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Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake recently visited the Madampitiya Applewatta Housing Complex to assess the progress of construction under the ongoing Urban Regeneration Programme.

The large-scale development includes 2,100 housing units and is being carried out with financial backing from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara, along with several government officials, joined the Minister during the site inspection.

This housing initiative forms part of the government’s wider urban renewal strategy, which is designed to enhance living conditions by providing safe and modern housing for low-income communities.

Sri Lanka’s tourism sector has recorded double-digit growth in the opening weeks of 2026, with the increase attributed to momentum generated by the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup matches hosted in the country.

According to official statistics from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, tourist arrivals during the first 45 days of 2026 reached 401,787, marking a 12.5% year-on-year increase.

In February, the first 12 days alone accounted for 124,460 arrivals, a 19% rise compared with the same period last year. The daily average during that period was 10,372 visitors, a statement from Sri Lanka Tourism said.

Officials said the increase was driven in part by sports tourism, with cricket fans arriving from India, the United Kingdom, Australia, Russia, Germany, China and the United States.

Host cities Colombo and Kandy reported full occupancy in city hotels during match days, with additional demand extending to Mount Lavinia and Negombo.

Sri Lanka Tourism also reported steady average daily guest expenditure, with increased demand for accommodation, transport and leisure activities during the tournament period.

Visitors during the World Cup period also recorded longer average stays compared with seasonal norms. The sector is on track to exceed early-year revenue projections, supported by higher per-guest spending and extended stays.

Tourism officials said digital campaigns are ongoing to promote Sri Lanka’s leisure, cultural and experiential offerings beyond cricket, amid efforts to address lower average individual spending patterns.

The Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management has expanded training and capacity-building programs in response to increased visitor volumes. New modules in event hospitality, sports tourism management and digital marketing were introduced to strengthen service standards.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau has launched promotional campaigns to position Sri Lanka as a destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism. Officials said several international events are in the pipeline as part of efforts to diversify tourism revenue streams.

The Ministry of Tourism, together with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and affiliated institutions, said it plans to leverage the current momentum to sustain growth throughout 2026, building on global visibility generated by the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. 

(Source: Newswire)

President Donald Trump’s administration and the Indonesian government say they have finalised an agreement to lower US tariffs on the South East Asian country to 19% from 32%.

Under the deal, Indonesia will cut trade barriers on more than 99% of American imports - including agriculture, healthcare, seafood, technology and car-related goods - the White House said on Thursday.

Washington said it granted tariff exemptions on some Indonesian goods, including certain clothing and textiles that are produced with cotton and man-made materials from the US.

US trade representative Jamieson Greer said the agreement will “breaks down trade barriers” while advancing the interests of the American people.

The agreement came during a visit to Washington by Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto to attend the first meeting of the Trump-led “Board of Peace” to discuss the reconstruction of Gaza.

Indonesia’s coordinating minister for economic affairs Airlangga Hartarto said the finalised deal is beneficial to both sides and will attract greater investment in Indonesia.

Airlangga said about 90% of Indonesia’s requests on tariff terms were accepted by the US.

“The vision of this agreement is mutual economic prosperity, strong supply chains, and respect for each country’s sovereignty,” he told reporters in Washington.

Airlangga said that as part of the deal, Indonesia has secured tariff exemptions for more than 1,700 goods, including coffee, spices, chocolate, natural rubber and, notably, its top export product palm oil.

It comes in exchange for Indonesia opening up its markets to American products, such as by accepting US standards on car safety, emissions, medical devices and pharmaceuticals, said the White House.

It said that Indonesia will ease barriers on American agricultural and technology goods being sold in its market.

Indonesia will also facilitate US firms in developing the South East Asian country’s rare earths infrastructure, which will help Washington expand its supply of critical minerals.

The deal will take effect in 90 days and changes could still be made to the terms if both countries agree, said Airlangga.

On Wednesday, Indonesian and US companies signed a slew of deals worth $38.4bn (£28.6bn) for partnerships in mining, technology, textiles and other industries.

Prabowo said the deals came as part of the tariff agreement and that it will help Indonesia to reduce its trade surplus with the US.

“I’m very optimistic about the future of our relationship,” he said during a dinner hosted by the US Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday.

Source:adaderana.lk

The Sri Lankan government is drafting new legislation that would enable courts to order house arrest for eligible suspects instead of sending them to remand prison, in a move aimed at addressing the country’s worsening prison overcrowding crisis.

Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said the nation’s prison system, originally designed to accommodate approximately 10,500 inmates, is now holding close to 39,000 individuals. He highlighted that a major contributor to this situation is the large number of remand prisoners who have yet to be convicted.

According to the minister, around 28,000 inmates are currently being held on remand, including nearly 20,000 individuals detained over drug-related charges.

He explained that the proposed legal framework, being developed under the guidance of Yasantha Kodagoda, would allow judges to impose home detention in suitable cases, helping to reduce pressure on prison facilities.

The minister also pointed out that Sri Lanka lacks a formal system to review or reduce sentences for prisoners serving life imprisonment or facing capital punishment. To address this gap, a committee chaired by Justice Thurairaja has been tasked with examining options for introducing a sentence review and reduction mechanism for long-term inmates.

Nanayakkara further revealed that the country’s judicial system is currently handling around 1.1 million pending cases. However, he noted improvements in case resolution rates under the leadership of Chief Justice Murdu Fernando, along with plans to establish seven new courts. These include specialized courts to handle cases related to the Easter Sunday attacks and bribery allegations.

Addressing concerns about the recent shooting involving a lawyer and his wife in Akuregoda, the minister stated that there is no broader threat to legal professionals due to their court work and assured that justice would be pursued in the matter.

He also confirmed that the government intends to revise the proposed rent control legislation after receiving public feedback and will not proceed with the bill in its current form

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has granted bail to former Telecommunications Regulatory Commission Chairman and former Ministry Secretary Anusha Palpita in connection with an ongoing investigation into alleged unlawful asset accumulation.

The decision was made after the court reviewed arguments presented by officials from the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption and the defense counsel representing the suspect.

After considering the submissions, Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama ordered that Palpita be released on bail.

Palpita had been taken into custody in January by the Bribery Commission after he was unable to provide a satisfactory explanation regarding the source of Rs. 46 million in funds. The investigation into the matter is continuing.

An 11-member Special Parliamentary Select Committee has been established to evaluate the electoral framework used for Provincial Council elections and to provide recommendations for improvements.

The announcement was made in Parliament today (20) by Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne, who stated that the committee has been formed under the leadership of Minister Vijitha Herath.

The committee has been assigned the responsibility of studying the current election system and proposing suitable reforms to ensure an effective and transparent process for future Provincial Council polls.

The appointed members of the committee include Muneer Mulaffer, Attorney-at-Law Sunil Watagala, Arun Hemachandra, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Mano Ganesan, Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi, Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, Samanmalee Gunasinghe, Darmapriya Wijesinghe, Chandana Sooriyaarachchi, and Nizam Kariapper.

The committee is expected to review the existing structure and submit its findings and recommendations to Parliament in due course.

Maithree Wickremesinghe, the spouse of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, was scheduled to appear before the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) of the Criminal Investigation Department Sri Lanka today (20).

However, authorities have been informed that she would not be able to attend as planned. While no formal explanation has been officially documented, reports indicate that her absence is due to health-related reasons.

The Criminal Investigation Department Sri Lanka had earlier notified the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court on February 18 that a summons had been issued, requiring her to appear before the FCID.

She had been called to provide a statement as part of an ongoing investigation connected to matters involving the former President. Further developments are expected as the investigation continues.

The Department of Meteorology Sri Lanka has forecast intermittent showers today (20) across the Northern, North-central, Eastern, Uva, and Central provinces.

According to the latest weather outlook, certain areas in the Eastern Province and the districts of Matale, Badulla, Mullaitivu, and Polonnaruwa could experience fairly heavy rainfall reaching around 75 mm.

In addition, Hambantota district is likely to receive several periods of rain throughout the day. Elsewhere in the country, showers or thundershowers may develop in various locations after 1.00 p.m.

The department also noted that rainfall exceeding 50 mm is possible in Rathnapura, Galle, Matara, and Nuwara Eliya districts.

Early morning mist is expected in parts of the Central and Sabaragamuwa provinces, as well as in Galle and Matara districts.

The public has been advised to remain cautious and take necessary safety measures to reduce the risk of damage caused by sudden gusty winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Canada introduced new immigration priority categories on Wednesday to bring in skilled workers in fields ranging from research and health care to aviation, and to include certain military recruits.

The new categories align with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s goals of broadly reducing the number of new permanent residents in Canada while recruiting skilled workers and scholars and boosting defense capabilities to lessen dependence on the United States.

The government said the shift was aimed at restoring immigration to sustainable levels while finding workers for key industries. Canada’s government in recent years has sought to reduce the number of immigrants to ease strains on housing and social services.

Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said the 2026 changes to the Express Entry system will help to attract talent that can “contribute from day one” as Canada faces labour shortages in critical sectors.

The new categories include researchers, senior managers, transport‑sector workers such as pilots and aircraft mechanics, and foreign medical doctors with Canadian experience. They will also include highly skilled foreign military applicants recruited by the Canadian Armed Forces, including military doctors, nurses and pilots.

“Canada’s future depends on a workforce ready for a changing economy,” Diab said in a statement.

Carney, seeking to reduce reliance on the United States, announced a new defense strategy on Tuesday that aims over the next decade to lift government investment in defense-related research and development by 85%, boost defense industry revenues by more than 240%, increase defense exports by 50% and create up to 125,000 quality new jobs.

Like other NATO members, Canada has pledged to raise defense spending to 5% of gross domestic product by 2035.

Invitation rounds in existing Express Entry categories — including French-language candidates, health-care workers and skilled trades — will continue alongside the new targeted streams.

Source:adaderana.lk