Jun 10 (DM) While delivering the judgment, the High Court Judge underscored the far-reaching consequences of corruption in State institutions, observing that such misconduct not only damages the country's economy but has also contributed to its economic downfall. The judge further noted that corruption within public institutions weakens public trust and confidence in those entrusted with serving the people. Emphasising the broader impact of such offences, more..

Jun 10 (NW) Minister Bimal Rathnayake says decades of corruption within the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) played a major role in creating the country’s driving licence issuance crisis, while insisting the backlog is now being cleared. Addressing Parliament on Tuesday (09), Rathnayake said the DMT had long been plagued by fraud, irregularities and entrenched corrupt networks that had undermined public services and damaged the institution’s reputation. more..

Jun 10 (FT) Govt yesterday assured that former SIS chief Suresh Sallay has not been subjected to any improper treatment while in detention, insisting that all actions taken against him have been carried out in accordance with the law. Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said Sallay had not been treated inappropriately as alleged by various groups. “Sallay was arrested on 25 Feb in connection with investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks and was subsequently detained under more..

Jun 10 (DN) A large-scale racket involving 105 local companies that have banded to remit billions of dollars abroad in the guise of importing various goods has been uncovered, Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananda Wijepala told Parliament yesterday. More than US$ 85 million has been illegally transferred out of Sri Lanka by a group of racketeers who abused the Telegraphic Transfer (TT) system under the guise of importing goods. more..

Jun 10 (NW) The Govt will not allow any activities that promote the LTTE, Minister Ananda Wijepala told Parliament yesterday. However, the Minister said space has been provided for people to commemorate relatives who died during the conflict. Wijepala said an arrest had been made in connection with uploading to Facebook a song that was originally performed by the LTTE in Kilinochchi. He further stated that the IGP held discussions with the Attorney General yesterday afternoon regarding more..

Jun 10 (TM) The findings made by the COPA and the Auditor General's Dept regarding corruption and fraud within the Dept of Motor Traffic (DMT) are to be forwarded to the Attorney General's (AG) Department and the CIABOC, said Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake. He said that the COPA and the AG's Department had already looked into serious corruption and fraud within the Department and made observations. “We have brought a motion to Parliament to refer these matters to the AG and the CIABOC." more..

Jun 10 (NW) Nine more skeletal remains, including eight believed to be children, were discovered today during the 20th day of Phase Three excavations at the Chemmani Siddhupatthi mass grave in Jaffna. The latest findings bring the total number of skeletal remains identified at the site to 327, of which 311 have been excavated so far. Chemmani site is considered the second-largest mass grave discovered in SL. In addition to skeletal remains, investigators have recovered items more..

Jun 10 (DN) SL Emerging team scored 356 all out while West Indies Emerging team made 273 for 5 wickets at close of the second day in their four-day game played at Mahinda Rajapaksa Int'l Cricket Stadium Hambantota yesterday. Skipper Rivaldo Clarke was at the wicket at close scoring unbeaten 72 in 132 balls with 7 fours and a six while Mavendra Dindyal (60) and Shaqkere Parris (55) made useful knocks to build up their total. They were 83 runs trailing in the first innings with five wickets in hand. more..

Jun 10 (TM) SL’s gross official reserves target of $ 8.6 billion agreed under the IMF's EFF programme cannot be reached this year, as it is unrealistic in the current economic circumstances and the current reserve position is built with domestic swaps, CoPF Chairperson Dr Harsha de Silva said. “This is not realistic. We cannot expect the next six months to get any better than the last six months. Within those reserves maintained now, there is more than $ 2 b in reserves more..

Jun 10 (CI) Expectations are high as tournament hosts. Throw in the fact that England have underperformed at global events in recent times given the talent, depth and resources at their disposal, and the pressure is on. A 193-day drought of fixtures between the 50-over World Cup and the start of their recent series against NZ and India culminated in 2-1 victories over both. That was without injured captain Nat Sciver-Brunt throughout and opening batter Danni Wyatt-Hodge, on parental leave for all but the last two games. more..

Jun 10 (CI) India A began their tour of Sri Lanka with a nervy eight-run win against the hosts in Dambulla. A series that has been given the added edge by the presence of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi opened under hot weather on a two-paced surface. The stroke-making on the pitch was anything but easy. Here's a look back at the match which India A eventually snatched from the jaws of defeat. There had been a frenzy around him ever since he arrived in Sri Lanka three days ago. more..

Jun 10 (FT) Sri Lanka has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing decent work, labour rights and social justice, while seeking greater support from the International Labour Organization (ILO) for ongoing labour sector reforms. Labour Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando met ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo on 8 June on the sidelines of the 114th Session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland. During the meeting, Dr. Fernando briefed more..

Jun 10 (FT) Home Lands says it has pre-sold 50% of the units in its upcoming Central Park Boulevard Port City Colombo development ahead of the project’s official launch this week, signalling strong investor interest in one of the largest private real estate investments announced in Sri Lanka in recent years. The company said more than half of the project’s over 640 residential units have already been sold before the public launch scheduled from 12 to 14 June, implying sales of more than 320 units more..

Jun 10 (TM) Police yesterday (9) clarified the authority to transfer any investigation to or from the CID rests solely with the IGP, amid ongoing public scrutiny over the handling of the probe into the Easter Sunday terror attacks. Office of the Police Media Spokesperson stated the investigation concerning the arrest and detention of former State Intelligence Service Director, Major General (Rtd) Suresh Sallay, is currently being conducted by the CID. more..

Jun 10 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has congratulated Narendra Modi on becoming the longest-serving elected PM in the history of the Republic of India. In a congratulatory message, Dissanayake described the milestone as a reflection of the trust and confidence repeatedly placed in his leadership by the people of the world’s largest democracy. “This milestone is a testament not only to your years in office, but also to the trust and confidence that the people of the world’s largest democracy more..

Jun 10 (FT) Celeste, one of SL’s fastest growing lifestyle and quick commerce brands, has announced a landmark step in its evolution with the appointment of veteran corporate leader Roshanie J. Moraes and a strategic transition toward a strengthened corporate governance structure. Since its inception six years ago, Celeste has built a strong reputation through its commitment to quality, community, and exceptional customer experience, offering round-the-clock convenience through more..

Jun 10 (FT) Auditor General has warned of a high potential for foreign loan disbursements received during 2025 to have remained unrecorded in both the Govt’s Financial Statements and the Debt Management System, while identifying a series of discrepancies, reconciliation gaps, and reporting inconsistencies relating to SL’s foreign debt records. The observations, contained in the audit review of the Govt’s 2025 Financial Statements, highlight weaknesses in more..

Jun 10 (FT) SL–Thailand Business Council (SLTBC) celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2026, marking a remarkable journey of fostering economic cooperation, trade, investment, and friendship between Sri Lanka and Thailand. For a quarter of a century, the Council has served as a vital bridge connecting the private sectors of both nations, creating opportunities for businesses, facilitating dialogue, and strengthening bilateral ties. Established at the dawn of a new millennium, more..

Jun 10 (FT) Embassy of SL in Viet Nam, in collaboration with VJSC Co, Ltd, successfully co-hosted a tourism promotion event titled Unlocking SL’s Tourism Potential in Ho Chi Minh City on 8 June 2026. The event aimed to position SL as a premier travel destination for Vietnamese tourists and to strengthen tourism cooperation between Sri Lanka and Viet Nam. Timing of the event was particularly significant as both VietJet Air and Vietnam Airlines are preparing to launch direct air services more..

Jun 10 (ST) Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has been severely hit due to a diesel shortage in the country and hotels are compelled to purchase super diesel spending one-and-a-half times the cost of normal diesel. Former Hotels Association President M. Shanthikumar said that the industry is faced with the incidence of increasing cost of production as the shortage of diesel in the country has compelled the tourism industry to purchase only Super Diesel. more..

Jun 10 (SO) CEAT Kelani Holdings has launched two additions to its premium X5 series of motorcycle and scooter tyres – Gripp X5 and Zoom X5. The new tyres respond to a growing demand among young riders and urban commuters for products that combine durability, control and confident handling. Designed specifically for SL’s roads and weather, the tyres are intended to enhance everyday commuting and leisure riding by offering a refined balance of stability, grip and braking efficiency more..

Jun 10 (ST) Mid-term plans to restore the heavily polluted Beira Lake, a symbol of Colombo’s identity, built by the Portuguese in the 16th century, are set to begin in a few months. Lake will be dredged, sewers will be diverted, and water aerators will be fixed, Chathura Kahandawarachchi, chairman of the Beira Lake Restoration Task Force said. Rs 2.5 billion has been allocated in this year’s budget, he said. Dredging will begin within the next two months. more..

Jun 10 (SO) For many Sri Lankans, the image of a man wanted for multiple murders in Sri Lanka sipping an overpriced coffee in Dubai, UAE, defined the impunity enjoyed by SL’s underworld. A criminal who escapes from the island does not always leave the business behind. In many cases, he only leaves the risk behind. The money, the drugs, the threats, the shooters and the victims remain in SL. That is why extradition, deportation and repatriation have become central to public order. more..

Jun 10 (TM) The foundational architecture of any true democracy rests not on three pillars, but on four. While the Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary hold the formal mechanisms of State power, it is the free press that ensures these mechanisms do not turn against the citizens they are meant to protect. Centuries ago, the British statesman Edmund Burke famously noted this vital reality when he observed there were Three Estates in Parliament, but in the Reporter’ Gallery yonder, more..

Jun 10 (Island) For many middle-class Sri Lankans, the private car still carries connotations of stability, dignity, and upward mobility. Yet in today’s Sri Lanka, with petrol at Rs. 434 per litre, following the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation’s revision, effective 30 May, 2026, loan-to-value ratios tightened to 40% requiring a 60% down payment, and ride-hailing apps now joined by app-based three-wheelers, the question of whether to own a car has become sharper than ever. The answer is more..

Jun 10 (Island) The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) gave in to pressure from protesters and took former State Intelligence Service Chief Maj. Gen. (retd.) Suresh Sallay, in custody, to hospital and allowed his family members and lawyers to visit him. If it had done so previously and respected Sallay’s rights as a suspect, without leaving any room for allegations of physical and psychological abuse of him and other such police excesses, there would have been no protests. more..

Jun 10 (CT) Official data indicate that SL records approximately 10,000 cases of direct and indirect child abuse within a year. Dr Chamal Sanjeewa believes the number to be more, as the majority of children who are abused never reach a hospital, never walk into a Police station and never appear in any official record. “After being subjected to such abuse, the majority of these children do not get hospitalised, nor do they go to Police stations to lodge a complaint. more..

Jun 10 (ST) The IMF in its Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement with Sri Lanka entered in March 2023 expected that our foreign reserves to rise to US$8.5 billion by the end of 2025. But the actual performance shows that it has increased to $6.8 billion only. During the first four months of 2026, there has been no significant change in the official reserve position. However, the IMF’s initial forecast expected that it should rise to about $11 billion by the end of 2026. more..

Jun 10 (CT) The NPP and its leadership, headed by Anura Kumara Dissanayake, painted an immaculate and flawless picture on the election platform. Fatigued by the successive failures of previous govts, the people chose to believe them. However, that flawless, immaculate picture is now beginning to show some hints of weakness; the glorious painting is not all that divine. Its obvious follies are not inherent in the personalities of the party; nor have they been carried over by an external factor. more..

Jun 10 (SO) The LTTE soldiers would arrive without warning. Their goal was to take away the teenage girls or boys of the family and turn them into soldiers to fight in the war in Sri Lanka, the parents having no say in the matter. As journalist Sonny Krishnan explained in his recent book, Indrani was 14 years old when they came for her. “When they dragged me, Amma [my mother] ran after me barefoot…I remember the sound she made—not a cry, not a scream, but something far more ancient. more..

Jun 10 (DM) The question of whether the SL public sector can be revived is one that has attracted significant attention in recent years. Economic challenges, fiscal constraints, public dissatisfaction, and demands for greater efficiency have all brought the role and performance of the public sector under close scrutiny. While criticisms of bureaucracy, inefficiency, and waste are often heard, it is important to recognise that the public sector remains the backbone of governance, public administration, more..

Jun 10 (DM) The death of 13 inmates of an elders’ home in Anguruwathota, Horana, in a fire on June 3 does not seem to have emotionally touched the people of the country much. No politicians from the ruling party or the Opposition have shown interest in expressing views on the welfare of the senior citizens of the country after the incident. Also, no serious discussion is ongoing in the mainstream media on the predicament of the elderly population in the country and remedial measures. more..