FACETS 2026: A bold new chapter begins at Cinnamon Life View(s):Sri Lanka is gearing up to host the first international gem and jewellery exhibition of the year as FACETS Sri Lanka 2026 opens on January 3. Now in its 33rd year, the exhibition marks a milestone with its move to The Forum, Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams, creating the most expansive edition of FACETS to date. The modern facilities of Cinnamon Life combined with redesigned exhibition spaces bring a new energy to the iconic showcase of Sri Lanka’s gemstone heritage. FACETS 2026 will be bigger, bolder and truly world-class,” he added. A Global Celebration of Sri Lanka’s Gem LegacyFACETS Sri Lanka will run from 3rd to 5th January 2026 at The Forum, Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams.

Apparel industry back on track after crisis View(s):Sri Lanka’s apparel industry is fully back to work in all but a handful of plants where the flood damage was significant. Those plants are mainly from larger groups and the process of replacing machinery has begun, according to an update issued by the Joint Apparel Association Forum Sri Lanka (JAAF) on the status of the industry. A number of employees still remain in temporary housing post the cyclone. Financial support from the state is also reaching those affected and here too companies are working with the local authorities to support the relief efforts. Teams from the factories are independently working on the ground to assess the level of damage to houses and see whether rebuilding is possible.

1,382 schools affected by Cyclone Ditwah: PM View(s):A total of 1,382 schools have been directly affected by Cyclone Ditwah, according to statistics available as at December 17, Prime Minister and Education Minister Harini Amarasuriya told Parliament on Friday. Giving an update on the damage caused to the education sector from the disaster, she added that the vast majority of the affected schools were in the Central, Uva and Sabaragamuwa Provinces. A total of 666 of the affected schools remain closed even after the resumption of schools in the island, though that number has now gone up following the decision to close all schools in the Central Province on December 19 and 22 due to adverse weather conditions experienced in the province, the Premier said. Meanwhile, an allowance of Rs 25, 000, comprising Rs 10, 000 from the President’s Fund and Rs 15, 000 from the Treasury will be provided to each affected child to help them obtain school books, stationery and uniforms. (SJ)Share This Post FacebookTwitterEmail × Send Email to FriendSend Please enter valid email WhatsappDeliciousDiggGoogleStumbleuponRedditTechnoratiYahooBloggerMyspaceRSS

NZC CEO to step down amid differences over T20 priorities cricket View(s): View(s):Scott Weenink will step down as chief executive of New Zealand Cricket on January 30, 2026. In a media statement, Weenink said the move followed differences with several member associations and the New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association over the organisation’s future priorities and long-term direction, including the role of T20 cricket in New Zealand. “After careful consideration, it has become clear that I hold a different view from several Member Associations, and the NZCPA, on the future priorities for NZC, including the long-term direction of the game and the best role for T20 cricket in New Zealand,” Weenink said. While acknowledging those achievements, Weenink said he did not want to create instability by continuing without the support of key stakeholders. NZC Board chair Diana Puketapu-Lyndon thanked Weenink for his contribution: “NZC acknowledges and thanks Scott for his positive contribution to New Zealand Cricket during his time as CEO, and wishes him well for the future.”– Cricbuzz

Catholic University Students help flood victims View(s):The Sri Lanka Catholic University Students Movement extended its helping hand to Sippikalana School in Chilaw, in the Puttalam District, by providing stationery and computer equipment worth Rs 130,000 to help resume normal school activities after severe flooding caused by Cyclone Ditwah. This assistance was offered to support the students and staff during a challenging period of recovery. We sincerely thank all those who supported us in carrying out this project for the flood victims under the guidance of Fr Ruwan Perera OMI National University Chaplain of the University of Peradeniya. Their generosity enabled us to respond effectively to the urgent educational needs of the affected community. The movement has been helping 35 affected students by donating Rs 300,000 as their pocket money to start their academic work in buying their stationeries.

ComBank and CBA unveil PAX E700 all-in-one Smart POS View(s):‘PAX E700’ a versatile new Android-powered smart electronic POS device has been introduced in Sri Lanka by the Commercial Bank of Ceylon in partnership with Ceylon Business Appliances (CBA). Designed to empower small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by streamlining daily operations, digitising transactions, and enhance the customer checkout experience, this Smart POS seamlessly merges the reliability of a traditional cash register with the innovation of an advanced payment terminal, all within an Android-based platform, the bank said in a media release. The compact design of the PAX E700 Smart POS allows it to fit seamlessly on any counter, while its versatile connectivity options of Wi-Fi, 4G and LAN ensure reliable transaction processing. Supporting multiple payment methods such as Visa, MasterCard, UnionPay, and LankaPay JCB, the device also incorporates advanced security protocols for safe and efficient transactions. Commenting on the launch of this state-of-the-art device, S. Ganeshan, Deputy General Manager – Personal Banking at Commercial Bank said: “By introducing the PAX E700 Smart POS, we are providing this segment a cutting-edge digital tool that can play a pivotal role in helping businesses grow and thrive in today’s digital marketplace.”Ruwath Fernando, Chief Executive Officer at CBA noted: “Our partnership with Commercial Bank to introduce the PAX E700 Smart POS represents another step forward in expanding our range of payment acceptance devices.”Share This Post FacebookTwitterEmail × Send Email to FriendSend Please enter valid email WhatsappDeliciousDiggGoogleStumbleuponRedditTechnoratiYahooBloggerMyspaceRSS

Understanding the new Microfinance & Credit Regulatory Authority Act By Imran Nafeer FEATURE View(s): View(s):Sri Lanka’s microfinance and moneylending sector is poised for a major transformation with the introduction of the Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Act, 2025. Although the Microfinance Act No. Against this backdrop, the proposed Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Act represents a long-awaited and much-needed reform. Establishing a Central Regulatory AuthorityA central feature of the Act is the establishment of the Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority (MCRA)—an independent body mandated to licence, supervise, investigate, and enforce compliance across moneylenders and microfinance institutions. A key reform is the new two-step licencing process for microfinance institutions (MFIs).

Rapid recovery from devastation gives confidence to visitors By Wasantha Ramanayake View(s): View(s):International visitors are voicing admiration for Sri Lanka’s rapid infrastructure repairs, signalling resilience in the tourism sector following the cyclone devastation. Road access to all the important tourist attractions was restored by the end of last week, according to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLDA). “This negatively affects the Dutch market which was among the top 15 source markets,” said Rediscover Sri Lanka chief Rasith Gunarathna. “My wife and I made our booking to travel to Sri Lanka in March. We have travelled to many countries also in Asia and wanted very much to come to Sri Lanka.

Lankan delegation join Global Dialogue on AI Era School Education View(s):A delegation of lecturers represented Sri Lanka at the UNSECO Global Dialogue on AI Era School Education conference held in Nanjing Normal University in China from December 11-12. According to Dr Jayakody, the purpose of the conference was to address how school curriculum must evolve in response to artificial intelligence and rapid technological development. The delegation contributed national perspectives to global conversations regarding curriculum development and highlighted Sri Lanka’s engagement with international efforts to strengthen mathematics, technology and engineering education in the era of AI. The UNSECO Chair also held a dedicated discussion with the Sri Lankan delegation to explore future collaboration in curriculum development, research and capacity building initiatives. She also underscored that such skills are of even greater significance because AI can curtail the development of such skill sets.

America’s civilisational suicide View(s):By Carl Bildt, PROJECT SYNDICATE, EXCLUSIVE TO THE SUNDAY TIMES IN SRI LANKASTOCKHOLM – Earlier this month, the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov offered a succinct description of the Trump administration’s new National Security Strategy (NSS), calling it “largely consistent with our vision.”He’s right. But the second Trump administration is bowing to Russia, criticising the Europeans, and describing the threat from China only in economic terms. The share of our people in prison is one-fifth that of the US, and our murder rates are a small fraction of America’s. Few places on Earth provide a better quality of life for a larger share of the population than Europe does. Barring that, it is not us who will be committing civilisational suicide.

IOC President calls for end to ‘finger-pointing’ in doping fight Anti-Doping View(s): View(s):Seoul, South Korea, AFP: International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry and her World Anti-Doping Agency counterpart called for unity in the fight against performance-enhancing drugs following a fracture with the United States. “Too often we’ve seen energy spent on division, finger-pointing and competing agendas,” Coventry told WADA’s World Conference on Doping in Sport, being held this week in the South Korean city of Busan. The agency was rocked by a scandal involving 23 Chinese swimmers who were cleared of intentionally doping after testing positive for a banned heart drug in 2021. WADA opted not to independently investigate the matter, sparking criticism, especially from the United States and its anti-doping organisation, USADA. “There is only one fight that we should be fighting — and that is the fight against doping,” Coventry told the gathering in Busan.

NOC conducts successful third edition of Sport Administrator’s Course View(s):The National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOC) successfully concluded the third edition of the Sport Administrator’s Course (SAC) for 2025, conducted under the auspices of Olympic Solidarity, from December 11 to 14 at Olympic House in Colombo. A total of 35 sport administrators representing National Sports Federations and Associations, the tri forces, and universities participated in the programme. With the completion of three courses in 2025, over 100 sport administrators have successfully completed the Sport Administrator’s Course this year – the highest number recorded to date, marking a significant milestone for NOC’s capacity-building initiatives. The course was delivered by the National Course Directors Group Captain (Rtd) Nalin de Silva, Rear Admiral (Rtd) Shemal Fernando, Anoma Rathnayaka and Gobinath Sivarajah. “The third Sport Administrator’s Course 2025 was highly beneficial, with clear and informative lectures.

IMC Campus Hosts Its Annual Graduation Ceremony at BMICH View(s):IMC Campus successfully conducted its Annual Graduation Ceremony on 8th December 2025, for the third consecutive year, at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), celebrating the academic achievements of its graduating students. The ceremony was graced by Professor Udaya Mohan Devdas, Department of Human Resource Management, Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, as the Chief Guest, together with Dr. Kavya Jayakody, (Founder and Director of IMC Campus), and Dr. Eng. IMC Campus is an approved partner of IIC University of Technology, Cambodia, and London Management Qualifications (LMQ), United Kingdom, authorised to deliver Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral programmes in Sri Lanka. IMC Campus offers programmes in Education, Early Childhood Education, Management, Marketing, Human Resources, Finance, Hospitality & Tourism and Supply Chain Management and AI, maintaining a student success rate of over 98 percent, while enabling working professionals to pursue higher education alongside their careers. Potential students can submit their enquiries to info@imceducation.lk or call 0772 922 922.

Titled ‘The Sri Lanka Peace Process: An Inside View’, the book is published by Vijitha Yapa Publications. It analyses the design of the peace process, its strengths and inherent flaws, the limited gains that were achieved, and the factors that precipitated its failure. Prof. Peiris brings exceptional authority to this narrative. His academic credentials include a Bachelor of Laws with First Class Honours from the University of Ceylon and doctorates from Oxford University and Sri Lanka. Drawing on this blend of academic rigour and experience at the highest levels of governance, Prof. Peiris offers an objective, analytical and deeply personal account of the peace talks.

Duet, joint exhibition by Namalee and Dinesh View(s):Duet- a joint exhibition by Namalee Real and Dinesh Perera will open to the public from December 23- January 3 at the Dinesh Perera Gallery at 1458B, Suriya Mawatha, Kalapaluwawa Road, Koswatta, Battaramulla. Namalee studied art at Santa Monica City College, and at the University of California, Northridge (CSUN) though her major was Psychology. Dinesh Perera initially attended Peradeniya Sarasavi Uyana Vidyalaya and later D.S. While at Zeppelin, Dinesh was greatly inspired by the paintings of Fareed Uduman and his painting took a completely different turn. The paintings displayed at the ‘Duet’ exhibition are a direct result of this revival in his interest, influence and inspiration.