Jun 15 (AV) A historic cultural milestone was achieved in Colombo as more than 5,000 Bharatanatyam dancers performed together, clinching the Guinness World Record for the largest Bharatanatyam dance lesson. Event, organised by Sangamam Global Academy, India and Samgamizh Liya, SL, was held at Galle Face Green in Colombo and brought together thousands of dancers from SL, India & several other countries, more..

Jun 15 (DN) Since Dengue has currently developed into a highly critical risk situation in Sri Lanka, the Govt has decided to implement a National Dengue Prevention Week from today (15) to June 20 with the aim of controlling its spread. This programme is being implemented jointly by the Public Admin, PCs and LG Ministry and the Health Ministry and Education Ministry and the SL Police. At a special discussion held under the chairmanship of Deputy Minister Ruwan Senarath, it was revealed more..

Jun 15 (NW) The official website of SL Railways came under a cyberattack today (14), railway authorities said. According to officials, the attack has affected only the railway timetable system available on the website. As a precautionary measure, authorities have temporarily disabled the affected section of the website while efforts are underway to rectify the damage and restore normal operations. Railway authorities said the remainder of the website remains unaffected and more..

Jun 15 (FT) CoPF has raised concerns over gaps in the availability and accessibility of public debt and Government securities market data following the transfer of debt management responsibilities from the CBSL to the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO), warning that reduced transparency could contribute to speculation and market distortions. The issue was discussed during a CoPF meeting attended by CBSL Governor more..

Jun 15 (ST) Bashwara Gunaratne, who served as the Chairman of the SLTPB during the period of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, has agreed to appear as a state witness against former Minister Basil Rajapaksa. Mr Gunaratne is seen as a close associate of Basil Rajapaksa and is currently in remand custody after being arrested in connection with the misappropriation of Rs. 7.8 million belonging to the SLTPB in 2014. When the case was taken up before Colombo Fort Magistrate more..

Jun 15 (AD) CID has declined a request to grant daily legal access to former Head of the SIS Major General (Rtd) Suresh Sallay, who is currently receiving treatment at National Hospital after commencing a hunger strike while in CID custody under a detention order. The decision was communicated in writing by CID Director Shani Abeysekara to Sallay’s wife, Manori Sallay. Manori Sallay had requested the CID to allow her husband's lawyer to meet him 5 days a week. more..

Jun 15 (DM) Colombo District Court on Friday permitted SJB National Organiser Tissa Attanayake to serve interrogatories on PM Harini Amarasuriya, seeking answers regarding her educational background and her knowledge of the destruction allegedly caused by the JVP during the 1987–1989 insurrection, in connection with the defamation lawsuit filed by the PM against him. PM has filed a plaint seeking Rs. 100 million in damages from Tissa Attanayake & Asia Broadcasting Corp for more..

Jun 15 (Island) UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has warned that Sri Lanka is heading towards a severe economic crisis, alleging that the current administration is steering the country towards total collapse. Addressing a meeting of the UNP Working Committee at the party hq on Flower Road on Thursday, Wickremesinghe claimed that the govt was facing mounting difficulties on multiple fronts, with the economy continuing to deteriorate. He also accused the administration of pursuing more..

Jun 15 (FT) India has raised serious concerns over the inordinate delay by SL authorities in clearing over 1,000 import licences of pharmaceutical products. Indian Govt has conveyed its disappointment in writing to the relevant authorities including the Health Ministry. Indian companies have alleged undue pressure on them to reduce the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of their products, with reference being made to those prevalent in more..

Jun 15 (DM) SL’s tourism sector has encountered a surprisingly sluggish start to June, with arrivals in the first ten days contracting by 14.8% year-on-year to 37,459 visitors. The early slump, which dragged the daily average down to 3,746, starkly contrasts the positive momentum recorded in the preceding month, where arrivals grew by 9.65% to reach 145,745. The sharp localised downturn is heavily driven by steep declines across traditional Western source markets, raising fresh concerns more..

Jun 15 (DM) Inter-Company Employees Union of SriLankan Airlines, a trade union affiliated with the ruling JVP, has publicly condemned the permanent appointment of Dimal Arandara as the Chairman of the national carrier. The union strongly warned that the Prez was likely misled into making this controversial appointment, a move they argue threatens the airline’s future stability and could entirely derail the govt’s critical restructuring efforts for heavily indebted state-owned enterprise. more..

Jun 15 (DN) SL A team recorded a comfortable 8-wicket win over Afghanistan A which gave good confidence to play against India A today in their second round game of the Tri-Nation series at Dambulla. 8-wicket win over Afghanistan A push SL A the top of the points table with 0.825 net run rate followed by India A (0.053) and Afghanistan A (-1393). After first round of the Tri-Nation series all three teams recorded one victory each and the tournament is now wide open for 2nd stage more..

Jun 15 (Island) Fresh from his historic record-breaking performance in Rome, Rumesh Tharanga will be one of the headline attractions in the men’s javelin event at the Ostrava Golden Spike meeting which will be held today. Tharanga produced a sensational throw of 92.62 metres at the Diamond League meeting in Rome earlier this month, setting a new SL record and achieving a world-leading mark for the season. His remarkable effort not only shattered meeting record but also propelled more..

Jun 15 (FT) The long-delayed second passenger terminal project at BIA moved a step closer to resumption following high-level discussions held between Ports, Minister Anura Karunathilaka and a delegation from the JICA led by Japanese Ambassador to SL Isomata Akio. The meeting focused on accelerating approvals related to the project’s loan allocation and contract value, with both sides expressing their intention to more..

Jun 15 (DN) For a young footballer, opportunities do not come much bigger than this. For one week, Portugal will become the meeting place for young footballers from around the world, all chasing the same dream. Among them will be a Sri Lankan team from Colombo Athletic Football Academy (CAFA), which has become the first football academy in the country to receive an invitation to the prestigious IberCup Estoril. The tournament’s Under-17 category will be held from June 29 to July 5 more..

Jun 15 (FT) In recent years, the global energy industry has focused its exploration activity in the eastern hemisphere on the giant hydrocarbon provinces of the Middle East, the deepwater basins of West Africa, and, more recently, the emerging gas plays of East Africa. Yet, a largely overlooked opportunity exists in the heart of the Indian Ocean, adjacent to South Asia’s booming economies and at the crossroads of some of the world’s most important shipping lanes. Sri Lanka’s Mannar Basin, more..

Jun 15 (CI) Dasun Shanaka produced the batting ballistics, Kamil Mishara held the innings together, and SL's spinners dominated the middle overs, comfortably defending their 194 for 6. This 37-run victory brings SL level 1-1 in the series against West Indies, with one match to play on Sunday night. SL had been struggling at 88 for 4 in the 13th over when Shanaka joined Mishara at the crease. The pair then blasted 103 off 42 more..

Jun 15 (FT) A MoU between the Sasakawa Peace Foundation and the Defence Ministry of SL was signed last week by Sasakawa Peace Foundation Honorary Chair Yohei Sasakawa and Japanese Ambassador to SL Isomata Akio. The meeting was attended by Defence Ministry Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Sampath Thuyacontha. The signing was witnessed by PM Harini Amarasuriya, Ministers Ramalingam Chandrasekar, and Hiniduma Sunil Senevi. MoU aims to build confidence and more..

Jun 15 (FT) Abans Group Founder and Chairperson Aban Pestonjee was recently awarded the Sramaabhimanee Gold Award, a prestigious award presented to individuals with a proven track record of excellence, innovation, and impact in their respective fields at a glittering ceremony held on 7 June at BMICH. The award was received on behalf of Aban Pestonjee by her daughter, Abans Director Dr. Saroshi Dubash. The Sramaabhimanee Awards have honoured numerous outstanding more..

Jun 15 (FT) The rupee ended a volatile week stronger against the US dollar yesterday, supported by a CB move to tighten rules governing the conversion of export earnings. USD/LKR spot rate closed at Rs. 335.50/336.00 yesterday, down from Thursday’s close of Rs. 336.00/337.00. The currency had staged a sharp recovery on Wednesday after the CBSL reduced the period within which exporters must convert their export proceeds into rupees to 30 days from the previous 90 days. more..

Jun 15 (FT) More than 260 people were murdered on Easter Sunday 2019. They were not politicians. They were fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, worshippers gathered in prayer and ordinary citizens going about their lives. Some were Sri Lankans. Some were visitors to our shores. All were innocent. Seven years later, SL is still searching for the truth. And rightly so. The Easter Sunday atrocities were not merely another criminal act. They represented one of the greatest intelligence, more..

Jun 15 (FT) The Govt has launched a fresh attempt to chart the future of loss-making national carrier SriLankan Airlines, which has a Rs. 340 billion-sized hole in its balance sheet, appointing a high-powered committee to conduct a strategic review and oversee a comprehensive restructuring process aimed at restoring financial sustainability while reducing the burden on public finances. Cabinet has approved the appointment of more..

Jun 15 (FT) Assetline Finance PLC (AFIN), a member of David Pieris Holdings, is pleased to be the preferred finance partner for the launch of Sri Lanka’s first GWM flagship experience centre at Access Towers, Colombo by David Pieris Automobiles (DPA) Ltd. This state‑of‑the‑art facility marks a significant milestone in the country’s evolving automotive retail landscape. As the first and only vehicle experience centre of its kind, it redefines the traditional showroom concept by more..

Jun 15 (Island) Parliament recently witnessed a fierce macroeconomic clash over the Central Bank of SL’s (CBSL) latest Extraordinary Gazette, which accelerated the mandatory conversion of residual export proceeds by the 10th day of the following month. Main Opposition MP Dr. Harsha de Silva vehemently challenged the rationale, questioning whether Sri Lanka was declaring a psychological return to the crisis era of 2022–2024. Almost instantly, the financial markets responded: more..

Jun 15 (GV) The arrest of singer 24 year-old rap artist Sangeethsan Ganeshkumar under the PTA, followed by the withdrawal of PTA-related allegations and the decision to proceed under Section 120 of the Penal Code, has become one of the most widely discussed political and legal controversies in Sri Lanka. What initially appeared to be a criminal investigation quickly evolved into a national and international debate about democracy, freedom of expression, reconciliation and the future more..

Jun 15 (ST) The economic challenges faced by the country due to the war in West Asia and the need to provide relief to the affected people again became a topic of discussion on Friday as Parliament debated rules under the Central Bank of SL Act and a Rs. 20 billion supplementary estimate to provide economic relief to those impacted. Referring to new rules issued by the CB, NDF MP Ravi Karunanayake observed that there have been numerous occasions where he has asked questions in Parliament more..

Jun 15 (SO) Seven years have passed since a series of suicide bombings on a quiet Easter Sunday shattered SL. The coordinated attacks, which deliberately targeted civilians, left hundreds of families grieving across the country. Beyond the immediate loss of fathers, mothers and children, the blasts also left a lasting legacy of survivors still living with physical injuries, deep emotional trauma, and unresolved questions more..

Jun 15 (Island) SL apparently has more than its fair share of extreme weather events, ranging from floods to droughts and now the disruptive effects of a mega climate anomaly. The WMO has warned that due to unusually warm ocean waters in the tropical Pacific, El Niño conditions are developing fast, and they are expected to drive more extreme temperature and rainfall patterns in the coming months. SL is among the countries that are expected to suffer severest impact of this phenomenon. more..

Jun 15 (SO) NPP MP Lakmali Hemachandra’s complaint against the BBC Sinhala Service reignited the debate on Parliamentary Privileges. In the same week, NDF MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake made a fresh allegation in the House that once again tested the boundaries of protected speech. While the two examples are not at all the same, together, they expose gaps that Parliament has left unaddressed for too long. Hemachandra’s complaint relates to a BBC Sinhala article published on June 8 more..

Jun 15 (SO) A week-long series of programs marking World Environment Day on June 5 brought environmental issues into the spotlight, generating widespread public engagement and media coverage. As the campaign concludes, questions remain about how these efforts will translate into long-term action. In an interview with the Sunday Observer, Minister of Environment, Dr. Dammika Patabendi outlined the Ministry’s vision and more..

Jun 15 (DM) A renewed debate over custodial treatment and due process has emerged in Sri Lanka following the detention of former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Major General (Retd) Suresh Sallay under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). Allegations raised by his family regarding his physical condition and treatment in custody, alongside the govt’s position that the detention is lawful, have prompted an inquiry by the Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL). more..

Jun 15 (DM) Seven years after the horrific Easter Sunday attacks of 21 April 2019, which slaughtered over 270 innocent people and maimed hundreds more, SL continues to be haunted by a tragedy that was as much a failure of governance as it was an act of terror. This was no mere debacle born of incompetence. The evidence points to a calculated convergence of a toxic 3-P Nexus of Politics, Planners, and Perpetrators that enabled the massacre. Successive govts have more..