Jun 18 (NW) SL’s Taavi Samaraweera, ranked world No.1 in the under‑11 table tennis category, returned to the country this morning after a triumphant European tour where he captured gold, silver, and bronze medals across two international tournaments. The 11‑year‑old, a Grade 6 student at St. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia, arrived at BIA at 8:45 am with his mother on Qatar Airways flight QR‑664 from Doha. Samaraweera’s tour reportedly targeted three world ranking events, more..

Jun 18 (NW) Ministry of Public Admin and Home Affairs has announced the establishment of active special committees at district and divisional levels to monitor dengue control activities. Minister Chandana Abayaratne said that these bodies will not remain nominal but will plan and implement programs to eliminate mosquito breeding sites. The committees will oversee inspections of residential areas and official premises, ensuring strict measures are taken to destroy breeding grounds. more..

Jun 18 (NF) The hearing of the writ petition filed by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, seeking an order preventing his arrest in connection with investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks, commenced today before the Court of Appeal. Petition was taken up before a bench comprising Court of Appeal President Judge Rohantha Abeysooriya and Judge Sarath Dissanayake. more..

Jun 18 (EN) Sri Lanka’s top govt official reviewed the implementation of ministry-level projects and key policy initiatives under the 2026 budget proposals, amid delays in capital investment projects. The review meeting was held on Wednesday at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of Secretary to the Prez Nandika Sanath Kumanayake. The meeting comes amid slow progress in projects planned under the 2026 budget. SL has spent only 17.4% of the allocated total capital more..

Jun 18 (AD) Disaster management officials from the US and SL have met in Galle from June 16 until today for a three-day workshop focused on strengthening preparedness for natural disasters and humanitarian emergencies. Organized by U.S. Embassy in SL in partnership with U.S. Pacific Command’s Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (CFE-DM), Montana National Guard, Montana Disaster and Emergency Services (DES), and more..

Jun 18 (DM) The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has placed the Colombo Port under increased global attention, prompting the World Bank to urge the SL govt to exercise great care in its future development and management, during discussions with Minister Anura Karunathilake at the Ministry premises. The observation was made by a World Bank delegation led by Country Manager Gevorg Sargsyan, who met the Minister more..

Jun 18 (DM) SL's hospital system may struggle to cope if the number of dengue patients continues to rise, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa has warned. Speaking at the Beruwala Regional Coordination Committee meeting, he said public support is essential to control the spread of dengue and reduce the number of infections. He urged people to keep their homes, govt institutions and public places clean to prevent mosquito breeding, saying this is the most effective short-term measure to control more..

Jun 18 (NW) A total of 192 acting sub-postmasters attached to the Department of Posts will receive permanent appointments at a ceremony scheduled to be held at the Colombo General Post Office on June 18. The appointments will be awarded under the patronage of Minister Nalinda Jayatissa. The move forms part of efforts to strengthen human resources within the sub-post office network, which plays a key role in delivering postal and financial services to people in rural and remote areas. more..

Jun 18 (Island) Manori, wife of Maj. General Suresh Sallay, held under the PTA, since 25 Feb, has appealed to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference and senior members individually, including Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, to refrain from naming her husband as the alleged mastermind of the 2019 Easter Sunday terrorist attacks before the conclusion of the judicial proceedings. Mrs Sallay also appealed to them to encourage that all public discourse surrounding the issue at more..

Jun 18 (NF) Sugeeshwara Bandara, the former Personal Secretary to ex-Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was arrested by the Central Crimes Investigation Bureau and produced before court, has been remanded until July 1. He was arrested this morning based on findings from investigations which revealed that during the period Gotabaya Rajapaksa served as President, Sugeeshwara Bandara had received two salaries, one as Presidential Personal Secretary and another as a Project Director. more..

Jun 18 (Reuters) Sri Lanka plans to strengthen its customs screening to better identify imported goods made with forced labour and to implement ​international labour standards in an effort to avoid being hit ‌by new U.S. tariffs on its exports, a top official said. The U.S. is Sri Lanka's single largest export market, accounting for about $3 billion in ​mostly apparel shipments. "SL already has good labour practices within ​the country. more..

Jun 18 (DM) The UNP yesterday raised questions over the failure of the present govt to ask for the material on the investigation carried out by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Easter Sunday attacks since it has restarted the investigations. The party made this query through a statement. The statement stated the following. On Nov. 12 2020, FBI Special Agent Merrilee R. Godwin of the FBI filed a 71-page affidavit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California more..

Jun 18 (NW) Sri Lanka’s historic gem capital is set to shine on the global stage as preparations are finalized for the international gem and jewellery exhibition Gem City Ratnapura 2026, scheduled from August 31 to September 2. Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe announced that the event, themed Home to the Finest, will showcase Sri Lanka’s world‑renowned gemstones, while positioning the country as a leading hub in the global gem and jewellery industry. more..

Jun 18 (TM) Pharmaceutical prices are expected to rise after the govt indicated its willingness to address concerns raised by Indian suppliers regarding the non-renewal of import licenses and NMRA’s insistence on lowering prices. SL depends on India for nearly 30% of its pharmaceutical requirements, with a substantial share of medicines imported from that country. Recently, Indian pharmaceutical suppliers raised concerns more..

Jun 18 (TM) The Presidential Task Force for the implementation of SL’s Tourism Development Programme met at the Presidential Secretariat today (16) under the chairmanship of Minister Vijitha Herath. A key proposal discussed was the establishment of a special tourism zone titled the ‘Southern Mist Corridor’, integrating the districts of Galle, Matara, and Ratnapura. Under this initiative, a broader development plan will be implemented across the Southern and Sabaragamuwa more..

Jun 18 (Island) Expanding the use of electric vehicles (EVs) in SL is not only vital for reducing the country’s dependence on costly fossil fuel imports but also essential for unlocking the full potential of renewable energy and strengthening the national economy, Power and Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka said. Addressing a stakeholder consultation workshop on the formulation of the National EV Charging Infrastructure Policy, Minister Karunathilaka stressed that more..

Jun 18 (PMD) A discussion on the modernisation initiatives required within SL Customs and measures to encourage exporters in support of implementing the National Export Development Plan (NEDP) 2026–2030 was held this morning (17) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of Secretary to the Prez, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake. The meeting, organised by the Revenue Administration Reform and Modernization Bureau established under more..

Jun 18 (NW) Lanka Sathosa has announced price reductions for nine essential consumer items, effective from June 18. Under the revised pricing, the price of wheat flour has been reduced by Rs. 10 per kilogram from Rs. 169 to Rs. 159, marking the highest reduction among the items. Several rice varieties have also been reduced, including Ponni Samba by Rs. 6, Red Nadu rice by Rs. 5, Samba Red Kekulu rice by Rs. 5, Local White Nadu rice by Rs. 5, White Kekulu Samba rice by Rs. 5 and more..

Jun 18 (EN) Govt revenue collection by all three major tax collecting agencies have outperformed up to June 8, 2026 and expanded more than 50% compared to the same period in last year. Govt has aimed at 4,910 billion tax revenue target for this year, 2.8% lower than the last year’s record revenue of 5,449.4 billion rupees. Inland Revenue Department has outperformed the target by 46.3% to 1,112.4 billion rupees as of June 8, 2026, more..

Jun 18 (DM) The Supreme Court ruled that a Chairman of a Pradeshiya Sabha who fails to obtain the approval of council members for the annual budget after the first two years is deemed to have vacated his office. The Supreme Court delivered this judgment while dismissing a fundamental rights petition filed by a former local authority chairman challenging his removal. SC ruled that a Chairman of a Pradeshiya Sabha deemed to have resigned from the office in terms of the provisions of more..

Jun 18 (DM) Tufts Buddhist Chaplain Ven. Vineetha Mahayaye was one of seven men arrested on Saturday by the Boston Police Department’s human trafficking unit for allegedly attempting to pay for sexual acts. Mahayaye resigned from his position at Tufts, which he had held since Dec 2024, on Monday. Mahayaye, 32, pleaded not guilty and is set to appear in court on Sept. 2 on a misdemeanor charge of sex for a fee. Mahayaye allegedly responded to an advertisement posted more..

Jun 18 (NF) An investigation is underway after the body of a 34-year-old woman was discovered inside a parked vehicle near the Theldeniya Hospital, prompting police to deploy three special teams to probe the circumstances surrounding the death. Senior police officials confirmed that, in addition to local investigators, Nuwara Eliya Divisional CID has also launched parallel inquiries into the incident. more..

Jun 18 (DM) Former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake has urged Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake to initiate an early review of SL’s Monetary Policy Framework Agreement (MPFA), proposing that the country’s medium-term inflation target be reduced from the current 5% to between 2% and 3%. In a letter addressed to the Prez, Karunanayake noted that the MPFA, signed in October 2023 between the then Finance Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and more..

Jun 18 (FT) I am appalled by the quality of a recently gazetted The Chartered Institute of Media Professional of SL (CIMPSL) Bill. Its interpretation section is thin and wrong. It creates an organisation with a Director General and staff and no access to the consolidated fund. It does not even create a startup fund that can be used to support raising money from other sources. The design is based on members (those with charters) electing the governing body and disciplinary committees, more..

Jun 18 (FT) The assertion in Parliament by the PM, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, that “There is little point in merely holding elections if the necessary criteria for democracy are absent within the electoral system" is sinister and can be recycled in the foreseeable future by the JVP-NPP’s steamroller Parliamentary majority to attempt deferment of the Prez and Parliamentary elections too, reloading the excuse that "The PR system, which has contributed to corruption within the country's political more..

Jun 18 (NW) CCTV footage has reportedly captured the moment a man moved the body of a woman on the night before it was discovered inside a motor vehicle near the Teldeniya Hospital. Police confirmed that the individual who tipped off officers about the body was believed to be her lover. The deceased has been identified as a 33‑year‑old resident of Weligama, who had been staying at a hotel in Nuwara Eliya from June 3 to June 16 Investigations are continuing under Nuwara Eliya Police more..

Jun 18 (EN) SL’s decision to impose a 50% surcharge on customs import duty for vehicles has reduced foreign currency outflows and decreased demand for the U.S. currency, Deputy Finance Minister Anil Jayantha Fernando said. SL imposed a temporary 50% surcharge on Customs Import Duty on new personal vehicles for three months effective May 16, aiming to restrict imports and reduce the depreciation of the rupee currency. more..

Jun 18 (AD) Former Director of the SIS Major General (Rtd) Suresh Sallay, who is currently in the custody of the CID and receiving treatment at the Colombo National Hospital, has reiterated that he will not end his ongoing hunger strike. According to reports, Sallay told his personnel lawyer during a hospital visit that he is unwilling to return to the CID detention cell, describing the facility as hell and stating that death would be preferable. He is also said to have alleged that more..

Jun 18 (CT) Following another monster throw in Ostrava yesterday, Sri Lanka’s javelin sensation Rumesh Tharanga has climbed to second place in the World Athletics rankings, moving up from third. Germany’s Julian Weber continues to lead with 1360 points, while Tharanga now sits close behind on 1333 points. In 2026, Tharanga has been nothing short of dominant, registering all of the top four throws of the year — an unprecedented achievement for a SL athlete in any discipline. more..

Jun 18 (Island) The NPP govt is trying to maintain a balance between continuing demands for releasing north-east land held by the military and post-war security requirements, says Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekera, who has undertaken a series of visits to the northern and eastern provinces in the recent past to explore ways and means of releasing the land, without compromising national security requirements. more..

Jun 18 (TM) Police have launched an investigation following the discovery of a body of a female inside a car near the Teldeniya Base Hospital. The investigation was initiated based on information received by the Police yesterday afternoon (17). A Magisterial inquiry into the incident is scheduled to be conducted shortly. Indian with SL citizenship nabbed for job fraud: A 32-year-old individual has been arrested in connection with an alleged fraud involving Rs 4.99 million after more..

Jun 18 (DM) Deputy Minister Anil Jayantha Fernando said that SL's daily foreign exchange outflow for vehicle imports has fallen to below USD 4 million following the introduction of a temporary surcharge on Customs Import Duties for vehicles. Fernando said that despite the surcharge, LCs worth as much as USD 88 million were opened for vehicle imports on a single day. However, he said the policy has begun to reduce import-related foreign exchange expenditure. more..