The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has extended landslide early warnings for several districts until 6.00 p.m.today(18), amid continued rainy weather. Amber Level 2 warnings apply to areas in Badulla, Kegalle, Matale, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura districts. Yellow Level 1 warnings cover areas in Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura districts. Residents in the affected areas are advised to remain alert and follow instructions from authorities as rainfall continues.

Landslide warnings extended across several districts

Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara has stated that the time taken to issue Government Analyst reports is expected to be reduced to three months by 31 January 2027. During an inspection of the Government Analyst’s Department in Battaramulla on 16 October, the Minister reviewed progress in clearing delays, particularly in reports relating to narcotic substances. The department has completed reports for drug samples weighing less than five grams received up to August 2026, under a special backlog-clearing programme. Measures including filling vacancies, improving facilities and providing allowances for night-duty officers have been introduced to speed up the process.

Govt. Analyst report delays to be reduced to three months by January 2027

<ul><li>Govt. eyes private investors&nbsp;</li><li>Proposals received from major regional shipping lines</li><li>5th tender underway for 15 straddle carriers</li><li>Equipment delivery could take another year</li><li>82–85% of civil construction completed&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul> Four consecutive tender cancellations have held up the full commissioning of the Colombo Port’s East Container Terminal (ECT), with the Government now making a fifth attempt to procure 15 straddle carriers even as it explores handing over operations of the State-owned facility to a private operator.&nbsp;With 82–85% of civil construction completed, the terminal faces a further wait of 10–12 months for the equipment to arrive after the contract is awarded, raising questions over repeated procurement failures at one of Sri Lanka’s key port development projects.&nbsp;&nbsp;Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Ports and Civil Aviation Minister Anura Karunathilaka revealed that four previous tenders for straddle carriers had been cancelled for different reasons, while the fifth procurement process was nearing completion following negotiations with two bidders.&nbsp;“The main issue is the procurement of equipment, particularly straddle carriers,” the Minister said.&nbsp;He said that the Government expected to conclude negotiations and award the contract within approximately two months, particularly as the validity period of the current bids was approaching its expiry.&nbsp;“We expect to complete the process within this year. The bid validity period is also approaching its end. Therefore, we need to complete the negotiations and award the contract within approximately the next two months,” he explained.&nbsp;However, even if the contract is awarded within the anticipated time frame, the terminal will not be immediately ready for full operations.“After awarding the contract, it will take another 10–12 months for the equipment to be delivered and become operational,” the Minister said.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Government is considering private sector participation in the operation of the ECT while retaining State ownership, with several proposals already received from prospective operators, including major international shipping companies.&nbsp;The Minister confirmed that no investor or operator had been selected and that the Government was awaiting legal clearance before proceeding with an open competitive bidding process.&nbsp;“Our intention is to retain ownership of the terminal while considering the possibility of granting operational rights to a private sector operator. That could involve a local company or an international partner,” he said.&nbsp;According to Karunathilaka, the Government’s primary consideration in selecting an operator would be its ability to attract sufficient container volumes to ensure the terminal’s commercial viability.&nbsp;“The most important consideration is the operator’s ability to attract sufficient container throughput,” he explained. The Minister said that several proposals had already been received, although he declined to identify the interested companies or their countries of origin.&nbsp;“We have received several proposals from different companies. However, we have not selected an investor or operator,” he said.&nbsp;He added that certain legal matters needed to be resolved before the Government could proceed with the proposed selection process. “We are awaiting the necessary legal clearance. Once those issues are resolved, we intend to proceed through an open and competitive bidding process,” he said.&nbsp;The ECT, designed to handle approximately 2.4 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) annually, comprises a planned 1,320-metre quay and a terminal area of around 75 hectares. Its first phase, including a 440-metre quay, was completed in 2015 at a cost of approximately Rs. 11.17 billion, although operations remained limited due to equipment shortages.&nbsp;The terminal became the centre of political controversy following a 2019 agreement between Sri Lanka, India, and Japan to develop the facility under a 51:49 ownership arrangement. Following strong opposition, the then Government decided in February 2021 to develop and operate the ECT entirely under the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).Construction of the second phase commenced in January 2022, with an estimated project cost of $ 510 million, including $ 200 million from the SLPA. The development envisaged 12 ship-to-shore cranes and 40 rail-mounted gantry cranes.&nbsp;According to the Auditor General’s report, the SLPA procured these 52 cranes for approximately $ 282.56 million. Although all equipment had arrived by June 2025, only six ship-to-shore cranes were operational at that stage due to infrastructure delays. Terminal capacity utilisation increased from 43% in 2021 to 63% in 2024.&nbsp;Despite these constraints, the ECT handled more than 500,000 TEUs in 2025 and commissioned its third berth in 2026.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Colombo Port recorded 8.29 million TEUs in 2025, up from 7.79 million TEUs in 2024, reflecting 6.4% growth. During the first half of 2026, throughput increased by 11.9% to 4.44 million TEUs, compared with 3.97 million TEUs during the corresponding period of 2025.&nbsp;According to the SLPA, Colombo’s global ranking improved from 26th at the end of 2025 to 20th during the first half of 2026, highlighting the growing importance of bringing the ECT into full operation.

East Container Terminal:  4 failed tenders stall operations  

Despite reports of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) shortages across Colombo, with consumers struggling to obtain cylinders and dealers reporting supply disruptions for nearly two weeks, Litro Gas Lanka has attributed the situation to a two-day shipment delay.Litro Gas Lanka Chairman Channa Gunawardana said that LPG supplies were expected to return to normal after a two-day shipment delay, dismissing allegations that delays in opening Letters of Credit (LCs) or payment issues had affected imports.Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Gunawardana said that the delay had temporarily disrupted supplies, while the company was also attempting to meet additional demand amid a shortage of gas supplied by LAUGFS Gas.“There was a delay for two days. Gas is now coming to the market and things will settle down,” he said, adding that Litro was gradually stocking supplies to meet demand.Gunawardana attributed the disruption to a vessel delay involving a shipment that had arrived in the Maldives, which had subsequently delayed the arrival of gas for Litro by two days. He said that the company was also supplying in order to meet the supply shortage from LAUGFS Gas while addressing its own backlog.“The vessel carrying gas to the Maldives was delayed by two days, so we only received our supply after two days. LAUGFS Gas is also facing a shortage, so we are trying to cover that requirement as well, while addressing our own shortage. However, gas is now coming to the market,” Gunawardana said.Dismissing allegations that delays in opening LCs had contributed to the shortage, Gunawardana said that Litro was operating under a one-year contract and that there were no issues relating to LCs or payments.Providing an update on incoming stocks, he said that Litro had received 3,900 MT of LPG on Wednesday (14), with another shipment carrying approximately 3,500 MT expected to arrive.He added that the situation would improve over the following days, saying that supplies would gradually increase as the company refilled the stocks and cleared the backlog.“There should be no shortage after Sunday, as gas supplies are gradually reaching the market,” Gunawardana said, adding that Litro was working to clear the accumulated shortfall, while gas was being released to the market progressively.Meanwhile, consumers have faced difficulties obtaining LPG, with dealers in several parts of Colombo reporting that stocks had run out by Wednesday. Dealers complained that disruptions to gas supplies had persisted for nearly two weeks, leaving outlets unable to meet consumer demand despite assurances that supplies would return to normal.&nbsp;

LPG: Gas supplies running low?

<ul><li>Only $ 1 m paid out of $ 1 b: Dabare</li></ul> Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) Co-Founder and Senior Legal Adviser, Attorney-at-Law Dr. Ravindranath Dabare on Thursday (15) called for the establishment of an international tribunal to hold transnational corporations accountable for environmental damage, citing the X-Press Pearl maritime disaster as an example of the limitations of domestic legal remedies.&nbsp;Addressing a session of the Friends of the Earth International process at the United Nations compound in Geneva on Thursday, Dr. Dabare highlighted the gap between the compensation ordered by Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court and the amount reportedly paid by the companies linked to the disaster.&nbsp;This comes as the insurers’ legal team representing parties involved in the X-Press Pearl compensation dispute arrived in Sri Lanka on 29 September and held discussions with several senior Government officials, including representatives of the Treasury and the Attorney General’s Department.&nbsp;&nbsp;Neither the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) nor the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) confirmed that the legal team had arrived in Sri Lanka.&nbsp;&nbsp;It was learnt that the team, involved in proceedings initiated by the Singapore Government, met with local parties to discuss implementation and compliance with the final Supreme Court judgment.&nbsp;However, Dabare said in Geneva: “Our organisation initiated Fundamental Rights litigation before the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. In July 2025, the Supreme Court delivered a landmark judgment addressing constitutional violations and ordered the X-Press Pearl group of companies to pay $ 1 billion in compensation to the Sri Lankan Treasury. However, only $ 1 million has reportedly been paid to date.”The X-Press Pearl disaster in May 2021 saw the Singapore-flagged vessel catch fire and subsequently sink off Sri Lanka’s western coast, releasing hazardous chemicals, including nitric acid, caustic soda, and methanol, alongside approximately 1,680 tonnes of plastic pellets and debris.&nbsp;&nbsp;Dr. Dabare highlighted the resulting environmental damage, threats to public health, and disruption to coastal livelihoods, calling for an international tribunal to hold corporations accountable where domestic legal systems failed to provide effective remedies.&nbsp;&nbsp;He stressed that environmental justice must extend beyond national borders, with enforceable international laws protecting affected communities, future generations, and nature.

X-Press Pearl disaster: Calls for international tribunal over unpaid compensation

<ul><li>Authority receives up to 12,000 complaints annually</li></ul> Around 4,000 child abuse cases remain pending before courts across Sri Lanka, according to the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), amid concerns over delays in Police investigations, forensic examinations, and judicial proceedings involving child victims.Speaking to The Sunday Morning, NCPA Director of Law Enforcement, Attorney-at-Law Sajeewani Abeykoon said that the authority received between 10,000 and 12,000 complaints annually, with cases involving suspected criminal offences referred to the Police for further investigation.She explained that while action had been taken on complaints received by the authority, some remained administratively open in its database due to long-standing staff shortages and the need for continued monitoring and psychosocial support.“It’s not that action wasn’t taken; action was taken in every single case. The only issue is that these cases hadn’t been formally closed and removed from the database due to staff shortages,” she said.According to Abeykoon, the authority has made progress in clearing outstanding complaints, with approximately 75% of complaints received in 2025 and 50% of those received so far in 2026 having been resolved.“We have already closed 75% of complaints received in 2025, while around 50% of complaints received in 2026 have also been closed,” she said.She noted that complaints requiring continued psychosocial assistance or monitoring remained open, while matters involving suspected criminal offences were referred to the relevant law enforcement authorities.

Child abuse: 4,000 cases pending before courts: NCPA 

<ul><li>Health authorities urge preventive measures to avert wider outbreak&nbsp;</li></ul>Sri Lanka is experiencing a rise in influenza infections across the country, the Epidemiology Unit reveals, urging the public to remain vigilant as it stresses that simple preventive behaviour can help prevent a wider surge.&nbsp;Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Epidemiology Unit Consultant Community Physician and Focal Point for Influenza Dr. Jeevatharan Hamsananthy stated that the unit maintained influenza surveillance through sentinel hospitals across the country and shared weekly findings with clinicians and regional health authorities to guide the public health response.&nbsp;“Influenza currently appears to be on the rise,” she said, noting that while there was an increase in cases, initiatives to prevent infection were of utmost importance.&nbsp;&nbsp;Dr. Hamsananthy added: “Personal hygiene and respiratory hygiene should be practised to manage and prevent infection, similar to Covid-19 measures. If we maintain behavioural preventive actions like during the pandemic, a surge can be avoided.&nbsp;“We normally advise anyone with respiratory infection symptoms to wear a mask. Rather than universal masking like during Covid-19, masks should be worn as personal protection by those with symptoms to prevent infecting others.”&nbsp;She further stated that the antiviral oseltamivir was available through the Medical Supplies Division and regional medical supplies divisions at hospitals.&nbsp;&nbsp;“It must be prescribed by doctors or specialists – clinicians, paediatricians, or physicians. It cannot be purchased over the counter at pharmacies without a prescription,” she said.&nbsp;Dr. Hamsananthy explained that treatment was initiated based on clinical suspicion, ideally within 24 hours. High-risk patients, including pregnant women and people with chronic illnesses, should be properly evaluated and, where necessary, admitted and examined by specialists before the medicine is prescribed.&nbsp;She further warned that indiscriminate use of antivirals provided no benefit and could contribute to drug resistance. The unit regulates the medicine through treatment guidelines and monitors usage reports before replenishing supplies.&nbsp;Although influenza vaccination is available in the private sector, it is not part of Sri Lanka’s national immunisation programme. Dr. Hamsananthy said that high-risk individuals and people travelling abroad commonly obtained the vaccine privately.&nbsp;

Health: Influenza cases on the rise nationwide 

<ul><li>6,600-litre penalty equivalent for fuel shortages</li><li>Dealer commissions at Rs. 4.58–8.45 per litre</li><li>DODO payments up to Rs. 8.91 per litre</li><li>24-hour stations to report stocks by 9 a.m.</li></ul> The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has made daily stock reporting through its designated software mandatory for fuel dealers to qualify for revised commission adjustments and sales and quality incentives, while providing for deductions from incentives where dealers are found responsible for fuel shortages or dispensing less fuel than indicated by station meters.The requirement is set out in Marketing Bureau Circular No. 1126, dated 8 May 2026, which came into effect on 9 May, according to a copy obtained by The Sunday Morning. The circular by the CPC addressed to ‘To all Ceypetco Dealers’ bearing reference No. MKT/26/32(02), replaces Circular No. 1115 dated 30 August 2025 and applies to Company-Owned, Dealer-Operated (CODO) and Dealer-Owned, Dealer-Operated (DODO) filling stations.The circular says that dealers are required to enter stock and other relevant information into the CPC’s designated software every morning before station operations commence. At filling stations operating around the clock, the information must be entered before 9 a.m.&nbsp;The circular further states that strict implementation of the requirement began on 1 March, with compliance subject to inspection during the relevant month.Under the revised arrangements, dealers found responsible for fuel shortages following an investigation will face deductions from their incentives equivalent to a bulk quantity of 6,600 litres of the relevant fuel type. The same deduction applies where an inspection confirms a complaint that a filling station’s meters dispense less fuel than the quantity indicated.&nbsp;Dealers must also meet minimum targets set periodically by the CPC Marketing Manager for corporate products to qualify for the incentives.The circular revises commission allowances, sales and quality incentives, pumping incentives, and dealership rents for fuel dealers. It specifies revised commission allowances for Lanka Petrol 92 Octane, Lanka Petrol 95 Octane Euro 4, Lanka White Diesel, and Lanka Super Diesel 4 Star Euro 4, with payments varying according to the category of filling station and the volume of fuel purchased in bulk.&nbsp;The CPC has classified filling stations into five categories: standard stations; stations located at least 5, 10, or 15 km by road from another filling station; and newly established stations within five years of their initial development.For DODO dealers, the revised commission allowances for the four main fuel products range from Rs. 4.58 to Rs. 8.45 per litre, depending on the station category and bulk purchase band. Stations located at least 15 km by road from another filling station, along with qualifying newly established stations, receive higher allowances in the first bulk purchase band.&nbsp;The circular also provides commission allowances equivalent to 2% of the selling price per litre for Lanka Kerosene and industrial kerosene across the specified dealer categories.For CODO stations, the commission allowances follow a similar category-based structure. The circular specifies a dealership rent of Rs. 140 per litre for the four main fuel products, while deductions also apply to kerosene and industrial kerosene under the prescribed arrangements.The circular signed by the Acting Manager – Marketing of the CPC sets out combined dealer discounts and incentives, incorporating discount adjustments, sales and quality incentives, pumping incentives, and allowances for QR-code implementation costs.For DODO dealers operating standard stations, the combined payment is Rs. 8 per litre for the first bulk band of 1–15 and Rs. 8.30 per litre for subsequent bands. Stations located at least 15 km by road from another filling station, along with qualifying new stations, receive Rs. 8.91 per litre for the first band and Rs. 8.30 per litre thereafter.For CODO dealers, the corresponding combined amounts, after dealership rent deductions, are Rs. 6.60 per litre for standard stations in the first band and Rs. 6.90 per litre for subsequent bands. Stations in the 15 km category and qualifying new stations receive Rs. 7.51 per litre for the first band and Rs. 6.90 per litre thereafter.Payments for stations in the 5 km and 10 km categories vary according to the rates specified in the circular.The CPC states that the calculations are based on a calendar month and defines one bulk quantity as 6,600 litres, equivalent to two quantities of 3,300 litres. Each dealer can belong to only one of the specified categories.Although dealer discounts and incentives are combined and paid per litre when invoices are issued, the CPC reserves the right to recover amounts already paid if violations of the prescribed conditions are confirmed during the relevant calendar month.

Fuel dealers: Daily stock reporting mandatory for incentives

<ul><li>COPF questions oversight</li></ul>The Colombo Port City Economic Commission (CPCEC) has facilitated the issuance of 14,300 foreign worker visas while operating with only 16 staff and conducts no active follow-up once foreign workers enter the country on 30-day landing endorsements, the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) has been told.The disclosure came during an 8 October COPF inquiry, chaired by Dr. Harsha de Silva, into visa violations following reports of five Chinese nationals deported in August, prompting the commission to suspend visa recommendations for two Port City Authorised Persons (APs).Officials said the five Chinese nationals were deported from the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) after failing to explain their arrival or identify their employers. Visa recommendation suspensions on the two companies were lifted within a month following joint inspections.&nbsp;Dr. de Silva highlighted regulatory gaps in addressing suspected cybercrime, noting that deportations were based on visa violations rather than cybercrime charges. He also questioned whether Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and blockchain firms operating outside Port City Colombo could be used by cyber-scam operations displaced from Southeast Asia.Citing first-quarter 2026 immigration statistics, Dr. de Silva noted that arrivals from Cambodia had risen by 70%, from Vietnam by 258%, and from Myanmar, flagged as a major cyber-scam and offshore gaming hub, by 458%. He added that both the Chinese and Vietnamese Embassies had urged Sri Lankan authorities to act decisively to protect the country’s reputation and banking sector.CPCEC Director of Finance Ruwan Karunaratne said that foreign workers received 30-day landing endorsements, while APs must submit monthly employee and residential details and notify local Police.&nbsp;Opposition MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam questioned accountability for workers engaging in illegal activities, with officials confirming that visa violations fell under the Department of Immigration and Emigration.Officials then disclosed that 14,300 visas had been issued, which Rasamanickam noted averaged more than 200 foreign personnel per Business of Strategic Importance (BSI). When asked how many field officers conducted compliance checks, officials stated that the entire organisation had only 16 staff.&nbsp;“So out of that 16, you’re telling us they are going to periodically conduct random visits on 14,000 people?” Rasamanickam questioned, adding that unannounced inspections of off-site offices in Colombo would present a different picture.The committee also examined the vetting of the 67 to 68 secondary BSIs approved by the CPCEC. Parliamentary researchers identified entities registered in tax havens such as the British Virgin Islands with minimal capital commitments and unclear beneficial ownership.&nbsp;These included Ace Global Management Services, granted BSI status with a commitment of $ 10,000, and Fortitude Innovations, approved with $ 2,500. Bridgeton Global Ltd., Taken Technologies, and Xeptagon Information Technology had no identifiable parent company.COPF members questioned how such entities could obtain BSI status, receive tax concessions, and secure quotas to sponsor hundreds of foreign workers.The committee directed the CPCEC to submit, within two weeks, an inventory of all 67 BSIs identifying every company that has sponsored foreign labour, the headcount, nationalities, length of stay, and verified job roles of all 14,300 foreign workers and beneficial ownership records for all registered offshore entities.

Landslide warnings extended across several districts

Govt. Analyst report delays to be reduced to three months by January 2 ...

Govt. Analyst report delays to ...

East Container Terminal: 4 failed tenders stall operations

East Container Terminal: 4 fa ...

LPG: Gas supplies running low?

LPG: Gas supplies running low?

X-Press Pearl disaster: Calls for international tribunal over unpaid c ...

X-Press Pearl disaster: Calls ...

Child abuse: 4,000 cases pending before courts: NCPA

Child abuse: 4,000 cases pendi ...

Health: Influenza cases on the rise nationwide

Health: Influenza cases on the ...

Fuel dealers: Daily stock reporting mandatory for incentives

Fuel dealers: Daily stock repo ...

14,300 foreign workers, just 16 staff at Port City

14,300 foreign workers, just 1 ...

Govt. Analyst report delays to be reduced to three months by January 2 ...

Govt. Analyst report delays to ...

East Container Terminal: 4 failed tenders stall operations

East Container Terminal: 4 fa ...

LPG: Gas supplies running low?

LPG: Gas supplies running low?

X-Press Pearl disaster: Calls for international tribunal over unpaid c ...

X-Press Pearl disaster: Calls ...

Child abuse: 4,000 cases pending before courts: NCPA

Child abuse: 4,000 cases pendi ...

Health: Influenza cases on the rise nationwide

Health: Influenza cases on the ...

Fuel dealers: Daily stock reporting mandatory for incentives

Fuel dealers: Daily stock repo ...

14,300 foreign workers, just 16 staff at Port City

14,300 foreign workers, just 1 ...

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Govt. Analyst report delays to be reduced to three months by January 2 ...

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East Container Terminal: 4 failed tenders stall operations

East Container Terminal: 4 fa ...

Bringing the news paper to your fingertips

LPG: Gas supplies running low?

LPG: Gas supplies running low?

X-Press Pearl disaster: Calls for international tribunal over unpaid c ...

X-Press Pearl disaster: Calls ...

Child abuse: 4,000 cases pending before courts: NCPA

Child abuse: 4,000 cases pendi ...

Health: Influenza cases on the rise nationwide

Health: Influenza cases on the ...