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Gold and silver prices rose on Wednesday as the U.S. dollar and Treasury bond yields fell after data showed December retail sales growth stalled, signalling a softening economy ahead of key jobs data later in the day.

Spot gold was 0.7% higher at $5,056.82 per ounce by 0648 GMT. U.S. gold futures for April delivery gained 1% to $5,080.90 per ounce.

Spot silver was up 2.2% at $82.44 per ounce, after falling more than 3% in the previous session.

“Yields being lower are obviously supportive of gold today... After soft retail sales numbers, there’s the expectation that perhaps, further and deeper rate cuts may be needed more imminently than previously thought,” Capital.com senior market analyst Kyle Rodda said.

U.S. yields fell to near one-month lows after a raft of data suggested the economy may be softening, giving the U.S. Federal Reserve more room to cut interest rates. Lower U.S. yields reduce the opportunity cost of holding non‑yielding assets such as gold.

Investors expect at least two 25-basis-point rate cuts in 2026, with the first one expected in June.

They now await the release of the non-farm payrolls report for January, due later in the day, with a Reuters survey of economists showing a likely 70,000 increase in jobs last month after 50,000 jobs were added in December.

“Moves of more conviction from either gold or the dollar may be reserved until after the NFP release, with U.S. jobs data likely to factor into the Fed’s interest rate trajectory. Any softness in the jobs data for January could help gold’s rebound efforts,” KCM chief analyst Tim Waterer said in a note.

The U.S. dollar, edged down to a near two-week low on Wednesday, making greenback-priced metals cheaper for overseas buyers.

Spot platinum rose 1.4% to $2,116.25 per ounce, while palladium added 1.3% to $1,730.50.

Source:adaderana.lk

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.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is set to travel to Nuwara Eliya today (11) to inaugurate the Central Province segment of the “A Nation United” national campaign, according to the President’s Media Division (PMD).

During his visit, the President is also expected to participate in several engagements in the area.

The “A Nation United” initiative was introduced as a nationwide effort to combat the spread of illicit drugs. Authorities have identified drug-related issues as a significant social challenge affecting communities in the up-country region.

The programme seeks to address this concern through a broad awareness drive involving multiple stakeholders, while also supporting the social and economic upliftment of affected communities, the PMD stated.

The event in Nuwara Eliya will further include a ceremony to honour 62 police officers in recognition of their active role in conducting drug-related raids

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.

Ten people, including a suspected shooter, were found dead after a mass shooting in a town in northeastern British Columbia on Tuesday, Canadian police said.

Six people were found dead inside a high school in Tumbler Ridge, two more people were found dead at a residence believed to be connected to the incident, and another person died on the way to hospital, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said.

A suspected shooter was also found dead from what appears to be a self‑inflicted injury, police said, adding they did not believe there were any more suspects or ongoing threat to the public.

The shooter may have been a woman, as an official active shooter alert put out in British Columbia described the suspect as a female in a dress with brown hair.

“Multiple injuries and multiple deceased were inside the school as officers progressed through the scene,” police Superintendent Ken Floyd told a news conference.

“We have the scene secured right now. We have investigators there to try to determine the nature of the extent of the injuries and what weapons may or may not have been involved,” Floyd said.

Tumbler Ridge is a remote municipality with a population of around 2,400 people located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in northern British Columbia, approximately 1,155 km (717 miles) northeast of Vancouver.

Another 25 people were being assessed for injuries at a local medical center, said police.

“All our thoughts are with people in Tumbler Ridge. I’ve spoken to the mayor and local MLA, and we are offering the RCMP any additional assistance they need,” British Columbia’s Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger said in a statement on X.

Source:adaderana.lk

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.