October 27, Colombo (LNW): Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe has served a Letter of Demand to Waruna Rajapaksha concerning statements made on a YouTube channel, which are alleged to be defamatory regarding a distillery licence.
According to a statement from the Deputy Minister’s Office, the online content contained false claims targeting Deputy Minister Abeysinghe, prompting the legal notice as a means to seek redress for reputational harm.
The dispute centres on recent reports suggesting that Deputy Minister Abeysinghe, along with MP Najith Indika, met a businessman at the Kingsbury Hotel to discuss matters related to a distillery licence under allegedly irregular circumstances.
Deputy Minister Issues Legal Notice Over Alleged Defamatory YouTube Claims
‘Amber’ Alert Issued for Strong Winds Across Several Sri Lankan Provinces
October 27, Colombo (LNW): The Department of Meteorology has issued an ‘Amber’ advisory warning of gusty winds affecting multiple regions of Sri Lanka.
The alert, released at 8.30 a.m. today (27), will remain in effect for the next 24 hours until 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday (28).
The advisory covers the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern, Northern, North-central, and North-western provinces, as well as the districts of Trincomalee and Batticaloa.
Residents in these areas are likely to experience wind speeds reaching 50–60 km/h at times, influenced by the cyclonic storm “Montha” currently located to the northeast in the Bay of Bengal.
Authorities have urged the public to exercise caution and take necessary measures to reduce potential damage from the strong winds.
Jaffna Ranked Among World’s Top 25 Travel Destinations for 2026 by Lonely Planet
October 27, Colombo (LNW): Jaffna has earned a coveted spot on Lonely Planet’s list of the Top 25 Best Places to Visit in 2026, placing the northern Sri Lankan city alongside some of the world’s most celebrated destinations.
Renowned for its deep-rooted cultural heritage and unique character, Jaffna has seen a surge in visitor numbers in recent years, establishing itself as one of Sri Lanka’s most distinctive travel experiences. Its inclusion in the global travel guide highlights the nation’s historical and cultural richness while reinforcing efforts to position Sri Lanka as a premier international tourism hotspot.
The announcement was made through Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2026, an annual publication that showcases 25 of the most inspiring destinations and experiences around the globe. The guide, brought to life through vibrant photography and local insights, offers curated recommendations from the travel brand’s expert team.
Founded in 1970, Lonely Planet remains one of the most respected names in global travel media, with more than 150 million guidebooks sold worldwide and a significant digital audience.
Other destinations featured alongside Jaffna include Peru, Cádiz, Botswana, Finland, Mexico City, and the Solomon Islands — further placing the Sri Lankan city in an elite league of must-visit locations for global travellers in the coming year.
Kuwait Airways Resumes Flights to Sri Lanka After Four-Year Break
October 27, Colombo (LNW): Kuwait Airways recommenced its services to Sri Lanka today (27), marking the end of a four-year suspension.
The airline’s A320 Neo aircraft touched down at Katunayake International Airport at 8.40 a.m., arriving from Kuwait City, and was greeted with a ceremonial water salute to mark the occasion.
The inbound flight carried 94 passengers and six crew members, while the return journey to Kuwait City departed an hour later with 105 passengers and the same crew complement.
The event was attended by Sunil Jayaratne, Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka, Kuwait’s Acting Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Al Muhana, and several representatives from the aviation sector.
Regular operations between Kuwait City International Airport and Katunayake are now scheduled to take place four times a week — on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays — reinstating a key air link between the two nations.
Rumesh Tharanga Crowned Best Male Athlete at South Asian Championships
October 27, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lankan javelin thrower Rumesh Tharanga was named Best Male Athlete at the fourth South Asian Athletics Championships, which concluded in Ranchi, India, last evening.
Tharanga delivered an outstanding performance in the men’s javelin final, securing the gold medal with a remarkable throw of 84.29 metres.
Fellow Sri Lankan Sumedha Ranasinghe earned the silver medal with a throw of 81.62 metres, while India’s Uttam Patil took bronze with a mark of 76.30 metres.
India emerged overall champions of the tournament, collecting 20 gold medals to lead the standings. Sri Lanka followed closely in second place with a strong showing — 16 gold, 14 silver, and 10 bronze medals — underscoring the nation’s continued excellence in athletics across the region.
Sri Lanka Launches Global Drive to Boost Tourism and Direct Hotel Bookings
October 27, Colombo (LNW): In a significant step towards revitalising its tourism industry, the Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) has introduced an international digital campaign aimed at drawing more overseas visitors and promoting direct hotel reservations through modern online platforms.
Developed in partnership with leading digital agency eMarketingEye, the initiative seeks to strengthen Sri Lanka’s visibility across emerging markets such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Oman, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, with further countries expected to be added in due course.
The three-year project, backed by Nations Trust Bank (NTB) and American Express, is designed to appeal to high-spending travellers and promote tourism beyond the traditional peak seasons. Central to the effort is the “Truly Sri Lanka” website, which connects potential visitors directly with participating hotels, enabling them to browse exclusive offers and book stays without intermediaries — boosting both brand exposure and revenue for local establishments.
THASL President M. Shanthikumar noted that while the association continues to advocate for a comprehensive national marketing programme, it has chosen to act independently in the interim to target key source markets and attract premium visitors for long-term industry stability.
Rajitha Dahanayake, Founder and CEO of eMarketingEye, explained that the campaign focuses on regional markets within a four to five-hour flight range, noting their strong potential for sustained visitor traffic throughout the year.
Valued at around USD 50,000, the campaign’s first phase will run for three months and aims to position Sri Lanka as an appealing destination for year-round travel.
Sheahan Daniel, Executive Vice President of Consumer Banking at NTB, said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to advancing tourism as a national priority and enhancing Sri Lanka’s profile on the global stage.
Representing over 70 per cent of the country’s formal hotel workforce, THASL continues to influence policy and drive strategic growth across the hospitality sector. Despite steady increases in tourist arrivals by mid-2025, a fall in average visitor spending highlighted the need to attract higher-value travellers. Through this initiative, THASL hopes to secure more sustainable revenue for the industry while reinforcing tourism’s vital contribution to foreign exchange, public finances, and employment.
Cyclone Montha Set to Strike Andhra Coast with Gale-Force Winds
October 27, Colombo (LNW): Cyclone Montha, currently gathering strength over the southeast Bay of Bengal, is predicted to develop into a full-fledged cyclonic storm by later today.
Meteorologists anticipate it will hit the Andhra Pradesh coastline near Kakinada, between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, tomorrow evening or night, bringing wind speeds of 90 to 100 kilometres per hour and gusts reaching up to 110 km/h.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings of heavy rainfall across several southern states, including Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry, over the coming days.
The weather system, which recently intensified into a deep depression, is forecast to strengthen further into a severe cyclonic storm within the next 24 hours.
Authorities have mobilised emergency and disaster response teams, placing additional units on alert for rapid deployment should conditions worsen. The IMD has also urged fishermen to avoid venturing into the sea along and off the coasts of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, and Odisha between 26 and 29 October, as rough sea conditions and high winds are expected.
Sri Lanka’s Plantation Sector Poised for Revival Through Innovation and Value Addition
October 27, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s long-established plantation industry — centred on tea, rubber, and coconut — continues to underpin the national economy, offering a strong platform for renewed growth amid the government’s ongoing economic reform drive, according to Senior Economic Adviser Dr Arosha Fernando.
Speaking on the sector’s enduring importance, Dr Fernando noted that plantations remain one of Sri Lanka’s most resilient industries, employing more than half a million workers and sustaining thousands of rural families.
Recent data reveals that the country produced approximately 262 million kilogrammes of tea in 2024, generating export earnings in excess of USD 1.3 billion. However, the sector continues to grapple with challenges such as erratic weather, rising production costs, and volatile global commodity prices.
Tea production, for instance, recorded a 6.3% decline in June 2025 following prolonged heavy rains in several growing regions. Rubber exports have also been affected by global demand fluctuations and reduced tapping yields. Despite these setbacks, the plantation economy has shown encouraging signs of recovery, with export figures for tea, coconut, and related products rebounding in early 2025.
Dr Fernando emphasised that the future of Sri Lanka’s plantation industry depends on strategic modernisation and value addition rather than reliance on traditional commodity exports. “By investing in premium and niche categories such as organic teas, speciality blends, and sustainably branded Ceylon products, Sri Lanka can strengthen its global market presence and command higher returns,” he said.
Industry experts are also urging diversification beyond raw exports. Expanding downstream processing — such as converting coconut into value-added products like virgin oils and fibre-based materials, and developing high-end rubber goods for industrial and eco-friendly applications — could significantly enhance export competitiveness.
Beyond product innovation, Dr Fernando underscored the need for policy support in areas like climate-resilient cultivation, advanced mechanisation, and worker welfare. He further highlighted emerging opportunities in plantation-linked tourism and digital traceability systems, which can provide transparency to international buyers and strengthen Sri Lanka’s reputation for ethical and sustainable production.
Colombo Mayor Unveils Plans for Sustainable Waste Management Amid Rising Garbage Concerns
October 27, Colombo (LNW): The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has announced a renewed push to confront the mounting waste management crisis in the capital, with daily garbage output now reaching nearly 450 tonnes.
Colombo Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazaar has called for “innovative and sustainable” solutions to address what she described as one of the city’s most pressing environmental challenges.
In a recent statement, Mayor Balthazaar stressed the need to move beyond short-term fixes and invest in long-term waste management systems that are both efficient and environmentally responsible. At present, a majority of Colombo’s solid waste is transported to the Kerawalapitiya waste-to-energy facility—the only such plant currently operating in Sri Lanka.
However, the Mayor acknowledged that relying solely on this site is no longer sufficient to cope with the city’s growing waste volume.
The CMC, she said, is working closely with the Western Province Waste Management Authority (WMA) to develop a comprehensive strategy aimed at improving collection, recycling, and disposal processes. The goal is to create a cohesive framework that can serve not only Colombo but also neighbouring urban areas struggling with similar waste challenges.
As part of these efforts, CMC officials recently carried out field visits to the Karadiyana waste treatment facility and the Kerawalapitiya waste park. The visits were intended to review current operations, identify inefficiencies, and explore opportunities for collaboration with private-sector partners and local communities.
Reflecting on the inspections, Mayor Balthazaar described the experience as “eye-opening,” noting that it underscored the urgency of encouraging behavioural change among residents. She urged the public to take greater responsibility for reducing household waste, adopting recycling practices, and avoiding the overuse of plastics.
Main Suspect in Weligama PS Chairman’s Murder Transferred to FCID for Further Investigation
October 27, Colombo (LNW): The main suspect arrested in connection with the assassination of Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman, Lasantha Wickramasekara—popularly known as “Midigama Lasa”—has been handed over to the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) for further questioning.
Two other suspects, including a woman, have also been transferred to the division, police confirmed today (27).
The move marks the beginning of the next stage of investigations, which will now be conducted under the direct oversight of the Inspector General of Police (IGP). The FCID is expected to probe deeper into possible financial links, motives, and connections that may have led to the killing, which has shocked both the political and business communities in the Southern Province.
The suspects were initially taken into custody yesterday (26). Two men and a woman were apprehended in Kekirawa, while the alleged mastermind—who had reportedly fled the area following the attack—was later captured in Nawinna, Maharagama.
The arrest was the result of a joint operation involving the Police Special Task Force (STF), the State Intelligence Service (SIS), and local police units.
Wickramasekara, aged 38, was gunned down at his office in Weligama on October 22 by two assailants who entered the premises under the pretence of seeking his signature on a letter. He succumbed to his injuries while being treated at the Matara General Hospital. A pistol was used in the attack, according to forensic reports.
Police Headquarters has since confirmed that the suspected shooter responsible for the murder has also been arrested. The case is being handled by multiple divisions under the IGP’s supervision, including the Senior Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs) for the Southern and Western Provinces, the CID, the FCID, and the STF, with coordination across regional and intelligence units.