Jul 15 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has signalled that industrial transformation, export competitiveness, public sector efficiency, and a more targeted role for the Govt in economic development will be key themes as the Govt prepares the 2027 Budget, which is scheduled to be unveiled on 12 November. Prez’s Office said discussions on proposals for the Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Ministry’s 2027 Budget focused on accelerating industrial zones, more..

Jul 15 (Island) Ranjan owns a small export company in Colombo. On paper, business has never been better. His shipments of cinnamon and coconut-based products to a trading partner in Dubai have tripled in declared value over eighteen months. His bank statements show steady, healthy growth. His tax filings are immaculate. His accountant calls him a model client. There is only one problem. Ranjan’s actual cinnamon exports have not tripled. They have barely changed at all. more..

Jul 15 (Island) The JVP-NPP govt’s efforts to increase the retirement ages of the judges of the Supreme Court (SC) and the Court of Appeal (CA) has triggered an avalanche of criticism. The Judicial Service Association of SL (JSASL), which represents all District Court judges and Magistrates in the country, has also opposed the govt move. It has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, informing him of its decision. However, the govt remains unresponsive. more..

Jul 15 (TM) The ink was barely dry on the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding before the illusion of peace shattered in the Persian Gulf. With the sudden collapse of the June truce and the resumption of hostilities between the United States and Iran, the global energy architecture has been thrown back into chaos. For the international community, it signifies a return to geopolitical brinkmanship and volatile oil markets. For Sri Lanka, a nation painstakingly navigating more..

Jul 15 (ST) If I return to last Sunday’s clash of wills between the political leader and an established newspaper, it is not because I have taken a cue from President Trump’s wavering decision-making as he decides to fire broadsides at enemies and allies alike at will. It is simply because of the story of SL’s clash of verbal arms between Prez Dissanayake’s outright condemnation of the country’s media, calling it a garbage pile on the verge of rigour mortis unless it collectively acts more..

Jul 15 (TM) As cocaine seizures rise and trafficking routes shift through the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka faces a growing public health concern: not only the drug itself, but the toxic substances mixed into it before it reaches users. For many Sri Lankans, cocaine has long been seen as a distant problem: a drug associated with foreign cartels, wealthy users, luxury nightlife and occasional headline-making seizures. Unlike heroin, cannabis or methamphetamine, more..

Jul 15 (GV) For much of the post-war period, external engagement in Sri Lanka’s Northern and Eastern provinces followed a predictable geography of influence. India was visibly embedded in the region’s political and social fabric while China operated primarily through Colombo, focused on state to state diplomacy and large scale infrastructure development. That balance is now shifting in tone rather than structure as new layers of engagement begin to emerge alongside older patterns. more..

Jul 15 (CT) First and foremost, let me be absolutely clear that this write-up is in no way an attempt to belittle or downplay the U.S.’s 250th Anniversary of Independence, nor does it aim to make a comparative assessment of the historical legacies of the U.S. and SL. Keeping in mind the distinct historical, geopolitical, and socio-cultural contexts of both nations, my aim is purely to share insights on SL’s 2,500-year history in contrast to America’s 250 years of independence. more..

Jul 15 (SO) When Jailer S.H.G. Chandrawansa left for Negombo Prison on the morning of July 6, he had no idea it would be his final journey. Colleagues remember him as a quiet, committed prison officer who had already endured more hardship than most others. He was battling cancer while continuing to serve in one of the country’s most demanding professions. His family home had been destroyed by the recent disaster that devastated parts of Sri Lanka, more..

Jul 15 (DM) Food supply chains were strained or broken, domestically as well as internationally back in 2020 (not yet in 2026, but there are five months left). It is natural and necessary in such circumstances (and now, as we look realistically at food supply chains as different countries respond to the Trump-Netanyahu mess in West Asia) to think about food security. But it is important to think intelligently and in ways informed by evidence. All rankings and indexes have flaws, more..

Jul 15 (DM) The deadly violence that erupted at Negombo Prison on July 5-6, 2026 stands as one of the darkest episodes in Sri Lanka’s recent correctional history. Approximately 28 people lost their lives, including seven to eight prison officers, with more than 100 others injured. This was the highest death toll in a single prisoner-related incident in decades. What began as clashes linked to internal drug smuggling factions quickly escalated into uncontrolled rioting, more..

Jul 14 (DM) Karandeniya Police have launched an investigation into the death of a 35-year-old man from the Thalgawatta area of Karandeniya, who died during a Facebook livestream. The deceased, identified as Dinesh Wijewardena, had reportedly recently returned to SL after working in South Korea, where he had been employed for several years. According to police, the incident occurred on the night of July 12. During the livestream, he was initially seen interacting with friends before more..

Jul 14 (DN) The initial phase of a major development project to transform the Hikkaduwa Railway Station into an international-standard Transport hub under the Clean Sri Lanka Dream Destination programme has commenced. The initiative aims to modernise the railway station with world-class facilities, making it more attractive and convenient for both local commuters and foreign tourists visiting the popular coastal destination. As part of the project, John Keells Holdings has pledged its full support more..

Jul 14 (DM) Sri Lanka has lost more than Rs. 25 billion in potential tax revenue since 2025 due to cigarette taxes remaining below the benchmark recommended by the WHO, according to Verité Research. The policy think tank revealed that the Govt lost over Rs. 8 billion in potential revenue during the first six months of 2026 alone. The findings were released alongside the launch of the Cigarette Tax Leakage Tracker, a real-time online dashboard more..

Jul 14 (EN) SL has launched an international tender for a large‑scale battery energy storage project, its Board of Investment has said, aimed at strengthening the country’s power grid. National System Operator (Pvt) Ltd, under the Ministry of Energy, has launched an international competitive bidding process for the establishment of a 250 MW/1000 MWh Standalone Battery Energy Storage system structured as 10 MW/40 MWh AC capacity projects across 25 grid substations more..

Jul 14 (Island) Sri Lanka has recorded 68,672 dengue cases and 47 deaths so far this year, according to NDCU. Data released by NDCU as of 6 a.m. yesterday shows that the Western Province is the worst affected, accounting for 36,118 cases, or 52.6 per cent of the national total. Gampaha District has reported the highest number of infections with 14,112 cases, followed by Colombo with 13,471. Southern Province has recorded 10,765 cases, while Sabaragamuwa and more..

Jul 14 (FT) A new BrandRadar study tracked 198 brands across the most popular Large Language Models (LLMs) over a period of three months. This article is about what brands AI is actually recommending and the numbers that explain why. In April, Ceylinco General Insurance’s AI visibility score jumped from 28.5 to 83.6, a 55-point swing in a single month, the largest movement recorded in a new study of how AI more..

Jul 14 (DM) A 12-year-old schoolgirl suffering from a urine infection was examined by the doctors, to find that she had been raped at times for two years by her grandfather. 54-year-old suspect is the father of five sons, and the victim is the daughter of one of them, living near the suspect’s house. On information from the hospital, Gampola Police that initiated investigations arrested her grandfather and produced him before Gampola Magistrate Sarasi Sri Paranamana, who remanded him till July 24. more..

Jul 14 (DM) There is a sinister move by the govt to extend the term of the current army commander until Jan 2028 following the request of the Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, Opposition MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake charged. “The term of the current army commander ended on July 2 2026. There is a move to extend his term further until Jan 2028. A number of senior army officers, including Nilantha Premaratne will be overlooked when extending the term of the current more..

Jul 14 (DM) Sri Lanka is set to receive a combined foreign financing package of nearly US$55.9 million to strengthen its solar power sector and expand renewable energy access through a new ground-based solar power consolidation project. Cabinet has approved entering into loan and grant agreements with ADB, EU and Japan Fund for the Joint Credit Mechanism to implement the Project on Ground-Based Solar Power Consolidation and True Net Metering. more..

Jul 14 (AD) Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval for the implementation of the National Policy on Anti-Money Laundering, Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) and Countering Proliferation Financing (CPF) of Sri Lanka for the period 2026–2030. Financial crimes, including money laundering, terrorist financing, and the financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, continue to pose significant risks to SL’s economy, financial stability, and more..

Jul 14 (DM) With pressure mounting on the Govt from the country’s legal fraternity over the move for retirement age extension for Superior Court judges, Judicial Service Association of SL (JSASL), sole organisation representing all District Court Judges and Magistrates in the country, has informed Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake that it had unanimously passed a resolution opposing such extension for any judge. more..

Jul 14 (DM) Sri Lanka has successfully carried out its first AI-assisted robotic surgeries. The two procedures were performed by specialist surgeons at Asiri Surgical Hospital in Colombo using advanced robotic technology. One surgery involved the removal of the uterus of a woman in her 50s, while the other was a complex kidney procedure. Medical experts said the robotic system does not perform operations autonomously but functions entirely under the surgeon’s control. more..

Jul 14 (AD) Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to host the fourth Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting and Senior Officials’ Meeting in SL on March 17 and 18, 2027. BIMSTEC comprises seven member countries — Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, SL and Thailand. BIMSTEC aims to promote economic cooperation among countries surrounding the Bay of Bengal, with more..

Jul 14 (NW) Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said not all individuals named in a recent media report on VIP security are currently receiving police protection. Jayatissa said a report submitted by the Senior DIG in charge of VIP Security to the IGP states that several individuals mentioned in the report are not being provided VIP security. He named former Speaker Ashoka Ranwala, Mohamed Rizvi Sally, Sarath Kumara, more..

Jul 14 (AD) A total of 75 wild elephants have been killed as a result of direct human activities during the first seven months of the year, according to the Department of Wildlife Conservation. The Department said 30 elephants were shot dead, while 23 died after coming into contact with illegal electric fences or live wires. Another 19 elephants were killed after consuming explosive bait, commonly known as hakka patas (jaw bombs) and three died from poisoning. more..

Jul 14 (NW) Sri Lanka aims to increase the average spending by foreign tourists by improving the quality of tourism experiences, Deputy Tourism Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe said. He said the average tourist visiting Sri Lanka currently spends around US$148 per day, based on available survey data. He noted that the figure is an estimate, as SL does not have advanced systems to accurately track tourist expenditure, such as using credit card and banking data, unlike countries such as Australia. more..

Jul 14 (DM) Govt today refuted social media posts that Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake's scheduled official visit to France has been postponed due to visa issues. Minister Nalinda Jayatissa told the weekly breifing that the dates for the visit will be announced following diplomatic discussions between France and Sri Lanka. Minister said posts shared on social media are always not trustworthy and that such posts have to be trusted considering who generates and shares such posts. more..

Jul 14 (EN) Cabinet has approved a proposal to award the tender to expand the BIA departures terminal to Maga Engineering for 7.26 million dollars (excluding VAT) and 3.77 billion rupees (excluding VAT). “This money will come out of the general treasury,” minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. Cabinet on Feb 9 last year approved the implementation of the procurement process for the construction of a new building with 36 check-in counters and 6 aircraft access gates from the passenger terminal. more..

Jul 14 (NF) SL stands to benefit significantly from international asset recovery mechanisms that help countries trace, freeze, and reclaim funds lost through corruption, according to a senior official from UN Office on Drugs & Crime (UNODC). Speaking on the sidelines of Korea-UNDP Anti-Corruption Forum in early July, Shervin Majlessi, Chief of the Corruption and Economic Crime Branch at UNODC, said SL has already benefited more..

Jul 14 (EN) Cabinet has approved a joint initiative to establish a modern Centralized Zero-waste Biomass Cinnamon Processing Centre at the Uni of Ruhuna to address long-standing supply chain inefficiencies. Minister Nalinda Jayatissa announced that the project aims to resolve major constraints affecting regional spice producers, particularly smallholders. Accordingly, cabinet decision highlighted that the local spice sector requires modernized infrastructure to overcome persistent production hurdles. more..

Jul 14 (AD) Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Saroja Savithri Paulraj, has stated that a special rehabilitation programme will be launched in the near future for children placed under probation for drug use, drug addiction and drug-related offences. The Minister made these remarks while participating in the Women and Children’s Sub-committee meeting held in the Anuradhapura District today (14). She noted that the Women and Children’s Sub-committees have been established alongside more..