Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)
WORK TO RESUME ON SL’S FIRST-EVER ELEPHANT CROSSING TUNNEL UNDER RAILWAY LINES
Authorities have announced the resumption of construction on a half-built elephant crossing tunnel under the railway track in Kasikote, Galgamuwa on January 19, Environment Minister Dhammika Patabendi said. The tunnel, the first of its kind in Sri...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
“A CLOUD OVER THE SUN”
Sooriya Bala Sangramaya” (Solar Energy) programme launched around 2016-2017, introducing net-metering and other schemes, boosted by Asian Development Bank funding and leading to rapid capacity increases and milestones in the country. Therefore, solar...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
COMPANIES FROM INDIA, CHINA, AMERICA, JAPAN EYE SAPUGASKANDA OILREFINERY
Twenty companies including from countries such as China, India, the United States and Japan have responded to Sri Lanka’s invitation for Expression of Interest (EOI) to develop and expand the Sapugaskanda oil refinery, an official said yesterday. The...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
DEEP DEPRESSION CROSSING SRI LANKA, BE VIGILANT FOR FLASH FLOODS, LANDSLIDES - MET. DEPT.
Strong winds of 50 – 60 kmph are expected to occur throughout the island and strong rainfall exceeding 150mm is expected to occur at the Eastern, Uva and Central provinces A depression which occurred in the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a deep...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
A hyped up opposition and a weakening government!
To the Opposition - It is with a certain sense of humour that I have been patiently watching your remarks before the media in recent days, as well as in Parliament, where collectively you have been calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Harini...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SRI LANKA EYES 350,000 FOREIGN EMPLOYMENT DEPARTURES IN 2026
Sri Lanka has set a target of securing 350,000 foreign employment opportunities in 2026, aiming to build on a record-breaking financial performance in 2025, where workers’ remittances reached an estimated US$ 7.8 billion. Speaking at a media briefing...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
CABINET APPROVAL NEXT WEEK FOR PRIVATE SECTOR INVOLVEMENT IN DEVELOPING MATTALA AIRPORT
ACabinet Memorandum will be presented next week seeking approval to call for Expression of Interest (EOI) from local or foreign investors to develop the Mattala international airport under the public private partnership (PPP) model, Deputy Minister of...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
Gun violence spills into New Year
Police to strengthen surveillance and public intelligence to tackle gun crime Police recover 15 spent 9mm bullet casings from the scene of the shooting Youth killed, two injured in Nawagamuwa shooting More than 70 per cent of suspects and shooters...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
AUTHORITIES FINALLY WAKE UP – SLAF TO GET A MODERNISED FLEET
Several Mi-17 helicopters scheduled to be overhauled by end January 2026 The U.S. is to gift 10 TH-57 Sea Ranger (Bell 206) helicopters After months of highlighting concerns expressed by the tri-forces over the deteriorating fleet of the air force,...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
EXTERNAL GROUPS BEHIND HOAX BOMB THREATS?
On December 26, the Kandy District Secretariat was also targeted by multiple emails claiming explosives were planted in five locations The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and its Computer Crime Investigation Division (CCID) launched an...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SIX MINISTERS UNDER BRIBERY PROBE OVER THEIR ASSETS
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption has initiated a probe under the Money Laundering Act The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption has initiated an investigation into the alleged assets of six...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
WHY NO WEBSITES FOR TRANSPARENCY
Cyclone Ditwah has left in its trail an unprecedented humanitarian and economic crisis involving all 25 districts. Sri Lanka will be hard pressed to get out of this crisis unless leaders from all sections of the polity demonstrate mature leadership and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Sri Lanka tops South Asia in elephant deaths STOP KILLING OUR ELEPHANTS
Nearly 400 elephants killed in Sri Lanka in 2025 as human– elephant conflict intensifies Gunshots, illegal electric fences and hakka patas remain leading causes of elephant deaths More elephants enter human settlements as flooded grasslands and food...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
HOTELS, CHURCHES, MAIN CITIES GO UNDER TIGHT SECURITY
Many major hotels have implemented internal safety measures, including enhanced access control and guest screening procedures A special Operations Room has been established at Army Headquarters to ensure public safety and security throughout the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
I REBRANDED CHRISTIANITY IN THIS COUNTRY. AND SOME DON’T LIKE IT
Jerome Fernando is not an unknown name is Sri Lanka. He is a name that has caught attention in the religious world and beyond as thousands of people follow his preachings and believe he is the modern day chosen ‘Prophet’ of God. In a first of its kind...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SRI LANKA SEEKS SNIFFER DOGS FROM EU TO FIND THE MISSING
The government has requested European Union to dispatch a pack of sniffer dogs to assist in the discovery of remains of those buried alive in landslides triggered by cyclone Ditwah, an official said yesterday. The government authorities are still...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
AT LEAST TWO YEARS NEEDED TO REBUILD DITWAHHIT NATION
Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya told Parliament yesterday that the full rebuilding of the nation battered by Cyclone Ditwah would take at least two years, citing ongoing landslide risks and the need to relocate populations and schools in several...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
“WE WERE TREMBLING, FEARING IT WOULD CRASH WHILE FLYING OVER OUR HOUSES” - EYEWITNESS
A Turkish Airlines flight carrying 212 passengers and crew from Colombo to Istanbul was forced to return to Bandaranaike International Airport around midnight on Tuesday after a technical fault was detected in its landing gear system. The aircraft...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
SRI LANKA’S CURRENT GROWTH LEVEL IN SUFF ICIE NT TO CREATE J O B S -
SBy ri Lanka’s current economic growth rates will not be sufficient to create jobs for one million people entering the workforce in the next decade, a leading World Bank economist said. In an exclusive interview with Daily Mirror, World Bank Lead...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
ATTEMPTS AT TRAFFICKING, EXPLOITING DISASTER-HIT CHILDREN ON THE RISE
In the wake of Cyclone Ditwah, the Women and Child Affairs Ministry warned of increased attempts by certain elements for child trafficking and exploitation, a spokesperson said. The spokesperson said a number of children had been affected by the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
GOVT. TO CALL FOR INTERNATIONAL DONOR CONFERENCE
The government is planning to call for an international donor conference to seek assistance for rebuilding the disaster- hit country, Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath confirmed to Daily Mirror. It will be done after the current need assessment...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
CONTROVERSY SWIRLS OVER POLICE FAILURE IN CONDUCTING IMMEDIATE ALCOHOL TEST
In response to a query about the delay in the conduct of an immediate alcohol test on former Speaker Asoka Ranwala after his involvement in the road accident, police spokesperson F.U. Wootler said that there is some concern about the way the duty was...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
GEOGRAPHY SRI LANKA’S UPCOUNTRY ALTERED BY CYCLONE DITWAH
Land to be use revised map A new nationallevel map of Sri Lanka is being prepared Obtaining detailed satellite images will become a priority once the ongoing disaster situation stabilizes and repairs to rivers, lakes, canals, bridges, roads, and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SRI LANKA AFTER CYCLONE DITWAH: THE FULL SCALE OF THE DISASTER IN NUMBERS
yclone Ditwah left Sri Lanka facing a national disaster of extraordinary scale. In a matter of days, the storm triggered lethal landslides, unprecedented flooding and the collapse of critical infrastructure that millions rely on. Entire districts...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
MASS EVACUATIONS R ORDE E RED A D FTER WARNINGS FOR FOUR DISTRICTS
Evacuation of residents from landslide-risk areas in Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale districts began yesterday afternoon and is scheduled to conclude by this morning, following the issuance of a Red Evacuation Warning by the Disaster Management...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
A STORM TO HIT SRI LANKA?
Astorm that developed in the Bay of Bengal area is expected to hit Sri Lanka today, bringing rainfall of 75 mm, particularly to the northern, eastern and north-central provinces, according to the Department of Meteorology. Rainfall of 75 mm,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
RDA NEEDS ONE AND HALF YEARS TO RECONSTRUCT BRIDGES
The Road Development Authority (RDA ) will need at least one and half years to reconstruct major bridges damaged in the recent disasters triggered by cyclone Ditwah, an official said yesterday. Director General of the RDA Wimal Kandambi told Daily...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
GOVT. UNDER FIRE FOR FAILURE TO MITIGATE DISASTER DAMAGE DESPITE PRIOR WARNINGS
The government is under fire for its alleged failure to mitigate and manage the impact of Cyclone Ditwah, despite prior warnings from relevant agencies. By November 25, the Department of Meteorology and the Irrigation Department had given prior notice...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
URGENCY LOOMS
While rescue and evacuation operations continue across the country, officials remain alert as predicted showers could pose challenges on the ongoing operations in the coming days. Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Disaster Management Centre (DMC) Director...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
CYCLONE DITWAH CAUSES RS.190 BILLION DAMAGE TO HIGHWAYS
Sri Lanka’s highway network has sustained damages roughly estimated at a staggering Rs.190 billion following the recent weatherinduced disasters such as floods, earth-slips and landslides, an official said. Cyclone Ditwah brought torrential downpours...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Govt. must have a “Multi-phased Action Plan”
Deploy mobile medical teams to cut-off areas to provide basic healthcare, trauma care, and maternal health services Launch a widespread public information campaign advising people to boil water before consumption. Waive customs and bureaucratic...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
CYCLONE DITWAH CRISIS: DEATH TOLL COULD EXCEED 1,000?
Kelani River overflows, submerging Colombo suburbs and trapping entire neighbourhoods Rescue missions hindered by blocked roads, collapsed bridges, and severe weather Food distribution stalls as officials in affected districts also fall victim to the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
FLOODS COST AILING SL ECONOMY DEARLY
In the wake of massive floods that ravaged one-third of the country, Sri Lanka is in need of Rs.31 billion as estimated by November 28, for restoration of agriculture, irrigation tanks and canals damaged, according to a communication by the Foreign...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SRI LANKA BRACES FOR RECORD RAINFALL TILL SUNDAY
Authorities warn of landslides, floods as depression intensifies into cyclonic storm Emergency declared in Kandy as extreme rainfall triggers disaster response Sri Lanka is bracing for days of record-breaking rainfall, with the Department of...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
NEARLY 1000 PRISON ESCAPES 554 IN LAST SIX YEARS; PRISONERS STILL AT LARGE
SBy erious security lapses have been reported in Sri Lankan prisons, with 995 prisoners or suspects escaping custody over the past six years, and 554 of them still not rearrested, according to a recent audit. The audit highlights that it is the duty...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Apna and Tuvini take mixed doubles title
Apna Perera and Tuvini de Alwis clinched the mixed doubles Open title with a hard fought two sets to one win over Dilvin Herath and Yuhansa Peiris in the final played at the SLTA tennis courts at Greenpath in Colombo yesterday. It marked Apna’s second...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
WARTIME FLYING RESTRICTION OVER PARLIAMENT, AKUREGODA DEFENCE HEADQUARTERS TO BE REDUCED
The government is planning to relax wartime restrictions on aircraft flying over the parliamentary complex and the defence headquarters in Akuregoda, a deputy Minister said yesterday. Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Janitha Ruwan...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SRI LANKA TO FEEL THE PINCH OF GLOBAL FUEL PRICE HIKE
According to the CPC, the surge in demand for fuel during the winter season and tightening of sanctions against Russia as a oil producing country are among reasons An official who wished to remain anonymous said that sanctions on 117 vessels involved...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Daily Mirror shines at Presidential Media Awards
The Daily Mirror triumphed at this year’s Presidential Media Awards, securing accolades in three major categories - Best Cartoon, Best Feature Article and Best Investigative Press. Daily Mirror journalist L.B. Senarathe won the Best News Report of the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
THE 2026 BUDGET
After listening to the 2026 budget speech, one thing became clear: this Government has no plan for economic growth. I acknowledge that the macroeconomic stability achieved by the previous administration has been maintained. But this stability was a...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
GOVT. DELIVERS PROGRESSIVE GROWTH AND REFORM ORIENTED BUDGET
After many decades, the government pulled off what was unthinkable for many by presenting a budget which ticks almost all boxes in its fiscal parameters while laying the foundation for a fully fledged digital economy powered by artificial intelligence...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
BUDGET 2026: DEVELOPMENT TARGETED, NO IMMEDIATE RELIEF TO PEOPLE
Rs. 50 million to be allocated to provide Rs. 5,000 for differentlyabled children for their educational purposes Rs. 11,000 million allocated for medical faculties in state universities The 2026 budget, presented to Parliament by President Anura...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
2026 BUDGET ATTUNED TO IMF PROGRAMME
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will present his government’s budget for 2026 in Parliament today, the second by him upon election to office, and it is expected to be aligned with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) economic reform agenda. After...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
CH eyeing Kiwi and Fiji
Last season’s Plate champs CH and FC have set their sights on signing a foreign player ahead of the inter club league rugby tournament next week. The Maitland Crescent Club will host Police Sports Club in their opening match at Race Course on November...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Is Sri Lanka in the dark if tsunami strikes again?
There are other methods to alert public All 77 Tsunami Early Warning Towers inoperative: DMC Funds are sought from foreign sources to repair them Towers became inoperative about three years ago due to an issue in the satellite which provided signals...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
International tenders will be called for next month
Four wells in the Mannar Basin will be opened for development The bidding process will remain open for four to five months, attracting both multinational and national oil companies Qatar and India have already shown interest in participating in Sri...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES STILL USE OPEN AREAS INSTEAD OF TOILETS
Despite Sri Lanka’s impressive progress in hygiene and sanitation, more than 13,000 families still defecate in open areas such as forests and beaches, according to the Department of Census and Statistics. The latest Basic Information Report on Housing...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
OPPOSITION MPS SECURITY IS NOW IN PRESIDENT’S HAND?
Opposition MPS want security to carry out their political activities without any hindrance in a safer environment and take further action after obtaining a threat assessment report as the next step In the wake of controversy surrounding the security...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Sri Lanka is the second most expensive country in South Asia to live in
Cost of living for an individual being $506 or Rs. 153,899 excluding rent to live a comfortable life Maldives is considered the most expensive SAARC country to live in comfortably with a cost of $840.4 per person For a family of four living in...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
HIRED KILLERS AVAILABLE FOR CASH OR DRUGS
Recent police investigations have revealed that the majority of shootings reported across Sri Lanka were carried out by hired gunmen, many of whom had no connection to the victims. According to investigators, these contract killers are often...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
FASTER BUREAUCRACY, CORRUPTION FREE POLICY
German Ambassador Dr. Felix Neumann, asserting that around 300 German brands are currently present in Sri Lanka, said more investments could flow from his country if bureaucracy acts faster, the “corruption-free policy” continues, and investments are...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SRI LANKA, INTERPOL TEAM UP TO TACKLE CHINESE SCAM NETWORK
Issue discussed during bilateral talks between Sri Lankan PM Harini Amarasuriya and Chinese President Xi Jinping Around 80 Chinese nationals have already been arrested and handed over to Chinese authorities for legal action under Chinese law A team...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
NPP SEEKS INPUTS OVER CHINA’S GROWTH, GOVERNANCE, STABILITY
Discusses implementation of MOU between the two parties Seeks to learn from China’s experience in achieving economic growth, political stability, and public trust Says discussion focused on the CPC’S commitment to rebuilding China, sustaining...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
OVER 150,000 AT RISK FROM UNSAFE SEX, DRUG PRACTICES
Unprotected sex and drug injections drive new wave of HIV risk Statistics revealed there are over 80,000 men who have sex with men Experts urge urgent sex education to curb rising HIV and STD threats More than 6,000 Sri Lankans living with...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
MP ALLEGES MINISTER WIJEPALA WAS ONCE EXPELLED FROM POLICE IN THE 1980s
A serious allegation and a disclosure was made against Minister of Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala in Parliament yesterday where MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake alleged that Mr. Wijepala is a person who had been expelled from the police....
Read Full Story (Page 2)
FIRST POLITICAL KILLING
The fatal shooting of Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Lasantha Wickramasekera has re-ignited public concern over whether the government and law enforcement authorities are taking the growing wave of gun violence seriously. The attack has once again...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Tea stains from the tea trail
When you earn a daily wage you simply plan your life around the concept ‘one day at a time’. Thinking long-term for them would mean getting through the 30 days of the month. That’s how the plantation sector workers in Sri Lanka have lived their lives....
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Contaminated Indian cough syrups: Is Sri Lanka at risk
Concerns over the quality of medicines imported from India are not new in Sri Lanka NMRA assures that none of these products are registered or imported for sale in Sri Lanka India remains a major supplier of pharmaceuticals to the region Deadly cough...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
EU’S SUSTAINABILITY LAWS DRIVE SRI LANKA TO REVIVE ORGANIC FARMING
Ahead of the European Union’s plans to introduce more sustainability-related laws, Sri Lanka has decided to ramp up measures to promote the organic cultivation of fruits and vegetables targeting the export market, an official said yesterday. The...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SAFE-HAVEN RUSH PUSHES GOLD TO
Sri Lankan market operates on recycled gold, but the market price reflects the trend of the international market price Hedge funds, even central banks who are traditionally holding dollar reserves, are converting part of their portfolio into...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
BIRDS TO DECIDE ON RENEWABLE PROJECTS PREVIOUSLY OFFERED TO ADANI
CEA stresses the need to undertake a new bird collision avoidance study Adani withdrew from the projects after the new government decided to review agreements Proposed study is a regulatory requirement to assess how birds interact with offshore wind...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
AFTER RUSSIA, CHINA AND FRANCE, INDIA EYES NUCLEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH SRI LANKA
Following similar expressions of interest from Russia, China, and France, India has also indicated its willingness to cooperate with Sri Lanka in developing nuclear energy. However, the current government, led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, is...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
EV DEMAND FADES AMID CUSTOMS FIASCO
Electric Vehicle Owners Association (EVOA) says investors, consumers affected as EV imports face prolonged delays EVOA Convener Deelaka Pitagampola urges Govt. to intervene and streamline EV import process According to the association, at least...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SL’S DIGITAL BACKBONE UNDER THREAT?
Concerns raised about the security and reliability of Sri Lanka’s digital government infrastructure SLCERT states that disruption caused by internal technical issues, not an external cyberattack Experts express concern that the disruption might have...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SRI LANKA FACES TOUGHER CONDITIONS IN RETAINING GSP+
Agreat deal of work remains to be done by Sri Lanka to retain and expand its export market in the European Union (EU), which currently absorbs more than 24 percent of the country’s total exports, Daily Mirror learns. Sri Lanka is presently under...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SRI LANKA GETTING WARMER DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE
Sri Lanka’s climate is warming rapidly, with temperature increases of 0.95°- 1.14°C expected by 2040, the World Bank said yesterday. In a report, the World Bank said that greater heat stress and water uncertainty undermine livelihoods, especially for...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
“STOP THE MEDIA SHOW; DIVULGE MASTERMIND NOW” - EASTER ATTACK VICTIMS TELL GOVT.
The victims lament that they are being hoodwinked by successive political leaders with the objective of gaining power. Since the recent development of Ravi Seneviratne divulging that the mastermind behind the attacks had been identified, the Daily...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
GOLD ROCKETS PAST $4,000
FORMER ENVOY WARNS: ‘THIS RALLY WON’T LAST FOREVER’ For the first time in decades, central banks now hold more gold than cash. Led by China, Russia, and emerging economies, the shift signals waning confidence in the U.S. dollar “Gold’s rally has been...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
THREAT OF POWER CUTS LOOMS?
The country is at risk of facing power cuts and potential instability following the Electricity Engineers’ Union’s decision to suspend all work regulations from 4:15 p.m. yesterday, intensifying its ongoing trade union action, Samagi Joint Trade Union...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Sri Lanka experiencing inter-monsoon rains
Additional reporting by Palitha Ariyawansa and Prasad Rukmal Sri Lanka is currently experiencing inter-monsoon rains, which typically bring evening showers, according to an official from the Department of Meteorology. Deputy Director of the...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
SRI LANKA READY FOR INVESTMENT IN OFFSHORE OIL, GAS EXTRACTION
Sri Lanka is ready to complete the selection of a marketing consultant this week to proceed with calling for bids for commercial extraction of offshore natural oil and gas reserves in the Mannar basin soon, an informed source said . The government...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
CHINA, U.S. JAPAN SHOW INTEREST IN PETROLEUM REFINERY IN SRI LANKA
Twenty foreign companies, including those from China, the United States (U.S.), and Japan, have expressed interest in investing in the expansion of Sri Lanka’s Sapugaskanda oil refinery, an official said yesterday. The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
INFECTION SPREADING AMONG MONKEYS IN POLONNARUWA OFFICIALS
Arecent research conducted by the Wildlife Department and the animal health authorities revealed that a bacterial infection caused by sexual contact, similar to syphilis has been spreading among monkeys and macaques in several areas in Polonnaruwa....
Read Full Story (Page 2)
“WHAT GAZA IS HAPPENING IN IS A MASSACRE IN BROAD DAYLIGHT; WORLD LEADERS MUST ACT”
ASri Lankan medical professional, Pradeep Samanjeeva attached to the international organisation Doctors without Borders, has called on all world leaders including the Sri Lankan government to lobby for a ceasefire in Palestine and push for the access...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
ESTIMATED GOVT. EXPENDITURE TO GO UP BY A FURTHER 3 BILLION IN 2026
Recurrent expenditure of the President remains the same at Rs. 200 million in 2025 and 2026 Borrowing limit of the government has reduced from Rs. 4,000 billion in 2025 to Rs. 3,800 billion in 2026 Both Capital and recurrent expenditure of the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SRI LANKAN PASSPORT DIPS FURTHER
The Sri Lankan passport which ranked at 91 among 105 countries dropped a further 6 spots since March this year to 97, further weakening the standing of Sri Lankan passport holders to travel to other countries. Sri Lanka currently shares the 97th...
Read Full Story (Page 1)