Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)
STATE BUNGALOWS, PREVIOUSLY USED BY CABINET MINISTERS, STILL LIE IDLE
The government is yet to convert the state bungalows, previously occupied by various ministers in the past, to valuable commercial entities despite promises made ahead of the Presidential Election in 2024, Daily Mirror learns. The National People’s...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
EL NINO TO HIT SRI LANKA’S POWER GENERATION
Amidst various forecasts regarding the impact of the El Nino phenomenon expected to hit Sri Lanka in the coming months, Minister of Ports, Civil Aviation and Energy Anura Karunathilaka said yesterday that the Ministry of Energy has forecast that the...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
Sri Lanka’s university system handicapped with dearth of teachers
Sri Lanka’s state university system is facing a critical shortage of academic staff that could compromise the quality of higher education and professional training, Prof. Prageeth Weerathunga, President of the Federation of University Teachers’...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
PEOPLE LEAN
Sri Lankans have increasingly turned to personal and consumption-related borrowing over the past two years, with personal loans recording a sharp 35 per cent increase between December 2024 and March 2026, the latest data show. According to a research...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
AKD concentrates on quantity while Yahapalanaya on quality
The United National Party ( UNP) yesterday questioned the accuracy of a recent report produced by a local think-tank comparing the number of pieces legislations approved during the time of Maithripala Sirisena government with the time of Anura Kumara...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
GOVT. PRESSES AHEAD TO JOIN WORLD’S LARGEST TRADING BLOC
Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand throw open arms to embrace Sri Lanka SL strategic location, maritime connectivity potential matter to RCEP –Indonesian Ambassador New Zealand wants RCEP to be more dynamic, open – Envoy RCEP offers enormous...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
The Super El Niño is Not a Prophecy of Doom. It is a Deadline
It is easy to read headlines about the coming Super El Niño in 2026 and feel a familiar dread. After the economic implosion of 2022, the agricultural wipeout of 2021, and the floods of recent years, we suffer from climate fatigue. We treat these...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
REBUILDING SRI LANKA FUND LIES IDLE
While many people affected by the Ditawah cyclone are still languishing in safe centres or in temporary locations waiting to be relocated, it was revealed yesterday that the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund established aiming to rebuild the country...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SEVERE HEAT IN JULY-AUGUST
S ri Lanka is expected to experience significantly hotter-than-normal weather conditions during July and August this year as the developing El Niño phenomenon begins to influence the global climate, the Department of Meteorology warned. Speaking to...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Sri Lanka must stop fearing investment
A friend of mine in Bengaluru recently made a remark that stayed with me. Sri Lankan governments constantly speak about attracting foreign investment. But if someone arrived with a billion dollars to invest, where exactly in Sri Lanka could they...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
ABOLISHING EXECUTIVE PRESIDENCY NOT A PRIORITY FOR GOVT. RIGHT NOW
The introduction of a new Constitution including the abolishing of the Executive Presidency is not a priority for the government at the moment though it was an election promise, a senior government source said yesterday. The National People’s Power...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
ECONOMIC GROWTH TO SLOW DOWN TO 3 PERCENT - IMF
The IMF has forcasted Sri Lanka’s economic growth to moderate at three percent this year , slightly slower than predictions by the Central Bank, according to its Mission Chief Evan Papageogiou The growth was at five percent last year. Addressing a...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
PRESIDENT TO GET TOUGH ON INDISCIPLINED MONKS
We all have a responsibility to protect Buddhism. I invite everyone to get together and work towards that end The Government will amend Sections 41 and 42 of the Buddhist Temporalities Ordinance soon to establish Sangha Council to discipline...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Fuel Steady supply till November
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has confirmed that Sri Lanka will not experience a fuel shortage until November, while also dismissing social media reports of an imminent fuel price revision and claims of panic buying. CPC Managing Director Dr....
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SRI LANKANS TURN TO RENOVATING OLD HOMES AS BUILDING COSTS SOAR
Severe mismatch in apartment pricing and lack of affordable financing stall entry for first-time buyers despite emerging suburban hotspots. Rising material costs force buyers to target lands with existing older structures for renovation rather than...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Work from home soon
In a bid for economic risk mitigation over the falling dollar rate and surging import bills, the government mulls the reintroduction of work from home for the public and private sector employees as done during the pandemic, an official said...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
FBI ARRIVES IN SRI LANKA
Despite the intense collaborative effort, investigators admit they are yet to conclusively verify the exact transaction paths or identify the final destination accounts where the millions ultimately landed Ateam from the U.S. Federal Bureau of...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Can Sri Lanka navigate its way out of crisis?
As the nation grapples with a volatile cocktail of fiscal mismanagement, soaring inflation, an escalating energy crisis, high taxation, and the looming threat of El Nino, economic forecasters are revising their growth projections for 2026. In this...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
Is Sri Lanka performing genderchange procedures on children?
A controversy has arisen in Sri Lanka following claims questioning whether gender-change procedures are being carried out on children in the country’s hospitals. The issue was originally raised by Elle Gunawansa Thero during a television programme,...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
RUPEE DEPRECIATION’S DOUBLE EDGE
Sri Lanka has done impressive work on its domestic finances. We achieved a primary surplus and collected nearly 5 trillion rupees in taxes. But this success is in rupees only. Our external balance sheet – the one measured in dollars – remains...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Sri Lankans crash under Kiwis
The visiting New Zealand A women’s team clinched the three match oneday series against host Sri Lanka A women when they coasted to a convincing 84 runs win on the D/L method in the third encounter played at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium yesterday. The...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
INVITING OPPOSITION MPS?
ollowing months of speculation of arguments and rifts within the NPP camp, the Daily Mirror reliably learns that some senior government members have told President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to consider inviting capable parliamentarians from the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
ANOTHER ERRONEOUS TRANSACTION RATTLES GOVT
Hot on the heels of two cyber thefts that rattled the Government, another erroneous transaction involving more than Rs. 80 million had taken place in the payment of dues to Srilankan Airlines’ service provider in Dubai. The payment, made in the UAE’S...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
WHO IS DELAYING JUSTICE?
C oncerns have been raised within the legal fraternity over the continuous delay in appointing judges to the Superior Courts, with eight vacancies currently remaining unfilled in the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal for several months. The Daily...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Gampaha Wickramarachchi University Undergrads in jeopardy
Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine, the 16th state university in Sri Lanka, was established in 2021. At the time of its establishment as a university, it didn’t possess even the minimum facilities required to function as a...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
GOVT. SAYS SRILANKAN WILL NOT CUT DOWN ON LONG HAUL FLIGHTS
Some aviation experts say Sri Lanka’s decision could help maintain tourism and international connectivity during a fragile economic recovery. Others warn it may place additional pressure on state finances if fuel subsidies continue For now, Sri Lanka...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
INDIA, SRI LANKA DISCUSS COOPERATION FOR CONTAINMENT IN FUTURE
In the wake of cyber thefts affecting the Government’s financial activities, Sri Lanka and India have initiated discussions for cooperation to pre-empt such threats in the future, Daily Mirror learns. However, current efforts being initiated between...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
FIRMS FROM WAR TORN MIDDLE EAST SHOW INTEREST IN MATTALA AIRPORT
Some leading companies from the Middle East which is now caught in the Israeli/ US war with Iran are among the parties that have shown interests in investing in the Mattala international airport, according to a Minister. Sri Lanka has called for...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Healthy minds, safe workplaces:
She wakes before the mist clears. By the time most of Colombo is having breakfast, she has already been working for two hours, plucking, carrying, meeting a daily quota that does not change regardless of her rest, discomfort or nourishment. She works...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
DENIYAYA MENINGITIS SITUATION UNDER WATCH
Health authorities have ruled out the risk of a major viral meningitis outbreak in Deniyaya for now, while continuing to closely monitor the situation following a rise in suspected infections among schoolchildren, Speaking to Daily Mirror, Chief...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
ASWESUMA FUNDS PAID TWICE
In what appeared to be yet another transaction error on the part of the NPP government, Aswesuma beneficiaries have been paid twice, the Daily Mirror learns. The allegation was first queried by opposition leader Sajith Premadasa in Parliament on...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
VEHICLE PRICES HIKE FURTHER
A Honda Vezel Z Play and RS could see increases of around Rs. 345,000 and Rs. 350,000 respectively, while Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid GR and Hybrid Z variants may rise by Rs. 510,000 and Rs. 478,000 Smaller vehicles are also affected, with the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SRI LANKA’S NEW VAT RULES
The government’s latest move to expand the Value Added Tax (VAT) net to the digital economy, effective July 1, has triggered alarm bells across multiple sectors. While the Ministry of Financial Planning and Economic Development frames the Gazette...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Sri Lanka’s Manufacturing Moment
The global manufacturing landscape is undergoing a radical transformation, shifting from national production to complex geoeconomic networks where strategy, finance, and technology converge. As supply chains fragment into “trusted” ecosystems, the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
GOVT. MOVES TO TIGHTEN FOREIGN TRAVEL RULES FOR MONKS
The government is moving to strictly enforce and update regulations governing the foreign travel of Buddhist monks, aiming to restore order and address serious misconduct within the clergy. Deputy Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
TREASURY HEIST TAKES A DARK TURN SUSPENDED OFFICIAL FOUND DEAD
Against the backdrop of ongoing investigations into the disappearance of US$2.5 million from the treasury account, an official from the Finance Ministry who was under probe had been found dead in his home garden in Kuliyapitiya yesterday. Police said...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
ERAN, SANGA, MAHANAMA TO RESTRUCTURE SRI LANKA CRICKET
After tables turned at Sri Lanka Cricket with their nowresigned President Shammi Silva and Exco vacating their seats, a new innings started with former MP Eran Wickremeratne taking over the reins and heading a restructuring committee as the chairman...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
CONFIRMED AS SHAMMI SILVA AND CO. RESIGN
In a major development that confirms Daily Mirror’s continuous and exclusive reporting, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President Shammi Silva and the SLC Executive Committee have decided to step down following a special committee meeting held yesterday (28),...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
CANCER PATIENTS BATTLE FOR TREATMENT
Many cancer patients in Sri Lanka are facing life-threatening delays as broken machines and disrupted services cripple access to timely treatment and diagnosis, forcing them into long waiting lists. According to informed sources, waiting lists for...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SHAMMI SILVA SET TO STEP DOWN THIS WEEK
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President Shammi Silva is expected to step down from his position on Wednesday (29), amid mounting pressure and ongoing discussions at the highest levels of government, according to informed sources. However, it remains unclear...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
CURRENTLY AUSTRALIAN OFFICERS ASSISTING INVESTIGATIONS IN SL
Australian officers are currently assisting with Sri Lanka’s investigation into the incident in which cyber criminals stole US $ 2.5 million after breaching the computer systems of the Finance Ministry, according to Australian High Commissioner Matthew...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
USD 2.5 MILLION MONEY HEIST - WHO WILL BEAR THE COST ?
Treasury Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma said yesterday that the public was not informed of the incident prior as revealing sensitive information would have been an obstacle for law enforcement agencies to trace the cyber criminals The NPP government...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
USD 2.5MN GOES MISSING FROM TREASURY
Finance Ministry appoints an internal investigations committee to find out how a sum of US 2.5 million dollars has gone missing Monies which have gone missing are associated with an Australian agreement The Finance Ministry has appointed an internal...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SHAMMI SILVA BOWLED OUT
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has at last bowed down to ground realities and ordered Sri Lanka Cricket’s (SLC) merry-go-round dictator Shammi Silva to clear out Silva, the Daily Mirror exclusively learns, will be replaced by former...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SRI LANKA TO RETAIN QR FUEL SYSTEM INDEFINITELY
Fuel supplies sought from India, China, and Russia to maintain adequate stocks KELUM BANDARA Strait of Hormuz instability disrupts nearly 20% of global fuel supply routes QR system to be modified based on future developments and demand By Against the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
KUMARA JAYAKODY - A MAN WHO FACES THE TEST OF TIME
Days after Kumara Jayakody resigned as the Energy Minister making him the first minister to step down amidst corruption allegations in the NPP government, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will this week appoint an already existing cabinet minister to...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Srilankan Airlines restructuring; Government uncertain on path ahead
Restructuring of stateowned enterprises, a core pillar of the IMF Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme for Sri Lanka Minister tells Daily Mirror that the government had prioritized the appointment of a Chief Executive Officer for the airline at the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
NDB INTERNAL FRAUD NO IMPACT ON CUSTOMERS, CENTRAL BANK SAYS
Amid fears among accountholders about internal fraud at the National Development Bank (NDB), the Central Bank said yesterday that no customer accounts or deposits had been affected by the fraud, as informed. The Central Bank said in a statement that...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SEXUAL ASSAULT AGAIN
One of the seven persons who gang-raped and murdered schoolgirl Sivaloganathan Vidya in Jaffna in 2013 is alleged to have attempted to sexually abuse a lady Doctor on duty at the prison in Pallekelle, Kandy where he is being held since...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
RUSSIAN OIL UNLIKELY ANYTIME SOON
Sri Lanka not the only country that has sought Russian oil at this juncture S ri Lanka is unlikely to secure a shipment of Russian oil anytime soon, as logistical arrangements are still under discussion while the onemonth US sanctions waiver is due to...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
ARE WE RUNNING OUT OF DRINKING WATER?
Three-hour water cuts in Battaramulla, Pamankada, Wellawatte, Nawala and surrounding areas on every other day from Thursday (April 2) until April 10 from 10.00 p.m. to 1.00 a.m 24-hour-water cut in Padukka, Homagama , Pelenwatte and Pannipitiya every...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
EXTREME HEAT CAN WORSEN CHRONIC DISEASES
Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol, coffee and sweetened beverages. People with chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart diseases, kidney diseases and cancers must be extra cautious as their health conditions may worsen due to the extreme heat...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
FIVE KINGPINS CONTROL SRI LANKA’S DRUG TRADE FROM DUBAI, EUROPE
Despite thousands of arrests related to drug possession and small-scale dealing, Sri Lanka’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by just five main drug kingpins, the police revealed yesterday. DIG of the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB),...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
MORE ELECTRIC SHOCKS IF OIL PRICES SURGE
The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) yesterday announced a 10 per cent electricity tariff revision under its Second Electricity Tariff Revision for 2026, with the new rates set to take effect from April 1, however, the Electricity Board...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SRI LANKA TO INVITE RUSSIAN INVESTORS TO COLOMBO PORT CITY
The Sri Lankan government will this week make an invitation to the Russian Foreign Ministry for its investors to explore the possibility of investing in the Colombo Port City, which the Sri Lankan government is now trying to promote amongst...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SRI LANKA TURNS TO INDIA FOR DIESEL, FURNACE OIL FOR POWER GENERATION
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is reported to have sought supplies of diesel and furnace oil from India for power generation, a highly placed source said. The Indian authorities are currently considering the request for the supply of such oil...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SRI LANKA BRACES FOR EL NINO IMPACT BY MAY
It could prevent the Southwest Monsoon if it becomes active by May The island is not likely to experience very heavy rains until October this year There however may be few thundershowers around mid-april The El Nino Phenomenon could also prolong the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
DOCTORS WANT SATURDAY DECLARED OFF-DAY AMID FUEL CRISIS
The Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) has called for Saturday to be declared an off day, as the ongoing fuel crisis is placing severe strain on them. In a statement, the AMS expressed deep concern over the impact of fuel shortages and rising...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
SRI LANKA, I L RUSSIA TO STRIKE DEAL PURCHASING NEXT WEEK
Against the backdrop of disruptions to global oil supply, Sri Lanka expects to finalize an oil purchase deal with Russia next week, an official said. Earlier, Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath held discussions with Russian Ambassador Levan S....
Read Full Story (Page 1)
IRIS DENA CAME HERE AT SRI LANKA’S INVITATION: IRANIAN ENVOY
Putting to rest speculation about the U.S. attack on an Iranian warship in Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which killed 104 Iranian sailors, Iranian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alireza Delkhosh said yesterday that the vessel ‘IRIS Dena’ came...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
GOVT YET TO FIRM UP
MRIA, however, has limited facilities for parking aircraft in case long haul flights were to be launched The airport’s 3,500-metre runway can accommodate widebody aircraft, including Airbus A350s, Boeing 777s, and A380s, which are central to the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
PRESIDENT STANDS FIRM, DECLINES U.S. REQUEST
U.S. sought Sri Lanka’s permission to land two fighter jets in Mattala while Iran made a similar request on the same day for three of its warships make port call in Colombo The fighter jets were armed with eight anti-ship missiles If Sri Lanka had...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Graf Spee, IRIS Dena and the enduring relevance of neutrality
The story of the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee in 1939 remains one of the most cited lessons in the law of neutrality. During her commerce-raiding mission in the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean between September and December 1939, Graf...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
FUEL PRICES SET TO RISE AGAIN
Fuel prices in Sri Lanka are likely to rise once more by the end of this month or early next month, according to informed sources at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC). Officials indicated that the upcoming increase could surpass the recent hike,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
POWER CUTS MAY BE UNAVOIDABLE SOON - MINISTER
Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody hinted out power interruptions as such a scenario could become unavoidable in the future despite the government’s efforts to maintain a continuous electricity supply. Responding to a question raised by Opposition...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SRI LANKA TURNS TO AMERICAN GAS FOR COOKING
IMPORTED SHIPMENT STORED AT ANCHORAGE IN THE MALDIVES LITRO HAD BEEN COMPELLED TO FILL THE MARKET SHARE PREVIOUSLY HELD BY LAUGFS” NO MAJOR PRICE ADVANTAGE BY TURNING TO THE UNITED STATES, THOUGH By Sri Lanka has turned to the United States for...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
Govt considers work-from-home to save fuel
In an effort to promote fuel conservation in the face of the current conflicts in the Middle East, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake instructed authorities yesterday to study the possibility of implementing “work from home” arrangements for public and...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
AIR FARES SOAR AMIDST MIDDLE EAST WAR
» Issue not limited to SL but affecting the entire aviation industry » Price increases will not affect passengers who have already made reservations » Aviation fuel prices increased due to war situation » Global aviation fuel prices increased to 209...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Rs. 290M COURT WARNS FUNDS LEAVING SRI LANKA
Court calls for public awareness and tighter controls Magistrate notes that the Criminal Investigation Department and the Central Bank should take necessary steps to raise public awareness regarding such financial frauds and implement a proper...
Read Full Story (Page 3)
UN research vessel to begin survey in Sri Lankan waters after 2025 snub
The United Nations-flagged research vessel R/V Dr. Fridtjof Nansen is to carry out a marine scientific survey in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The survey will be conducted jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
GOVERNMENT RULES OUT SHUTDOWN
Government expecting to maintain continuous fuel supply in the country Fuel prices were increased to reduce consumption New fuel stocks had to be purchased at higher rates after depleting stocks in the country Govt. discussing to provide short-term...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
NEW ROUTE VIA AFGHANISTAN, AZERBAIJAN FOR EUROPEAN DESTINATIONS
Following the closure of Middle Eastern airspace, Srilankan Airlines, the national carrier, has adopted an alternative route through Afghanistan and Azerbaijan for its European destinations, an official said. The airspace in the Middle East mostly...
Read Full Story (Page 1)