News

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa met United Arab Emirates Ambassador Khaled Nasser Sulaiman AlAmeri in Colombo to discuss the economic and humanitarian fallout of rising Middle East tensions on Sri Lanka.

The meeting focused on potential disruptions to global energy markets and the immediate security risks facing thousands of Sri Lankan migrant workers living across the Gulf region.

The discussions also underscored the critical need to safeguard Sri Lankan expatriates employed in the UAE, whose remittances remain vital to national foreign exchange stability.

Both sides also explored strategies to expand bilateral trade, investment, and tourism, pointing to emerging sectors where economic collaboration could deepen despite regional volatility.

Parliament is expected to receive the Supreme Court’s determination on petitions challenging the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution when Speaker announces the confidential decision tomorrow (22), according to reports.

The development follows the receipt of the Supreme Court’s determination by the Speaker.

Minister Sunil Ranasinghe had previously confirmed that the determination concerning the constitutional amendment had been received by the Speaker.

The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill, together with the Judicial Amendment Bill, was presented to Parliament on August 18 by Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara.

Following their introduction, more than 65 petitions were filed before the Supreme Court challenging the Bills.

The petitions were considered by a five-member Supreme Court bench headed by the Chief Justice, with hearings commencing on September 1. The proceedings concluded on September 2, after which the bench indicated that its determination regarding the constitutionality of the Bill would be conveyed to the Speaker.

Meanwhile, the Committee on Parliamentary Business has scheduled the parliamentary debate on the 22nd Amendment Bill for September 24 and 25, 2026.

The Department of Examinations has announced that practical examinations for candidates who sat the written component of the 2026 G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination will commence on September 24.

Practical examinations for Dancing (Indian), Oriental Music, Carnatic Music, Western Music, and Drama and Performing Arts in Sinhala, Tamil and English are scheduled to take place from September 24 to October 3.

Meanwhile, candidates sitting for Engineering Technology will face their practical examinations from September 30 to October 10.

The practical examination for Home Economics is scheduled to run from October 10 to 20, while Biosystems Technology practical tests will be conducted from October 17 to 21.

The Department said admission cards for school candidates will be sent to the principals of their respective schools, while private candidates will receive their admission cards at the addresses provided in their applications.

Candidates can also download their admission cards through the official Department of Examinations website, starting seven days before the relevant practical examination.

For further information, candidates can contact the Department of Examinations hotline at 1911 or on 0112785922, 0112784537, 0112786616 and 0112784208.

Former Minister Wimal Weerawansa appeared before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today after an arrest warrant had been issued against him.

Representing Weerawansa, Attorney-at-Law Manjula Pathiraja told the court that his client had been unable to reach the court at the scheduled time because his vehicle had broken down.

The defence subsequently asked the court to withdraw the arrest warrant issued against the former minister.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama, however, directed the defence to submit the request formally by way of a motion tomorrow.

The matter will therefore be taken up again when the defence makes the formal request before court.

Computer ownership remains relatively low among Sri Lankan households, with only 21.3% reporting access to at least one desktop or laptop in 2025, according to the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS).

The figure was published in the DCS Computer Literacy Statistics 2025 Annual Bulletin, based on a nationwide sample of 25,000 households and individuals between the ages of five and 69. The 2025 estimates were adjusted using information from the 2024 Census of Population and Housing.

Access to computers differed considerably depending on where households were located. In the urban sector, 37.8% of households had a desktop or laptop, compared with 18.6% in rural areas. The estate sector recorded a much lower rate of 5.2%.

A notable provincial gap was also recorded. The Western Province had the highest household computer ownership rate at 34%, followed by the Central Province at 20.3% and Sabaragamuwa at 19.4%.

North Western Province recorded 17.5%, while the figure stood at 17.4% in the Southern Province. Uva recorded 14.1%, followed by North Central Province at 12.9% and the Eastern Province at 12.5%. Northern Province had the lowest proportion, at 10.1%.

The DCS noted that household ownership of desktop and laptop computers has remained between 19% and 21% from 2023 to 2025.

However, computer ownership contrasts with the country's broader level of digital literacy. The survey found that 72% of people aged five to 69 were digitally literate in 2025, while computer literacy stood at 39.2%.

The data also points to a strong reliance on mobile technology for digital activities. Smartphones accounted for 80.6% of device usage recorded in the survey, compared with 17.4% for desktop and laptop computers.

Computer literacy itself showed significant differences between residential sectors. The urban sector recorded a rate of 54%, compared with 37.1% in the rural sector and 19.5% in the estate sector.

At provincial level, Western Province recorded the highest computer literacy rate at 50.2%. North Central Province recorded the lowest at 24.3%.

National computer literacy increased by 3.3 percentage points from 2024, reaching 39.2% in 2025.

The DCS defines a computer-literate person as someone between the ages of five and 69 who is capable of using a computer independently.

Computer literacy surveys have been conducted periodically by the DCS since 2004. Since 2014, the relevant survey module has been incorporated into the Sri Lanka Labour Force Survey.

Thirty-eight schools across four provinces will remain closed today (21) as adverse weather conditions continue to affect several parts of the country, according to the Ministry of Education.

The Central Province accounts for the majority of the closures, with 35 schools not operating today.

One school each in the Sabaragamuwa, Southern and Western Provinces has also been closed due to the prevailing weather conditions.

The Ministry said provincial education authorities have been directed to take appropriate decisions concerning school operations based on the weather situation in their respective areas.

The information was provided as of 9.00 a.m. today.

More than 10 people have reportedly been hospitalised following a multi-vehicle accident on the Southern Expressway this morning.

The crash took place between the Gelanigama and Dodangoda interchanges when a bus travelling from Matara towards Colombo collided with several other vehicles.

Several people sustained injuries in the incident and were subsequently admitted to hospital for medical treatment.

Further information regarding the accident is yet to be released.

A river that is home to about 500 saltwater crocodiles has been given the OK to host Olympic and Paralympic rowing and canoeing events at the 2032 Brisbane Games.

The course on the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton, Queensland, has passed an independent technical assessment into its suitability.

The assessment did not consider the crocodiles but instead looked at “how the course would perform under a range of conditions, weather patterns, water levels and flood risk at both Games time and throughout the period leading into the Games”.

The report was commissioned by the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (GIICA), which noted, external that the Fitzroy River Flatwater Facility “is already a training and competition venue for flatwater sports, supporting school state championships, local regattas, and national team training camps”.

As a recognised rowing facility, contingency plans are in place at events for when crocodiles are spotted and Olympic officials have previously been assured of rower safety.

World Rowing and Paddle Worldwide, formerly International Canoe Federation, both endorsed the course.

“Based on the extensive analysis undertaken, we now know that the Fitzroy River is capable of providing fair competition conditions during the period of the Games, consistent with the requirements of Olympic and Paralympic Rowing,” World Rowing President Jean-Christophe Rolland said., external

Paddle Worldwide President Thomas Konietzko said: “The quality and depth of the technical work undertaken has significantly improved our understanding of the field of play and provides confidence to us and our athletes that the course can deliver fair competition for Canoe Sprint athletes.”

Brisbane 2032 President Andrew Liveris played down the issue of crocodiles last year.

“There are sharks in the ocean and we’re still surfing... it’s a can do, not a can’t do - please change the mindset here,” he said at the time.

Speaking on Thursday about the venue having now been given the go-ahead, he said: “The endorsement provides additional certainty as we move into the next phase of venue planning and Games delivery, ensuring all future design and operational work continues to focus solely on Rockhampton.”

Saltwater crocodiles - known locally as Salties - live in both freshwater and saltwater and can grow to be in excess of six metres long. (BBC sport)

The Irrigation Department has issued a minor flood warning for the Kuda Ganga following a sharp rise in water levels amid heavy rainfall across several river catchment areas.

At 6.30 a.m. today (21), the water level at the Kalawellawa (Millakanda) gauging station had reached 6.59 metres. This is above the minor flood threshold of 6.50 metres.

Several other river monitoring stations have also recorded water levels reaching alert levels. These include Hanwella on the Kelani Ganga, Ratnapura and Magura on the Kalu Ganga, Baddegama and Thawalama on the Gin Ganga, Thalgahagoda and Panadugama on the Nilwala Ganga, and Dunamale on the Attanagalu Oya.

According to the Irrigation Department, water levels continue to rise at the Baddegama station on the Gin Ganga and at Thalgahagoda on the Nilwala Ganga. Levels at a number of other monitoring points, however, have begun to decline gradually.

Significant rainfall was reported across several river basins during the 24-hour period ending at 6.00 a.m. today.

Nawalapitiya received the highest recorded rainfall at 93.9 mm, followed by Kithulgala with 91.1 mm, Giriulla with 79.3 mm, Deraniyagala with 77.9 mm and Magura with 74.2 mm.

Authorities have advised residents in low-lying areas, especially communities located near the Kuda Ganga, Gin Ganga and Nilwala Ganga, to remain alert and monitor updates on changing water levels.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser and Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa has been further remanded until September 29, 2026, by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court.

Rajapaksa was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over allegations that he accepted a Rs. 100 million bribe in connection with the procurement of Airbus aircraft for SriLankan Airlines.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama issued the order after hearing submissions from both sides.

Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara appeared for CIABOC, while President’s Counsel Shavindra Fernando represented Rajapaksa.

The court also ordered that a decision on the MP’s bail application will be announced on September 29.