September 16, Colombo (LNW): Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Namal Karunaratne has firmly rejected concerns circulating about a potential rice shortage in the country, assuring the public that available stocks remain more than sufficient to meet national demand.

Addressing a press conference held at the Department of Agriculture in Gannoruwa, the Deputy Minister highlighted that both the previous harvest and the ongoing collection from the current season have provided ample reserves, including a steady supply of the much-discussed Keeri Samba variety.

“As of now, we have 47,500 metric tonnes of rice in storage, with a substantial portion made up of Keeri Samba,” he stated. “In addition, over 12 million kilogrammes of paddy are being stored in government-run warehouses, ready to be milled and distributed if necessary.”

The Deputy Minister went on to warn that certain unscrupulous groups are attempting to engineer an artificial shortage of premium rice varieties in order to drive prices up. “This is not a supply issue—it’s a deliberate attempt to mislead consumers and exploit the market,” he said, adding that the government has already taken steps to monitor and respond to such actions.

According to Mr Karunaratne, the Consumer Affairs Authority is currently investigating reports of hoarding and price manipulation, particularly in relation to Keeri Samba. Legal measures will be pursued against those found to be creating unnecessary panic or engaging in unethical trading practices.

The Deputy Minister urged the public not to fall prey to misinformation, reassuring citizens that the Ministry is closely monitoring the situation and will act swiftly to protect both consumers and the stability of the local food supply chain.

September 16, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka Customs has reported an exceptional surge in revenue generation, with earnings in recent months far exceeding projected targets and marking one of the department’s most successful periods in recent history.

According to official figures, Customs revenue for August reached an impressive Rs. 244 billion—comfortably surpassing the monthly target of Rs. 190 billion.

This strong performance follows similarly high earnings in previous months, with Rs. 231 billion collected in July and Rs. 200 billion in June.

Cumulatively, Customs has brought in Rs. 1,471 billion during the first eight months of 2025, reflecting a substantial increase when compared to the same period in the previous year.

Officials attribute the rise to enhanced monitoring mechanisms, improved enforcement at ports, and the streamlining of key processes through digitalisation and risk-based inspections.

September 16, Colombo (LNW): A series of coordinated police operations carried out across the country on Monday (15) have led to the arrest of 24 individuals who were actively sought in connection with a range of criminal activities.

According to the Sri Lanka Police, these targeted efforts formed part of a broader crackdown aimed at tackling crime and drug-related offences nationwide.

Over the course of the operations, law enforcement officers conducted identity checks and background verifications on a total of 27,580 individuals at various locations across the island.

As a result of these checks, 598 persons were taken into custody on suspicion, with further investigations ongoing to determine their possible involvement in unlawful activity.

Among those apprehended were 248 individuals against whom formal court-issued warrants were in effect. Additionally, 170 others were arrested in relation to open warrants that had previously gone unexecuted.

September 16, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s tourism sector has continued its upward momentum into September, with over 75,000 international visitors arriving in the first half of the month, according to the latest figures released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).

Between September 01 and 14, the country welcomed 75,358 tourists, reflecting sustained interest in Sri Lanka as a travel destination. India continues to lead as the most significant contributor to inbound tourism, with 21,389 Indian nationals arriving during this period—accounting for 28.4 per cent of the total arrivals.

Other key source markets during the first two weeks of September include the United Kingdom with 5,714 visitors, Germany with 4,817, China with 4,056, and France contributing 3,834 travellers. These numbers highlight the steady return of European and Asian tourists to the island, particularly as global travel confidence continues to recover.

The cumulative tourist arrivals for the year 2025 have now reached 1,641,881, solidifying expectations that this year may become one of the strongest post-pandemic periods for the local tourism industry. Of this total, India remains firmly in the lead with 346,984 visitors, followed by the United Kingdom with 156,855 and Russia with 120,314.

The month of August saw 198,235 foreign arrivals, marking a significant 20.4 per cent increase when compared to August 2024. This boost underscores a broader trend of recovery and growth in the sector, though concerns remain regarding the consistency of tourist spending.

September 16, Colombo (LNW): A significant step towards modernising Sri Lanka’s public administration was taken this week with the official introduction of a digital signature system for government officials, aimed at enhancing efficiency, transparency, and responsiveness in state services.

Speaking at a formal event held yesterday (15) to launch the initiative within the Home Affairs Division, Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government, Dr Chandana Abeyratne, described the move as a cornerstone of the government’s broader vision to transition towards fully digital public service delivery.

“Our goal is to lead public institutions into a new digital era—one where administrative processes are not only faster, but also smarter and more accountable,” the Minister said. He added that the technology will help reduce bureaucratic red tape, eliminate unnecessary delays, and ultimately bring services closer to the people.

The digitisation effort has begun with officials operating within District and Divisional Secretariats under the Home Affairs Division. These digital signatures are being introduced under the framework of the Electronic Transactions Act No. 19 of 2006, which provides the legal foundation for secure electronic communication in public administration. LankaPay has been authorised to issue the digital certificates in accordance with the Act’s provisions.

Dr Abeyratne stressed the importance of expanding the initiative to include Grama Niladhari officers, who serve as the primary point of contact between the state and local communities. According to the Minister, integrating these grassroots officials into the digital platform will further reduce delays in day-to-day administrative procedures and allow citizens to access essential services more reliably.

The new system will allow public officials to authenticate documents and communications electronically, eliminating the need for physical paperwork in many routine processes. Officials expect this reform to significantly reduce the backlog of pending files and contribute to a leaner, more agile public sector.

September 16, Colombo (LNW): Deputy Minister of Public Security Sunil Watagala has formally approached the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) following the circulation of what he describes as deliberately false and defamatory allegations against him on social media platforms.

In an official complaint lodged with the CID, Watagala has requested a full investigation into the origins and spread of online posts that accuse him of purchasing a luxury apartment in an upscale residential development in Colombo. He has firmly denied the allegations, branding them as entirely baseless and malicious in intent.

Taking to his verified Facebook page, the Deputy Minister addressed the controversy directly, stating that he has never made such a purchase and has not acted in any way that could undermine public trust or the confidence of his political party.

Reaffirming his steadfast belief in the principle of free expression, Watagala also drew a clear distinction between legitimate criticism and targeted misinformation. “Freedom of speech must never be weaponised to undermine democracy or attack individuals with lies. To do so dishonours those who fought to protect that very right,” he said.

In addition to the criminal complaint, the Deputy Minister has confirmed that he will initiate civil proceedings to claim damages from those identified as being responsible for the dissemination of the defamatory content. Legal measures, he emphasised, will be pursued both under civil and criminal law.

September 16, Colombo (LNW): Cloudy skies can be expected over Northern, North-Central, Eastern, Uva and Central provinces, with several spells of showers expected in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (16).

Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in Uva and Eastern provinces and in Mullaittivu district after 1.00 p.m.

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 will occur at several places in the sea areas off the coast extending from Colombo to Matara via Galle. Showers may occur at a few places in the sea areas off the coast extending from Mullaittivu to
Pottuvil via Trincomalee and Batticaloa.

Winds:
Winds will be south-westerly and wind speed will be (30-40) kmph.

Wind speed can increase up to (50-55) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Matara to Pottuvil via Hambantota.

Wind speed can increase up to (45-50) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Chilaw to Mannar via Puttalam.

State of Sea:
The sea areas off the coast extending from Matara to Pottuvil via Hambantota may be rough at times. The sea areas off the coast extending from Chilaw to Mannar via Puttalam may be fairly rough at times.