Speaker endorses the certificate on the Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Bill

Speaker (Dr.) Jagath Wickramaratne announced today (Jan. 21) in Parliament that he has endorsed the certificate on the Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Bill, on 20.01.2026.  This Bill was presented to Parliament on 05.12.2025 and was taken up for debate and passed in Parliament on 07.01.2026.  The Colombo Port City Economic Commission (Amendment) Bill has been brought with the …

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Mobile Laboratory Service Launched to Safeguard Passengers from Drug-Impaired Drivers

A mobile laboratory service aimed at identifying drivers and bus conductors operating under the influence of drugs was officially launched on 21 January 2026 at the private bus terminal on Bastion Mawatha, Colombo. The mobile laboratory is currently capable of detecting four types of drugs consumed within the past 14 days, with test results available within minutes. Based on these …

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The Parliamentary Sub-Committee discusses the execution of transfers of Principals related matters

The implementation of transfers of Principals in National and Provincial Schools and related matters, together with the existing human resource shortages in schools, were discussed recently at the meeting of the Sub-Committee. These matters were discussed when the said Sub-Committee under the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, met under the chairmanship of Hon. Deputy Minister …

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Mainly dry weather will prevail in the most parts of the island

Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 19 January 2026 Mainly dry weather will prevail in the most parts of the island. There is a possibility of ground frost at some places in Nuwara-Eliya district in the early hours of the morning. Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, North-central and Uva provinces and in Galle, …

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National Drive to Eradicate Drug Menace to Be Strengthened and Expanded

– Says the President at the ‘Nation United’ Northern Province Programme President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized that parents in the Northern Province, who once lived in fear for their children due to the war, are today compelled to live in fear because of the growing drug menace. The President stressed that this toxic threat is spreading indiscriminately affecting every citizen, …

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he 2026 National Housing Programme to construct 31,218 houses across the country begins in Chavakachcheri

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasised that although some are attempting even today to incite racial tensions around heritage or religious sites in various places, there will be no space whatsoever for racism in the North, South, East or any part of the country. The President also stressed that the housing issues of all those displaced by the war will be …

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Three individuals hiding overseas returned to Sri Lanka

Two suspects who were directly involved in serious criminal activities in Sri Lanka and had fled to Dubai, along with a female suspect who misappropriated government funds in 2024 and also escaped to Dubai, were brought back to Sri Lanka this morning (16 January 2026) via Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake. The suspects were arrested in recent days by the Abu …

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Sectoral Oversight Committee approves the Universities (Amendment) Bill

The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education, Manpower and Human Capital took into discussion the Universities (Amendment) Bill and the matters pertaining to the recruitments of the Sri Lanka Principal Service. In consideration of the Universities (Amendment) Bill, it was discussed that the Bill intends to set provisions enabling the Faculty Board to elect a Dean from among the Senior Professors, …

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IMF fact-finding mission to visit Sri Lanka from January 22–28 -Julie Kozack

IMF has decided to send a fact-finding mission to Sri Lanka from January 22 to January 28 to assess the damage caused by the recent cyclone Ditwah. She also underscored that this is a fact-finding mission aimed at enabling the team to gain a clearer understanding of the situation on the ground. The Director of the IMF’s Communications Department, Julie …

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