Can Sri Lanka brush off the dust and move forward as a complete unit?
Can Sri Lanka brush off the dust and move forward as a complete unit? Only the top two teams in each group will qualify for the semi-finals–a place Sri Lanka is obviously keen to reach. None of the bowlers looked truly threatening, and no spell gave the impression that Sri Lanka were in control of the match. So far, it has been a mix of brilliance and vulnerability for Sri Lanka. This phase of the tournament will define whether Sri Lanka can convert promise into performance and emerge as genuine contenders in this competition.
Source:Sunday Times
February 22, 2026 11:28 UTC
President seeks Macron’s help to retain GSP+
President seeks Macron’s help to retain GSP+ View(s):President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, during talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in India, has sought his assistance to retain the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) trade concession after the facility lapses at the end of the year. Mr Macron had assured that France would extend its fullest support for Sri Lanka to retain the GSP Plus facility and also pledged more concessions through its various trade agreements with Sri Lanka. Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath said the government plans to reapply for the GSP Plus facility ahead of its expiry in December this year. Meanwhile, President Dissanayake also discussed trade with Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, who was here on Monday. While thanking Britain for bringing Sri Lanka under the umbrella of the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), which grants preferential market access to 65 developing countries, including Sri Lanka, the President said the government was keen to retain this special facility in the future.
Source:Sunday Times
February 22, 2026 07:48 UTC
Coalgate: Substandard coal delivers more shocks than power
Without verification from an independent accredited laboratory that the coal is substandard, Lanka Coal Company (Pvt) Ltd (LCC) cannot charge penalties from the seller. In this instance, the seller is Trident Chemphar, and the load port is Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) in South Africa. “Why does the supplier provide an Indonesia load port report when loading is done at Richards Bay Coal Terminal?” an official source queried. Why are we not?”Eighty percent of the payment—which is the bulk of it—is released based on the load port certificate. The CEB report indicates that shipments four, five and six also failed on the same count.
Source:Sunday Times
February 22, 2026 06:01 UTC
Teacher WhatsApp groups a headache for parents, children
Teacher WhatsApp groups a headache for parents, children View(s):By Nidarshani WickramasingheWhatsApp groups created by teachers to inform parents about student progress and co-curricular activities should be banned, teacher unions and parents say. Parents told the Sunday Times that messages getting through these WhatsApp groups often happen without proper time management, causing them significant mental stress. In that context, teachers creating WhatsApp groups has become a serious situation in the country, Mr Stalin said. Parents expressed concern that WhatsApp groups could spread information meant for adults. A circular must definitely be issued to stop these WhatsApp groups.
Source:Sunday Times
February 22, 2026 04:11 UTC
Vicious cycle of taxation
Vicious cycle of taxation View(s):Last week, the Sunday Times Business reported that SriLankan Airlines received Rs. Governments, represented by politicians and bureaucrats, allocate tax money without the same discipline that individuals apply when spending their own money. This perpetuates a vicious debt cycle. To ease this hardship by reducing poverty, governments then introduce social protection programmes—cash transfers, food subsidies, housing support. Worse still, when governments tax essentials and restrict imports under the banner of “supporting local production”, they often create monopolies.
Source:Sunday Times
February 22, 2026 01:48 UTC
England eyeing to break Nissanka’s running form
England eyeing to break Nissanka’s running form T20 WC 2026 View(s): View(s):England will target in-form batter opener Pathum Nissanka as a key wicket as Harry Brook’s men prepares to begin their Super Eights campaign against hosts Sri Lanka today at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. The Sri Lankan opener has been a terrific performer in the tournament, hitting a century and a half century in his last two innings and currently sits among the leading run-scorers of the tournament. Brook insisted England would prepare for a full match rather than speculate about a shortened encounter. “I think you just have to prepare as if it is a T20,” he said. “Sometimes you can go down a rabbit hole thinking it might be a five-over game and then it ends up being a full T20.
Source:Sunday Times
February 21, 2026 19:53 UTC
Ayathurai Santhan discusses new novel, ‘Twice Upon a Lifetime’
Ayathurai Santhan discusses new novel, ‘Twice Upon a Lifetime’ View(s):A conversation with Ayathurai Santhan on his latest novel Twice Upon a Lifetime, will take place on February 25 from 4.30 pm to 6 pm at the International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES) Colombo 7. The discussion will be moderated by Dr Vihanga Perera, Senior Lecturer at the Department of English, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Copies of the book will be on sale at the event. Published in January 2026, Twice Upon a Lifetime is a meditation on memory, resilience, and reconciliation in post-war Sri Lanka. Narrated from the point of view of three drivers across two timelines set in Kenya and Sri Lanka, the primary plot is set in 2022, during the economic crisis of Sri Lanka.
Source:Sunday Times
February 21, 2026 19:53 UTC
Re-scrutiny of results of Dhamma Schools exam
Re-scrutiny of results of Dhamma Schools exam View(s):The Examinations Department has said they would only call applications for re-scrutiny of results of Dhamma Schools final certificate examination 2024 (2025) online. Thereafter the applicant should use the OTP number received to the mobile number to access the account created. Applicants should click on the link ‘Dhamma Schools Final Certificate Examination 2024 (2025) – Application for Re-Scrutiny of Results’. The Examinations Department said it is essential to read the Technical Instructions and Common Instructions as well as watch the instructional video before filling the application. Commissioner General of Examinations, Institutional Examinations Evaluation Branch, Department of Examinations, Sri Lanka, P.O.
Source:Sunday Times
February 21, 2026 19:53 UTC
Amid Trump’s plan for attack on Iran, US Pacific Fleet chief visits Lanka
Amid Trump’s plan for attack on Iran, US Pacific Fleet chief visits Lanka View(s):The Commander of the US Pacific Fleet, Admiral Steve Koehler, wound up a two-and-a-half-day visit to Colombo yesterday amidst warnings by US President Donald Trump of staging a possible military strike on Iran from the US-UK military base at Diego Garcia, some 1,000 miles south of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean. The New York Times reported that President Trump has the option to take military action as soon as this weekend, as diplomatic talks on Iran’s nuclear programme remain inconclusive. Ambassador Sergio Gor, in a post after meeting President Dissanayake, referred to “working together to advance stability in the region”. Diego Garcia of the Chagos Islands is currently home to a strategic UK-US military base. The Diego Garcia base has recently been used for operations in West Asia against Yemen’s Houthis and in humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Source:Sunday Times
February 21, 2026 19:53 UTC
Sri Lanka fielding coach confident players will ‘step up’
Sri Lanka fielding coach confident players will ‘step up’ T20 WC 2026 View(s): View(s):As Sri Lanka head into their Super Eight opener against England at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium this afternoon with a depleted bowling attack, missing two of its most influential players–Wanindu Hasaranga and Matheesha Pathirana, Sri Lanka’s fielding coach Ramakrishnan Sridhar acknowledged the setback, but expressed confidence in the players stepping up. That experience will be crucial tomorrow and for the rest of the Super Eights matches. With careful planning and clear execution, Sri Lanka hope to turn past experiences into a strong start in the Super Eights stage. During their last series at the same venue, England beat Sri Lanka 3-0 in the bilateral series. “In bilateral series and private leagues, there’s no pressure as much as it would be in a World Cup Super Eights game.
Source:Sunday Times
February 21, 2026 19:53 UTC
XpressJobs partners with JK Stock Brokers for Women’s Day
XpressJobs partners with JK Stock Brokers for Women’s Day View(s):XpressJobs, on the next Women’s Day, is collaborating with John Keells Stock Brokers to create impact beyond celebration through the #SHEinvests initiative, designed to educate, engage, and empower women with the knowledge and confidence to achieve financial independence. As part of this initiative, XpressJobs clients will have the exclusive opportunity to host a Financial Literacy Session for their female employees throughout the month of March. The programme aims to equip women with practical financial knowledge, build confidence in managing money, and encourage informed investment decisions for long-term security, XpressJobs said in a media release. The one-hour interactive session, conducted by experts from John Keells Stock Brokers, will cover key areas including money management techniques, savings vs. investments, types of investments, equity investing, investment analysis tools, decision-making criteria, and how to begin investing. Commenting on the initiative, Nithila Talgaswatte, CEO of John Keells Stock Brokers, stated: “Financial independence is a powerful enabler for women.
Source:Sunday Times
February 21, 2026 19:53 UTC
SEC steps up to ensure sound finfluencing advice
SEC steps up to ensure sound finfluencing advice By Duruthu Edirimuni Chandrasekera View(s): View(s):Sri Lanka’s capital market regulator is addressing the rise of unregulated financial influencers or “finfluencers,” by introducing a code of conduct and guidelines to ensure transparency in these dealings. Prof. Dissabandara emphasised that this code of conduct and guidelines will mirror best practises from New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Malaysia, etc. He said the SEC also plans to conduct a public consultation on this. He stressed that strengthening the role of the regulator will not hinder finfluencing because regulation will be done step by step. The SEC is sharing best practises with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) in disregard, he added.
Source:Sunday Times
February 21, 2026 19:53 UTC
Lankan ambassador, French MP discuss improving parliamentary ties
Lankan ambassador, French MP discuss improving parliamentary ties View(s):The President of the France–Sri Lanka Friendship Group in the French National Assembly, Soumya Bourouaha, met the Ambassador of Sri Lanka in France, Manisha Gunasekera, this week, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Paris said. “The meeting entailed a cordial and constructive discussion on matters of mutual interest, including recent developments in France–Sri Lanka bilateral relations, and enhanced engagement between the France–Sri Lanka Friendship Group in the French National Assembly and its counterpart Group in the Parliament of Sri Lanka.”Ambassador Gunasekera expressed her appreciation to Ms Bourouaha for her efforts in strengthening cooperation between the Embassy of Sri Lanka and the National Assembly, as well as for her commitment to further consolidating bilateral ties between the two countries. Ms Bourouaha reciprocated these sentiments, the embassy said, and commended the ambassador for her initiatives in fostering closer interaction and collaboration with the Friendship Group in the National Assembly. “The discussion also focused on the possibility of facilitating reciprocal visits between the France–Sri Lanka Friendship Group in the French National Assembly and its counterpart Group in the Sri Lanka Parliament.”Ms Bourouaha conveyed greetings to the President of the Sri Lanka–France Friendship Association in the Sri Lanka Parliament, the Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj, and looked forward to enhancing collaboration with the minister and the members of the Group this year. Ms Bourouaha was accompanied by her collaborator, while the ambassador was joined by the diplomatic staff of the Embassy.
Source:Sunday Times
February 21, 2026 19:53 UTC
Pidurangala’s pachyderm problem needs “sustainable solution”
While the Sigiriya tourist site is well-lit and secure from elephants, Pidurangala is part of a wildlife sanctuary and not cleared of wild elephants. “Sigiriya, being the country’s largest tourist attraction and a sustainable tourist destination, needs the particular attention of the SLTDA if a sustainable solution is to be achieved,” said Janaka Dunusinghe, former president of the Sri Lanka Institute of National Tourist Guide Lecturers’ Institute. The authorities have turned a blind eye to the human-elephant conflict in the Sigiriya area. “Two years before, there was a similar attack by a wild elephant that seriously wounded a tourist,” said a resident of the area. A three-wheeler driver in the area also attested that a few weeks before, a farmer was attacked by a wild elephant, and a three-wheeler was also damaged.
Source:Sunday Times
February 21, 2026 19:53 UTC
Behind Bridgerton
Behind Bridgerton Shannon Salgadoe talks to Julia Quinn about her wildly popular Regency romances View(s): View(s):Dearest gentle reader,One does not simply meet the talk of the Ton – one is granted an audience. Best known as the author of the wildly beloved Bridgerton series – and, more recently, as the literary force behind Netflix’s Bridgerton adaptation – Julia’s journey into historical romance was less a calculated career move and more a natural extension of what she loved as a reader. Historical romance, Julia explains, is not nearly as restrictive as critics imagine. Romance readers expect certain emotional beats, and she intends to deliver them. “I’m both of those people,” admits Julia, though with a smile she adds that she may now be more Violet Bridgerton than either of her younger heroines.
Source:Sunday Times
February 21, 2026 19:49 UTC