Jun 12 (SO) On a school morning somewhere in the world, a child should be packing a bag, tying shoelaces, or rushing through breakfast before the bell rings. Instead, millions of children are already at work—on farms, in mines, in factories, on streets, or hidden inside homes and informal workplaces. For them, childhood is not defined by classrooms and playgrounds but by labour, survival, and endurance. The World Day Against Child Labour, more..

Jun 12 (Island) During a recent television appearance, opposition MP and COPF Chair Dr. Harsha de Silva dramatically brandished the latest IMF Letter of Intent (LoI, 13 May 2026), pointing to the signatures of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe as proof of a secret alignment with austerity and cost-reflective utility pricing. However, for serious students of SL macroeconomics, this revelation contained no new information. more..

Jun 12 (TM) The latest data from the Department of Census and Statistics contains a sobering reality that every citizen must confront. Sri Lanka’s National Official Poverty Line has climbed to Rs 17,117 per person each month. For an average family of four, simply surviving now requires a baseline expenditure of nearly Rs 68,500 every month. In high-cost urban zones like Colombo and Gampaha, that individual threshold spikes even further. While these numbers may look like dry macroeconomic indicators more..

Jun 12 (DN) The reported shortage of teachers and lecturers to cater to the demands of the country’s higher education sector is a worrying prospect that could adversely affect the future of the younger generation and in the long run lead to youth unrest, the consequences of which the country has witnessed on at least two occasions. Unlike in many other fields teachers generally do not go on strike to obtain their legitimate demands. Teachers are also not known to boycott work as is the case more..

Jun 12 (Island) Govt politicians are giving a running commentary of the investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks. They usually do so in Parliament and at media briefings to generate headlines and distract attention from burning issues. Minister Ananda Wijepala has told Parliament that investigators have gathered sufficient evidence to establish the involvement of former SIS Director Major General (Retd) Suresh Sallay, in a conspiracy linked to the 2019 carnage. more..

Jun 12 (DM) Amidst concern, protest and strong opposition against alleged move to increase retirement age of the judges of Superior Courts, the govt yesterday announced that it has not yet obtained official Cabinet approval for such a move. Minister Harshana Nanayakkara has stated that no official decision has yet been taken regarding the issue. However he has observed that not only judges but professionals from other sectors have also submitted requests seeking more..

Jun 12 (CT) In recent decades, one of the most significant developments in SL has been the rise of political journalism. There may be many reasons for this. One key reason is the severe repression, brutality, and suffering inflicted on ordinary people during certain political developments over several decades. It took time for a reaction to emerge, but eventually, mature general media channels and a more mature form of journalism developed, along with enhanced communication capacities. more..

Jun 12 (DM) The Easter Sunday terror attacks of 2019 remain one of the most devastating tragedies in SL’s recent history. It claimed the lives not only of Sri Lankans, but also of foreign nationals. Therefore, countries such as the United States also have a responsibility to determine the real culprits. US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted an investigation and identified Zahran Hashim as the mastermind. The FBI reports, along with inputs from other foreign agencies that assisted more..

Jun 12 (TM) In the landscape of SL’s education sector, a disturbing shadow system operates almost entirely outside the reach of Govt oversight. While the Ministry of Education maintains strict mandates for Govt and private schools, it currently possesses no regulatory body or legal provision to monitor or register the thousands of private tuition classes across the island. With such a backdrop, there is growing concern that several tuition masters who perform mass classes more..

Jun 12 (CT) On 5 June 2026, the world’s largest International Day for the Environment was celebrated. SL launched a nationwide environmental week with a focus on conservation and cleanliness. Sri Lanka possesses a rich but, highly vulnerable tropical ecosystem. However, where does Sri Lanka stand in terms of climate action? According to Global Carbon Project data for 2023, China, US, India and Russia’s share of the global carbon dioxide emission is 30.7%, 13.6%, 7.7%, and 4.5% respectively, more..

Jun 12 (TM) The decision by private bus operators to withdraw up to half of their fleet unless a fuel concession or subsidy is provided has created understandable anxiety among millions of Sri Lankans who rely on public transport every day. It is a development that should concern not only transport authorities but also policymakers at the highest levels of Govt. Public transport is not a luxury in SL. It is the lifeline that connects workers to their jobs, children to their schools, more..

un 11 (DM) A canned fish manufacturing facility operating without the required licence from Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI) was raided in Arachchikattuwa today. During the operation, authorities seized a large stock of canned fish products allegedly manufactured and packaged without proper registration and approval from the SLSI. Officials said the products were being produced and distributed in violation of established standards, posing a potential risk to consumer health and safety. more..

NWJun 11 (NW) SriLankan Airlines has announced strategic partnerships with Saudi Arabia’s national carrier Saudia (SV) and low‑cost airline Flynas (XY), expanding its network reach and strengthening air travel links between SL and Saudi Arabia. Collaboration will provide passengers with seamless connections across multiple domestic and international destinations, enhancing convenience and accessibility while boosting demand for business, leisure more..

Jun 11 (EN) SL’s main airport, the BIA in Katunayake, will not see a second runway built until at least 2055 following recommendations from an international master plan, Deputy Minister Janitha Kodithuwakku said. Instead of constructing a new runway, the airport will undergo modifications to its existing runway, he said. SL had planned to expand the main airport with a second runway two decades back, but the project never took off. more..

Jun 11 (DN) A discussion to review the potential impacts of the anticipated El Niño phenomenon and the preparedness plans of relevant institutions to address its effects was held this morning at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Department of Meteorology, the Department of Irrigation, the Central Environmental Authority, Mahaweli Authority of SL, the Disaster Management Centre, more..

Jun 11 (NW) Twenty-five (25) government officials were arrested between January and April this year in connection with accepting bribes, the CIABOC said. Issuing its Progress Report from 01 Jan 2026 to 30 April 2026, the Bribery Commission said among those taken into custody over bribery incidents during the period, 51 were accused, and 14 already charged. The Commission noted that the govt has earned revenue amounting to nearly Rs. 1.9 million through these cases. more..

Jun 11 (DM) SL’s state university system is facing a critical shortage of academic staff that could compromise the quality of higher education and professional training, Prof. Prageeth Weerathunga, President of the FUTA has warned. He said the state uni system requires 12,000 - 13,000 permanent lecturers to effectively cater to its student population. However, as of the end of the year 2025, there were approximately 6,800 more..

Jun 11 (KT) Sri Lanka’s tea exports to the UAE continued to grow in 2025, reaching 18.32 million kilograms compared to 17.73 million kilograms in 2024, registering an increase of 3.3 per cent, a senior official said. Dr Arusha Cooray, Sri Lanka’s ambassador to UAE, expects tea exports from Sri Lanka to both the UAE and the GCC region will continue to grow in the coming years on the back of strong demand for Sri Lankan tea and its reputation for quality and authenticity. more..

NWJun 11 (DM) The deadline for submitting Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for the Project of Investments to Utilize Resources of Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) has been extended until July 9, 2026, offering prospective investors additional time to participate in one of SL’s key aviation development initiatives. The Ports and Civil Aviation Ministry, on behalf of Airport & Aviation Services (SL) (Pvt) Limited (AASL), is seeking proposals from local and int'l companies, more..

Jun 11 (DM) Ceylon Teachers' Union (CTU) General Secretary Joseph Stalin has alleged that the present government, despite coming to power promising systemic change, is no different from previous administrations when it comes to the education sector. Stalin said it was unfortunate that senior government officials were being deployed to lay foundation stones for school toilet construction projects, questioning the govt's priorities. He further claimed that the Education Ministry had more..

un 11 (DM) Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena yesterday appointed a five-member specialist medical board comprising specialist Judicial Medical Officers and specialist psychiatrists to examine whether former SIS Director Suresh Sallay had been subjected to torture while in the custody of the CID. Accordingly, Magistrate ordered that the suspect, Suresh Sallay, be examined before the next court date, July 1, and further directed that the medical examination be conducted at more..

Jun 11 (DM) The Court of Appeal has acquitted a man who had been sentenced to death for a double murder committed over 30 years ago, ruling that serious doubts existed regarding the reliability of the identification evidence relied upon by the prosecution. A two-judge bench comprising Justice P. Kumararatnam and Justice Pradeep Hettiarachchi delivered the judgement pursuant to an appeal filed by the accused. more..

Jun 11 (EN) Japanese ambassador to Sri Lanka Akio Isomata and UNDP SL’s Azusa Kubota Tachiiri have signed an agreement, in which Japan provides 1.33 million dollars to support cyclone-affected communities in the country recover. “UNDP Sri Lanka signed the agreement with Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka to commence a project which will turn disaster into opportunity, vulnerability into resilience, and partnership into lasting hope for communities across Sri Lanka,” Tachiiri said. more..

Jun 11 (Island) UCPF Leader and Nuwara Eliya District MP, V. Radhakrishnan, has stated that India consistently makes friendly requests to the SL govt to expedite the holding of the long-overdue Provincial Council (PC) elections. He emphasised that India continues to stress that the prolonged inactivity of the Provincial Council system is detrimental to the survival of democracy in SL. MP Radhakrishnan noted that whenever SL political leaders— including the President, PM, more..

Jun 11 (CT) SL’s javelin sensation Rumesh Tharanga has stunned the athletics world, rising to third place in the global javelin throw rankings after his monster throw of 92.62m at the Rome Diamond League. With that performance, Tharanga has now amassed 1,324 ranking points, placing him just behind Germany’s Julian Weber and Grenada’s Anderson Peters. Notably, he is the youngest athlete in the world’s top 20, underscoring his more..

Jun 11 (DM) SL-born international entertainer Alston Koch has expressed gratitude to former Minister Faiszer Musthapha for the support extended to him during his efforts to promote Sri Lanka on the global stage. In a video clip, Koch is heard telling Musthapha, “You’re the Minister who helped me,” recalling the encouragement and backing he received while using his international music career to showcase Sri Lanka to wider audiences. Koch, often referred to as Asia’s King of Pop, more..

Jun 11 (NF) Udaya Gammanpila today told the Colombo High Court that a complaint had been filed against him by former Minister Champika Ranawaka due to political differences between them. He made this statement while giving evidence in the case filed against him over allegations of misappropriating company shares worth Rs. 20 million belonging to Australian businessman Brian Shaddick by preparing a fraudulent power of attorney. Case was taken up today before Colombo HC Judge more..

Jun 11 (NW) Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake today told Parliament that the Treasury could provide financial assistance for a student of Bandarawela Dharmasoka Vidyalaya who suffered severe facial burns in a laboratory accident, if details of the child were submitted. He said he had spoken to the Treasury Secretary and that the govt was prepared to intervene to support treatment. Assurance came in response to Opposition MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, who raised the issue more..

Jun 11 (FT) SL’s coastal venue Smoke & Bitters has been named winner of the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award in the run-up to Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026. Voted for by more than 300 members of The Asia’s 50 Best Bars Academy, this award recognises an establishment that has delivered exceptional hospitality over the past 18 months, setting a new benchmark for guest experience across the region. Located on Pehembiya Beach in Dikwella, Smoke & Bitters has risen steadily since opening more..

Jun 11 (NW) The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) today marked a major milestone in its fighter fleet modernization programme with the successful first test flight of its upgraded Kfir C12 aircraft, known within the service as the Lion Cub. Conducted at SLAF Base Katunayake, the sortie followed extensive ground validation and system integration, transitioning the aircraft from ground testing to airborne evaluation under more..

Jun 11 (DM) Colombo HC Judge Manjula Thilakaratne dismissed an appeal filed by Shashi Weerawansa challenging the two year prison sentence and fine imposed on her for possessing an irregularly obtained passport. Delivering the judgment, the judge affirmed the conviction and sentence previously imposed by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court, holding that there were no grounds to interfere with the lower court’s decision. Shashi Weerawansa had been convicted by more..

Jun 11 (NW) Three Sri Lankan nationals are among seven suspects arrested in Kuwait during separate drug‑related operations, according to a report by Arab Times Kuwait. The arrests were carried out by the General Department for Drug Enforcement Authority as part of ongoing security operations targeting narcotics trafficking networks. The suspects include a Kuwaiti citizen, an Indian national, and two Bedouns (stateless individuals), in addition to the three Sri Lankans. more..