Politics
Court restrains widow and four others from obstructive protest at custody-death funeral
Kesbewa District Court granted a police application covering the route to Thursday's funeral of Ishara Harsha Kumara. The order runs 14 days.
Politics
3311 stories Politics
Homagama police chief suspended over custody death, bringing total to four officers
The IGP suspended Homagama HQI M.R.S. Prajan Senanayake over failures in supervising Ishara Harsha Kumara, who died in a police cell on October 25.
Politics
Medical report in Homagama custody death finds three broken ribs and bleeding in the brain
Police now suspect an assault may have caused Ishara Harsha Kumara's death, SDIG Sajeewa Medawatte said, and admit arrest procedures were not followed.
Politics
Rights Commission faults prison administration over Negombo deaths, issues eight recommendations
HRCSL's report on the July Negombo Prison violence finds the administration failed to contain the clash and recommends prosecuting those responsible.
Politics
Human Rights Watch says organised crimes bill would enable detention without evidence
HRW urges Sri Lanka to withdraw the Prevention of Organised Crimes Bill, warning it revives PTA-style detention and police confessions.
Politics
Indian engineer held at Katunayake with cocaine and ecstasy valued at Rs 454 million
Sri Lanka Customs detained a 46-year-old arriving from Paris via Doha with 5.1kg of cocaine and 13.2kg of ecstasy, officers said.
Politics
Indian High Commissioner meets JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva in Colombo
Santosh Jha and Tilvin Silva discussed India–Sri Lanka ties and current developments, the Indian High Commission said.
Politics
Police say 112 Red Notice suspects have been located in 13 countries, with returns expected by 2027
Police spokesman F.U. Wootler gave the figure at a Ratama Ekata briefing. Assets targeted for confiscation in 2026 now exceed both previous full years.
Politics
Life sentence for 24 grammes of heroin in 2022 Mutwal case
The Colombo High Court convicted the man of possession and trafficking, finding the charges proven beyond reasonable doubt after a lengthy trial.
Politics
President orders migrant worker benefits delivered without obstruction, and a proper database built
Anura Kumara Dissanayake told Foreign Employment Bureau officials that welfare due to migrant workers must be provided without hesitation or obstruction.
Politics
Namal Rajapaksa's NR Consultancy money laundering case put off to February, 11 years after the complaint
The Colombo Chief Magistrate refixed the Rs 15 million case for 11 February, with the CID still awaiting the Attorney General's advice.
Politics
Card shortages stall both NIC and driving licence printing
Around one million identity cards await issuance, while the Motor Traffic Department says normal driving licence service will resume only by about April.
Politics
Two NPP-held councils lose their 2027 budget votes on the same day
NPP councils Medagama (8-9) and Panduwasnuwara (18-20) lost budget votes Thursday. A June ruling means losing chairmen vacate office.
Politics
Professor Pitawala appointed Vice-Chancellor of Uva Wellassa University
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Professor H.M.J.C. Pitawala as Vice-Chancellor of Uva Wellassa University, effective 2 November.
Politics
PM says 309 primary schools picked for upgrade, 31 funded in first phase
Harini Amarasuriya opened a Rs. 35 million building at a Puttalam junior school, setting out a programme to close the urban-rural gap in primary facilities.
Politics
Premadasa urges government to abolish the executive presidency
The Opposition Leader called on the NPP to deliver its pledge of a new constitution and to add a separate human rights chapter.
Politics
CIABOC suspends bank accounts of Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe's son in bribery probe
Rakitha Rajapakshe's accounts were frozen under proceeds-of-crime law. Hiru reports several luxury vehicles were also suspended.
Politics
Sri Lanka-India media association re-elects Nisthar Cassim at third AGM
SLIMFA held its third annual general meeting in Colombo on 28 October, with Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha attending as the association's patron.
Politics
Sri Lanka seeks wider cooperation with Germany in trade, investment and education
Germany is Sri Lanka's fourth-largest export market and fourth-largest tourism source, with exports topping $700 million last year.
Politics
Aswesuma re-certification removes 331,653 recipients and qualifies 991,800, with a 10-day appeal window
The Welfare Benefits Board published its first updated Aswesuma list, cutting payments to two categories and giving objectors ten days to appeal.
Politics
Speaking out on cancer drug shortages could be read as terrorism, a doctors' union leader warns
Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa says the new organised crime law and the proposed terrorism bill are ambiguous enough to catch the GMOA and the IUSF as organisations.
Politics
Nine uncollected parcels opened at the Central Mail Exchange yield Rs. 60.2 million in drugs
Kush, hashish, cocaine and ecstasy posted from four countries to addresses that turned out to be fake. The second such haul in nine days.
Politics
Framework for overseas voting to be drawn up from next year, Elections chief says
The Election Commission met the committee on expatriate voting. The mechanism — advance, postal or another method — is still undecided.
Politics
Indian actor Gagan Malik leads Buddhist delegation to JVP headquarters
Tilvin Silva met a World Organization of Buddhist Scholars Alliance delegation led by Prof. Malapalli Laxmaiah of the Buddhavanam project in Telangana.