Aug 30 (TM) The National System Operator (NSO) is unable to immediately implement the Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) directive to establish Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) capacity for solar energy by next year due to a lack of detailed implementation agreements and documents, NSO Chairman Dr. Pradeep Perera said. He made the remarks in response to an inquiry about a directive issued by the PUCSL this week as part of its approved tariff decision, more..

Aug 30 (Island) Mass graves across SL are tragic and enduring evidence of the failures of successive states, Minister Bimal Rathnayake said, describing the Chemmani site as a historic symbol of a failed state. He said the Govt had ensured that excavations at the Chemmani mass grave were conducted through a transparent, scientific and lawful process, backed by the necessary funding and judicial and medical resources. “When we came to power, only skeletal remains recovered from 2009 onwards more..

Aug 30 (TM) More than 84,500 people affected by the ongoing dry spell are currently facing water shortages, with over 75,000 people receiving drinking water through emergency distribution arrangements, as authorities rely on a combined fleet of bowsers operated by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, Disaster Management Centre (DMC), and local authorities to meet the demand. According to the DMC, 84,545 people belonging to 26,457 families across seven districts and more..

Aug 30 (AD) A decision has been taken to gazette 1,500 hectares of land associated with key water sources and watershed mountain areas belonging to the Dept of Forest Conservation in Nuwara Eliya as protected areas. The decision was reached at a special District Coordinating Committee meeting held yesterday (28) at the Nuwara Eliya District Secretariat, with the aim of promoting environmental conservation, sustainable tourism, and the protection of watershed areas in the district. more..

Aug 30 (ST) Sri Lanka has placed military personnel from all three armed forces on standby to assist Nepal with rescue and clearance operations following devastating flash floods that caused loss of life and damaged parts of the Tibet-Nepal border, the Ministry of Defence said. However, no SL military contingent has been ordered to be deployed in Nepal as the country has not yet received an invitation from the Nepalese Govt or instructions specifying the number of personnel or equipment required. more..

Aug 30 (TM) SL is hopeful of commencing its first commercial oil and gas production within the next three to five years if exploration under the newly launched offshore licensing round proves successful, according to CPC Managing Director Dr. Mayura Neththikumarage. The Govt last week formally opened the SL Licensing Round 2026 (SL2026-01), offering four offshore exploration blocks covering nearly 34,000 sq km in the Mannar Basin to qualified international energy companies. more..

Aug 30 (TM) Cabinet-appointed committee tasked with reviewing the effectiveness of SL’s existing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and the structure of future FTAs to be negotiated has submitted its report to the Cabinet Office. The report, submitted the week before last, is scheduled to be taken up by the Cabinet in the coming days. Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security, and Co-operative Development Secretary K.A. Vimalenthirarajah, who chaired the committee, said more..

Aug 30 (ST) SL’s primary industry-specific promotional reserves, specifically the Tea Promotion and Marketing Fund and the Tourism Promotion Fund are at operational crossroads as a result of the state fiscal consolidation initiatives. The Finance Ministry is compelled to absorb independent, industry-financed reserves to meet its strict 2.3 per cent primary budget surplus target and comply with the transitioning Treasury single account framework. The govt’s primary strategy focuses on more..

Aug 30 (ST) Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development is gearing to implement a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) for employees of entities to be liquidated under the ministry. The staff at SL Cement Corporation, Lanka Cement, Hingurana Sugar Industries Company, Kantale Sugar Industries, Small and Medium Enterprises Authority, Wood-based Design Centre, Kahatagaha Engineering Services, Lanka Textile Mills Embilipitiya Ltd will be granted a VRS or compensation more..

Aug 30 (DM) Police said that a person who was protesting in front of the Sri Dalada Maligawa while displaying a banner containing insulting remarks about the Diyawadana Nilame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa and the Senior DIG in charge of the Central Province was attacked with paint containing an unpleasant smell. Police said that he had been engaged in an unlawful protest yesterday morning, on the day of the Dahawal Perahera (The Day Procession). While he was engaged in the protest, more..

Aug 30 (ST) Sri Lanka has lost the hosting rights for the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy after the International Cricket Council (ICC) decided it could not proceed with the country while Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) remains under a govt-appointed interim administration. The six-team tournament was scheduled to be played in Sri Lanka from February 14 to 28, 2027, but the event has now been taken away from the country, an SLC official confirmed. more..

Aug 30 (Island) Sonal Dinusha, SL’s number six batter, played the innings of a lifetime when he batted throughout the fifth day of the second Test against India to earn his side a hard-fought draw. At the start of the final day, Sri Lanka were six wickets down and held a lead of just 16 runs. It was not a pretty picture. Few in their right mind would have given SL much chance of surviving even until the lunch break, with India seemingly poised to complete a comprehensive victory. more..

Aug 30 (ST) Former SL white-ball captains Charith Asalanka and Dasun Shanaka are set to return to the national white-ball squads for the forthcoming series against England. SL will play three T20 internationals followed by three ODIs against England, with the series beginning on Sept 15 and concluding with the final ODI on Sept 27. Asalanka, who lost the captaincy following last year’s series against Pakistan, was left out of the WI T20 series in June after a prolonged dip in form. more..

Aug 30 (ST) With the ongoing Nallur Kandaswamy temple festival in Jaffna, thousands of devotees, both from the diaspora and across the island, are visiting the northern cultural city despite the scorching sun these days. Unlike in the past, huge crowds of devotees from all walks of life are participating in this year’s vibrant Hindu festival. One major difficulty they face is a lack of adequate transport facilities, more..

Aug 30 (ST) My dear Mangala, I thought of writing to you because it is 5 years since you left us suddenly, becoming an unexpected victim of the Covid pandemic. You are hardly remembered today, despite the lasting impact of what you did while at the height of your powers. Surely, there is a lesson in that for present day politicians. You are often hailed as a political genius, especially while you were in the opposition. You are credited with being the mastermind behind the moves that united all opposition forces against Mahinda maama. more..

Aug 30 (ST) In the days of not so long ago, PM Dudley Senanayake responded sharply to an opposition MP: “I am the Govt,” he said, and his Minister of State, J.R. Jayewardene, interjected to say, good-humouredly, no doubt, And I am the State. Mr Jayewardene went on to become an Executive President, not far from repeating the famous quote of King Louis of France, who said, L’Etat, c’est moi (I am the State). Trying to blur the distinction between the State and the Govt more..

Aug 30 (NW) The management of the Sevanagala Sugar Factory has temporarily shut down the facility until further notice, citing disruptions to production linked to ongoing worker unrest and trade union action. In a statement issued on August 29, the Chairman of the Sevanagala Sugar Company said production had been disrupted on several occasions in recent weeks due to unrest among employees. According to the Chairman, although employees reported for duty from August 25, more..

Aug 30 (NW) Further details have emerged over the police shooting in Narahenpita reported earlier, with investigations revealing that the incident was linked to a love affair involving a young woman who was allegedly abducted from a graduation ceremony in Colombo. As previously reported, Police opened fire at a car in Narahenpita after its driver allegedly ignored repeated orders to stop at a police roadblock. Police investigations have now revealed that the young woman inside the vehicle more..

Aug 30 (TM) The mandatory introduction of SL Customs’ paperless Customs Declaration (CusDec) process, currently scheduled for 1 October this year, may be extended amidst lobbying by the trader community for more time to adapt to the requirement. SL Customs Spokesman Chandana Punchihewa said that traders were currently lobbying for an extension, citing difficulties faced in adopting digital signatures. He said that the paperless declaration process was currently scheduled more..

Aug 30 (Island) In the history of Test cricket, we have witnessed some epic rearguard actions that have saved the day. Our coach Gary Kirsten himself once batted for 14 and half hours after England enforced the follow on in Durban. Sir Garfield Sobers did something similar when he occupied the crease for many hours to save the Lord’s Test of 1963. Then, again at Lord’s, Mahela Jayawardene led from the front in 2006. SL were forced to follow on after conceding a first innings deficit of 359 runs, more..

Aug 30 (AD) Underworld figure Saranga Pradeep, alias Welle Saranga, has been arrested in Dubai based on information provided by the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) and the State Intelligence Service (SIS). Suspect was recently apprehended by Dubai Police, acting on information provided by the Director of the CCIB and intelligence officers who had travelled to Dubai in connection with the arrest of Lalith Kannangara, alias Bus Lalith. more..

Aug 30 (NW) Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has rejected as false a social media post claiming that the prices of milk powder, cultured milk drinks and yoghurt have been increased. CAA said a post designed as a Breaking News alert was circulating on social media claiming that the price of a kilogram of milk powder had been increased by Rs. 260, a bottle of cultured milk drink by Rs. 40 and a yoghurt by Rs. 20. Authority said the information regarding these purported price increases more..

Aug 30 (CI) Medium pacers Chethana Vimukthi and Mithali Ayodhya starred with the ball as Sri Lanka began their 2026 Asia Cup title defence with a commanding win against UAE in Dubai. The duo, well supported by the rest of Sri Lanka's attack, combined to bowl UAE out for 79 with one ball remaining in the innings. In reply, Chamari Athapaththu wasted no time, blasting an unbeaten 48 off 25 balls to help Sri Lanka cruise to a nine-wicket victory with 73 balls to go. more..

Aug 30 (TM) For Prez AKD and JVP-led NPP Govt, the country’s economic recovery is rapidly becoming more than a story of stabilisation. It is turning into a political test of whether the JVP/NPP can convince voters that the gains made since the 2022 crisis are sustainable, and that the country can eventually stand on its own without depending on another IMF programme or emergency foreign exchange support. Govt is increasingly taking its economic message to the political ground, more..

Aug 30 (TM) Even after more than 17 years since the end of the brutal three-decade war in N&E Provinces, the plight of the Tamil people who lost their ancestral lands – living as refugees, with relatives, or in rented houses – has not ceased. Recently, members of the Voice of the Landless People of North-East submitted a memorandum to PM Harini Amarasuriya during her visit to attend an educational financial assistance event for uni students at the Jaffna District Secretariat. more..

Aug 30 (TM) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake did not mince his words when he spoke about his and his NPP Govt’s intentions with regard to the proposed 22nd Amendment. Speaking at the national ceremony to mark the Holy Prophet’s birthday commemoration in Colombo last week, he said: “If the verdict of a 2006 case is delivered only in 2026, and nine years on, not a single piece of evidence has been recorded for a case filed in 2017, when will the public ever have faith in justice? more..

Aug 30 (SO) The mountains of Klaabaraga, in Poonagala, Badulla District, carry a history heavier than their soil. For two hundred years, these tea-blanketed highlands drew extraordinary wealth from the hands of the Malaiyaha community—Tamil-speaking plantation workers brought to these slopes under colonial coercion and denied, ever since, the most elementary right of all: to belong, permanently and securely, to the place where they live and labour. more..

Aug 30 (SO) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, during Wednesday’s National Milad-un-Nabi celebration in Negombo said his Govt would not allow another ethnic or religious conflict to emerge in SL. Political stability and ethnic/religious unity are central pillars for the NPP Govt and his assurance addressed a real danger that has become harder to ignore. In recent weeks, the Kalmunai hospital uniform dispute drew attention towards Tamil-Muslim rivalry; a fabricated claim about a LTTE training camp more..

Aug 30 (SO) Wednesday’s unprecedented flash flood in Nepal and Tibet is perhaps a harbinger of things to come as Climate Change takes a turn for the worse. Glacial collapse as a result of rising temperatures has been cited as the main reason for the flood, which has claimed at least 650 lives, while nearly 2,500 people are missing on both sides of the border. Experts have blamed both Nepalese and Chinese authorities for allowing constructions in the danger zone, which probably increased the number of casualties. more..

Aug 30 (Island) Lionel Bopage, the first General Secretary of the JVP, was here recently from Australia where he is domiciled. Now 82, Bopage was among the key figures involved in the formation of the JVP and was a member of its early Committee of 21 leadership. He joined the movement at the age of 24, influenced by his father’s involvement in the Communist Party and his own commitment to left-wing politics. He later became increasingly critical of the JVP’s position on more..

Aug 30 (Island) The global tariff blackmail of the Trump Administration in Washington ran into the Canadian Sheild last week at the 45th Parallel. After year-long efforts to salvage the legally binding free trade agreement between Canada, Mexico and the US, from Trump’s illegally executed tariffs, Canada’s PM Mark Carney said enough is enough and pulled out of all trade talks with the US. The cessation of talks is a shocking development in the geopolitics of world trade and more..

Aug 30 (Island) Politics is more about pure theatre than actual delivery anywhere in the world. This is arguably more so about SL politicians, their parties, and successive govts. It is therefore only natural that the incumbent govt ensures that maximum possible pollical mileage accrues to it from the repatriation of SL criminals arrested overseas. Among the underworld characters brought back here during the past two years or so are several drug kingpins, Shiran Basik being the latest. more..