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Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath yesterday said the Government will form an operations committee comprising officials from both the public and private sectors to accelerate efforts to promote sports tourism in Sri Lanka.

The decision was made following a meeting at the Tourism Ministry attended by representatives from the Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry, Sri Lanka Cricket, and several national sports federations. The committee will work to attract international visitors through national and international sporting events, including cricket, rugby, and football tournaments.

Officials noted that while Sri Lanka hosts numerous sports events annually, such as marathons, surfing, and cycling, these have yet to be fully leveraged for tourism promotion. The committee will focus on integrating such events into the broader tourism strategy, improving infrastructure, and enhancing global visibility.

Herath said sports tourism is a key component of the Government’s long-term tourism plan, adding that the new committee will help shape policy, identify opportunities, and build partnerships to position Sri Lanka as a leading regional destination for sports tourism.

The Sri Lanka Police Headquarters yesterday warned the public to be cautious when taking loans through online or mobile platforms, following a surge in complaints about deceptive and exploitative lending practices.

Police said a growing number of institutions are promoting instant loans online or via mobile apps, often with attractive advertisements or unsolicited phone calls promising quick access to cash without collateral. However, many borrowers have since fallen into financial distress due to undisclosed fees, excessive interest rates, and predatory recovery methods.

Investigations revealed that some lenders resort to harassment and public shaming-such as repeated calls or defamatory posts on social media-against borrowers who fail to meet repayments.

A joint probe by the Police and the Central Bank’s Non-Banking Financial Institutions Supervision Department found that many of these entities are not licenced or regulated by the Central Bank. Officials said steps are being taken to bring such digital lenders under proper oversight.

The Police urged the public to obtain credit only from institutions authorised and regulated by the Central Bank and to verify their legitimacy before borrowing. Complaints or suspicious activities can be reported to local Police stations or through the Central Bank’s official website.

The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) yesterday criticised the Construction Industry Development Authority (CIDA) for allegedly harassing an employee on personal grounds and spending nearly Rs. 15 million on legal fees in connection with the case.

It was revealed during the COPE session that the CIDA had paid a lawyer Rs. 600,000 per Court appearance in the case filed against an employee, who was later reinstated following a Court order. The CIDA has since appealed the judgment.

COPE members also raised concerns over a planned Rs. 5.9 million renovation of the Authority’s office roof, noting that the contractor’s quotation had not been properly verified.

The Special Investigation Division (SID) of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau (SLFEB) has arrested a lawyer who defrauded Rs. 9.41 million by promising to provide jobs in the nursing sector in England and Malta.

The lawyer from Moratuwa ran a licenced foreign employment agency operated under the name CMM Travels and Tours and charged a total of Rs. 9.41 million promising to provide jobs in England and Malta in the nursing sector. His agency licence had expired and did not hold a valid employment order.

He was produced before the Moratuwa Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. Since he pleaded guilty, the Magistrate ordered to release him on two surety bonds of Rs. 500,000 each, and the case is scheduled to be taken up again on 27 January 2026.

A son of a former mayor of Kalaeliya, Ja-Ela, was also arrested by the SLFEB’s SID for accepting Rs. 600,000 to send a resident of Talawakelle for employment in Dubai without a valid permit from the SLFEB, on Wednesday.

During the arrest, officers seized several job applications and visa-related documents from his house. The suspect was scheduled to appear before the Welisara Magistrate’s Court yesterday (16).

Acting on a complaint, a resident of Kochchikade, Negombo, who had collected Rs. 2 million promising a job in Japan, was also arrested for recruiting people for foreign employment without a permit. He was to appear before the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Meanwhile, a person, who had been charging money to send women aged between 58-60 years old as domestic workers in Dubai using tourist visas, was arrested by SID officers on Tuesday.

Following two complaints received by the SID from two women who returned to Sri Lanka failing to secure a job in Dubai and the other who paid money but did not get the promised job, he was arrested in Udahamulla.

He was operating a job agency called Methsara Housemaid Services in Beddagana Road, Kotte, and collected Rs. 1.1 million without providing the promised jobs. Officers seized four foreign passports, CVs, visa documents, and other materials. He was also produced before the Gangodawila Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday

President Anura Kumara Disanayake undertook the NPP Government’s first Cabinet reshuffle last week, which saw the appointment of three new ministers and 10 additional deputy ministers. Governments across the world carry out cabinet reshuffles due to a multiplicity of reasons. Cabinet reshuffles become necessary when presidents and prime ministers are compelled to remove ministers from their existing portfolios due to their ill-advised decisions and actions as their continuous presence in the same ministerial positions has an adverse impact on the Government’s popularity.

Cabinet reshuffles also provide an opportunity to keep coalition government intact by appeasing partners of the coalition through ministerial portfolios. New ministers may be inducted to the prime decision-making arm of the government in order to provide representation to minority ethnic/religious communities. Rearrangements also serve the purpose of getting rid of underperforming ministers apart from showing the door to those whose views do not align with the policy direction of the government.

In Sri Lanka, Cabinet reorganisations often associate with giving the cold shoulder to ministers who are at loggerheads with the President. The famous Cabinet reshuffle in 2007 under President Mahinda Rajapaksa saw the late Mangala Samaraweera, who was not seeing eye to eye with the former on many issues, losing the foreign affairs portfolio. At the very reshuffle, the late Anura Bandaranaike was downgraded to the insignificant portfolio of Cultural Affairs and National Heritage as Rajapaksa had serious doubts about the late politician’s loyalty to the then Government.

The highly discussed outcome of the recent Cabinet reshuffle is the transfer of the subjects of ports and civil aviation from Bimal Rathnayake to Anura Karunathilaka. Following the rearrangement, the portfolio of urban development, which was hitherto held by the latter, has been assigned to the former. The downgrade of the National List MP comes in the backdrop of recent speculation that Harini Amarasuriya could be replaced by the former for premiership. During his days in the Opposition, Leader of the House was a passionate supporter of Palestine. Rathnayake is considered as a prominent leader of the NPP, and he is part of the six-member JVP Political Bureau – which forms the nucleus of the NPP’s ideological parent’s decision-making authority.

Rathnayake’s handling of matters related to the port was severely criticised by the Opposition. Some accused him of overstepping his authority with regard to the controversial release of 323 red-flagged containers from Colombo Port early this year. The Daily Mirror newspaper recently reported that many officials holding key posts in institutions coming under his ministerial purview had resigned. The JVP strongman who dropped out of the University of Moratuwa without completing his civil engineering degree has also come under fire for regularly interfering with the decisions of the Speaker during parliamentary proceedings.

The politician who rose to the forefront of the JVP through university student activist movements enthusiastically endorsed the remanding of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe last August. During a media interview, the individual who is uncomfortable in conversing in English language ridiculed the former President’s reputation for having a wide network of contacts with international leaders. Opposition politicians have repeatedly slammed his alleged haughty and arrogant conduct.

Despite the recent changes to the Cabinet, the top decision-making authority does not include a single representative from the Islamic faith. Every government in the world, particularly in developed democracies, strive hard to make their Cabinets as inclusive and representative as possible in terms of gender and ethnicity. Since gaining independence, every Government had Muslim minister/ministers in their Cabinets except the incumbent. Even the Gotabaya Rajapaksa-led SLPP Government, which was blatantly anti-Muslim in its outlook, had two representatives from the minority ethnic group in its Cabinet.

Voters have huge expectations from the present Government given the aspirational sentiments they conveyed before coming into power. The pressure of high expectations weighs heavily on the Government. Delivery is more complex and difficult than rhetoric.

Sri Lanka Customs (SLC) has reported its highest-ever single-day revenue collection, earning Rs. 24.9 billion on 15 October, SLC sources said.

The cumulative revenue collected for 2025 has reached Rs. 1.86 trillion and is on track to meet its annual revenue target of Rs. 2.11 trillion.

According to SLC officials, the resumption of vehicle imports to the country was among the key contributors to this highest revenue earning.

Labour Minister and Economic Development Deputy Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando yesterday declared that Sri Lanka is setting sail towards a bold new future in ocean-based industries, aiming to position itself as the premier destination for Blue Economy investment in South Asia.

Delivering the keynote address at Marine Summit: Voyage Sri Lanka 2025, organised for the second consecutive year by the Export Development Board (EDB), Dr. Fernando outlined the Government’s Blue Economy Vision 2030, a strategic framework to unlock the vast potential of the country’s marine resources, identifying five key sectors, including sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, marine biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, port development and maritime logistics, marine tourism and recreation, and offshore and energy services, as priority areas for investment.

The summit, which brought together global experts, investors, policymakers, and industry leaders, served as a vital platform to showcase Sri Lanka’s marine potential and attract strategic investments.

‘The oceans surrounding us are not just a natural resource; they are the foundation of our future prosperity,’ Dr. Fernando said.

He noted that the Government’s long-term commitment involves both policy reform and institutional strengthening to support private sector innovation and international partnerships.

‘Our vision is clear to develop a resilient, competitive, and sustainable marine economy that generates employment, investment, and global partnerships,’ the Minister noted.

As per the identified five key areas, Dr. Fernando highlighted sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, with emphasis on modernising fishing fleets, improving cold chain logistics, and introducing value-added seafood processing for export. The second is marine biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, leveraging Sri Lanka’s rich biodiversity to develop bio-based products and medical research ventures.

He also highlighted port development and maritime logistics as critical growth enablers. ‘With the expansion of the Colombo Port and the development of the Hambantota and Trincomalee harbours, Sri Lanka is poised to become a regional hub for cargo handling, ship repair, and bunkering services,’ he added.

Marine tourism and recreation was identified as another priority, with plans to integrate coastal and ocean-based experiences such as sailing, diving, and eco-tourism into the broader tourism strategy. Additionally, marine and offshore services, including oil and gas exploration and energy hub development, were cited as emerging opportunities for international investors.

The Minister detailed the policy reforms the Government has undertaken to support the growth of the Blue Economy. These include tax incentives for investors and regulatory streamlining and infrastructure investments in ports, fisheries harbours, and coastal zones. ‘We are working closely with the Board of Investment (BOI) and the EDB to ensure a seamless investor experience, from project approval to implementation,’ he said.

The Government has also prioritised environmental governance, ensuring that all marine and coastal projects comply with sustainability standards in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, ‘Life Below Water.’

Underscoring Sri Lanka’s competitive advantages, Dr. Fernando noted the country’s strategic location at the centre of major global shipping lanes, connecting East and West. ‘We sit at the crossroads of the Indian Ocean, a trillion-dollar trade corridor. This gives Sri Lanka unparalleled potential to serve as a logistics, repair, and service hub,’ he emphasised.

He further pointed to the availability of a skilled maritime workforce, the existence of world-class port infrastructure, and the island’s vast exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which spans more than seven times its land area. ‘Our human capital and geography together make Sri Lanka an ideal destination for global investors in the marine sector,’ he said.

The Minister extended a call to action to international partners to join Sri Lanka in building a sustainable and profitable Blue Economy. ‘We invite investors, development agencies, and maritime nations to collaborate with us in transforming Sri Lanka into a true maritime nation,’ he said.

He added that with policy stability, Government backing, and institutional facilitation, Sri Lanka offers a conducive environment for investors seeking long-term growth in ocean-based industries. ‘The ocean connects us all. Together, we can turn Sri Lanka’s blue potential into shared prosperity for the region,’ he affirmed.

The conference brought together an impressive line-up of national policymakers, development partners, and international industry leaders, including Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Minister Sunil Handunneththi, Ports and Civil Aviation Minister Anura Karunatilaka, Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Western Province Governor Hanif Yusoof, EDB Chairman Mangala Wijesinghe, and BOI Chairman Arjuna Herath.

Minister Handunneththi, addressing the forum, stressed that Sri Lanka’s strategic geographic position provides a natural advantage for maritime trade and logistics.

He highlighted that infrastructure modernisation and new policy frameworks were being prioritised to enhance global competitiveness in the marine and offshore services sector. Inviting international investors, he assured that the Government would provide all necessary facilities and support to accelerate sectoral growth.

Adding a global perspective, Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director Takafumi Kadono discussed the ADB’s strategic partnership in Sri Lanka’s Blue Economy transformation, sharing lessons from regional cooperation models and outlining future investment opportunities.

The conference featured participation from international organisations such as the ADB, International Maritime Organisation (IMO), and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), alongside academic experts from the University of Moratuwa and University of Ruhuna, as well as industry representatives from the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Colombo Dockyard, Marine Industry Council, and GAC Group Sri Lanka.

Wijesinghe reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to fostering a globally competitive marine and offshore services sector through innovation, human capital development, and in

Authentic record of the retirement of C.C.A. Brito-Mutunayagam, M.A., B.C.L. (Oxon.), the dedicated First Principal of Ceylon Law College, scholar and gentleman par excellence [From The Ceylon Law College Review 1955/56 ].

Forwarded by Keerthimala Gunasekera, Senior Attorney-at-Law

The eloquent toast to the Principal, delivered by LSU President T.S.P. Senanayake, distinguished by elegant use of Pali and Latin phrases:

My Lord Chief Justice, Mr Attorney, Your Lordship of the Supreme Court Mr Principal, Ladies and Gentlemen

This year annual dinner of the Law Students Union has a great significance in that we are taking the opportunity to bid farewell to Mr C.C.A. Brito Mutunayagam. It was originally our intention to hold a special farewell dinner but like Caesar he thrice declined the honour.

It is my enviable lot Sir, on behalf of 350 law students and hundreds of others to propose a toast to your health and happiness.

I should like to take this opportunity to make a brief resume of your career which should rightly have culminated as Chief Justice. After returning from Oxford you were called to the Official Bar. After a period of distinguished service the expounder of the law was called to draft laws for the colony. During this period the Council of Legal Education was looking round for a suitable person to be appointed as Principal of Law College and their choice very eminently fell upon you.

Tonight those departed Patriarchs might well congratulate themselves on the wisdom of their choice and be associated with these sentiments of Macaulay ‘Their search for a straggling gleanor has been rewarded by an ample sheaf. The legal draftsman’s loss, the Judiciary’s loss proved an inestimable boom to hundreds of law students. You showed by your own illustrious example that the legal profession was a vocation and not just another way of making easy money. The Law College was not merely to be a factory for the production of practitioners but rather to produce men who would take their rightful place in the forefront in the public life of the country.

Quoting Pali: In this auspicious year of the Samma Sambudha Jayanthi it is well to follow the injunctions of the enlightened one Buddha— ‘Pujaca puja Niyanna’ meaning Give honour where honour is due. It is no exaggeration to say that our departing principal has added lustre to the post he’s shortly to relinquish and that in casting his duties he brought to this high office those admirable qualities of head and heart impartiality and generosity

Quoting Latin: In the words of Horace who’ll never become unfashionable to quote as long as black coats are worn at Hultsdorp, I might describe you sir as ‘Justium Et Tenacem Propositi Virum – an upright man of steadfast purpose and I may add Spartan austerity.

As a lecturer you were painstaking and meticulous. Those of us who studied Constitutional Law and Law of Conflict of Laws remember the fundamentals you taught with a sure incisive grasp and never forget that vivid vein of humour which ran like quicksilver through your learned expositions.

In conclusion, I make no apology for quoting as I do Plato’s immortal apology of Socrates: ‘It is now time for us to part for me to remain and you to depart. But as to which of us is going to the better lot is not known to none save the Gods’. I call upon you Ladies and Gentlemen to drink to the health of Mr C.C. Brito-Mutunayagam, one of the greatest gentleman of our time.

The Review of 1955/56 contains a rich harvest of scholarly essays contributed by eminent members of the legal profession, they are:

1] The development of the empire and Commonwealth during the last fifty years by Sir Sydney Abrahams Chief Justice of Ceylon from 1936 to 1939 and was knighted in 1936.

2] Re-codifying the law of Evidence by G. D.Nokes LLD [Kings College London]

3] The Shisho-Kenshu-Sho of Japan or Judicial Training and Research Institute a special training School set up in Japan after the war by Professor Nadaraja Faculty of Law

4] The Source of Kandyan Law by Dr H. W. Tambiah QC

5] The Judiciary under the Constitution by M Tiruchelvam

6] Notes On Professional Etiquette By C. E. Jayawardena Member of the Bar Council

7] Liability for negligent misrepresentation and Chissel v Chapman by Sinha Basnayake [Advocate final year]

The memorable and spirited events that brought life and camaraderie to Law College in 1955

Dunstan de Alwis – who become an eminent lawyer and President’s Counsel was the General Secretary. He had reported with distinction the many activities that enriched the life of the College. Lectures of notable merit were delivered by the Hon Justice Gratien, Q.C., and other eminent members of the Bar and Bench.

A cricket match between the Bench and the Bar Captained by Hon Minster of Justice E.B. Wickremanayake Q.C. The Annual Dance was graced by the presence of the Hon. Justice Sansoni, while the Hon. Sir Allan Rose, Chief Justice, presided and distributed the prizes at the Annual Sports Meet, at which he was also the Chief Guest.

The Annual Oratorical Contest, a keenly fought event, was won by J. de Sa. Bandaranayake, who was awarded the Hector Jayawardene Gold Medal. The distinguished panel of judges included Sir Lalitha Rajapakse, Q.C., the Hon. Justice H.N.G. Fernando, and Corbet Jayawardene. The Review also recorded the spirited sports events tennis, cricket, and many other games that reflected the enthusiasm, discipline, and camaraderie characteristic of college life in that golden era.

Brito Mutunayagam’s name will ever remain associated with the finest traditions of the Ceylon Law College – a Principal whose scholarship, discipline, fearless integrity and gracious personality left an enduring mark upon both the institution and its students

Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Chairman Admiral (Retd.) Sirimevan Ranasinghe yesterday said the Colombo Port could handle a record 8.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) this year, supported by the ramp-up of operations at the West Container Terminal (WCT).

‘There is rapid growth at the WCT. It started slowly in April this year, but we are now seeing a strong rise in container handling,’ Ranasinghe said on the sidelines of the ‘Voyage Sri Lanka 2025’ marine summit in Colombo.

He said the Port reached 7.78 million TEUs last year despite having a maximum handling capacity of 7 million. ‘With the new capacity coming online, we expect to reach 8.2 million TEUs this year,’ he added.

Last year, the SLPA’s Jaye Container Terminal and East Container Terminal handled 2.4 million TEUs, while the China-backed Colombo International Container Terminal managed 3.3 million and John Keells Holdings’ South Asia Gateway Terminal handled 2 million.

The India-backed Colombo West International Container Terminal began operations earlier this year.

Ranasinghe said total Port capacity is projected to double to 15 million TEUs by 2026. Despite disruptions during Sri Lanka’s 2022 crisis, the Colombo Port has since rebounded, with transshipment volumes rising 9.7% to 6.31 million TEUs in 2024 due to shipping diversions from the Red Sea via the Cape of Good Hope.