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Heavy rains hit Batticaloa, several roads inundated

Heavy rains hit Batticaloa, several roads inundated

Heavy rains have been reported in the Batticaloa District in recent days affecting day-to-day activities of the residents. MORE..

| February 19, 2026  10:37 am
Court sets date to hear Namal Rajapaksa’s case over ‘Krrish’ deal

Court sets date to hear Namal Rajapaksa’s case over ‘Krrish’ deal

The Colombo High Court has scheduled the hearing of the case filed against Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa in connection with the controversial ‘Krrish’ project deal on April 02, 2026. MORE..

| February 19, 2026  10:04 am
Minimum electricity tariff will increase under new National Electricity Policy: Champika Ranawaka

Minimum electricity tariff will increase under new National Electricity Policy: Champika Ranawaka

The minimum electricity tariff will increase with the introduction of the new National Electricity Policy, former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka stated. MORE..

| February 19, 2026  9:49 am
UK Deputy PM David Lammy concludes official visit to Sri Lanka

UK Deputy PM David Lammy concludes official visit to Sri Lanka

The Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, David Lammy, has concluded his official visit to Sri Lanka yesterday (18). MORE..

| February 19, 2026  9:03 am
Australia bans citizen trying to return from IS camp in Syria

Australia bans citizen trying to return from IS camp in Syria

Australia has barred a citizen linked to the Islamic State (IS) group from the country for up to two years. MORE..

| February 19, 2026  8:45 am
Rs. 556 million worth of technical equipment handed over to police

Rs. 556 million worth of technical equipment handed over to police

A stock of essential technical equipment worth Rs. 556 million has been provided to the Police Department by the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Ananda Wijepala. MORE..

| February 19, 2026  8:27 am
Special traffic plan near Premadasa stadium from noon

Special traffic plan near Premadasa stadium from noon

A special security program and traffic plan will be implemented by Sri Lanka Police in view of the Sri Lanka–Zimbabwe T20 World Cup encounter to be played at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo this afternoon. MORE..

| February 19, 2026  8:04 am
Ukraine’s officials to boycott Paralympics over Russian flag decision

Ukraine’s officials to boycott Paralympics over Russian flag decision

Ukrainian officials will boycott the Paralympic Winter Games, Kyiv said on Wednesday, after the International Paralympic Committee allowed Russian athletes to compete under their national flag. MORE..

| February 19, 2026  7:56 am
Five nabbed over expressway incident in Mattala remanded

Five nabbed over expressway incident in Mattala remanded

Five individuals arrested over attempting to enter the Southern Expressway from the Mattala Exit in a bus without seat belts and for obstructing police duties have been remanded by the Hambantota Magistrate’s Court. MORE..

| February 19, 2026  7:29 am
Defence Ministry reaffirms commitment to welfare of veterans

Defence Ministry reaffirms commitment to welfare of veterans

The Ministry of Defence has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the ensuring welfare of veterans during its Public Day program, held at the Ministry premises. MORE..

| February 19, 2026  7:02 am
President Anura Kumara meets Indian PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi

President Anura Kumara meets Indian PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi yesterday (19).

| February 19, 2026  6:45 am
Fonseka urges President to pardon those sentenced to death over Amarakeerthi killing

Fonseka urges President to pardon those sentenced to death over Amarakeerthi killing

The former Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka has made a special request to the President to grant a pardon to the individuals who were sentenced to death over the killing of former Member of Parliament Amarakeerthi Athukorala and his security officer. MORE..

| February 19, 2026  6:24 am
Do not give away Diego Garcia, Trump tells UK in fresh attack on Chagos deal

Do not give away Diego Garcia, Trump tells UK in fresh attack on Chagos deal

“Do not give away Diego Garcia,” US President Donald Trump has said as he criticised the UK’s plan to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and lease back an important military base. MORE..

| February 19, 2026  6:10 am
President to address ‘AI Impact Summit 2026’ in Delhi today

President to address ‘AI Impact Summit 2026’ in Delhi today

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is scheduled to address the ‘AI Impact Summit 2026’ in Delhi today.

| February 19, 2026  5:47 am
Fairly heavy rainfall above 75 mm expected in parts of the island today

Fairly heavy rainfall above 75 mm expected in parts of the island today

Showers will occur at times in the Uva, Central and Eastern provinces and in Polonnaruwa district today (19), the Department of Meteorology stated. MORE..

| February 19, 2026  5:46 am
Inaugural Sri Lanka-Belgium Political Consultations emphasise strengthening bilateral relations

Inaugural Sri Lanka-Belgium Political Consultations emphasise strengthening bilateral relations

The inaugural round of Sri Lanka-Belgium Political Consultations was successfully held in Brussels, marking an important milestone in the longstanding relationship between the two countries. MORE..

| February 18, 2026  10:27 pm
Chairperson of Lanka Sugar Company resigns citing friction with provincial politicians

Chairperson of Lanka Sugar Company resigns citing friction with provincial politicians

The Chairperson of Lanka Sugar Company (Pvt) Ltd, Sandamali Chandrasekera, has resigned from her post with immediate effect citing pressure from certain local politicians. MORE..

| February 18, 2026  10:19 pm
Five arrested for posting video insulting the President on social media

Five arrested for posting video insulting the President on social media

Five individuals have been arrested by Katana Police for allegedly directing verbal abuse towards President Anura Kumara Dissanayake near the Southern Expressway entry point in Mattala and subsequently posting the video on social media. MORE..

| February 18, 2026  9:39 pm
Twelve killed in China’s Hubei as firecracker store explosion triggers blaze

Twelve killed in China’s Hubei as firecracker store explosion triggers blaze

Twelve people were killed on Wednesday when a store selling firecrackers exploded and caught fire in China’s Hubei province, burning 50 square metres of the premises, state broadcaster CCTV reported. MORE..

| February 18, 2026  8:16 pm
Sri Lankan Muslims to begin Ramadan fasting tomorrow

Sri Lankan Muslims to begin Ramadan fasting tomorrow

Muslims in Sri Lanka will begin their Ramadan fasting at dawn on Thursday (19), after the crescent for the month of Ramadan was sighted in the country, this evening (18), the Colombo Grand Mosque confirmed.

| February 18, 2026  7:21 pm
Fishing licenses of local vessels deliberately disabling VMS to be suspended?

Fishing licenses of local vessels deliberately disabling VMS to be suspended?

A high-level meeting on combating illegal fishing activities was convened at the Parliament Complex, according to the Ministry of Defence. MORE..

| February 18, 2026  7:05 pm
Advisory for low-pressure area to the south-east of Sri Lanka

Advisory for low-pressure area to the south-east of Sri Lanka

The Department of Meteorology has issued an ‘Amber‘advisory for multi-day boats fishermen and naval community regarding the low-pressure area in the Southwest Bay of Bengal to the south-east of Sri Lanka. MORE..

| February 18, 2026  5:30 pm
Ex-Dy Secretary General of Parliament files writ petition seeking to nullify interdiction

Ex-Dy Secretary General of Parliament files writ petition seeking to nullify interdiction

Former Deputy Secretary General of Parliament, Chaminda Kularatne, has filed a writ petition before the Court of Appeal, seeking to nullify the decision to interdict him from duty without a fair inquiry, a reporter said. MORE..

video | February 18, 2026  4:46 pm
Two brothers arrested over Akuregoda double murder remanded

Two brothers arrested over Akuregoda double murder remanded

The two brothers arrested in connection with the shooting and killing of a lawyer and his wife in Akuregoda have been remanded until March 04 by the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court today (18). MORE..

video | February 18, 2026  3:34 pm
Takaichi reelected as Japan’s prime minister with a goal of pushing to the right

Takaichi reelected as Japan’s prime minister with a goal of pushing to the right

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi was reappointed Wednesday by Parliament to form her second Cabinet, following last week’s landslide election win that she hopes will allow a hard-right move to the country’s policies. All previous ministers are expected to be retained. MORE..

| February 18, 2026  3:03 pm