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Low pressure system persists in Bay of Bengal; 128 mm rainfall in Batticaloa

Low pressure system persists in Bay of Bengal; 128 mm rainfall in Batticaloa

The highest rainfall of 128.9 mm was recorded from Batticaloa yesterday (17), the Department of Meteorology stated. MORE..

| February 18, 2026  11:21 am
Vatican says it will not participate in Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’

Vatican says it will not participate in Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’

The Vatican will not participate in U.S. President Donald Trump’s so-called “Board of Peace” initiative, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s top diplomatic official, said on Tuesday while adding that efforts to handle crisis situations should be managed by the United Nations. MORE..

| February 18, 2026  10:50 am
Water supply to several areas in Colombo disrupted due to pipeline breakdown

Water supply to several areas in Colombo disrupted due to pipeline breakdown

Water supply to several areas in and around Colombo has been disrupted today following a sudden breakdown in the main transmission pipeline from Ambatale to Dehiwala, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board has announced. MORE..

| February 18, 2026  10:31 am
Upali Pannilage named in committee probing controversial release of 323 containers

Upali Pannilage named in committee probing controversial release of 323 containers

Minister Dr. Upali Pannilage has been appointed as a member of the Parliamentary Select Committee tasked with investigating the release of 323 containers without proper physical inspection. MORE..

| February 18, 2026  9:55 am
Iran says ‘guiding principles’ agreed with US at nuclear talks

Iran says ‘guiding principles’ agreed with US at nuclear talks

Iran has said it has reached an understanding with the US on the main “guiding principles” to resolve their dispute over Tehran’s nuclear programme. MORE..

| February 18, 2026  9:45 am
Govt. to obtain US$50 million from World Bank for Digital Transformation Project

Govt. to obtain US$50 million from World Bank for Digital Transformation Project

The government has decided to obtain the Special Drawing Rights (SDR) fund equal to US$ 50 million from the World Bank Group to implement the Sri Lanka Digital Transformation Project. MORE..

| February 18, 2026  9:26 am
Christians to observe Ash Wednesday as Lent begins

Christians to observe Ash Wednesday as Lent begins

Christians across the world are preparing for Lent through prayer, fasting and community service as the 40-day period of reflection approaches. MORE..

| February 18, 2026  8:34 am
Woman killed, child injured in Mahiyanganaya bus accident

Woman killed, child injured in Mahiyanganaya bus accident

A woman has been killed while a child sustained injuries in a road accident that occurred near the 48th milepost on the Mahiyanganaya– Diyatalawa road, police stated. MORE..

| February 18, 2026  7:51 am
GMOA raises alarm over public and professional safety after lawyer’s murder

GMOA raises alarm over public and professional safety after lawyer’s murder

The brutal shooting and killing of a lawyer and his wife in Akuregoda last week has once again raised serious concerns regarding the safety of citizens and professionals in the country, the GMOA stated. MORE..

| February 18, 2026  7:18 am
Peru’s Congress removes President Jose Jeri after 4 months in office

Peru’s Congress removes President Jose Jeri after 4 months in office

Peru’s Congress voted on Tuesday to censure the country’s interim president, effectively ending the brief tenure of Jose Jeri after just over four months in office. MORE..

| February 18, 2026  7:09 am
Former Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake to be produced in court today

Former Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake to be produced in court today

Former Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake is scheduled to be produced in court once again today (18). MORE..

| February 18, 2026  6:47 am
Several Arab, Islamic countries welcome holy month of Ramadan

Several Arab, Islamic countries welcome holy month of Ramadan

Several Arab and Islamic countries will welcome the holy month of Ramadan today, while others will start fasting a day later.

| February 18, 2026  6:14 am
Heavy rainfall above 75 mm expected in parts of the island today

Heavy rainfall above 75 mm expected in parts of the island today

Showers will occur at times in the Northern, North-central, Central, Uva, Eastern and Southern provinces today (18), the Department of Meteorology stated. MORE..

| February 18, 2026  5:36 am
Sri Lanka can achieve higher growth if necessary structural reforms take place: IMF Chief

Sri Lanka can achieve higher growth if necessary structural reforms take place: IMF Chief

Dr. Kristalina Georgieva, the Managing Director (MD) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), visited the Central Bank of Sri Lanka on 17 February 2026 during her visit to Sri Lanka.

| February 18, 2026  5:34 am
IMF Chief commends ongoing economic stabilization efforts

IMF Chief commends ongoing economic stabilization efforts

Visiting Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva has held discussions with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya in Colombo. MORE..

| February 18, 2026  5:33 am
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