September 14, Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Education has officially released the national examination schedule for the 2026 academic year, confirming the dates for several key public exams, including the G.C.E. Ordinary Level, Advanced Level, and Grade 5 Scholarship examinations.

According to the announcement, the 2025 (2026) G.C.E. Ordinary Level examination—originally scheduled for the end of 2025 but postponed due to academic calendar adjustments—will now be held from February 17 to 26, 2026.

The G.C.E. Advanced Level examination is set to take place from August 10 to September 05, 2026, allowing candidates nearly a full month to complete assessments across various subject streams.

In the case of younger pupils, the Grade 5 Scholarship examination as been scheduled for August 09, 2026.

Looking ahead, the Ministry also confirmed that the regular 2026 G.C.E. Ordinary Level examination will return to its standard December slot and will be conducted from December 08 to 17, 2026.

By: Staff Writer

September 14, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s public finances showed a marked turnaround in the first half of 2025, with higher revenues and a sharply reduced deficit boosting hopes of meeting year-end fiscal targets.

Yet, analysts warn that the recovery rests on a fragile base, heavily dependent on volatile import duties and overshadowed by steep debt servicing costs.

According to the Finance Ministry’s Fiscal Review Report for January–June, government revenue rose 24.7 percent year-on-year to Rs. 2.3 trillion, while the budget deficit narrowed by 32.3 percent to Rs. 405.6 billion, compared with Rs. 598.9 billion during the same period in 2024.

Officials expressed confidence that the government is on course to limit the deficit to 6.5 percent of GDP by year-end, a key target under fiscal consolidation.

Much of the revenue surge, however, stemmed from a one-off boost in excise duty on motor vehicles, which climbed to Rs. 129.1 billion following the relaxation of import restrictions earlier this year.

Economists cautioned that such windfalls make fiscal performance vulnerable to swings in import demand, exchange rate volatility, and policy changes.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has also stressed the need for broader, more sustainable tax reforms to reduce reliance on unpredictable revenue streams.

Beyond vehicle duties, other tax categories performed relatively well. Income tax collections increased by 9.2 percent to Rs. 489 billion, while VAT receipts jumped 27.6 percent to Rs. 876 billion, including Rs. 354 billion from imports.

The Special Commodity Levy soared 70.5 percent to Rs. 77.6 billion. Both the Inland Revenue Department and Customs reported stronger compliance and enforcement, helping them achieve a large share of their half-year targets.

Yet the structure of revenue growth remains skewed towards trade-related duties, keeping the country’s tax base narrow and highly sensitive to external conditions.

On the expenditure side, pressures remain persistent. Government spending expanded by 10.9 percent to Rs. 2.7 trillion, driven by a 13 percent rise in recurrent expenditure to Rs. 2.5 trillion. Debt servicing continues to weigh heavily, with interest payments alone consuming Rs. 1.2 trillion in the six-month period.

Meanwhile, capital expenditure and net lending contracted by 8.6 percent to Rs. 224 billion—a reduction that helps contain the deficit in the short term but risks undermining long-term economic growth by cutting back on infrastructure and development projects.

Sri Lanka’s mid-year fiscal performance highlights tangible progress in deficit reduction, but it also underscores the delicate balance policymakers face.

While headline numbers point to recovery, the country’s dependence on volatile import-related taxes, coupled with soaring debt obligations and underfunded investment, threatens to erode the foundations of fiscal stability.

September 14, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s tourism sector continues to show signs of sustained recovery, with over 52,000 international visitors recorded in the first two weeks of September alone, according to the latest data released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).

The figures indicate that a total of 52,246 tourists entered the country so far this month, contributing to an encouraging trend that has been building throughout the year. India remains the leading source market, with 14,300 Indian nationals visiting during this period—accounting for 27.4 per cent of the overall arrivals for the month.

Other key markets for September include the United Kingdom, with 4,092 travellers, followed by Germany (3,488), China (2,796), and Australia (2,603). These numbers reflect a continued interest in Sri Lanka as a leisure destination, despite a challenging global travel climate marked by fluctuating airfares and regional uncertainties.

With the inclusion of the latest September figures, the cumulative number of international arrivals in 2025 has now reached 1,618,769. Of this total, India has contributed 339,895 visitors, followed by 155,233 from the UK and 119,132 from Russia—underscoring the strategic importance of these markets for Sri Lanka’s tourism revival.

Industry observers note that the increase in arrivals can be attributed to a combination of improved marketing campaigns, greater flight connectivity, and a renewed focus on promoting Sri Lanka as a safe, diverse, and culturally rich destination. The government has also introduced several streamlined visa measures and incentives for tour operators, which are believed to be supporting the uptick in foreign interest.

September 14, Colombo (LNW): A long-awaited archaeological and forensic excavation is expected to commence next week at a suspected mass grave site in Kurukkalmadam, located in the Batticaloa district.

The operation comes following a directive issued by the Kaluwanchikudy Magistrate’s Court, and forms part of broader efforts to investigate unresolved cases linked to Sri Lanka’s conflict-era past.

Deputy Minister of National Integration, Muneer Mulaffer, confirmed that a sum of Rs. 2.9 million has been allocated to facilitate the initial phase of the excavation.

The site, long regarded by local communities and human rights advocates as potentially holding critical evidence related to enforced disappearances or extrajudicial killings, has remained largely undisturbed until now.

September 14, Colombo (LNW): The Election Commission has escalated proceedings against several candidates from the 2024 Presidential Election who failed to comply with mandatory financial disclosure requirements, forwarding relevant case files to the Attorney General’s Department for further consideration.

According to officials, five individuals who contested the presidential race did not submit their legally required statements detailing income and campaign-related expenses, as stipulated under the Election Expenditure Regulation Act No. 3 of 2023. The Commission is now seeking legal advice from the Attorney General on how to proceed with potential prosecutions.

The legislation, enacted to ensure greater financial transparency in electoral processes, obliges all candidates to declare their campaign funding sources and expenditures within a specified timeframe. Failure to comply is considered a punishable offence under the Act.

In addition to the five presidential candidates, the Commission revealed that 13 other individuals, linked to various election activities, also failed to meet the reporting requirements. Law enforcement authorities have been directed to take appropriate action against those parties, with investigations currently underway.

Statements have already been obtained from the defaulting candidates, and the matter has been formally referred to court for further legal proceedings.

September 14, Colombo (LNW): After more than two years of inactivity, construction on a key segment of the Central Expressway is set to recommence this month, marking a renewed push in the country’s long-delayed infrastructure development efforts.

The section between Kadawatha and Mirigama, which had been stalled since mid-2022 due to severe financial constraints, is scheduled to resume on September 17 with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expected to officiate the relaunch ceremony.

The revival of this major project is being seen as both a symbolic and practical milestone in the government’s attempts to reinvigorate national transport networks in the wake of the economic downturn.

Alongside the relaunch, work will begin on the Kadawatha Interchange Hub—a critical access point linking the expressway to multiple transport corridors—as well as the first 500-metre stretch extending from Kadawatha itself.

This initial segment is being prioritised to lay the groundwork for the larger expressway build, which spans 37 kilometres in total.

The government has earmarked Rs. 8.6 billion for this phase of the development, signalling a significant capital commitment to a project many had feared would remain dormant indefinitely.

According to Dr Prasanna Gunasena, Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways, the expressway’s recommencement has been made possible through a substantial financial facility secured from the Export-Import Bank of China, amounting to USD 500 million.

This loan is expected to cover core construction, engineering consultations, and associated infrastructure development over the next several years.

The Kadawatha–Mirigama section is projected to be completed by mid-2028, and once operational, it is anticipated to ease traffic congestion along major national routes whilst significantly reducing travel time between the Western and North-Western provinces.

It also forms a crucial link in the broader expressway network designed to improve commercial connectivity across the island.

Transport officials have underscored the expressway’s long-term benefits for logistics, tourism, and investment, with particular emphasis on job creation and regional development during the construction phase.

Whilst some challenges remain—including the coordination of land acquisitions, environmental assessments, and contractor mobilisation—the resumption of work signals a shift in momentum for large-scale infrastructure delivery, which had been severely affected by the nation’s fiscal crisis.

September 14, Colombo (LNW): Authorities have confirmed that a significant stockpile of chemicals recently uncovered in a remote area of Middeniya has been identified as precursor material commonly used in the illicit production of methamphetamine, a powerful and highly addictive synthetic drug.

The confirmation follows laboratory analysis conducted by the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB), which submitted its detailed findings to the Crimes Division of the Western Province North late last week. The discovery is being treated as a major breakthrough in the ongoing effort to dismantle organised drug networks operating across the island.

The cache came to light on 5 September during questioning of a suspected underworld figure known by the alias “Backhoe Saman,” currently in custody. Acting on information extracted during interrogation, law enforcement officials were able to locate the concealed stock in a discreetly chosen plot of land in the Middeniya area—raising concerns about the scale and sophistication of the operation.

Subsequent searches, prompted by further intelligence, led authorities to additional suspected chemical stashes in Netolpitiya and Kandana. These materials are currently undergoing forensic examination, with detailed reports expected in the coming week. Investigators believe the three locations may have been part of a coordinated distribution network aimed at supporting large-scale drug manufacturing.