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Health Minister calls on new Bangladesh PM

Health Minister calls on new Bangladesh PM

Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa has paid a courtesy call on newly elected Prime Minister of Bangladesh Tarique Rahman in Dhaka. MORE..

| February 17, 2026  10:36 pm
Planned strike by locomotive operators called off

Planned strike by locomotive operators called off

The Locomotive Operating Engineers Union has called off the strike that was scheduled to commence from midnight today (17). MORE..

| February 17, 2026  10:10 pm
Sri Lanka achieved rapid macroeconomic stability: IMF Chief

Sri Lanka achieved rapid macroeconomic stability: IMF Chief

The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva stated that Sri Lanka has achieved macroeconomic and financial stability within a short period, highlighting the country’s significant economic turnaround. MORE..

| February 17, 2026  9:40 pm
New monthly air passenger record set with over 1 million movements in January

New monthly air passenger record set with over 1 million movements in January

The Airport & Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited (AASL) has achieved a significant milestone by recording the highest-ever passenger movements in a single month across all Sri Lankan airports. MORE..

| February 17, 2026  9:08 pm
Sri Lanka to remove Pakistan from negative visa lists

Sri Lanka to remove Pakistan from negative visa lists

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has reportedly directed authorities to immediately remove Pakistan from all “negative” visa lists following a meeting with Pakistan’s Federal Interior Minister and Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. MORE..

| February 17, 2026  8:50 pm
India tells global tech platforms to follow constitution after tougher content rules

India tells global tech platforms to follow constitution after tougher content rules

India’s information minister said on Tuesday that big tech platforms like Google’s YouTube, Meta, X and Netflix must operate within the country’s constitutional framework, a week after New Delhi tightened its content-takedown rules. MORE..

| February 17, 2026  8:23 pm
President Anura Kumara begins India visit

President Anura Kumara begins India visit

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who departed Sri Lanka to attend the AI Impact Summit 2026 at the special invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, this afternoon (17). MORE..

| February 17, 2026  8:07 pm
Speaker endorses certificate on Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill

Speaker endorses certificate on Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill

The Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill was passed in Parliament today (17) with a majority of 152 votes.

| February 17, 2026  7:35 pm
Acting Registrar of Births and Deaths arrested for accepting bribe

Acting Registrar of Births and Deaths arrested for accepting bribe

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has arrested an Acting Registrar of Births and Deaths attached to the Alayadiwembu Divisional Secretariat for allegedly soliciting and accepting a bribe in connection with the registration of a birth certificate. MORE..

| February 17, 2026  7:25 pm
Monk arrested for fraudulently collecting money using two Ministers’ photos

Monk arrested for fraudulently collecting money using two Ministers’ photos

A monk has been arrested today (17) for allegedly collecting money by creating fake WhatsApp accounts using the photographs of Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody and Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Anura Karunathilaka. MORE..

| February 17, 2026  6:26 pm
Another suspect linked to Akuregoda shooting arrested

Another suspect linked to Akuregoda shooting arrested

Another individual suspected to have transported the weapons used in the killing of the lawyer and his wife in Akuregoda on February 13 has been arrested this evening (17), police stated. MORE..

| February 17, 2026  6:23 pm
Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill passed

Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill passed

The Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill has been passed in Parliament without amendments. MORE..

| February 17, 2026  6:01 pm
Second reading of Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill passed

Second reading of Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill passed

The second reading of the Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill has been passed in Parliament.

| February 17, 2026  5:42 pm
Australia knocked out of T20 World Cup following Zimbabwe-Ireland washout in Pallekele

Australia knocked out of T20 World Cup following Zimbabwe-Ireland washout in Pallekele

Australia was knocked out of the T20 World Cup 2026 tournament after the group-stage match between Ireland and Zimbabwe was washed out on Tuesday in Pallekele. MORE..

| February 17, 2026  5:41 pm
Locomotive operators to launch a strike at midnight

Locomotive operators to launch a strike at midnight

A group of Sri Lanka Railway locomotive operators have announced they will launch a strike from midnight today (17). MORE..

| February 17, 2026  5:25 pm
IMF Chief visits cyclone-affected areas

IMF Chief visits cyclone-affected areas

The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva commenced her official engagements in Sri Lanka with field visits to areas affected by Cyclone Ditwah, inspecting damage and interacting with impacted communities as part of efforts to support recovery and long-term resilience. MORE..

| February 17, 2026  5:15 pm
President Anura Kumara holds talks with visiting UK Deputy PM David Lammy

President Anura Kumara holds talks with visiting UK Deputy PM David Lammy

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasised the visit of the United Kingdom’s Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy, as timely and significant, noting that it helps reinforce international confidence in Sri Lanka’s recovery and underlines the importance of the visit at this juncture. MORE..

| February 17, 2026  5:10 pm
IMF Chief Kristalina Georgieva meets President Anura Kumara Dissanayake

IMF Chief Kristalina Georgieva meets President Anura Kumara Dissanayake

The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva met President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today (17) at the Presidential Secretariat to discuss Sri Lanka’s economic recovery, post-disaster assistance and the next phase of the IMF-supported reform programme. MORE..

| February 17, 2026  5:01 pm
Jesse Jackson, civil rights leader and US presidential hopeful, dies at 84

Jesse Jackson, civil rights leader and US presidential hopeful, dies at 84

Charismatic U.S. civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, an eloquent Baptist minister raised in the segregated South who became a close associate of Martin Luther King Jr and twice ran for the Democratic presidential nomination, has died at age 84, his family said in a statement on Tuesday. MORE..

| February 17, 2026  4:48 pm
Tarique Rahman sworn in as Bangladesh’s PM after landslide election victory

Tarique Rahman sworn in as Bangladesh’s PM after landslide election victory

Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader Tarique Rahman was sworn in as Bangladesh’s prime minister on Tuesday, marking a decisive political shift in the South Asian nation after his party’s sweeping parliamentary election victory. MORE..

| February 17, 2026  4:16 pm
Dilith demands clarity on Govt.’s remarks over eradicating racism from Sri Lanka

Dilith demands clarity on Govt.’s remarks over eradicating racism from Sri Lanka

The assertion made by the government faction on eradicating racism from Sri Lanka is damaging the image of the entire country, since Sri Lankans in general are not racist in nature, the leader of the Sarvajana Balaya, Parliamentarian Dilith Jayaweera stated. MORE..

| February 17, 2026  3:58 pm
JICA yet to grant final approval for Light Rail Transit project - Minister

JICA yet to grant final approval for Light Rail Transit project - Minister

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has not yet granted final approval for the proposed Light Rail Transit (LRT) project in Colombo, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vijitha Herath stated. MORE..

| February 17, 2026  3:56 pm
Traffic congestion reported due to protest stage by Colombo University students

Traffic congestion reported due to protest stage by Colombo University students

A protest march organized by students of the University of Colombo, based on several demands, has caused severe traffic congestion in the vicinity of the Colombo University today (17). MORE..

video | February 17, 2026  3:55 pm
Police officers accused of failing to prevent Jinthupitiya shooting granted bail

Police officers accused of failing to prevent Jinthupitiya shooting granted bail

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court ordered the release on bail of a Police Sergeant and a Constable who were produced before court for allegedly failing to prevent a recent shooting incident in the Jinthupitiya area. MORE..

| February 17, 2026  3:26 pm
‘Amber’ weather advisory issued, showers above 100mm expected in parts of the island

‘Amber’ weather advisory issued, showers above 100mm expected in parts of the island

An ‘Amber’ advisory has been issued by the Department of Meteorology for heavy rain in the Eastern and Uva provinces and Polonnaruwa, Matale, Nuwara-Eliya and Hambantota districts. MORE..

| February 17, 2026  3:18 pm