News

US Postal Service issues new Forever stamp celebrating Diwali

Pope Leo hosts Bob Dylan at official residence in Rome

Hasthi Sena : 27 wire snares, hunting weapons and meat seized in Kekirawa

By Newswire Editorial A total of 27 wire snares, several hunting weapons and three kilograms of meat have been discovered

Sri Lanka Freedom Party no longer a recognised political party

The Election Commission has informed the factions of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) that the party cannot currently be considered a formally recognised political party.

West Asian crisis lands cash strapped SriLankan Airlines in further turbulence

The West Asian crisis, coupled with the resulting surge in fuel prices, has placed the cash-strapped national carrier, SriLankan Airlines (SLA), under further strain, with the authorities compiling a report on financial losses caused by the conflict alone, an...

President urges religious leaders to become active partners in national drive to free the country from the scourge of illicit drugs

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said religious leaders and religious institutions had a leading role to play in bringing about the ideological and attitudinal transformation needed within society to defeat the scourge of illicit drugs. The President said he...

Hoax bomb threats target European airlines and airports for second time in a week

At least 21 aircraft and several airports across Europe have been targeted by bomb threats in the second such incident this week, with the UK calling it a “malicious hoax”. Flights to Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Poland and Ro...

Fairly heavy showers above 75 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts

WEATHER FORECAST FOR 06 NOVEMBER 2026 Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 06 November 2026 by the Department of Meteorology Misty conditions can be expected at some places in the Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces during the early hours of the morning. Showers or thu...

Treasury poised for digital U-turn, ‘Free Lawyers’ alleges

By Shamindra Ferdinando Free Lawyers Association (FLA) yesterday (5) alleged that the government was planning to do away with the Integrated Treasury Management Information System (ITMIS), a centralised digital platform operated by the Finance Ministry. FLA Sp...

No electricity tariff hike as NSO backs down

PUCSL to make final determination within six days By Ifham Nizam The National System Operator (NSO) has decided against seeking an electricity tariff increase for the October–December quarter, following an assessment of improved reservoir storage and expectati...

Iran allows Indian, Chinese ships to transit Hormuz

Iran has exempted Indian ships from the restrictions it imposed on passage through the Strait of Hormuz, along with vessels from China, Iraq, and Qatar, a senior Iranian lawmaker has said. The exemptions are intended to serve Iran’s interests, and in India’s c...

Mandatory TIN submission for specific transactions put off

Amidst growing public criticism of a decision to make submission of Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) Certificates mandatory for eight specified transactions, the government yesterday announced the postponement of the implementation of the plan until 1 Apri...

Another major narcotics haul seized in southern seas

Gross street value of drug consignment Rs. 4.2 bn The Navy intercepted a local multi-day fishing trawler smuggling approximately 189 kg and 246 g of crystal methamphetamine (ice) and heroin respectively on the high seas south of Sri Lanka. Five persons were ta...

FCID objects to bail for two suspects in Rs. 190 Bn case

Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama today ordered the remand of two suspects, including Jiffry Mohamed, till November 12 over an alleged illegal transfer of Rs. 190 billion to foreign countries under the pretext of importing goods into Sri Lanka.

Mandatory TIN rule put off until April 2027

The Inland Revenue Department has deferred the mandatory submission of Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) certificates for eight specified transactions until April 1, 2027.

UL 503 incident triggers fresh measures against bird strikes

In the wake of the latest bird strike which damaged the jet engine blades of SriLankan Airlines flight UL 503 bound to London, airport authorities, along with the relevant stakeholders, have stepped up action to ensure aviation safety against possible wildlife...

Court to decide on lifting Gotabaya’s overseas travel ban on November 25

Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena today ordered that the decision on the request to lift the overseas travel ban imposed on former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in connection with the investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks be delivered on November 2...

Sri Lankan universities slip in QS Asia rankings

Sri Lanka’s leading universities slid to their lowest positions in four years in the QS World University Rankings: Asia 2027, with the University of Colombo dropping 46 places to 364th, as regional rivals moved ahead while its own score barely changed, QS told...

Namal granted bail in Krrish case but remains in prison pending Airbus case hearing

Despite being granted bail in the Krrish case, Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa was taken back into prison custody after completing the bail formalities, pending his production before the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar in connection with the alleged...

Krrish case: Namal released on bail

Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa, who was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over an alleged Rs. 70 million bribe, was ordered to be released on bail by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama.

1983 communal riots back in political limelight

The 1983 communal riots, which are widely regarded as the immediate trigger for Sri Lanka’s three-decade-long civil war, have come back into the political limelight, with 50 government MPs seeking a parliamentary inquiry into the incident.

Crowds flock to IRD as TIN requirement takes effect

A large number of people have visited the Inland Revenue Department’s (IRD) head office to obtain Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN), resulting in severe congestion.