November 04, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka Customs has revealed plans to implement a digital e-tendering platform for the sale of confiscated items, marking a significant step towards modernising its auction process.
The announcement was made during a session of the Parliamentary Committee on Standing Orders, presided over by MP Wijesiri Basnayake. The meeting brought together committee members, the Director General of Customs, Seevali Arukgoda, and several senior officials to discuss ongoing reforms within the department.
According to Customs representatives, the upcoming e-tendering system aims to enhance transparency, efficiency, and accessibility in the disposal of seized goods, while minimising opportunities for irregularities in the auction process.
Sri Lanka Customs to Launch Digital E-Tendering System for Auctioned Goods
Former Finance Ministry Secretary Arrested Over Alleged Misuse of Public Funds
November 04, Colombo (LNW): Charitha Ratwatte, who once served as Secretary to the Ministry of Finance and as a senior advisor to a former Prime Minister, has been taken into custody by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) in relation to a major financial irregularity.
The arrest concerns an inquiry into the 2015 purchase of 50 temporary storage facilities, reportedly brought into the country through the Sri Lanka State Trading Corporation at a cost exceeding Rs. 90 million.
Investigators allege that the procurement was carried out in breach of standard government procedures and without sufficient justification for the expenditure.
Sharp Decline in Polythene Bag Use Following New Regulations
November 04, Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Trade has announced a notable reduction in the use of polythene bags across Sri Lanka after the enforcement of new regulations prohibiting retailers from distributing them free of charge.
Prior to the rule taking effect, it was estimated that around 20 million polythene bags were used daily throughout the country.
However, within just two days of the regulation’s introduction on 1 November, a prominent supermarket chain reported a 50 per cent decrease in the number of bags issued to customers.
According to the Ministry, the initiative expects to curb plastic pollution and mitigate the environmental damage caused by single-use polythene. Officials expressed optimism that the change in consumer behaviour seen in the early days of implementation indicates growing public awareness of environmental responsibility.
Vatican’s Foreign Affairs Chief Meets Sri Lankan Prime Minister During Official Visit
November 04, Colombo (LNW): Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, has met with Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya during his official visit to Sri Lanka. The discussion took place at Temple Trees, the Prime Minister’s official residence, according to a statement from her office.
He was accompanied by Rev. Monsignor Roberto Lucchini, Chargé d’Affaires of the Holy See’s Embassy in Colombo, and Rev. Monsignor Tomislav Zubac, Second Secretary of the Vatican Secretariat of State.
Archbishop Gallagher arrived in the country on November 03 and is scheduled to remain until 8 November, as confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His visit comes at the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, to mark half a century of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the Holy See.
During his stay, the Archbishop is expected to meet with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and take part in a special commemorative event in Colombo celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties. He is also set to deliver an address at the ceremony, which will highlight the enduring partnership between the Vatican and Sri Lanka.
In addition to official engagements, Archbishop Gallagher’s itinerary includes visits to culturally and spiritually significant sites across the island, including churches impacted by the Easter Sunday attacks of 2019, as part of efforts to express solidarity and strengthen interfaith dialogue.
CID Warns Public of Surge in WhatsApp-Based Financial Scams
November 04, Colombo (LNW): The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has reported a sharp increase in complaints linked to individuals being deceived into transferring money through fraudulent WhatsApp messages.
Assistant Superintendent of Police W. G. Jayanethsiri revealed that the department has received a significant number of such reports in recent days, urging users to remain vigilant when communicating via WhatsApp and other messaging platforms.
Explaining how the scam unfolds, he noted that fraudsters typically impersonate well-known or respected individuals by using phone numbers linked to their identities. They then send messages crafted to appear genuine — often referencing routine activities such as online meetings or professional discussions.
Victims are invited to join a supposed virtual meeting through a link, followed by a request to share a verification code allegedly needed for participation. However, this code is in fact a One-Time Password (OTP) sent by WhatsApp itself. By obtaining this OTP, scammers gain complete control of the victim’s WhatsApp account, giving them access to personal information, messages, and contacts.
Once in control, the impostors send messages to the victim’s friends, colleagues, or family members, claiming to face an emergency and requesting money transfers. Many recipients, trusting the apparent sender, send funds before realising they have been deceived.
ASP Jayanethsiri cautioned that many victims only discover their accounts have been compromised after several days, by which time multiple people may already have fallen prey to the scheme. He urged the public to avoid sharing verification codes or personal information through messaging apps and to verify any unusual requests directly via a phone call or in-person confirmation.
GovPay Surpasses Rs. 1 Bn in Digital Transactions for Government Services
November 04, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s GovPay digital payment platform has crossed a major milestone, processing transactions exceeding Rs. 1 billion since its launch, according to the Ministry of Digital Economy.
Designed to simplify and secure payments for public services, GovPay enables both individuals and businesses to settle a wide range of government dues online — including taxes, fines, educational fees, utility bills, and other official charges — through banks and approved digital finance systems.
Official figures released on November 03 indicate that 40,969 transactions, totalling Rs. 1,007,997,008, have been completed so far via GovPay, covering 200 government agencies across the island.
The initiative, administered by LankaPay under the oversight of the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, has been credited with improving efficiency, accountability, and transparency in state financial management. By digitising payment processes, the platform aims to reduce manual handling of funds while ensuring real-time traceability and accuracy.
GovPay was officially launched in February 2025 under the guidance of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Minister of Digital Economy. The project continues to expand in stages, with further integration planned to bring additional public services into the digital payment ecosystem.
Chemmani Mass Grave Excavation Delayed After Heavy Rainfall Floods Site
November 04, Colombo (LNW): The planned third phase of excavation at the Chemmani mass grave has been temporarily halted after heavy rainfall caused significant water accumulation within the burial area.
Authorities confirmed that excavation work could not proceed under the current conditions, as the standing water has made the site unsafe and unsuitable for further digging. During the first two stages of excavation, investigators uncovered 240 sets of human skeletal remains, of which 239 were exhumed for forensic examination.
A delegation, including Jaffna Magistrate S. Lenin Kumar, the Judicial Medical Officer, and a group of legal representatives, recently visited the location to review progress and discuss the next steps. Upon inspection, the team noted that persistent rain had submerged sections of the site, making it impossible to continue excavation until the area is properly drained and stabilised.
Although funds for the third phase have already been secured, officials have agreed to delay further work until conditions improve.
The inspection team is scheduled to return to Chemmani on January 19, 2026 to re-evaluate the situation and determine a suitable date to resume operations.
The Chemmani site remains one of the most controversial mass graves in the region, with investigators committed to ensuring that all remains are recovered and examined with the utmost care and respect.
Teachers and Principals Demand Reversal of Extended School Term Decision
November 04, Colombo (LNW): The Teachers’ and Principals’ Trade Union Alliance has issued a firm ultimatum to the government, calling for the withdrawal of its recent decision to lengthen the current school term. The Alliance has given authorities until November 07 to reconsider the move, warning of serious repercussions should the demand go unheeded.
Speaking at a briefing in Colombo, Joseph Stalin, General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers’ Union, criticised the government’s decision, arguing that it places an undue burden on both educators and students.
He noted that teachers have already endured challenging working conditions throughout the year and that any further extension to the term would exacerbate fatigue and disrupt family commitments during the upcoming holiday season.
The Alliance emphasised that if the government fails to retract the decision by the stated deadline, an island-wide campaign of trade union action will commence during the first week of December.
Such action, according to union representatives, could include strikes, protests, and other forms of organised dissent aimed at compelling the authorities to reconsider their stance.
Union leaders urged the Ministry of Education to engage in constructive dialogue and to prioritise the welfare of the teaching community and the education sector as a whole.
President AKD Names Hanif Yusoof as His Special Envoy to Drive Foreign Investment
By: Krishantha Prasad Cooray
Hanif Yusoof represents the best of Sri Lankan business. Starting out making deliveries on a Honda motorcycle, he built Sri Lanka’s most valuable listed company, Expolanka Group.
When he left Expolanka, the company had grown from a tiny family run firm into a global multinational with offices in 39 countries. Expolanka was able to compete, thrive and swallow others in the fiercely competitive global logistics market. It was able to prove that a Sri Lankan company could play with the world’s best and beat them at their own game.
Expolanka’s prowess was so formidable, it attracted a buyout from Sagawa, the Japanese logistics giant. They retained Hanif because they knew he was the man who made it all happen.
That’s what President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, a consummate talent spotter, knew too. Which is why he appointed him as Western Province Governor and now the President’s Special Envoy on Foreign Investments as well.
This is the first time a President has appointed a Special Envoy for Foreign Investments, demonstrating the seriousness of the governments FDI drive and the priority it commands.
As Presidential Special Envoy for Foreign Investments he will engage strategically with international investors; lead efforts to strengthen investor confidence and champion reforms to unlock foreign direct investment. He will also coordinate across government to facilitate investment, including across the Board of Investment (BOI), Export Development Board (EDB), Port City Commision and line ministries.
As Sri Lanka climbs out of the hole of crisis, there is no one who can marshall the credibility and connections Hanif does.
With his extensive track record in international business leadership, his experience leading major global investment partnerships, and his longstanding contributions to Sri Lanka’s private sector development, he is the man for the job.
With someone like Hanif in the room, foreign investors will have the confidence to engage and invest. They will know that roadblocks will be removed and problems solved swiftly.
As a result, just as Upali Wijewardene brought Motorola to Lanka to build a semiconductor plant, we can expect Hanif and the crack team the President is putting together to deliver similar feats and take Sri Lanka’s foreign investments to the next level.
Several provinces to witness afternoon showers, thundershowers: Mainly fair weather to prevail elsewhere (Nov 04)
November 04, Colombo (LNW): Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva and Northern provinces and in Trincomalee district after 2.00 p.m., the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (04).
Mainly fair weather will prevail in the other areas of the island.
Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Central, Sabaragamuwa and Uva provinces and in Ampara district during the early hours of the morning.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Marine Weather:
Condition of Rain:
Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places in the sea areas off the coast extending from Mannar to Mullaitivu via Kankasanthurai.
Mainly fair weather will prevail in the other sea areas around the island.
Winds:
Winds will be Westerly or variable in direction and speed will be (20-30) kmph.
Wind speed can increase up to (40-45) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Puttalam to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle and Hambantota.
State of Sea:
The sea areas off the coast extending from Puttalam to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle and Hambantota will be fairly rough at times. The other sea areas around the island will be slight.