Jul 13 (Island) Voices of Hope, Visions of Youth: An Exploratory Study, a powerful 26-minute documentary spotlighting the lived experiences of SL youth, has been officially selected for screening at the 1st Film Festival of the 5th International Forum on Sociology, hosted by the International Sociological Association (ISA). The forum will be held from 6–11 July 2025 in Rabat, Morocco, with the film screened on July 8 at the University of Mohammad V. Directed, co-scripted and more..

Jul 13 (Island) In a country where schoolboy cricket is a religion and teenage prodigies are thrust into the limelight before they’ve even sprouted a stubble, SL’s conveyor belt of talent has never run dry. From Anura Tennekoon to Arjuna Ranatunga and more recently Mahela Jayawardene, the island has always had a knack for spotting its next big thing before the ink dried on their GCE O/L results. Kusal Mendis, cut from that same cloth, was earmarked for greatness long before he left the gates of more..

Jul 13 (DM) For Devindya Oshini Gunawardhana (13), chess is something more than a board game. What began as a pastime to beat her sister at the game had transformed her life to a point where she now has no challenge in facing local chess competitions. At present, Gunawardhana has made history as the youngest Women’s International Master (WIM) title holder in the world, a chess title awarded by World Chess Federation (FIDE). more..

Jul 13 (ST) Accused of match-fixing, former SL cricketer Sachithra Senanayake has been ordered to appear before the Hambantota High Court on Sept 5, 2025 after he failed to appear before courts to receive the indictment. The case was called on July 9 for the service of the indictment to the accused cricketer at the High Court. However, in his absence, summons was delivered to his wife as the accused has reportedly gone abroad with permission from the Colombo Magistrate Courts more..

Jul 13 (AD) Police officers attached to the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) have taken into custody 21 motorcycles that were illegally imported into the country, found inside a storage facility at the Birds Park Hambantota. Raid was carried out by a team of officers, including the Director of the CCIB, SP Kamal Ariyawansa. Police officers have recovered 21 motorcycles, including high-capacity bikes, manufactured in foreign countries that are prohibited from being imported into more..

Jul 13 (DM) A boat carrying tourists from Delft Island, Jaffna, sank in the deep sea, making all 14 people on board narrowly escape with their lives. The small privately-owned boat belonging to a local resident of Delft carrying 12 tourists and 2 crew members, began their journey this evening towards Kurikattuwan. While travelling between Delft and Kurikattuwan, the boat suddenly developed mechanical problems and seawater began to enter the vessel. In response, the two crew more..

Jul 13 (PMD) Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake stated that, as a result of recent discussions with the United States, the previously imposed reciprocal tariff rate was successfully reduced from 44% to 30%. He further emphasized that on-going dialogue will continue in order to secure additional concessions. Prez stated that the objective of the govt is to implement changes that will benefit the country’s economy, businesses, business community and the well-being of its citizens. more..

Jul 13 (ST) SL, alongside several competing countries in the region, is reaching out to US authorities to negotiate a further cut in US tariffs, now set at an extra 30% for Sri Lanka, as they have a debilitating impact on exports. The reality is that the taxes to the US will eventually range from 30% to 60%+. If the apparel industry is to face the new tariffs it would mean that Sri Lankan products into the US would become increasingly costly. more..

Jul 13 (CI) For years, SL's bowlers have prevented a full-blown slide into irrelevance in the white-ball format. While there have been the likes of Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, and occasionally Dilshan Madushanka putting in good bowling performances over the past few years, there has been a dearth of batting stars, and a shortage of firepower. But it has begun to feel like SL are serious of fixing this. From the way players in the camp are talking, the message more..

Jul 13 (SO) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi yesterday called upon his SL counterpart Vijitha Herath to expedite the finalisation of the China-SL Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Minister Yi was speaking during a bilateral meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where the two sides vowed to deepen their strategic cooperative partnership and enhance practical cooperation. A China-SL FTA, which has been under discussion for some time, is likely to boost two-way trade and also address more..

Jul 13 (SO) Exporters displeased over the 30% tariff imposed by the United States on all imports to the country from SL, said such a steep hike in tariffs would jeopardise apparel exports and other commodities to the US which is a significant market for SL. US Prez Donald Trump announced the latest tariff for SL last week after two rounds of discussions between SL and US trade officials held since the sweeping tariffs were introduced more..

Jul 13 (SO) Local manufacturers are up in arms over the influx of low quality goods imported through popular e-commerce platforms which do not even have a local presence for returns and exchanges. Industry representatives taking up cudgels to protect local industries from non taxpaying and cheap goods flooding the market called on the authorities to come up with a national policy governing all cross-border trading via e-commerce platforms and a clear and consistent tax policy for such imports. more..

Jul 13 (NW) Ministry of Rural Development, in collaboration with other ministries, has launched the Next Sri Lanka program aimed at equipping 50,000 youth from 200,000 low-income families with vocational skills to become employable skilled workers. The initiative, set to begin on July 15 and run through July 23, will hold career guidance sessions at Divisional Secretariat offices across the country. Selected youth will receive full scholarships worth Rs. 50,000 to pursue vocational more..

Jul 13 (Island) Sri Lanka Insurance Life (SLIC Life), the nation’s most trusted life insurer, is honoured to be among the finalist in three key categories at the upcoming 10th Asia Trusted Life Agents & Advisers Awards 2025. This recognition places SLIC Life among the very best in the Asia-Pacific region and marks a significant milestone for SL on the int'l insurance stage. SLIC Life has been shortlisted under the categories of Insurance Company of the Year, Executive Champion of the Year, more..

Jul 13 (Island) A govt decision to establish a Presidential Commission of Inquiry to probe the X-Press Pearl (2021) maritime disaster has received the endorsement of the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ), which emphasized the need for accountability and transparency in what it calls the most devastating marine pollution event in the country’s history. In a letter to Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, senior attorney-at-law, Dr. Ravindranath Dabare, Senior Legal Adviser more..

Jul 13 (AM) Bribery Commission has informed the Colombo Additional Magistrate that former Minister Rajitha Senaratne, named as a suspect in a controversial sand mining project at Kirinda fisheries harbour, has gone off the radar—disconnecting his phone and vacating his residence. Project in question, awarded to a Korean company allegedly without following proper legal procedures, is said to have caused a financial loss of more..

Jul 13 (AD) White House has announced the nomination of Eric Meyer, a career diplomat from California, as the next Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the US to SL. US Prez Donald Trump has formally submitted Meyer’s name to the US Senate for confirmation. Eric Meyer, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, is the Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs. He is responsible for overseeing the bureau and coordinating more..

Jul 13 (ST) Sri Lanka will discuss with the IMF measures to be taken to offset the revenue losses from the 30% tariff imposed on the country by the US, effective from Aug 1, Treasury officials said. The country may not be able to meet the tax revenue targets set under the IMF’s EFF, and hence the need to discuss the possible fallout of this situation, officials said. US imports from SL totalled more than $3 bil in 2024, while US exports to SL were $368.2 mil, resulting in a trade deficit of $2.6 bil. more..

Jul 13 (SO) Despite mounting public pressure and allegations surrounding the treatment of injured tusker Bathiya, the Ministry of Environment has confirmed that no formal inquiry into the veterinary care provided has been launched. Minister Dhammika Patabendi said that some of the criticism levelled at the Dept of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) may be politically motivated. He reiterated that t Ministry’s current priority is Bathiya’s recovery, not investigating individual allegations. more..

Jul 13 (LP) A big cat yawns as it steps out of the rocky boulders before dusk settles. Across the island, flamingos wade in a series of marshy coastal lagoons. Sea turtles nest on the shoreline, and sperm whales pass through the surrounding deep blue waters. Whether you snorkel, walk, or hop in a 4WD or boat, wildlife experiences in Sri Lanka – both on land and in water – are truly magical. Although it may appear small on the map, the island boasts an impressive list of 28 national parks, more..

Jul 13 (EN) SL's imports fell US$ 179 million to US$ 1,507 mil dollars in May 2025 from a month earlier, amid fall in services receipts, even as vehicle imports went up. Gross inflows from exports of goods, labour (remittances) and services including remittances were US$ 2,140 mil in May 2025, which was US$ 633 mil above goods imports. Services inflows fell to US$ 464.6 mil, from US$ 602 m, with tourism earnings falling to US$ 164 m more..

Jul 13 (TM) The Ministry of Education has finalised a comprehensive set of education reforms, with plans to initially implement changes in Grades 1 and 6 before gradually extending them to other grades. An Education Ministry media official confirmed that the reforms, developed in collaboration with the National Institute of Education (NIE), were now complete. An official inauguration is expected by the end of August or early September to formally introduce the reforms to the public. more..

Jul 13 (TM) With a new 30% reciprocal import tariff imposed by the US on certain SL exports set to take effect on 1 August, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) is proactively exploring avenues to import West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil from the US. This strategic move aims to diversify Sri Lanka’s energy sources and potentially mitigate the broader economic impact of the evolving trade relations between the two nations. CPC Managing Director Dr. Mayura Neththikumarage more..

Jul 13 (ST) Wednesday’s announcement by the US that it intends to impose a 30% tariff on imports from SL starting from August 1 was touted by the govt as a significant success. This was on the grounds that the new tariff rate is 14% lower than the 44% tariff Prez Donald Trump announced on April 2 during his so-called Liberation Day address on the White House lawn, when he imposed sweeping new tariffs on dozens of more..

Jul 14 (DM) SL politics shows a repeating pattern where established parties take over grassroots movements. The 1953 Hartal proved this when the SLFP used public anger to win elections. Marxist parties started and organised the movement, but SLFP had better organisation and wider appeal. They gained political power while the original organisers were pushed aside. This happens repeatedly in SL history. 2022 Aragalaya protests started when ordinary people got irritated more..

Jul 14 (TM) Alongside beautiful landscapes, ecosystems, history and culture, one thing Sri Lanka seems to have in abundance are challenges. Just when the island nation was finding its legs – economically, the horizon is once again cloudy as the world order retreats from multilateralism to increased polarity. Herein lies the double whammy to use an American term, with Sri Lanka facing down the double barrels of debt repayment and navigating the new complexity – formalised tariff’s from more..

Jul 14 (DM) Sir Donald George Bradman was, without any question, the greatest phenomenon in the history of cricket, indeed in the history of all ball games. This was how well-known journalist and visiting professor at Oxford Uni Mathew Engel referred to Don Bradman in an essay about the famous Australian cricketer in the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack. According to Cricinfo, “Sir Donald Bradman of Australia was, more..

Jul 14 (CT) Sri Lanka is blessed with an abundance of flora and fauna, making it one of the world’s richest biodiversity hotspots. Home to hundreds of endemic species, the country is also home to the Asian elephant subspecies (Elephas maximus maximus), an enduring symbol of our culture, religion, and history. Since ancient times, SL’s elephants, especially tuskers, have been admired as fierce war elephants and valued for their strength and intelligence. Historical records show that more..

Jul 14 (DM) Three years ago –- on 13th July 2022 – Gotabaya Rajapaksa, president of SL, fled the country as the economic crisis spiralled out of control. You were there, I was there, as were around a million or more persons who answered the call to assemble in Colombo and drive the president out of office. It wasn’t only the shortage of food and a variety of other problems which roused the people’s ire; there were 12 hour rolling power cuts, shortages of fuel, gas and medical supplies which more..

Jul 14 (TM) Last week, last Wednesday (9) to be precise, marked three years since the ouster of an Executive President with the backing of a two-thirds majority in Parliament by a people’s uprising. The date 9 July 2022 remains a turning point in SL’s socio-political and economic history as the Aragalaya people’s protest movement stood against one of the most powerful regimes, bringing about a regime change in response to more..

Jul 14 (CT) Following its electoral promise to abolish the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), the govt has appointed a committee led by Rienzi Arsekularatne, Senior President’s Counsel, to draft a new law to replace it. Mr Arsekularatne has decades of experience in criminal justice, having worked as both a prosecutor and defence counsel. He represented many activists unfairly accused of crimes during the Aragalaya. As a legal advisor to the Catholic Church, he has a good understanding of more..

Jul 14 (Island) There seems to be no end in sight to headline-grabbing controversies at the White House, during US Prez Donald Trump’s second term’. They range from Trump’s snide remarks about visiting dignitaries to threats, both direct and veiled, to other nations including some of America’s allies. His volatile temper has prompted political commentators to coin a new term, “the second term curse” to describe his unpredictable behaviour. Besides his isolationist tariff war, more..

Jul 14 (ST) When an agonized father, grieving over his children killed in the 2019 Easter Sunday jihadist controlled attacks on churches and hotels in SL, roundly told Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake in the precincts of the Katuwapitiya Church during the frenetic days of the NPP election campaign last year that, he should not engage in media shows but ensure genuine justice, those words must surely haunt the NPP now passing its tenth month in holding the reins of State. more..

Jul 14 (Island) In the heart of South Asia’s teardrop-shaped island lies an ecological treasure often overlooked—the butterfly. These vibrant creatures, fluttering silently among wildflowers, have long brought color and movement to SL’s gardens, forests, and fields. They are more than just a beautiful sight; butterflies are ecological indicators, vital pollinators, and a symbol of a healthy environment. Historically, Sri Lankans revered butterflies, especially during the annual more..

Jul 14 (CI) Bangladesh snapped their six-game losing streak in dominant fashion as they handed Sri Lanka a 83-run defeat in front of a packed house in Dambulla, and with it levelled the three match series 1-1. Litton Das' 76 off 50 - he put to rest a 13-match run without a fifty - headlined Bangladesh's innings, but it was Shamim Hossain's destructive 48 off 27 that shifted the winds in Bangladesh's favour. Chasing 178, more..