The health sector has issued a public advisory urging precautionary measures due to the current high temperatures affecting the country.
Patients undergoing surgery and adults with non-communicable diseases should avoid extreme heat and stay hydrated.
Children, who are particularly vulnerable due to their high water composition, should drink unsweetened fruit juice or clean water. They should also avoid prolonged exposure to high temperatures, wear lightweight white clothing, and opt for long sleeves when exposed to the sun.
If feeling faint or excessively tired, seek shade immediately and consult a healthcare professional if symptoms persist.
Authorities emphasize that preventive measures are crucial to avoiding heat-related complications during this period.
An Extraordinary Gazette has been issued, declaring that the term of office for all Municipal Councils, Urban Councils, and Pradeshiya Sabhas in Sri Lanka will officially commence from June 2, 2025.
The announcement was made by Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government, A. H. M. H. Abayaratne, under the powers vested in him by Section 10(1)(b) of the Municipal Councils Ordinance, Chapter 252.
The newly appointed local government bodies include:
27 Municipal Councils 36 Urban Councils 274 Pradeshiya Sabhas
This marks a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s local governance framework, setting the stage for a new administrative cycle across the country.
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, speaking at the Eighth Indian Ocean Conference in Muscat, Oman, underscored the geopolitical shifts transforming the Indian Ocean into a critical hub for trade, security, and economic growth.
Citing a 2017 PricewaterhouseCoopers report, he noted that by 2050, economies like India, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia are projected to be among the world’s largest. He also pointed to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Japan’s increasing economic engagement, highlighting the region’s strategic importance.
Wickremesinghe stressed that the Indian Ocean contains over half of the world’s proven oil and natural gas reserves, while emerging undersea resources like cobalt—jointly explored by Sri Lanka and India—offer new opportunities for sustainable development.
Reflecting on the region’s maritime heritage, he recalled Sri Lanka’s historical ties with Oman and the Indian Ocean civilisation, citing past military victories and cultural collaborations as testaments to the enduring regional bonds shaping today’s geopolitics.
The Immigration and Emigration Department in Battaramulla has begun issuing passports at night from yesterday (19), the Public Security Ministry announced.
To support this initiative, a special bus service from Pettah to Battaramulla has been introduced for those seeking passports.
The Ministry stated that 4,000 passports will be issued daily at the Battaramulla office, with this number already being exceeded on the first day. Full-time security measures have been implemented to ensure smooth operations.
Additionally, the Ministry confirmed plans to open a new Passport Office in Jaffna next month, aiming to enhance public accessibility and convenience.
Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Galle, Matara, Kaluthara and Rathnapura districts in the evening or night. Mainly dry weather will prevail elsewhere over the island.
Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva, North-western, Northern and North-central provinces during the morning.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
A shooting incident inside the Aluthkade Courts Complex this morning (19) resulted in the death of notorious drug trafficker and organized criminal “Ganemulla Sanjeewa,” police confirmed.
The assailant, who disguised himself as an attorney, infiltrated the court premises before carrying out the fatal attack. Ganemulla Sanjeewa, who was in remand custody at Boosa Prison, had been escorted to the court for legal proceedings at the time of the shooting.
The incident was raised in Parliament by Chief Government Whip, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, who acknowledged the growing concerns over underworld activities.
“The government is actively working to dismantle the underworld, drug trafficking networks, and illegal financial operations. Some of the individuals involved in these activities are even based outside Sri Lanka, but we are taking full responsibility for addressing these threats,” Minister Jayatissa stated.
Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekara also highlighted another tragic shooting in Middeniya, which claimed two lives, including that of a child, underscoring the escalating security crisis in the country.
Following the Aluthkade court shooting, police have launched a manhunt for the suspect, who managed to escape after the attack. Authorities have recovered the revolver-type firearm used in the shooting from the court premises.
Sri Lanka’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for January 2025 recorded growth in both the manufacturing and services sectors, reflecting positive economic momentum, according to the latest report by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL).
The Manufacturing PMI rose to 59, while the Services PMI reached 58.5, signaling expansion in both industries.
Manufacturing Sector Sees Positive Growth
The rise in the Manufacturing PMI was attributed to improvements across key sub-indices, indicating increased production activity and business confidence. The CBSL stated that the outlook for the next three months remains positive, with expectations of further improvements in business conditions.
Services Sector Expands Across Key Industries
The Services PMI expansion was driven by increased business activities across multiple sectors. The CBSL highlighted that new business growth in January 2025 was primarily observed in financial services, transportation, accommodation, and food & beverage-related activities.
With both manufacturing and services sectors showing upward momentum, economic activity in Sri Lanka is expected to maintain a steady recovery path, fostering business confidence and investment in the coming months.
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has attributed the recent nationwide power outage to the high penetration of non-synchronous solar photovoltaic (PV) energy, which reduced grid inertia and heightened vulnerability to faults. The imbalance between electricity generation and demand led to cascading disconnections, ultimately causing a total blackout.
CEB spokesperson Eng. M.H. Dhammike Wimalaratne explained in a media release that the power failure, which occurred on February 9 at 11:13 AM, originated from a disturbance at the 33kV Panadura Grid Substation. This triggered a sudden voltage drop across the network, destabilizing the system.
At the time of the incident, over 50% of the national electricity demand was being met by 800 MW of solar PV generation, supplemented by 470 MW from the Lakvijaya Power Plant in Norochcholai and 130 MW from hydropower plants. The dominance of solar PV, which lacks synchronous generation, resulted in low grid inertia, making it susceptible to voltage and frequency fluctuations. The initial disturbance caused multiple solar PV systems to disconnect, exacerbating the instability and ultimately leading to a complete outage.
The tripping of the Norochcholai Power Plant was an automatic protective response to system instability, preventing severe damage to the plant and avoiding prolonged power failures. Additionally, the “Sunny Sunday” effect—where weekend demand is significantly lower while solar PV generation remains high—further contributed to grid instability. With most industrial and commercial operations offline, the grid operated at reduced demand and inertia, making it highly vulnerable to sudden fluctuations.
Immediate Corrective Actions
To prevent future occurrences, the CEB has implemented urgent measures, including:
Maintaining synchronous generators at minimum output and operating selected gas turbines in synchronous condenser mode to enhance grid stability.
Curtailing ground-mounted solar PV generation during low-demand periods when necessary to mitigate instability risks.
Medium-Term Strategies
The CEB is also accelerating several initiatives to strengthen grid reliability:
Adjusting rooftop solar PV inverter settings to prevent unnecessary disconnections during minor faults.
Introducing special industrial tariffs for weekends and holidays to encourage industries to operate during low-demand periods, thereby supporting grid stability.
Promoting solar PV installations with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and introducing a dedicated tariff for customers using BESS-equipped solar PV systems.
Long-Term Grid Stability Solutions
As part of its commitment to modernizing the power grid and integrating more renewable energy sources, the CEB is investing in long-term solutions, including:
Deploying grid-forming inverters with BESS to provide synthetic inertia and frequency stabilization.
Installing emergency backup generators at the Norochcholai Power Plant to enable rapid reconnection in the event of future disruptions.
Accelerating the Maha Oya Pumped Hydro Project (a 600 MW storage facility) to enhance grid flexibility and energy security.
Advancing Smart Grid investments to improve real-time monitoring and control of renewable energy integration.
The CEB acknowledges the inconvenience caused to the public and remains committed to ensuring a resilient and reliable electricity grid. As Sri Lanka transitions toward a renewable energy-driven power system, the CEB is proactively implementing both immediate and long-term solutions to enhance grid stability and energy security.
As Sri Lanka’s start-up ecosystem continues to evolve, the Lankan Angel Network (LAN) remains at the forefront, fostering innovation, investment, and collaboration. Since its inception in 2012, LAN has played a pivotal role in empowering local entrepreneurs, facilitating the growth of over 50 start-ups with investments exceeding Rs. 2 billion. By providing not just financial backing but also mentorship and strategic guidance, LAN has become a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s entrepreneurial landscape.
Building on this strong foundation, LAN is now looking ahead to 2025 with renewed energy and ambition. With a growing network of over 100 angel investors, LAN is committed to strengthening the start-up ecosystem by bridging gaps in funding, expertise, and market access. This mission was underscored at LAN’s highly anticipated 2025 kick-off event, a gathering designed to inspire, connect, and lay the groundwork for an impactful year ahead.
The event, held at Monsoon, was a vibrant assembly of current and new LAN investors, portfolio companies, fundraising start-ups, key ecosystem partners, and LAN’s distinguished patron members. Among the notable attendees were Western Province Governor Hanif Yusoof and Principal Presidential Adviser on Digital Economy Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, both of whom bring significant expertise to Sri Lanka’s business and digital transformation landscape.
The evening provided a unique platform for seasoned investors and emerging entrepreneurs to connect, exchange ideas, and explore opportunities for collaboration. A highlight of the event was a keynote address by Governor Yusoof, who shared his perspective on investment philosophy. He emphasized that the essence of successful investing lies in backing passionate founders, stating, “We invest in people and not companies.” His insights deeply resonated with attendees, reinforcing LAN’s commitment to supporting visionary entrepreneurs who are shaping the future.
A key announcement of the evening was the appointment of PromoLanka Holdings CEO Adil Mansoor as the new Chairman of the Board for 2025. He will lead LAN alongside an experienced Board of Directors, including Prajeeth Balasubramaniam, Dumindra Ratnayaka, Jeevan Gnanam, Anum Iqbal, and two newly inducted members—Hemas Consumer Brands Managing Director Sabrina Esufally and Capital Alliance Partners Ltd. CEO Nishok Goonasekera.
With the successful deployment of Fund I, which invested Rs. 100 million into six start-ups with participation from 100 investors, LAN announced its ambitious plans for Fund II. This next phase aims to create a larger investment pool, further strengthening Sri Lanka’s start-up ecosystem and ensuring that high-potential businesses receive the resources needed to thrive.
LAN CEO Dinali de Silva concluded the event by emphasizing the critical role of angel investing as the foundation of the start-up ecosystem. She reaffirmed LAN’s commitment to supporting promising start-ups as they scale and compete in an increasingly dynamic market.
LAN extended its gratitude to HNB for their support and to Monsoon Restaurant for hosting an exceptional evening. As LAN embarks on another promising year, the success of this event sets the stage for greater collaboration, larger investments, and a renewed commitment to fostering Sri Lanka’s next generation of entrepreneurs.
