Government, IOM discuss growing threat of cyber scam-linked traffickingThe government has stepped up efforts to strengthen its response to emerging cyber scam operations and the trafficking of persons for forced criminality, with the National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force and the International Organization for Migration convening a development partners’ briefing. Oct 07, 202605:18 AMSri Lanka targets US$5 billion digital economy with focus on fintech and innovationThe government has identified financial technology (fintech) and innovative entrepreneurship as key pillars in its drive to build a US$5 billion digital economy, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Engineer Eranga Weeraratne said.Oct 06, 202610:25 PM237 new houses to be built for disaster-affected families in BadullaA program to construct 237 new houses for families who lost their homes or were placed at high risk due to Cyclone Ditwah in the Badulla District is scheduled to commence tomorrow (7).Oct 06, 202609:55 PM237 new houses to be built for disaster-affected families in BadullaA program to construct 237 new houses for families who lost their homes or were placed at high risk due to Cyclone Ditwah in the Badulla District is scheduled to commence tomorrow (7).Oct 06, 202609:55 PMIndian Govt. rules out reopening Katchatheevu agreements, cites ties with Sri LankaThe Indian Central Government today told the Supreme Court that India maintained good diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka and had no intention of reopening the 1974 and 1976 agreements governing Katchatheevu and maritime fishing rights, even as the court heard petitions challenging the arrangements.Oct 06, 202609:19 PMIndian Govt. rules out reopening Katchatheevu agreements, cites ties with Sri LankaThe Indian Central Government today told the Supreme Court that India maintained good diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka and had no intention of reopening the 1974 and 1976 agreements governing Katchatheevu and maritime fishing rights, even as the court heard petitions challenging the arrangements.Oct 06, 202609:19 PMPrison uniforms mandatory for those serving sentences exceeding three yearsIndividuals sentenced to more than three years’ imprisonment are required to be produced before court wearing the prison uniform issued by the Department of Prisons, the Prison Media Spokesperson Commissioner of Prisons Senaka Palletenna said.Oct 06, 202608:43 PMPrison uniforms mandatory for those serving sentences exceeding three yearsIndividuals sentenced to more than three years’ imprisonment are required to be produced before court wearing the prison uniform issued by the Department of Prisons, the Prison Media Spokesperson Commissioner of Prisons Senaka Palletenna said.Oct 06, 202608:43 PMPromotion of Export Agriculture Amendment Bill enactedSpeaker of House Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne today (06) endorsed the Promotion of Export Agriculture (Amendment) Bill, which has now been enacted as the Promotion of Export Agriculture (Amendment) Act, No. 24 of 2026.Oct 06, 202608:21 PMPromotion of Export Agriculture Amendment Bill enactedSpeaker of House Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne today (06) endorsed the Promotion of Export Agriculture (Amendment) Bill, which has now been enacted as the Promotion of Export Agriculture (Amendment) Act, No. 24 of 2026.Oct 06, 202608:21 PMMideast oil chiefs warn world needs to share Iran war costsThe heads of two of the Middle East's biggest oil producers warned that the rest of the world will have to share the burden of paying for the Iran war and the need for infrastructure spending that it has created.Oct 06, 202608:09 PMMideast oil chiefs warn world needs to share Iran war costsThe heads of two of the Middle East's biggest oil producers warned that the rest of the world will have to share the burden of paying for the Iran war and the need for infrastructure spending that it has created.Oct 06, 202608:09 PMUpcountry train services resumed after collective assessment by relevant agencies: MinisterThe decision to resume train services on the Upcountry railway line was made following a collective assessment by all relevant agencies involved in the restoration process, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said.Oct 06, 202607:30 PMUpcountry train services resumed after collective assessment by relevant agencies: MinisterThe decision to resume train services on the Upcountry railway line was made following a collective assessment by all relevant agencies involved in the restoration process, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said.Oct 06, 202607:30 PMNEWS ALERTFormer SIS Chief Suresh Sallay taken into CID custody after being discharged from hospital Former Director of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), retired Major General Suresh Sallay was discharged from the Colombo National Hospital this afternoon (6) after completing his medical treatment.Oct 06, 202607:08 PMNEWS ALERTFormer SIS Chief Suresh Sallay taken into CID custody after being discharged from hospital Former Director of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), retired Major General Suresh Sallay was discharged from the Colombo National Hospital this afternoon (6) after completing his medical treatment.Oct 06, 202607:08 PMSri Lanka steps up preparations for third AML/CFT mutual evaluationPresident Anura Kumara Dissanayake chaired a special discussion at the Presidential Secretariat today (06) on Sri Lanka’s preparations for its third mutual evaluation on compliance with international standards on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT).Oct 06, 202607:00 PMSri Lanka steps up preparations for third AML/CFT mutual evaluationPresident Anura Kumara Dissanayake chaired a special discussion at the Presidential Secretariat today (06) on Sri Lanka’s preparations for its third mutual evaluation on compliance with international standards on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT).Oct 06, 202607:00 PMNEWS ALERTPrevention of Organised Crimes Bill gazettedThe Prevention of Organised Crimes Bill, aimed at strengthening measures to prevent, investigate and prosecute serious crimes linked to organised criminal groups, has been gazetted.Oct 06, 202606:39 PMNEWS ALERTPrevention of Organised Crimes Bill gazettedThe Prevention of Organised Crimes Bill, aimed at strengthening measures to prevent, investigate and prosecute serious crimes linked to organised criminal groups, has been gazetted.Oct 06, 202606:39 PMHIV cases reported more frequently among drug users, Minister saysA significant number of HIV cases reported in Sri Lanka have been identified among people addicted to drugs, Minister of Health Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said. Oct 06, 202606:21 PMHIV cases reported more frequently among drug users, Minister saysA significant number of HIV cases reported in Sri Lanka have been identified among people addicted to drugs, Minister of Health Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said. Oct 06, 202606:21 PMNEWS ALERTTrinco Remand Prison official arrested over alleged Rs. 1.2 million bribeAn Assistant Superintendent of the Trincomalee Remand Prison has been arrested by officers of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over an alleged bribery incident involving the supply of dry rations to inmates.Oct 06, 202606:03 PMNEWS ALERTTrinco Remand Prison official arrested over alleged Rs. 1.2 million bribeAn Assistant Superintendent of the Trincomalee Remand Prison has been arrested by officers of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over an alleged bribery incident involving the supply of dry rations to inmates.Oct 06, 202606:03 PMPolice detain Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi at poll chief protestPolice in Delhi detained several opposition lawmakers as they tried to march demanding the chief election commissioner resign over a controversial voter roll revision.Oct 06, 202605:54 PMPolice detain Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi at poll chief protestPolice in Delhi detained several opposition lawmakers as they tried to march demanding the chief election commissioner resign over a controversial voter roll revision.Oct 06, 202605:54 PMTourist arrivals in 2026 surpass 1.7 million The number of tourists who have arrived in Sri Lanka so far this year has surpassed 1.7 million, according to latest data released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).Oct 06, 202605:36 PMTourist arrivals in 2026 surpass 1.7 million The number of tourists who have arrived in Sri Lanka so far this year has surpassed 1.7 million, according to latest data released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).Oct 06, 202605:36 PMWarm weather advisory issued for several provincesThe Department of Meteorology has issued a warm weather advisory for tomorrow (07), warning of increased heat levels across several parts of the country.Oct 06, 202605:15 PMWarm weather advisory issued for several provincesThe Department of Meteorology has issued a warm weather advisory for tomorrow (07), warning of increased heat levels across several parts of the country.Oct 06, 202605:15 PMSri Lanka to prioritize national interests in decision on Iranian vesselsThe Sri Lankan government will make decisions regarding Iranian vessels currently located in waters close to the country based on the safety and security of the people, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said.Oct 06, 202604:59 PMSri Lanka to prioritize national interests in decision on Iranian vesselsThe Sri Lankan government will make decisions regarding Iranian vessels currently located in waters close to the country based on the safety and security of the people, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said.Oct 06, 202604:59 PMGnanasara Thero’s robes removed in accordance with Prisons Ordinance: MinisterCabinet Spokesperson Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa stated that the removal of the Buddhist monk robes of Venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero and his being dressed in lay clothing were carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Prisons Ordinance.Oct 06, 202604:37 PMGnanasara Thero’s robes removed in accordance with Prisons Ordinance: MinisterCabinet Spokesperson Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa stated that the removal of the Buddhist monk robes of Venerable Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero and his being dressed in lay clothing were carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Prisons Ordinance.Oct 06, 202604:37 PMNEWS ALERTCourt allows CCIB to detain Mahinda Kahandagama until October 12The Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court has allowed the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) to detain and question former Colombo Municipal Councillor Mahinda Kahandagama until October 12.Oct 06, 202604:27 PMNEWS ALERTCourt allows CCIB to detain Mahinda Kahandagama until October 12The Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court has allowed the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) to detain and question former Colombo Municipal Councillor Mahinda Kahandagama until October 12.Oct 06, 202604:27 PMKenya reports 1st Ebola case as patient dies after arriving from DR CongoKenya has confirmed its first case of Ebola after a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo died following his arrival in Nairobi, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said Tuesday.Oct 06, 202604:13 PMKenya reports 1st Ebola case as patient dies after arriving from DR CongoKenya has confirmed its first case of Ebola after a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo died following his arrival in Nairobi, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said Tuesday.Oct 06, 202604:13 PM