Jul 25 (FT) Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said it welcomed the positive development in the reduction of the labour-related tariff imposed on Sri Lankan exports to the US, from 12.5% to 10%. Chamber said this was possible following sustained engagement between SL authorities and their counterparts in the US. It said: This outcome is an encouraging step forward for SL’s export sector and reflects the value of more..

Jul 25 (NW) Bar Association of SL (BASL) has strongly rejected allegations made in Parliament by NPP MP Asitha Niroshana regarding BASL President Rajeev Amarasuriya, describing them as utterly false, baseless and made with malicious intent. Colombo District MP alleged that Amarasuriya had held discussions with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa last Thursday. Niroshana further alleged that Premadasa had offered Amarasuriya the Chief Ministerial candidacy for Western Province more..

Jul 25 (Island) Sri Lanka produces only about 43% of its daily milk requirement locally, according to data, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Namal Karunaratne told Parliament yesterday (24). He said the Govt had allocated Rs. 1 billion in this year’s Budget to increase annual milk production, from the current 410 million litres to 1.2 billion litres, as part of efforts to reduce dependence on imported milk products. A further Rs. 1 billion had been allocated for the development of Nikaweratiya Farm, more..

Jul 25 (DN) Minister Ananda Wijepala said that the deadly Negombo Prison is a result of a direct counter-reaction or conspiracy engineered by underworld cartels against the state’s aggressive anti-drug and anti-crime crackdown. He noted that the administration will not back away from its anti-drug campaign despite opposition criticism, emphasising that political patronage for drug trade has been dismantled. more..

Jul 25 (ST) The Sakwala Maha Pahan Kuduwa, displayed for the 2026 Poson festival at Nawaloka Junction in Galkanda, Minuwangoda, has set a world record as the world’s largest lantern. Following a comprehensive process involving measurement, technical evaluation, documentation and independent verification, the Serendib World Records Institute officially recognised it as the World’s Largest Lantern. The certificate and trophy relating to the record were presented by more..

Jul 25 (FT) Indian tourists have helped SL’s tourism industry regain momentum in July, narrowing the year-on-year (YoY) decline in arrivals and pushing cumulative visitor numbers beyond 1.28 million despite continuing disruptions to key Middle Eastern aviation routes. The latest data showed that 138,730 tourists arrived during the first 22 days of July, representing only a 0.4% YoY decline, a marked improvement from earlier in the month as the pace of arrivals gathered momentum. more..

Jul 25 (NW) Six years ago, bearing the trust and expectations of General Secretary Xi Jinping, carrying with me the profound friendship of the Chinese people, and shouldering the noble mission of elevating China-SL relations to a new height, I arrived in SL—the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. This vibrant land, with its beautiful natural scenery, rich historical and cultural heritage, and warm and kind-hearted people, has left a deep impression on my wife, Jin Qian, and me. more..

Jul 25 (Island) Fort Magistrate’s Court yesterday issued a warrant for the arrest of Jaffna District MP Ramanathan Archchuna after he failed to appear before court in connection with a pending case. Court officials said the MP and his bail sureties were absent when the matter was taken up, prompting the Magistrate to issue the warrant. The case relates to an alleged incident in which Archchuna is accused of obstructing the duties of Fort Police officers while they were performing their duties. more..

Jul 25 (NW) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed the relevant authorities to formulate a programme to allocate underutilised land, together with the necessary project support services, to SL migrant workers returning home upon the completion of their overseas employment. Prez issued these instructions during a discussion held toayd (24) at the Presidential Secretariat to review the progress of projects implemented under more..

Jul 25 (AD) The Sri Lanka Railway Station Masters' Association (SLRSMA) says steps have been taken to resume train operations on the Talaimannar railway line, which had remained closed for several months, on the instructions of the Minister without restoring the railway signalling system. Chairman of the Association, Sumedha Somaratne, stated that operating trains without ensuring the proper functioning of the signalling system is unsafe and cannot be condoned. more..

Jul 25 (DN) Sahan Arachchige struck a fighting 63 off 36 balls, while Eshan Malinga and Tharindu Ratnayake claimed three wickets apiece as Galle Gallants recorded an emphatic 60-run victory over defending champions Jaffna Kings in their LPL match played at Galle on Thursday. It was Galle’s second victory over Jaffna in this year’s tournament, having also beaten them by 36 runs at the SSC Grounds last week. The victory lifted Galle Gallants to the top of the points table more..

Jul 25 (FT) Sashi Perera, one of Australia’s fastest-rising comedy voices, recognised for her sharp observations on culture, identity, family and belonging, will perform today and tomorrow in Colombo, to enthrall Sri Lankans. Born in Colombo and now based in Melbourne, Sashi brings a distinctly SL perspective to international audiences. Formerly a refugee lawyer, she has since amassed over 60 million online views through her comedy. Her Pear Tree explores a series of pear-shaped more..

Jul 25 (FT) The Colombo stock market failed to sustain a two-session gain to end the week in red. During the week, the ASPI fell 1.09% or 232.67 points and the active S&P SL20 was down 0.95% or 57.12 points despite a brief recovery on Wednesday and Thursday. With 139 counters closing in red against 76 in green yesterday, the ASPI ended down 0.13% or 26.63 points at 21,172.74 and the S&P SL20 was down 0.06% or 3.31 points at 5,942.56. The contributors to the ASPI decline were more..

Jul 25 (FT) Sri Lanka secured a lower United States tariff rate on its exports after the Govt moved quickly to prohibit imports produced using forced labour, even as Washington introduced a new tariff regime following legal setbacks to Prez Donald Trump’s earlier trade measures. Private sector trade chambers including CCC, JAAF and Exporters’ Association of SL praised the Govt for its decisive and prompt action that ensured SL exports to more..

Jul 25 (FT) Dialog Axiata PLC has announced that customers can now make secure and convenient digital payments using Dialog Pay at all Keells supermarkets nationwide. As one of SL’s leading supermarket chains with 150 stores across the island, Keells becomes one of the first major retail partners in the Dialog Pay merchant ecosystem, enabling customers to enjoy a seamless scan-and-pay experience while earning complimentary Dialog data rewards on eligible transactions. more..

Jul 25 (FT) Rotary International Vice President Muruganandam M. widely known as MMM serving under President-elect Olayinka Hakeem Babalola, visited Sri Lanka this week. He was welcomed by Past Rotary International President K. R Ravindran, Past Rotary Governor Delvin Pereira, Aviation Authority Head Aruna Rajapakse, Rotary Governor Nominee Ajith Jayawardena and Rotary Institute SL PR Head Dr. Rohantha Athukorala to discuss the landmark Rotary Institute to be staged in SL more..

Jul 25 (Island) SL’s dengue outbreak has continued to worsen, with the number of infections reported this year surpassing 80,000, according to official surveillance data. The country recorded 80,114 dengue cases as of midnight on July 23, while health authorities reported 59 dengue-related deaths, resulting in a case fatality rate of 0.07%. The National Dengue Control Unit said that by Week 29, a total of 175 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) more..

Jul 25 (NW) SL Customs has arrested a 79-year-old Spanish national after detecting nearly 2.2 kg of cocaine concealed in his delayed baggage at the BIA. The suspect, an agricultural engineer, arrived in SL from Sierra Leone on July 22, travelling via Addis Ababa and Doha on Qatar Airways. His hand luggage was initially inspected, but nothing suspicious was found. As his checked baggage had not arrived on the same flight, he was allowed to leave the airport after completing more..

Jul 25 (EN) Sri Lanka is advancing plans to restructure the governance of its superannuation funds by studying international models to introduce a tripartite management structure, though officials emphasized that Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees’ Trust Fund (ETF) will remain distinct financial entities. Deputy Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe stressed that any administrative integration will not merge the core financial pools of the two social security mechanisms. more..

Jul 25 (Island) Former IGP Chandana Deepal Wickramaratne, 63, succumbed to gunshot injury he received at his residence at Parakrama Mawatha, in Thalahena, Malabe, on 17 July. Wickramaratne, the 35th IGP (25 Nov, 2020, to 23th Nov, 2025), was pronounced dead at the Mulleriyawa Hospital. The incident triggered speculation regarding the circumstances leading to the ex-IGP’s death. Some declared that Wickramaratne shot himself with a weapon issued to his bodyguard. more..

Jul 25 (FT) Sri Lankan-origin Australian business executive Shemara Wikramanayake is set to retire as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Macquarie Group in November, ending a career spanning nearly four decades with the global financial services giant. Macquarie Group announced that Wikramanayake, 64, will retire and step down from the boards of Macquarie Group Limited and Macquarie Bank Limited on November 6, 2026. more..

Jul 25 (Island) The SL Press Institute (SLPI) and several leading media organisations have expressed strong opposition to the proposed Chartered Institute of Media Professionals of SL (CIMP) Bill, urging the Govt to withdraw the legislation and engage in consultations with stakeholders. In a joint statement, SLPI, together with its constituent organisations— Newspaper Society of SL (NSSL), Editors’ Guild of SL more..

Jul 25 (Island) SLT-MOBITEL, Sri Lanka’s National ICT Solutions Provider and the country’s leading integrated telecommunications brand, has been honoured as the Winner in the Sustainable Telecommunication Service Provider category at the prestigious Sri Lankan Sustainability Awards (SSA) 2026. This significant recognition reaffirms SLT-MOBITEL’s unwavering commitment to embedding sustainability at the heart of its business while driving the nation’s digital transformation. more..

Jul 25 (TM) There are complex scientific, operational, emotional, and ethical challenges involved in post-conflict mass grave investigations in Sri Lanka including exhumations. These emphasise the importance of scientifically sound forensic methods, transparent communication with the affected communities, the careful interpretation of uncertain findings, the culturally sensitive handling of human remains, and flexible logistical support. Also, multidisciplinary collaboration, more..

Jul 25 (FT) India’s assistance to SL has exceeded $ 7.5 billion, including more than $ 850 million in grants, Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha said, reaffirming New Delhi’s position as the island’s largest trade, investment and development partner. Addressing the symposium on Strengthening Pali Language Studies in SL, Jha said India’s assistance has supported projects across all 25 districts covering infrastructure, housing, health, livelihoods, rehabilitation, education, more..

Jul 25 (Island) The Opposition’s no-faith motion against Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara was debated and defeated yesterday. Nobody expected its passage by any stretch of the imagination. Notwithstanding the defeat of the no-faith motion, some of the points raised by the Opposition during yesterday’s debate are valid. The Negombo Prison riots which claimed 31 lives including those of 10 officers and caused extensive damage to state property could have been prevented if more..

Jul 25 (TM) The Daily Morning’s report on 8 July, with reference to the Govt’s admission the National Mineral Policy of 2026 was drafted without a direct impact study, exposes a much deeper policy problem than a missing technical report. It reveals a contradiction between the Govt’s stated intention to protect SL’s mineral wealth and the weak, incomplete governance framework now being presented as reform and more..

Jul 25 (FT) Five years have passed since R. Rajamahendran - Killi Maharaja to the country and simply Boss to many of us - left us. Time has a curious way of changing memory. It softens grief, removes much of the emotion and eventually allows perspective to replace it. Looking back today, I have become convinced that Sri Lanka did not merely lose one of its foremost businessmen on 25 July 2021. It lost one of the country’s last great institution builders. more..

Jul 25 (CT) Hinduism, or more truly its original name Sanatana Dharma, is a religion with unique features. Uniqueness is qualities, features or characteristics that differentiates it in comparison to another. These differences are explored as follows: There is no known date for the origin of Hinduism. The name Sanatana Dharma means, it is an Eternal Dharma with no beginning or end. It is a divinely originated religion. Hinduism is indisputably the oldest living religion of the world, more..

Jul 25 (DN) Issues related to law enforcement continued to make headlines over the past week, a week that also saw the sudden demise of former IGP C.D. Wickramaratne who was found dead at his home last Friday. A special Police investigation is underway to inquire into his death. Wickramaratne, the country’s 35th Police Chief was a highly respected officer. His death came as a shock to many who associated with him. more..

Jul 25 (GV) Recently, a senior academic at Peradeniya University was removed from his position after being found guilty of sexual abuse of a junior colleague. The Supreme Court intervened to ensure that the sexual harassment in this instance was met with legal consequences in the face of the initial failure of the university to act to uphold the rights of the targeted woman. What is significant about this case was that predatory behaviour in the professional environment, more..

Jul 25 (FT) While El Niño dominates global headlines, SL's rainfall will ultimately be determined by how several climate systems interact over the Indian Ocean. The coming two months will therefore be critical in determining whether the island experiences a relatively heavy rainy season or one marked by significant water shortages. Recent forecasts from Int'l Research Institute (IRI) indicate that sea surface temperatures in the Pacific reached about +1.7°C by mid-June 2026, more..