Jul 15 (TM) Govt has announced the introduction of a new bank account system named Artha aimed at securing the future of probationary, institutionalised, & street children. Initiative is designed to facilitate the provision of a monthly allowance of Rs. 5,000 to 9,191 children, with a budgetary allocation of Rs. one billion for this year. The programme seeks to ensure the protection of children until they are able to lead more..

Jul 15 (FT) Softlogic Life Insurance has successfully completed the acquisition of 100% of the shares of Allianz Life Insurance Lanka Ltd, (Life Business), following the receipt of regulatory approval from the Insurance Regulatory Commission of SL (IRCSL). The transaction marks a significant milestone, following the initial announcement on 26 March. Softlogic Life recorded Gross Written Premiums (GWPs) of Rs. 31.574 billion as at Dec 2024, with a market share of 17.2%, and continued more..

Jul 15 (NW) The Principal of Bandaranayake College in Gampaha was escorted out of school by the Police following a protest today. A protest was staged in front of the school for nearly four hours by students, parents, and old boys, urging for a more suitable principal to be appointed to the school. Amidst the protest, a group of parents, old boys, and professors held a discussion with the incumbent principal, after which it was decided that he would step down. more..

Jul 15 (DN) Smart Drain, designed and developed by Dr. Nadeesha Chandrasena and her team from SL, was among the ten winners of the prestigious WIPO Global Awards which celebrate world changing innovations in health, climate, agrifood, creative industries and ICT. The prestigious awards ceremony was held in Geneva on July 11, where WIPO Director General Daren Tang presented the trophies to the winning innovators. WIPO Global Awards recognise startups and SMEs more..

Jul 15 (EN) Sri Lanka signed bilateral amendatory loan agreements with Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) to restructure around 517 million Saudi Arabia Riyal (SAR) under the external debt restructuring process of the island nation, the Finance Ministry said. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has played a pivotal role by providing continuous loan disbursements, even after Sri Lanka declared a debt standstill decision due to the economically challenging situation the Ministry said. more..

Jul 15 (Island) The GMOA has sought an explanation from Parliament regarding how PAYE is applied to parliamentarians. GMOA Secretary Dr. Prabath Sugathadasa has written to the Secretary General of Parliament, Kushani Rohanadeera, in terms of the RTI Act. Information was sought on 09 July, 2025, in the wake of SJB Kalutara district MP Jagath Vithana posting his pay sheets from January to May this year on his Facebook. more..

Jul 15 (Island) In spite of specific warnings issued by fisheries minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar to Indian poachers, trawlers are continuously crossing the IMBL. Navy headquarters yesterday said that so far this year they have detained 24 Indian fishing boats and taken into custody 181 fishermen for poaching in SL waters. The arrested included seven taken off the Delft Island, Jaffna in the early hours of Sunday. Operations were conducted taking into account the harmful impact of prohibited more..

Jul 15 (DN) Moragolla Hydropower Project and the Kotmale New Polpitiya Transmission Line, which are of great importance in maintaining the stability of the national grid and contributing to the national economy, have reached the final stage of construction. Moragolla Hydropower Project will add a capacity of 30.2 MW to the national grid and is considered as the last hydropower project to use the waters of the Mahaweli River. The construction work of the Moragolla Hydropower Project more..

Jul 15 (FT) The Govt yesterday said it is ramping up efforts to drive digital transformation in the public service, with plans to onboard over 150 State organisations onto the GovPay platform by September 2025. The move, spearheaded by the Digital Economy Ministry and ICTA, comes as the platform got on board 52 institutions and crossed Rs. 65.62 million in digital payments via 7,024 seamless transactions since its launch on 7 Feb 2025. more..

Jul 15 (FT) SL is in the midst of a critical transition as it begins to reshape its tax system to reflect the realities of a growing digital economy. With rapid digital adoption across sectors from e-commerce and online advertising to streaming platforms and software-as-a-service providers it has become clear that the country’s tax regime must evolve to capture this expanding domain. In recent years, Govt has initiated a series of steps to bring digital platforms under its tax net, more..

Jul 15 (FT) One of my recent movie sensations surely was Rhythm of the Guitar. For me it was like a Sri Lankan Mamma Mia, the well-loved romantic movie. It has rekindled the reminiscences of the Sri Lankan King of Pop, Clarence Wijewardena. Today’s column is not a conventional movie review but a concentration on Clarence as a great start-up from a managerial perspective. Rhythm of the Guitar is a Sinhala movie that appeals to all masses. more..

Jul 15 (NW) Former Chairman of SriLankan Airlines, Nishantha Wickramasinghe, who was arrested by the Bribery Commission over corruption charges, has been granted bail by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court. Wickramasinghe, who is the brother of former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, was arrested as part of an ongoing investigation by the Bribery Commission. Three corruption-related charges were filed against Wickramasinghe related to incidents that occurred during his tenure more..

Jul 15 (NW) The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court has granted bail to Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne, a specialist neurosurgeon at Sri J'pura Hospital, who was arrested and remanded over medical equipment fraud. The court today ordered the release of Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne on strict bail conditions. The specialist neurosurgeon was previously arrested and remanded on charges of selling equipment valued at Rs. 50,000 to patients for Rs. 175,000 through a private company she is affiliated with. more..

Jul 15 (AD) Injured tusker Bhathiya which was receiving treatment for several days for gunshot wounds succumbed this morning in Polpithigama. Veterinarians and a team of experts treated Bhathiya for gunshot wounds sustained approximately two months ago. Subsequently, the wild tusker recently fell into a water pit and met with an accident. Following a gunshot injury, a team led by Professor Ashoka Dangolla, former Dean of the Faculty of more..

Jul 15 (EN) Recent policy actions by the central bank have reduced the buffer SL had against the next default, with the latest being the last rate cut, which came as deposit rates were beginning to rise. It can be argued that since budget deficits are coming down, rates can be cut. On the other side private credit is also picking up and people are withdrawing cash from banks to buy cars and make investments. Lower rates in any case will reduce the flow of cash from loan repayments to banks to some extent. more..

Jul 15 (AM) Popular model Piumi Hansamali has issued an apology after her teenage son was involved in an incident where he allegedly assaulted a three-wheeler driver following an accident involving one of his close friends. Piumi Hansamali explained that the incident occurred when her son’s longtime childhood friend was thrown off a motorbike after being hit by a three-wheeler. Deeply upset by seeing his injured friend, her son allegedly reacted in anger and assaulted the three-wheeler driver. more..

Jul 15 (DM) In its fresh attempt for renegotiation of tariffs, SL is trying hard to get the current rate reduced from 30% to 20% for its products to be competitive in the US market, a source familiar trade negotiations said. US Prez Donald Trump has slapped a 30% tariff on SL, a reduction from 44% initially proposed. Though the SL govt sees it as an achievement, it believes a further reduction is needed to become competitive with other countries in trading with the US more..

Jul 15 (AD) Two Gazette notifications are scheduled to be issued on Friday (18), to facilitate the appointment of nursing offices to fill existing vacancies, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa has announced. He stated that steps will be taken to recruit and provide training to 2,650 students who sat for the GCE A/L exam in 2020, 2021, and 2022 as nurses, along with 850 individuals who completed nursing degrees. “We are currently facing a shortage of nursing staff. more..

Jul 15 (AM) Cabinet approval has been granted to implement a new project from this year allowing Sri Lankan nationals to apply for passports online through Sri Lankan diplomatic missions abroad. The proposal aims to streamline and expedite the process of applying for Sri Lankan passports via Sri Lankan missions overseas. To support this initiative, a proposal has been submitted to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to assist in digitising the process. more..

Jul 15 (NW) The election to appoint a Chairman and Vice-Chairman for the Seethawaka Pradeshiya Sabha, scheduled to take place today (15), was postponed for a second time without a set date by Western Province Commissioner Sarangika Jayasundara. The postponement was due to the lack of a required quorum in the council necessary to conduct the vote. A previous attempt on June 17 had also failed for the same reason, resulting in rescheduling the vote to today. more..

Jul 15 (EN) Sri Lanka will change the laws to allow waitresses in hotels and restaurants to work after 10 PM, Cabinet spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa said. Under SL’s Sop and Office Act, receptionists, cloak room and female toilet attendants are already allowed to work between 6pm and 6am, he said. To enable female waitresses to work night shifts, the regulations issued under the Shop and Office of 1954 will be revised. The restriction created operational problems, and to keep with more..

Jul 15 (CT) The National Hospital in Colombo is facing yet another critical setback, with the highly sensitive Troponin-I blood test—used for the emergency diagnosis of heart attacks—coming to a complete standstill. According to informed health sources, Troponin-I tests have been halted for the past two to three weeks. While Point of Care alternatives exist, even these have not been made available to patients. Meanwhile, Medical & Civil Rights Professional Association more..

Jul 16 (DM) Tourists who fly down to SL are often convinced by attractive promotional videos that are being made viral on social media platforms. Of course, the pristine beaches, breathtaking waterfalls, diverse cuisine and culture are worth the experience. But from a hospitality point of view, Sri Lanka is still lagging behind on a few priorities. Govt has set ambitious targets of attracting 3 million tourists by the end of this year, which is expected to generate USD 5 billion in revenue. more..

Jul 16 (TM) Border security is crucial for small coastal states like ours since it protects our sovereignty, economy, community and environment from various external threats. Effective border management helps prevent illegal activities, safeguard maritime resources, ensure effective revenue collection and maintain national security. This is why SL’s border enforcement agencies – The Coast Guard, Navy, Dept of Customs, Department of Immigration and Emigration, State entities more..

Jul 16 (DM) Director General of International Solar Alliance Ashish Khanna who is in Sri Lanka speaks to Daily Mirror on the importance of solar energy for the future. He has over twenty-six years of experience leading energy sector development in the private and public sectors in more than fifteen developing countries in South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa. He has unique experience working more..

Jul 16 (DM) Last week, Parliament erupted with allegations and counter-allegations in yet another adjournment debate over the Easter Sunday Attacks. ITAK MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, who moved the motion on behalf of the Opposition argued that the NPP govt, which promised human rights and accountability, including revealing the truth about the Easter Sunday attack, had failed to fulfil its promises, including in the Easter Sunday attack and recent mass murders revealed in Chemmani more..

Jul 16 (DM) SL stands at a critical juncture in its post-independence history. The echoes of past upheavals, particularly the JVP insurgencies of 1971 and 1987-89, resonate with chilling clarity in the contemporary socio-economic landscape. These past rebellions, often attributed to the explosive combination of unbearable cost of living and the widespread unemployment among educated youth, serve as stark reminders of how economic distress can swiftly transmute into a profound threat to more..

Jul 16 (TM) SL once again finds itself in the thick of an evolving global trade recalibration after the US formalised a 30% tariff on SL exports, a reduction from the originally flagged 44%, but still a considerable levy on the country’s outbound shipments to the US. While local industry groups have described this as a constructive start, there is little indication the outcome will do much to fortify SL’s competitiveness in an environment of more..

Jul 16 (ST) Somewhere in a kammala in the wilds of Anuradhapura, where previous settlers had been digging for more than simple treasures, those who had fast grabbed fertile land were now hearing the sound of iron on steel. Even Pradeshiya Sabha members some distance away were hearing sounds they were not accustomed to, except perhaps sharp and strong saws scraping away on teak trees. Others closer to ancient tombs and places of worship thought they heard the noises more..

Jul 16 (CT) Sri Lanka stands at a critical juncture, three years after the historic 2022 Aragalaya (uprising), which ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The uprising was a powerful reminder of the people’s capacity to challenge entrenched power structures. Yet, today, the landscape is rife with political maneuvering, ideological contradictions, malicious campaigns and fake news —particularly against the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and its leader, Sajith Premadasa. more..

Jul 16 (Island) Contests to elect heads and deputy heads of hung local councils are continuing, with the govt and the Opposition making no-holds-barred efforts to gain control of those institutions. In doing so, they have revealed their true colours; they act out of expediency rather than principle. The outcome of Monday’s elections to the posts of chairperson and deputy chairperson in the Beruwala Urban Council is a case in point. SL politics arguably resembles a game of Cops and Robbers, more..

Jul 16 (Island) In Feb 2024, during the Ranil Wickremesinghe administration, an IMF technical assistance team visited Sri Lanka at the request of the SL government, to help it to implement the commitments under the Extended Fund Facility, “in relation to property and wealth taxation”. They were received by Mahinda Siriwardene, Secretary to the Treasury. The mission led by Sebastian Beer of the Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD) of the IMF and two external experts, more..

Jul 16 (ST) Sri Lanka is poised—finally—to introduce a Gambling Regulatory Authority law likely to be passed before international casino giant, Melco, ceremonially opens its glittering doors in Colombo next month. And if the objective is to install a non-independent regulator who is a proxy for Minister of Finance, govt’s proposed Gambling Regulatory Authority Act fits the bill. Law is so weak, says one expert who studied it, more..

Jul 16 (ST) The National Hospital Kandy, the second largest hospital in the country has revived its battle to repossess some 25 acres of its land occupied by squatters over the years. Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa gave an update in Parliament this week on measures taken by authorities including the Kandy hospital. In 2018, the number of families illegally occupying lands was 169 and in 2023 this had risen to 181 and by last year it had surged to 270. Director of the National Hospital Kandy, more..

Jul 16 (ST) Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB) successfully conducted the annual World Badminton Day Walk with a large presence of players, coaches and officials, graced by dignitaries on July 5, Saturday around the vicinity of its Headquarters at Maitland Place, Colombo 7. Former decorated sprinter, Olympian and current Deputy Minister of Sports, Sugath Thilakaratne led the World Badminton Day Walk, organised by SLB, headed by Roshan Gunawardena, and its Regional Development more..