News

Pekoe Trail included in ‘Times’ World’s Greatest Places of 2025 list

Published

2 months ago

March 14, 2025

editor

Sri Lanka’s Pekoe Trail has been included in ‘The World’s Greatest Places in 2025’ by the renowned ‘Time’ magazine.

The magazine notes :
‘Up in the Sri Lankan highlands, a 19th-century transport network for tea is now conveying adventurers to remote communities and businesses. The 186-mile Pekoe Trail—completed last March and named for the high-grade black tea produced on many Sri Lankan estates—is the country’s first long-distance walking path, linking thousands of colonial-era dirt roads and railway tracks built by the British for exporting tea. Though local companies have led trekking tours along parts of the route for years, this is the first time all 22 sections have been connected as a single trail, an initiative led by Sri Lanka-based sustainability consultant Miguel Cunat and funded by the European Union and the U.S. Agency for International Development. For hikers, the path offers an intimate look at Sri Lanka’s diverse landscape and tea-entwined history: it unfurls from the mist-cloaked Hanthana mountains near Kandy, through tea plantations, eucalyptus forests, tiny villages and the holy peak of Sri Pada, to Nuwara Eliya, the country’s tea capital. A new app highlights nearby landmarks, segment details, emergency information, and more. Each stage takes about three to six hours to hike, depending on its difficulty, and traversing the entire route can take weeks. Charming stays—including Teardrop Hotels’ contemporary-chic bungalows and Uga Escapes’ newly launched Halloowella, a six-suite estate formerly owned by a British army major that has been redesigned by celebrated Sri Lankan architect Channa Daswatte—ensure that hikers are well-fed and rested along the way.’

News

NPP wins Tangalle Urban Council in first LG election results

Published

6 hours ago

May 6, 2025

editor

The Election Commission has released the first official results from the 2025 Local Government polls, with the National People’s Power (NPP) claiming victory in the Tangalle Urban Council, Hambantota District.

Tangalle Urban Council Results
National People’s Power (NPP): 2,260 votes (9 seats)
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB): 1,397 votes (5 seats)
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP): 795 votes (3 seats)
United National Party (UNP): 265 votes (1 seat)
Sarvajana Balaya (SB): 177 votes (1 seat)

The JVP-led NPP’s strong showing in this southern urban council marks a significant shift in the region traditionally dominated by the SLPP.

Political analysts note this could signal changing voter sentiments amid economic pressures.

Voting concluded at 4:00 p.m. today after a largely peaceful process.

Counting continues for 338 other local bodies, with results expected through the night.

News

LG polls : voting concludes peacefully

Published

9 hours ago

May 6, 2025

editor

Voting of the 2025 Local Government elections concluded at 4.00 pm today (May 06).

The Election Commission has stated that the voting process was peaceful overall, with no incidents of violence reported during the polling period.

Voting ended with varying turnout in various districts as most districts have reported turnout of about 50% or less as at 3.00 pm.

Meanwhile, police say that special security arrangements are continued even after voting is concluded.

Police Media Spokesperson, SSP Buddhika Manatunga, has urged the public to remain calm and peaceful during the post-election period as well.

A total of 75,589 candidates are contesting from various political parties and independent groups at this year’s Local Government election.

News

World Bank group President to visit SL tomorrow

Published

9 hours ago

May 6, 2025

editor

World Bank group President – Ajay Banga will visit Sri Lanka tomorrow (May 07).

It is the first visit by the head of the multilateral lender in 20 years, following an invitation extended by President Anura Kumara Disanayake last year.

“The visit comes at a critical moment, as Sri Lanka continues its path toward economic recovery and seeks to build a more resilient, inclusive, and private sector-led future,” the World Bank says.

Banga will meet President Dissanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, and senior government and private sector leaders.

“These discussions will center on how Sri Lanka can overcome current challenges and seize new opportunities as it continues to recover economically and socially,” the World Bank added.

The World Bank Group currently maintains a portfolio of projects in Sri Lanka valued at $2.2 billion, encompassing both public and private sector investments. While recent reports have acknowledged Sri Lanka’s progress, the Bank continues to emphasize the need for poverty reduction and reform continuity to ensure sustained recovery.