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Saman Ekanayake granted bail

Saman Ekanayake granted bail

Former Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake has been granted bail by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court, said Ada Derana reporter. MORE..

| February 18, 2026  2:30 pm
Weather advisory issued for heavy rainfall in several areas

Weather advisory issued for heavy rainfall in several areas

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

| February 18, 2026  2:01 pm
Quasi judge arrested over Rs. 5,000 bribery allegation

Quasi judge arrested over Rs. 5,000 bribery allegation

A Quasi Judge attached to the Koralaipattu (Central) Quasi Court in Valaichchenai has been arrested on allegations of accepting a bribe of Rs. 5,000. MORE..

| February 18, 2026  1:43 pm
Akuregoda murder suspects deleted phone data after shooting – Police

Akuregoda murder suspects deleted phone data after shooting – Police

The suspects arrested in connection with the Akuregoda double murder had deleted data from their mobile phones following the crime, police stated. MORE..

video | February 18, 2026  1:05 pm
US says it ‘supports’ UK Chagos Islands deal

US says it ‘supports’ UK Chagos Islands deal

The US government has given its official backing to the UK’s plan to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and lease back an important military base. MORE..

| February 18, 2026  12:29 pm
President holds talks with US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor in Delhi

President holds talks with US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor in Delhi

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has met US President Donald Trump’s Special Representative for South and Central Asia and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor in Delhi this morning (18). MORE..

| February 18, 2026  11:53 am
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

While noting the repeated setbacks Sri Lanka has faced in recent years, Kristalina Georgieva, the Managing Director of the IMF has expressed confidence that the country is poised to achieve higher growth, provided that necessary structural reforms are initiated and sustained. MORE..

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

IMF Chief commends ongoing economic stabilization efforts

The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva has commended the government’s efforts in stabilizing the country’s economy and in managing recent economic and natural shocks. 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, Kristalina Georgieva stated that Sri Lanka has achieved macroeconomic and financial stability within a short period, highlighting the country’s significant economic turnaround. MORE..

video | 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