Jul 9 (DM) Supreme Court has recently delivered its judgment in favor of Sheela Wijewardene, the wife of the late veteran musician Clarence Wijewardene, against Sarath Kothalawala of Torana Music. The appeal stems from an action filed in the Commercial High Court by Mrs. Wijewardene (Appellant) in alleging that copyright in the lyrics and musical compositions of several songs authored by the veteran musician, late Clarance Wijewardene, has been infringed by the Sarath Kothalawala and more..

Jul 9 (Island) A high-level discussion on the urgent treatment of sick wild elephants was held on Monday (7) at the Ministry of Environment under the patronage of Minister of Environment Dr. Dhammika Patabendi and Deputy Minister Anton Jayakody. Senior veterinary officers representing the Wildlife and Zoological Parks Veterinary Officers’ Association participated in the discussion alongside Secretary to the Ministry of Environment more..

Jul 9 (Island) For the first time in the Excise Department’s history, a senior retired security forces officer has been appointed as its head. The Cabinet has granted approval for the appointment of M.B.N.A. Pemarathne, a retired Commodore of the SL Navy, to the post of Commissioner General of Excise. This decision follows the impending retirement of Udaya Kumara Perera, a Special Grade Officer of the SL Inland Revenue Service, who currently serves as the Commissioner more..

Jul 9 (DM) Hemali Wijerathna, the daughter of specialist doctor Maheshi Wijerathna of the Sri J'pura General Hospital, was released on bail over allegations of issuing death threats to the Assistant Director and an Investigating Officer of the Bribery Commission. Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali Jayathunga granted her bail with a surety of Rs. 500,000. The case was filed by the Keselwatta Police. Meanwhile, the Bribery Commission has also filed a separate case against the suspect, more..

Jul 9 (DM) Many schools in the country have become mosquito breeding grounds, putting the lives of students in danger. Health authorities uncovered the alarming situation during a nationwide mosquito control campaign held from June 30 to July 5. Out of 400 schools inspected, a staggering 226 were identified as potential mosquito breeding sites, posing a serious threat to the health and safety of students. In response to the crisis, govt announced an urgent islandwide school cleaning drive more..

Jul 9 (DM) Movement for People's Struggle has lodged a complaint with the Bribery Commission regarding alleged irregularities in the awarding of a tender for electricity distribution units required by Divisional Secretariats for the electronic identity card (e-ID) process. Wasantha Mudalige, representing the Movement, claimed that Browns Engineering and Construction Ltd. was selected for the tender, with each unit priced at Rs. 72,517. The total value of the tender exceeds Rs. 50.7 million. more..

Jul 9 (Reuters) Sri Lanka has the right balance of monetary policy at the moment, and domestic inflation is expected to turn positive around next month, Central Bank of SL Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said on Wednesday. Sri Lanka's inflation, which was minus 0.6% year-on-year in June, is expected to reach the central bank's target of 5% in the next four to six quarters, Weerasinghe said on a panel more..

Jul 9 (AD) Suspended Commissioner General of Prisons Thushara Upuldeniya, who was arrested by the CID and subsequently remanded, has been granted bail. Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali issued the order after considering submissions made by officers of the CID and lawyers representing Attorney General’s Dept. Accordingly, the magistrate ordered Thushara Upuldeniya to be released on a cash bail of Rs. 25,000 and two surety bails of Rs. 2 mil each. more..

Jul 9 (DS) Sri Lanka have suffered a major setback ahead of their three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, with star leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga ruled out due to a hamstring injury. Hasaranga sustained the injury to his right leg while batting during the final ODI of the recently concluded series in which SL emerged victorious 2-1. The spinner had played a crucial role in turning the tide in the first ODI, triggering a record Bangladeshi collapse with a match-winning spell. more..

Jul 9 (EN) Sri Lanka is committed appropriate contingency measures for vehicle import tax, which is the main source to boost its revenue collection this year, IMF said in its latest report. “The significant dependence of revenue gains on motor vehicle import taxes necessitates strong contingency planning,” IMF said its report following the approval of SL’s fourth review of its $3 billion bailout package. It said high-frequency data suggest a steady more..

Jul 9 (AD) A special prosecutor’s office must be established with international assistance to conduct an inquiry into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks which left more than 250 dead, Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam said in Parliament today (09). MP Rasamanickam said only through an independent inquiry, answers to several unanswered questions can be found and justice can be served to the victims of the Easter attacks and ensure national security. more..

Jul 9 (DM) The National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) revealed that between 35,000 and 40,000 new cancer cases are identified in Sri Lanka each year. NCCP Consultant Dr. Suraj Nimalsiri Perera said a total of 37,753 new cancer patients were recorded in 2021, with at least 103 cases detected daily. According to Dr. Perera, oral cancer remains the most common form of cancer among men, followed by lung cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer and esophageal cancer. more..

Jul 10 (DM) SL’s fragile fiscal recovery could stall if pending U.S. tariffs erode tax revenue and unsettle investors. Trade uncertainty may delay tax hikes, stall subsidy reforms, and disrupt bond offerings—widening deficits and prompting higher risk premiums from lenders. SL, still rebuilding its credit after default, now faces this predicament as even relatively favourable tariff terms could trim up to 162 million dollars from annual revenue, or around 25 % of the near term ISB payments. more..

Jul 10 (TM) A silent issue which is escalating to crisis levels is the plastic pollution situation and the risks it poses are a significant threat to both the health of Sri Lankans and to that of the planet. Among the plastic pollutants, single-use plastics (SUPs) have become a major driver of pollution on land and in oceans. SUPs are disposable plastic items made for one-time use – bags, packaging, straws, and bottles – that are quickly discarded after use. In 2021, they accounted for an estimated 139 m metric more..

Jul 10 (CT) Education is wings that can rise you up from where you are. That was the promise made by the NPP during the last general election — a promise filled with hope. But for 15-year-old Dilshi Amshika, a Grade 10 student at Ramanathan Hindu Ladies’ College, education became something else entirely: A descent into trauma, fear, humiliation — and ultimately, despair. On 29 April 2025, Dilshi died by suicide at her home in Kotahena. more..

Jul 10 (CT) The recent SC judgment mandating the implementation of anti-ragging guidelines in SL’s State universities should not merely be seen as a legal directive—it must serve as a clarion call to end one of the most destructive, dehumanising, and deeply entrenched practices in the country’s higher education system. Ragging, long romanticised as a rite of passage, has instead become a stain on SL’s academic institutions, routinely leaving in its wake physical injuries, emotional trauma, more..

Jul 10 (ST) The NPP govt’s Fiscal Strategy Statement for 2026, together with the accompanying adjournment debate, was the order of business when Parliament convened for a special sitting on Monday. According to Section 11 of the Public Financial Management Act, No. 44 of 2024, the govt is required to announce a Fiscal Strategy Statement on or before June 30 of each year. It was Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha who announced the Fiscal Strategy Statement to Parliament on behalf of more..

Jul 10 (TM) The last weekend of June brought a string of unfortunate news for the fishing community, with three fishing accidents being reported within two days. The incidents that saw six dead have highlighted the need for fishermen to follow safety and compliance standards when they go out to sea. On 28 and 29 June, three fishing vessels faced accidents on the southern coast. In Matara, on 28 June, a multi-day fishing boat more..

Jul 10 (CT) The Court of Appeal has dismissed three appeals filed by Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) challenging three orders of the Right to Information Commission, further ordering legal costs to be paid by SLT and stating that no state institution has the right to conceal the manner in which public funds are spent on public officials in describing that as private information. The Court declared that SLT had unwisely disregarded the directives of the Right to Information Commission, more..

Jul 10 (DM) The incumbent government has been scrutinised for its short-sighted efforts to revive an injured tusker who had been ailing inside a mud pit for several days. The tusker identified as Bhatiya had suffered a gunshot injury in its front leg and collapsed near the Polpithigama lake bund in early February. The injured tusker is around 30-35 years old and the Nikaweratiya Wildlife Officials were the first to inform authorities about this tusker. Treatment had ultimately begun in May, more..

Jul 10 (DM) In a year marked by both progress and disparity, the global renewable energy sector witnessed a record-breaking addition of 585 gigawatts (GW) to its capacity in 2024, according to the Int'l Renewable Energy Agency’s (IRENA) latest statistics report released in March 2025. This milestone brought total installed renewable energy capacity of the world to 4,448 GW, a 15.1% increase from the previous year. Solar power led the charge, contributing over 452 GW more..

Jul 10 (Island) Parliamentary proceedings in this country are characterised by references to political rejects or riff-raff or dregs. On Tuesday, the attention of the legislature was drawn to a different kind of waste—refuse tea, which has led to serious problems that successive governments have failed to solve, and evolved into a kind of shadow industry, thriving outside regulatory oversight, feeding illegal supply chains and ruining Sri Lanka’s reputation as a quality tea producer. more..

Jul 10 (Island) Having turned the corner in ODIs with seven series wins out of nine since the Champions Trophy heartbreak, Sri Lanka now shift focus to the shortest format where their progress has been more of a stop-start affair. Ranked seventh in T20 Internationals, SL begin their three-match series against Bangladesh at Pallekele today aiming to tighten screws ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup, more..

Jul 10 (DN) On the night of the Esala full moon, the divine realms unveil a silver veil over SL. The moon glows not merely with light, but with the sacred memory of history, sacrifice, and the stirring of hearts that have danced to the rhythm of Dhamma for 2569 years of the Buddha Era. Esala Poya, one of the most significant full moon days in the Buddhist calendar, is a spiritual symphony that echoes throughout the country. It is not a single story, but a constellation of divine moments woven more..

Jul 10 (CI) Matt Renshaw has well and truly put his hat in the ring for an ODI call-up after producing yet another big knock for Australia A in their series-deciding one-day win over SL A. SL A recovered from 8 for 2 to reach 213 for 9 in Darwin, with Sahan Arachchige (47 off 65), Nuwanidu Fernando (40 off 69) and Sonal Dinusha (36 off 40) leading the way. Jack Nisbet, Bryce Jackson and Henry Thornton all chimed in with two wickets apiece in an even bowling display for the home side. more..

Jul 10 (CI) So far on tour [two Tests and three ODIs], Bangladesh have one win from five matches. This, they will feel, is not an apt reflection of how competitive they have been in Sri Lanka. They were running the back end of the first Test in Galle, were more competitive than SL's margins of victory suggested in the ODIs, and have had some promising players make significant contributions. The problem for Bangladesh is that T20I is the format they have been in the worst form. more..

Jul 10 (DN) “I did my best to help the team succeed in the deciding ODI, and I’m always glad to be part of a winning team,” said Kusal Mendis, who was named Player of the Match and Player of the Series in Pallekele. “I stick to my usual batting style; scoring runs is my responsibility,” he added. “SL’s batting coach, Thilina Kandamby, told me that my runs are important for our chances of winning. I knew my wicket was vital in the second ODI, especially after reaching a fifty off just 20 balls. more..

Jul 10 (Island) Sri Lanka’s estimated poverty (share of the population living on less than $3.65 a day) remains stubbornly high, affecting as much as a quarter of the population in 2024, and twice as high as in 2021. The reversal in poverty reduction gains during the crisis has taken SL back to its high poverty levels of the early 2000s, finds a new study by the Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA). The report, launched on Tuesday in Colombo more..

Jul 10 (DN) Reshan Algama showed great maturity under pressure to keep his lead at the halfway stage of the Sri Lanka Golf July Ranking Tournament at the scenic but testing Victoria Golf Resort in Digana, Kandy yesterday. The 17-year-old, ranked Sri Lanka’s number one junior golfer, carded a steady one-over-par 73 on Day 2, taking his total to 144 after two rounds. In tough conditions, Algama’s patient approach and clever course management helped him avoid big mistakes. more..

Jul 10 (AD) Ceylon Petroleum Private Bowser Owners’ Association says fuel distribution activities have been arbitrarily handed over to another party. Treasurer of the Association Jagath Parakrama stated that fuel distribution activities could be jeopardized, if the decision is not reversed. Further commenting on the issue, he claimed that there is an attempt to bring fuel transportation under a monopoly. Parakrama said this has become a very serious issue for the owners of the bowsers. more..

Jul 10 (TM) The GMOA called on the Ministry of Health to urgently issue clear guidelines and put in place a formal mechanism for doctors and hospital staff on how to advise patients in the event they have run out of medicine in state institutions to provide for treatment. GMOA stated that medical professionals are in limbo over whether they should ask patients to bring pharmaceutical drugs and medical supplies from outside when more..

Jul 10 (FT) A Colombo Magistrate yesterday postponed for 15 July to deliver the order of the case where retired Major General Asoka Thoradeniya was allegedly involved in the killing of former JVP Leader Rohana Wijeweera. Earlier, the Court issued an injunction restraining former Provincial Councillor and Frontline Socialist Party Central Committee Member Indrananda de Silva, preventing him from making statements against Thoradeniya over the killing of Wijeweera to more..

Jul 10 (PMD) Marking a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s research and development sector, an ad-hoc committee was established on the 7th of this month (July) for the first time in the country, to identify and prioritise national research needs. The primary objective of this committee is to classify various research initiatives being conducted nationwide according to their priority, based on national development goals and national requirements. The committee is co-chaired by more..

Jul 10 (DM) Sri Lanka’s domestic clothing brands are calling for a drastic 300 to 400 percent increase in the Commodity Export Subsidy Scheme (CESS) levy on the imported apparel, arguing it is a critical step to ensure the survival and competitiveness of the local industry in its own market. The proposal was put forward by former Sri Lanka Brands Association President P. Yasotharan, during a press conference held at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in Colombo, this week. more..

Jul 10 (Island) The Joint Chambers of Commerce urged the Govt of Sri Lanka to engage in meaningful consultation with all recognized industry chambers before making decisions that directly impact trade, exports, and the wider economy. The call comes in response to renewed lobbying efforts by certain shipping agents and intermediaries seeking to reintroduce anti-competitive terminal handling charges (THC) through misleading claims to policymakers. more..