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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..
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..
President Anura Kumara begins India visit
President Anura Kumara begins India visit
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. MORE..
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.
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..
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..
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..
Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill passed
Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill passed
The Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill has been passed in Parliament without amendments. MORE..
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.
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..
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..
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..
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..
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..
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..
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..
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..
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..
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..
| 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..
‘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..
Militants kill 11 Pakistani security personnel, one child near Afghan border, army says
Militants kill 11 Pakistani security personnel, one child near Afghan border, army says
Eleven security forces personnel and one child were killed in a militant attack in Pakistan’s northwestern region of Bajaur, the military said on Tuesday. MORE..
Sri Lanka–Japan export-industrial corridor mooted during high-profile meeting
Sri Lanka–Japan export-industrial corridor mooted during high-profile meeting
A high-level Japanese delegation paid a courtesy call on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake this morning (17) at the Presidential Secretariat. MORE..
Colombo HC sentences ‘IDH Sudda’ and woman to life imprisonment for drug trafficking
Colombo HC sentences ‘IDH Sudda’ and woman to life imprisonment for drug trafficking
The Colombo High Court has sentenced Samantha Kumara Perera, alias “IDH Sudda”, a high-profile underworld operative and Prabhakaran Priyadarshani to life imprisonment. MORE..
Court grants permission to detain and question two brothers arrested over Akuregoda double murder
Court grants permission to detain and question two brothers arrested over Akuregoda double murder
The Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court has granted permission to police to detain and question the two brothers arrested in connection with the Akuregoda double murder, until tomorrow (18). MORE..