News

The Commissioner General of Motor Transport, Kamal Amarasinghe, has announced a landmark initiative aimed at enhancing vehicle safety and environmental standards across Sri Lanka.

Under the proposed program, all vehicles operating on Sri Lankan roads will be required to obtain a Road Fitness Certificate, an internationally recognized standard already in use in many developed countries.

At present, only commercial vehicles are mandated to carry a Fitness Certificate.

However, the new policy will extend this requirement to all vehicles, including private cars and motorcycles, ensuring that every vehicle on the road meets both safety and emission standards.

As part of the initiative, the existing Emission Certificate and Fitness Certificate will be merged into a single, streamlined document — the Road Fitness Certificate — which will be issued from a centralized location to simplify the process for motorists.

Amarasinghe noted that the program is “extensive and complex,” requiring detailed study and phased implementation.

Initial groundwork is expected to begin in 2026, with the current smoke certificate system remaining valid until December 31, 2027.

The nationwide rollout of the new Road Fitness Certificate system is scheduled for completion by 2028.

A 19-year-old student sitting for this year’s Advanced Level Biology examination has died suddenly at her home in Dambulla.

The victim has been identified as Tharushi Chamodi, a resident of Dambulla.

According to police, the girl had been studying in her room on Saturday night (09). When she did not wake up the following morning, her parents went to check on her and found her unconscious.

She was immediately rushed to the Dambulla Base Hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead on arrival.

A team from the Dambulla Police conducted on-site inspections but reported no signs of foul play.

Police stated that the cause of death has not yet been determined, and further investigations are ongoing.

The Ampara High Court today (10) sentenced six individuals to death in connection with a murder that took place on April 14, 2015.

The six individuals were found guilty of assaulting and murdering two individuals in Kehelulla, Padiyathalawa.

The group had assaulted and ran over two individuals with a lorry for protesting against the six individuals who had been consuming alcohol inside a vehicle.

As a result, the High Court today imposed the death penalty on the six individuals involved in the incident.

(Source : adaderana.lk)

The Department of Meteorology has issued an ‘Amber’ advisory warning of severe lightning across several provinces and districts.

The advisory, released at 1:00 p.m. today (10), will remain in effect until 11:30 p.m.

According to the Met Department, thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning are expected in several areas of the Uva Province, as well as in the Ampara, Batticaloa, and Hambantota districts.

It also cautioned that temporary strong winds may occur during thundershowers.

The public has been urged to take necessary safety measures to minimize potential damage from lightning and adverse weather conditions.

Three workers were found dead at a land-based fish farm in Goseong, South Gyeongsang Province, in South Korea, prompting a police investigation.

According to the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency on the 10th, the three workers—a Korean man in his 50s, the site manager, and two Sri Lankan employees in their 20s and 30s—were discovered deceased inside a large reservoir (4 meters wide, 3 meters long, and 2 meters high) at the Goseong farm around 8:30 p.m. on the 9th.

The reservoir was nearly filled with water at the time.

Police began their investigation after receiving a report at 7:38 p.m. the same day from the family of the man in his 50s, who stated, “My father is not responding.” One of the foreign workers was wearing attire resembling work clothes, while the other two were in casual clothing.

Authorities plan to conduct autopsies on the deceased and investigate the company to determine the exact circumstances, including potential safety accidents and possible negligence.

Source: The Chosun Daily

In a disturbing new trend, cybercriminals are using artificial intelligence (AI) to create sophisticated deepfake videos featuring Sri Lankan business leaders, government officials, and celebrities to promote fraudulent investment schemes on Facebook and other social media platforms. 

These scams, often advertised through slick Sinhala-language interview videos dubbed into fluent English, promise extraordinarily high returns as much as US$ 10,000 to 12,000 for a $100,000 deposit to lure unsuspecting depositors.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) recently issued a public warning urging citizens to remain vigilant against these deceptive promotions.

 In a strongly worded statement, the CBSL clarified that “videos circulating online featuring the prominent persons promoting investment opportunities are entirely fake and generated using AI technology. 

The Bank stressed that it does not endorse or promote any private investment or cryptocurrency-related products.

The fraudulent campaigns often use convincing visuals and voice cloning technology to mimic the speech and mannerisms of well-known Sri Lankan figures. 

Some videos show billionaire businessmen and other high-profile personalities appearing to praise or guarantee the success of specific financial platforms. 

According to local cybersecurity analysts, these deepfakes are produced overseas using advanced AI tools and distributed through local social media networks to build credibility among Sri Lankan audiences.

An officer at Sri Lanka CERT, the national cybersecurity agency, said that the institution has received multiple complaints of individuals being deceived by AI-generated videos. 

“The level of realism is unprecedented. These fraudsters are exploiting public trust in familiar faces. People must understand that if an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” the official added. 

Victims who respond to these advertisements are typically directed to professionally designed websites or Telegram and WhatsApp groups, where they are persuaded to make deposits in dollars or cryptocurrency.

 Some victims are shown fake dashboards displaying impressive “profits” to encourage larger transfers. However, once substantial sums are invested, the fraudsters disappear without a trace.

CBSL’s Financial Consumer Relations Department has urged the public to verify any investment opportunity through official banking channels and report suspicious promotions immediately. 

“We encourage people to contact the Central Bank hotline 1935 or Sri Lanka CERT if they come across fake social media advertisements misusing the identities of financial officials,” the CBSL advisory noted.

Cybersecurity experts warn that the next wave of scams could become even more convincing as AI technology evolves. The public is urged not to share or engage with such advertisements, and to rely only on verified financial institutions regulated by the Central Bank.

“CBSL categorically denies any involvement in such promotions and emphasizes that it does not engage in or endorse any investment schemes, whatsoever. These videos are clear attempts byfraudulent parties to mislead the public using deep-fake technology and AI-generated content.

The Court of Appeal today (10) dismissed without hearing a writ petition filed by the Vinivida Foundation, seeking to suspend the ongoing operation by wildlife authorities to drive away wild elephants that have entered villages into forest reserves in Hambantota.

The order was issued by a bench comprising the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando, following a preliminary consideration of the petition.

During submissions, the counsel appearing for the petitioner argued that the operation, aimed at driving elephants roaming in the surrounding villages into the Hambantota Elephant Reserve by wildlife authorities has caused severe distress to the elephants.

The counsel further informed court that over 2,000 personnel of the Sri Lanka Air Force, Police and Civil Security Division have reportedly engaged in the operation.

The counsel pointed out that several elephants had sustained injuries as a result of explosives used to disperse them and that pregnant elephants were particularly affected by the excessive noise caused by such explosions.

Therefore, the counsel requested court to issue an interim injunction to halt the operation, which is being carried out in violation of environmental laws and regulations.

Responding to the petition, the State Counsel appearing for the Attorney General, submitting the evidence, argued that the petitioner had no legal basis to file this petition.

Additionally, the State Counsel pointed out that the parties who would be aggrieved by this action have not been named as respondents in the petition.

The State Counsel also noted that the petitioner has failed to present sufficient evidence to court to prove the allegations made in the petition.

On these grounds, the State Counsel requested court to dismiss the petition at the earliest, as it lacks a sustainable legal basis.

After considering the submissions from both sides, the Court of Appeal bench pointed out that the court has already issued an order to the government to prepare a national program for elephant conservation.

The President of the Court of Appeal said that the concerns raised in the petition would also be taken into consideration in that program.

Accordingly, the bench ordered that the relevant petition will be dismissed after considering the arguments presented by both parties.

(Source : adaderana.lk)

This year has seen a cautious but meaningful rebound in foreign-funded projects in Sri Lanka, as the government re-engages with bilateral partners and moves to restart previously stalled investments. Following the country’s deep economic and debt crisis, the new leadership has placed revitalisation of foreign-assisted development as a key plank in its recovery strategy.

 Japan and China Resume Investments

One important signal came from the administration of Anura Kumara Dissanayake which announced that some 11 Japanese-funded projects and 76 Chinese-backed initiatives that had been suspended are now earmarked for resumption. Japan, for example, confirmed that its government is ready to restart 11 major stalled projects worth an estimated US$1.1 billion over the next five years including airport expansion, water supply and infrastructure schemes.

The performance of foreign-funded projects in the first half of the year has been mixed. On the positive side, the government has signalled a renewed investment-friendly atmosphere, emphasising transparency, fiscal governance and debt restructuring as pre-conditions for new disbursements. However, the overall execution of capital spending remains weak: by end-July the government had spent only about 22 percent of its budgeted expenditure for the year, in part because the late resumption of foreign-funded infrastructure projects slowed implementation.

Strategic Focus Areas

In response, the government has set out a two-fold plan: first, to restart the suspended projects by clearing bottlenecks such as financial guarantees, procurement delays and partner-government coordination; and second, to rebuild confidence among foreign donors by demonstrating macro-economic stability and improved institutional safeguards. President Dissanayake has emphasised that “every rupee spent is treated as a public trust” in a bid to reassure partners about governance and project oversight.

For example, work is already underway on key projects like the 50 MW wind-power plant in Mannar, which is being cited as one of the first large foreign-assisted investments to move ahead under the current regime. The government also plans to prioritise those projects which support export-led growth, infrastructure connectivity and renewable energy aligning with its broader strategy of shifting the economy from crisis recovery to sustainable expansion.

Persistent Challenges

Despite these efforts, challenges remain. Delays in donor funding, high import costs for materials, and administrative capacity constraints have been flagged by industry observers as limiting factors. Moreover, the finance ministry faces the task of coordinating multiple lenders (Japan, China, and multilateral agencies) while ensuring that projects do not overburden already strained public finances.

In summary, Sri Lanka’s foreign-funded projects are entering a revival phase: from being largely stalled to gradually restarting — backed by clear political commitment and a refocused strategy. The government’s plan now hinges on swift implementation of the restart agenda and conversion of the resumed projects into visible infrastructure gains. If successful, these projects could play a meaningful role in bridging the country’s investment gap and supporting an economic turnaround.

Farmers across Sri Lanka's agricultural regions, including Welimada, Uva Paranagama, and Nuwara Eliya, suspended their cultivation activities today (10) in protest against the government’s disregard for the farming community in the 2026 Budget.

The protest that was organized by several farmers’ organizations under the banner of Voice of the Farmers of the Country saw large groups rallying in Keppetipola town this morning.

They accused the government of failing to offer viable solutions to their ongoing grievances and of ignoring the pressing needs of the agricultural sector in the latest national budget.

According to farmers, despite the ongoing potato and onion harvesting season, they continue to struggle due to the lack of a fair market price for their produce.

Many also condemned the government’s decision to permit imports of potatoes and onions during the local harvest period, a move they claim has left local cultivators “destitute” and unable to compete.

Protest leaders said that the budget’s failure to address core agricultural challenges such as price stabilization, import control, and rural infrastructure has exacerbated the crisis faced by farming communities.

With trade union action now in effect, farmer groups warned that agricultural output could be severely affected if authorities continue to overlook their demands.

They called on the government to prioritize the agriculture sector and ensure sustainable policies that safeguard local producers and the nation’s food security.

A married couple who had uploaded nude videos of themselves to a subscription-based adult website in UK have been arrested by officers of the Nugegoda Divisional Children and Women’s Bureau.

Police investigations have revealed that the husband is a computer engineering graduate from a private university, while the wife holds a diploma in psychology, also from a private institution.

The arrest was made on Friday (08) at a house in Rajagiriya, following information.

According to police, the couple had been residing on the top floor of a three-storey building. Other family members occupied the lower floors.

During the raid, officers found that the videos had been recorded on the third floor, with the furniture and interior settings matching the backgrounds seen in the footage. A mobile phone used to record the videos and a laptop used for editing and uploading were seized from the premises.

Investigations have uncovered that the couple had uploaded 334 videos to the site. They had reportedly entered into an agreement with the foreign company in November last year, under which they were to provide eight videos per month. The couple had told police they earned between Rs. 150,000 to Rs. 200,000 monthly, with higher payments depending on the number of views.

They further informed that they resorted to producing the videos after both lost their jobs and faced financial difficulties. The website had not been accessible within Sri Lanka until August this year, and the couple believed their identities would remain undiscovered.

Police investigation revealed that the couple does not have children. They are to be produced before the Colombo Aluthgama Magistrate’s Court today.

(Source - Dailymirror)

Police reported that a bus accident occurred earlier today (10) in Thalawa, Anuradhapura, resulting in the death of one person and injuries to approximately 40 others.