Aug 17 (ST) ​Independent tests carried out by the accredited international laboratory Bureau Veritas (BV) on Trident Chemphar’s coal sold to SL between Jan and June 2026 showed that none of the supplier’s 19 consignments was above the tender’s minimum reject gross calorific value (GCV) of 5,900 kilocalories per kilogramme of coal. How then did two other laboratories—one chosen by the Indian supplier and the other via tender by Lanka Coal Company (Pvt) Ltd (LCC)—produce more..

Aug 17 (DM) ​The govt is set to appoint an internal candidate as the interim CEO of loss-making SriLankan Airlines this week on a contract basis, ensuring management continuity as the national carrier navigates a crucial restructuring phase. ​While the specific identity of the new interim chief has not been officially disclosed, Deputy Minister of Civil Aviation Janitha Kodithuwakku confirmed that the stopgap appointment will be drawn from within the organisation. more..

Aug 17 (NW) Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association chairman Gamunu Wijeratne has lodged a complaint with the CID over what he described as sustained insults directed at him on social media. Speaking after lodging the complaint, Wijeratne said he had tolerated the criticism for some time but decided to seek police intervention following requests from members of his association and relatives. He said his comments on the ongoing Metro Bus project were not aimed at opposing the project, more..

Aug 17 (NW) 10 passengers have been rescued after a boat travelling from Kurikattuwan Jetty in Jaffna to Delft Island met with an accident near Nainativu (Nagadeepa) on Sunday, the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources said. The boat was carrying eight men and two women when the accident occurred. Following information about the incident, Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar contacted the Sri Lanka Navy and instructed that an immediate rescue operation be launched. more..

Aug 17 (ST) Uncertainty is looming over SL’s hosting of the inaugural ICC Women’s Champions Trophy, with SLC continuing to be administered by a govt-appointed interim committee. The six-team tournament is scheduled to be held in SL from Feb 14 to 28, 2027. However, ICC reluctance to recognise a politically appointed administration has raised concerns that the tournament could be moved to another country if elections are not held to restore an elected administration at Maitland Place. more..

Aug 17 (FT) In the latest July 2026 round of the Gallup-style Mood of the Nation poll conducted by Verité Research, Govt’s approval rating moderated to 50%, following a post-election high of 65% in the previous Feb 2026 round. The polling partner was Vanguard Survey Ltd Perceptions of the economic outlook reduced sharply. Those who think the economy is getting better declined to 42% from 64% in the previous round. Those who said it was getting worse increased to 40%, more..

Aug 17 (TM) Though SL’s tourism sector has recovered its Covid-19 losses, with hotel operators seeing gross profit margins significantly improving, certain operators’ net profitability margins are yet to recover, SenFin Securities’ findings on the financial performance of the sample six operators, between the financial year of 2022 and 2026 shows. The advisory, commenting on the performance of Hayleys Leisure said: "From FY22-FY26, the improvement in GP margin from 38% to 65% reflects more..

Aug 17 (CI) Revolutions per second through the air is the big thing Keshara Nuwantha has going for him at first blush. Sri Lanka's debutant offspinner is not the finished product just yet. But there is potential here, and his promise revolves around the revolution. Like the moon orbits Earth, which in turn orbits the Sun. If you didn't quite follow all that, relax. This is a story about spin bowling. Some confusion is apt. Necessary even. To take the wicket of Ravindra Jadeja, more..

Aug 17 (CI) Keshara Nuwantha gave a much better account of himself on his second day of Test cricket, but India still made their way towards a formidable first-innings total on another rain-hit day. Devdutt Padikkal converted his overnight 131 into 167, Dhruv Jurel scored an inconspicuous little half-century as India reached 460 for 9 in the 43 overs possible after rain took out the first half of the day. Three of the first four wickets on the second day fell to Nuwantha, more..

Aug 17 (Island) SL’s central and upper watershed areas – frequently described as the nation’s water tower – face escalating pressures from decades of deforestation, soil erosion, and unsustainable land use. Serving as the source for over 100 main rivers and more than 1,000 feeder streams, these critical landscapes sustain water security, agricultural productivity, hydropower generation, and biodiversity. However, extreme weather events have exposed deep vulnerabilities, more..

Aug 17 (FT) Amid debate over whether SL should lower its 5% inflation target, economists highlighted the competing considerations surrounding monetary policy, with Verité Research Executive Director Dr. Nishan de Mel arguing that the immediate credibility test was whether the Central Bank delivered whatever target it formally committed to, while Advocata Institute Chairman Murtaza Jafferjee stressed the heavy influence of food, energy, and supply-side factors on domestic inflation. more..

Aug 17 (ST) The final approval from the Indian govt is imminent for onboarding the master systems provider on the SL Unique Digital Identity, Indian HC to SL Santosh Jha said. Digital Ministry officials confirmed that the final procedural formalities continue despite earlier financial gaps where bids from master system integrators surpassed initial allocations. Backed partially via Indian grant assistance, the platform relies on the Modular Open-Source Identity Platform (MOSIP), more..

Aug 17 (ST) SL is currently seeing a wave of carriers expected to generate an increased number of tourist arrivals from Europe and Asia. Vietnam Airlines and VietJet Airlines and Jetstar scheduled to arrive this month. Later, in winter French Bee and British Airways are expected to commence operations. SL is expected to attract increased tourist arrivals from markets like Vietnam, Australia, France & UK. Vietnam Airlines and VietJet Air will be flying in from Ho Chi Minh to Colombo. more..

Aug 17 (FT) Unlike most economic forums where the spotlight falls on Govt policy and reform, a discussion on SL’s economic future turned the focus on the private sector. Verité Research Executive Director Dr. Nishan de Mel described the economy as a racket marked by tax non-compliance and high real returns to those with financial assets, while Advocata Institute Chairman Murtaza Jafferjee said economic policy was effectively shaped for about 1,000 people and more..

Aug 17 (Island) The present govt pledged to introduce a new Constitution during their election campaign. Thus far, there is no indication as to its shape or form. Past Govts, too, have made similar pledges. Some, including this govt, pledged to abolish the presidential form of govt. What is common to all is that pledges are made before elections. Once elected, Governments are reluctant to face unwarranted challenges, if they can avoid engaging in contentious tasks, such as the making of Constitutions more..

Aug 17 (Island) Bill of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution (22A) is scheduled to be tabled in Parliament tomorrow. The govt is under pressure to release an unedited video recording of the proceedings of last week’s meeting between Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake and a delegation from the BASL. Prez’s Media Division initially released only a video of Prez Dissanayake’s speech, and subsequently, rather grudgingly, made public BASL Prez Rajeev Amarasuriya’s presentation. more..

Aug 17 (CT) Mahinda Rajapaksa’s political leadership, together with the military command under General Sarath Fonseka, brought the long and bloody conflict with Velupillai Prabhakaran and the LTTE to its decisive end in May 2009. That military victory altered the political landscape of SL in ways that continue to reverberate across the country. Yet, nearly two decades later, another and perhaps less visible transformation appears to be taking place—this time not on the battlefield, but more..

Aug 17 (TM) When floodwaters rise, seconds matter. Yet, as the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) recently admitted that the greatest obstacle to saving lives is no longer just the unpredictability of extreme weather. It is a breakdown in public trust and institutional communication. The warning systems may be operational and meteorologists may be tracking atmospheric shifts, but when official bulletins reach the public, they are increasingly met with hesitation, confusion, or outright cynicism. more..

Aug 17 (TM) Having begun in 1907 with the launch of the first motor bus service running between Chilaw and Colombo, Sri Lanka’s 119-year-old public bus transport system has witnessed what many would not hesitate to describe as a much-needed upgrade: the metro bus. While at present two metro bus routes run between Makumbura and Kadawatha and between Makumbura and Colombo Fort, Lanka Metro Transit Ltd (LMT) has announced the introduction of seven new metro bus routes across more..

Aug 17 (ST) My dear Rajeev and the Clan, I thought of writing to you after seeing all of you meet Anura sahodaraya the other day. That meeting is the talk of the town. We have heard what both Anura sahodaraya and you had to say. Our thoughts are based on what we heard from both sides. Before the meeting we heard you complain that you were not consulted about the proposed changes to the Constitution, where the retirement age of those who judge is the main issue. more..

Aug 17 (ST) While the govt is facing the heat politically for its determination to go ahead with the 22nd Amendment, the country is beginning to literally feel the heat of the impending El Niño effect. The harm to scorched crops; the impact on animals; risk of shortages and higher prices of food and dairy products; and heavier demand on energy grids (with the extra use of air conditioning compounding the coal scam) are staring the govt and the nation in the face. more..

Aug 17 (ST) There were two high-profile diplomatic appointments that took place this week. One was the arrival in the country of the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Sri Lanka, Wei Huaxiang. In a statement issued upon his arrival, Ambassador Wei described his appointment as a great honour and privilege and expressed his admiration for Sri Lanka’s rich history, natural beauty and hospitable people. more..

Aug 17 (DM) Twenty years is a long time. I often think of Kethesh Loganathan over these years, even though I had actively known him for just four years. My father had been in touch with Kethesh for decades, and his introduction began a friendship and collaboration with Kethesh which suddenly ended with his assassination on 12 August 2006. The Tamil community and the country as a whole have lost tremendous activists whose lives were cut short by a violent political culture. more..

Aug 17 (DM) Sri Lanka is an island. We are surrounded by the sea and have some of the richest fishing waters in the region. Yet, despite this natural advantage, we continue to import large quantities of fish every year. This is something the govt needs to seriously question. The latest figures show just how much we have come to depend on imports. During the first nine months of 2025, Sri Lanka imported 42,796 metric tonnes of fish and fish products, spending nearly Rs. 26 billion. more..

Aug 16 (TM) Govt has launched a Rs. 1 billion irrigation restoration programme to rehabilitate ageing canals and tanks and strengthen water retention capacity ahead of the seasonal rains expected in late September or October. Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation Aravinda Senarath said the initiative formed part of a comprehensive 3-year programme, with a total allocation of Rs. 3 billion aimed at strengthening the country’s more..

Aug 16 (QT) Qatar Charity inaugurated a newly constructed three-storey Science Laboratory Building at Kalutara Muslim Central College in SL, marking a major investment in education and scientific learning. The project, valued at approximately QR1,065,000, aims to enhance science education and provide modern learning opportunities for more than 1,500 students studying in Sinhala, Tamil & English. The facility was officially opened by Governor of the Western Province more..

Aug 16 (AD) Central Crimes Investigation Bureau (CCIB) has obtained a 72-hour detention order to further interrogate alleged large-scale drug trafficker Shiran Basik following his deportation to Sri Lanka from Dubai on Thursday. Basik, who is alleged to be a major SL drug kingpin, was arrested in Dubai earlier this year and deported to Sri Lanka yesterday. Upon his arrival at the BIA in Katunayake, he was taken into custody by officers attached to the Airport Unit of the CID. more..

Aug 16 (TM) Nearly 468 major State and private institutions have accounted for more than Rs. 613 billion in tax arrears, penalties, and interest, as SL’s total outstanding tax dues surged past Rs. 961 billion as at 30 June 2024, a special audit by the Auditor General has revealed. Special Audit Report on Taxes in Arrears, Penalties & Interest to be recovered to the Inland Revenue Dept from Registered Taxpayers, issued by AG more..

Aug 16 (CT) The COPE has raised concerns over administrative, financial and digital management practices at the Uni of Peradeniya, including delays in disciplinary inquiries, weaknesses in information technology capacity and difficulties in recovering funds from academic staff who fail to honour foreign study-leave bond agreements. The concerns were raised when COPE, chaired by MP Nishantha Samaraweera, met at Parliament on 5 Aug to examine AG’s Reports for 2023 and 2024 more..

Aug 16 (Island) Police have unveiled a special security and traffic plan for the historic Kandy Esala Perahera 2026, which will be held under State patronage from Aug 18 to 28. The annual pageant will commence with the Kumbal Perahera from Aug 18 to 22, followed by the Randoli Perahera from Aug 23 to 27. The festival will conclude with the Day Perahera on Aug 28. Police said a special operation would be in place throughout the 11-day period, covering security checks, roadblocks, more..

Aug 16 (NW) A SL Navy Dvora vessel has met with an accident in the seas off Angulana. According to the Navy spokesperson, rescue operations were launched to assist those on board the vessel. 11 people who were on board have been rescued and hospitalized, while one person remains missing. SL Air Force is assisting with the rescue and surveillance operation. Air Force said an Mi-17 helicopter and a Bell 412 helicopter have been deployed to observe the vessel and more..

Aug 16 (Island) Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has urged the Govt to continue closely examining the environmental damage caused to SL’s maritime territory by the X-Press Pearl disaster. Cardinal made the request during a discussion between the Govt and the Catholic Church held at Presidential Secretariat yesterday. The meeting was co-chaired by Minister of Science and Technology Krishantha Abeysena and Secretary to the Prez more..