Sri Lanka has bolstered its judicial framework with the swearing-in of four new Supreme Court justices, marking a significant step toward enhancing the country’s legal system. The ceremony, held at the Presidential Secretariat, was officiated by President Ranil Wickremesinghe on January 12, 2025.

Former Minister Indradasa Hettiarachchi has passed away at the age of 94. The veteran politician and statesman died at his residence in Colombo on January 12, 2025.

The upcountry train service in Sri Lanka has been temporarily disrupted due to a landslide near the Rosella railway station, according to railway officials. The landslide occurred on January 12, 2025, and has blocked the railway tracks, halting operations on this crucial route.

Sri Lanka has grappled with a concerning suicide rate for decades. According to the Global Burden of Disease Study (1990-2013) published in The Lancet, suicide ranks as the second most common cause of death in the country. Mental health issues, although not always directly linked to suicide, are undeniably a critical factor in self-harm and suicide cases. The question remains: is Sri Lanka adequately addressing this pressing issue?

A Russian vessel described as a "shadow ship" has been immobilized in the Baltic Sea, according to German authorities. The ship, believed to be part of Russia’s surveillance operations, remains stuck amid heightened regional tensions.

Ukraine has reportedly captured two North Korean soldiers injured during combat on Russian soil, according to statements from Ukrainian officials. The alleged incident adds a new layer of complexity to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, raising questions about North Korea's role in the war.

A teenage girl lost her life after falling from the 12th floor of a residential building in Borella, Colombo. The tragic incident occurred under circumstances that are still under investigation.

The Sri Lankan government has announced the reinstatement of excise duty on vehicle imports, effective immediately. The decision marks a significant shift in the country’s import policy, with authorities aiming to manage fiscal challenges and regulate the inflow of foreign vehicles.

IndiGo, India's leading low-cost airline, has solidified its position as the largest foreign carrier operating out of Sri Lanka. The airline currently operates 54 weekly flights connecting Sri Lanka to four major Indian cities: Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Mumbai. These flights serve two key destinations in Sri Lanka—Colombo and Jaffna—highlighting IndiGo's commitment to enhancing connectivity between the two nations.

Sri Lanka's tea industry is projected to experience cautious growth in 2025, according to an analysis by Forbes and Walker Tea Brokers. This outlook comes after several years of declining production, with expectations of a tight supply of Orthodox Large Leaf teas due to a production shortfall in India in 2024.

Sri Lanka has witnessed a significant increase in road traffic fatalities over the past five years, with over 12,000 lives lost due to road accidents. This concerning trend highlights the urgent need for enhanced road safety measures and public awareness campaigns.

Sri Lanka continues to grapple with transboundary air pollution, significantly impacting air quality levels across the nation. This issue arises from pollutants originating in neighboring countries, notably India and China, which are transported to Sri Lanka during specific monsoon periods.

Sri Lanka has witnessed a concerning surge in organized crime-related shootings, resulting in 66 fatalities across more than 100 incidents since January 2024. Notably, 13 of these deaths have occurred in the past three months, underscoring an escalating trend.

The United States and the United Kingdom have jointly imposed extensive sanctions on Russia's oil industry, intensifying efforts to curtail revenue streams that support Moscow's military actions in Ukraine. These measures, announced on January 10, 2025, represent some of the most significant actions taken against Russia's energy sector to date.

UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves has embarked on a significant visit to China, aiming to strengthen economic ties and enhance trade relations between the two nations. This trip marks the first official visit by a UK Chancellor to China in nearly a decade.

The Elephant Pass saltern, a decades-old salt production facility in northern Sri Lanka, is set to resume full-scale operations to address the country's growing salt shortage. This initiative marks a significant step in revitalizing local production and reducing reliance on imports.

The Sri Lankan government has announced the completion of its rice import initiative, with 167,000 metric tonnes (MT) imported by the set deadline. The program was launched to address the nation’s rice shortage and stabilize market prices amid ongoing challenges in the agricultural sector.

Traders have raised concerns about mill owners not supplying rice at affordable prices, just as Sri Lankans prepare to celebrate Thai Pongal, a harvest festival of great cultural significance. The escalating rice prices threaten to dampen the festivities for many households.

Donald Trump has announced that plans are underway for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, though no specific timeline has been disclosed. Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago resort, Trump stated, "He wants to meet and we are setting it up," emphasizing the urgency of resolving the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Severe smog and dense fog have brought travel to a standstill in Delhi, with visibility in some areas dropping to zero on Friday morning. Over 150 flights were delayed, and dozens of trains are running behind schedule, as road, rail, and air transport grapple with hazardous conditions caused by the weather and pollution. The disruptions have left passengers frustrated, with many taking to social media to voice complaints about the chaos at Delhi airport.

Galagodaatte Gnanasara, a prominent and controversial Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka, has been sentenced to nine months in prison for making derogatory remarks against Islam. The Colombo Magistrate's Court handed down the sentence on Thursday, marking a rare conviction of a Buddhist monk in the country. Gnanasara, a leader of a Sinhalese Buddhist nationalist group and a close ally of ousted former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, was convicted for remarks he made in 2016 during a media conference. The court emphasized that the Constitution guarantees freedom of belief to all citizens, irrespective of religion.

Effective January 11, 2025, the Ceylon Tobacco Company (CTC) has raised cigarette prices in response to an increase in Excise Duty. The prices for Capstan and John Player cigarettes have risen by Rs. 5 per stick, while the 83mm Gold Leaf brand has seen an increase of Rs. 10 per stick.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind behind the September 11, 2001 attacks, is scheduled to enter a guilty plea today at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. This development follows over two decades of legal proceedings and negotiations. The plea agreement, negotiated over two years, would spare Mohammed and two co defendants from the death penalty in exchange for their cooperation in answering lingering questions from victims' families.

Sri Lanka is bracing for a significant wave of illegal immigration, with intelligence reports warning that over 100,000 undocumented migrants could attempt to enter the country in the coming days. Public Security Minister Tiran Alles has confirmed these developments, underscoring the government's heightened focus on border security and human trafficking prevention.

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a respiratory virus that typically causes mild, cold-like symptoms but can lead to severe illness in young children, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems. First identified in 2001, HMPV has been a subject of medical research due to its impact on respiratory health.

Private bus associations decided to call off the planned island-wide union action after a discussion with Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasuriya today (08 January).