Jun 16 (NW) Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to draft a new National Action Plan for Human–Elephant Conflict Management, as Sri Lanka continues to grapple with escalating clashes between people and wild elephants. According to the government, rapid population growth, deforestation, and expanding development projects have destroyed traditional migratory routes and habitats, intensifying the conflict across 19 districts and 134 Divisional Secretariat Divisions. more..

Jun 16 (TM) A Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed to investigate possible irregularities in coal imports from 2009 onwards conducted an on-site inspection at the Lakvijaya Power Plant in Norochcholai on the 14th. The delegation, which included Commission Secretary D. V. Bandulasena and other investigating officers, examined the full coal-to-electricity process at the plant. This included coal unloading operations, storage facilities, sample collection methods, more..

Jun 16 (TM) The failure of Local Govt (LG) authorities to properly manage waste in the Western Province (WP) and many other parts of the country has significantly contributed to the spread of dengue, according to the Medical and Civil Rights Association of Doctors (MCPA) organisation. President of the MCPA, Dr Chamal Sanjeewa said that uncollected garbage and stagnant water accumulating in many areas had created ideal breeding grounds more..

Jun 16 (Island) Valikamam North Pradeshiya Sabha has asked Jaffna Security Forces headquarters to halt the construction of a military hospital at Vasavilan. The ITAK-run PS, in a letter to the military, has alleged that an illegal construction was taking place on a block of land belonging to civilians. Chairman of the PS has warned Jaffna Security Forces headquarters that the issue would be taken up with Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and NPP govt, unless construction was halted more..

Jun 16 (Island) SL has secured three bronze medals at the 60th International Mendeleev Chemistry Olympiad (IMChO), held at Moscow State Uni from April 15 to 22, marking the country’s strongest performance to date at the prestigious global chemistry competition. SL team comprised Himaru Abeygunarathne of Trinity College, Kandy, Ravindu Ranathunga of Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala, Geethilihansa Ganaewaththage of Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo, & Niththilan Pirabakaran more..

Jun 16 (Island) Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha on Sunday highlighted several projects being implemented under the Govt of India’s INR 75 crore Indian Origin Tamil Package, upgradation of school infrastructure, and training in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics for over 2,000 plantation school teachers. Jha said that the ongoing implementation of India’s housing programme for Indian Origin Tamil families more..

Jun 16 (DM) Cabinet has approved funding to reconstruct an additional 90 places of worship damaged by Cyclone Ditwah, expanding ongoing efforts to restore religious sites affected by the disaster. Official estimates show that 1,328 religious institutions sustained varying degrees of damage, including 758 Buddhist temples, 272 Hindu kovils, 199 mosques, and 99 churches. Reconstruction work has already commenced at 178 religious sites through a Rs. 800 million fund mobilised by more..

Jun 16 (NW) The govt has launched a Rs. 15 billion project to fully renovate Terminal 1 at the BIA, as a long‑term measure to ease passenger congestion. Initiative is being funded entirely through domestic state allocations, without reliance on foreign loans. Deputy Minister Janitha Kodithuwakku said the move was necessary to address the surge in tourism demand, noting that construction of the second terminal under Japanese assistance may take several more years to complete. more..

Jun 16 (DM) Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said that the most appropriate step that former intelligence chief Suresh Sallay can take in relation to the Easter Sunday terror attacks is to disclose all information in his possession and assist the ongoing investigations. Minister said that there was no value in withholding information known to him as a former intelligence and military officer. “Whatever it is, the best thing that Suresh Sallay can do as an intelligence and military officer more..

Jun 16 (NW) SLC has called for applications for the positions of Manager – Men’s National Teams and Manager – Women’s National Teams, seeking experienced professionals to oversee the operations and administration of SL’s national cricket teams. According to vacancy notices issued by SLC, the successful candidates will be responsible for managing team operations, logistics, compliance, financial processes, player welfare, and communication between players, coaching staff, more..

Jun 16 (Island) PM Harini Amarasuriya stated that a long-term programme should be formulated to minimize the spread of dengue epidemic and emphasized that, just as the country has successfully overcome previous challenges, the dengue challenge must also be addressed and overcome through a collective effort. PM made these remarks today while addressing a special dengue prevention programme organized in kottawa more..

Jun 16 (AD) The mandatory seat belt regulation will be strictly enforced from June 20, National Council for Road Safety announced. Chairman of the council, Manjula Kularatne, stated that all occupants of vehicles travelling on expressways will be required to wear seat belts. The govt has made it compulsory for both front-seat and rear-seat passengers to wear seat belts while travelling in vehicles on expressways. A grace period had previously been granted to allow the public to more..

Jun 16 (NW) Cabinet has approved the appointment of a Senior Officials Committee to study the feasibility of integrating the operations of the EPF and ETF under a unified governance framework. EPF, established in 1958, covers more than 2.5 million members and holds assets exceeding Rs. 4.9 trillion. Its custodianship, investment management, financial administration, and benefit payments are overseen by the CB, while the Dept of Labour handles registration, compliance, arrears more..

Jun 16 (MK) Lanka Premier League (LPL) is set to enter its sixth season with a major commercial push after its promoter, Innovative Production Group FZ, secured multimillion-dollar backing through a strategic all-stock merger with Flash Sports & Media, Inc. The development comes weeks before LPL Season 6, which is scheduled to begin on 10 July 2026. IPG said the transaction brings its portfolio of T20 league commercial rights, more..

Jun 16 (EN) Sri Lanka’s cabinet has approved getting a 200 million dollar funding from the Asian Development Bank for a post-cyclone infrastructure reconstruction and livelihood assistance project, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said, 7 months after the disaster. “Extreme damages occurred to national infrastructure such as highways, railway tracks and irrigation systems as well as livelihoods, economic activities due to cyclone Ditwah that struck Sri Lanka in November 2025,” Jayatissa told reporters. more..

Jun 16 (NW) Sri Lanka A cricketer Vishen Halambage’s Instagram account has reportedly been blocked after the young player became the target of online trolls following an on-field altercation involving India A batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Halambage drew widespread attention after Sri Lanka A’s dramatic Super Over victory over India A in the Tri-Nation Series in Dambulla on Monday, with videos of a heated exchange between the two players circulating widely on social media. more..

Jun 16 (AD) Dinana Dakuna collective has strongly condemned what it describes as politically motivated interference by police and the CID in matters related to contempt of court allegations, claiming that such actions are being used to restrict freedom of expression. In a statement issued by the collective’s leadership board and executive committee, spokesperson Shiral Lakthilaka said the organization expresses strong opposition to what it terms the targeting of citizens’ speech more..

Jun 16 (NW) SL’s javelin throw champion Rumesh Tharanga is set to compete at the prestigious Ostrava Golden Spike athletics meet in the Czech Republic today, with the event scheduled to take place at 22:37 SL time. Tharanga’s participation comes on the heels of his remarkable performance at the Rome Diamond League, where he delivered a record‑breaking throw that boosted his global standing. Currently ranked third in the world, his showing in Ostrava is expected to play a more..

Jun 16 (DM) In the wake of tens of millions of US dollars being transferred out of the country through fraudulent transactions, the govt is planning to strengthen laws governing money laundering by introducing fresh legal amendments, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said. Earlier, Minister told Parliament that as much as US$85 million had been transferred out of the country under the guise of import payments. more..

Jun 16 (NF) Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has filed a petition before the Court of Appeal seeking an order preventing his arrest under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). The petition is linked to investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks. The petition was filed through Attorney-At-Law Sanath Wijewardena. Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasooriya, Director of the CID Shani Abeysekara, and several others have been named as respondents in the petition. more..

Jun 16 (NF) The newly appointed Defence Attaché of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in SL, Senior Colonel Fu Xiao, paid a courtesy call on the Deputy Minister of Defence, Aruna Jayasekara, at his office in Colombo yesterday. During the meeting, the Deputy Minister and the Chinese Defence Attaché engaged in cordial discussions on matters of bilateral defence cooperation and mutual interest. The Deputy Minister acknowledged China's longstanding defence cooperation, more..

Jun 16 (ST) Six months after Cyclone Ditwah tore through SL, women-led households in the informal sector are struggling to validate their compensation needs. In the immediate aftermath of the cyclone, the government announced a sweeping compensation package covering everything from damaged homes and disrupted livelihoods to temporary accommodation and schoolchildren’s expenses. Yet, affected families who function more..

Jun 16 (AD) Former Director of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) Major General (Rtd) Suresh Sallay should fully cooperate with ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks by disclosing all relevant information in his possession, according to Cabinet Spokesperson and Minister Nalinda Jayatissa. Minister stated that as a former intelligence and military officer, Major General Sallay should provide investigators with any information that could assist the inquiry. more..

Jun 16 (NW) The Govt of India has donated defence and medical equipment valued at USD 5 million to the SL Army, strengthening the long‑standing friendship and defence cooperation between Sri Lanka and India. The consignment was officially handed over at Army Headquarters in Akuregoda, by India’s High Commissioner to SL, Santosh Jha, to Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Retired) Sampath Thuyyakontha. Commander of the SL Army, Lt General Lasantha Rodrigo, more..

Jun 16 (FT) There are widespread misunderstandings about key economic concepts such as economic growth, inflation, interest rates, exchange rates, taxation, Govt debt, and fiscal and monetary policies. These misconceptions are propagated by various commentators through newspapers, TV talk shows, and social media. Such economic myths distort public opinion, create market uncertainty, and lead to imprudent decision-making in both the private and public sectors. more..

Jun 16 (TM) The prospective signing of a peace treaty between the United States and Iran in Switzerland this Friday (19) offers a critical window of relief for global energy markets, but its long-term viability remains highly questionable. Following over one hundred days of active conflict since the US-led offensive in late February, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed the ceasefire breakthrough, subsequent to official confirmations from Washington and Tehran. more..

Jun 16 (FT) Sri Lanka’s economy grew 5.1% in the first quarter of 2026, up from 4.8% in the Dec 2025 quarter. 1Q 2026 was particularly challenging. The period covered the first two months (Jan and Feb) after the devastating Ditwah Cyclone and the first full month of the US-Israel war on Iran (March). However, while lower than the 5.4% growth in 3Q 2025, it was higher than the 4.9% 2Q and 4.8% 1Q growth rates of 2025. more..

Jun 16 (DN) Minister Chrishantha Abeysena highlighted how drone technology is an excellent solution to the severe labour shortage the agriculture sector is currently facing. Speaking at a special drone technology workshop in the Kurukulawa paddy fields area in Wattala recently, he said it is a highly efficient method that saves time. ‘Introducing these modern technological tools also paves the way to create a young smart farmer generation that uses technology in the country. more..

Jun 16 (NF) Ministry of Health states that 70 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) divisions across the island have been identified as dengue risk areas. Its Acting Director, Dr. Kapila Kannangara, noted that among these, the highest risk areas have been identified as the Biyagama, Matara, and Ratnapura MC areas, as well as the Kaduwela, Maharagama, Piliyandala, and Moratuwa MOH divisions. Due to this situation, residents living in these MOH divisions must remain highly vigilant. more..

Jun 16 (BBC) US Prez Donald Trump has said a preliminary deal to end the war with Iran has already been signed and suggested that details of the agreement are set to be published pretty soon. "I am very happy to say it's signed, the deal is all signed," he said during talks with French Prez Emmanuel Macron at the G7 summit on Monday. Senior US officials also began giving some details about the contents of the deal, more..

Jun 16 (DM) A British MP has urged the UK Govt to intervene in the case of a Sri Lankan family facing deportation, arguing that they have become valued members of their local community through their work and public service. Liberal Democrat MP Victoria Collins highlighted the case of a person called Rasika, who works as a care worker, and his wife Chamila, a teaching assistant in Northchurch who supports children with special educational needs and volunteers at her local church. more..

Jun 16 (AD) SL Railway Station Masters' Association (SLRSMU) has raised concerns over what it describes as a worsening crisis in the railway service, claiming that the number of daily train journeys has fallen to below 200, compared to more than 420 services operated before the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, more than 420 daily train services, including passenger, mixed, fuel transport and freight trains, were in operation. That figure dropped to around 350 after more..