News

Steps are being taken to establish a direct flight connection between Colombo and Ahmedabad, India, with services expected to begin in April this year.

Deputy Minister of Tourism Ruwan Ranasingha announced that SriLankan Airlines is planning to operate the new route, linking Colombo with Ahmedabad in the Indian state of Gujarat.

According to the Deputy Minister, the introduction of this direct service will provide Sri Lankan devotees with easier access to Gujarat, enabling them to participate in religious pilgrimage activities. The initiative is also anticipated to strengthen tourism and travel ties between the two regions.

Sri Lanka’s official reserve assets saw a slight reduction in January 2026, easing by 0.2% compared to the previous month, according to figures released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL).

The total value of official reserves fell from USD 6,838 million at the end of December 2025 to USD 6,824 million by the close of January 2026. The Central Bank attributed much of this movement to a drop in foreign exchange reserves, which declined by 1% during the month—from USD 6,747 million to USD 6,680 million.

In contrast, the Central Bank’s gold reserves showed a significant rise, increasing by 26.8% to reach USD 109 million in January, up from USD 86 million a month earlier.

CBSL also noted that the official reserve figures include around USD 1.4 billion in foreign exchange swap proceeds obtained from the People’s Bank of China, which are subject to specific conditions regarding their use.

Sri Lanka has officially handed back the Sacred Devnimori relics of Lord Buddha to India after successfully hosting a seven-day exposition at the Gangaramaya Temple in Hunupitiya, Colombo.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath stated that the country was privileged to host the revered relics, giving devotees from across the island an opportunity to pay homage since February 05. The exposition concluded this morning.

In a message shared on X (formerly Twitter), Minister Herath confirmed that the relics were returned to India following the conclusion of the special display. He also noted that Mangubhai Chhaganbhai Patel, Governor of Madhya Pradesh, and Chowna Mein, Deputy Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, met with him during their visit to Sri Lanka to oversee arrangements for the relics’ return.

Expressing gratitude to the Government of India, the Minister commended its close cooperation in organizing what he described as a landmark religious event. He said the exposition reflected the enduring civilizational links and strong cultural and religious bonds shared by the two nations.

According to Minister Herath, the occasion underscored the profound spiritual connection between Sri Lanka and India, rooted in their shared Buddhist heritage and the teachings of Gautama Buddha. He added that the successful hosting of the relics further reinforced friendship, goodwill, and mutual understanding between the peoples of both countries.

During the past six days, large numbers of devotees—including ministers, diplomats, and members of the public—visited the Gangaramaya Temple to venerate the sacred relics.

The Devnimori relics, discovered during archaeological excavations in the 1960s at the historic Devnimori site in Gujarat, India, had never previously been taken outside India before this exposition in Sri Lanka.

A 19-year-old Sri Lankan passenger was arrested in the early hours of today (10) at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake, for allegedly trying to illegally bring a large consignment of ornamental plants into the country.

The arrest followed a joint operation conducted by officers from the Biodiversity, Cultural and National Heritage Protection Division along with Customs officials. The suspect, a resident of Kochchikade in Negombo, arrived in Sri Lanka from Bangkok at around 12:35 a.m. on Thai Airways flight TG 307.

During a detailed inspection of three suitcases, officials uncovered 386 ornamental plants belonging to several species, including Philodendron, Aglaonema, Alocasia, and Monstera. Authorities estimate the total value of the seized plants to be around Rs. 600,000.

Katunayake Airport Customs have launched further investigations to determine the circumstances surrounding the attempted smuggling.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya held discussions with a delegation from the European External Action Service (EEAS) at the Prime Minister’s Office, reaffirming Sri Lanka’s commitment to enhancing its partnership with the European Union.

The meeting centred on expanding collaboration in key areas such as economic engagement, trade, and investment. During the talks, the Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the European Union’s prompt assistance to Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the recent cyclone, as well as its continued support during challenging periods, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.

Meanwhile, Colombo is set to host the 27th Session of the EU-Sri Lanka Joint Commission tomorrow (12). The high-level forum will bring together senior representatives from both sides to review progress and explore further cooperation in governance, human rights, trade, development assistance, and other bilateral and regional matters, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

The session will be co-chaired by Aruni Ranaraja, Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, and Paola Pampaloni, Acting Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific at the EEAS.

In addition to the Joint Commission meeting, the visiting EU delegation is scheduled to engage with senior Sri Lankan leaders to discuss practical steps and future initiatives aimed at strengthening the longstanding partnership between the two sides.

The public exposition of the Sacred Devnimori relics of Lord Buddha at the Gangaramaya Temple in Hunupitiya, Colombo, came to a close this morning.

Devotees had the opportunity to pay their respects to the revered relics from February 05, with thousands visiting the temple over the past six days. Among those who attended were government ministers, members of the diplomatic community, and numerous local and foreign devotees.

The Devnimori relics were unearthed during archaeological excavations carried out in the 1960s at the historic Devnimori site in Gujarat, India. Notably, this marks the first occasion the sacred relics have been taken outside India.

An official delegation from India, including Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai C. Patel and Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, arrived in Sri Lanka on Sunday (09) to accompany the relics on their return journey to India.

King Charles stepped in publicly for the first time over the Epstein revelations, pledging Buckingham Palace’s support for any police investigation into allegations involving his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s connection with the convicted sex offender.

Prince Andrew allegedly sent confidential trade reports to Jeffrey Epstein in 2010, after the financier had already been convicted of child sex offences, according to emails included among more than three million pages of documents released last month by the US Justice Department.

In a statement issued on Monday, a palace spokesperson said, “The King has made clear, in words and through unprecedented actions, his profound concern at allegations which continue to come to light in respect of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct.”

“While the specific claims in question are for Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to address, if we are approached by Thames Valley Police, we stand ready to support them as you would expect,” the spokesperson added, as per Reuters.

EMAILS RAISE QUESTIONS OVER CONFIDENTIAL INFO

The email revealed that Andrew passed on briefings about visits to Singapore, Hong Kong and Vietnam, as well as confidential information about potential investment opportunities in Afghanistan.

According to the files, some of the material was forwarded within minutes of being received from his then adviser, raising questions about whether confidentiality rules were breached.

Under official guidelines, trade envoys are required to protect sensitive commercial and political information. Andrew was serving as a government trade representative at the time.

He has consistently denied wrongdoing and has not commented publicly since the latest documents were released.

Thames Valley Police confirmed that it is assessing whether there are grounds for a formal investigation. Officers are reviewing a complaint submitted by the anti-monarchy group Republic, which alleges suspected misconduct in public office and possible breaches of official secrecy laws.

ROYAL FAMILY DISTANCES ITSELF

Other senior members of the royal family have also voiced concern over the latest developments.

A spokesperson for Prince William and his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales said they were “deeply concerned” by the continuing revelations.

“Their thoughts remain focused on the victims,” the spokesperson said, ahead of William’s official visit to Saudi Arabia.

Earlier on Monday, as the King arrived in Clitheroe in northern England, a member of the public shouted: “How long have you known about Andrew?” The remark was met with boos from the surrounding crowd.

ANDREW’S FALL FROM ROYAL STATUS

Andrew was forced to step back from public duties in 2019 following criticism over his friendship with Epstein. In 2022, he reached a financial settlement with Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexual abuse when she was a teenager. He denied the allegations.

Giuffre died by suicide last year.

In October 2025, after an earlier wave of Epstein-related disclosures, Andrew was stripped of his remaining royal titles. More recently, he was asked to leave his home at Royal Lodge in Windsor and relocate to a private royal estate.

The impact of the Epstein files has extended beyond the royal family, creating political pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The crisis centres on his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States, after it emerged that Mandelson also appeared to have shared sensitive government material with Epstein in 2009 and 2010.

Police are reviewing allegations of misconduct in public office linked to those disclosures.

Source:adaderana.lk

All tuition classes, seminars, and workshops conducted in preparation for the 2025 G.C.E. Ordinary Level (O/L) Examination will be suspended from midnight today (11) until the completion of the examination period, the Department of Examinations announced.

In a statement, the Department further emphasized that printing, publishing, and distributing model question papers connected to the O/L examination are strictly forbidden during this time.

The Commissioner General of Examinations warned that any individual, educational institution, or organization that fails to comply with these directives may be reported to the nearest police station, Police Headquarters, or directly to the Department of Examinations for appropriate action.

Meanwhile, officials confirmed that all necessary arrangements have been completed to hold the examination from 17 February to 26 February at 3,545 examination centres island-wide.

A 17-year-old youth was fatally wounded in a police shooting in Sri Lanka’s northern Jaffna district early Tuesday after officers fired at a van that reportedly ignored orders to stop at a checkpoint, police said.

The incident took place near the Allapiddy junction within the Kayts police division in the early hours of February 10. According to police, officers attempted to stop a suspicious van, but the vehicle failed to comply and continued at speed toward the Mandaitivu area.

Police said details of the fleeing van were passed on to a patrol jeep carrying the Officer-in-Charge of the Kayts Police. Despite repeated attempts to intercept the vehicle, it continued to evade officers. Warning shots were initially fired into the air, but the van did not stop.

Officers then opened fire in an effort to halt the vehicle, police said. The driver was struck by gunfire and was admitted to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. The deceased was identified as a 17-year-old resident of Vaddukoddai.

Police also noted that the rear number plate of the van had been removed. Two other individuals who were inside the vehicle at the time were taken into custody. Further investigations are being carried out by the Kayts Police in coordination with the Jaffna Divisional Criminal Investigation Unit.

The United Nations said on Monday it is waiting for details on when and how much the United States will pay toward its delayed budget dues, following a promise last week that Washington would make an initial payment within weeks.

“We’ve seen the statements, and frankly, the secretary-general has been in touch for quite some time on this issue with Ambassador (Mike) Waltz,” U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a briefing.

“Our (budget) controller has been in touch with the U.S.; indications were given. We’re waiting to see exactly when payments will be made and in what amounts,” he added.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sounded the alarm on U.N. finances in a January 28 letter to member states and warned that the 193-country organization is at risk of “imminent financial collapse” due to unpaid fees.

The majority of the fees are owed by Washington, which under President Donald Trump has been retreating from multilateralism on numerous fronts and demanded that the U.N. reform and cut costs.

“You’ll certainly see an initial tranche of money very shortly,” Waltz, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told Reuters on Friday. “It’ll be a significant ... down payment on our annual dues ... I don’t believe that the ultimate figure is decided, but it’ll be in a matter of weeks.”

U.N. officials say the U.S. is responsible for more than 95% of outstanding dues toward the regular U.N. budget. The nation owes $2.19 billion by the start of February, plus another $2.4 billion for current and past peacekeeping missions and $43.6 million for U.N. tribunals.

U.N. officials say the U.S. did not pay into the regular budget last year and owes $827 million for that, as well as $767 million for 2026, with the remainder of its debt made up of arrears from previous years.

Asked if the money would go toward last year’s dues or those for 2026, or both, Waltz said: “Just in general, towards the arrears, and also in recognition of some of the reforms that we’ve seen.”

As of last Friday, 55 countries had paid their contributions to the regular U.N. budget for this year before a February 8 due date, U.N. data showed.

Source:adaderana.lk