Sri Lanka has been ranked 91st in the latest rankings of the world passports by Henley and Partners International Index for Passports 2025, thus gaining visa free access to 42 countries worldwide.

The country has improved its position by climbing five slots up in the index compared to last year being on the 97th position, according to the Henley and Partners Official Index of Passports.

According to the latest review Singapore has been placed on the top of the list with visa free access to 193 countries with Japan and South Korea placed in the second.

Thirteen countries have been placed behind Sri Lanka including Bangladesh at 93rd, Nepal at 94th and Pakistan at 96th.

India is placed at the 80th position with Afghanistan at the bottom of the list at the 99th place with visa free access to 25 countries.

Commenting on this, a senior official from the Department of Immigration and Emigration told the Daily Mirror yesterday it is remarkable to see how Sri Lanka is gradually climbing up in the international passport index and gaining visa free access to more countries.

“This development indicates that the country has improved its credibility in international travelling and recognition by the other countries,” the official said.

The doctors of the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital launched an idefinite strike against the sexual assault of a lady doctor at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital.

The suspect who sexually assaulted a lady doctor at the Anuradhapura Teaching hospital is found to be an army deserter, Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala told Parliament today.

Considering requests from various departments and affiliated bodies of the Ministries to fill vacant posts, the Cabinet has granted approval for the relevant Ministries and institutions to proceed with 5,882 recruitments, as recommended by the committee.

Claiming that the stance of the government on the Adani Wind Power project has not changed, Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said today the Adani group can decide to pull out of the project if they are not ready to revise the tariff rates.

Cabinet Spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa was careful not to mention former Minister Tiran Alles' name despite numerous questions from journalists about potential links between former IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon and former Minister Alles.

Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon, through his lawyer, has filed a writ petition before the Court of Appeal seeking an order to revoke the arrest warrant issued by the Matara Magistrate's Court. A two-judge bench of the Court of Appeal, comprising Justices Mohamed Laffar and Sarath Dissanayake, has fixed the petition for support on March 12.

New education reforms will be launched in 2026 and the process of preparing for it will take place in 2025, Prime Minister and Minister of Education Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said.

The Department of Meteorology has issued a weather advisory predicting showers across multiple regions of the country, with fairly heavy rainfall exceeding 75mm expected in several provinces.

Mark Carney has won the race to succeed Justin Trudeau as Canada's prime minister, vowing to win the trade war against US President Donald Trump as he takes charge of the country at a time of deep instability.

Former Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa has announced his candidacy for the upcoming Local Government Elections under the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) from the Hambantota District.