Newspaper
The Island
South Asia’s rivers get a voice through community action
More than 700 million people across South and South-East Asia rely on the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Meghna (GBM) and Salween river basins for water, food and energy — yet these vast lifelines are increasingly under pressure from unregulated infrastructure, poor land-use practices and climate change, oxfam said in a report on Friday.
1 min |
November 22, 2025
The Island
Starc, Stokes headline opening day mayhem
Mitchell Starc picked up career-best figures of 7 for 58 in Tests but a five-fer from England captain Ben Stokes meant that Australia are reeling at 123 for 9 in response to the visitors' 172 on a manic Day 1 in Perth. Nineteen wickets fell on what seemed to be a good batting pitch - the most number of wickets that have fallen on the opening day of an Ashes Test in the last 100 years. England lead by 49 runs heading into Day 2 in an interestingly poised game.
3 min |
November 22, 2025
The Island
18 dead in Pakistan glue factory explosion amid safety concerns
A boiler at a glue-making factory in eastern Pakistan exploded on Friday, killing at least 18 people and injuring 21 others.
2 min |
November 22, 2025
The Island
S. Thomas' on first innings
S. Thomas' took first innings honours against Richmond as they bounced back after being bowled out for 157 runs to restrict their opponents to 130 runs in their Under 19 match at Mount Lavinia.
1 min |
November 22, 2025
The Island
Lanka-Canada trade ties get major boost
A Sri Lankan business delegation, organised by the Sri Lanka-Canada Business Council (SLCBC) of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, with support from the Canada-Sri Lanka Business Convention (CSLBC), the Canadian High Commission in Sri Lanka, and the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Canada, concluded a trade and investment mission in Canada from 28th October to 14th November 2025.
2 min |
November 22, 2025
The Island
Defying the Raj ~I
In 1917, the British Indian government appointed the Sedition Committee headed by Justice Sidney Rowlatt, to investigate “criminal conspiracies connected with revolutionary movements” in India. The committee submitted its recommendations in 1918. These recommendations led to the Rowlatt Act of 1919. We look into this report at the outset, because even after independence, the narrative it sought to set was not rejected outright. Some of our historians, initially, called the revolutionaries terrorists. Later, facing fierce criticism, eminent scholars adopted the term “revolutionary terrorism” to retain the pejorative term ‘terrorist’ under the cover of ‘revolutionary’.
5 min |
November 22, 2025
The Island
Top Indian team concludes programme: Focus on financial sector supervision, regulatory coordination, etc.
India is focusing on strengthening cooperation with Sri Lanka in the areas of financial sector supervision, regulatory coordination, and emerging challenges in the financial system.
1 min |
November 21, 2025
The Island
Aaron saves S. Thomas'
A back to the wall half century by Aaron de Silva helped S. Thomas' post 157 runs after being seven wickets down for 57 runs at one stage on day one of the Under 19 Division I Tier A match against Richmond at Mount Lavinia on Thursday.
1 min |
November 21, 2025
The Island
Trump signs bill to release Epstein files
US President Donald Trump signed the bill to release files related to the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in federal custody in 2019.
2 min |
November 21, 2025
The Island
When a fish rots
Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa mounted the high horse and went for a ride in Parliament yesterday. He read a newspaper group the riot act.
3 min |
November 21, 2025
The Island
India inaugurates two consulates in Russia as ties deepen
Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has inaugurated new Indian consulates in Kazan and Ekaterinburg on Wednesday (19), RT reported.
1 min |
November 21, 2025
The Island
LECO controversy: Govt. cancels Rs 80 mn tender for Mercedes-Benz
A controversial vehicle order placed for the Lanka Electricity Company (LECO) had been scrapped and was under investigation, Power and Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody told Parliament yesterday.
1 min |
November 21, 2025
The Island
THASL 60th anniversary celebrations on Monday
The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) will celebrate its 60th annivesary at a gala dinner on Monday, 24th November, 2025, commencing at 7.00 pm at Cinnamon Life, Colombo.
1 min |
November 21, 2025
The Island
Harsha finds fault with govt. over handling of Geneva pledge
During the Committee Stage debate on the Foreign Ministry’s expenditure head, SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva criticised the NPP government for its handling of governance.
1 min |
November 21, 2025
The Island
JXG records 44% topline growth at close of 1H FY26
JXG (Janashakthi Group) announced consolidated results for the first half of the financial year 2026 (1H FY26), ended 30 September 2025, demonstrating solid momentum in profitability and strong growth across key financial and operational metrics. “We are pleased to see the positive trajectory continue into the first half of FY26, with performance surpassing the previous year,” said Ramesh Schaffter, Managing Director/ Group CEO, JXG (Janashakthi Group).
1 min |
November 21, 2025
The Island
Cobra in Speaker’s Office sparks questions over Parliament’s long-ignored ecological risks
A cobra’s unexpected appearance inside the Speaker’s Office this week has triggered renewed scrutiny over longstanding lapses in ecological planning and biosecurity at Sri Lanka’s most important administrative complex, with experts warning that the incident is “a symptom of a larger, predictable problem.”
1 min |
November 21, 2025
The Island
Notice to general public on prohibited pyramid schemes
In terms of Section 83 (C) of the Banking Act, No. 30 of 1988, as amended, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has conducted an investigation, ascertained and determined that “SGO/sgomine.com” has engaged, conducted and promoted a prohibited scheme.
1 min |
November 21, 2025
The Island
Prime Minister of Pakistan hosts Lunch for Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Pakistan cricket teams
The Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, hosted the Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and Pakistan cricket teams for a state luncheon at his house on 19 November 2025.
1 min |
November 21, 2025
The Island
SLTA - YETI Hard Court Nationals
Ashlin, Buvindu win age category singles titles
1 min |
November 21, 2025
The Island
Mushfiqur, Litton, bowlers put Bangladesh on top
Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das centuries flattened Ireland (BCB)
2 min |
November 21, 2025
The Island
Lankan married to French woman killed in North
Police are investigating the killing of Rajakulendran Pirindan, 29, at Karanawai, Kudawalawu in the Vadamarachchi region.
1 min |
November 21, 2025
The Island
Snakes in Parliament
Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday (20) called on Speaker Jagath Wickremerathna to take immediate steps to safeguard MPs from snakes that have been making their way into Parliament.
1 min |
November 21, 2025
The Island
Likuuid Spaces at One Galle Face redefining premium workspaces in Colombo
Perched high above the city within Shangri-La’s One Galle Face Office Tower, Likuid Spaces stands as a reflection of Colombo’s new era of work one defined by creativity, connection, technology, and design excellence.
1 min |
November 21, 2025
The Island
Don't rent three-wheelers to foreigners - Police
Police headquarters has warned local three-wheeler owners against renting there vehicles to foreigners.
1 min |
November 21, 2025
The Island
Nitish Kumar sworn in as Bihar Chief Minister for 10th time since 2000
Nitish Kumar, 75, assumed office as Bihar's chief minister for the 10th time since 2000 in a grand swearing-in ceremony at Patna's Gandhi Maidan attended by top NDA leaders.
2 min |
November 21, 2025
The Island
Visa and Commercial Bank pioneering the next evolution in digital payments in Sri Lanka by enabling Google Pay for cardholders
Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC is making history as the first bank in the country to collaborate with Google and Visa, a global leader in digital payments, to enable Google Pay for its cardholders as part of the Google Wallet launch.
1 min |
November 21, 2025
The Island
Discover the extraordinary PEOTV this World Television Day!
In celebration of World Television Day, SLT-MOBITEL PEOTV, Sri Lanka's leading television service provider, proudly continues to revolutionise the television landscape with its innovative and interactive TV services.
3 min |
November 21, 2025
The Island
AI-induced psychosis: Danger of humans and machines hallucinating together
On Christmas Day 2021, Jaswant Singh Chail scaled the walls of Windsor Castle with a loaded crossbow. When confronted by police, he stated: \"I'm here to kill the queen.
4 min |
November 21, 2025
The Island
Weatherald and Doggett handed debuts in first Ashes Test
Jake Weatherald and Brendan Doggett will debut for Australia in the first Ashes Test at Perth Stadium, with Beau Webster losing his place in the XI.
4 min |
November 21, 2025
The Island
Sri Lanka's secret loaches: Scientists uncover eight hidden lineages in the Island's Hill Country streams
A team of Sri Lankan evolutionary biologists has revealed that the island's humble mountain loaches-tiny fishes often overlooked beneath rushing streams-hold a far more remarkable story than previously imagined.
2 min |