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A new phase of the joint environmental conservation initiative by the Ministry of Environment and the Clean Sri Lanka Programme was launched on October 10 in the Puttalam District, centred on the Karuwalagaswewa Tabbowa Tank.

A Cabinet reshuffle took place yesterday with President Anura Kumara Disanayake appointing three new Ministers and 10 new Deputy Ministers in a move aimed at improving coordination and accelerating national development priorities aligned with the 2026 Budget.

According to the Presidential Media Division, the changes are intended to strengthen performance across key sectors, including infrastructure, housing, finance, and urban development, as part of the Government’s medium-term reform agenda.

Bimal Rathnayake, previously Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation, now holds the Transport, Highways, and Urban Development portfolio.

Anura Karunathilake, who earlier oversaw Urban Development, Construction and Housing, has been appointed Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation.

H.M. Susil Ranasinghe, formerly Deputy Minister of Lands and Irrigation, has been elevated to Minister of Housing, Construction, and Water Supply.

Ten new Deputy Ministers were also sworn in.

Anil Jayantha Fernando was appointed Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, while T.B. Sarath continues as Deputy Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply.

Mohamed Muneer, previously Deputy Minister of National Integration, now serves as Deputy Minister of Religious and Cultural Affairs.

Other appointments include Eranga Gunasekara as Deputy Minister of Urban Development, Hansaka Wijayamuni as Deputy Minister of Health, Aravinda Senarath Witharana as Deputy Minister of Lands and Irrigation, Saman Kumara as Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs, Nishantha Jayaweera as Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Kaushalya Ariyaratne as Deputy Minister of Mass Media, and M.I.M. Arkam as Deputy Minister of Power.

Several key Cabinet members continue in their existing roles.

President Anura Kumara Disanayake remains Minister of Defence, Finance, Planning and Economic Development, and Digital Economy. Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya continues to oversee Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education.

Other unchanged positions include Vijitha Herath (Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism), K.D. Lal Kantha (Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation), and Sunil Handunneththi (Industry and Entrepreneurship Development).

Ramalingam Chandrasekar (Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources), Samantha Viddyarathna (Plantation and Community Infrastructure), Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa (Health and Mass Media), and A.H.M.H. Abayarathna (Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government).

Wasantha Samarasinghe (Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development), Harshana Nanayakkara (Justice and National Integration), Saroja Savithri Paulraj (Women and Child Affairs), and Dr. Upali Pannilage (Rural Development Social Security and Community Empowerment) retain their portfolios.

K.M. Ananda Wijepala (Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs), Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi (Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs), Sunil Kumara Gamage (Youth Affairs and Sports), Dr. Chrishantha Abeysena (Science and Technology), Eng. Kumara Jayakody (Energy), and Dr. Dammika Patabendi (Environment), also retain their portfolios.

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has decided to politically collaborate with the United National Party (UNP) under a joint political program, led and guided by the SJB.

Making a special statement SLB Leader and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said the decision was reached unanimously during the SJB Working Committee meeting held last Thursday, following discussions at two Management Committee meetings held earlier.

Outlining the new direction, Premadasa emphasised that the SJB and UNP would work together on practical, people-centred policy initiatives to tackle pressing issues faced by the country and people.

‘But we will retain our own political identities,’ he said.

Premadasa added that the new collaboration aims to continue to work together to find a unified approach to national challenges through shared policy goals and constructive political dialogue.

The Manchester Soccer Academy (MSA) will launch the Federation Cup 2025 for the Under-12 segment which will be played today and tomorrow at the Race Course Stadium commencing 9.00 a.m. onwards.

With the participation of 16 leading academies in the country, MSA – one of the prominent youth football academies in the country – has inducted teams from various cities, including a team from the North.

One of the unique features of this year’s event will be that some of the games will carry on until 9.00 p.m. under lights, and played under the slogan of ‘United by football and driven by Passion’. This flood light facility was granted by FSL incumbent President Jaswar Umar, who has been quite magnanimous to extend his support to play under lights.

Jaswar, who graced the occasion by launching the Cup, said that he is happy to see a prominent active academy in the game come forward to kick-off a tournament of this nature focusing on the under-12 segment, which is very rare.

‘We are delighted to see an academy like MSA has come forward to host a tournament of this nature. This will enable us to attract more young kids to take up the game. The grassroots level football is a must if we want to develop the game to unearth talent to play for the country one day. We will extend our support to other academies who are well organised like MSA and capable to conduct their own tournaments in their region,’ said Jaswar.

The 16 teams are slotted in 4 groups with the top two teams of each group qualifying for the quarterfinals. The four winners will lock horns in the semi-finals, which will produce the finalists and culminate in the grand finale under lights on Sunday.

Tournament groupings:

Group A: Kelaniya FA, Colombo FC, Barcelona, Manchester (Purple)

Group B: Colombo Kickerz, BFAA, Colombo Youth, Manchester (Pink)

Group C: Juventus, Henry Pedris, The Travellers, Java Lane

Group D: Thihariya United, Qyarts, Balangoda, Chesta, Star Eagles

Java Lounge has announced that its trailblazing Managing Director, Anuradha Malimage Herath, has been honoured with multiple awards at the Sri Lankan Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 presented by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL). Herath, the visionary force behind Java Lounge’s success, received the following accolades: Women Entrepreneur of the Year – National Winner, Women Entrepreneur of the Year – Western Province Winner, National Silver Award – Large Category and Provincial Gold Award – Large Category (Western Province). These awards recognise Herath’s exceptional leadership in building Java Lounge into one of Sri Lanka’s largest and most beloved coffee chains, with over a dozen locations nationwide. They also underscore the collective efforts of the entire Java Lounge team, from baristas crafting the perfect brew to the dedicated staff in kitchens, bakeries, chocolate production, operations, and support roles.

‘We are thrilled to announce that our Managing Director, Anuradha Malimage Herath, together with the entire Java Lounge family, has been recognised at the Sri Lankan Entrepreneur of the Year 2025,’ said a spokesperson for Java Lounge. ‘These awards are not just a recognition of leadership, but also a true reflection of the hard work, dedication, and passion of our entire team. From the baristas serving the perfect cup of coffee, to the kitchen, bakery, chocolate, operations, and support teams – this achievement belongs to all of us. Well done, team. Here’s to teamwork, passion, and excellence – the real ingredients behind Java Lounge’s journey!’ Under Herath’s guidance, Java Lounge has grown from its humble beginnings to a symbol of quality coffee and inviting ambiance in Sri Lanka. Her strategic vision, combined with a commitment to excellence, has positioned the chain as a leader in the industry, inspiring entrepreneurs across the nation.

The Colombo High Court yesterday fixed for 17 December 2025 the case filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) against former Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal and four others over the 2012 Greek Bond investments.

The defendants are accused of causing losses exceeding Rs. 1.8 billion to the Government through the controversial investment.

The Special Investigation Unit of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) has arrested several suspects involved in large-scale scams that defrauded millions of rupees from job seekers by promising employment opportunities in European countries and Canada.

According to the SLBFE, the suspects have been arrested in two separate investigations following several complaints received against them connected to fraudulent operations targeting those seeking jobs abroad.

SLBFE’s Publicity Manager Madhushan Kularatne said that one of the arrested suspects, Sinharage Janaka Silva, a Sri Lankan-born Canadian citizen, was taken into custody on 9 October at the Bureau and was accused of defrauding Rs. 14.9 million from several people by promising jobs in Canada, using his status as a Canadian resident to gain victims’ trust.

The Bureau had received complaints from 10 victims against Silva for taking their money. The Bureau had reported the case to the Magistrate’s Court and obtained a travel ban against him.

Kularatne said that the suspect was questioned yesterday on charges of collecting money for foreign job placements without a valid recruitment licence, and was to be produced before the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court yesterday (10 October).

In another investigation by the SLBFE’s Special Unit, two suspects of the FC International agency had also been arrested for defaulting Rs. 20 million promising nursing jobs in Hungry, the Netherlands and Finland and the Bureau had received over 20 complaints from victims.

The agency is a registered employment agency based in Negombo, which had operated for about a year and a half but the investigations revealed that the agency had obtained job orders only from Hungary and no nursing jobs were available as they claimed.

According to Kularatne, the arrested individuals include a resident from Mawanella, who has experience in the foreign employment field and a retired Army Colonel from Kadawatha, who was taken into custody in Imbulgoda, Gampaha.

The owner of the agency, her husband, and the finance manager are currently evading arrest. The Negombo Magistrate’s Court ordered the suspects to be remanded until 10 October and issued travel bans on the others.

Meanwhile, in another racket a teacher from Mawanella was also arrested for operating an unlicensed agency called New Royal Recruitment. Kularatne said that he had allegedly posted Facebook advertisements offering jobs in Romania, Poland, and Germany and collected Rs. 300,000 from at least one complainant without providing employment. He was also due to be produced before the Mawanella Magistrate’s Court yesterday (10).

The SLBFE stated that these arrests are part of a wider effort to curb the growing number of foreign employment frauds, as the Bureau continues to receive numerous complaints from victims across the country.

The Special Investigation Police Unit, established under the directives of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Arun Hemachandra, has expedited operations to track down fraudulent recruiters.

Kularatne said that the Bureau is receiving complaints from individuals who have fallen victim to such job scams and steps had also been taken to suspend the licences of such employment agencies.

The arrests were made by Police Inspectors – S.K.K. Madushanka and Alwis, investigation officer Idunil Pushpakumara and Police Sergeant Dahanayake, under the direction of the OIC of the Bureau’s Police Unit, Chief Inspector Ariyawansa.

The Bureau requests the public to report any suspicious employment offers or illegal recruitment agencies to the Special Investigation Division via 011 288 2228.

The Colombo stock market ended the four-day week in green yesterday on persistently buoyant investor sentiment.

During the week, the ASPI gained 1.01%, up 223.83 points to 22,318.72. The active S and P SL20 was up 0.62%, gaining 38.52 points during the week to end at 6,226.03.

Foreigners were net sellers this week with a net outflow of Rs. 265.1 million.

Yesterday, the ASPI gained 143.98 points, up 0.65% while the S and L SL20 was up 63.65 points, gaining 1.03%. Turnover was Rs. 8.45 billion on more than 538 million shares traded. Foreigners were net sellers on a net outflow of Rs. 98 million.

First Capital Research said buoyed by the persistence of a positive tone, Colombo Bourse moved upward, driven by the contribution from a mix of sectors. The ASPI ended at 22,319, up by 144 points.

Both retail and HNW participation were high, while HNW participation was largely observed towards Banks and Diversified Financials sector counters.

JKH, HNB, LFIN, COMB and PKME were the top positive contributors to the index. Turnover stood at Rs. 8.5 billion, reflecting an increase of 16% compared to the monthly average that stands at Rs. 7.3 billion.

Diversified Financials sector took the lead in terms of sector-wise contribution to turnover, with a share of 37%, while Banks and Capital Goods sector jointly contributed 30%.

Additionally, higher gains were observed in CFVF, due to the announcement of cash dividends and higher HNW participation was observed towards ACL, due to the sub division of shares.

Moreover, continued investor participation was observed in penny stocks, similar to yesterday’s session. Foreign investors turned net sellers, recording a net outflow of Rs. 98.1 million.