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In the wake of a photo shared on social media, National People’s Power MP Nilanthi Kottahachchi said she will never bow before any political leader who plunged this country into political a abyss.

She told reporters that she is humble to bow before the innocent people who gave them the mandate, who trusted them and struggle to develop this country.

"I reiterate that it is not me in the photo. I have no underhand political transactions. I will never bow before political leaders who plunged this country into this political abyss. I am humble enough to bow before the innocent people who gave us the mandate, who trusted us and struggle to develop this country," she said.

(Source - Dailymirror)

Sri Lanka’s property tax system is failing to deliver meaningful revenue, threatening the Government’s plan to introduce a new tax by 2027 unless the valuation framework is modernised, a new Verité Research study warns.

The paper, Property Taxes in Sri Lanka: Proposal for a More Effective Valuation Method, authored by economist Prof. Mick Moore, highlights the limitations of the manual, site-inspection-based valuation system, which is administratively cumbersome, inequitable, and prone to evasion. 

With the existing system, rate assessments contributed less than 0.1% of GDP in 2021–22, while stamp duties and property taxes together made up just 2% of government revenue. Local councils remain heavily dependent on Treasury grants, with rates accounting for only 8% of revenue, and compliance is abysmally low. In Colombo, just 20,000 of 110,000 commercial properties pay property tax regularly.

Prof. Moore identifies five systemic weaknesses: unregistered new buildings, undervaluation by untrained assessors, failure to factor in building extensions or local infrastructure upgrades, infrequent general revaluations, and susceptibility to bias or bribery. Between 2022 and 2023, only 3.5% of properties received updated valuations, leaving many assets effectively untaxed for decades.

 To break the logjam, the study recommends Points-Based Valuation (PBV), also known as Computer-Assisted Mass Appraisal (CAMA). PBV uses aerial imagery, GIS mapping, and standardised market data to produce transparent, mass valuations without entering properties.

The system can automatically update assessments for new construction, extensions, or market shifts, while enabling automated billing and collection. Cities of 100,000 properties can be mapped in one to four weeks, with data collection completed in about three months. Internationally, similar systems are widely deployed; nearly half of all real-estate appraisals now use model-assisted techniques.

Prof. Moore warns that digitisation alone is insufficient. Transparent models, routine revaluations, and coordination between central and local authorities are essential. Pilot programs in selected councils can demonstrate feasibility, generate demand, and build capacity.

The study underscores that reform is both feasible and urgent. A modern, enforceable valuation system would not only increase revenue but also improve equity, reduce evasion, and provide the fiscal foundation for a fair 2027 property tax rollout. Without such reforms, Sri Lanka risks continuing a decades-long cycle of low compliance, minimal local revenue, and fiscal inefficiency.

Police have arrested 971 suspects in connection with nationwide anti-narcotics raids carried out under the “Ratama Ekata” operation on Wednesday (30). A total of 987 raids were conducted across the country during the operation.

According to police, 735 grams of heroin were seized in 351 separate raids, while 2.4 kilograms of the drug known as “Ice” (methamphetamine) were recovered in 330 other operations.

Meanwhile, 603 grams of cannabis and 97,283 cannabis plants were also taken into custody during 227 raids conducted as part of the same operation.

The Expressway Transport Company (Pvt) Ltd, set up a decade ago to operate luxury bus services along Sri Lanka’s expressways, is now facing collapse following years of financial neglect, poor governance, and administrative confusion.

Soon after its creation, the Minister of Finance and Planning observed that the RDA had no legal authority to establish a company under its name. 

The Cabinet of Ministers, at its meeting on 8 May 2014, therefore decided that the company should function under the Ministry of Highways, Ports and Shipping, as an entity fully owned and supervised by the Government Treasury. 

The Cabinet also required Treasury approval for the company’s Memorandum of Association and the appointment of its Board of Directors. However, these directives were never implemented, and the company continued to operate without proper oversight.

Adding to the governance failures, the company has not submitted financial statements or annual reports for eight consecutive years (2016–2023). This violates Section 6.6 of Public Enterprises Circular No. 01/2021, which mandates submission of such reports to the Auditor General within 60 days of the financial year’s end.

Persistent non-compliance and operational losses eventually led the Cabinet on 26 June 2023 to order the liquidation of the company through a court-appointed liquidator and the dissolution of its Board of Directors. As part of the winding-up process, 20 luxury buses valued at Rs. 216 million and 15% of expressway transport operations were handed over to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB).

Despite these directives, by 31 December 2023, the liquidation process remained incomplete, underscoring chronic delays and weak institutional accountability.

What was once intended to be a modern, self-sustaining expressway transport service has instead become an example of bureaucratic inefficiency, poor policy execution, and failure to protect public assets. The episode raises serious questions about how state-run enterprises are governed and whether the Treasury and responsible ministries can enforce compliance in future ventures.

The Fundamental Rights petition filed by Minister Sunil Handunnetti, while he was in the opposition, seeking an order to recover Rs. 15.9 billion from those responsible for the alleged sugar fraud that occurred during sugar imports in 2020, was today fixed for support by the Supreme Court.

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, Justice Kumudini Wickremasinghe and Justice Mahinda Samayawardhena, fixed the petition to be taken up for support on January 19, 2026.

The Court directed the petitioner to serve notices on the Minister of Finance and the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance regarding the petition.

Meanwhile, the Court was informed of the need to amend the caption of the petition due to changes in the designations of the respondents.

The petitioner is seeking an order directing the Attorney General to recover a sum of Rs.15.9 billion from respondents and to credit the concerned amount to the Consolidated Fund.

The petitioner had named former Finance Ministry Secretary S.R. Attygalle, Sri Lanka Standards Institution Chairman Nushad Perera, Pyramid Wilmar (Pvt) Limited, Director of Pyramid Wilmar (Pvt) Limited Sajath Mawzoon, former Secretary to the President Dr. P.B. Jayasundara, the Chairman of Consumer Affairs Authority, and Attorney General as respondents in the petition.

(Source - Dailymirror)

Serious governance and operational lapses have surfaced at the iconic Colombo Lotus Tower, following the revelation of questionable management practices and financial irregularities involving its hospitality operations run by Citrus Leisure PLC.

According to audit findings, Colombo Lotus Tower Management (Pvt) Ltd. had entered into agreements with Citrus Leisure PLC to operate hospitality facilities located on the 25th to 28th floors of the tower, including the kitchen area. The agreement, signed under Clauses 8.1 and 8.2, required Citrus to pay a management fee of 3.5% of gross revenue and an additional 10%, excluding total employee costs, each month. A further 20% of gross operating profit was also due to the Lotus Tower Company.

However, during the period from October to December 2023, Citrus Leisure reported a net loss of Rs. 20.3 million, while Colombo Lotus Tower Management still disbursed Rs. 1.4 million as management fees and Rs. 1.06 million for employee salaries. Notably, the agreement lacked any clause specifying how losses should be managed in the event of negative operating results.

In addition, auditors found that Rs. 1.01 million had been spent on mobile phones, despite no contractual approval for such expenditure.

The audit also noted physical damage to the Lotus Tower’s observation deck, where visitors had scribbled names and images on the walls. To mitigate this, management spent Rs. 1.08 million installing illuminated plastic panels on the viewing platform, but these too were later vandalized.

Although security cameras had been installed and staff assigned to monitor footage, the management failed to deploy adequate security personnel, leaving the site vulnerable to repeated acts of vandalism.

The findings highlight serious deficiencies in oversight, accountability, and financial management at Sri Lanka’s tallest landmark, raising questions about the enforcement of public–private partnership agreements and the long-term sustainability of the project’s commercial operations.

A special audit report on the online visa issuance programme, where the work of the Department of Immigration and Emigration was outsourced to a private company last year, did not bring any revenue to the government, said sundaytimes.lk.

Tourists who qualified under the visa-fee waiver category ended up paying processing fees, thus not benefiting from the free service, it said quoting the report compiled by the Auditor General’s Department.

The report said that during its short period of operations handling the issuance of visas, GBS Technology Services & IVS Global ± FZCO and VFS VF Worldwide Holdings Ltd. could have earned at least USD 1,820,418 for the number of visa applications issued online between April 17, 2024, and August 2, 2024, due to the issuance of visas without charging visa fees for 98,401 visa applications for visa-fee waiver countries.

Newstube.lk contacted subject minister at the time Tiran Alles but he declined to comment, noting an ongoing court case with regard to the matter.

https://newstube.lk/news/23225-vfs

The website then contacted a senior official of the subject ministry, who, on condition of anonymity, rejected the claim that VFS e-visa did not bring any revenue to the government.

Explaining, he said the Department of Immigration and Emigration came under the Public Security Ministry in October 2022. At the time, Mobitel issued the 30-day e-visas. The government then obtained parliamentary approval to expand visa issuance under 12 categories.

It started on 16 April 2024, until which time visas were issued for 30 days and for SAARC countries only. Thirty-five US dollars were charged for SAARC country visas and for other countries 50 USD were levied for 30-day visas.

In the meantime, the government wanted to commence six-month, two-year, five-year and 10-year visa categories with immediate effect.

Since it could not be done by Mobitel, the need for a new methodology arose.

Before the department’s takeover by the Public Security ministry, a proposal by VFS was submitted through the Presidential Secretariat to the Tourism Ministry, which was subsequently referred to the Public Security Ministry.

The VFS proposal was studied in order to facilitate the parliament-approved 12 visa categories, and Mobitel as well as a Malaysian company submitted proposals.

Following a study of both, Mobitel’s proposal was ruled out since it was capable of issuing 30-day visas only.

The internationally-experienced VFS company’s proposal was approved following several rounds of talks by a committee appointed. With the receipt of cabinet approval, the VFS visa programme commenced on 16 April 2024.

Fees begin to be levied, instead of 30-day visas, at 75 USD for six months, at 200 USD for one year, at 300 USD for two years, at 500 USD for five years, at 1,000 USD for 10 years etc.

Accordingly,

• The government earned an additional income of 1.4 million USD under the new categories alone within 14 days since its commencement.

• In May, the additional income earned under the new categories alone was 1.5 million USD.

• In June, the additional income earned under the new categories alone was 1.5 million USD.

• In July, the additional income earned under the new categories alone was 1.2 million USD.

Taking up the petitions filed against the programme, the Supreme Court on 02 August 2024 issued an interim order suspending it.

The official said that the income to the treasury during three and a half months’ operation of the programme under the new categories alone was Rs. 1,632,300,000.

Any reduction in tourist arrivals due to the programme?

The official also rejected claims the VFS e-visa programme resulted in a reduction in tourist arrivals.

He said,

• 71,926 tourists arrived in May 2023.

• 113,676 tourists arrived in May 2024.

Which is a 62 percent increase during the month of May in the two years.

Also,

• 87,656 tourists arrived in June 2023.

• 149,982 tourists arrived in June 2024.

Which is a 54 percent increase during the month of June in the two years.

The official stressed the truth will prevail despite any insults and criticisms of the VFS e-visa programme by opponents.

The Port City Colombo (PCC) project has moved well beyond a mere “critical juncture”  it now presents a contrasting picture of early commercial traction paired with lingering infrastructure delivery gaps.

Official data for the first nine months of 2025 indicate substantial advances in tenancy and investment registrations, yet the Auditor‑General’s Department’s October 2024 audit for the year ended 31 December 2023 reveals several key infrastructure commitments remain incomplete and cost overruns persist.

The project’s primary foreign developer, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC, a subsidiary of China Communications Construction Company/CCCC), is doubling down commercial ambition: a July 2025 gazette confirmed that its subsidiary, IFC Colombo 1 (Pvt) Ltd, will invest approximately USD 142.7 million into real-estate development within the city. 

According to project disclosures, by May 2025 roughly 80% of the leasable space in the Business Centre had already been leased to “Authorised Persons”.

 A notable lease was signed in May 2025 when Swedish-based IGT 1 Lanka committed to two office buildings, covering more than 500 employees. Meanwhile, reports show over 100 companies were slated to begin operations in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) as of October 2024.

Yet the audit flags structural concerns. Of 118 plots scheduled for completion by 16 September 2019, only 85 had received certificates by 30 September 2023   roughly 72%. Landscaping, scheduled to reach 100% by 9 March 2020, was only 77% complete by 30 November 2023.

 The accompanying roads, bridges and tunnels, originally due 14 March 2020, were still more than half unfinished by September 2023. Perhaps most concerning: the temporary sewage solution had an initial cost estimate of Rs. 1,000 million but escalated to Rs. 3,700 million, with the permanent system of Rs. 2,900 million yet to commence the AGD treated the Rs. 3,700 million as a loss to the Government.

In February 2025 the Government extended the operational period of the Project-Management Unit for PCC until June 2027, implicitly acknowledging the ongoing delays. Mid-2025 also saw new regulations tightening strategic-business thresholds in the zone, signaling a regulatory recalibration just as commercial leasing begins to accelerate.

The bottom line: Port City’s commercial engine is revving, but its delivery chassis remains incomplete. If CHEC, government agencies and their partners can close out the infrastructure backlog by the revised 2027 deadline while keeping investor momentum, the project could still fulfil its aim of becoming a regional service hub. 

Until then, the contrast between leasing wins and infrastructure gaps remains sharp, and the scrutiny from investors and auditors alike is unlikely to fade.

In the face of opposition expressed by trade unions, the government has been forced to withdraw a series of gazette notifications that aim to provide tax reliefs to four local and international firms that have invested in Port City Colombo and abolish the rights of working people.

Trade union leaders say that being able to reverse this anti-labour decision by the National People’s Power (NPP) government led by the President is a great victory achieved in the recent past.

On 14 July 2025, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake issued gazette notifications No. 2445/2, 2445/3, 2445/4, and 2445/5 to designate as ‘primary business of strategic importance’ and provide concessions to Ceylon Real Estate Holdings (Private) Limited, Clothespin Management and Development (Private) Limited, IFC Colombo (Private) Limited, and ICC Port City (Private) Limited which have invested in Port City. In a gazette notification, the President states that the Cabinet has granted approval to this decision on 1 July 2025.

Trade unions had filed a case in the Court of Appeal against the government’s decision to abolish the Termination of Employment of Workmen (Special Provisions) Act No. 45 of 1971, which had been in effect for more than half a century, preventing the arbitrary sacking of workers.

When the case was taken up on 27 October 2025, a lawyer from the Attorney General’s Department representing the government informed the court that the government had decided to withdraw the relevant gazette notification.

Accordingly, the court has informed the Labour Commissioner that the Termination of Employment of Workmen (Special Provisions) Act should be enforced throughout the country as before, while annulling the four gazette notifications issued by the President declaring that four companies operating in Port City are exempted from the Termination of Employment of Workmen (Special Provisions) Act.

The extraordinary gazette notification signed by the President further states that it was issued to provide tax concessions to the four firms and exempt them from labour laws after “having considered the recommendations of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission and upon the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers.”

Calling it ‘two laws in one country,’ trade union leaders condemned this pro-investment move initiated by the NPP government, which came to power vowing to protect labour rights.

“Providing concessions to Port City by the President, who at the time was a key participant in protests against the establishment of Port City, is tantamount to creating a country within a country and implementing two laws,” Free Trade Zones and General Service Employees' Union Joint Secretary Anton Marcus said.

The four companies had been exempted from the Value Added Tax (VAT), the provisions of the Finance Act, excise duties, customs duties, Ports and Airports Development Levy (PAL) taxes, the Sri Lanka Export Development Act, the Termination of Employment of Workmen (Special Provisions) Act, and the Foreign Exchange Act for an extensive period of 25 years.

The Free Trade Zones and General Service Employees' Union, All Ceylon Trade Union Federation affiliated with the Communist Party, the Ceylon Estate Services Association, and three other trade unions, in collaboration, filed petition No. 875/2025 against exempting companies in Port City from labour laws.

Trade unions pointed out that exempting the four firms from the Termination of Employment of Workmen (Special Provisions) Act, which ensures the job security of workers in institutions with more than 15 workers, could result in a massive crisis.

Under the Termination of Employment of Workmen (Special Provisions) Act, the employment of any worker can be ended on non-disciplinary grounds at his own discretion, and upon written notice to the Labour Commissioner, if there are reasonable grounds, the Commissioner will approve the termination. However, as per the relevant gazette notification, employers can, at their discretion, terminate the service of workers of these four firms operating in Port City.

Something even J.R. couldn’t do

“J.R. Jayewardene, who came to power in 1977, established Free Trade Zones after exempting these zones from labour laws under the Greater Colombo Economic Commission Act. However, trade unions went to the court against this and obtained a court order. At that time, the Supreme Court said that two laws cannot be enforced in one country,” Marcus underscored.

The background for the Termination of Employment of Workmen (Special Provisions) Act was created by private-sector employers’ actions in the early 1970s, where they claimed shortages of raw materials, shut down factories, and fired thousands of workers. The Act was enacted to prevent such actions.

“In the 1970s, the United Front government passed this Act amidst protests which were staged by workers of over 70 private-sector factories and lasted for over a month. Late comrade Bala Tampoe took the initiative to draft the Bill,” Ceylon Mercantile, Industrial and General Workers’ Union (CMU) General Secretary Selliah Palaninathan noted.

The CMU General Secretary stressed that as a trade union that led the process of preparing this Act, which includes provisions that ensure job security and fairness for workers, it is their responsibility to protect it.

The head monk of a Buddhist temple in Melbourne, Australia has been found guilty of sexually abusing children aged as young as four.

Naotunne Vijitha, 70, faced a four-week County Court trial in Melbourne after he pleaded not guilty to 19 historical child sexual offences.

He was accused of abusing six girls aged between four and 12 inside his living Buddhist temple quarters, a prayer room and at Sunday school.

Prosecutors claimed Vijitha’s abuse started after he moved to Melbourne from overseas to become head monk of the Dhamma Sarana Buddhist temple at The abuse continued after the temple moved to Keysborough in 2000.

The victims, who are now adults, all gave evidence to the jury in their trial, as did their relatives and friends.

Vijitha’s barrister Nick Papas KC told the jury to set aside emotion and remember the allegations were from 25 or 30 years ago, so they must question their reliability and accuracy.

“Some of the events are so improbable as to stretch any grounds of credulity,” he said.

Jurors retired to commence their deliberations on October 23 and returned on Thursday with a guilty verdict to 17 of the 19 charges.

He was acquitted on a single charge of indecent act with a child aged under 16, while the jury will continue deliberating on a separate indecent act offence.

Judge Pardeep Tiwana advised the jurors he would accept a majority verdict, instead of a unanimous one, on the remaining charge.

The jury will continue their deliberations on Friday morning.

(Source - Neos kosmos)

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has announced that the free distribution of shopping bags used for carrying goods will be prohibited starting tomorrow (November 1).

In an extraordinary gazette notification issued on October 1, the CAA made it mandatory for vendors to indicate the price of shopping bags on bills issued to consumers.

The notification specifies that container bags made of low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and linear low-density polyethylene (LDPE) must not be provided free of charge. Businesses are also required to prominently display the price of these bags at their premises.

(Source - Dailymirror)

Education is not merely about passing exams, but about shaping good citizens who can make the world a better place, said Prime Minister Harinie Amarasuriya.

She made these remarks at the inaugural session of the Student Parliament of Mahamaya Girls’ College, Kandy, held recently (28) at the Old Parliament Chamber of the Presidential Secretariat, under the patronage of the Prime Minister and Deputy Speaker of Parliament Rizvie Saliy.

The event was organized jointly by the Department of Communications of Parliament, the Presidential Secretariat, and the Ministry of Education as part of the ongoing Student Parliament initiative — a platform designed to encourage civic understanding and leadership among school students across the country.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Harinie Amarasuriya emphasized that the education system is being gradually transformed to produce responsible, empathetic citizens rather than burdened students. “Our goal,” she said, “is to nurture individuals who can contribute meaningfully toward making the world a better place.”

Students were also given the rare opportunity to directly raise questions with the Prime Minister.

Deputy Speaker Rizvie Saliy, in his address, reminded students that no one can be a true lawmaker without being a law-abiding citizen. He urged all to commit themselves to building a just and disciplined society. Reflecting on the venue’s rich history, he added that conducting the session within the old Parliament Chamber was an extraordinary and honorable experience for the young participants.

Acting Secretary-General of Parliament Chaminda Kulatunga enlightened the student parliamentarians on the history of female representation in the Sri Lankan Parliament and its legislative functions.

Meanwhile, Professor A. Sarveswaran, Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo, delivered a special lecture on law, inspiring the students to view justice and integrity as essential pillars of democracy.

Dharmasiri Gamage, Director General of Public Relations at the Presidential Secretariat, and Subhash Roshan Gamage, Senior Additional Secretary to the President, also addressed the students, briefing them on the Clean Sri Lanka initiative and how communities can access Presidential Fund benefits at the local level.

The session began with the election and swearing-in of the Speaker and student Members of Parliament, followed by speeches from the Student Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers, after which the Student Parliament was adjourned. Certificates of participation were also awarded to the student members.

The ceremony was attended by Major Nadika Dangolla, Assistant Director of the Presidential Secretariat; Shashikala Senadheera, Principal of Mahamaya Girls’ College; members of the academic staff; parents; and other distinguished guests — marking a truly inspiring day where education met leadership in one of Sri Lanka’s most historic chambers.