Jun 3 (NF) SL has launched what is being described as one of the most ambitious rural development initiatives in its history, with plans to implement at least one development project in each of the country’s more than 14,000 villages this year under the Praja Shakthi programme. Although originally introduced as 1,000 Villages, 1,000 Projects, authorities made it clear at the launch that the initiative will expand into a far larger more..

Jun 3 (TM) Opposition SJB MP Mujibur Rahman is to lodge a complaint with the CID regarding the reported disappearance of 42 paintings from the National Art Gallery. He said that he intends to submit a complaint to the CID next week. "In response to the related question that I raised in Parliament, the subject Minister told me that there is an investigation going on. However, I wish to lodge a complaint with the CID. I will be submitting it to the CID during the course of next week." more..

Jun 3 (TM) Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court has decided to summon President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsecularatne and attorney-at-law Udara Muhandiramge to testify in the death inquiry of the former CEO of the SriLankan Airlines, Kapila Chandrasena. Colombo Fort Chief Magistrate Pasan Amarasekara yesterday issued summons directing the two lawyers to appear before the Court as witnesses. CCD informed the Court that steps are being taken, through Justice Ministry, more..

Jun 3 (TM) Of the four Prime Ministers (PMs) who served between November 2019 and 13 May of this year, Mahinda Rajapaksa incurred the highest expenditure on foreign travel, spending Rs 42.3 m on only three overseas visits, whereas Dinesh Gunawardena recorded the lowest foreign travel expenditure, spending just Rs 3.43 m, despite undertaking four foreign visits. more..

Jun 3 (NW) Police have recovered several firearms, including a locally manufactured Mini Uzi-type automatic weapon, concealed at a public cemetery in Colombo, following investigations linked to an alleged organised crime figure recently deported from Dubai. The weapons were discovered based on information obtained during the interrogation of Mahawatte Chamara, who is currently being detained and questioned by officers of the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB). more..

Jun 3 (NW) COPF Chairman MP Harsha de Silva says he rejected a report sent to him privately regarding the alleged fraudulent transfer of US$2.5 million belonging to the Ministry of Finance, insisting that it be formally submitted to Parliament for review by the committee. Addressing the matter at a COPF meeting, de Silva said the committee had previously requested a report from the Finance Ministry Secretary on the transaction, along with all relevant documentation. more..

Jun 3 (TM) Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage issued an Extraordinary Gazette notification temporarily suspending the registrations of SL Handball Federation, SL Carrom Federation, and SL Hockey Federation, and placing their administration under the Secretary to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. According to the Gazette notification, the Minister has taken this decision in terms of the powers vested in him under Sections 32 and 33 of the Sports Law No. 25 of 1973, as amended. more..

Jun 3 (DN) SL team led by Kusal Mendis is expected to put up a good challenge against West Indies in their opening ODI game of the three match series which will commence today at Sabina Park, Jamaica at 8pm (SL time). SL are sixth in the ICC men’s ODI team rankings while the Caribbean side is currently 10th. Only the top eight teams, along with hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe, will qualify on the rankings for 2027 World Cup. Kusal Mendis who got the new responsibility to lead the side more..

Jun 3 (FT) Central Bank of SL (CBSL) yesterday launched a month-long countrywide awareness campaign titled Be Scam Proof, warning that increasingly sophisticated digital fraud and persistent illegal investment schemes are posing a growing threat to consumers, financial inclusion and trust in the financial system. Speaking at the launch of Financial Consumer Protection Month 2026, CBSL Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said more..

Jun 3 (NW) Ministry of Sports on Tuesday awarded Rs. 61.38 million in financial incentives to athletes and coaches who secured international sporting achievements during 2024 and 2025. A total of 37 athletes received awards at a ceremony chaired by Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage, with senior ministry and sports officials also in attendance. The financial rewards were presented to athletes and coaches who excelled at the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships in Japan, more..

Jun 3 (NW) Chairman of Japan Used Motor Vehicle Exporters Association (JUMVEA) Jagath Ramanayake has called for amendments to Sri Lanka’s vehicle import regulations, proposing that a valid chassis number be made a mandatory requirement when opening a Letter of Credit (LC) for new vehicle imports as well. His remarks come amid public debate over recent vehicle import restrictions and allegations that some parties may have had advance knowledge of regulatory changes, more..

Jun 3 (DM) Morison Ltd, the pharmaceutical manufacturing arm of Hemas Holdings, is aggressively laying the groundwork for a major export drive after reaching a critical mass in the domestic healthcare sector. According to the Hemas Holdings Annual Report 2025/26, company is currently undergoing the rigorous EU-GMP certification process, a strategic outward pivot designed to position the homegrown manufacturer as a highly competitive player in regional and more..

Jun 3 (DN) Rupee devaluation will have both a positive and challenging impact on Sri Lanka’s event management industry increasing affordability for foreign clients, boosting demand, and local revenue. However, it raises costs for imports. Adaptation and strategic responses are essential for competitiveness, Saliya Weerasekara, President Event Management Association (EMA) said. He said although geopolitical tensions in the Gulf affect global travel, particularly the MICE sector, more..

Jun 3 (FT) A rare SL sapphire has fetched approximately $ 1.75 million at a prestigious international auction, with the 102.40-carat Peacock of Ceylon reaching a final total of 1.55 million Swiss Franc at Sotheby’s High Jewellery Sale in Geneva, reaffirming the global appeal the Ceylon sapphire. The gemstone, an unheated natural blue sapphire originating from SL, attracted competitive bidding before being knocked down for a more..

Jun 3 (DM) For the eighth time, after bagging six in a row, the girls from Devapathiraja College in Ratgama, Galle became the undisputed champions of the Under-19 Division One limited overs cricket tournament with a resounding seven wicket win over Anula Vidyalaya Nugegoda in the final played at the Wickramashila NS ground at Giriulla. Devapathiraja won the title in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2023 from the ten finals they entered and are backed by the Foundation of Goodness, more..

Jun 3 (FT) Diversified conglomerate CIC Holdings has recorded steady revenue growth during the year ended 31 March 2026 (FY26), navigating weather-related disruptions and sectoral cost pressures. Group posted consolidated revenue of Rs. 91.75 billion, reflecting 10.16% year-on-year (YoY) growth, driven by resilient performance across its diversified portfolio, CIC. Group gross profit rose to Rs. 24.09 billion, an 8.39% increase YoY, with gross margins maintained at approximately 26.25%. more..

Jun 3 (TM) A leading anti-corruption watchdog has called on the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to launch an independent investigation into the Mahaweli Water Security Investment Programme (MWSIP), raising serious questions over hundreds of ms of dollars spent on the project while key components remain incomplete. The Citizen Power Against Bribery Corruption Waste (CPABCW) organisation has also urged ADB to suspend more..

Jun 3 (ST) Sri Lanka is in the process of setting up a National Fraud Management system, much needed in the wake of multiple high-profile cases in the country. LankaPay will be issuing a request for proposals within a month, inviting potential bidders to apply for such a management system, banking sources said. When it was proposed in 2022, during the pandemic and the economic crisis, some bank CEOs opposed it, arguing that it would be cheaper to adopt a joint insurance system than to more..

Jun 3 (EN) Sri Lanka’s central bank is conducting a digital payments promotional programme in Trincomalee on June 5-6, to raise awareness among govt officials, the business community and the public. “The public will be able to receive personalised assistance from financial institutions, including banks, finance companies and e-money service providers, as well as LankaPay (Pvt) Ltd, which operates LANKAQR and other interbank digital payment systems in SL, to register and more..

Jun 3 (DN) Sri Lanka is taking significant steps to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), as authorities work to align the country’s digital asset sector with international standards and best practices. The fourth meeting of the VASP Sub-Committee was held at the Central Bank of Sri Lanka on May 25, 2026, under the chairmanship of Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne. more..

Jun 3 (FT) Celebrating two decades of pioneering success, the food industry specialist Pyramid Wilmar has set sights on doubling its top line in the next five years with further innovation and value offering both in B2B and consumer segments. Pyramid Oil Mills, the local oil miller in the year 2004 forged a strategic 50:50 joint venture with Wilmar International Ltd, Asia’s leading agribusiness group, headquartered in Singapore; with over a 1000 manufacturing plants in over 50 countries. more..

Jun 3 (FT) European Union (EU) last week urged SL to develop a robust pipeline of investment-ready infrastructure projects and leverage innovative financing mechanisms to attract global capital, positioning its Global Gateway initiative as a high-quality and transparent model for funding strategic developments. Addressing the SL-German Business Forum 2026, Delegation of the EU to SL and the Maldives Head of Cooperation more..

Jun 3 (Island) In the summer of 1789, as the French Revolution gathered momentum, delegates of the National Assembly assembled in Versailles to debate the future of France. Seating arrangement inside the chamber was not planned to shape political vocabulary for centuries to come. Yet it did. Those who favoured sweeping political change, greater equality, and the dismantling of inherited privilege gravitated to the left side of the hall. Those who defended monarchy, established institutions, more..

Jun 3 (CT) Sri Lanka’s racism problem is not a relic of the past; it is a live political and social issue that keeps resurfacing in public debate, online spaces, and institutional practice. The NPP govt has publicly pledged to defeat political racism, but the persistence of Islamophobia, communal deflection, and social-media hate show of political power, shows how deeply entrenched the problem remains. Sri Lanka’s racism problem is not fading with the change of govt. more..

Jun 3 (DM) In Sri Lanka, there is one promise that keeps coming back during every election. It is the promise to abolish the executive presidency. It is repeated with confidence, with conviction, and with great appeal to the public. Yet, once the election is over and power is secured, that promise quietly fades away. This pattern is not new. It has happened again and again, across different leaders and different govts. And today, people are beginning to ask a simple question. more..

Jun 3 (TM) When Sri Lankans speak of unforgettable songs in stage drama, one melody almost always returns. Made Lagina Tharawun, sung by late Mercy Edirisinghe in Lucian Bulathsinhala’s celebrated play Tharawun Igillethi. Whenever the subject of Parliamentary crossovers emerge, my mind quietly travels back to that song. You may wonder why. Read the following lines: Should I bathe a duck that forever delights in mud? What pearl can one expect from a boar’s tusk? more..

Jun 3 (CT) SL’s transition toward renewable energy has increasingly been presented as a pathway to a cleaner and more sustainable future. Across the country, solar power projects are promoted as symbols of progress, promising reduced dependence on fossil fuels, lower carbon emissions and greater energy security. Yet in Hambantota, an unfolding controversy raises questions about what happens when more..

Jun 3 (ST) Reading the media comments of the aftermath of Prez Donald Trump’s state visit to China, however belated it might be, nothing I read was particularly surprising. Perhaps Prez Trump’s customary departure from diplomatic protocol might have been less noticeable. But then Trump is capable of surprises, though not necessarily welcomed in serious society. Perhaps it was Chinese President Xi Jinping’s early warning to his visiting counterpart that cut the turf under his feet. more..

Jun 3 (DM) Govt’s critics warn, some with smug satisfaction, that SL is yet again heading towards an economic crisis reminiscent of the one during the Gotabaya Rajapaksa administration. Some insist the country is already there or faring worse– their barometer being the oil prices now which are as high as then. Cost-reflective energy pricing in the backdrop of the Middle East crisis may not be the most appropriate measure for economic health. In any measure, govt’s decision to stick to more..

Jun 3 (TM) The Govt plans for sources of non-renewable energy to be gradually removed from the national grid by 2050 as SL accelerates its transition towards a fully sustainable power sector. Deputy Minister of Energy Arkam Ilyas said that this target was part of a sweeping strategy to overhaul the national grid, eliminate structural reliance on imported fossil fuels, and establish total carbon neutrality. more..

Jun 3 (Island) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa is reported to have lamented that in SL, politicians who are adept at lying succeed at the expense of those who work really hard. He never misses an opportunity to project himself as a hardworking politician, and therefore his political rivals may claim that his lament smacks of self-promotion. Nevertheless, his argument is not untenable. During the last several decades, we have heard zillions of lies uttered by numerous political leaders, more..

Jun 3 (TM) We have heard warnings about dengue for decades. Every year, with the arrival of the monsoon rains, public appeals are made, clean-up campaigns are launched, and health officials urge citizens to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds. Yet the country continues to find itself confronting the same threat, often with tragic consequences. Latest warning from NMRA Chairperson Dr Ananda Wijewickrama should therefore not be dismissed as another routine alert. more..