]
Govt. finalises names for top diplomatic posts
The government is finalising a list of names to be posted as heads of Sri Lanka’s missions abroad, with ex-Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya assuming duties as Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York. He replaces Mohan Pieiris, also an ex-chief justice, who was recalled along with other political appointees in November [...]
Committee appointed to probe container traffic backlog
By Damith Wickramasekara The Finance Ministry has appointed a committee to investigate the continued delay in clearing the backlog of container traffic at the Colombo Port. The committee will be looking at whether there has been any deliberate act of sabotage in the failure to clear the backlog of containers from the port for more [...]
President to visit UAE next month
By Damith Wickremasekara Sri Lanka is set to enter into agreements on fuel and gas purchases, power and energy projects and trade and investment during a state visit of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) next month. Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath told the Sunday Times that the formation of [...]
11-member committee to monitor development programmes
The government has set up an 11-member ‘’Public Investment Monitoring and Evaluation Committee’’ (PIMEC) with authority to summon the contract community, development partners, experts, foreign missions and other official representatives to discuss development programmes. The move has been conveyed by Finance Ministry Secretary Mahinda Siriwardena to ministry secretaries, department heads and chairpersons of state corporations [...]
Norway fund raises stake in John Keells, sheds Singer and two hotel stocks from portfolio
By Kapila Bandara Norway’s trillion dollar state pension fund, which has 17 Sri Lankan companies in its portfolio, has increased its stake in John Keells Holdings Plc, but dropped five other companies and added one in 2024. The five companies dropped from the US$1.739 trillion Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global are John Keells Hotels Plc., [...]
Govt. opts for trimmed Independence Day ceremony
By Chandani Kirinde The 77th Independence Day celebrations at Independence Square in Colombo on Tuesday will be a scaled-down affair with a 40 percent reduction in troop participation, fewer military wares on display, greater public participation, and an overall shorter programme compared with previous years. The National People’s Power-led government’s first Independence Day will be [...]
From subjection to freedom: Nehru’s freedom day message
On the eve of Sri Lanka, or Ceylon as it was then known, regaining its freedom and independence after 150 years of British colonial rule and 443 years of colonial subjection, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the Prime Minister of India, sent his greetings to the people of Sri Lanka through a letter addressed to Sri Lanka’s [...]
With 103 CCTVs eyeing motorists on Colombo roads, drivers think twice before breaking rules
A system to pay traffic fines online also on the cards By Dilushi Wijesinghe In the busy streets of Colombo, where tuk-tuks and motorcycles weave through chaotic traffic, a quiet transformation is taking shape. At the centre of this system is the CCTV Division of the Police. With 103 high-resolution cameras strategically positioned across 33 [...]
Governor Gregory’s great-granddaughter graces Nuwara Eliya
By Shelton Hettiarachchi Belinda Hunt, great-granddaughter of William Henry Gregory, Governor of Sri Lanka from 1872 to 1877, recently visited the country with her husband, Miles Hunt. The couple, who reside in England, explored Nuwara Eliya, a town deeply connected to her ancestor’s legacy. Governor Gregory significantly contributed to Sri Lanka’s development, investing 1200 pounds [...]
Rohingya refugees: The stay lengthens amidst concerns about the care provided
By Tharushi Weerasinghe Sri Lanka will continue to hold the Rohingya refugees who arrived in December in its care until they can be relocated to a country willing to grant them at least temporary citizenship. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath’s office told the Sunday Times on Friday that this decision was reached following discussions between local [...]
Jaffna International Law Conference (JILC) 2025 focuses on law as a tool for change
The Jaffna International Law Conference 2025, titled ‘Law as Gentle Civiliser of Change’ was held on January 25 and 26 at the Hoover Auditorium, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna, in collaboration with the renowned Surana and Surana International Law Firms of India. Organised under the theme of “Acting, Transitioning, and Persisting in the Context [...]
Zoo awaits more animals, while sprucing up the environs
By Kasun Warakapitiya The Department of National Zoological Gardens is undertaking a multi-faceted work plan to improve and strengthen conservation efforts. The new Director General, Dr Rajapaksalage Chandana Rajapaksa said immediate short-term work has begun, while preparing for long-term work. Directives have been given to repair and use reusable equipment, while purchasing the tools needed. [...]
NERD comes up with sturdier, taller elephant electric fence for Weerawila outdoor prison
Text and pix by Rekaha Tharanagani Fonseka A newly invented electric fence to deter elephants will be for the first time installed around the Weerawila outdoor prisons by the National Engineering Research and Development Centre (NERD). The fence, that stands 16-feet tall hangs from curved concrete pillars making it difficult for the elephants to [...]
Dambatenne estate workers want quick action to save their vegetable plots from elephants
The residents of Dambatenne estate in Haputale have complained that wild elephants had ravaged vegetable plots on Friday night. Fearing further attacks they have asked wildlife officials to drive the elephants away. They said the Koslanda town and the Punagala area that are adjacent to Dambatenne estate often face the threat of elephant attacks and [...]
Struggles of an island off an island
By Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe Baththalangunduwa islanders have long suffered from severe issues, primarily the lack of clean water and electricity. They claim the Government has neglected them. Baththalangunduwa, a remote island 38 miles from Kalpitiya, is home to nearly 400 migrant fishing families facing severe hardships. Their biggest struggle is access to clean drinking water, [...]
Rs 2.2b to be raised for Karapitiya cancer project
By Minaza Hassan A non-profit is resuming the Karapitiya Trail Cancer Hospital Project, to extend the existing cancer unit. The Colours of Courage Trust (COC), founded by former cricket captain Mahela Jayawardena and entrepreneur and co-founder of Hatch Nathan Sivagananthan, project will have the collaboration of the Ministry of Health and labour and technical assistance [...]
Critical government institution websites to be made secure after last year’s spate of cyber-attacks
By Sandun Jayawardana As part of efforts to protect government infrastructure and information systems from cyber-attacks, 40 key institutions which have been identified as having critical systems running on their websites are to be brought under a National Cyber Security Operations Centre (NCSOC), which will be officially launched in the next few weeks. The 40 [...]
From fiery orator to steadfast politician: Remembering Mavai Senathirajah
By S.Rubatheesan Tributes have flown from across party lines in the country this week, following the passing of octogenarian and senior Tamil leader Mavai Senathirajah. He was 83 years old. Born Somasuntharam Senathirajah (1942.10.27) in Maviddapuram, Jaffna, he was later known as Mavai Senathirajah throughout his political career spanning over five decades. He took part [...]
Drops in air quality triggered by South Asia’s burgeoning pollution
The Air quality Index (AQI) which was at moderate to slightly unhealthy levels across the country has got better in the past 24 hours, Sarath Premasiri, Director, Environmental Studies & Services Division of the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO), said. During the past two weeks, the AQI was not healthy except for in a few [...]
US funding freeze hits Lankan NGOs supported by USAID
By Mimi Alphonsus US President Donald Trump’s “pause” on foreign assistance has tied USAID’s purse strings and left its Lankan partners in a state of disarray. On January 20, Trump issued an executive order to immediately halt all USAID-funded projects and conduct a 90-day review to determine if “they are efficient and consistent with US [...]
Deportation of over 3,000 Lankans from the US likely to be expedited
The deportation of over 3,000 Lankan nationals with final orders for removal from the US is likely to be expedited under President Donald Trump’s mass deportation programme for illegal immigrants. According to statistics of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), there are 3,065 Lankans on the ICE’s non-detained docket with final orders of removal. [...]
Those early days of COVID-19 in Sri Lanka five years ago
MRI’s National Influenza Centre gave ‘positive’ result in first case in just five hours, says Dr. Jude Jayamaha By Kumudini Hettiarachchi The world including Sri Lanka has just passed an anniversary which changed people’s lives forever. For Sri Lanka, January 27 was the day on which five years ago, the first case of COVID-19 was detected [...]
Officials wrestle with intricacies of Kalutara sand mining and floods for another round
By Tharushi Weerasinghe and Mimi Alphonsus The decision to allow sand mining along the Kalu River in Kalutara was postponed until February 8 by the District Coordination Committee on Thursday. The Kalutara District Coordination Committee, chaired by Health and Mass Media Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa, was due to decide on sand mining in the Kalutara River [...]
New Court of Appeal Judges stress importance of justice not only being done but seen to be done
By Ranjith Padmasiri The fundamental importance of ensuring that justice is not only done but manifestly and undoubtedly seen to be done, was emphasised when two new Justices of the Court of Appeal were ceremonially welcomed last week. Looking back on his 28-year judicial career, Justice K.M. Sarath Dissanayake told the gathering at the Court [...]
Beira Lake; cleaning not the solution but identifying and eliminating pollution sources, says NARA
By Kasun Warakapitiya The National Aquatic and Resources Research Agency (NARA) has recommended a proper monitoring mechanism to prevent further damage to the polluted Beira Lake. The recommendation came in its report into the investigations into the deaths of several ducks in the lake last week. However, it has held that although the lake was [...]
Urumaya under review amidst protests from beneficiaries
By Ishu Bandara The “Urumaya” national programme of the former Government is under review with a change of its name, structure and implementation set to take place. Land & Irrigation Deputy Minister Susil Ranasinghe told the Sunday Times that he had personally consulted experts, including Provincial Secretaries, Land Commissioners, and grassroots-level land officers, both orally [...]
Left hanging
Pix and text by Akila Jayawadena Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe issued a directive to construct a new pedestrian flyover at Bambalapitiya station few months back before he ended his term. The project remains incomplete, as the old flyover’s stairs lie in ruins on one side of the Marine Drive . The State Development and Construction [...]
Defiant Indian fishermen accused of provoking naval dustup
Navy says Indian fishermen tried to disarm two officers when they boarded the bottom trawler By S Rubatheesan The recent ‘accidental discharge’ of a Navy firearm on Indian fishermen in Sri Lanka’s waters illegally, despite repeated warnings this week, has led to diplomatic tensions and raised again the urgency of solving the longstanding Indo-Sri Lanka fisheries [...]