Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, met with Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment, Arun Hemachandra, on Friday on the sidelines of the 4th EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum, held from 20–21 November 2025 in Brussels.

During the discussions, both sides agreed to maintain close collaboration at the bilateral level as well as in multilateral fora.

They underscored the importance of further strengthening the longstanding fraternal relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka through enhanced high-level engagements. The two delegations also highlighted the need to leverage the strong goodwill between the countries by expanding cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including trade and investment, tourism, culture, education, defence, agriculture, and human resource development.

Sri Lanka Railways announced that the obstructions along the up-country railway line have now been fully cleared, restoring the tracks to a condition suitable for train operations.

Accordingly, the Colombo Fort–Badulla night mail train (departing Colombo Fort at 8:30 p.m.) and the Badulla–Colombo Fort night mail train (departing Badulla at 6:30 p.m.) operated as scheduled yesterday (21).

However, Train No. 1007 from Colombo Fort to Badulla (9:45 a.m.) and Train No. 1008 from Badulla to Colombo Fort (10:20 a.m.) will be cancelled today (22). All other services on the up-country line will run as normal.

The night mail services had been suspended on November 19 and 20 due to ongoing repairs and clearance work following a rockfall and earth slip between Ohiya and Idalgashinna.

Train operations were disrupted earlier due to a derailment caused by fallen trees and a landslide along the stretch between the Idalgashinna and Ohiya railway stations.

The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has extended the early landslide warnings issued for several areas in seven districts, due to the prevailing heavy rainfall.

The alerts, originally issued yesterday (21), will remain in effect from 4:00 p.m. on November 21 to 4:00 p.m. today (22).

A Level-1 (Yellow) Alert — advising the public to be vigilant — has been issued for the following Divisional Secretariat Divisions (DSDs) and surrounding areas:

Badulla District: Haputhale, Uva Paranagama, Kandaketiya, Haldummulla
Kalutara District: Mathugama
Kandy District: Ganga Ihala Korale, Udunuwara, Thumpane, Pasbaga Korale, Gangawata Korale, Ududumbara, Udapalatha, Pathahewaheta, Yatinuwara
Kegalle District: Aranayake, Yatiyanthota, Deraniyagala, Kegalle, Mawanella, Rambukkana, Galigamuwa, Ruwanwella, Warakapola
Kurunegala District: Mawathagama, Rideegama, Mallawapitiya
Nuwara Eliya District: Walapane, Ambagamuwa, Hangurakketha, Kotmale
Ratnapura District: Kolonna, Balangoda, Imbulpe, Kalawana, Ratnapura, Kiriella

Showery weather condition is expected to enhance over the Island in next few days.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Northern, North-central and Eastern provinces.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in the other areas of the island after 1.00 p.m.

Heavy falls above 100 mm are likely at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces and in Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts.

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva, Western and Southern provinces during the early hours of 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.

SLT-Mobitel has set a new milestone in Sri Lanka’s digital landscape by achieving the highest-ever 5G speeds in the country, surpassing 10Gbps on its advanced 5G Standalone (SA) ready network. The record-breaking achievement, conducted under Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) 5G trial approval, highlights the company’s continued leadership in driving the nation’s digital transformation through cutting-edge connectivity solutions.

The trial showcased the capabilities of 5G Advanced technologies, including Massive MIMO, 5CC carrier aggregation in the C band, and mmWave spectrum deployment, establishing a new benchmark for mobile connectivity in Sri Lanka. This development marks a significant leap from earlier trials and reflects SLT-Mobitel’s commitment to providing future-ready digital infrastructure.

As part of its nationwide expansion, SLT-Mobitel has extended its 5G trial network to 18 districts, preparing the ground for a wider commercial rollout. The company aims to ensure that its high-speed network is accessible to a broad segment of the population, supporting the government’s digital inclusion and transformation agenda. By delivering ultra-fast connectivity, SLT-Mobitel seeks to enhance sectors such as healthcare, education, enterprise services, and everyday consumer applications, enabling citizens to leverage the benefits of advanced digital technology.

SLT-Mobitel has a history of pioneering 5G innovations in South Asia. In 2019, the company conducted the region’s first 5G trial, connecting a mobile smartphone to its network at record speeds. Subsequent demonstrations included hybrid Standalone and Non-Standalone 5G deployments, highlighting incremental advancements in network capability and reliability.

In January 2025, SLT-Mobitel became the first telecom provider in Sri Lanka to trial 5G-Advanced technology, achieving download speeds exceeding 5Gbps using a 3CC configuration. The latest trial exceeding 10Gbps builds on these achievements, demonstrating the operator’s ongoing efforts to explore next-generation technologies and prepare the country for ultra-fast, low-latency connectivity.

Industry experts say such advancements are crucial for Sri Lanka to remain competitive in the digital economy, facilitating smart city initiatives, IoT applications, AI-driven services, and high-capacity enterprise solutions. SLT-Mobitel’s infrastructure investments not only strengthen mobile broadband capabilities but also provide a foundation for emerging technologies and innovation ecosystems.

The company’s dedication to superior network performance has consistently been recognized. SLT-Mobitel has been awarded the title of the Fastest 4G Network in Sri Lanka by Ookla in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2024, reflecting a sustained focus on delivering high-quality mobile experiences to users nationwide.

With this latest 5G milestone, SLT-Mobitel reaffirms its role as the National ICT Solutions Provider, leading Sri Lanka toward a fully connected future. The expansion of 5G capabilities promises not only faster internet speeds but also the potential to revolutionize industries, enhance productivity, and improve the quality of life for Sri Lankans across the country.

Sri Lanka’s tea industry recorded a marginal improvement in October 2025, though the performance across different elevations highlighted ongoing disparities and structural challenges within the sector. According to provisional data from Forbes & Walker Research, the country’s October tea crop reached 21.78 million kilograms (Mnkg), up 0.50 Mnkg from the 21.28 Mnkg harvested in October 2024.

 However, this slight year-on-year gain masks a mixed scenario, with all elevations except the Low Grown segment reporting declines. Compared to October 2023, the overall crop fell by 1.22 Mnkg from 23.0 Mnkg, reflecting persistent fluctuations in production.

High Grown tea, known for its premium quality, faced a significant 6.22% year-on-year reduction, producing 3.79 Mnkg, while the Medium Grown segment declined 1.52% to 3.47 Mnkg.

In contrast, the Low Grown category was the only segment to post a positive variance, increasing 5.96% to 14.34 Mnkg. Green Tea output also dipped 1.86% to 176,195 kilos, extending a downward trend from previous years, with a notable 13.39% drop compared to 2023 levels.

Despite these mixed monthly figures, cumulative production for January–October 2025 reached 220.97 Mnkg, representing an increase of 2.82 Mnkg over the 218.15 Mnkg recorded in the same period in 2024.

All elevations posted gains relative to last year: High Grown output rose 2.16% to 45.92 Mnkg, Medium Grown climbed 2.88% to 39.59 Mnkg, and Low Grown increased marginally by 0.50% to 133.51 Mnkg. Green Tea production also improved 4.10% to 1.94 Mnkg.

When compared with the first ten months of 2023, which saw 216.49 Mnkg harvested, cumulative production in 2025 reflects a 4.48 Mnkg increase. Medium Grown, Low Grown, and Green Tea segments exceeded 2023 levels, while High Grown output remained 5.17% below the same period, underscoring persistent challenges in the country’s premium tea sector.

Industry analysts note that the uneven recovery across elevations highlights structural and operational weaknesses, including aging plantations, labour shortages, and fluctuating climatic conditions, which continue to affect yield consistency. The disparity in production between high and low elevations also suggests that investment and modernization efforts need to be strategically targeted to support sustainable growth.

While modest cumulative gains offer cautious optimism for Sri Lanka’s tea industry, stakeholders emphasize the importance of addressing productivity gaps, upgrading processing facilities, and promoting high-value tea varieties for export. As global demand remains competitive, the sector’s future growth will rely on balancing elevation-specific challenges with strategic innovation and market diversification.

Forbes & Walker Research concluded that, although overall output shows incremental improvement, elevation-level shifts and structural constraints continue to shape production trends, signalling the need for targeted policy and private sector interventions to strengthen the industry.

A high-level delegation from the Embassy of Viet Nam, led by Ambassador Trinh Thi Tam, concluded a three-day visit to Sri Lanka’s Northern Province on 17–19 November 2025, marking a renewed push to strengthen economic, trade and investment ties between the two countries.

The visit, which included engagements with political leaders, government officials and the private sector, focused on unlocking opportunities in agriculture, fisheries, tourism, logistics and renewable energy.

Ambassador Tam began her visit on 17 November with a courtesy call on Northern Province Governor Nagalingam Vethanayahan, followed by discussions with Chief Secretary Thanuja Murugeson and sectoral heads in agriculture, education, health and tourism

 She commended the province’s ongoing progress in economic recovery, social stability and development efforts despite persistent structural challenges.

The Ambassador emphasised Viet Nam’s strong interest in expanding cooperation at the provincial level, noting that deeper engagement could help both sides leverage their comparative strengths.

Bilateral ties between Sri Lanka and Viet Nam, she said, had continued to mature since diplomatic relations were established 55 years ago, and now offered “significant potential for practical, mutually beneficial partnerships.”

Governor Vethanayahan highlighted the strategic value of the Northern Province as Sri Lanka’s closest maritime link to Southeast Asia, arguing that its fertile land, extensive coastline and untapped natural resources make it a promising hub for agribusiness, aquaculture, livestock development, tourism and clean energy.

He outlined provincial priorities such as special economic zones, industrial parks and logistics infrastructure, inviting Vietnamese firms to explore opportunities in export-oriented agro-processing, renewable energy projects, education, health services and infrastructure development.

Local authorities also briefed the delegation on ongoing constraints, including inadequate infrastructure, shortages of processing facilities and limited value-added industrial capacity.

They expressed hope that Viet Nam could support the region through technical assistance, training programmes and technology transfers, particularly in agriculture and food processing.

On 18 November, the Embassy partnered with the Jaffna Chamber of Commerce to host a roundtable discussion with leading businesses from the Northern Province. The event showcased Viet Nam’s investment climate, highlighting its skilled labour force, robust infrastructure, and expansive network of free trade agreements.

Ambassador Tam reiterated her country’s commitment to strengthening economic engagement, recalling the agreement reached during President Ranil Dissanayake’s State Visit to Viet Nam in May 2025 to increase bilateral trade to US$1 billion. Achieving this goal, she noted, would require deeper collaboration between both governments and the private sector.

Northern business leaders welcomed the renewed focus, noting the region’s readiness for high-tech agriculture, aquaculture, agro-processing and logistics partnerships. They encouraged Vietnamese companies to take a proactive role in identifying investment opportunities and requested assistance in capacity building, technology transfer and skills development to support long-term growth.

Sri Lanka’s long-delayed efforts to expand and modernise the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery have gathered new momentum, with the government confirming that 20 investors have responded to the call for Expressions of Interest (EOIs) to establish a 100,000-barrel-per-day refinery under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model.

 Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody told Parliament that the EOI evaluation process is now in its final stages, marking what officials describe as the most progress achieved on this project in nearly two decades.

The revival of the project comes against the backdrop of repeated failures by successive governments to move forward with refinery expansion due to strong political and trade union resistance most prominently led by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), whose petroleum-sector union consistently mobilised protests and strikes whenever the state sought private or foreign investment for Sapugaskanda.

Ironically, the same political movement now leads the National People’s Power (NPP) government, which is actively courting investors for the very project it once helped delay.

Past administrations, including those of Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena, and Gotabaya Rajapaksa, all made attempts to initiate refinery modernisation.

Each effort was met with large-scale demonstrations organised by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) workers’ union affiliated to the JVP.

These campaigns framed foreign involvement in the refinery as a threat to national assets and petroleum-sector jobs, with union leaders staging pickets outside the refinery, blocking critical operations, and warning of “privatisation by stealth.”

 As a result, multiple feasibility studies, negotiations with Middle Eastern investors, and preliminary procurement processes were abandoned halfway.

Today, the political landscape has shifted. Minister Jayakody told Parliament that Requests for Proposals (RFPs) would soon be issued under the government procurement framework, describing the refinery upgrade as “a national priority that cannot be postponed any further.”

Officials say the government views Sapugaskanda modernisation as essential to reducing the country’s heavy dependence on imported refined petroleum, which drains billions of dollars annually.

 According to ministry data, about Rs. 785 million has been allocated for land acquisition required for the expansion of the Sapugaskanda complex, with Rs. 510 million already disbursed as advance payments.

In 2022, the state spent US$600,000 approximately Rs. 137 million on a feasibility study that confirmed the economic viability of a modern, higher-capacity refinery. That study, officials say, had been left idle until the new administration revived the initiative.

The proposed refinery is expected not only to meet the domestic requirements of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation but also support bunker fuel supply and petroleum exports, positioning Sri Lanka as a regional energy hub.

While the NPP government is now accelerating a project it once fiercely opposed, senior CPC officials note that the current economic climate leaves little room for ideological resistance. “The country needs refining capacity protests will not solve our fuel bill,” one official said on condition of anonymity.

For the first time in years, political will appears aligned with economic necessity. Whether this alignment will finally push the Sapugaskanda upgrade into realitor trigger fresh cycles of resistance remains to be seen.

Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananda Wijepala told Parliament yesterday (20) that approximately 25 cyber crime cases are reported across the country each day.

Responding to a question raised by MP Rajeevan Jeyachandramoorthy, the Minister said that the Northern Province continues to record a high number of complaints related to cyber crimes.

He presented the following statistics for the Northern Province:

• 2020: 24 cases
• 2021: 577 cases
• 2022: 654 cases
• 2023: 472 cases
• 2024: 1,539 cases
• 2025 (up to October 31): 2,368 cases

Minister Wijepala further stated that computer crime sub-units have been established under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), with units now operating in many districts from Police Headquarters to strengthen investigations and respond more effectively to cyber-related offences.

Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) Chairman Kosala Wickramasinghe says the bureau aims to create a pool of 5,000 Sri Lankans who have completed Japanese language training by 2026.

He made these remarks during a meeting held yesterday (19) between the SLBFE leadership and a delegation of senior officials from Japanese companies currently employing Sri Lankan workers.

The visiting Japanese delegation is in the country to assess opportunities for expanding labour recruitment from Sri Lanka and to further strengthen avenues for employment in Japan.

Wickramasinghe noted that, in addition to building a pool of 5,000 trained individuals, the SLBFE also plans to launch a new program to send approximately 1,000 Sri Lankans to Japan under the IM Japan scheme.

With the number of Sri Lankans seeking job opportunities in Japan steadily rising, the Chairman said that district-level training programs will be expanded to produce a workforce equipped with both language proficiency and technical skills.