Aug 20 (NW) SL Public Health Inspectors’ Association has raised serious concerns over alleged irregularities and administrative shortcomings at the BIA Health Office, claiming that previous complaints had not been properly investigated. In a letter to the Health Ministry Secretary, the association alleged that several incidents involving suspected corruption, misuse of public funds and administrative misconduct had been brought to authorities’ attention, more..

Aug 20 (NW) Excise Dept officers have carried out three major raids inside the Colombo Port City, seizing stocks of liquor allegedly being sold and transported without the required licences. Raids were conducted by officers of the islandwide Special Operations Unit following instructions from senior Excise Dept officials. One of the raids targeted a luxury boat operating from the Port City, which was allegedly taking groups out to sea for parties while carrying liquor without a licence. more..

Aug 20 (AD) Veteran SL singer Nanda Malini has passed away at the age of 82, according to family sources. Family sources further said that she passed away at her home in Nawala. Nanda Malini, born on Aug 23, 1943, in Lewanduwa, Aluthgama, displayed her singing abilities from a young age. She has gained praise and popularity and won eleven Sarasaviya Awards and eight Presidential Awards for Best Singer. more..

Aug 20 (NW) Govt is working to find a solution for around 7,000 SL migrant workers facing deportation from Israel after moving to jobs outside the employment categories under which they entered the country, Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra told Parliament today. The issue was raised by MP Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, who said around 30,000 Sri Lankans are currently employed in Israel. Dasanayake said approximately 7,000 Sri Lankans who had travelled to Israel for employment more..

Aug 20 (NW) Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has taken goods worth nearly Rs. 1.5 million into its custody following 108 raids targeting imported cosmetics and footwear across SL. The special enforcement and market investigation programme was conducted on August 18 and 19, with 84 business premises found unable to produce proper receipts, bills or invoices to establish how the goods had been obtained, CAA said. The inspections covered imported skin-lightening creams, more..

Aug 20 (NW) Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala today revealed further details about a man who recently held a media briefing claiming to have discovered an LTTE training camp in Pallai, Kilinochchi, saying investigations found no evidence to support the claim. Making a special statement in Parliament, Wijepala identified the individual as Sangeeth Jayasekara, a resident of Boralesgamuwa. more..

Aug 20 (NW) People who point laser beams at elephants taking part in the Kandy Esala Perahera will be arrested immediately, Central Province DIG Sudath Masinghe said. Speaking at a media briefing, Masinghe said the use of loud horns that could frighten elephants, as well as bringing such items along the procession route, was strictly prohibited. He also said no permission would be granted to place seats in a manner that obstructs the pavements reserved for devotees attending more..

Aug 20 (Hindu) Sri Lanka is emerging as more than an alternative manufacturing destination for Tamil Nadu’s apparel industry, with companies viewing the island nation as a complementary production base that can support growth, mitigate tariff risks and offer customers greater sourcing flexibility. For Avinashi-based SP Apparels Ltd, SL is already becoming an important growth platform. The manufacturer and exporter of knitted garments for infants and children expects its SL operations to contribute more..

Aug 20 (FT) Dart Global Logistics Group has invested $ 10 million to establish DGL Free Zone Ltd, at the Katunayake Investment Promotion Zone (KIPZ), which commenced operations yesterday, further strengthening the country’s logistics and supply chain infrastructure. Group CEO Jude Wijesundera said: “DGL Free Zone has been designed as a modern, high-capacity logistics and value-addition facility, comprising approximately 135,000 square feet of storage and more..

Aug 20 (NW) Four bank managers and a businessman arrested in connection with an alleged foreign exchange scam involving the transfer of around USD 1 billion without the import of goods have been further remanded until September 3 by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court. The suspects were arrested by the FCID as part of an investigation into a money changer based in Colombo Fort who allegedly transferred the funds overseas without corresponding goods being imported into SL. more..

Aug 20 (EN) Sri Lanka has revised down its tourist arrival target and revenue goal, country’s Tourism Promotion Bureau chief said. SL cut down its 3 million visitor goal in 2026 to 2.7 million and while lowered its revenue target from tourism to US$ 4.2 billion from US$ 5 billion. “We surpassed 1.4 million arrivals right now at the beginning of August, and we are aiming for 2.7 million tourists with upcoming season & promotions in line, more..

Aug 20 (EN) Women in Tech Sri Lanka is expanding IT education, career guidance and professional opportunities beyond Colombo to boost youth potential in areas like Trincomalee. Two sessions with university students and young people preparing to enter the professional world were held in the eastern city, led by Sanali Kaushalya, Country Director of Women in Tech SL. “Empowerment cannot remain concentrated in Colombo. We need to ensure that young people across SL more..

Aug 20 (Island) The 2020-2024 Retirees’ Alliance on Tuesday hit back at those who claim that it is being manipulated by the Opposition. It said that around 90% of its members had voted for the NPP and many of those now campaigning for a solution to the pension anomaly had actively worked at grassroots level to bring the present Govt to power. Alliance Secretary. Dissanayake said the Alliance was seeking a solution to an anomaly created by the 2025 Budget, which resulted in public more..

Aug 20 (NW) Minister Nalinda Jayatissa has questioned the Bar Association of SL’s (BASL) characterization of views expressed by govt in Parliament as threatening, triggering a heated exchange with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. Raising the issue in Parliament, Jayatissa referred to a letter sent by BASL President Rajeev Amarasuriya to the Opposition Leader following Wednesday’s proceedings over a more..

Aug 20 (FT) Securities and Exchange Commission of SL (SEC) and Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), in collaboration with Port City Colombo and the SL High Commission in Australia, successfully hosted an Invest Sri Lanka Investor Forum on 17 Aug at the Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park. HNB Group served as the Platinum Partner, with the Australia SL Business Council, Nalanda College Old Boys’ Association Australia, and CA SL Australia Chapter supporting the forum as Supporting Partners. more..

Aug 20 (NW) National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) has been instructed to investigate reports of declining fish catches and possible changes to fish populations and habitats, Deputy Minister Rathna Gamage told Parliament today. Responding to questions in Parliament, he said reports from fishermen and the media indicated that fish catches may have declined. “I have seen newspaper reports on the matter, and there seems to be some truth to it,” more..

Aug 20 (NW) More than 300 police officers serving in Sri Lanka’s Southern Province have received specialised cybersecurity training as part of an islandwide initiative to strengthen the Police response to cybercrime and emerging digital threats. Sri Lanka CERT said the programmes were conducted in collaboration with Sri Lanka Police and the Police Information Technology Division for officers attached to the Galle, Matara and Tangalle Police Divisions. more..

Aug 20 (FT) There are moments in an industry’s history when progress begins with a seemingly ordinary question: Why can’t we do this ourselves? For Upendra Sathis Abeywickrama, that question became the beginning of a journey that would span almost five decades and help reshape an important segment of SL’s printing and packaging industry. In Aug 2026, at Flexo Summit Asia in Bengaluru, India, Abeywickrama was recognised as a Flexo Avenger, a recognition presented to more..

Aug 20 (NF) Sri Lanka is facing what officials describe as one of the most intense El Niño events in decades, with authorities warning of immediate water shortages, prolonged dry conditions and the possibility of significantly increased rainfall later this year. Speaking on the current situation, Environment Minister Dr. Dhammika Patabendi said a special committee appointed to mitigate the effects of El Niño more..

Aug 20 (Island) A group of Muslim MPs, led by SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem, met Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, in Parliament, to seek his intervention to resolve an issue concerning the attire of health assistants. MPs told the Minister that transferring the affected health assistants to a neighbouring hospital could not be considered an acceptable solution to the matter. Minister acknowledged their concerns and agreed that such transfers would not constitute a permanent more..

Aug 20 (NW) Govt is moving ahead with plans to acquire new trains and locomotives while upgrading sections of SL’s railway network, Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena said. There are currently no plans to extend the overall length of the railway network, but work is underway to develop existing lines, including plans to upgrade the Polgahawela–Kurunegala section. Procurement has already commenced for five new power sets, with the tender process currently at the evaluation stage. more..

Aug 20 (AD) Shashi Weerawansa, wife of former Minister Wimal Weerawansa, has been released on anticipatory bail by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court in connection with the forged passport case, pending the hearing of the appeal filed by her before the Supreme Court against her 2-year prison sentence. Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today ordered her release on anticipatory bail when the case was taken up before more..

Aug 20 (NW) Fourteen Lamborghini luxury vehicles have reportedly arrived at Hambantota Port by sea and are being transported to Bandaranaike International Airport for onward shipment to Dubai and Doha by air. The vehicles, packed into seven 40-foot containers, are scheduled to leave BIA on August 21. The operation highlights Sri Lanka’s emerging role as a sea-to-air cargo transit point amid disruptions to traditional Middle East shipping routes. more..

Aug 20 (FT) Three weeks after the Easter Massacre of 21 April 2019 this journal published a three-part article authored by this columnist titled Anatomy of an Islamist Infamy. In the first part which appeared on 5 May 2019, after a few comments on JR’s Open Economy the following was said: “The unintended consequence of this two-way economic traffic was to open the flood gates to Wahhabi/Salafi fundamentalist penetration. It was from the 1980s that one could witness a distinct change more..

Aug 20 (AD) PM Harini Amarasuriya emphasised that children should be given adequate time to enjoy their holidays, ensuring their mental health and rest. She also stressed the importance of ensuring child protection mechanisms across every system and environment in which children are present, according to a statement by PM’s Media Division. PM made these remarks during the Second Reading debate on amending legislation relating to the Employment of Women, Young Persons & Children Bill. more..

Aug 20 (FT) Political history will probably record that 22A which intervenes in the judicial system, was a building-block in the JVP-NPP’s project of a transition from the post-1948 flawed democracy to mono-party totalitarianism. The incoming NGO (Registration and Supervision) Act will be another brick in the wall—as will the planned modifications to the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake truculently explained to the Bar Association of SL (BASL) delegation more..

Aug 20 (TM) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa’s proposal to have all 225 MPs briefed by the Bar Association of SL (BASL) on the proposed 22nd Amendment and the unfilled vacancies in the SC) and CA triggered a dispute in Parliament yesterday, with Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake questioning his authority to convene such a meeting. Premadasa told Parliament that BASL had agreed to conduct more..

Aug 20 (TM) Wearing seatbelts will be mandatory for all passengers travelling in vehicles on expressways from 19 Sept, with the Police warning that the requirement will be strictly enforced. Director of Traffic Management and Road Safety SSP Manoj Ranagala said the requirement applies to all passengers, including those travelling in expressway buses. Addressing a media briefing held to raise public awareness on the importance of wearing seatbelts on expressways, more..

Aug 20 (NW) Govt MP Dr. Najith Indika says the govt parliamentary group has not been officially informed of any meeting in Parliament on Thursday involving the Bar Association of SL (BASL) to brief all MPs on the proposed 22nd Amendment. Indika said he was in Parliament on Wednesday and was unaware of any such programme involving all parliamentarians. He said a briefing involving all MPs would normally have to follow established parliamentary procedures, including discussions involving more..

Aug 20 (FT) Govt revenue and grants rose by 27.1% year-on-year (YoY) to Rs. 2.956 trillion in the first half of 2026, achieving 55.8% of the Rs.5.3 trillion annual estimate, with motor vehicle-related collections propelling SL Customs to become the largest contributor to tax revenue. The performance was disclosed in the Fiscal Review Report Jan-June 2026 issued by the Finance, Planning & Economic Development Ministry’s more..

Aug 20 (FT) Govt is prepared to hold a referendum if the Supreme Court determines that one is required, in addition to a two-thirds parliamentary majority, to enact the proposed 22nd Amendment (22A) to the Constitution, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. He said the Govt would proceed based on the Supreme Court’s determination, which he said was expected by late September or October. “If a two-thirds majority in Parliament is required, we are prepared to proceed accordingly, more..

Aug 20 (TM) Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has acknowledged that repeated efforts to track down and raid unsanitary and overpriced shops and restaurants located at stops along long-distance bus routes have failed to deter owners from continuing to sell unhygienic food at exorbitant prices. While the CAA continues its enforcement operations at these locations, the public has been encouraged to prepare for long bus journeys by carrying their own food & water and refraining from purchasing more..