Jul 18 (AD) Former Minister S.M. Chandrasena has been further remanded until August 1 after being produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court. He was arrested by the Bribery Commission on July 04 on suspicion of committing the offence of corruption. In 2014, maize seeds worth Rs. 25 million—procured for distribution to poor farmers in the Anuradhapura District at subsidized prices—were allegedly distributed instead to his friends and political supporters. more..

Jul 18 (MB) When the govt of SL published the National Red List of threatened plants in 2020, my eyebrows shot up. We’ve all become accustomed, after all, to the grim news these reports periodically bring us. But here it was, in black and white: 128 species, not having been recorded in surveys conducted during the past century, were assessed as possibly extinct, while a further two each were assessed as extinct and extinct more..

Jul 18 (NW) SL batter Kusal Mendis has been approached to play for Nottinghamshire in England’s County Championship for a short stint, sources said. According to sources, Mendis is being considered as a replacement for Indian wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, who recently concluded his spell with the county side. The proposed move is reportedly subject to clearance from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), as is customary for national players participating in overseas leagues. more..

Jul 18 (EN) Lanka Ashok Leyland, a joint venture with Ashok Leyland of India, said it is planning to launch a range of electric buses. An electric variant of its DOST truck model has already been made available. “Plans are also underway to launch an entire range of electric buses under the SWITCH brand, subject to regulatory and market readiness,” CEO Umesh Gautam said. “Govt’s growing focus on public sector electrification is expected to create favourable conditions for this initiative.” more..

Jul 18 (DM) A young man who had abducted an underage schoolgirl and had kept her at a house in the Haputale area was arrested by the Lindula Police last night. The victim was a Grade 10 student of a Tamil school in Talawakelle and a resident of Lorgie Estate. The 15 year-old schoolgirl had fallen in love with the suspect whom she had acquainted through Facebook and on his request had met him at the Nanu Oya railway station. Investigations revealed that she had sneaked out of home more..

Jul 18 (AD) An anticipatory bail application filed by former Minister Rajitha Senaratne, seeking his release on anticipatory bail before he is arrested by the Bribery Commission, was on Friday rejected by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court. Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali Jayatunga issued this order after considering the submissions made by the petitioner’s lawyers and officials of the Bribery Commission. Senaratne’s attorneys on July 14 filed an anticipatory bail application before more..

Jul 18 (NW) Dept of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) has defended its handling of the injured SL tusker Bhathiya, following widespread public criticism over the animal’s care. Officials said every possible measure was taken to treat the elephant, which died on June 15 after nearly a month of veterinary efforts. DWC Director General Ranjan Marasinghe denied allegations that treatment was delayed. According to Tharaka Prasad, more..

Jul 18 (NW) The Airport & Aviation Services Sri Lanka Pvt Ltd (AASL) has issued a warning against flying kites in close proximity to international airports in the country. Issuing a special notice, the AASL warned that flying kites or any airborne objects over a height of 300 feet, within a radius of 5 km from any international airport, is strictly prohibited. The AASL further said that flying kites in such close proximity to international airports is considered a punishable offence. more..

Jul 18 (AM) The European Union (EU) has issued a public warning to Sri Lankans about a scam involving an individual impersonating an EU official and fraudulently offering grants and financial aid. In a statement shared on its official Facebook and Twitter accounts on Friday, the EU said the impersonator had approached young entrepreneurs in SL, falsely claiming to offer EU grants or funding opportunities. This is a scam, the EU clarified, noting that the individual had more..

Jul 18 (CT) The Ministry of Health has asked all hospital authorities to proceed with local purchase in accordance with The Manual on Local Purchase of Medical Supplies – 2023. Following the dilemma of medical professionals during the past few weeks when giving outside prescriptions, Ministry of Health has made the decision to continue following The Manual on Local Purchase of Medical Supplies – 2023. more..

Jul 18 (TM) Sri Lanka has overtaken England to claim the second spot in the ICC World Test Championship points table after the Ben Stokes-led side was docked two WTC points due to their slow over rate in their recently-completed match against India at Lord’s. This came under Article 16.11.2 of the ICC World Test Championship playing conditions, by which a side is penalised one point for each over short, and after time allowances were taken into consideration. more..

Jul 18 (PMD) A meeting was held at the Presidential Secretariat between the Secretary to the Prez Dr. Nandika Kumanayake and officials from institutions related to the tea industry. The discussion reviewed the issues that have emerged within Sri Lanka’s tea industry. Special attention was paid to improving the quality of tea leaves and the productivity of tea cultivation and exploring new international market opportunities. The challenges faced by tea manufacturers were also discussed and more..

Jul 18 (EN) Fitch Ratings has said it was revising its US Effective Tariff Rate (ETR) Monitor to 19.4% from 14.1% due to the higher reciprocal tariffs and duties coming into force on August 1. “The threatened tariff increases represent a significant increase from existing tariffs,” the ratings agency said. “The ETR reflects our assumption that about half of previous tariff-free imports will ultimately be reclassified as USMCA compliant.” ETR represents total duties as a percent of total imports more..

Jul 18 (CT) The grand historical and cultural procession in Kandy, the Kandy Esala Perahera, which is a vibrant display of Buddhist and Kandyan traditions dating back several centuries, would feature only eight elephants in the years to come if action is not taken now to address the current shortage of tamed elephants, said Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela. He stated that out of the 91 tamed elephants currently alive, only eight are under 35 years of age, and more..

Jul 18 (DN) Sri Lanka’s captain, Charith Asalanka, addressing the media following their recent defeat, emphasised the importance of learning from this experience. “We need to take this loss positively as it highlights the areas where we must improve before the T20 World Cup. This serves as an eye-opener, and our aim is to return with better preparation,” Asalanka stated. He acknowledged Bangladesh’s performance, more..

Jul 18 (AD) Ministry of Finance has initiated ongoing discussions aimed at reducing the trade tariffs proposed to be imposed by the United States on exports from Sri Lanka. Accordingly, a virtual meeting is scheduled to be held today between SL representatives and officials from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). The discussion will be led by the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, along with other relevant govt officials. more..

Jul 18 (AD) Railway Dept, in collaboration with the Central Cultural Fund (CCF), has launched a new initiative aimed at increasing the appeal of the Nine Arch Bridge in Ella and its surrounding areas to both local and international tourists. The program will include decorative lighting installations around the iconic bridge, enabling visitors to explore and enjoy the site during night-time hours. Railways General Manager Dhammika Jayasundara stated that the program is scheduled to commence in Aug. more..

Jul 18 (FT) SL welcomed over 100,000 visitors yesterday, pushing the year-to-date (YTD) figure to over 1.26 million arrivals. During the first 16 days of July, SL saw 98,765 tourists, 1,724 higher than the same period last year. From 1 to 16 July, average daily arrivals stood at 6,173, up from 6,065 visitors in the same period last year. In absolute terms, arrivals during the first 16 days of July this year increased by 1,724 from 97,032 in '24 more..

Jul 18 (TM) Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe says the Government is fast-tracking the Raigampura Green Industrial Zone in Millaniya, Kalutara, to resolve the severe lack of industrial space in Sri Lanka. The project, stalled in the past, is now being reactivated to support national industrial and value-added production goals. The Millaniya Industrial City is planned as an eco-friendly development, with only 87 of the approved 200 acres to be used for industrial purposes. more..

Jul 18 (TM) SL Pharma Manufacturers Association (SLPMA) warns that pharmaceutical production in the country could meet only 5% of domestic demand. Although SL boosted pharmaceutical production since the 1960s, along with its South Asian neighbours – India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, it remains heavily dependent on imports, which meet more than 80% of local needs. This is a far cry from self-sufficient India, dubbed the pharmacy of the world, Bangladesh more..

Jul 19 (DM) Unlike many global powers that take pride in their modern accomplishments, SL stands unique in its possession of a written history that stretches back more than two and a half millennia. Few nations can claim such continuity of record and cultural memory. Yet, for much of this long past, the general populace remained distant from the richness of their own historical heritage. The absence of printed materials meant that historical knowledge was confined to the privileged few more..

Jul 19 (DM) However, some Opposition politicians seem to have found a new issue out of the debate to annoy the NPP govt leaders. They have been holding media conferences to question a statement made during the debate by Minister and the Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake that former DIG Ravi Seneviratne and former Director CID Shani Abeysekara have been entrusted to lead investigations into the terrorist attacks on the request of Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith. more..

Jul 19 (TM) Sri Lanka has officially embarked on a transformative journey to combat rural poverty with the launch of the Praja Shakthi National Programme. Spearheaded by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and commencing on 4 July at Temple Trees, this ambitious initiative aims to fundamentally reshape the welfare landscape, moving beyond mere subsistence to foster genuine economic, social, cultural, and educational more..

Jul 19 (DM) A few days ago, many were heart-broken when we read of the death of yet another majestic elephant called Bhathiya. Approval was granted through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and regulatory bodies, for the foreign veterinarians to arrive in SL to treat the animal, but Bhathiya died before they could arrive. The next day, media highlighted yet another sad story –the Dept of Wildlife was treating 13 injured jumbos. All thirteen were being treated for gunshot injuries. more..

Jul 19 (SO) June 25, 2025, will be remembered as a historic milestone for the Malaiyaha Tamil community in Sri Lanka, a people long denied dignified housing and rightful land ownership. While successive Govts have only offered token renovations to their crumbling estate line rooms, the Malaiyaha Tamils of Bathalgoda in Kurunegala have taken a bold stand. Refusing to endure life in these inadequate dwellings any longer, they have stepped out, claimed their land rights, and built permanent homes more..

Jul 19 (CT) The intense power struggle at the Seethawaka Pradeshiya Sabha remained unresolved by the end of the week, as the inaugural meeting once again failed to reach a conclusion. The impasse was caused by members of the Opposition, mainly from the SJB, walking out of the session in protest against the decision to conduct a secret ballot. This development followed the Court of Appeal’s dismissal of a Writ Petition more..

Jul 19 (TM) The Govt recently announced the imposition of a flat 18% Value-Added Tax (VAT) on digital services provided by non-resident companies to local consumers, effective 1 Oct. This measure, introduced through the VAT (Amendment) Act No.4 of 2025, has sparked some controversy, with many expressing apprehension regarding its potential implications and cost escalations. As a VAT base broadening measure, stakeholders have highlighted both positive and concerning aspects, more..

Jul 19 (ST) When COVID-19 sparked a global health crisis, the US quickly ran short of face masks. It wasn’t just the high-grade N95s—basic cloth and surgical masks which were also hard to find. What little supply existed was mostly reserved for healthcare workers, many of whom had to reuse their masks. At the same time, the public was urged to wear masks to help stop the spread of the virus. Demand surged, but supply couldn’t keep up. Critiques questioned how the wealthiest more..

Jul 19 (Island) US Prez Donald Trump is known for his about-turns, which are legion. When he declared what he described as reciprocal tariffs, he said his decision was final, and it was his way or highway. But he changed his mind subsequently, and his suo motu downward tariff revision has encouraged many countries like SL to seek further tariff reductions. A few more rounds of talks between SL and the US on tariffs are on the cards. While a SL delegation is preparing for a hard bargain, more..

Jul 19 (Island) The NPP govt is under intense public scrutiny. The recent appointment of retired Commodore M.B.N.A. Premarathne as new Commissioner General of Exercise drew heavy public condemnation as the media revealed his wife, senior Professor Wasantha Subasinghe, who had been on the NPP National List at the last parliamentary election held in November 2024, recently received appointment as Vice Chancellor of the Gampaha Wickramarachchi Uni more..

Jul 19 (ST) Supreme Court has issued a string of guidelines aimed at combatting ragging in higher educational institutions and ordered the Education Ministry, UGC, VCs and police to report back to court within six months, the steps taken to comply with the directions. Guidelines have been issued as part of the judgment of a fundamental Rrghts petition filed by Pasindu Silva, an undergraduate of the Uni of Sri J'pura more..

Jul 19 (FT) Colombo stock market yesterday finished a healthy week with indices and turnover up whilst enjoying high net foreign inflow. During the week, ASPI and S&P SL 20 gained 2.3% and 3.1% respectively, whilst recording an average daily turnover of Rs. 9.88 billion. ASPI yesterday gained by 0.51% and the active S&P SL20 by 0.47%. Turnover was over Rs. 7.6 billion involving 350.07 million shares. Foreign investors turned net buyers, recording a net inflow of Rs. 373.9 million. more..

Jul 19 (FT) “The optimism seen in business circles in May appears to have faded quicker than expected, as sentiment shifted once again in June,” business magazine LMD reports, in its July edition. LMD notes: “The latest LMD Business Confidence Index (BCI) survey, conducted in the first week of June, sees a notable decline in optimism about the economy ‘improving’ over the next 12 months dropping to 56% – that’s a whopping 20 percentage point fall from May’s 76% outcome.” more..

Jul 19 (DN) Nipun Dhananjaya played a pivotal innings, steering SSC to victory with a brilliant unbeaten 73, as they secured the Tier B limited overs title by defeating Moratuwa SC by 4 wickets at the SSC grounds yesterday. Coached by Muthumudalige Pushpakumara, SSC had a strong lineup, including national players like Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka, and Prabath Jayasuriya. Despite being a young side, Moratuwa SC displayed great resilience throughout the match. more..

Jul 19 (Island) Sri Lanka are holding out hope of hosting India for a white-ball series in early August, with cricketing powerbrokers expected to thrash out the final details on the sidelines of the ICC meetings in Singapore this week. The window opened up unexpectedly after SLC postponed the Lanka Premier League (LPL), originally pencilled in for August, while India and Bangladesh mutually agreed to shelve a six-match limited-overs series that was due to take place around the same time. more..